Chapter 124 - 104: Foundation Establishment Celebration

Chapter 124: Chapter 104: Foundation Establishment Celebration

"Uncle, how about we buy some Spirit Fruits or an Immortal Brew as a gift?"

Yun Xiaoniu could tell that Chen Jianghe was inexperienced in these matters, so he offered a suggestion, leaving the final decision to him.

"Two Tier One Middle-Grade Spirit Fruits are worth ten Spirit Stones."

"A flagon of Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Wine also costs ten Spirit Stones."

"Back at Elder Bufan’s Foundation Establishment Celebration, most of the Patriarchs from the Cultivation Families around Jingyue Lake gave one of these two gifts."

Hearing this, Chen Jianghe nodded. A gift like that seemed quite appropriate.

After all, it was just a congratulatory gift; one couldn’t possibly give a Treasure that was too valuable.

It was a token of courtesy, not a burdensome or intentionally lavish offering.

In the end, it was just a gesture of good luck.

Ten Spirit Stones was a lot, of course.

But they were congratulating a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. A gift of too little value would be embarrassing to present.

Afterwards, Chen Jianghe and Yun Xiaoniu found a Spiritual Material Shop in the Qinghe Marketplace. They each spent ten Spirit Stones to buy two Tier One Middle-Grade Spirit Fruits.

They wrapped them simply and put them into their Storage Pouches.

「Time passed quickly, and soon it was the eve of the new year.」

Before Chen Jianghe had even left his home, he heard the sound of the knocker on his door.

He opened the courtyard gate to see who it was.

It wasn’t Yun Xiaoniu, but a Cultivator dressed in the uniform of the Hundred Treasures Tower. Seeing Chen Jianghe open the door, the man cupped his fists and spoke.

"Elder Chen, I have come on Steward Gao’s orders to invite you to a banquet at the Qinghe Tavern."

This was a Sixth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator, yet he was respectfully addressing Chen Jianghe as ’Elder’.

Normally, the Cultivators of the Hundred Treasures Tower were incredibly arrogant.

Even a Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator wouldn’t call a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator ’Elder’; they would typically use ’Fellow Daoist’.

Chen Jianghe knew the man was calling him ’Elder’ not out of respect for him, but out of respect for Gao Peiyao.

"Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist. I will be there shortly," Chen Jianghe replied, cupping his fists.

"I must inform the other elders, so I will take my leave now."

"As you wish."

After the Cultivator left, Chen Jianghe tidied himself up, planning to first head to the Qinghe Inn to meet up with Yun Xiaoniu.

After closing his courtyard gate, he hadn’t even left Qingping Lane when he ran into Yun Xiaoniu, who was coming to find him.

The two of them immediately set off for the Qinghe Tavern together.

Upon arriving at the Qinghe Tavern, they saw an attendant, a Third-Layer Qi Refining cultivator, greeting guests outside.

They were welcomed up to the third floor.

At the entrance to the third floor, a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator from the Hundred Treasures Tower sat behind a mahogany desk, upon which lay a gift registry.

This must have been the bookkeeper Gao Peiyao had arranged to receive the gifts.

Chen Jianghe and Yun Xiaoniu took out their gifts, handed them over, and had their names recorded.

Just then, Chen Jianghe glanced at the gift registry and saw that most of the gifts were Tier One Middle-Grade Spirit Fruits.

A few were Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Wine.

But under one name, a very precious gift was recorded: a stalk of Youthful Grass, valued at two hundred Spirit Stones.

And worth even more at market price.

However, looking at the prefix before the name, he saw it was a disciple of the Celestial South Sect.

’That must be one of Gao Peiyao’s fellow disciples.’

’Such an expensive gift... is this the norm within the Sect?’

Chen Jianghe grumbled inwardly.

He then walked inside with Yun Xiaoniu.

The third floor of the Qinghe Tavern was a single, large space, decorated with many elegant landscapes, complete with small bridges over flowing water, flowers, and Spirit Plants.

In the water, one could even see more than a dozen Spirit Beast Carp.

The sight was truly stunning.

"So many people?" Yun Xiaoniu said, a little surprised.

A large number of Cultivators had already gathered, the vast majority of them in the Late Stage of Qi Refining, with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators among them.

They stood in groups of three and five, chatting and laughing.

But there was no sign of Gao Peiyao.

"Peiyao isn’t just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator now; she’s also a Steward of the Hundred Treasures Tower. It’s only natural that people from the various families in Qinghe Marketplace would come to offer their congratulations."

Chen Jianghe, however, was not surprised.

A Steward of the Hundred Treasures Tower was equivalent to an Immortal Envoy sent by the Celestial South Sect to Qinghe Marketplace. Her status was so high that even the three Foundation Establishment Ancestors backing the marketplace wouldn’t dare to slight her.

"Elder Chen?"

A clear, pleasant voice called out.

It was that young lady, Jiang Ruxu. She came before Chen Jianghe with a surprised look and asked quizzically, "Elder, are you also here to congratulate Fairy Peiyao?"

