Chapter 332 - 38: Visitors

’Junior Brother, if you could refine this Oratory into a set and fashion it into a Glove Bead, it would be more than just a little attractive to those cultivators who love to fight!’

"After all, even though shouting it out might create an opening, not needing to form hand seals for Casting would grant a significant advantage in battle."

Zhang Deming smiled faintly and said, "I’ll do my best."

Gan Zili replied, "Then we’ll be waiting for your good news, Junior Brother."

Just then, Yuee Mengsheng spoke up. "Let’s go. It’s almost time. We shouldn’t still be back here drinking tea and chatting when our guests arrive."

The group nodded and headed toward the main hall in front.

Not long after the three of them came out, several enormous Fire Sparrows appeared on the horizon. Each one was a Duality Stage Spirit Beast.

Their bodies were a fiery red, with long, beautiful tail feathers. Quite a few people stood on the back of each Fire Sparrow.

The Fire Sparrows arrived at the summit of Spirit Nurturing Peak and came to a stop. On the foremost Fire Sparrow stood a young woman, at most in her early twenties, and an eight or nine-year-old boy, as adorable as if he were carved from pink jade.

The young woman looked down at the crowd that had come out to greet them and waved her hand lightly. A wisp of cyan smoke tinged with red diffused from her.

A faint fragrance surrounded them as the people on the birds’ backs, wreathed in the cyan smoke, floated down.

The Fire Sparrows, however, spread their wings and took flight, disappearing into the clouds.

The young woman led the group down to the plaza. With the little boy by her side, they looked like a brother and sister. She looked at the greeters and said, "Ruyan greets the three of you, fellow Daoists."

Gan Zili replied, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Ruyan. You are as graceful as ever."

"And your Cultivation has surpassed what it once was, Fellow Daoist," Qian Ruyan replied with a smile.

’You praise my looks, I’ll praise your strength. Does that mean she’s calling Gan Zili ugly?’ For some reason, Zhang Deming suddenly wanted to laugh.

Before they could exchange more pleasantries, Yuee Mengsheng frowned slightly and looked to the side. "And this is...?"

Zhang Deming’s wandering thoughts came to a halt. Only then did he notice the situation beside Qian Ruyan.

Behind Qian Ruyan was a group of disciples, likely her apprentices or juniors that she had brought along for the experience.

After all, besides the business order, this visit was also for a discussion on the Dao. Otherwise, Spirit Nurturing Peak wouldn’t be holding such a banquet today.

To Qian Ruyan’s right was the exceptionally cute little boy, who looked as if he were carved from pink jade.

The boy had a round, rosy face. Trying his best to appear mature, he kept his expression taut and held his hands behind his back, affecting the posture of an adult.

But his face was so adorable that it didn’t make him look mature at all. Instead, it added a unique charm that made him even cuter, making one want to reach out and pinch his cheeks.

What caught Yuee Mengsheng’s attention was to Qian Ruyan’s left. A wisp of cyan smoke swirled there, forming a transparent sphere.

Inside the fist-sized, transparent sphere were specks of black powder that looked like some kind of ash.

And next to the sphere trailed a slightly overweight young man. His clothes were tattered, his body was covered in injuries, his hair was a mess, and he looked utterly wretched.

The young man kept his head bowed low, trying his best to shrink into the background.

However, his distinctive Purple Cloud Cyan Shirt wouldn’t have stood out among Zhang Deming’s group, but mixed in with Qian Ruyan’s entourage, it was rather conspicuous.

At Yuee Mengsheng’s words, everyone paused, stunned, and turned to look at the disciple.

The man grew even more nervous, practically stammering in his panic. "Cyan Peak disciple Yang Xiaoyang greets Ancestor Yuee, Ancestor Gan, and Ancestor Guk."

’He really is an Inner Sect Disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect?’ Hearing this, Zhang Deming’s expression flickered.

Guk Liancai’s brow furrowed even deeper. "How did you end up in this state? And why did you return with Madam Qian?"

"Disciple... Disciple..." The chubby Yang Xiaoyang was flustered and didn’t know how to begin.

Guk Liancai continued, "What are you panicking for? You must be from the Yang Family. If your ancestor finds out you’ve been embarrassing yourself here, then..."

"AHEM, AHEM..." Gan Zili coughed, interrupting Guk Liancai, afraid he would blurt out something that would make the situation awkward for everyone.

Qian Ruyan maintained her smile and said, "Fellow Daoist Guk is as straightforward and fiery as ever."

Yuee Mengsheng spoke up. "It seems we’ve made a fool of ourselves in front of Fellow Daoist Qian. Might I ask why you’ve arrived with a disciple of our sect in such a state?"

Qian Ruyan glanced around and said, "Perhaps we should discuss this inside?"

Hearing this, Yuee Mengsheng and the others exchanged a look and nodded.

Then, Zhang Deming’s group of four led Qian Ruyan and her son into the main hall, while the disciples behind them began the banquet and discussion on the Dao outside.

The four entered the main hall, which was set up as a reception room. The hosts sat on one side, while Madam Qian and her son sat on the other.

Only the wretched disciple remained standing in the middle of the hall, unsure of what to do.

Qian Ruyan gave the unfamiliar Zhang Deming a few imperceptible glances. Zhang Deming, sensing her gaze, responded with a faint smile.

While the disciples were serving tea, Qian Ruyan looked at Zhang Deming and spoke. "Forgive Ruyan for my poor eyesight, but I don’t believe I recognize you, Fellow Daoist?"

Gan Zili introduced him. "This is Zhang... Junior Brother Zhang."

Zhang Deming said to Qian Ruyan, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Qian."

Qian Ruyan returned the courtesy with a slight nod and glanced at Zhang Deming again. However, she didn’t press for more information. After all, Gan Zili’s curt introduction told her enough about their attitude.

Just then, the tea had been served and the disciples had withdrawn. Everyone turned in unison to look at the disciple in the middle of the hall, which made his expression even more panicked.