"Greetings, Young Sect Master!"
A middle-aged man approached, and all the Daoists bowed in greeting.
This man was Zhuo Bufan, the eldest disciple of the Tianmen Sect and the next Sect Master.
Zhuo Bufan first exchanged pleasantries with Shao Feng, complimenting Shao Ying's recent performance.
Then, his expression turned serious, and he strode to a high seat.
"Everyone, I am the Young Sect Master of the Tianmen Sect. You may now ask any questions you have."
The martial arts grandmasters exchanged glances, then nominated one person, Shao Feng being the most suitable.
Shao Feng voiced the question on everyone's mind.
"We humbly ask, what are the immortal's commands for summoning us mortals?"
Zhuo Bufan said sternly, "It is not I who summoned you, but someone else."
"Who?"
"A person of utmost, utmost nobility! You need not know the specifics, only understand that if that person frowns, even the Tianmen Sect cannot bear the consequences!"
Everyone gasped in unison!
What?
Someone more noble than immortals?
Even this Young Sect Master must be exceedingly cautious?
On that day, the immortal who rode the eagle could blow away the raging dragon with a flick of his sleeve, and he was merely an ordinary disciple.
And this was the Young Sect Master of an immortal sect. If even he spoke in such terms, what kind of being could it be?
It was beyond imagination!
"Precisely..."
Zhuo Bufan waved his hand and simply pointed to the sky.
Everyone widened their eyes. Could it be a true god from the celestial realm?
"But for such a person, what service could we mere mortals possibly provide?"
Zhuo Bufan said, "I am not entirely clear on that either. I only wish to caution you to be extremely careful and discreet, and under no circumstances should you anger Heaven... anger someone!"
"Do you understand?"
In his last sentence, Zhuo Bufan infused a hint of his true qi, his perfected Qi Condensation realm evident.
The martial arts grandmasters felt an icy chill penetrate their bones, as if they were teetering on the brink of life and death!
Was this the power of immortals? A gap so absolute that even a hundred people present couldn't make him lift a finger!
These titans of martial arts, who had always commanded the wind and summoned the rain, looking down on all, felt such powerlessness for the first time. It was suffocating, even despairing!
What was the use of so many years of martial arts practice...
The pressure vanished, and everyone broke out in a cold sweat. Zhuo Bufan said, "The honored guest will arrive soon. Everyone should take their seats quickly and remember to maintain your composure!"
"We understand..."
"Hurry and take your seats, do not be disrespectful!"
The crowd was as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to utter a sound, sitting in their places with eyes fixed forward.
Before long, as if surrounded by a constellation of stars, one person arrived. This person wore exotic clothing that was difficult to decipher. He appeared to be no more than twenty years old, with a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his face, seeming approachable.
However, the accompanying Daoists deliberately lagged a step behind, their gazes lowered when they spoke, appearing extremely cautious.
Those who could accompany Zhang Wei were all top-tier powerhouses of the Tianmen Sect, their beards and hair white, exuding an aura of immortality.
Zhang Wei took his seat and looked at the group of martial artists in their varied attire with a slight smile. Zhan Hua couldn't understand why someone from the celestial realm like Zhang Wei would be interested in these individuals and even host a banquet for them.
Under Zhang Wei's gaze, the martial artists felt quite tense, their heads involuntarily drooping.
Zhuo Bufan nodded with satisfaction from the side.
"Hmm, their awareness is quite good..."
At this moment, the courtyard was arranged in a gate-like formation.
Zhang Wei sat in the main seat, other Daoists stood behind Zhang Wei, and the martial artists were seated on either side.
"Let the banquet begin."
A Daoist behind him murmured, "Serve the food!"
Each person received a tray, a bronze cauldron one foot high, porcelain bowls, wooden plates, and a white silk cloth for wiping their mouths.
However, without Zhang Wei's instruction, no one dared to reach for the food. Zhuo Bufan stood behind Zhang Wei, his gaze stern, and the martial artists had no appetite.
