"Fellow Daoist Zhao, this is the Fifth Elder of our Peach Blossom Island!" Wu Yuyan said to Zhao Yi.
"Zhao Yi of Linghua Island pays his respects to the Fifth Elder." Zhao Yi put on no airs either, offering a bow and taking the initiative to speak.
"So you are Zhao Yi?"
"I often hear Fellow Daoist Chen of Linghua Island mention you, and he never stops singing your praises. Meeting you today, I see that his words were no exaggeration."
"You flatter me, Fifth Elder. Zhao Yi merely began cultivating a few years earlier. Fellow Daoist Yu Yan is the true standout among the young!"
By the light of the sunstones around them, the more Zhao Yi looked, the more he felt that Wu Yuyan resembled this Fifth Elder.
"Haha, Yu Yan still needs more tempering."
As he spoke, he raised his wine cup, and Wu Yuyan immediately filled it.
Raising his cup toward Zhao Yi, he said, "Let this cup welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey, young friend Zhao Yi!" With that, he drained it.
Zhao Yi did not stand on ceremony either, raising his cup and draining it as well.
"Young friend Zhao, be sure to enjoy yourself to the fullest today!"
Zhao Yi nodded and said mildly, "Please, Fifth Elder, do not let me keep you!"
Once the Peach Blossom Island cultivators had left, Zhao Yi loosened his collar and fanned himself twice, thinking, I should leave this sort of thing to Liu Yu in the future.
Before long, a figure sat down beside Zhao Yi, reached for a spirit peach, and began eating.
"You already mooched a spirit peach off me on Little Wave Island last time, and now you're mooching another!"
"I knew you didn't like eating anything but meat, so I came especially to help you eat it."
"Hmph, you brat, you still have the nerve to face me? You didn't even tell me about something as important as your marriage!" Zhao Yi tossed away the chicken bone in his mouth and spoke flatly.
"Ah, ever since Linghua Island lifted the siege of Black Wind Island last time, we've been resting and recovering. The cultivators on the island have barely left at all. The whole island has practically been sealed off, so how could we let outsiders in?"
"Then how did you and Junior Sister Liu come to marry?"
"It was still because of the matter between Peach Blossom Island and Three Heroes Island. Peach Blossom Island wanted to draw Black Wind Island to its side through marriage, only to discover after coming to the island that Black Wind Island had ended up in its present state. But there was nothing for it except to proceed with the marriage. Still, Peach Blossom Island really has given Black Wind Island a great deal of help!"
Zhao Yi nodded.
"I really liked the thank-you gift from Black Wind Island that you entrusted Junior Sister Liu to deliver. You must have put a great deal of effort into securing such a generous gift!"
Zhao Yi raised his wine cup and lifted his head in a gesture. The two clinked cups and drained them.
"What effort did I put in? When Eldest Senior Brother learned that you'd killed ten Kongqing Island cultivators in a single night, his jaw dropped. Then, when he heard me say that you'd intended to come in person to collect a generous reward, he was even more shocked. Before his injuries had even healed properly, he opened the treasury and took out that Fangtian Huaji, then entrusted Junior Sister Liu to bring it over before the trade fair!"
Yuan Zifeng chuckled.
Looking at Yuan Zifeng, Zhao Yi gave a wry laugh. "You've completely ruined my image among your Black Wind Island cultivators. Now I'm a petty man who uses a favor to demand repayment!"
"Still, that Fangtian Huaji really is excellent!"
"Of course it is! It was forged by Black Wind Island's island lord from two generations ago, a Spirit Attraction Stage cultivator. He originally intended to make a middle-grade dharma artifact, but something went wrong midway. In a fit of anger, he simply put it back in the furnace to reforge it, only to end up making a dharma artifact embryo!"
"To think it was so precious! No wonder it felt different in my hands. I thought that, at most, it had been made from a low-grade spirit material!" Zhao Yi was astonished.
"Oh, right, this is for you!" An object wrapped in black cloth was pressed into Zhao Yi's hand.
Zhao Yi felt it. It was square, palm-sized, and very thin. He was about to unwrap it when Yuan Zifeng stopped him and whispered, "Look at it when you get back!"
"What is it?"
"An artifact refining inheritance. If you reach the Spirit Attraction Stage in the future, or Linghua Island trains an artifact refiner of its own, it can help you upgrade your long ji into a dharma artifact!" Yuan Zifeng mumbled.
