The Chu sent visitors.
A middle-aged man with graying temples stepped down from the carriage.
He wore splendid embroidered robes, his gaze gentle, looking less like a martial artist than a learned scholar.
He was none other than the current head of the Chu: Chu Nan.
Behind him stood Chu Yunfei, who had long since advanced to the Qi Refining Realm.
Xuan Yin and Xuan Tong dared not neglect them and offered Daoist salutations. Chu Nan put on no airs either, returning their greetings with clasped fists. He handed the congratulatory gifts to Chang Ning, then strode up the mountain with Chu Yunfei.
True Person Yuanji of the Heavenly Seal Sect and True Person Three Rings of the Jade Ring Sect arrived in succession. Since the Truth-Seeking Abbey had not intended to hold a grand celebration and had little acquaintance with the other Great Sects of the Daoist Tradition, it had not invited any other Daoist lineages to attend the ceremony.
Though the Purple Dawn Sect, the Spirit Official Sect, and others wished to ease relations and forge a favorable bond, they had no invitations and could hardly turn up uninvited on such a day. They merely entrusted True Person Yuanji with their gifts, sending presents rather than representatives.
Their goodwill had been received. As for their future relations, that would depend on what followed; no answer could be given yet.
Afterward, two more carriages arrived and stopped at the foot of Floating Cloud Mountain, one from Cangyue Commandery and the other from Tianhe Commandery. The plainer carriage carried a middle-aged man and a young boy and girl; the more lavish one carried a beautiful middle-aged woman and twin girls.
"Our respects to you, martial uncles."
After stepping down and seeing Xuan Tong and Xuan Yin, they led their children