Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 432 The Grand Feast of Mountains and Seas, Old Friends Come to Visit

The 477th year of the Ming Dynasty, the ninth day of the ninth month.

On the day Mr. Guangfa broke through the barrier.

Yuyang, Yunti Mountain.

A grand banquet is being prepared urgently; everywhere is decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the place is packed with people.

This banquet was initiated by the Haoran Alliance, hosted by Luofu Mountain, organized by the Jinshui Chamber of Commerce, and assisted by various sects of the Yuyang Daoist sect. The scale of the event was unprecedented in five hundred years.

There are many things to celebrate at this banquet, but the most important and crucial is undoubtedly Mr. He Guangfa's enlightenment. However, there are also many other things worth celebrating:
They drove away the two villains of the South China Sea and recovered the Red Furnace Islands. They crushed the arrogance of the two great demons, Green Robe and Sky-Supporting, boosting the prestige of the Daoist sect. Furthermore, the three River Gods ascended the Dragon Gate, henceforth guarding the Three Rivers and protecting the people. All of this is worthy of celebration. In addition, Yuyang has fought for too long over the years. Although the West River has not yet been recovered, everyone is somewhat exhausted and deserves a little relaxation and rest.

As for why we dared to relax and hold a banquet, it's because on this day, there are three Dragon Lords of the Three Rivers present, an even number of Four Realms present, and most importantly, three True Immortals of the Fifth Realm have also expressed their intention to drink before leaving.

Then cheers erupted and drums and music filled the air.

More often than not, when people hold family banquets, the celebration is just an excuse. Once the atmosphere of the banquet really gets going, the excuse becomes unimportant.

For example, it was only past noon, the banquet had not yet truly begun, and Mr. Guangfa had not even shown up, but there were already countless drunkards. Everywhere there were people calling out to friends, arm in arm, indulging in unrestrained behavior, and shouting and chanting; the whole mountain was filled with the aroma of wine.

Meanwhile, the scale of the banquet continued to grow, with streaks of light flying in from all directions. The tables and chairs weren't yet set up, but the cultivators didn't mind; they used the ground as mats and stones as tables. As long as there was wine, they could sit or lie down anywhere. Thus, the guests gradually spread out of Cloud Ladder Mountain, stretching all the way to Hengmen.

How could one not attend such a grand banquet set up at the gates of the demonic path?
The Jinshui Chamber of Commerce staff, responsible for the specific arrangements, were extremely busy. As the organizers, the guests could choose to be as unrestrained as they wanted, but they couldn't afford to leave the tables unfinished. Moreover, Mr. Guangfa was practically a host at the Jinshui Chamber of Commerce, and if the banquet celebrating his birthday were to be poorly organized, the Chamber of Commerce would have no place in Southeast China.

As a result, cargo ships and flying boats came speeding in from both the water and the air, and teams of mechanical warriors emerged from the ships in formation. Boxes of wine and fruit were transported up the mountain, and fine wines and delicacies were delivered to the cultivators in a continuous stream.

In addition, the Jinshui Chamber of Commerce had a special boat, inviting the Guangfu Sect of Jinling to set up tables, chairs, desks, artificial mountains, and screens; inviting the Silu Sect of Jingchu to play drums and choreograph dances; and inviting the Wuming Sect of Yuyang to set off fireworks and release lanterns. There were also cooks, bartenders, scenery designers, actors, etc., who entered the mountain one after another, a feast for the eyes.

With so many people pouring in, the overall aesthetic of the grand banquet in the mountains must not be disrupted. Seating arrangements must be both casual and orderly; the music and dance must be in the open, while the kitchen must be hidden away; which wines are most popular and need to be restocked, and which are untouched and need to be removed quickly; those who are drunk and make a fool of themselves should be helped to the side to rest, and a great master needs to be greeted and served...

Such a grand event management is beyond the capabilities of ordinary people; it requires a person with exceptional intelligence and shrewdness. Therefore, the person in charge of overseeing this grand banquet was none other than Empress Xiao Shiyi Niang, one of the leading figures of the Jinshui Chamber of Commerce, known for her "eloquence and wisdom."

Under Chairman Xiao's meticulous management, the banquet proceeded flawlessly, and all the guests were all smiles.

As the sun set and the moon rose, and night fell, countless fireworks soared into the sky, adorning the starry night with dazzling displays of light. The entire Lingdingyang was filled with golden lotus lanterns, and the banquet atmosphere reached its first climax.

At this moment, the sect leader of the Five Bright Sect stood on the shore of the Lingdingyang, personally controlling the fireworks. Looking at the sky ablaze with fiery blossoms and the lotus lanterns floating on the ocean, he smiled broadly, with only one thought in his mind:
This time it’s posted!

