Chapter 87: Birthday Celebration

Two days later.

In an extremely spacious and luxuriously decorated hall of the Zou family residence, a large number of cultivators had gathered.

Among these cultivators, most were actually at the Foundation Establishment stage, with few non-Foundation Establishment cultivators, most of them being servants or individuals of extraordinary status dressed in splendid attire.

In the center of the hall, on a stage surrounded by water and covered with a red carpet, many scantily clad dancing girls swayed their bodies to melodies that alternated between gentle and soaring.

Even the lead dancer among the dancing girls was actually a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Yunhe, who had attended the two-hundredth birthday celebration of the Ma family patriarch, could not help but gasp at this sight.

"Is this the pomp of a Golden Core family patriarch's birthday? It's truly somewhat extravagant."

Huang Ling, his senior brother seated at the same table, was unfazed; he held a wine cup in one hand and chopsticks in the other, slowly picking a piece of meat from the exquisitely decorated plate and putting it into his mouth.

While still enjoying the music, he reminded aloud:

"Yun junior brother, aren't you eating? This is premium red chicken meat, second-tier red chicken."

Upon hearing this, Yunhe glanced at the plate, his gaze sweeping over, and discovered that not only their table but nearly every table was laden with the same delicacy.

Is the meat of a second-tier beast simply being used as ordinary food for a birthday celebration?

Ding—

Huang Ling casually clinked his wine cup against Yunhe's wine cup, smiling:

"The wine is also fine wine; it's a hundred-year-old red sweet potato, capable of enhancing a cultivator's physical strength."

After saying that, he drained the cup in one gulp and then poured himself another.

No matter how you look at it, Huang Ling at this moment resembles a seasoned gourmet well-versed in this way, rather than a cultivator.

However, since he said that, Yunhe naturally followed suit and began eating.

I estimate Huang Ling never imagined that second-tier beast meat would be nothing to him; as for the wine, his interest is indeed not great.

"Do you know who the lead dancer in this pool is, junior brother?"

Huang Ling turned his attention to the dance floor.

"Oh?" Yunhe raised his eyebrows slightly, "I really don't know."

Pattern, Huang Ling revealed an expression of 'as expected', curled his lips and said:

"Fairy Hongling, a disciple of the Ling Hua Sect."

Ling Hua Sect?

According to Yunhe's knowledge, the Ling Hua Sect is a sect that exclusively accepts female cultivators.

The disciples of this sect are mostly skilled in charm techniques.

No wonder this lady's dance posture carries a hint of alluring charm.

At the same time.

Amidst the clinking of cups among the cultivators, the current head of the Zou family, Zou Nanyun, also appeared in the hall.

First, following convention, he delivered a grandiose opening speech.

Its meaning was nothing more than thanking the many cultivators for gracing the Zou family patriarch's four-hundredth birthday with their presence, and individually thanking the disciples of the various sects who came to offer congratulations.

People like Yunhe and Huang Ling belong to the objects of special thanks.

Afterwards came a lengthy discourse lasting half an hour, praising the importance of the Zou family patriarch's existence to the entire Zou family and his great contribution to the Zou family's development.

In short, it was a long-winded, foul-sounding eulogy as tedious as foot-binding cloth.

That is, the subject is a Golden Core cultivator.

Otherwise, I estimate that after listening, none of the cultivators present would have a pleasant expression.

Finally, the protagonist of this birthday celebration appeared: the Zou family patriarch, a Golden Core cultivator, Zou Changming.

"Welcome the patriarch!"

Wah-lah-lah—

A burst of enthusiastic applause.

The Zou family cultivators also rose to their feet one after another.

"Welcome the patriarch!"

Hum—

Suddenly, a sound of air trembling rang out; Yunhe, Huang Ling, and the other sect disciples' hand movements paused slightly, and in the next second they all rose simultaneously, bowing toward the direction of the hall's main seat.

"Junior generations, greetings to Senior Zou!"

"Hahaha, no need for courtesy, no need for courtesy; your presence at the Zou family celebration is indeed our Zou family's fortune."

The words fell and the person arrived.

Then one saw a short old man dressed in a noble purple robe appear with his hands behind his back, his wrinkled face full of smiles.

Another round of clinking cups ensued, host and guest enjoying themselves fully.

Until the birthday celebration atmosphere reached its climax, the much-anticipated "Treasure Exchange Conference" finally began.

"Since you all are enjoying yourselves so much, let me, the old one, start this off."

The speaker was the Zou family patriarch seated at the main seat.

One saw him chuckle and pat his waist.

A round bead blazing with red fire appeared in the hall.

