"—Welcome, welcome."
Rat Immortal strolled out of the void. His somewhat plump figure gradually solidified amid the shifting faint light before finally stopping in front of the group. This appearance differed somewhat from the image he usually presented to the outside world, but his aura was exactly the same; no one could possibly mistake him.
A pale yellow radiance emanated from him, forming an irregular spherical field of light around him. It stood in sharp contrast to the faint light of the void behind him, like the halo behind a divine statue or portrait, only much larger—halos in ordinary depictions of gods usually appeared only behind the head and neck, whereas Rat Immortal's "halo" resembled a bubble that enveloped his entire body.
"—To have Dean of the Edge grace us with his presence truly brings honor to this trading fair."
Another somewhat familiar voice sounded immediately afterward. Following it, Zheng Qing noticed that beside Rat Immortal floated another dim little sphere of light, within which stood the Wandering Wizard in gray robes.
At that moment, he had removed his pointed wizard's hat and held it against his chest with one hand as he bowed in greeting to the Young Legendary.
His manner was solemn and his words humble, utterly lacking the slickness Zheng Qing had sensed when they first met.
"Thank you!"
The Young Legendary could not help looking around, sighing. "Actually, there was no need for the few of us to attend. This place was already lively enough..."
It was obvious that the Wandering Wizard had put extraordinary care into preparing this trading venue for the Legends. The space was unimaginably vast, nothing like the interior of a Grand Wizard-level giant squid. Along its edges drifted bands of light, slow and wavering like an Aurora, resplendent with shifting colors.