Chapter 17 Banquet

As for the Spirit Plant Elder's machinations, Chen Qing wasn't too put off by it.

In his previous life, he had worked tirelessly to earn money, and it took decades to pay off the mortgage.

When the mortgage was paid off, there came the car payments.

And after the car payments, came the betrothal and wedding gifts.

Now, he held a secure position, had three servants, and made more than eight thousand Spirit Stones a year.

The Elder seemed to be quietly trying to arrange a marriage between his granddaughter and Chen Qing.

Thinking about Yu Qingshuang's proud figure, Chen Qing gritted his teeth—it wasn't unacceptable, and he could make do.

The only problem might be that Chen Qing couldn't yet defeat Yu Qingshuang.

He also wondered who'd be on top and who'd be on bottom if it came to that in the bedroom...

Hiss...

Chen Qing, oh Chen Qing, you've grown degenerate!

You are supposed to be a young talent on the path to Foundation Establishment!

But having a Dao companion isn't necessarily in conflict with reaching Foundation Establishment!

Amidst all these thoughts, Chen Qing fell asleep.

Three days later, amid a barrage of firecrackers, many disciples and all the Elders of Wuyou Mountain gathered in the Spirit Plant Elder's courtyard.

Elder Chen and the Spirit Plant Elder were particularly happy, both red-cheeked from drinking, introducing Chen Qing to the other Elders as if he were the young talent of their own family.

Familiar laughter from Ye Yuntian resounded, followed by the core of Wuyou Mountain's younger generation—almost all the cultivators possessing Butterfly Bugs had arrived.

Chen Qing hadn't expected the event to be so grand.

Through Ye Yuntian's introductions, Chen Qing began to get acquainted with all the cultivators of Wuyou Mountain who possessed Butterfly Bugs.

Five members of the War Affairs Hall, all possessing Sword Butterflies, were Ye Yuntian, He Ming, Shen Ao, Guo Feng, and Ke Yuhao.

Shen Ao was an orphan, discovered by the Mountain Master to have a talent for cultivation and brought back, especially admiring Ye Yuntian, his background somewhat similar to Chen Qing's, so he looked favorably upon Chen Qing.

The other three were descendants of three War Affairs Hall Elders.

Gongsun Xiu, the Hall Master of the Qi Refinement Hall, was a master swordsman but his Butterfly Bug was the Alcohol Butterfly.

Wu Yi, the Deputy Hall Master of the Qi Refinement Hall, appeared simple and honest, always drunk, and he also possessed an Alcohol Butterfly.

The Qi Refinement Hall, needing a significant amount of Spirit Ginseng for brewing Ginseng Ganoderma Wine, took special interest in Chen Qing after hearing that he could manage Spirit Ginseng plants.

He Ming, the Deputy Hall Master of the Beast Driving Hall, owned a Crane Bug capable of Butterfly Transformation, arriving everywhere riding a crane.

Ju Xiu, the Hall Master of the Beast Driving Hall, had a tiger bug capable of Butterfly Transformation, a very bold sister, not as well-shaped as Yu Qingshuang.

Feng Qi, the Hall Master of the Shadow Hall, possessed a Butterfly Transformation Wind Bug, dressed in black and quite stern, not one for many words. However, it was evident he had a good relationship with Ye Yuntian; he was cold toward everyone else.

As for the other two Deputy Hall Masters of the Shadow Hall, according to Feng Qi, they couldn't make it due to missions.

Feng Qi apologized to Chen Qing very solemnly, and Chen Qing responded with a smile that the mission was important.

It was quite normal for the Shadow Hall, which typically patrolled around the sect.

All the Hall Masters and Deputy Hall Masters, adding up to twelve people, constituted the core strength of the younger generation at Wuyou Mountain.

Now, Chen Qing was to be included among them.

Other than these individuals, there was one disciple of Wuyou Mountain with a Butterfly Bug who hadn't arrived, and that was Xiao Zhong.

After Ye Yuntian had introduced everyone to Chen Qing, he shrugged and said with a laugh, "Today is a great day for our Chen, excluding Feng and his sister from the Shadow Hall who are out on missions, the entirety of Wuyou Mountain's young generation with Butterfly Bugs should be here—anyone who isn't here would essentially be disrespecting me, Ye Yuntian!"

Once Ye Yuntian finished speaking, the Hall Masters were indifferent; they all knew who Ye Yuntian was referring to.

And that person was Xiao Zhong!