As soon as this bead appeared, the temperature in the entire hall rose by two degrees without anyone noticing.

One saw the bead floating in mid-air, surrounded by flames, crimson and translucent; inside it seemed to flow a rotating light, shining brilliantly.

"Fire Pearl?!"

Upon seeing this bead, a knowledgeable Foundation Establishment cultivator exclaimed.

"Fire Pearl, a top-grade spiritual artifact; it is said that a wisp of fire is stored within the bead, making it a premium among top-grade spiritual artifacts."

Huang Ling's voice rang in Yunhe's ear; he looked at the floating treasure pearl, and his eyes inevitably burned with a hint of fervor.

Upon hearing this, Yunhe showed a look of sudden realization.

It turned out to be a prime piece among top-grade spiritual artifacts, no wonder most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators present were eager to act.

Seeing this, the Zou family patriarch obviously also felt pleased, and lightly stroked his long beard, saying:

"As for this pearl, anyone present who is interested may write down the item they wish to exchange and the amount of Spirit Stones on paper; in the end, regardless of whether the values match, the third-highest bidder will obtain it."

Speaking, he flicked his wide sleeve, and sheets of white paper floated up into midair.

The third-highest bidder?

That's rather interesting.

Because of this, no one can gauge the bid properly—too high and you won't get it, too low and you also won't get it.

It all comes down to luck.

Moreover, since the highest bidder is not chosen, everyone will leave some room in their price, so the final price of this "Li Fire Pearl" will certainly not be especially high.

At least, it should be lower than the pearl's proper value.

Is this a benefit? Or a little perk?

That's not unreasonable.

If the Zou family had used an auction format or taken the highest bidder, they would surely be accused of using the birthday celebration to make money in a tasteless way; but this approach makes the Zou family seem to have a bit of the demeanor of a Golden Core clan.

The cultivators who came to their senses all raised their hands to summon white paper, hesitated a moment, then wrote down their respective prices and names.

Yunhe and Huang Ling were, of course, no exception.

Although, it does have a bit of a lottery feel.

But what if?

After filling out the information and handing it to the Zou family's people, Huang Ling couldn't help but let out a low laugh.

Under Yunhe's slightly doubtful gaze, he sent a mental transmission:

"The Zou family patriarch possesses a treasure called the 'Nanming Li Fire Pearl'; as long as it is regularly fed with fire, every fifty years it separates a strand of li fire, which, when combined with suitable materials and slightly refined, becomes this 'Li Fire Pearl.' However, this is indeed the first time the Zou family has produced such an item at a birthday celebration."

Yunhe was somewhat astonished.

Doesn't that mean that as long as one possesses this treasure, at least one top-grade spiritual artifact's finest "Li Fire Pearl" can be stably produced every fifty years?

However, if we calculate, even if the Zou family patriarch reached Foundation Establishment perfection at age 100, refined a third-stage demon beast's inner pellet into a false core, and spent thirty to forty years forging the Nanming Li Fire Pearl, by his current 400th birthday he could have produced at most four or five such Li Fire Pearls.

That is still relatively rare.

Being able to produce one this birthday shows considerable sincerity.

At the same time, Yunhe once again came to a deeper understanding of why Huang Ling had said on the way here that this trip was a good thing.

One would think that those with considerable information channels must have known beforehand, right?

After the Zou family people collected the papers, they needed some time to tally them; next came the time for the cultivators present to exchange their own items.

"Let me, Fan, cast a brick to draw jade; this is a three-hundred-year-old thorn-scaled wood."

In an instant, the entire hall became extremely lively.

Many Foundation Establishment cultivators took out their treasures, trying to exchange for something useful to themselves, while many cultivators who took a liking to the same item engaged in fierce bidding.

During this period.

Yunhe exchanged a stack of second-stage inferior "Golden Element Body-Protecting Talismans" and several medium-grade Spirit Stones dispensed by the sect, from a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Spirit Beast Sect, for a defensive inferior spiritual artifact, the "Beast Element Shield."

That also counts as a modest gain.

A long period of time passed.

Yunhe vaguely felt something was off, and couldn't help but ask:

"Why has the tally taken so long?"

"Perhaps... the bids are too even." Huang Ling hesitated, then guessed.

However, the two of them aren't fools; what kind of tally would take three or four hours?

In fact, the feeling that something is off is not limited to just the two of them.

Many cultivators present, to varying degrees, developed doubts about this, and some even voiced complaints.

"Why hasn't the Zou family finished tallying? No matter which fellow Daoist wins, at least let us know the result."

"If we wait any longer, it'll be midnight."

"Exactly, even though we are cultivators."

Boom!!!!

