Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Cultivation Circle

On this day.

Fang Cheng was sitting in the Jade Tower in meditative cultivation, practicing the Cyan Yuan Demon Tree Skill. Spiritual Qi swirled around his body, gathering and dispersing erratically. Inside him, his Qi Sea surged, slowly and continuously refining his Magical Power.

He had started much later than the disciples from the great families, but fortunately, he had the help of the mysterious Golden Talisman, which saved him countless hours of painstaking effort in comprehending cultivation techniques.

This was how he had been able to gradually catch up to the top disciples from the great families, like Feng Ling and Ye Yan.

Since his understanding of the Cyan Yuan Demon Tree Skill had reached the level of great accomplishment, cultivating this Demon Skill had become increasingly effortless.

The Spirit-Devouring Tree outside the Jade Tower was growing extremely fast. Its towering canopy, lush and green, provided Fang Cheng with a continuous stream of Spiritual Qi.

Coupled with pills that enhanced Magical Power like the Essence Supplement Pill, Fang Cheng calculated that he would need half a year more at most to reach the Peak of Sensing Sixth Layer. At that point, he could attempt to break through to the Late Sensing Stage!

"CHIII..."

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing sound came from outside the Jade Tower, as if something had crashed into the restrictive spell around it.

Fang Cheng slowly ceased his cultivation, rose, and walked to the window. He pushed it open and looked outside.

He saw a golden Flying Sword, about a foot long, held in mid-air by the Jade Tower’s restrictive spell. It trembled slightly, emitting a constant humming sound.

’Flying Sword Communication?’

Fang Cheng recognized this type of Flying Sword. With a slight change in expression, he waved his hand to release the Jade Tower’s restrictive spell, allowing the golden Flying Sword to fly inside.

Catching the sword, he found that this golden Flying Sword was carved from a type of pure gold-colored Spiritual Bamboo. It possessed little power and would exhaust its Spiritual Mechanism after just a few uses, turning into ordinary wood.

A letter was attached to the golden Flying Sword.

Fang Cheng opened the letter and read it. It was an invitation to a banquet for the current Outer Disciples in seven days.

The banquet was to be held at Shuiyun Hall on Chixia Island.

The inviter: Wang Pan.

The image of the lazy young man who had sat on the first jade mat in the Bone Daoist Palace flashed through Fang Cheng’s mind.

’This person actually used Flying Sword Communication to invite me to a banquet...?’

Chixia Island was an island occupied by the Wang Family, one of the four great families. Like Xiaocang Island, it possessed a Tier Two Spiritual Vein.

Holding the Outer Disciples’ gathering at the Wang Family’s estate probably had some deeper meaning.

Fang Cheng pondered for a moment, then immediately wrote a reply, agreeing to attend on time.

Afterward, he channeled a stream of Magical Power into the golden Flying Sword.

The small Flying Sword instantly transformed into a streak of golden light, flew out of the Jade Tower, and automatically sped off in a certain direction.

Fang Cheng paid the matter no more mind. He reactivated the Jade Tower’s restrictive spell and resumed his cultivation.

...

「Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.」

As Fang Cheng leisurely arrived outside Chixia Island, a person wrapped in a fiery glow also happened to fly in from the eastern sky.

In an instant, the fiery glow dissipated, and a handsome young man in fine clothes with a face like polished jade landed gracefully before Fang Cheng.

It was none other than Feng Mo, the Disciple who had placed third in the outer sect trial!

"Fellow Daoist Fang, what a coincidence!"

Feng Mo greeted Fang Cheng with a smile.

Fang Cheng smiled faintly and said, "Indeed. Are you also here for the banquet, Fellow Daoist Feng?"

Feng Mo nodded and smiled. "There’s an unwritten rule among the Abyssal Daze Families. The person who places first in each outer sect trial hosts a banquet to gather everyone, allowing them to network and strengthen their bonds."

"If that Wang Xingzhi from the Wang Family hadn’t appeared at the last moment to block my path, this gathering would have been held on my Feng Family’s Flame Demon Island!"

