Preparation

Having digested the information in the jade slip, Xu Yuan had a clearer outline of the Dragon Palace's birthday banquet in his mind. He closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a moment, bringing himself to peak condition before taking out several materials.

Since he had decided to attend the banquet, he had to prepare a birthday gift. With only two days left, there was no time to search for or refine especially rare treasures. He would have to select from what he already possessed, or make simple alterations to highlight the characteristics and sentiment of Clear Sand River.

The first things that came to mind were Clear Sand Spirit Rice and Jade Crystal Spiritfish. Both were specialties of Clear Sand River. The spirit rice contained pure wood and water spiritual energy, mild and easily absorbed, while the spiritfish had delicious flesh rich in spiritual energy, perhaps appealing to aquatic clans as well.

But using only those as a birthday gift would be far too ordinary and unable to hold up the occasion.

"There needs to be something distinctive..." Xu Yuan mused. His gaze swept over his storage pouch, and several items came to mind.

"Perhaps it could be done like this..." An idea gradually took shape in Xu Yuan's mind. He summoned Bi Qiong and Wang Ming and told them his plan.

"Use Hundred-Year Water-Nourished Jade as the base, carving it into a Clear Sand Auspicious Offering Ornament. The design can depict a miniature Clear Sand River, embellished with spirit rice and relief carvings of spiritfish."

"Then carve that piece of Agarwood Heartwood into a small birthday peach or lingzhi mushroom, and inlay it into the ornament as the finishing touch."

"Finally, seal the Clear-Mind Tranquility Talisman you refined, Bi Qiong, inside a jade bottle made from water-aspected