Chen Heng looked around, only then realizing that, at some unknown point, he had found himself inside a magnificent palace.
Pearls and jeweled pendants adorned it, alongside painted peacock screens. Beautiful music filled the hall, where two rows of lovely dancers moved to its rhythm, graceful and alluring, as radiant as heavenly maidens in flight.
At the head of the hall sat Cave Lord Huaiwu, a slight smile on his face. Seated to his left and right were Refinement Master Cui Wuyue of the Five Radiances Sect and Refinement Master Xie Tan of Flower God Manor.
Beyond these three, several more seats were arranged in order, occupied by Cavern Mystery Refiners from various smaller sects.
The one who had just spoken was Xie Tan of Flower God Manor.
Judging by his appearance alone, he looked around twenty, with a jade-like face, vermilion lips, fine eyes and brows, and skin white as snow: the very image of an elegant young gentleman in a turbid world.
He leisurely waved a tortoiseshell folding fan painted in watercolors and outlined in gold. Twelve beauties adorned its surface: some noble and intelligent, some pure and lovely, some serene, some seductive, some voluptuous... Though their temperaments differed, all possessed peerless beauty, one in ten thousand. Meticulous brushwork rendered their faces and figures lifelike, down to the finest detail, as though they might step gracefully off the fan at any moment.
Their radiance eclipsed even the lovely dancers, leaving them as candle flames beside the bright moon.
"This folding fan is a prized creation of Refinement Master Tao Han of the Huzhao Sect. Did you notice something unusual about the beauties on it just now? Your spiritual perception is quite keen. You count as a talent among Qi Refining cultivators."
Xie Tan suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly,