Yi Shuyuan certainly could not simply accept such a profound bow from the Southern Sea Dragon Lord, so he reached out to support him.
"Dragon Lord, there is no need for such ceremony. This is my wish as well!"
The old dragon raised his head and clasped Yi Shuyuan's arm.
"Fellow Daoist, why still call me Dragon Lord? Just call me Fellow Daoist Wu, or Brother Wu if you like. Oh, perhaps you are a few years older than I am-in that case, Younger Brother Wu would do too!"
Calling him Younger Brother was rather unlikely. At this moment, Yi Shuyuan felt that Wu Yin, the Southern Sea Dragon Lord, was quite a delightful fellow-no, a delightful dragon. At least he was much more approachable than the aloof East Sea Dragon Lord.
Perhaps only someone like him would refrain from opposing his daughter's marriage to Xie Zhiwu. Of course, Xie Zhiwu himself certainly needed exceptional qualities as well.
"In that case, Fellow Daoist Wu, let us dispense with the formalities. Since our wishes are the same, we should naturally work together!"
Yi Shuyuan's words stirred even greater excitement in Wu Yin, an old dragon long accustomed to an indolent life.
"You are quite right, Fellow Daoist!"
By this point, the nature of the Dragon Palace's treasure-appraisal banquet had changed completely. Although the Southern Sea Dragon Lord had prepared many other treasures, this Immortal Dao alchemy furnace, while one of the most important, had mainly been intended to open the proceedings with a surprise.
After all, this was the only treasure the Southern Sea Dragon Lord was certain could astound Yi Daozi.
As it turned out, it had indeed astounded Yi Daozi-and everyone else as well, stirring every heart.
The banquet continued, of course, but it had become more of a