173: Attending a banquet

“The Zhou Family is here?”

In a grand hall on the main peak of Xuanqing Sect.

The hall was already filled with dozens of Dao platforms, upon which were placed various spirit fruits, spirit dew, spirit wine, and spirit tea, all extremely lavish.

This grand hall was where the Xuanqing Sect temporarily received Foundation Establishment Stage forces and Cultivators this time.

As for Qi Refinement Stage forces or Cultivators coming to offer congratulations, separate arrangements were made; they were not in this location.

Only when the banquet time arrived would they proceed to the formal banquet venue to take their seats.

At this moment, twenty to thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators were already seated in the hall, each accompanied by one or two young Cultivators.

Around the hall, Disciples dressed in Xuanqing Sect attire stood by.

The acting Sect Master of Xuanqing Sect, Chang Yuanhong, sat at the head seat, conversing with the various Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Laughter and pleasantries filled the hall, creating a harmonious and excellent atmosphere.

Just then, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the hall heard three chimes of a bell, and a Disciple announced an arrival. The sound of their conversations paused as they looked towards the entrance of the hall.

“I wonder which Fellow Daoist from the Zhou Family will be arriving this time?”

One Foundation Establishment Cultivator softly asked.

“I hope it will be Fairy Yue.”

Another Middle-aged Cultivator, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, took a sip of spirit tea and chuckled softly.

“You old ghost Zhang, do you still have designs on Fairy Yue?”

Hearing this, another person spoke up, teasing the Middle-aged Cultivator, who was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

“Go, go, go.”

“As the saying goes, a fair lady is a gentleman’s good pursuit. Fairy Yue’s beautiful face and gentle demeanor naturally inspire admiration.”

The Middle-aged Cultivator spoke unhurriedly, a hint of longing in his eyes.

“You old ghost, who doesn’t understand romance, actually said such words.”

“Have you actually met Fairy Yue before?”

The person who was teasing him was somewhat surprised. He was quite familiar with this old ghost Zhang and naturally knew that this person had always been indifferent to women, a diligent Cultivator.

Why had his Heart-Nature changed today, suddenly becoming so full of praise?

“Is he trying to curry favor with the Zhou Family?”

The person asked aloud, secretly thinking this in his heart.

“I was fortunate enough to meet Fairy Yue once, but, alas~”

The Middle-aged Cultivator said, suddenly sighing.

“Hahahaha~”

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the hall, seeing his expression, all chuckled softly.

Even Sect Master Chang, seated at the head, was no exception.

As everyone was making fun, a Cultivator of about forty or fifty years old, dressed in a spirit robe embroidered with snake patterns, and followed by two eleven or twelve-year-old boys, entered the grand hall with a Xuanqing Sect Disciple.

“Zhou Leyi of the Zhou Family greets Sect Master Chang and all Fellow Daoists.”

Zhou Leyi stopped, bowed to Chang Yuanhong who was seated at the head, then turned and bowed to all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators seated in the hall.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, there’s no need to be so polite, please take your seat quickly.”

Chang Yuanhong chuckled, his tone gentle.

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhou…”

Upon seeing Zhou Leyi, everyone in the hall visibly paused.

The person who arrived was not any of the Zhou Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators they were familiar with.

Only after Zhou Leyi had offered his greetings first did everyone rise and return the bow.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Zhang, seeing that the person who arrived was not Zhou Liyue, clearly looked a bit disappointed, but a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s Qi cultivation was profound enough that in an instant, it was as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Leyi exchanged some pleasantries with the various Foundation Establishment Cultivators, then, led by a Disciple in the hall, he passed everyone and arrived at the seat just below Sect Master Chang’s.

This was the position the Xuanqing Sect had specially reserved for the Zhou Family.

Zhou Leyi’s heart settled, and he gracefully sat down before the Dao platform.

Although he had only just advanced to Foundation Establishment, and was probably among the lowest in cultivation in this hall.

However, he represented the Zhou Family, so he naturally deserved this seat.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the hall watched Zhou Leyi take his seat, then each sat back down, secretly sighing with emotion that the Zhou Family had gained another Foundation Establishment Cultivator, which truly made other families envious.

Behind him, Zhou Xiuqi and Zhou Xiuzhi, although extremely excited in their hearts, were still somewhat nervous in such an occasion, their spirits taut. Fortunately, they had seen no small number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, so they did not show any timidity.

This was also the purpose of many Foundation Establishment Cultivators bringing their young family members: to broaden their horizons and temper their Heart-Nature.

Although talent is extremely important on the path of Cultivation, Heart-Nature is also indispensable.

If one’s will is not firm, how can one achieve the Dao?

Zhou Leyi did not speak, his Divine Sense briefly swept over the two, and he slowly nodded in his heart.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, I wonder if Patriarch Zhou is well?”

From the head seat, Xuanqing Sect’s acting Sect Master Chang Yuanhong softly asked.

“Father is well, but family affairs are complicated. He regrets that he cannot come in person this time and asked me to apologize to the Sect Master on his behalf.”

Zhou Leyi replied, and was about to bow again.

“There’s no need for that. Given the relationship between our two families, there’s no need to be so distant.”

Chang Yuanhong’s magic power surged, stopping Zhou Leyi’s attempt to bow, and he spoke seriously.

Zhou Leyi happily agreed.

Inside the grand hall, the various Foundation Establishment Cultivators resumed their conversations.

Zhou Leyi was not very familiar with everyone, so he did not rush to interject. After he had gained an understanding of all the Cultivators present, he waited for an opening and joined in.

Zhou Leyi did not put on any airs; on the contrary, he was extremely humble. Although he still represented the Zhou Family at this time, he represented himself more.

Therefore, in front of various Seniors, he naturally had to be more modest.

Everyone secretly nodded, glad that he was also an easy-going person.

Zhou Xiuqi and Zhou Xiuzhi looked at the spiritual food placed on the Dao platforms, exuding wafts of fragrance, and were somewhat moved.

The items Xuanqing Sect brought out to entertain Foundation Establishment Cultivators were naturally not ordinary.

Even though both were born in the Zhou Family, there were some fruits and spirit dew that they had never tasted.

The two exchanged glances, each seeing what the other was thinking.

They then briefly glanced at the situation inside the grand hall.

The young Disciples brought by the various Foundation Establishment Cultivators seemed to make no moves, all sitting upright, carefully listening to the exchanges and discussions of the various Foundation Establishment Stage Great Cultivators.