Wu Yong froze.
He had imagined Wang Quan making excuses out of shame, politely declining out of inferiority, or meekly letting himself be dragged over to the banquet.
In the instant he invited Wang Quan, he had thought of more than a dozen possibilities.
But he had never imagined Wang Quan refusing like this.
Anything to discuss could wait until after the banquet?
Those words echoed in Wu Yong's ears. He was refusing me!
Refusing to discuss things with me!
His first banquet, and he wanted to enjoy it properly? Heh... all excuses.
Did he feel I had neglected him these past few days and failed to congratulate him promptly on beginning his cultivation?
Or did he resent me for not providing his initial cultivation resources?
What right did he have to resent me?
Displeased, Wu Yong flicked his sleeves and returned.
When he returned to his seat and saw Zhao Hongyi using a handsome youth as a chair, he felt deeply displeased.
"Hongyi, I just saw Wang Quan!"
He recounted what had happened, then finished indignantly, "Wang Quan resents me for not helping him!"
"But we were busy dredging up black sinking sand back then, and time was tight. Besides, so many resources went to those above us that I hardly had any left to support him."
"Why should he blame me for that?"
Zhao Hongyi chuckled. "He has only just begun cultivating. He has yet to understand the hardships on the road to immortality."
"Once he understands, he won't resent you. He might even feel guilty and come apologize!"
Wu Yong sighed. "I hope so!"
"I even thoughtfully chose the [White Bone Great Strength Gods and Devils Method] for him and arranged a place for him in our team ahead of time."
"Yet he didn't appreciate it!"
"He really... disappointed me!"
Just then, Qian Xiuyue approached with a Big-Bellied Beauty and a Big-Bellied Handsome Youth transformed from two wine jars.
"What are you talking about?"
Wu Yong recounted the incident again, then could not help saying, "I just don't understand why he's so cold toward me!"
Qian Xiuyue chuckled. Meanwhile, the beauty and handsome youth transformed from wine jars nestled up beside Wu Yong and Zhao Hongyi, opening their mouths to pour wine for him and her.
The two threw decorum to the winds, embracing the fine wine and drinking their fill.
Wine splashed, its fragrance intoxicating. Winged sprites flew out of the wine's fragrance, clapping and dancing around the pair.
A trace of mockery flashed in Qian Xiuyue's eyes. She turned toward the lower-tier seats. "He became cold toward you the moment you arrogantly ordered Wang Quan to cultivate the [White Bone Great Strength Gods and Devils Method]!"
"You, Wu Yong-what gives you the right to plan his future?"
"Do you really think you have more Daoist scriptures than he does?"
"Do you really think he knows nothing?"
"We should have been friends, not superior and subordinate."
Qian Xiuyue left.
Wu Yong stood stunned.
Zhao Hongyi, however, gave a soft, mocking laugh. "Has Qian Xiuyue swayed you?"
"If you want to strike out on your own too, then go ahead. I won't stop you!"
"Besides, I have never treated you as a subordinate!"
Wu Yong rose, murmuring to himself, "Does Wang Quan really know more Daoist scriptures than I do?"
Zhao Hongyi said nothing, merely hugging the two jars of fine wine and drinking with abandon.
Wu Yong looked around, searching for Wang Quan.
He did not find Wang Quan among the lower-tier seats. He only saw Qian Xiuyue drinking with a crowd of cultivators.
He scanned the middle-tier seats but still did not spot Wang Quan.
Finally, he slowly turned toward the upper-tier seats:
There was a raised platform among the upper-tier seats. On it, a cultivator bowed with clasped hands in every direction:
"Everyone, as of today, the Star Alliance's [Seven Maidens Mountain Estate] is officially open!"
"From now on, fellow Daoists passing by the [Seven Maidens Mountain Estate] may stop here to rest!"
"Everyone, drain this cup!"
Everyone raised their cups. "Drink!"
At that moment, Wu Yong saw Wang Quan drinking.
Handsome youths and beauties attended the young man, as did spirit monsters in the shapes of foxes, cats, rabbits, and more.
