After the Banquet

Time flies, and before they knew it, it was time for Kang Changxi, the eldest Kang Dabao, to have his own banquet.

The scene that day was quite grand. Almost every power in the surrounding prefectures that was somewhat respectable and close to the Immortal Dynasty sent envoys to Little Ring Mountain to offer their congratulations.

Even the Demon Correction Office and the Han City Yue Household, who were always at odds with the Sima Office, were no exception.

Aside from the important figure Kuang Liuting being unable to attend due to unavailability, even Fei Nanying was absent today to support his niece and nephew-in-law. The latter did not explain the reason, and the Sect Leader Kang Da dared not ask.

The only consideration was that Boyue had only been a cultivator for a few years, so it was only natural for him to return home and focus on cultivation to solidify his realm.

However, while his words might convince himself, they would hardly convince Fei Shuhe.

But today is Kang Changxi's big day, and Fei Shuhe, as his mother, could not show any disappointment in her heart during this joyous occasion.

To avoid any trouble arising at his son's celebratory banquet, which would become fodder for gossip.

However, neither of the two important figures who were speculated to be attending today were present. It remains to be seen whether some people with ulterior motives can glean something deeper from this scene.

With Kuang and Fei absent, the Daoist Black Shoes should have been seated in the host's seat. However, the latter had been in seclusion for some time, and Kang Dabao and the other juniors had been unable to persuade him to come out of seclusion, so they had no choice but to give up.

In addition, none of Kang Dabao's brothers of the same generation attended the event.

Jiang Qing went to the Cold Crow Mountain Range. It is said that Lu Xingbei, the fourth of the Four Friends of Cold Mountain, claimed to have seen the shadow of the Literary Sword Orchid Grass in a cave.

That was Second-Tier Supreme-Grade spiritual herb that was very beneficial for sword cultivators to nurture their swords. Jiang Qing had been searching for it for a long time, and he had even inquired about it at the Myriad Treasures Trading Company in Tengwen Prefecture.

However, this prestigious trading company only said that this herb is rare, and their Mountain South branch does not currently have any in stock. They suggested that customers could come back in a few years when they restock.

Of course, if one really cannot wait, as long as one is willing to offer a reasonable price far higher than the market price, the manager of the merchant guild can inquire about the source of goods from other branches within the territory of the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty on behalf of Jiang Qing.

The price alone astonished even Jiang Qing, who was usually indifferent to material possessions. He was speechless and inwardly sighed, "This Myriad Treasures Trading Company is indeed not an ordinary force dealing with those below the Golden Core, as the outside world says."

Upon receiving news of Literary Sword Orchid Grass, Jiang Qing was naturally thrilled and could hardly contain himself.

The reason Lu Xingbei only saw a shadow of what appeared to be Literary Sword Orchid Grass was because he was startled by the aura of a powerful Demon Beast just as he was about to pick it.

Lu Xingbei felt that the Yao Qi was so strong that it almost blinded him.

He was, after all, a ruthless cultivator who had risen from the lowest level of a Rogue Cultivator who couldn't even afford a single Talisman Artifact to his current status through sheer hard work and perseverance.

Seeing this, Lu Xingbei dared not harbor any hope and could only rush back in a panic, only remembering the general direction of the cave's location.

According to him, that Demon Beast was definitely at least Second-Tier Upper-Grade, and was even on the verge of forming its Core Formation.

Although Lu Xingbei Foundation Establishment for nearly sixty years, he is still only an early-stage cultivator. Despite his rich and rare life experience, in Jiang Qing's eyes, his combat skills are only considered poor.

Therefore, Jiang Qing could not fully believe Lu Xingbei's description of the Demon Beast's strength.

In addition, he was really eager for the Literary Sword Orchid Grass, so he simply said hello to the busy Sect Leader Kang Da and went alone to the location reported by Lu Xingbei to search for the spiritual herb;

As for Pei Yi, after talking with Kang Rongquan, he went into seclusion to heal his injuries.

Upon learning this news, Sect Leader Kang Da could only let out a long sigh.