After a while, Chen Qing finally saw Xiao Zhong entering the door with several Wuyou Mountain disciples, "Congratulations to Chen on the Bug Butterfly Transformation, I've brought a modest gift!"

""

Chen Qing stepped forward to greet, "I still have to thank elder brother for your guidance that day! It is I who should be visiting to express my gratitude."

Xiao Zhong smiled and said, "Brother Chen, you give me too much credit. It's your own good fortune; I merely provided some minor guidance."

In truth, everyone present knew that Chen Qing's Bug had naturally advanced, and Xiao Zhong's advice didn't really play a significant role.

However, on such a joyous occasion, no one felt it appropriate to cause a scene. Everyone wore smiles on their faces, though no one knew exactly what they were thinking.

Besides the leaders of each hall, many members from various halls also attended, with the most coming from the Spirit Plant Hall; not a single one was absent.

The position of the head of Spirit Plant Hall had been vacant for a long time. Now that Chen Qing had stepped up to the role of Deputy Hall Master, he was practically no different from the hall leader, so naturally, everyone needed to pay their respects to the faction leader.

As the banquet began, each table was served two pots of Ginseng Ganoderma Wine, showcasing the prestige of the newly promoted Deputy Hall Master.

Several rounds into the drinking, no one knew if Xiao Zhong was drunk or what, but he actually said in front of everyone, "Although brother Chen has now acquired the Grass Spirit Bug with Butterfly Transformation, it's a pity that his cultivation level is too low. You really need to focus on cultivating seriously."

"Otherwise..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Ye Yuntian stepped up to him, looking down as he sternly asked, "Otherwise what?"

Xiao Zhong gently pushed Ye Yuntian away, "I wouldn't do anything. Seeing brother Chen's Bug achieve Butterfly Transformation, I'm too pleased to have any issues."

"It's just that with so many Evil Cultivators out there, it would be better for brother Chen to not venture down the mountain."

Ye Yuntian snapped back, "Brother Chen is under the protection of War Affairs Hall, he doesn't need your concern!"

Xiao Zhong snorted coldly, "The sword is in your hand, so naturally, everything goes according to your say."

Ye Yuntian's breathing became hurried, clearly angered.

Xiao Zhong was obviously being sarcastic about Chen Qing's mere Qi Refinement third layer cultivation, suggesting he'd be manipulated by the might of others!

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, but the elders and the Mountain Master at the main table did not seem moved at all.

Chen Qing wanted to step forward to mediate, but was held back by Feng Qi's hand on his shoulder, signaling him not to act yet.

Ye Yuntian turned and asked, "Feng, I heard that you recently discovered traces of the sword bug in Sword Abyss. Is it true?"

Feng Qi replied earnestly, "Indeed it is."

Ye Yuntian said, "Once you ascertain the sword bug's situation, I will personally lead War Affairs Hall to capture it."

"I rushed here today and didn't bring a gift. I'll present this sword bug to brother Chen as a congratulatory gift for today!"

"Xiao elder brother, what do you think?"

Chen Qing almost wanted to thank Xiao Zhong directly. Elder Xiao is such a genuine person!

Without his offer, how could he possibly receive such a precious gift as a sword bug!

That's worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones!

At the gathering, that's sixteen thousand Spirit Stones!

Xiao Zhong remarked, "Younger brother Ye, that's very generous of you."

After finishing the meal, Xiao Zhong left.

The other Hall Masters and Deputy Hall Masters, however, did not leave and planned to enjoy the night here.

As Ye Yuntian was leaving, he pulled Chen Qing aside, put an arm around his shoulders, and whispered in his ear, "I've heard there's news about your annual tribute, probably eight thousand four hundred Spirit Stones. When you become a Hall Master, it'll be even more."

After saying this, Ye Yuntian chuckled and disappeared with the other Hall Masters into the night.

Chen Qing stood in the night, opening his hand, and the Grass Spirit Butterfly slowly spread its wings in his palm.

Next, he would simply wait for the sword bug to arrive; his current Spirit Stones didn't all need to be spent on the Grass Spirit Butterfly's transformation.

After all, his tenure in the sect was fixed, and it was unlikely he'd take the position of Hall Master in just a few years.

He had to find another Alcohol Bug.

This way, he wouldn't need to buy Spiritual Wine to cultivate; he could quietly sell the excess Spiritual Wine.

Chen Qing turned and saw Wang Ye, Li He, and Zhou Ke waiting for him with some anxiety.