After the seven-colored dipping sauce, a continuous array of spiritual delicacies was served, overwhelming the guests with a feast for the eyes.
Whether fruits, vegetables, or various meats, these were all delicacies never before tasted by anyone present.
The cultivators weren't just savoring the food; they were also carefully discerning the ingredients of these spiritual dishes. Unfortunately, they found no success.
Most of the meats and vegetables used in these spiritual foods were completely unfamiliar to them, things they had never seen or heard of in the mortal realm.
In a moment, the cultivators were left puzzled, wondering where the Lingxian Sect had obtained so many unheard-of ingredients from the mortal world.
Many higher-level cultivators, aware of the existence of the cultivation realm, couldn't help but speculate in this direction.
It seemed that the Lingxian Sect was perhaps backed by a major sect in the cultivation realm, or they might even have been sent over from that side to establish their own sect...
Everyone was thinking along these lines while maintaining a friendly facade, politely tasting each dish while not forgetting to circulate their inner energy to enjoy the nourishment of spiritual energy.
After two hours, the flowing banquet finally came to an end.
The guests and disciples of the Lingxian Sect were fully satisfied, having feasted well.
Elder Liu, dressed in the robes of the Lingxian Sect, smiled as he stepped onto the stage and cleared his throat, addressing everyone below:
"Thank you all for coming to our sect's annual meeting today. To be frank, the reason for inviting you all here is not just as witnesses to our annual meeting; there is actually an important arrangement—"
With that, he lightly clapped his hands, and suddenly the tea cups and fruit plates before everyone vanished, transforming the tables into spiritual boats, each five meters long and able to accommodate five people.
As the cultivators below were still confused, Liu Yunan continued:
"Please step aboard the spiritual boats. Next, we will head to the location for the second part of today's event."
The high-level cultivators below used their spiritual sense to check the spiritual boats in front of them, confirming they were just ordinary spiritual boats. They nodded to their sect or family members, indicating it was fine, and then everyone boarded the boats.
Once everyone was on board, the spiritual boats flew off in the same direction as if controlled by someone.
Liu Yunan, accompanied by several disciples, flew to the front on a spiritual boat. Over twenty boats took off in an orderly manner, racing through the sky, causing excitement among many citizens of Xiushui City who pointed at the sky and called out in excitement.
At this moment, the cultivators aboard the boats were no longer astonished by how the Lingxian Sect could produce so many boats at once; they were instead pondering what scheme this sect was really up to.
Initially dazzled by the endless array of delicacies, they thought they were merely attending an annual meeting, where the Lingxian Sect was showcasing its wealth and strength to establish its image and status in the mortal realm, and that was that.
Yet unexpectedly, there was a follow-up arrangement, and they needed to change locations?
Although the boats were small, they traveled steadily through the air. While their speed couldn't match that of many high-level cultivators flying on swords, they were much faster than the flying artifacts that could carry people from their own sect.
As they looked at the scenery receding around them, the guests were preparing to sit down and absorb the lingering effects of the spiritual food they had just enjoyed.
However, before they could even cross their legs, the spiritual boat began a rapid descent.
In the blink of an eye, the boat landed, and Liu Yunan turned back to the crowd, smiling and gesturing:
"This is where we arrive; please."
"Is this really it?"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked up in disbelief and surveyed their surroundings.
On a flat, ordinary road, more than twenty spiritual boats were parked. On both sides of the road were neatly arranged pine trees, and ahead was a rather impressive courtyard, surrounded by vast fields, with crops that looked quite lush.
However, everyone noticed a sign hanging outside the courtyard, prominently displaying the words "Transaction Affairs Center."
Before anyone could voice their confusion, Liu Yunan continued:
"Now, on behalf of the Lingxian Sect, I invite everyone here to participate in the first auction at the Xiushui City Trading Center. The entrance is through these pine trees; welcome!"
Upon hearing this, the cultivators carefully observed the pine trees lining the road, unable to discern any hidden tricks, and turned to briefly discuss among their sect members.
Someone spoke up and asked Liu Yunan:
"Elder Liu, my sect leader is not fond of managing finances and lacks interest in auctions. Could I let my sect leader rest in the city while I take my disciples to experience this?"
"Quite right, quite right; my sect leader is the same."
"My ancestor is elderly and has already become somewhat tipsy from your sect's spiritual wine. I need to accompany him. As the second-in-command of my clan, I can also make decisions. I'll go this time."
...
Soon, almost all sects and royal families expressed a desire to leave one or two high-level cultivators outside to "rest."
None expressed a desire not to go.
After all, they had come this far; since they were attending the Lingxian Sect's annual meeting, they were naturally acknowledging the sect's past reputation and trusting the Li family royal clan that had extended the invitation.
At this moment, it wouldn't be proper to directly refuse and embarrass the Lingxian Sect. What if their intentions were good?
Moreover, to speak unkindly, if the Lingxian Sect truly wanted to do something to them, they wouldn't need to go through such trouble, given that this sect likely had a Transformation God cultivator.
But after many years of cultivation, they knew the importance of vigilance; hence, they wanted to keep some of their people outside as a backup.
The Lingxian Sect had anticipated this when organizing the auction, so Liu Yunan merely smiled and nodded in agreement with their actions, signaling to his disciples to take the guests not participating in the auction to the city to arrange accommodations for them.
Once everything was settled, the cultivators cautiously moved toward the pine trees lining the road.
The ones behind noticed that as the person in front stepped in, their entire figure swayed and vanished from sight, causing their hearts to tighten as they secretly marveled at the cleverness of the spatial entrance, and they hurriedly followed suit.
Upon entering, those within felt a blur before their vision cleared, revealing a bright street. The street was small, and at intervals on either side, there were closed doors, with only the door at the end of the street wide open.
Although it was bright as day here, looking up, they couldn't see the sky, as if they were in a closed space.
As everyone carefully sensed their surroundings, they discovered that, like in Xiushui City, the use of spells was prohibited here.
However, unlike outside, after entering, they found themselves unable to discern the appearances of the people around them!
Not only that, but they couldn't even identify the scents, sounds, or spiritual fluctuations of the cultivators nearby!