He thought that since Pei Que's death, Pei Yi's inner turmoil would probably be even more difficult to resolve. This was certainly not a good thing for Pei Yi's future attempts at Foundation Establishment.

In addition to the aforementioned figures, many high-ranking officials from Cloud Horn Prefecture Court had also come to Little Ring Mountain some time ago with the Earl of Earl of Nan'an.

Even though these people weren't as busy as this nobleman from the Immortal Dynasty, they couldn't possibly wait in this small Pingrong County for a month. So, like the Earl of Earl of Nan'an, they sent their gifts early and returned to their respective places.

As a result, the only notable figure left on the state court's side was Qin Sufu, the military commander.

During this time, he did not wait idly. He even made a special trip back to Xuanwei City, intending to bring Lord Yin Shan to Chongming City for a short stay, so that the latter might have a chance to talk with the Daoist Black Shoes.

However, the old man didn't want to get involved in this commotion and politely declined.

According to Qin Sufu, since last winter, the old man Lord Shan has been sleeping excessively and unable to get up.

Within each ten-day period, he could only be awake for half a day on three to five days. The Spiritual Qi in his bedroom was much richer than in other parts of the Military Academy, which was not a good omen for a cultivator who was about to die.

Even so, in those few remaining moments of lucidity, Lord Shan was still forcing himself to compile Daoist scriptures for future generations.

Upon hearing this Kang Dabao could only sigh, feeling that this old man was indeed devoting himself wholeheartedly to the people of Cloud Horn Prefecture.

Otherwise, given his resilience in withstanding the attacks of Golden Core Demon Officer's remnant soul for several days while only at the Qi Refinement, if he had made any other choice back then, he would probably be at least as prominent as the Daoist Black Shoes now, right?

The two brothers had just talked about the recent situation of the Lord Shan, and both were feeling bad, so their enthusiasm for conversation quickly waned.

Although Qin Sufu was close to Sect Leader Kang Da, he was now the son-in-law of the Yue Household, so it was not appropriate for him to be too close to the latter in public. The two tacitly entered the banquet hall one after the other.

Upon entering the bustling lobby, Qin Sufu immediately immersed himself in the vibrant atmosphere.

He came today on behalf of Kuang Liuting, and even Fei Granny Liu, who represents the Fei Household, is not as honored or noble as him. Naturally, there are many people who want to curry favor with him.

Qin Sufu also adopted an air of enjoyment, accepting all offers without hesitation. He ate cup after cup of spirit wine and immortal dew without even taking a sip, appearing genuinely happy.

With Qin Sufu in such a state, Kang Dabao, as the master, naturally had even less free time.

Fortunately, he is no longer the penniless minor official he was when he first married Fei Shuhe. Even when offered a toast, he drinks if he wants, and he will no longer be in such a sorry state as before.

Even the dignified fake alchemist Bian Hu, the elder of the Stone Mountain Sect who dominated Puzhou, was extremely polite to Kang Dabao. The old cultivator kept calling him "young friend," and if an uninformed bystander saw it, they would probably think that the two had been friends for decades.

The banquet hall of the Chongming Sect was filled with important figures, but those who genuinely wanted to congratulate Sect Leader Kang Da were not limited to these important figures.

However, the Spirit Vein in this Little Ring Mountain is only so-so. In the past, it was fine because the Chongming Sect had few people, but now it can only support the cultivation of three or four hundred disciples. The Spiritual Qi on the mountain is already somewhat insufficient, let alone entertaining guests from all directions.

Therefore, the mountain cannot accommodate many banquets or guests.

As a result, many low-level Rogue Cultivator who were grateful for the kindness of Sect Leader Kang Da and had come to offer their congratulations on their own initiative were unable to find seats.

However, their arrival actually enhanced the prestige of Sect Leader Kang Da in front of the assembled high-ranking cultivators. This time, he was unusually magnanimous and immediately wrote a letter to Double Brightness Trade Market.

Only half a day had passed since the message was sent, and flags were already fluttering incessantly on the Chongming Small Pavilion, with large seal characters scrolling continuously on the Mirage Qi Screen.

Steaming hot banquets were set up from one end of the market street to the other.

