The Golden Invitations (1)

[Ding. Medium The Eight Trigram Dao Convergence Scripture modified successfully.]

The description of the [Eight Trigram Dao Convergence Scripture] remained largely unchanged, unlike the body cultivation technique that reached a clear limit. Still, as before, the light particles from the scroll merged with his mind, flooding him with information about the improved technique. The increased complexity directly enhanced the efficacy of the technique.

"This should temporarily clear my bottleneck," Liu Feng concluded, "but I still need to solidify my understanding of cultivation in general. That will allow me to synthesize mediums more effectively. Sigh~"

"No more blindly applying my fictional knowledge. Ah well, too much to do..."

Shifting his focus, he turned to the remaining fragments - {Unnamed Summoning Dao}.

"No time to waste," he decided. "Let's synthesize a medium from it."

'Use all {Unnamed Summoning Dao} Fragments to synthesize a medium.'

[Ding. Consuming 8650 Dao Points to synthesize a medium using Dao Fragments of {Unnamed Summoning Dao} (Origin: Whispering Spirit Jade).]

[Medium Synthesis is in progress]

[Medium Synthesis successful.]

[New Entry Recorded]

{Unnamed Medium}

[Category: Spiritual Technique]

[Sub Category: Summoning Technique]

[Technique Grade: Grade 1]

[Ability: Summoning Spirits]

[Description: This technique is derived from the Whispering Spirit Jade, an ancient relic with the ability to communicate with benevolent spirits residing within the Jade Forest and call upon them to forge a pact. Only lesser spirits can be summoned. The offering presented by the summoner determines the nature of the summoned spirits.]

As Liu Feng read the description of his newly acquired technique, he noticed several differences. Unlike any he had encountered before, it was a Spiritual Technique – a method of manipulating Qi to manifest spell-like abilities. Elder Shen had briefly explained these during their recent battle.

As he delved deeper, a jade-colored illusory scroll materialized before him.

[Ding. Please name the medium to proceed further.]

"A summoning technique, huh?" Liu Feng mused. This time, he let his thoughts flow freely, unburdened by the pressure of a perfect name.

"Let's go with Heavenly Spirit Summoning Technique," he declared, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

[Ding. Heavenly Spirit Summoning Technique synthesized successfully.]

"System, initiate [Heavenly Spirit Summoning Technique]," Liu Feng commanded.

The jade-colored scroll shimmered and disintegrated, flowing into his mind. A wave of information washed over him, detailing the intricacies of the technique.

After absorbing the knowledge, Liu Feng found the technique surprisingly straightforward. The core principle involved offering something of value – an offering – in exchange for forging a pact with a spirit.

However, the description also made clear the limitations. Due to the technique grade being low, he would not be able to summon powerful spirits with a high degree of awareness. Still, even a lesser spirit was better than none.

A frown creased his brow. Maintaining multiple spirit contracts was notoriously difficult. Every contract placed a heavy burden on the caster's soul. Liu Feng realized that spamming the technique to create an army of creatures was clearly out of the question.

"Sigh~," he muttered, "If it turns out to be useless, I guess it'll just make it a mascot for the group."

While Liu Feng wasn't expecting an ultimate power from this technique, the possibility of a strong summon held an undeniable appeal. Lost in thought, he pondered what kind of offering to use. 'Hmmm, what would work the best?' he thought, mentally sifting through his nonexistent options.

Suddenly, a knock on the door shattered his concentration. "Boss, you there?" Zhang Yan's voice called out, interrupting his train of thought.

Liu Feng swung the door open to reveal Zhang Yan outside, with a hesitant smile on his lips.

"Come in," Liu Feng invited, gesturing towards the room.

Zhang Yan entered, his emotions a tangled mess.

"Thank you," he finally choked out, voice thick with gratitude.

"Thank you, Boss, for everything – for saving my family, for saving the city."

The weight of appreciation in Zhang Yan's words resonated with Liu Feng. He offered a small smile. "It was what I promised after all."

"The festival's already on its way," Zhang Yan mentioned, "They are asking for you to meet with them."

After a moment of hesitation, Liu Feng gave up and accompanied Zhang Yan out of the City Lord's residence.

The evening had already descended. White lanterns cast a soft glow upon the bustling streets. Families strolled hand-in-hand, children's laughter echoed through the air, and vendors hawked their wares in hushed tones.