Suddenly, a violent roar rang out like a heavenly thunderclap.

Immediately followed by a violent shaking.

Amid the startled cries of many servants and Qi Refining cultivators, the Foundation Establishment cultivators present all turned pale.

They flew out of the Zou family hall.

Afterwards, they saw a scene that shocked and astonished everyone.

Outside the great protective array encircling the entire Zou City, dense black mist swirled thickly, nearly blocking all sight like a sky-obscuring veil.

"This is."

Yunhe, who also flew out of the hall, had his pupils contract sharply; his earlier unease turned into substance.

Beside him, Huang Ling likewise had an ugly expression, and spoke in a low voice:

"Yin energy!"

"Zou family! What do you intend?!"

An impatient cultivator immediately shouted:

"Could it be that the Zou family intends to attack us?"

However, the appearance of the Zou Clan's patriarch, Zou Nanyun, and his equally unsightly expression and words, eased some people's suspicions.

Fellow Daoists, this is not the doing of my Zou Clan; it is an attack by external enemies!

External enemies?

At this time, has an enemy come to take revenge on the Zou Clan's joyous occasion?

Don't they realize that Foundation Establishment cultivators from all the surrounding sects are here?

Fellow Daoists, don't panic; my Zou Clan also has some reserves; this mountain-protecting formation is a third-rank formation! Zou Nanyun spoke again to reassure.

Third-rank formation!

This is a great formation capable of resisting Golden Core cultivators.

Upon hearing this, many secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But Yunhe suddenly felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over his head, and a chill rose in his heart.

The Zou Clan relies on the third-rank formation to stay composed; do the cultivators attacking the Zou Clan not know about it?

Still daring to act, what gives them confidence?

Yunhe dared not think about it.

He lightly tugged Huang Ling's sleeve, signaling with his gaze.

Huang Ling stared, then similarly reacted, drawing in a breath of cold air.

The two silently descended.

Of course, some other cultivators also reacted, more or less.

You dare!

A sudden explosive shout.

Only to see the Zou Clan's ancestor fly out from the hall at a speed no one could react to.

He struck a disciple wearing Zou Clan attire with a palm.

That disciple's body exploded on the spot, dead beyond death.

Yet from his shattered body, a small flag flew out.

Hum—

The air slightly trembled.

Crack!!

The clear sound, like an evening drum and bell, struck the hearts of all cultivators.

For-, forbidden grand formation?

As the words fell, a crack appeared on the Zou Clan's proud third-rank grand formation.

The next second.

Like a mirror shattering, a gap suddenly burst open on the barrier of the third-rank formation.

The entire formation shattered at an extremely slow speed, as if some force resisted the break.

But the thick yin qi still poured in instantly.

Accompanying the entry of the yin qi, a sinister cold laugh sounded.

Fellow Daoist Zou, celebrating your 400th birthday; as a family by marriage, how could I, Wang, not come?

Wang Clan's ancestor!

He actually isn't dead?

Yunhe, upon landing, felt his heart thump; his earlier speculations had become a definite fact, yet it also left him astonished.

Hehe, I am Xuezhi Li, I have come specially to congratulate Fellow Daoist Zou!

After the Wang Clan's ancestor appeared, another voice sounded.

Zou Changming, standing with his hands behind his back in midair, had an extremely grim expression.

Two Golden Core cultivators!

Everyone present felt a jolt in their hearts, extremely shocked.

It is actually two Golden Core Great Experts simultaneously attacking the Zou Clan?!

"Quickly open the formation!" A Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator fled at extreme speed to the edge of the formation, unwilling to get involved, just wanting to leave quickly.

Pfft!!

But before he could reach the edge of the formation, a large banner suddenly pierced his chest.

Immediately after, a youthful cultivator with a sinister visage appeared, grinning, and coldly said to the assembled sect cultivators:

I see, who wants to leave?

But the next moment.

The Zou Clan's ancestor, Zou Changming, suddenly moved.

If he does not move, it's fine; once he moves, it's like a thunderclap.

He unleashed a brilliant red fire pearl, almost illuminating the entire formation.

Treasure, the Southern Bright Separating Fire Pearl!

He simultaneously bellowed:

Attack!

As his voice fell, the Wang Clan's ancestor standing above the dark clouds also moved.

The target, actually pointed straight at Xuezhi Li beside him!

The change was so swift that all cultivators couldn't react, including Xuezhi Li, who had just been gleeful a moment ago.

He looked in astonishment at the Wang Clan elder who had suddenly risen up and attacked him.

ermmm, the foreshadowing buried for a long time, starting from this chapter, will be partially resolved.

(End of chapter)