Yet he kept feeling that Wang Quan was utterly out of place amid it all.
The young man quietly ate the delicacies and drank the fine wine. Surrounded by revelry, he seemed strangely-lonely.
The sun sank behind the western mountains:
Some cultivators rode away on clouds of mist, gourds, thunder and fire, and other conveyances, whistling through the air.
Others departed in a drunken haze astride parrots, butterflies, moths, and the like.
But many cultivators remained at the [Seven Maidens Mountain Estate].
The spirit monsters replaced the wine and delicacies, while lantern spirit monsters fluttered all across the sky. Firefly spirit monsters led their elders and fellow villagers in a graceful dance, rehearsing ahead of time for the light show after dark.
Qian Xiuyue approached Wang Quan, who was still drinking alone. "Why are you so quiet?"
Wang Quan smiled. "The revelry here surpasses the Market Ward's a hundred, a thousand times over!"
"But it doesn't belong to me!"
Qian Xiuyue smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. "Join the Star Alliance, and this place will be your home!"
"But it's fine if you don't join. You can still visit!"
"When you come, this place belongs to you!"
Wang Quan smiled and changed the subject. "Well, I have a friend..."
Qian Xiuyue swept her sleeve, clearing the delicacies and wine from a nearby table. She sat cross-legged on it, propping her fragrant cheek on her hand. "Hmm, and this friend isn't you?"
Wang Quan shook his head. "This friend of mine wanted to ask whether your retreat still needs people."
"She wants to arrange positions here for some members of her lineage!"
Qian Xiuyue considered briefly. "Ten people."
"This friend of yours can send ten people here, but I won't give anyone preferential treatment."
"Because, apart from the few of us, everyone in this manor has connections!"
Wang Quan smiled. "Thank you!"
Qian Xiuyue chuckled. "For us cultivators, it's a matter of you helping me and me helping you!"
"There will certainly come a day when I need your help!"
Wang Quan smiled. "When that time comes, I'll certainly help."
Qian Xiuyue nodded.
The two chatted for a while as night fell.
"Tonight, the Seven Maidens Mountain Estate will officially activate the All-Heaven Starry Array."
"The array's power should cover almost all of Seven Maidens Mountain."
Wang Quan stood. "I'm making a trip into the second-layer world tonight, so I won't be cultivating anyway."
"Go ahead and cultivate yourselves. Don't worry about me!"
Qian Xiuyue frowned. "The second-layer world may be novel and offer opportunities, but it really does eat into your cultivation time."
"After all, Dharma power is the foundation!"
"Besides, it will be safer to explore it later, once your Yin Spirit is stronger!"
Wang Quan nodded.
After a little more conversation, Qian Xiuyue rose and took her leave.
Before long, great banners over a hundred feet tall rose from the ground, one after another.
There were three hundred and sixty-five banners in all, each embroidered with images of the stars of heaven: Purple Tenuity, Ketu, Rahu, Feilian, Great White, Yinghuo, Jade Balance, and others.
The great banners billowed, sweeping up the streams of starlight that descended.
Wang Quan looked out and saw the starlight over more than a dozen surrounding mountains being drawn toward them.
A thought stirred in his mind. Why has the All-Heaven Stars and Constellations Grand Array grown so much more powerful tonight?
Could the [Seven Maidens Mountain Estate]'s All-Heaven Stars and Constellations Grand Array actually be a single node within an even larger stellar array?
The Star Alliance? What a grand undertaking!
During the first half of the night, Wang Quan toiled in the second-layer world.
He continued methodically cleansing the reliefs, ghost faces, and other carvings on the cafeteria's Hall Pillar, doors, and windows.
But as time passed, his cleansing speed steadily declined.
At first, five recitations of the People-Crossing Scripture had been enough to deal with a relief or ghost face.
Now, it took six or seven.
When he encountered reliefs or ghost faces fond of hurling abuse, it took ten recitations of the People-Crossing Scripture to deal with them.
Permanent cleansing had grown harder, but the rewards had increased too.
He was not losing out.
Before you continue