At the Shark Fishing Banquet, the aroma of wine filled the air, and delicacies piled high across the tables.
Having witnessed Fang Yuan's Wisdom Path accomplishments, Sha Mo and Su Bai Man treated him with exceptional courtesy and enthusiasm.
As glasses clinked, Sha Mo called over many female Gu Masters. "Gentlemen, how can a grand feast be without dance and music for entertainment? These are the handmaidens raised in my hall — all possess Gu Master cultivation, all have dedicated themselves to the Transformation Path. The sea-demon dance they've rehearsed has earned praise from multiple Gu Immortals. Today, please enjoy their performance."
These female Gu Masters were each beautiful as flowers, their figures graceful and alluring.
The music began, and the women danced, their long sleeves fluttering through the air in a dazzling cascade of color that stirred the heart.
Suddenly the music shifted, changing from gentle and leisurely to urgent and fast. The female Gu Masters transformed in unison, sprouting fish tails and taking on the appearance of merfolk, drifting through the air.
The music changed again, becoming lively and vivid. The female Gu Masters transformed with the rhythm, growing twin shells on their backs like clam maidens, dancing gracefully.
When the music took on a metallic ring, the female Gu Masters' hands turned into the great claws of shrimp and crabs, their dance movements whooping through the air with valiant splendor.
The music underwent eighteen consecutive changes, and the female Gu Masters likewise performed eighteen transformations, showcasing dances of vastly different styles that truly opened Fang Yuan's eyes.
"The Eastern Sea's charm is indeed manifold — truly nothing like the bold and unrestrained beauty of the Northern Plains," Tai Bai Yunsheng praised generously.
Seeing that Fang Yuan remained silent, Sha Mo asked, "I wonder what Mr. Chen's evaluation might be?"
"Truly a feast for the eyes," Fang Yuan replied, though inwardly he found the situation somewhat amusing.
In his previous life, his Wisdom Path accomplishments had been shallow, and even when he had suppressed Bu Dan, he had relied on schemes and framing.
But in this life, the formidable strength Fang Yuan had displayed earned him the warm hospitality of Sha Mo and Su Bai Man.
In his previous life, although Fang Yuan had attended the Shark Fishing Banquet, there had been no such dance performance. In this life, the addition of this program further demonstrated how much Sha Mo valued Fang Yuan.
When the dance concluded, the female Gu Masters withdrew gracefully.
Su Bai Man smiled and said, "I wonder if Mr. Chen or Mr. Tai Bai has taken a fancy to any of the handmaidens? You need only say the word, and I'll give her to you."
"I'm too old, too old! Thank you for the kind offer, Madam!" Tai Bai Yunsheng declined diplomatically.
Fang Yuan said, "I have heard of the Shark Fishing Banquet's reputation. But I find myself more interested in the sharks outside this hall."
Su Bai Man felt a slight disappointment but said with a laugh, "Hehehe, since you gentlemen won't choose any handmaidens, it seems they simply weren't fated. But the sharks in this sea are not mine to give — they are my husband's beloved pets."
"Hahaha, since you gentlemen are interested, how could I possibly refuse to part with them as gifts? At every Shark Fishing Banquet, I always give away some sharks. However, there is a rule to this — I wonder if you two are familiar with it?" Sha Mo asked.
"Naturally, I'm familiar with it." Fang Yuan nodded, his feather fan swaying lazily before his chest. "But I would still like to confirm with the host — the sharks in this sea, no matter what we catch and no matter how many, they all belong to us?"
"Of course — as long as you catch them yourselves," Sha Mo nodded without hesitation.
Fang Yuan smiled faintly. "Then let me calculate which shark in this sea is the most precious. If I do manage to catch it, I hope you two won't mind parting with it. Hehehe."
"Mr. Chen, feel free to show us what you've got." Sha Mo laughed — he was just as eager to probe Fang Yuan's true capabilities.
Fang Yuan put on a show of divination, pinching his fingers as he calculated.
Starlight suddenly wreathed around him, brilliant and dazzling.
Moments later, the starlight scattered in all directions, filling the great hall.
In an instant, the sound of bells and chimes rang out, ineffably wondrous.
The starlight was blinding, the spectacle overwhelming, and the aura of Immortal Gu seeped outward, causing both Sha Mo and Su Bai Man to change expressions as they communicated secretly through sound transmission.
"This Chen Dao of the Wisdom Star is truly formidable!"
"Did you notice, dear husband? He's already used three different Immortal Gu. I just wonder which Wisdom Path Immortal Gu they are."
What they did not know was that Fang Yuan was merely putting on an act — all show and no substance.
The starlight slowly dissipated. Beads of sweat appeared on Fang Yuan's forehead. He closed his eyes to rest for a moment, then finally opened them.
Starlight shot from his eyes, reaching a full yard in length, so brilliant that no one could look directly at it.
"I never imagined that Lord Sha Mo and Lady Su Bai Man possessed such formidable means. To use the power of the Slave Path to pin down an Eighth Transformation One-Finger Flowing Shark — it's truly astonishing. Though I was able to calculate it, my abilities are too meager to capture this creature. I have no choice. Just now I was boasting, but now that I've proven lacking, I hope you two won't laugh at me."
Sha Mo and Su Bai Man both trembled.
"The Wisdom Star Chen Dao actually calculated even this secret?!"
"This... this... this..."
In that moment, this couple of Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals stared wide-eyed, fixed on Fang Yuan, their faces frozen in expressions of utter disbelief.
After a few breaths, Sha Mo and Su Bai Man recovered, their emotions gradually settling.
Su Bai Man sighed in admiration, "Today I've truly come to understand Mr. Chen's abilities! The One-Finger Flowing Shark is our couple's greatest secret. Mr. Chen, you may not know this, but to prevent others from divining it, my husband and I went to great lengths to hire Song Jia Dan to have this matter concealed."
Sha Mo continued, "The Twin-Extreme Plate Armor Gu, Nangong Zanghua'an, and the Dragon-Headed Turtle that travels through the Sea of Calamity. Song Jia Dan is recognized as one of the three most outstanding Wisdom Path Gu Immortals in today's Eastern Sea Gu Immortal world. Brother Chen's methods actually managed to pierce through Song Jia Dan's defenses — doesn't that mean Brother Chen's Wisdom Path accomplishments can now rival Song Jia Dan's?"