Lin Mu sat near the head of the hall with Grand Elder Huo and the City Lord, while Meng Bai and Ashy took their places beside him.
The moment they entered, all eyes had turned toward them, admiration and awe written plainly across countless faces.
These cultivators... elders, juniors, merchants, and wandering experts alike saw Lin Mu not merely as a guest of honor, but as a living legend. The duel that had carved a valley into the land itself was already being told and retold in a hundred embellished forms. To see him in person, seated with such calmness, was enough to stir their spirits.
But Lin Mu was not alone. His beasts, too, had been invited, and the sight of them caused murmurs to ripple through the guests.
Little Shrubby immediately made himself at home before a massive platter piled high with roasted meats, his tail swishing contently as he devoured them without restraint.