Judging by his expression, he didn’t seem to hold any grudges over Fang Cheng killing several Feng Family disciples during the trial.

"I see. If you hadn’t mentioned it, Fellow Daoist Feng, I would have never known."

After saying this, Fang Cheng proceeded to Shuiyun Hall on Chixia Island with Feng Mo.

Along the way, the two chatted about what had happened on the day of the outer sect trial.

It turned out that Feng Mo had been leading from the very beginning. He had slain more than half of the Demon Beasts entrenched near the nineteen Trial Steles.

Unexpectedly, as he reached the final few stages, Wang Xingzhi blocked his way. After a fierce battle, he found himself temporarily unable to break through.

Thus, Wang Pan and the female cultivator from the Dong Family managed to come from behind and surpass him, leaving him in third place.

If Fang Cheng hadn’t asked Wang Xingzhi to intercept Qian Shaoning, his ranking might have been even lower!

Fang Cheng, however, didn’t care about his ranking in the outer sect trial.

For him, all that mattered was entering the outer sect and obtaining an Outer Disciple’s Identity Token.

There was no difference between first place and twentieth.

For the disciples of the great families, however, reputation was sometimes of utmost importance.

The Wang Family’s Shuiyun Hall was built in a bay on the northern side of Chixia Island. Nestled against a mountain and facing the water, it could accommodate a banquet for a hundred people. With its vermilion-lacquered pillars, moon gates, circular windows, and a hexagonal roof with upturned eaves hung with golden bells, it was an impressive sight.

Fang Cheng and Feng Mo landed their Escape Lights, and a Wang Family cultivator tasked with greeting guests immediately and enthusiastically welcomed them. He led the two into the hall and showed them to their seats.

Inside the hall, fifteen exquisite, low jade tables were arranged in a circle, leaving a large open space in the center.

The jade tables were laden with all sorts of Spirit Fruits and fine wines, overflowing with Spiritual Qi.

After Fang Cheng and Feng Mo took their seats, two beautiful young maidens approached and knelt beside them.

One softly whispered as she poured wine and encouraged him to drink, while the other peeled a Spirit Fruit with her slender, delicate fingers and brought it to Fang Cheng’s lips.

They were dressed in thin, light gauze, their flawless skin as white as snow and smooth as jade, cool to the touch and exuding a faint fragrance.

Feng Mo was far more accustomed to such scenes than Fang Cheng. He reached out and pulled the two maidens beside him into his arms, fully displaying his suave and libertine nature.

Fang Cheng glanced around. The seats in the hall were almost full, and there were quite a few Female Cultivators present, but he did not see Chen Yu Yan.

’Was she not invited because she came from the Servant Disciples? Or did she receive an invitation but chose not to come...’

Fang Cheng faintly realized that today’s gathering was clearly a clique for the Outer Disciples who came from the great families.

The reason he was included in this circle was most likely related to his marriage to Ye Yan and the fact that he enjoyed the treatment of a core Ye Family disciple.

Before long, all the invited guests had arrived.

Wang Pan walked in, dressed in a magnificent robe, and took the host’s seat.

He picked up a wine cup and said with a smile, "Everyone, this wine is called ’Jade Swallow Clear Wave.’ It is a secret recipe of my Wang Family and was once used to entertain Life Talisman Cultivators. While the vintage I have here may not compare to what the family Elders possess, it is still a well-aged brew. It’s perfect for treating guests today. Please, drink up."

As he said this, he was solemn and dignified, with an extraordinary air about him.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he immediately reverted to his usual lazy, carefree, and nonchalant demeanor.

Everyone raised their cups in a toast.

After the Jade Swallow Clear Wave entered their stomachs, a pleasant, warm current instantly spread through their bodies. Their Magical Power slowly swelled, showing faint signs of growing stronger.

Everyone praised in unison, "Truly a fine wine!"

Wang Pan laughed heartily and clapped his hands. Immediately, more than a dozen tall, long-legged dancers entered from a side door, came to the open space in the center, and began to dance gracefully.

The sound of string and bamboo instruments rose to accompany them.