The food served by Zhou Xinran and Mo'er, though not as extravagant as the delicacies served at the banquets on Little Ring Mountain, was still a proper spiritual meal that would normally cost several fragments of spiritual grains per serving, enough to fill the bellies of these Rogue Cultivators who rarely had any oil in their stomachs.

On this day, people on the mountain were drinking and feasting, while those below were playing drinking games. Even ordinary households in Ping and Jin counties received preserved meats and rice distributed by local government offices, thus benefiting greatly. How could they not be happy?

Everyone was happy, and since they had eaten his food, they naturally felt indebted to him. So, when they raised their glasses at the banquet, the usual teasing remarks about Sect Leader Kang Da's "womanizing" were much less frequent.

It's a pity that even the best feast can only last for one day. If it could last for ten days or half a month, Kang Dabao's reputation would probably improve a lot.

Even the most stingy common folk, after enjoying the divine food for so long for free, would still be willing to give some as a token of appreciation, like "He's just like Lord Meng."

But the most honest and pragmatic Sect Leader Kang Da, was unwilling to be so extravagant. In fact, he began to regret it as soon as the banquet was set up. If the guests on the mountain hadn't left yet, and if he hadn't been somewhat concerned about his reputation, these Rogue Cultivator wouldn't be able to eat so heartily today.

After the banquet, the Rogue Cultivator gradually dispersed, while the guests on the mountain had a great time.

Fei Shuhe put a lot of thought into preparing a grand feast for her child, featuring many luxuries that could only be found in the Capital Circuit. This delighted and captivated the country bumpkins, making them forget all about home.

They were busy until noon the next day before Sect Leader Kang Da and his fellow disciples finally saw off the guests who had come to offer their congratulations.

But there's no time to rest. These gifts need to be sorted and carefully collected. Which gifts don't need to be returned, which must be returned, and which can only be looked at and then returned twice as much?

These are all things that need to be clearly distinguished; there are quite a few things to consider.

Sect Leader Kang Da entrusted this matter to Ye Zhengwen, whose experience was no less than his own and who was also adept at manipulating people's hearts, so he was unlikely to make any mistakes.

As for Kang Dabao himself, he went to Green Lotus Courtyard after the banquet.

He had certainly felt triumphant after showing off his power in front of Fei Shuhe, but coaxing his beloved wife afterwards proved to be a problem. Now that she was Golden Core cultivator's niece, she was far more confident than when she was forcibly married off to the Chongming Sect.

If he really angered them, he might receive a divorce agreement, and then she would have to marry into a high-ranking family with the fresh blood of the Sect Leader Kang Da. How could Kang Dabao possibly agree to that?

Kang Changyi, who was helping Duan Anle direct the outer disciples' movements, found his father's back view amusing.

Kang Dabao and Fei Shuhe had a rather unpleasant falling out, but their relationship actually improved as a result. Even the unease that had been building up in the eldest son's heart due to the birth of his legitimate son also subsided.

He didn't think that his stepmother, who had always cared for him since childhood, was harming him by making him become a disciple of Shoushi the High Cultivator.

Even though Shoushi the High Cultivator's origins lie in the brothel of Original Response Temple in the Snow Mountain Circuit, it is still the largest sect in the Snow Mountain Circuit with True Person master in charge.

The True-Grade Golden Core required for Shoushi the High Cultivator necessitates leveraging personal connections and incurring favors to obtain.

Among the tens of thousands of cultivators in the twenty-seven provinces and over four hundred prefectures of the Great Wei Kingdom, the number of those at the Golden Core stage is certainly not many. Not to mention that a Golden Shoushi the High Cultivator like Shushi could be hired as a second-class retainer by a prestigious family like the Yukun Han Household, which is far beyond what ordinary Golden Core can compare to.

This alone shows that Fei Shuhe put in a great deal of effort for this.

"But Mother would never even entertain the thought of having Brother Xi become a disciple of Shoushi the High Cultivator Shangxiu." Kang Changyi was lost in thought when Duan Anle beside him snapped him out of it, "Junior brother, what are you thinking about?"