Zhao Yi's expression changed slightly. Raising his wine cup to conceal his face, he cursed under his breath, "Have you lost your wits? Gone mad? If the people of Black Wind Island found out you'd secretly leaked an artifact refining inheritance, they might well scatter both your souls to the winds!"
"What are you thinking? My master passed this on to me before he died. It isn't part of Black Wind Island's inheritance!"
"If he left it to you, then keep it properly! Why give it to me?"
"I'm going to be a father soon. If the child has an aptitude for cultivation when he grows up, how about letting him join your Linghua Island?"
"Of course!" Zhao Yi agreed without hesitation.
"That token would work too. You don't have to give me this inheritance!"
Yuan Zifeng shook his head. Zhao Yi sighed and said no more. The two had quite a drinking contest together. The spirit wine was rich and mellow, with a powerful kick. They drank four pots between them, drawing repeated looks from those nearby. Just look at those two, acting as though they had never seen anything good before!
When the banquet ended, the two went their separate ways.
Back in his room, Zhao Yi wiped his face and instantly sobered up. He took out the black cloth and unwrapped it to reveal a jade slip inside. With a faint sigh, he held it in his hand and pondered for a long time.
Early the next morning, Zhao Yi sat beneath a tree in the courtyard and began his morning cultivation. A habit formed over decades was not so easily changed. Even in an unfamiliar place, morning cultivation still had to be done.
After he finished his morning cultivation, the cultivators staying nearby also emerged from their rooms. They nodded to one another, then went about their own business.
Before long, Peach Blossom Island sent someone to invite them over. The ceremony would officially begin at the hour of the Snake. Zhao Yi made a few preparations, picked up his gift, and went out.
Under their guide's lead, they entered Lingxiu Manor.
The manor's central courtyard had already been prepared. Spirit flowers bloomed everywhere, their fragrance drifting through the air, while the leaves of the red maple spirit trees blazed like fire. A flock of spirit birds hopped and danced among the branches, their calls clear and pleasing to the ear. To Zhao Yi, such arrangements were already quite impressive. After all, Peach Blossom Island was no great power. Where would it find rare and wondrous beasts, immortal cranes, or spirit apes?
The cultivators who had come to offer congratulations took their assigned seats in turn. Those who knew one another occasionally gathered in groups of three or five to converse, while the sociable ones chatted freely with their neighbors.
"The hour of the Snake has arrived. Let the ceremony begin!"
Everyone began staring intently at the seat in the center.
Peach blossom petals drifted down as a white-clad figure arrived on a flying sword and slowly descended onto the central seat.
"I, Wu Yuying, thank all my fellow Daoists for coming to attend this celebration!" With that, she bowed.
The cultivators below rose in unison and called out, "Congratulations to the Island Lord on entering the Spirit Attraction Stage, with the Dao Foundation now in sight!"
"I, Wu Yuying, thank all my fellow Daoists. Please be seated!"
At her words, everyone sat down.
Next came the presentation of congratulatory gifts from the various islands.
"The Zhao Family of Little Wave Island presents one piece of middle-grade spirit material, azure essence wood heart, to congratulate Island Master Wu on advancing to the Spirit Attraction Stage!"
"Wind Howl Island presents one Spirit Attraction Stage demon core to congratulate Island Master Wu on advancing to the Spirit Attraction Stage!"
"Xuanli Island presents one piece of hundred-year-old fire jade to congratulate Island Master Wu on advancing to the Spirit Attraction Stage!"
"Linghua Island presents one piece of low-grade water jade to congratulate Island Master Wu on advancing to the Spirit Attraction Stage!"
As the cultivator announcing the gifts called it out, Zhao Yi brought his gift forward, and a cultivator came to receive it.
Returning to his seat, Zhao Yi vaguely sensed a gaze directed at him. He looked around but discovered nothing. He therefore set aside his doubts and quietly watched the ceremony proceed.
Once all the gifts had been announced, Wu Yuying rose to offer her thanks, and everyone stood once more to return the courtesy.
Only now was the ceremony halfway through. Next came the feast!
Yesterday's banquet had already made Zhao Yi feel that Peach Blossom Island had substantial reserves. He had long been looking forward to today's formal banquet!
Before you continue