"Oh? And you as well, Fellow Daoist Jiang?" Chen Jianghe was also puzzled.

"I came with my Master."

Jiang Ruxu pointed to an old man not far away who was talking with someone.

Chen Jianghe looked over and a surprised expression crossed his face. "Alchemist Zhuang? Your Master is Alchemist Zhuang?"

"That’s right. Didn’t I tell you last time, Elder?" Jiang Ruxu said playfully.

"Uncle, who is this fairy?" Yun Xiaoniu whispered, looking at the spirited young woman talking with Chen Jianghe.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, allow me to introduce you."

Chen Jianghe gestured to Yun Xiaoniu beside him and said, "This is my nephew, Yun Xiaoniu."

Then he turned to Yun Xiaoniu. "This is Fellow Daoist Jiang Ruxu, an Alchemist. Her master is... do you remember Honored Guest Elder Zhuang Yanfeng?"

Yun Xiaoniu nodded and quickly cupped his fists. "So you are Alchemist Zhuang’s prized disciple. A pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Jiang."

"A pleasure, Fellow Daoist Yun," Jiang Ruxu said with a giggle.

Just then, Alchemist Zhuang walked over, followed by a tall, elegant young woman whose beauty was slightly inferior to Jiang Ruxu’s.

"Ruxu, are you with... Fellow Daoist... Chen?"

Alchemist Zhuang said, his tone uncertain as he looked at Chen Jianghe.

"Greetings, Alchemist Zhuang. I didn’t expect you to remember me," Chen Jianghe said with a smile, cupping his fists.

"Greetings, Alchemist Zhuang," Yun Xiaoniu also said, cupping his fists in a salute.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, and this is?"

Zhuang Yanfeng had some impression of Chen Jianghe, but he had no memory of Yun Xiaoniu at all and didn’t think he had ever met him.

"He is the eldest son of Yu Daniu, Yun Xiaoniu," Chen Jianghe introduced.

"He’s from the Yun Family."

Zhuang Yanfeng’s expression grew colder. He clearly harbored resentment toward the Yun Family. After all, his Zhuang Family had been exterminated by Lann Tianxiang on Yun Family territory.

Moreover, it was the feud between the Yun Family and Lann Tianxiang that had dragged the Zhuang Family into the conflict.

Even though the Yun Family was also a victim, Zhuang Yanfeng felt no goodwill toward them.

Following this, Zhuang Yanfeng lost any desire to ask how Jiang Ruxu knew Chen Jianghe, let alone introduce the young woman behind him.

He prepared to leave and mingle elsewhere.

However, at that very moment, Gao Peiyao walked over.

"Brother Jianghe, Xiaoniu, you’re here."

Gao Peiyao came up to Chen Jianghe and said apologetically, "I was caught up with something just now and couldn’t greet you at the door. Please forgive me, Brother Jianghe."

"How could I dare trouble Fairy Peiyao to greet me personally?"

Chen Jianghe didn’t address her directly as "Peiyao" but instead added the title "Fairy."

The moment Gao Peiyao started walking toward him and Xiaoniu, he could feel all eyes in the room converging on them.

Gao Peiyao’s familiar tone, in particular, made Chen Jianghe and Yun Xiaoniu the center of attention.

’If I call her ’Peiyao’ now, it will only draw more attention, which is the last thing I want.’

’If I had known this would happen, I would have politely declined Gao Peiyao’s invitation no matter what.’

Yun Xiaoniu also respectfully addressed her as "Fairy Peiyao," rather than the more intimate "Aunt Yao."

Such a familiar address was fine in private, but with so many elders and esteemed figures from the Qinghe Marketplace present...

...it was better to use the respectful title of "Fairy."

Besides, "Fairy" made Gao Peiyao sound younger, and every woman, after all, wishes to remain youthful forever.

Fairies were no exception.

When Chen Jianghe heard Yun Xiaoniu also call her Fairy Peiyao, he inwardly praised the young man’s maturity, composure, and sharp mind.

Hearing Chen Jianghe and Yun Xiaoniu address her this way, Gao Peiyao just smiled and didn’t say anything more about it.

She knew Chen Jianghe’s personality, so after a few more words, she turned and left to mingle with the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"To think Fellow Daoist Chen has such a close relationship with Fairy Peiyao. This old man is quite envious."

Zhuang Yanfeng had turned back around, his voice filled with envy.

A High-Grade Alchemist’s status was high, but in the eyes of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was only slightly above that of a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator.

It was nowhere near enough to be treated as a peer by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Heh..." Chen Jianghe chuckled lightly, not elaborating on his connection with Gao Peiyao.

’I’ve attracted enough attention for one day. If I could, I’d leave right now.’

"This is my granddaughter, Zhuang Xinyan. She is currently a Lower-Grade Alchemist. I hope Fellow Daoist Chen will look out for her in the future."

Zhuang Yanfeng called the young woman behind him to his side and introduced her to Chen Jianghe.

Zhuang Xinyan gave Chen Jianghe a graceful salute.

"Greetings, Elder Chen."