"Things look better now," Liu Feng said, trying to be optimistic. "The city will recover its former glory."

He shifted his focus. "Tell me, how have you been doing?"

Zhang Yan sighed. "The past week's been a struggle. Rebuilding the family and dealing with the aftermath… it's just overwhelming."

They soon met Mei Lin, who stood beside a giggling Zhang Ling, clutching a red paper lantern. It seemed the little girl, visibly healthier now, had grown quite fond of Mei Lin in the meantime.

The city buzzed with joyous chatter. Zhang Ling bombarded Liu Feng with questions about the festival and his adventures. Mei Lin, the ever charming, impressed them with tales of their delicious discoveries at various food stalls.

As the day drew to a close, the four unexpected friends ventured out to join the festivities. They were captivated by the intricate shadow puppets dancing on a makeshift stage, their laughter blending with the joyous crowd. Sharing a steaming bowl of spicy noodles, the sizzling broth warmed them from within.

The festival's vibrant energy gradually subdued as the cold night descended. Feeling the cool air settle, they realized it was time to head back.

***

The next morning, Gale City came alive with renewed activity. Daily life returned to normalcy.

Thanks to the discreet intervention with the City Lord as per Liu Feng's request, his identity remained mostly hidden. Although this did not stop a steady stream of invitations addressed to Liu Feng, at their current residence.

Formal letters came in from influential city families, eager to curry favor with their young savior. However, two invitations stood out.

One, with a delicate floral pattern, originated from Manager Qing of the Misty Medicine Pavilion, and the other, embroidered with the Golden Cloud Kingdom's royal seal.

He had expected the royal summons after his discussion with Elder Shen, still, its weight burdened him. The kingdom's official invitation was another matter entirely. He desired no entanglement in political struggles.

Earlier that morning, Elder Shen, Elder Yang, and the City Lord had already departed for the royal palace. Now, it was Liu Feng's turn.

***

Liu Feng, accompanied by Li He, navigated the city's bustling streets. Li He, eager to assist with preparations for the journey to the Golden Cloud Kingdom, readily agreed to accompany him.

They stopped before a luxurious shop adorned with fine silks and colorful fabrics. A dignified woman with meticulously styled dark hair emerged from behind an intricately carved counter.

Her eyes widened in recognition upon seeing Li He and Liu Feng, followed by a warm smile.

"Welcome, young lord," she greeted. "What can I do for you today?"

Li He took the lead, guiding Liu Feng through various sections of the shop. Here, a curated collection of robes hung on polished racks, each radiating a faint glow of exceptional materials.

Liu Feng's eyes scanned the exquisite garments. The craftsmanship and materials were clearly superior, even to his untrained eyes. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Would his remaining few hundred gold coins even suffice for something like this?

"These," the woman explained, gesturing towards the robes, "are designed specifically for cultivators. We use our finest materials and employ skilled tailors in their creation."

Liu Feng's eyes settled on a sleek white robe paired with simple black undergarments. The fabric itself seemed extraordinary, crafted from special materials. It lacked a flashy appearance, yet exuded a sense of elegance and practicality.

"That one," he declared, pointing towards the white robe.

***

Five grueling days on the road finally yielded their reward. As dawn broke on the fifth day, Liu Feng reached the final hill overlooking the sprawling capital of the Golden Cloud Kingdom.

The sight stole his breath away. The sheer scale and grandeur of the city dwarfed any he had ever seen. Even the memory of his past life couldn't imagine a metropolis so magnificent. An unseen energy vibrated in the air, and a sense of power and ambition emanated from the bustling streets below.

The scene was a vibrant tapestry of humanity. Merchants hawked their wares with melodic calls, nobles adorned in silks and jade rode by on majestic steeds, laborers carried heavy burdens, and children's laughter echoed through the bustling alleys.

It was a totally different scene from the Gale City he had encountered before.

Reaching the city gates, Liu Feng dismounted and presented the royal invitation. The official seal caught the guard's eye, and a flicker of surprise quickly morphed into a respectful nod.

"A visitor with the Royal Summon!" he declared through the city entrance, announcing Liu Feng's arrival.

The guards parted, creating a path into the city. Liu Feng, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anticipation, climbed back into the carriage.