Compared with the thronging first floor, the second floor was noticeably quieter.
The spacious hall was decorated in subdued tones. Musicians played zithers behind beaded curtains, while a steward of the Mountains and Seas Tower introduced various treasures on the central dais:
"This sword scabbard was used by the Martial Ancestor in his youth. Its name is 'Crossing Calamity.' Our city lord happened upon it during his travels through the Great Desert long ago and has treasured it for a hundred years as a cherished favorite. This is its first public appearance-"
The hall was truly a gathering of outstanding figures.
Lü Yan of Five-Spirit Mountain sat sipping tea at a tea table. Having carelessly lost the Yellow Qilin Seal yesterday, he had feared Brat Xie would come knocking to extort him and spent a hefty sum buying it back. Between losing it and buying it back, a considerable chunk of his wealth had gone down the drain. Now he wore a woeful expression, with no interest whatsoever in bidding.
Several other renowned veterans of cultivation were seated in the hall. Chen Yishan sat not far from Lü Yan, and nearby was a Black-Clothed Cloak Person, utterly motionless and exuding a rather imposing presence.
Long Boyuan occupied a seat near the front, beside Gu Xuanzun, sect leader of the Demon Soul Sect, a local heavyweight of Dragonbone Shoal. Although Gu Xuanzun came from the Demonic Sect, his bearing looked no different from that of an ordinary cultivator. Only his gaze occasionally strayed toward a distant tea table.
Several witches in white robes stood around that table. The Northern Darkness Sect Holy Maiden, adorned from head to toe in silver ornaments, sat upright in her chair, quietly discussing something with her companions.
Han Yuemei, sect leader of Hundred Flowers Grove, had