May 20, Broad Cloud Ward, Immortal Crossing Terrace.
A Flying Boat cleaved through the heavens and slowly descended, like an immortal palace from beyond the sky.
Mirage images shimmered over it, its terraces and towers seeming almost real. Amid the swirling clouds and mist, figures could faintly be seen moving aboard.
They were another group of merchants and travelers drawn by its reputation, hoping to discover what this new city had to offer.
Among the crowd, a broad-faced old man with a square forehead strode briskly across the boarding bridge in a brocade robe, standing out like a crane among chickens.
This old man was none other than the Wandering Rogue Cultivator Hua Yongshan.
Li Chen was waiting in person in the square below. He immediately recognized the man whose appearance he had previously seen through a communication artifact, and walked over with a smile.
"Are you Master Artisan Hua? I am Li Chen. My greetings."
Hua Yongshan laughed heartily. "Peak Master Li, I have long admired your reputation. Even when I was in Sea Eye City, I had already heard of the Twin Fish Master Artisan. In fact, I was in the city back then as well. Unfortunately, fate denied us a meeting, and I never had the chance to see you."
Li Chen asked in surprise, "You were there back then too, fellow Daoist?"
"Indeed!" Hua Yongshan replied.
The two seemed to have found common ground at once, and their conversation flowed pleasantly.
Li Chen led Hua Yongshan onto Mechanism Beasts shaped like powerful leopards. An honor guard of Mountain Folk guards cleared the way ahead, while Puppets and Mecha escorted them straight to the Inner Valley beneath Spirit Peak.
Once they entered the inner hall and took their seats as host and guest, Li Chen summoned a