The next day, dawn's first light glimmered.
The Chen estate was already teeming with people, far noisier than the day before.
Dressed in sumptuous ceremonial robes, the Chen Household's head immediately greeted Chu Mo and his companion warmly. "Fellow Daoists, did you rest well last night?"
"Thank you for your concern, Household Head Chen. Everything was fine," Chu Mo replied with a smile.
"Good, good!" Chen Tianming nodded repeatedly and gestured them onward. "Please follow me. Your seats of honor are ready."
He led the two of them to a lavish section of the square, with only a handful of seats on either side-clearly reserved for honored guests.
Ignoring the gazes around him, Chu Mo sat down and waited for the banquet to begin.
As the appointed hour approached, a bell rang nine times, its resonant notes carrying through the mountains.
The square instantly fell silent, every gaze turning toward the main hall.
The hall doors slowly opened. Several Chen Household elders filed out and stood on either side. Then a figure stepped out unhurriedly and made his way to the seat of honor.
[Level 29 · True Person Red Rosy Clouds]
Chu Mo held his breath and focused, the Peering Origin Talisman in his sleeve activating on its own.
Yet True Person Red Rosy Clouds seemed no different from yesterday, his divine radiance contained within and his Dao resonance seamless. He sat in the seat of honor, calmly accepting the attention of the assembled crowd.
"The auspicious hour has arrived! Let the birthday ceremony begin! Present your gifts!" The elder presiding over the ceremony mustered his true qi and proclaimed loudly.
The representatives who had long been waiting immediately stepped forward in order, presenting their gifts while announcing their names and offerings.
"The Windforest Xu Household respectfully