The third level of the hotel. The inside was an expanse of splendidly glorious jade and gold. Each chair emitted a faint fragrance. The entire room had been decorated with an ancient style and elaborate machine-puppets—products of the Bountiful Treasures Pavilion—were serving cups of spirit tea to the present guests. From the mouths of these teacups, a layer of faint qi-steam twisted and swirled about. The tables were also arranged with the year’s spirit fruits.

From merely the decorations and furnishings, it could be said that this venue had obviously been invested with hard-earned capital. As today’s protagonist, Lu Gandang wore a smile with a sliver of content to it. Taking small and fine brocaded purses, he respectfully handed them over into the hands of the first row of attendees, laughing. “Today is a day of great exultation for my humble self. This is a minor gift. I hope you seniors don’t mind.”

“No, of course not,” a plump old man laughed as he extended a hand, seemingly declining it, but as he pulled his hand back the fine brocaded purse had already vanished without a trace. “I’m no more than the Great Circle of Qi Condensation, how could I be called ‘senior’?”

“No need to say that, Senior is already at the Great Circle. You’ll surely achieve Foundation Establishment in five to six years. As Mingshui’s...