Amid the towering buildings and bustling streets, the guests had enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Once the clamor faded, only a jumble of cups and dishes remained.
The celebration had lasted a full hundred days, but finally drew to a close in late September, with guests from all quarters departing one after another.
Li Ling held successive discussions with the leaders of the various factions, settling development plans for at least the next hundred years. He also used this opportunity to truly enter the circle of great, prestigious sects-a fundamentally different world from that of cultivators he had previously encountered, such as True Person Wu Yan and One-Mind Daoist.
On another day, before the sect gates, Li Ling exchanged cupped-hand farewells with a burly old man whose beard spread like pine branches and whose hair bristled stiffly. This was the last party of guests: Venerable Longevity of the Longevity Hall on Gathering Grotto Continent.
Venerable Longevity said, "There is no need to see us any farther, True Lord. Please stay here."
Li Ling nodded. "Very well. I wish you all a smooth journey."
Venerable Longevity said with a smile, "Seventy-two great, prestigious sects came to congratulate you on your advancement. Fellow Daoists from all quarters gathered for cheerful conversation and wide-ranging discussions of the Dao and its arts. It was a thoroughly satisfying occasion.
"But as the saying goes, every banquet beneath heaven must eventually end. Though I regret not having met you sooner, True Lord, I must still take my leave.
"I hope to have the opportunity to invite you and your esteemed wife to visit our Longevity Hall someday. Gathering Grotto Continent lies in the Shenwei region of the West Sea, with many divine mountains and great trees. It should hold a wealth of spirit materials and treasures