Lu Zhiyuan arrived late.
He descended from the sky in his gleaming golden flying boat, making a turn in the sky, and called out loudly to Chen Shuangbai, who was surrounded by several friends offering their congratulations. " Junior Brother Chen, the chef for the Hundred Flavors Pavilion has already been chosen, let's all go together."
Seeing the genuine smile on Lu Zhiyuan's face, Chen Shuangbai didn't stand on ceremony with him and called everyone to go together.
Not long after.
Cloud Peak Small Market, Hundred Flavors Pavilion.
Although Hundred Flavors Pavilion cannot compare to the Thousand Fragrances Pavilion outside, it is still very difficult to get a seat within the Jade Spring Sect.
Lu Zhiyuan's ability to book a private room that can accommodate twelve people is quite impressive.
As expected.
Huang Shanglan also arrived and personally stood at the door to offer her congratulations to Chen Shuangbai.
"Congratulations on winning the championship, Junior Brother Chen!"
One by one, the group entered the room and found that the interior was decorated in a very elegant style, with a sense of mountains and flowing water. There was also a screen in the room, on which was a beautiful figure, and the melodious sound of a guzheng came from inside, which was quite similar to the small and exquisite gardens in Jiangnan.
From this vantage point, one can also see the bustling crowds of Cloud Peak Small Market below and the misty peaks of Jade Spring in the distance.
" Senior Brother Lu, you've gone to so much trouble."
Chen Shuangbai cupped her hands and smiled. The prices at the Hundred Flavors Pavilion are not low, and Lu Zhiyuan must have put a lot of thought into booking such an elegant private room.
"Hey, Junior Brother Chen, you're being too polite!"
Lu Zhiyuan waved his hand generously, personally poured wine for everyone, and said, "Today you are the star, congratulations! There's no need for any expense."
"Besides, we are friends. I'm celebrating my friend's victory, and I'm spending these Spirit Stone and Merit Points willingly."
Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.
As it happened, several of Chen Shuangbai's friends from the sect were there, so he introduced them to everyone one by one, which was enough to gather a small circle together.
Lu Zhiyuan was adept at social maneuvering, and Huang Shanglan was no less so.
In just a few words and over drinks, the prospective Daoist dao companion became acquainted with several of Chen Shuangbai's friends. Their understated praise pleased the group.
In fact, Chen Shuangbai didn't have that many friends within the clan.
Aside from Fu Qianlan and He Qi, who were fellow townsmen from the same county, the only people she was close to and had a good relationship with were Lu Zhiyuan and Huang Shanglan, who were about to become dao companion, and Wei Mingdang, with whom she had some personal connections.
The others I know are mostly fellow disciples introduced by these friends. Although we keep in touch, our friendships aren't deep.
"Come, let's raise a glass together to congratulate Junior Brother Chen on winning first place and bringing glory to our outer sect! We also wish Junior Brother Chen a successful Dao Path in his cultivation after finding a renowned master!"
For a time, cups and plates were clinked, and laughter filled the air.
Fine wine and delicious food, good friends and fellow students—the atmosphere was extremely harmonious.
The spiritual food was quite delicious, and with the addition of the famous Amber Condensed Fragrance wine brought by Lu Zhiyuan, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal, truly feeling that the trip was worthwhile.
After drinking for a while, the atmosphere in the private room gradually became more lively.
Everyone stopped surrounding Chen Shuangbai and started talking about their own things. It seemed like they were congratulating Chen Shuangbai, but it was actually a way for them to vent their own stress.
The trial run is over, so the war... is about to begin.
Just then, a knock and a questioning voice came from outside the Hundred Flavors Pavilion restaurant.
"Distinguished guests, a senior disciple from the inner sect has arrived. He says he knows Senior Brother Chen."
Inside the side room, everyone had a different surname.
This naturally refers to Chen Shuangbai.
Excuse me.
As Chen Shuangbai stepped out of the room, the servant waiting outside, ready to obey orders at any moment, respectfully greeted him and said, " Senior Brother Chen, that inner sect senior brother said he wants you to go to the nearby mountain peak to find him."
Mysterious...
Chen Shuangbai only knew three inner disciple.
Ding Chengyu, Lu Xin, and... three years ago, they were promoted to the inner sect and became disciples of Jiang Xunzhen, a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
It should be Ding Chengyu.
The nearby mountain peaks are easy to find; just leave Hundred Flavors Pavilion and look around, and you'll see them.
Above the mountain peak, drifting clouds and howling winds filled the air.
Chen Shuangbai arrived riding the wind and indeed saw a person standing in the pavilion, congratulating him. "Congratulations, Junior Brother Chen, on winning the championship and soaring to new heights."
"Wait... Senior Brother Du?"
Chen Shuangbai was somewhat taken aback.
It wasn't Ding Chengyu, the Senior Brother Ding he had guessed, but Du Zifeng.
Du Zifeng smiled somewhat awkwardly, bowed deeply to Chen Shuangbai, and said, " Junior Brother Chen, I have come here to apologize to you."
Chen Shuangbai suddenly remembered something.
Before he descended the mountain, he had entrusted Du Zifeng with a considerable amount of spiritual materials to forge a Law Artifact for him.
As a result, the matter was delayed again and again. Now that he has returned to the mountain and participated in the Martial Edge Trial, the Law Artifact still has not been handed over to him.
Chen Shuangbai had originally planned to visit this Senior Brother Du in a couple of days, but since the other party came to him, it saved him some time.
Chen Shuangbai remained silent for a moment, which only made Du Zifeng more embarrassed.
He took something out of his Storage Bag and handed it to Chen Shuangbai, saying apologetically, "Junior Brother Chen, I'm so sorry. I was so engrossed in perfecting and refining your Law Artifact that I delayed it for too long. It's all my fault."
Please forgive me.
His candor made it difficult for Chen Shuangbai to utter any words of blame.
"Senior brother, what are you saying... But this Law Artifact is already complete?"
When the topic of Law Artifact came up, the embarrassment on Du Zifeng's face faded, and he reverted to the Du Zifeng that Chen Shuangbai had initially known, who was wholeheartedly devoted to artifact crafting.
However, instead of demonstrating the Law Artifact's function to Chen Shuangbai, he handed it to Chen Shuangbai and said, "This treasure is very important for the first time nurturing its original form's Law Power. Junior Brother Chen, please do it yourself."
Chen Shuangbai removed the temporary sealing talisman and saw a spirit flag with interwoven plain blue and azure magic patterns. The front depicted a rushing river with a bright moon shining in the sky, serene and strange. The back had thirty-six seal characters, each emitting a faint light, as if expounding some mysterious law.
But none of that matters. What matters is...
Chen Shuangbai reached out and grasped the jade-like flagpole. The purest and clearest Law Power cultivated from the " Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method " surged into it, and a wonderful feeling welled up in his heart. Suddenly, the moon disc in front of him emitted a light, illuminating the surrounding area with a clear glow.
"This feeling... has already transcended the level of Law Artifact, hasn't it?"
Chen Shuangbai asked tentatively.
Du Zifeng nodded in satisfaction, the apology on his face completely disappearing, replaced by an expression of utter pride.
"Junior brother, you truly have discerning eyes; you are no ordinary person."
"After my master emerged from seclusion, I specially begged for a spiritual material and smelted it into the artifact, ultimately obtaining this Spirit Artifact that can draw upon the essence of the moon and the primordial energy of heaven and earth, and contain the moisture from the earth's veins!"
" Spirit Artifact!"