After a round of polite exchanges, Chu Shaohong and Gongsun Mian finally seated themselves at the upper left and right positions, while the rest chose seats along the side tables.
Zhang Yan raised the bronze wine cup with a smile and said, "Come, fellow Daoists, you've journeyed far as honored guests. Allow me, Li Yuanba, to toast to you all."
At first, when Gongsun Mian wrote to say he wanted to introduce a few fellow cultivators to him, Zhang Yan didn't think much of it. But later he considered that those attending the Treasure Entrance Meeting would undoubtedly seek alliances and mutual support. To traverse alone might seem conspicuous, so it wouldn't hurt to find a few people as cover.
Moreover, it was a goodwill gesture from Gongsun Mian, and rejecting it might seem rude. Thus, Zhang Yan agreed to meet these individuals, albeit with the sole intention of utilizing them. His outward demeanor was cordial, but he hadn't truly regarded them sincerely.
