"Isn't it because of the different atmosphere? With so many people, just think about how much delicious food there will be. There will definitely be some unique and especially delicious dishes waiting for you to discover."
"That's true. The sect hasn't held a banquet in a long time. Everyone is very enthusiastic this time, it's sure to be a lot of fun."
"I wonder what delicious food Senior Brother Zhiyi brought? I'd like to see."
Qingzhiyi's smile froze instantly: "I brought very ordinary food, you definitely won't like it."
"This time we should have roasted chestnuts, roasted peanuts, roasted longan, roasted goji berries, roasted melon seeds, roasted dried red dates, roasted dried sweet potatoes, roasted walnuts, and roasted pistachios!" Xiu Qiyu rattled off a whole bunch of roasted dried fruits, and Qing Zhiyi's face grew increasingly dark: "Senior Brother, please don't slander me. I've changed my taste this time. I brought preserved plums, dried plums, bayberries, green plums, star fruit, dried mangoes, raisins, dried plums, and candied yellow peaches."
"These are all snacks that girls like to eat. Second Brother, you're very thoughtful."
"Did Senior Brother Zhiyi make all of these himself?"
"No, that's not it. But banquets are meant to be fun. If you don't know how to make something, you can just buy it. Senior Brother is just too stubborn. He insists on making things even though he doesn't know how, and as a result, he always causes a sensation."
"Second brother--" Xiu Qiyu drawled out.
"Okay, okay, I was wrong, Senior Brother. I won't say anything more, I won't say anything at all."
Qingzhiyi pulled Ye Xiruo to his own stall. Qingzhiyi's stall was a low-key yet luxurious wooden table with ten kinds of snacks on it, all served on very delicate plates. Although they didn't know how they tasted, they looked very appetizing.
"Little Leaf, would you like to try some? I had someone buy this from an old handmade shop, and it really tastes good."
"I never would have guessed that Senior Brother Zhiyi would have such a clear and insightful mind. I admire him greatly."
Ye Xiruo took a few dried plums and started eating. The unique tartness of the plums blended beautifully with a refreshing sweetness, making it a delightful sweet and sour treat that wasn't cloying at all. Ye Xiruo almost blurted out, "Senior Brother Zhiyi, remember to send me the link! I'll go check it out!" Luckily, she stopped herself in time.
"It's delicious! I wonder where Senior Brother Zhiyi bought it."
"An old shop in Huaxi Town."
"Thank you for informing me, senior brother."
While Ye Xiruo and Qing Zhiyi were chatting, people began to arrive one after another. The beautiful female cultivators, dressed in gorgeous clothes, flitted through the grass like butterflies. Their delicate faces, as beautiful as flowers, wore polite smiles, and their affectionate eyes would occasionally wander through the crowd, searching for the person they longed for.
The male cultivators were more casual. Most of them wore the uniform Taoist robes of Luoxia Valley, while some sword cultivators wore their own sword robes. They carried food boxes, found a spot, arranged their food, sat cross-legged, and waited for the banquet to begin.
More and more people arrived, and the aroma of food began to fill the air. Ye Xiruo was getting impatient.
Is this the only theme of this banquet?
"Just watch, the eldest brother is about to speak."
Sure enough, Xiu Qiyu floated directly in mid-air, and magnificent fireworks began to bloom in the air. Xiu Qiyu's white figure became even more radiant and dazzling under the glow of the fireworks.
"Over the past two months, Luoxia Valley has suffered great losses. Many of our junior brothers and sisters have left us forever. I share your sorrow and we are all deeply saddened. Once again, I want to thank you all for not leaving the sect during this critical time, but for choosing to defend it to the death. I am very gratified and happy. I am proud that Luoxia Valley has you all. Today's banquet is a farewell to the past. Let us bury that hatred deep in our hearts, cultivate diligently, and one day avenge them."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
"It is a great honor to have invited the young master to accompany me this time. I am very grateful to the Danwang Palace for extending a helping hand during this attack." Xiu Qiyu's gaze passed through countless people and landed precisely on Ye Xiruo's face. Ye Xiruo's face immediately became a little hot. When she realized that many people were looking at her, she generously looked back at them.
"Elder Xiu made outstanding contributions to the Pill King Hall in the Heavenly Ranking Competition, so the Pill King Hall will naturally not disregard Elder Xiu's life or death. Although Elder Xiu is a guest elder of the Pill King Hall, he will always be your senior brother, so you can rest assured about that. This time, Elder Xiu will stay in Luoxia Valley for a long time after his return and guide your cultivation. I will open a pill shop to assist your cultivation."
With the help of her true essence, Ye Xiruo's voice was audible to everyone.
Xiu Qiyu nodded: "What the young master said is true. As for the pills, we currently only provide pills of grade six and below, including grade six. You can judge the quality of the pills for yourselves. Although the pills are not entirely refined by the young master, please trust the pill-refining skills of the Pill King Hall."
It's great news that there are higher quality pills to help them cultivate. It seems that the senior brother has a high status in the Pill King Hall. Even the young hall master came directly and even helped them cultivate. I'm so touched.
As for the female cultivators who still disliked Ye Xiruo, they sneered inwardly. "She's just here to earn spirit stones, isn't she? She talks a good game about helping us cultivate, but why doesn't she just give them away for free? Pills are such important things; who knows if she'll tamper with them, poisoning us or affecting our talent? She definitely won't buy them."
The thought process of these people is simply incomprehensible. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Xiu Qiyu is Ye Xiruo's responsibility, but they are not. Why should they think that Ye Xiruo should make unconditional sacrifices for them?
"Alright, I now declare the banquet officially open. Please enjoy yourselves. I have a surprise for you all tonight." Xiu Qiyu kept everyone in suspense.
Actually, many people had already noticed the food Xiu Qiyu brought, but the impression he left before was really bad. They were afraid that if they lifted the lid, it would be boiled vegetables, boiled tofu, boiled radishes, boiled potatoes, boiled cilantro, and boiled spinach. The senior brother really had a deep love for boiled vegetables.
Xiu Qiyu leaped down and returned to her stall. Usually, several people would set up their stalls together, leaving one or two people to watch over them and introduce the products to customers, while the others would go off to play. Once they'd had their fill, they'd return to relieve the others.
As soon as the banquet began, Ye Xiruo had already disappeared.
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