"I'm reminded of some things that happened in the Nurturing Qilin Hall. The new disciples' studies are really frustrating. When Martial Uncle Pei comes to check them out in the future, he'll probably be furious."

Upon hearing Kang Changyi's evasive words, Duan Anle's expression changed slightly, but he did not expose him. He simply said in a calm voice, "Nurturing Qilin Hall is indeed a difficult job. Junior Brother, Junior Sister Ye, and Junior Brother Han have truly worked hard."

Kang Changyi shook his head. Seeing that the miscellaneous tasks here were almost finished, he invited Duan Anle to take a walk outside the mountain together.

The latter noticed that his junior brother had something on his mind, so he called over a few reliable and experienced outer disciples and gave them a few instructions before taking a walk with Kang Changyi on the edge of the Cold Crow Mountain Range.

The outer reaches of the Cold Crow Mountain Range, which were once regarded as a forbidden area by the Sect Leader Kang Da, now hardly inspire any awe in elites like Duan and Kang, who are among the second-generation disciples of the Chongming Sect.

Not only have the powerful Demon Beast in the vicinity been killed and driven away by the elders of the sect, but the outer perimeter of the Cold Crow Mountain Range has also become a treasure trove for Double Brightness disciples to harvest Demon Beast materials.

Even the First-Tier Middle-Grade Clear Cloud Crane that Duan Anle and that dragon beast master developed together was because the former found a Golden-Feathered Marsh Bird had just entered the Second Tier and was seriously injured and unconscious here. After the sect leader locked its spiritual power and healed its injuries, it was kept as a breeding bird and thus bred.

There were hardly any Demon Beast left in the vicinity, but Kang Changyi and Duan Anle weren't there for hunting, so they didn't really care about the desolation in the mountains.

The wild chestnut trees halfway up the mountain had just sprouted pale yellow tassels, and a gust of wind would cause some tender husks to fall. Kang Changyi found the sound quite pleasant, and coupled with the delightful early summer scenery in the mountains, he was pleasantly surprised.

After chatting with Duan Anle along the way, Kang Changyi's gloom dissipated considerably.

On their return journey, the two finally got down to business, but Kang Changyi changed the subject first, asking, "Senior Brother, you should be at the Foundation Establishment in the next year or two, right?"

This is something that doesn't need to be hidden too much. Duan Anle replied calmly, "Perhaps more or less. I observed that after Rongquan returned and paid his respects to Martial Uncle Pei this time, it seemed that most of the knots in his heart had been untied. I wonder who among the two of us will achieve Foundation Establishment first."

"Those two senior brothers will soon become elders; I congratulate them in advance."

Kang Changyi has been extremely busy these days, and has not been able to have a proper chat with Kang Rongquan, who has just returned from the spiritual fields of Hong County, like Duan Anle has. Now that he knows that Kang Rongquan is also about to reach the Foundation Establishment, he is naturally overjoyed.

Duan Anle simply nodded and then shook his head.

He had no idea that Pei Yi's failure to Foundation Establishment was due to his own lack of clear thinking. He only knew that even this gentlemanly elder in the sect, with the help of the Foundation Establishment Pill, still failed at the last minute.

Duan Anle wasn't lacking in confidence, but Pei Yi's example served as a stark warning. No matter how confident Duan Anle was, he couldn't escape being affected.

"If I, as a senior brother, am fortunate enough to Foundation Establishment, then I should help Master with his burdens afterward."

"Haha, my senior brother is much more filial than me."

"Master and disciple, father and son, father and son, master and disciple, right? Junior brother, how long have you known your master?"

"Ha, Senior Brother is absolutely right. Junior Brother won't argue with you." Kang Changyi waved his hand, his smile widening even more. "Your senior brothers are all progressing rapidly. In the next competition, I will definitely defeat Senior Sister Ye and take first place."

"Your Senior Brother Jin is still around, so getting first place won't be easy."

"Then let's win this one. Who knows, by then, Senior Brother Duan, you might even be a referee. But at that time..."

The boy's voice gradually faded into the wind, until the trees in the mountains could no longer hear it.