Overjoyed, he dared not be careless in the slightest, carefully controlling the firework array. According to the arrangement of the chief coordinator Xiao Shiyi Niang, at the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the fireworks in the sky formed the shape of a dragon gate, and the lotus lanterns on the ocean surface were arranged in the shape of a divine dragon.

Immediately afterward, the sect leader of the Water Transport Sect, who was also waiting on the shore of Lingdingyang, received a telepathic message from Eleventh Sister and immediately rang the bell in his hand. This bell was made using a secret method, and no one nearby could hear the sound of it, but the next moment, countless colorful dragonfish that had been released into Lingdingyang beforehand leaped out of the sea.

Golden-headed Arowana, Blue-backed Arowana, Red-whiskered Arowana, Red-tailed Arowana, Purple-eyed Arowana, Snowflake Arowana...

The colorful scales shimmered with dazzling light under the glow of fireworks and lanterns.

"call--"

As the melodious and clear sound of the phoenix flute rang out, the musicians of the Silizong (a court music bureau) on the Lingding Yanghuafang (a pleasure boat) began to perform.

The drum, the zither, the sheng, and the conch shell were played in turn.

A scene of peace and prosperity unfolded.

On Cloud Ladder Mountain, amidst the clinking of glasses, the three Jiang Lords initially maintained a certain reserve, exchanging toasts and discussing water-related matters with the crowd. However, after most of the day, they were already quite tipsy, and at this moment, seeing such a magnificent scene on the Lingdingyang Sea, they could no longer contain their excitement.

"call--"

Suddenly, Beijiang Lanlongbo transformed into his true dragon form, flying out from Yunti Mountain and arriving at Lingdingyang, where he danced on the waves. Crimson flames, like bright torches, illuminated the entire eastern cliff of Yunti Mountain. Surrounded by seven-colored dragon fish, the crimson dragon danced with powerful, vigorous movements, its flames soaring into the sky, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Zhongjiang Shilongbo was initially a little reserved, but seeing that Lan Yizhou had already left the stage, and with the effects of the alcohol taking hold, he decided to go all out, transforming into a green dragon and soaring over the Lingdingyang Ocean to dance with the red dragon.

The cheers and applause almost scared away Xingchen, and everyone's attention turned to Gu Longbo of Dongjiang.

Gu Yi's face was also flushed from the alcohol. Seeing everyone looking at him, he waved his hands repeatedly and shouted,
"Ladies and gentlemen! Dance is not my forte, so I will play music for the two Longbo!"

After saying that, Gu Yi took out the zither, which was the famous zither passed down through generations, "Tianfeng Songxue".

"clank--"

The zither music began, cheerful and stirring, instantly becoming the main vocal performance. The musicians of the Siluzong troupe reacted quickly, immediately switching to supporting roles and echoing Gu Longbo's music.

"I'll dance in place of the Emperor's brother-in-law!"

The King of Laodong from the Yellow Sea also arrived. He couldn't contain himself when he saw Lan Yizhou dancing, and now that Gu Yi was playing music himself, he was even more excited. After letting out a roar, he followed Shi Yujun onto the stage and revealed his true form, which was a tiger-headed dragon with yellow stripes all over its body. He flew to the Lingdingyang and began to dance.

"I will compose a melody for Gu Jun!"

Another person shouted.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, wondering who had such boldness to be ranked alongside Gu Jun's "Heavenly Wind and Pine Snow" as accompaniment for the dragon dance.
Ha! What a fine young hero!
A tall, handsome young man emerged from the crowd. He wore a cobalt blue Taoist robe with a white egret pattern on the chest. His appearance was strikingly handsome, with an elegant and refined demeanor, a dignified bearing, and bright, clear eyes and sparse eyebrows.

The man was holding an apricot-yellow jade and sandalwood pipa. Its color was yellow and smooth, like apricot flesh, and its texture was like ivory. It had natural feather patterns and was clearly not an ordinary object.

A handsome young man soared into the sky and flew to stand beside Gu Yi. Judging from his aura, he had not even formed a Golden Core yet, and was merely a minor cultivator at the second realm. However, he was not intimidated at all. Standing beside the fourth-realm Long Bo, he was graceful and charming. After settling down, his ten fingers flew, and the sound of the pipa began, as clear and melodious as pearls falling onto a plate.

This person is bold because of his high skill. As soon as the music started, he immediately followed Gu Jun's zither playing and harmonized with it. You could tell at a glance that he was a person with real talent.

"That's my nephew!"

In the guest seats at Yuzhang Poyang Lake, Jiang Yanxing, the sect leader of Jinxiang Sect, pointed at the handsome young man playing the pipa next to Gu Longbo and shouted loudly.

