"Brother, tonight there is a banquet held in Eastwood City. Du Lingfei, the envoy from Spirit Stream Sect, has reached the end of her commission and will return to her sect, so a grand banquet is being held in her honor. If you have nothing else to do, brother, why not come here? It will be fun."

Yan Xiaobao smiled, looked at Hou Yunqing, and then expressed his agreement.

Hou Yunqing knew he was being a bit forward but wanted to seize the golden opportunity without time for a better strategy. He smiled and led Yan Xiaobao out of the shop and into the street.

As they walked out, Yan Xiaobao noticed eight bodyguards trailing them, all at the fifth level of Qi Condensation. They were rogue cultivators, but clearly skilled assassins, emitting a powerful killing aura.

Hou Yunqing glanced at Yan Xiaobao from the corner of his eye and said, "You know, the envoy from Spirit Creek Sect, Du Lingfei, is as beautiful as an immortal. Her cultivation base is not only very high but she is also very beautiful. In fact, she is one of the top ten goddesses in the Eastwood Continent. As the envoy here, the ten clans have kept perfectly harmonious relations. No issues have occurred. She has expertly handled her duties."

This was the first time Yan Xiaobao heard about Du Lingfei's affairs in Eastwood City and was instantly captivated. "She sounds incredible!"

"Oh, she's incredible, alright. Very incredible! Famous young individuals from cultivation tribes all over Eastwood Continent strive to capture her favor. But in my view, no tribe is worthy of her. Only a few within the Spiritual Flow Sect itself are deemed worthy. To be honest, there's really only one person good enough for her!" Hou Yunqing sighed.

"Who is that?!" Yan Xiaobao asked, blinking.

"Oh, he's a rare choice in the Spirit Sect, a type only seen once every 10,000 years. He's a prestigious disciple and the younger brother of the sect leader. His name resonates across the North Shore and South Shore of the Spiritual Flow Sect, popular among countless disciples. His name is... Yan Xiaobao!" Hou Yunqing's expression was awe-inspiring, though he seemed to struggle to suppress his enthusiasm. As for the bodyguards, they had peculiar expressions on their faces. They had been working for Hou Yunqing for years, but this was the first time hearing him speak that way. They couldn't help but look at Yan Xiaobao, curiosity gnawing at their hearts.

Yan Xiaobao coughed dryly. Appearing very thoughtful, he said, "You're right, Yan Xiaobao is indeed extraordinary."

Then he gave Hou Yunqing another mysterious smile.

Hou Yunqing either did not notice Yan Xiaobao's pensive demeanor or pretended not to.

"Extraordinary?" He continued excitedly. "He's more than that. He's a real choice, a superstar, the one all female disciples in the Spiritual Flow Sect want as their Daoist partner. As for male disciples, they all wish to be his friend. He's the gemstone of the Spirit Stream Sect. I've even heard that after establishing in the Holy Land, he reached the Earthstring Foundation.

"A person like that is like a full moon in the dark night. All anyone can do is look up in amazement. Sadly, my own potential is average. Otherwise, I would search for him, offering to be his lifelong follower, ready at all times, and at all hours of the day."

At this point, Bai Xiaochun almost blushed. However, Hou Yunqing seemed truly caught up in excitement, and Yan Xiaobao did not want to interrupt him. Therefore, he allowed him to continue speaking in this manner for a while, even occasionally giving him an encouraging look. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Hou Yunqing kept it up all the way to the banquet, using fresh and elaborate ways to praise Yan Xiaobao the entire time. Occasionally, he was at a loss for words, but Yan Xiaobao's encouraging expression spurred him on, and he racked his brains to think of more. The uninterrupted conversation was quite exhausting...

As Yan Xiaobao and Hou Yunqing approached the banquet, a large group of disciples and elders from the Spirit Creek Sect were scouring the Eastwood Continent. Their primary goal was tracking down those disciples who were transported out of the Fallen Sword Abyss to find out what had actually happened.

When a group of inner sect disciples happened to find a disciple knocked out during the transportation, they wandered along the edge of the forest. They quickly revived him.

The first words from his mouth were enough to shock all the rescuers.

"Uncle Yan Xiaobao has reached the Heavenly Dao Foundation!!"

These words shook the listeners to their hearts like lightning. Everyone was breathless. It was earth-shaking news so, without the slightest hesitation, they sent the information back to the sect.

Soon, more and more disciples who were transported out of the Fallen Sword Abyss appeared. Additionally, the messages sent back to the sect were all the same.

Yan Xiaobao has reached the Heavenly Dao Foundation!

He incited desperation in the hearts of the disciples from the other three sects. He slaughtered Zhao Rou and Fang Lin from the Pill Sect, severely wounded Nine-Isles, successfully seized all of Song Que's energy, and ascended to the Heavenly Dao Foundation!

Some even said he killed Lei Shan from the deep Spirit Sect.

As the information flowed, a massive commotion was triggered in the Spirit Sect. Elders, seven Peak Lords, the sect leader... everyone was stunned, yet simultaneously elated. Earlier, they were anxious and uncertain about which sect someone from the Heavenly Dao Foundation would come from. In fact, many were convinced it would be someone from the Blood Flow Sect.

There were even some words sent to spies in the Blood Flow Sect, attempting to have certain disciples there killed.

But now, everyone was shaken to discover that the one who reached the Heavenly Dao Foundation... actually came from the Spiritual Flow Sect. That was... Yan Xiaobao!

Li Qinghou and the sect leader rejoiced together. The main elder was completely shaken. Next, the entire sect was mobilized to complete a mission.

"Find Yan Xiaobao. If you do, send information back to the sect immediately. Protect him and escort him home!"

Meanwhile, the Spiritual Flow Sect locked down all disciples suspected of espionage. They were well aware that once the other three sects found out what had happened, they would stop at nothing to try to kill Yan Xiaobao!

The cultivation tribes closely related to the Spirit Sect made it essentially impossible for words not to spread. Soon, everyone caught on to what had happened. Clan Leaders from various clans were completely shaken. With bloodshot eyes, they sent their clansmen in all directions, trying to find Yan Xiaobao.

After all, they knew he could be transported to anywhere within Eastwood Continent.

If they were lucky and he was transported to their territory, and they found him first, they could invite him to visit their clan personally. Considering he is now a cultivator of the Heavenly Dao Foundation, that alone is a great honor.

Some of their clan members might have the chance to establish a friendship with him, which would greatly benefit the clan.

However, more tempting than that is the possibility that Yan Xiaobao might take a liking to a female clan member and make her his Daoist partner. If that happens, even the sect leader would be unable to do anything about it.

"Send everyone out. Find him! Yan Xiaobao might have been transported to our territory!"

As the cultivation families dispatched people to search, Yan Xiaobao and Hou Yunqing finally arrived at the banquet.

It was situated in a vast estate covering over ten acres of land. The walls were lavishly adorned, the grounds dotted with pine trees and ornamental rocks. Near the central area, there stood pavilions and a three-tier pagoda that almost resembled a palace. Decorated with dragons and phoenixes, it was both elegant and exquisite, yet obviously very expensive.

Clamor could be heard, servants hurrying back and forth bringing various exquisite wines and fresh fruits to the elegant retreat guests.

More than a hundred guests attended, of all ages, men and women. Some sat alone, others in groups of three to five.

Guards were stationed at the main entrance, and a servant cheerfully greeted newcomers. For those he didn't recognize, he would accept their invitation card, note their arrival, then usher them inside.

Hou Yunqing was respectfully greeted by the servant upon entering and escorted inside. Yan Xiaobao, walking alongside, observed the banquet with curiosity. This was his first time attending such an affair.

...