Chapter 443: It's My Party

Chapter 443: It's My Party

The Following Night

Bai Xues peak glittered with thousands of floating flames. Dancing over the peak, the flames shaped into flowers and swords, fantastic spirit beasts and marvelous rainbows. A series of lanterns floated beneath the flames, creating almost a festival atmosphere. Down below, lines of faintly-glowing qi swirled on a light mist. The glowing mist gave the entire peak the appearance of an immortal paradise, wreathing the stone paths, trees, and mystic pools in a gentle light. A gorgeous palace stood out atop the peak, lit from below to give it a dramatic appearance. The doors and windows hung open, and long silk hangings wavered on the breeze Just outside the palace, neat stands of bamboo, gorgeous flowers, and little ponds holding multicolored carp made up a gravel-pathed garden. Ephemeral beauties wandered the garden just outside the pavilion, carrying drinks and platters of food.

Sword beams approached the peak from all directions, as peak lords and disciples from all the various eighty-one peaks joined the party. A few cultivators already wandered the gardens, plucking at the food or sipping the liquor. Healer hovered overhead, taking it in for a moment.

Though I protested this is actually a very good idea. The established Peak Lords with lots of backing are unlikely to attend a lowly new-founded peak lords party, and of the Peak Lords with backing who do attend, theyll be clearly flaunting their power, backing, and the full might of their factions with the goal of attracting new peak lords to join their faction. Of the other Peak Lords, anyone who attends likely doesnt have a faction or backing, and might be looking for a new faction to join a faction Im happy to present to them! Plus, we can attempt to invite the new peak lords to join our side, and if they dont join our side, well be able to observe which faction they do join.

Bai Xue although Im sure you hosted this party with ulterior motives, youre actually doing a lot to aid my cause! A small cultivator like me would never dare to host an ostentatious party, nor be bold enough to invite every peak lord and disciple I can reach. Only Bai Xue would be audacious enough to do such a thing but Ill happily benefit from it!

A man in black robes drew up alongside Hui, sitting atop a large black duck. Hui half turned, nodding when he saw the white snake snoozing around Rogues neck. Zhubis back in snake form?

Rogue nodded. More comfortable that way. I dont know that hes going to do much with his peak, either if the Mountain Lord turns us down, we can always move the spider there. Id rather hide a needle in a haystack, but better to have it here than have it outside. Id rather not depend on our node to call it in we dont know how the node interacts with grand barrier formation-level barriers, after all.

Healer nodded. He glanced at Zhubi, then reached out and pet the snakes head. I miss you, Zhubi

Zhubi half-woke up and hissed a hello at him, then settled down to nap again.

Hui sighed deeply. He shook his head. One day, Ill be the one with Zhubi again. He nodded at Rogue. Shall we?

Cant let Peak Lord have all the fun, Rogue replied, patting his duck on the neck. He angled down toward the party, and Hui followed.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

The two of them landed in the garden. Immediately, one of the beauties drifted over. As she drew closer, an aura of icy cold fell over Hui. He peered closer, examining her. Her skin glowed a faint blue-white. A translucent body drifted over the ground, her feet barely touching the floor.

Not a ghost, but some kind of ice spirit? Hui frowned, nodding to himself. Interesting.

Interesting way to keep the drinks cool, you mean, Rogue replied, snatching a cup off the ice spirits tray. He downed it in a gulp and thumped Hui on the back. Im off to find Bai Xue. You hang out here and do important stuff, or whatever.

Hui grabbed the back of Rogues robes. Lets not rush off so quickly. Stick around. Meet people. This is our chance to recruit other new peak lords to our side.

What? You think the kind of people who want to join All-Heavens Sect, who are probably more gung-ho about All-Heavens than people who grew up in All-Heavens, are the kind of people whod want to overthrow All-Heavens? Rogue asked. He waved his hand. Not a chance. Lets just find Bai Xue.

Rubbing his forehead, Hui shook his head. Hes got a point, but that doesnt mean I want to admit it. Still its worth a try.

Well, Ill leave it to you, Rogue said, nodding wisely.

The ice spirit drifted over to Hui. He raised a hand to refuse it, turning to Rogue. Come on. Theres still work to be done.

Mmm. I woke up second, after all, Rogue replied. It was a close thing between me and Wildman

Both of them fell silent.

After a moment, Healer spoke again. For a while, I thought I was Hui. That I was the only one, all alone. The sect gone, completely gone, even the ghost flag vanished. Li Xiang missing, no one to stand by my side and the whole world against me

Too scared to contact Bai Xue, afraid to admit who you were that pressure, its Rogue shook his head.

And when I connected to the network, there was no one there. It was just me, all alone, Healer murmured. I think thats probably the moment I felt the most alone. To reach out and find no one even on what passes for the internet, thats

Abruptly, Rogue laughed. He shook his head. But First was there all along, wasnt he? The original clone, hiding away. He just wasnt brave enough to reach out to the network, not until Sixth came along. So you know, even when you thought you were alone, you werent.

Hui laughed. Ah, well thats true.

Lets not be gloomy. Just for tonight, why dont we forget the world and relax? Rogue suggested. He waved his hand, snagging a glass off a passing ice spirits platter. The glass landed in his hand, and he passed it to Hui. Drink to the ones whove gone, and to the rest of us, whore still here. Drink to our hard work and to the future.

Hui took the cup. He stared into the bottom of it. I know youre the most fearless of us. Alcohol for me, its still

Then give it to me, Chen Wuya said abruptly, surging out of Huis robes. His beak latched onto the glass, and he downed it in a gulp. Hopping onto Healers shoulder, he shook his head at the two of them. Standing around griping at a party, can you be more boring? Im going to find the fun Huis.

Ah, my apologies, Senior, Hui said.

Zhubi half-woke up again and lifted his head, lazily baring his teeth at the crow interceding on his sleeping spot.

Hmph. Chen Wuya took to the air, flying away.

Funny for you to be the one hesitant about drinking, Rogue pointed out.

Hui dusted down his robes, brushing little black feathers off. Elder Brother, the healing service I provide to others is a clinical usage of alcohol! Far be it from me to endorse drinking or the partaking of dangerous amounts of liquor.

Didnt you just host a party specifically to get a certain cultivator drunk? Rogue asked.

Well that was a special case, Healer said smoothly.

Rogue snorted. Alright, alright. Enough excuses. Cmon, lets go find Bai Xue and the others. Im going to have fun, and so are you, even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming the whole way.

Healer laughed. Alright, alright. Lets go greet the host.

Yeah, yeah. Greet the host, Rogue repeated, waggling his eyebrows.