Thus, some Yu Zhang Xiu family members who knew him well realized that he was a member of the Jiang family from Poyang Lake who had formed a good relationship with Master Guangfa in his early years.

Vocal music is inherently an elegant pursuit, and many cultivators on the mountain are skilled in it. Seeing that even those at the first or second level of cultivation dare to show their faces in front of others, they all took action, bringing out their signature instruments and joining in the music.

However, no matter how many people participated, or how many musical styles were incorporated, the dance never sounded chaotic or noisy, because the entire melody remained firmly in the hands of the seemingly tipsy Gu Longbo. He controlled which notes should be high and which should be low. Thus, all the instruments, guided by "Heavenly Wind and Pine Snow," merged into a grand and majestic song of mountains and seas.

This is exactly:
Flowers and trees in Dongfeng night,
It blows down and the stars are like rain.

BMW's sculpted carriages fill the road with fragrance.

The phoenix flute sounded, the jade pot turned light, and the fish and dragon danced overnight.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

At the top of the Heavenly Ladder, on the edge of the cliff, a group of immortals were seated.

"Yuyang hasn't been this lively in a long time."

Master Zou was looking at the grand feast of mountains and seas, his eyes glazed over, clearly already drunk.

"Speaking of which, there was a grand event in Yuzhang a few years ago, with Sanqing Mountain welcoming the Yellow Sea Dragon King at Poyang Lake. It's a pity that the old Taoist priest is too old to travel, so he didn't get to see the grand scene right in front of his home. He could only appreciate it in photos afterward. Today, thanks to Mr. Guangfa, I was able to personally attend such a grand event. It was truly a worthwhile trip."

"Master Rongyi said with a smile."

At his level, every time he ventured out, the sooner his ascension tribulation would arrive. Therefore, this True Person usually stayed in his own grotto-heaven, rarely concerning himself with sect affairs, leaving them to his subordinates. Last time, when invited to oversee Red Cloud Island, he only made a brief appearance to intimidate the demons of the East Sea; he returned to his sect that same day, leaving only Bao Yuan and Yi Xuan, two relatively young Fifth Realm True Persons, to oversee the East Sea. But this time, having taken the Lesser Corpse-Dissolving Pill, locking his aura, he could swagger out freely—a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. Initially, True Person Rongyi felt it was a bit of a waste. The Lesser Corpse-Dissolving Pill was a valuable item for delaying the alchemy tribulation and prolonging life through feigned death. Giving it to younger generations could extend their lives by half a century, but for himself, it was merely for locking his aura and holding his breath, and its effect would only last for six months at most—not worthwhile. However, after listening to True Person Chengchu's advice that this would allow Master Guangfa to focus on his profound studies, he felt it wasn't a loss. Now, seeing such a lively and grand event, Rongyi Zhenren feels it's all worthwhile.

Master Chengchu smiled and replied,

"We are able to attend this banquet today thanks to Mr. Guangfa."

Then everyone in attendance laughed, raised their glasses in unison, and said...
"Mr. He Guangfa has attained profound understanding!"

Cheng Xinzhan was also slightly drunk, tapping his fingers on the table in response to the dance music from below the mountain. A smile played on his lips. He hadn't expected that the Dragon Elders would have such refined tastes, and dance so well. Could it be that the Dragon Clan's life-bound supernatural power included something called "Singing and Dancing"? He was even more surprised that Nan Jing had also come, and hadn't changed at all. His talent in vocal music was fully displayed, but his cultivation was still so...unremarkable.

At this moment, as the assembled immortals on the mountaintop raised their glasses in celebration, the numerous guests below and on the ocean also raised their glasses in unison, shouting in unison,

"Mr. He Guangfa has attained profound understanding!"

Upon seeing this, Cheng Xinzhan stood up, raised his glass, and said loudly,

"Gentlemen, let's drink to victory!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone swallowed the wine.

"Sir! We wish to compose poems on the East Cliff to enhance our drinking experience. Would you please suggest a theme?"

Just then, someone shouted from the mountains.

So everyone echoed in agreement.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded without hesitation. He looked around for inspiration, then noticed that the leaves of the chrysanthemums in the cracks of the rocks not far away were already covered in white frost. He realized that autumn was deep and the night air was quite chilly, but since everyone was gathered together, feasting on the front lines of the battlefield, and in such a lively and boisterous atmosphere, they didn't feel the chill. So, he had an idea and answered loudly.
"Gentlemen, it is a great coincidence that we have gathered here for this feast today. How about we use the theme 'There is no need to be sad about autumn' and write poems or lyrics without restrictions? What do you all think?"

After a brief moment of silence at the foot of the mountain, people began to respond in unison.

"it is good!"

"Great question!"

"Indeed, why speak of sorrow in autumn? A fine topic!"

"..."

