Chapter Eleven: The Banquet

As the spell manifested, the vines encircling everyone multiplied in an instant, twisting through the air at an even greater speed.

"Mother of Lightning, decree! Divine light, swift as thunder!"

He Bingkun was surrounded by a silver radiance as he darted among the vines, striking like lightning toward the young man at the forefront.

While the two battled, the others were far from idle. The exchange was lively, and after watching for a while, Yun Qi realized both sides were holding back; many cursed fiercely but smiled as they did so.

"Spirit of the Void, Heaven and Earth, grant me your power—seize!"

In the chaos, Yun Qi noticed someone pointing at him. Suddenly, his body was uncontrollable, lifted into the air like a kite, with the string held firmly in another's hand.

Yet Yun Qi wasn't afraid. He merely admired the timing; the Lantern Street folk were all ensnared, and even the heroic He Bingkun was surrounded by the one called Tian Lingzhi, who had taken several kicks for her trouble.

Moreover, this spell of "seizing" was intriguing—it truly had the flavor of immortals.

"Nie Qunyu, don't harm him!"

Seeing Yun Qi soaring overhead, He Bingkun's eyes nearly popped from their sockets.

"If only my spell could harm someone," replied the person who had seized Yun Qi, then called out with a grin, "Young brother, my technique is unrefined. Don't struggle, or you'll fall!"

Yun Qi had barely moved to begin with; hearing this, he relaxed further and soon landed beside the caster.

No sooner had Yun Qi touched the ground than four or five people surrounded him, dragging him off in the direction of the Imperial Academy.

The Lantern Street folk saw what was happening and quickly understood: the Ancient Vine Street crowd were trying to claim Yun Qi's achievement for themselves, hoping to collect the reward.

"Stop right there, you little brats!"

The Lantern Street bunch dashed after Yun Qi like wild horses broken loose.

———

He Bingkun ran the fastest, breathless as he arrived at the Imperial Academy, only to find the Ancient Vine Street group already gathered around Yun Qi outside.

"Hahahahaha—"

Beside He Bingkun was Tian Lingzhi, her face battered but laughing heartily.

Nie Qunyu, the one who had seized Yun Qi, was brimming with pride. He had his arm around another, and said,

"Old Zeng, did you see? Fifth place on the Southern Dipper ranking! Has your Fourth District ever produced such a person?"

At these words, He Bingkun also laughed. With Fourth District folk present, he couldn't let Third District lose face. He ignored Tian Lingzhi, feigning calm, and beckoned to Yun Qi,

"Yun Qi, come—let's return to Lantern Street and celebrate."

He pronounced "Lantern Street" with particular emphasis.

———

In the end, everyone gathered for a banquet in the Kirin Hall of the Imperial Kitchen.

Both Lantern Street and Ancient Vine Street were present. The Ancient Vine Street crowd insisted on joining—perhaps knowing they were at fault, they offered to host the celebration for Yun Qi.

Once seated, the Ancient Vine Street people, eager to make amends, ordered generous food and drink. After a few rounds, spirits rose and conversation flowed.

"The Southern Dipper ranking is meant to prolong life, distinguishing practitioners by the days they've broken through their mirrors. There are four lists: Qi Consumption, Palace Assault, Garden Plowing, and Pill Formation. Each has only six places. The Qi Consumption list hasn't changed in decades—no wonder we rarely check it. But now, hearing you can consume six breaths, I wonder if you might have a chance at advancing."

He Bingkun sighed.

"Qunyu, you just checked—who are the ones on the Qi Consumption list?"

"By the rules, those over fifty aren't displayed. Currently, Fang Fengyi and Zheng Weicheng are tied for first—both are Daozi, born consuming qi. Xiao Shizhong is third, with one breath; Zeng Heling fourth, two breaths. Huang Guanguan, once fifth with thirty breaths, has dropped to sixth, while Yu Jinhuang, with a hundred breaths, was squeezed off the list."

"Has Fang Fengyi found his ideal True Sha yet?" Tian Lingzhi asked.

"Not yet. I hear he's out of the sect again. We'll see if there's news when he returns."

"He's ambitious but unlucky. I heard Zheng Weicheng has gone to the far north to seek the Spirit Gang."

"They're quick! I wonder when we'll set out to seek the Sha ourselves."

Naturally, everyone began discussing their own cultivation progress and bottlenecks.

"Gentlemen, have you heard of Qi Lingyun and Qi Jinchan?"

The speaker was Yang Youxin, a young man from Ancient Vine Street, whom Yun Qi had learned was skilled in wind and wood techniques, registered at Rhododendron Valley.

Everyone thought for a moment, then shook their heads. "Never heard of them."

———

"And what about Qi Shuming?"

At this, everyone was startled—Qi Shuming was a renowned master, the head of Emei in Western Shu, at the Unity stage and on the verge of ascension. How could they not have heard of him?

Tian Lingzhi reacted quickly, asking, "Are those two also surnamed Qi?"

Yang Youxin nodded. "After centuries, Master Miaoyi and his wife finally had Daozi twins—a brother and sister. News of their centennial banquet at Emei just got out."

The group was astonished, and Yun Qi saw worry on their faces.

He Bingkun explained,

"Yun Qi, you may not know—since the Tang and Song, the Daoist tradition has flourished in Bashu. For our sect, that's good. But Bashu is isolated, forming its own region, with distinct practices and philosophies. Their Daoists became a separate school.

They revere the Three Pure Ones but lack faith, ignore ancient gods, and exalt immortals while belittling deities. They worship immortals who ascended in Bashu during the Tang and Song as their ancestors, claiming to be the true orthodox sect—calling themselves the Western Dao Capital, drawing a clear line from our Eastern Daoists. They are hostile to our Yuzhang Immortal Mountains, even more so than the Demon Sect!"

A struggle over the Daoist orthodoxy!

A flash of insight struck Yun Qi, who loved history—he knew what this meant.

"I've heard those twins were born consuming qi, with all five organs open and the Scarlet Palace already formed. At their centennial banquet, a master from the East Sea presented Spirit Gang and True Sha as gifts—what we desperately seek is in their pockets!

In time, when these two Daozi mature, will it bode well for our sect?"

Yang Youxin sighed, covering his face.

Seeing everyone so dispirited, Yun Qi smiled and said, "Brother Yang, don't boost others' morale at the expense of your own. My books say Master Sanfeng was born mortal—before thirty, he was a bureaucrat; after thirty, he spent another thirty years seeking immortality, only meeting Master Fire Dragon at sixty, who taught him the Golden Elixir. Ten years to refine it, another ten to produce the infant, founded Wudang, and ascended at a hundred. Surely our starting point is no later than his?"

Everyone was startled at Yun Qi's comparison.

He Bingkun recalled the night Yun Qi first arrived, speaking of the ant's ignorance of the pine, and thought his roommate's spirit was truly lofty.

Perhaps he was born for cultivation.

He Bingkun suddenly felt this way.

"Enough, enough—Yun Qi made the list, and you insist on talking about Emei's Daozi. Let's drink!"

The aroma of wine lingered through the night.