Summons and Conversation

The heads of several familiar clans wandered among one another with wine cups in hand, chatting and laughing merrily.

The senior officials of the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda branch also mingled with the guests. The branch master was a square-faced, middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties. At that moment, he was chatting with several clan heads, his voice neither loud nor soft, maintaining just the right degree of warmth in the room.

The younger generation gradually began to feel at ease with one another.

At first, they had been too concerned about appearances to move around much. Now, many of the children had gathered together in little groups of two or three, chatting away.

After all, now that they knew one another, they might become useful connections in the future.

Xu Xiaoyan had no shortage of people striking up conversations with her, either. A little girl around her age came over.

She asked where Xu Xiaoyan had bought the icy-blue crystal bracelet on her wrist. Xu Xiaoyan eagerly explained that Brother Yan had given it to her, and the two little girls struck up a conversation. They certainly had all the liveliness of children their age.

Chu Yan remained in his seat, occasionally glancing around the hall. He had eaten until he was about three-quarters full and was now slowly sipping a cup of cold water.

Just then, a voice sounded directly in his mind.

"I'm Leng Yaozhu."

At the sound of her voice, Chu Yan merely froze for a moment. This was mental communication. He hadn't expected to catch her attention after all. She had spotted the most talented and handsome young man in the whole place at a glance. As expected of Sky Phoenix Douluo!

Only someone with an exceptionally high level of spiritual power could communicate mentally like this. There was no need to speak or use Soul Power; a person could send their words into someone else's consciousness with nothing but their thoughts.

It was a method many powerful experts often used.

He calmly received the voice in his mind, then blinked ever so slightly to confirm that he had heard her.

A moment later, Leng Yaozhu's voice came again. It remained calm and composed, yet allowed no refusal.

"If you're willing, you can stay after the gathering ends. I'd like to speak with you privately."

Then it fell silent. She offered no explanation, nor any unnecessary pleasantries, as though it were just a small matter she had taken care of in passing.

At her words, Chu Yan gave an almost imperceptible nod to show that he understood. And that was that.

After a staff member gave Leng Yaozhu detailed information about Chu Yan, the staff member left.

Holding the sheet of information in her hand, Leng Yaozhu's lips twitched as she murmured to herself, "The Chu Clan's young clan head, Chu Yan, six years old, awakened his Martial Soul less than half a month ago. The day he awakened, a pillar of light appeared and shot up from the Chu Clan into the clouds. He still hasn't come to the Spirit Pagoda to obtain a Soul Spirit?... Interesting."

This little fellow's Soul Power fluctuations were beyond what a Soul Scholar could possess. They were nearly at the level of a Soul Grandmaster. Could he really have no Soul Ring?

If he had a Soul Ring, how had he obtained it?

And his spiritual power had reached the Spirit Connection Realm. She had never seen a child with such talent before.

What an interesting little fellow.

The banquet gradually drew to a close. Guests began to rise and take their leave, while the attendants started clearing the tableware and tidying up the tables in an orderly fashion.

Xu Zonghan excused himself from the company of several family friends and went over to Xu Xiaoyan. He said a few quiet words to her, and she obediently nodded before turning to Chu Yan.

"Brother Yan, I'm going home with Father."

"All right." Chu Yan stood up and smiled at her. "I'll come see you tomorrow."

"Really?" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes lit up.

"Really."

"Then it's a promise!" Xu Xiaoyan held out her little finger and looked at him earnestly.

Chu Yan held out his little finger too and gently hooked it around hers.

"Pinky promise, no take-backs for a hundred years." After reciting the words, Xu Xiaoyan smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. She let go, then turned and skipped back to her father.

Xu Zonghan gave Chu Yan a slight nod, then said a few words to Chu Yuntian before leading his two children toward the hall's exit.

A short while later, Chu Yuntian returned after saying goodbye to his business associates.

"Yan'er, we should get ready to..." He trailed off halfway through, noticing Chu Yan's expression, and paused.

Chu Yan then moved closer and spoke in a low voice that only the two of them could hear. "Father, Tower Master Leng just used mental communication to tell me to stay after the gathering ends. She wants to speak with me privately."

At this, Chu Yuntian stopped moving for a moment, a flash of surprise quickly passing through his eyes.

He glanced toward the seat of honor. Leng Yaozhu was still sitting there, and the branch master of Eastsea City seemed to be explaining something to her. Her expression was calm.

He looked down at his son again, and the surprise on his face gradually gave way to an indescribably complicated expression.

"She was the one who approached you?"

"Yes."

Chu Yuntian was silent for two seconds, then drew a quiet breath. Lowering his voice, he said, "Then stay and have a good talk with her. Don't be nervous, and don't try to show off. Since she noticed you, there must be something about you that interests her. After all, both your Martial Soul and your spiritual power are impressive."

"I understand, Father."

After a brief pause, Chu Yuntian patted his shoulder and added, "I'll wait for you downstairs. When you're done, come straight down to find me. There's no rush, though. Take as long as you need."

With that, he turned and headed for the hall's exit. Though his expression was calm, he could hardly have been anything but excited. He never would have expected the Chu Clan to be lucky enough to encounter such a rare opportunity.

That was Sky Phoenix Douluo! One of the continent's most powerful experts!

Chu Yan watched his father's figure disappear at the entrance to the corridor, then looked back toward the seat of honor.

By then, only a few tables of guests remained in the hall, still chatting. Before long, they too rose and took their leave.

The attendants were nearly done cleaning up as well. Most of the plates had been cleared from the long tables, leaving only a few refreshments in place.

Only after the hall had fallen completely silent did Leng Yaozhu put down her teacup and stand.

She said nothing, merely glanced in Chu Yan's direction to signal him to follow, then turned and headed toward a corridor off to the side of the hall.

A Spirit Pagoda staff member stood at the corridor entrance. Seeing Leng Yaozhu approach, they bowed respectfully and stepped aside to clear the way.

Chu Yan stood up and followed without hesitation.

The corridor was not very long. Pale-blue Soul Guidance Lamps were embedded along both walls, casting soft, even light.

Chu Yan followed three or four steps behind Leng Yaozhu. His footsteps rang especially clearly in the quiet corridor. The woman ahead of him walked with unhurried composure, the hem of her dark red dress brushing lightly against the floor as she moved.

After about a dozen steps, Leng Yaozhu stopped in front of a door and pushed it open.

Beyond it was a modestly sized reception room, simply furnished yet refined in every detail.

A dark-brown wooden tea table stood by the window, with a set of celadon teaware on top. A neatly trimmed potted plant sat on a low table beside it, and a faint fragrance lingered in the air.

Leng Yaozhu entered the room and sat down on the sofa in the seat of honor, then gestured to the seat opposite her.

"Sit."

Chu Yan didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down on the sofa opposite her.

The sofa was neither too soft nor too firm, much more comfortable than the chairs at the banquet. He sat naturally, resting his hands casually on his knees, his gaze level with the woman across from him.

Leng Yaozhu picked up the teapot on the table and poured herself a cup of tea. Then she took another empty cup, filled it, and gently pushed it toward Chu Yan.

"Don't be nervous. We're just having a casual chat."