Seeing the enthusiastic crowd, Cheng Xinzhan flicked his finger, and a speck of purple light flew out from between his fingers, transforming into a purple sun that hung above the eastern cliff of Yunti Mountain. He said,
"I'd like to add a lucky draw for you all. At sunrise, everyone will compose a poem, and we'll all have a chance to judge it. The winner will receive one tael of 'Hongmeng Zixiao Gang' (a type of incense)."

"Om-"

As soon as Cheng Xinzhan finished speaking, a great uproar broke out in Yunti Mountain and on the Lingdingyang Sea, with noise filling the air.

"Xinzhan, Xinzhan, are you asking us to join in composing poems too?"

Behind him, Ji Hehe laughed loudly.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled upon hearing this, because according to unwritten custom, when one breaks through a cultivation realm and receives the Heavenly Gift of Divine Power, some is usually distributed to the protectors or spectators. However, this time, there were too many protectors and spectators for him to distribute it all, and he didn't have enough to go around. So, he decided to take advantage of this wine and poetry gathering to give away the Heavenly Gift.

"Sir! Does the poem 'Qing Ping Le' that you recited this morning count?"

People down the mountain were calling out and asking questions.

Those who heard this quickly came to their senses. Indeed, as the saying goes, "There is no need to be sad about autumn." Mr. Guangfa's own autumn poem is full of heroic spirit. If this poem wins the championship, then the title of the number one poet in the world will be returned to him.

"No, no!"

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and waved his hand.

Relieved, everyone immediately began to rack their brains.

Cheng Xinzhan turned around and sat down, only to find that all the great cultivators at the fourth and fifth realms at the banquet were already deep in thought with their eyes closed.

He smiled, then quietly left his seat, stood at the edge of the cliff, and looked down.

He saw many familiar faces.

Ji Hu, Zhao Ming, Ji Shu, Ming Xu, and Ming Yue were all writing and drawing, muttering to themselves, seemingly contemplating poetry. Ji Yuan, Qing Bo, and Bai Long were drinking heartily, seemingly uninterested in the Heavenly Gang. Zhao Li and her junior sister were skipping among the flower boats, jumping from one blossom to another, having a wonderful time.

Eleventh Sister, Eleventh Sister is looking at herself in the dim light.

Cheng Xinzhan leaped down.

Shiyi Niang was dressed simply today, but she exuded an even stronger air of authority.

The woman wore a pale white silk inner garment, layered over a crimson stand-up collar, tight-sleeved jacket, and over that, an ochre-colored, round-necked, long-sleeved outer garment. Her makeup was light: willow-leaf eyebrows, thin eyeliner, pale pink lips, and a touch of blush. Her hair was styled in a simple bun, her thick, dark locks adorned with a bright green wooden hairpin, adding a touch of brilliance to her appearance.

"Thank you for your hard work today, Eleventh Sister."

Cheng Xinzhan said.

Eleventh Sister rolled her eyes at him, exuding a thousand charms, and said reproachfully,

"That's my own fault."

Just as the Taoist priest was about to reply, he heard someone shout from behind him.
"Benefactor!"

Cheng Xinzhan gave Shiyi Niang an apologetic smile, then turned around and saw Jiang Nanjing running over excitedly.

"Nanjing, it's been a long time."

Cheng Xinzhan said with a smile.

Jiang Nanjing ran up to Cheng Xinzhan, her excitement overflowing.
“My benefactor, I have been wanting to see you and talk to you, but I was afraid you were too busy to come to you. As soon as I saw you coming down the mountain, I rushed over to find you.”

Hearing this from behind Cheng Xinzhan, Shiyi Niang was secretly annoyed, thinking to herself:

Who doesn't want to see him, want to talk to him? Who doesn't dare to disturb him because they're afraid he's busy? But he came down the mountain to find me! How come you interrupt me before we've even exchanged two words!

Cheng Xinzhan seemed to hear Shiyi Niang's thoughts, and with a smile, patted Jiang Nanjing on the shoulder, saying,

"No rush, find a place to sit down first, I'll invite you for a drink later, and we can catch up."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nanjing nodded repeatedly and agreed. As he spoke, he suddenly opened his arms, took a step forward, and looked as if he was going to hug Cheng Xinzhan.

Shiyi Niang stared wide-eyed, thinking to herself, "This person is so impatient."

Cheng Xinzhan was actually a little uncomfortable with such close and intimate behavior, but he thought that he hadn't seen Nan Jing for a long time, and Nan Jing was a sentimental person, so it was normal for him to lose his composure for a moment, so he did not avoid it.

But then, a flash of blood turned his pupils crimson. A bright red blood shadow emerged from Jiang Nanjing's body, which was right next to him, and pounced on Cheng Xinzhan in an instant.

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(End of this chapter)