Zhang Wei had no idea what was happening. Seeing the tense atmosphere, he spoke first, with a slight smile, "Thank you all for attending. I have invited you here for a favor, please forgive any inconvenience."
Still silent.
Zhuo Bufan quickly coughed. Only then did the martial arts titans seem to awaken from a daze and hastily replied, "We dare not."
?
Zhang Wei finally understood what was happening.
He immediately said, "Consider this banquet a casual gathering. Everyone, please relax. Zhuo Bufan."
"Yes."
"Take your people and leave."
"But these mortals are vulgar..."
"Leave quickly."
"Yes!"
Zhuo Bufan had no ulterior motives; he was simply too nervous.
In the cultivation world, strength was paramount. Ever since witnessing Zhang Wei's abilities, the entire sect had been acting this way. Zhang Wei had tried to dissuade them, but nothing changed.
After Zhuo Bufan and his men departed, Zhang Wei left his seat and began pacing in the center of the courtyard.
"Everyone truly needn't be nervous. As you can see, I am just an ordinary person, no different from all of you."
"Besides, I have something to ask of you all. If you are like this, how can I possibly speak? It would seem as though I am forcing you."
One person stood up.
He bowed very respectfully and said, "May I ask what the immortal seeks? Could you please tell us! It is our fortune to be of service to the immortal, though we know not if we possess the ability."
Zhang Wei said, "Naturally, it is something you are skilled at."
"Us? We are merely martial men, commoners..."
"It's about martial arts!"
Everyone was stunned.
Could it be that an immortal's descendant was injured by a secular martial artist, and he's here to gather clues and seek retribution?
A wave of terror spread. If they were to be held accountable by an immortal in such a situation, it could be a calamity of annihilation!
Zhang Wei waved his hand, "Let's not discuss this for now. Everyone, please eat first."
With a flip of his hand, a large white gourd appeared.
A trickle of liquid flowed from the gourd, slowly filling a wine bowl. Instantly, the aroma of wine filled the air! Everyone sniffed it intoxicatingly. Truly a divine item, unparalleled wine.
Drinking this would give them bragging rights for life.
"Back then, in the immortal sect, an immortal toasted me..."
Many people were already envisioning all sorts of boastful scenarios!
Zhang Wei added, "For those who don't drink well, I also have other teas and beverages. Please help yourselves, and kindly sample the food in the small cauldron."
Seeing Zhang Wei's gesture, everyone lifted the cauldron lids. Inside was a bowl of fragrant white rice, topped with a sausage with a fishy aroma, and beside it were fruit plates, all with fruits they had never seen before.
The wine was a homemade grain wine brewed by the farmers in the treasure vault, likely of level two. The food consisted of rock rice, sausage, and sardine meat, and most of the fruits were also level one or two.
Looking at the wine in their cups, everyone hesitated.
A taboo in the martial world was to eat food of unknown origin or drink wine from strangers. No matter how high one's cultivation, they couldn't guard against unforeseen accidents.
However... this was wine from an immortal. Even if there was poison, it would likely be undetectable by a silver needle.
Furthermore, if they were unappreciative, they might meet their end.
The crowd exchanged glances and could only lift their large bowls and drink!
"Good wine!"
It was spicy at first, then turned sweet. It felt like fire in the belly but without burning, rather, the warmth spread through their bodies like a gentle current, making them feel as if they had just enjoyed a sauna, their entire bodies refreshed!
"Truly good wine, a divine item... I've been a wine lover for decades, and I've never tasted such exquisite wine. It's worth living this life!"
"Indeed. Although I'm not much of a drinker, I don't feel very drunk. This wine is truly miraculous!"
"Everyone! Did you notice?"
"What?"
"I... do you not? My internal energy is circulating on its own, as if it's about to burst forth! It... I feel power surging within me!"
Zhang Wei blinked.
It turned out to be a perfect match of ingredients!
This was the first time such a thing had happened in this world.