Fortunately, almost no one was paying them any attention this time.
Xiong Da and the Yellow Wasp Spirit also began to relax.
Following Xu Chang’an’s lead, the two demons gradually started eating the Spirit Fruits.
The Yellow Wasp Spirit was skilled at socializing and, ordinarily, would have taken this opportunity to network.
But it wasn’t that he didn’t want to mingle. Rather, everyone present was a Foundation Establishment Great Demon, and the gap between them was simply too vast.
Socializing when the gap in status is that large is what one might call "ineffective networking"—it serves no purpose at all.
The Yellow Wasp Spirit understood this principle well.
"Pardon me, but what is your relationship to Fellow Daoist Yu?"
A Veteran Great Demon in the Mid-stage of Foundation Establishment walked over.
He didn’t speak politely. There were no pleasantries; he just came right out with his question.
However, considering the difference in status between them, this was to be expected.
How else was a Veteran Great Demon in the Mid-stage of Foundation Establishment supposed to act when facing Qi Refining Demons?
"Greetings, Senior."
The Yellow Wasp Spirit quickly stood up and replied, explaining that they were from Yu Ruyan’s hometown, Cyan Mountain, and kept in regular contact.
Xu Chang’an didn’t act arrogant or try to be different; he stood up along with Xiong Da.
"Ah, so you’re old friends from her hometown!"
Having learned what he wanted to know, the Veteran Great Demon didn’t linger and went on his way.
Aside from that one Great Demon who came over to ask a single question, no other demon approached them to talk for the rest of the Foundation Establishment Celebration.
Throughout the event, both Xiong Da and the Yellow Wasp Spirit were rather silent and reserved.
Clearly, the atmosphere of the event had a powerful impact on them.
Both Xiong Da and the Yellow Wasp Spirit held extremely high status on their respective mountains.
This was especially true for the Yellow Wasp Spirit, who was the master of his own territory.
Everywhere he went, he was greeted with smiles and surrounded by other demons.
When had he ever been treated like he was today?
Here at the Foundation Establishment Celebration, not a single demon gave them a second glance.
Although there was no mockery or ridicule, being ignored felt just as bad.
"Miss Yu, the journey back to our mountains is long. We’ll be taking our leave now."
When the Foundation Establishment Celebration ended, the Yellow Wasp Spirit, along with Xu Chang’an and Xiong Da, went to bid Yu Ruyan farewell.
At that moment, Yu Ruyan was busy entertaining her guests.
A number of Veteran Great Demons and Top-tier Great Demons were gathered around her, deep in conversation.
"Fellow Daoist Huang Feng, Fellow Daoist Xiong, Fellow Daoist Grey Rat. The three of you, please be careful on your journey."
Yu Ruyan didn’t try to make them stay.
Xu Chang’an didn’t know if the Yellow Wasp Spirit and Xiong Da understood, but he certainly did.
It was clear Yu Ruyan had noticed how uncomfortable they were. She knew it would be better for them to leave early and be at ease than to remain here.
On the Demon Path, the different distances each demon had traveled formed different social circles.
The lines between these circles were clearly drawn.
Little Demons had their circles, Old Demons had theirs, and Great Demons had theirs...
Trying to force one’s way into a different circle would only lead to mutual embarrassment.
Now that Yu Ruyan had become a Foundation Establishment Great Demon, her circle consisted of other Foundation Establishment Great Demons.
No matter how hard they tried, they could never hope to fit into this circle.
If the Yellow Wasp Spirit’s and Xiong Da’s cultivation didn’t break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm soon, then they and Yu Ruyan would inevitably drift apart.
It wasn’t a matter of being heartless, but simply the way of the world.
...
At the foot of Red Cloud Mountain, Xu Chang’an bid farewell to Xiong Da and the Yellow Wasp Spirit.
The Yellow Wasp Spirit’s son was still on Red Cloud Mountain, and Xu Chang’an had met him once before.
He was a tiny Yellow Wasp Spirit who still looked extremely young. He seemed quite arrogant, though, even when faced with two Qi Refining Old Demons like Xiong Da and Xu Chang’an.
He offered nothing more than a perfunctory greeting before ignoring them completely.
When the Yellow Wasp Spirit asked about his cultivation, his answers were reluctant.
The meeting between the demons ended on a rather sour note.
’Looks like with the Yellow Wasp Spirit taking care of him, the little wasp’s Demon Path has been smooth sailing. He’s lacked any real trials and doesn’t know what hardship is!’
Before they parted, however, Xu Chang’an and the Yellow Wasp Spirit did finalize a business deal.
He sold a batch of Tier One Elixirs to the Yellow Wasp Spirit at the standard market price to supply the demons of Yellow Wasp Mountain.
At the same time, Xu Chang’an also gifted the Yellow Wasp Spirit several bottles of Tier One High Grade Cultivation Elixirs as a gesture of their friendship.
As for Xiong Da, Xu Chang’an also gave him several bottles of Elixirs.
However, their quality and variety were a bit better than those he had given to the Yellow Wasp Spirit.
He and Xiong Da had spent many years together on Langlang Mountain; their bond was much deeper than his friendship with the Yellow Wasp Spirit.
After seeing the two demons off, Xu Chang’an didn’t leave. Instead, he took a letter out from his robes.
Yu Ruyan had secretly given him this letter as they were saying their goodbyes.
Xu Chang’an forced a wry smile.
Although Yu Ruyan’s gesture was meant to be subtle, some of the Great Demons present had still noticed.
With her intelligence, Yu Ruyan must have known this.
’So why bother with such a pointless charade!?’