Three Kingdoms Lords: Starting by walking into the mouth of a giant python

Chapter 88 Langhuan Blessed Land

Because of the unique nature of this world, mythological novels such as *Investiture of the Gods* and *Journey to the West* became very popular.

The book's captivating Taoist techniques and magical artifacts are particularly enchanting.

A few days ago, news came from Liangzhou that Gai Xun, the Prefect of Hanyang, had obtained the [Moonlight Scroll - Yang Ren] by chance. He used it to enter the world of Investiture of the Gods, and through a series of opportunities, he subdued the magical weapon [Flying Lightning Spear].

The spear was surrounded by lightning, capable of both flight and combat, and its transformations were endless. When the Xianbei invaded the border, Gai Xun charged into the enemy lines with the spear, killing thousands and becoming famous in one battle.

This incident further enhanced the reputation of "Investiture of the Gods".

Therefore, when the [Investiture of the Gods series] was released, the entire audience was astonished. Everyone rushed onto the stage to see the [scroll].

Li Yu displayed it openly and generously for everyone to see.

[Long Ji] and [Deng Jiugong] were beyond comment. As for [Yang Jian], some were ready to bid, while others found it suspicious.

As for the "Sage of Longshan", many people say that this "scroll" is probably not from the "Investiture of the Gods" story.

In the novel, those referred to as saints include Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo; the Three Sovereigns of Huoyun Cave; the Old Man of the South Pole; Nezha; and five religious leaders—Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Jieyin, and Zhunti.

I searched through the entire book, but there was no mention of a "Sage of Longshan".

Li Yu smiled faintly and remained silent.

After everyone returned to their seats, Li Yu said, "These four scrolls will be sold as a package; they will not be sold individually."

Although the crowd was unhappy, they had no choice but to raise their paddles and bid.

Song Lou immediately produced a bunch of [Mysterious Grade] and [Yellow Grade] pills.

Guo Tu then took out the musical score and the zither.

Li Yu refused them all.

Niu Fu whispered to the player next to him, took out the [Gu Rong Feather Fan], and added a [Moonlight Scroll].

The player chuckled, "Bro, look at my scroll—it's a legendary tale too! How about we swap?"

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"Moonlight Scroll: Rebuke the Immortal"

[Rank] Yellow.

[Attribute] The moon shines brightly at midnight...

[Description] An immortal drank my wine with flowing rosy clouds, and I was no longer hungry or thirsty. Suddenly I missed home, so I went to pay my respects to the emperor, but I was disrespectful and was reprimanded.

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After looking at it, Li Yu chuckled and said, "Your scroll is too high-class; we are not worthy of it. Let's get another one."

This "rebuke of the immortals" refers to Xiang Mandu, a man from Puban in Hedong. He was fond of Taoism and studied immortality, and it took him ten years to return home. Later, he boasted to his family—

An immortal took him to Mount Tai and gave him the celestial wine of flowing clouds. Each time he drank it, he was not hungry or thirsty for several months. Later, he missed home and went to pay homage to the emperor, but was reprimanded for his lack of etiquette.

People in Hedong therefore called him "the Immortal Scolder".

The story of Xiang Mandu is described in both "Lunheng: Daoxu" and Feng Menglong's "Gujin Gaitan". If one were to actually acquire and use this "rebuke of immortals", one would probably only be given titles like "presumptuous talk" or "blowing the conch shell".

Upon hearing this, the player gave an embarrassed smile and put the scroll away.

Several more people raised their placards afterward, but they were all just Xuanhuang-level [scrolls] and [props], nothing particularly outstanding.

Li Yu was somewhat disappointed. Just when he thought the [Fengshen Series] would fail to sell, a player held up a piece of equipment.

This is an [unknown garment].

It is neither satin nor silk, neither damask nor gauze, neither silk nor brocade.

It appeared to be made of hemp, yet it was exceptionally sturdy. The player, with his bare arms raised, fiercely tore at the clothes of several foreigners behind him, but his clothes remained undamaged.

It is clearly not an ordinary object.

The style of the clothing was extremely simple, resembling a piece of animal hide simply cut out. It was completely empty, without any decorative patterns or woven designs.

The player carried the clothes and asked everyone present with the [Appraisal] skill to try it out, but no one could appraise it.

Without using the [Three Dreams of Yellow Millet], Li Yu had no way of judging the quality of the clothing. Seeing that the player was extremely interested in the [Investiture of the Gods series], he shook his head and refused.

The player turned around and whispered to his companion.

When Li Yu saw the foreigners, some with their hair loose and their robes fastened on the left, while others had their hair tied up or shaved, he immediately made a decision.

Following this, Zhu Han, Jian Yong, Qu Bo, and others made bids, but Li Yu was not satisfied with any of them. After half an hour, no one else raised the price, and Li Yu made a move to leave.

The player who had been there earlier held up a sign and said, "Add one more item—[An unknown wooden staff]."

This staff is about eight feet long, and it is coiled and twisted like a dragon.

While Li Yu was still hesitating, several outsiders seemed impatient and started urging the player on in a string of words.

Helpless, the player took out some more pearls, jade, gold and silver and handed them over.

Li Yu finally agreed and they exchanged the treasures.

After the "Investiture of the Gods," no other decent items appeared at auction.

At Shenshi (3-5 PM), the crowd dispersed. Before leaving, Lü Yi asked Li Yu if he wished to travel with him.

Li Yu refused, merged into the crowd, and disappeared after several twists and turns.

This angered the other groups of people, who turned their horses around and chased after the group of foreigners.

……

Li Yu entered [Fanghu].

At a glance, you can see [Thirteen Ants] standing on the [Immortal Abode Stele], head held high, hands on hips, eyes fixed on the ground, looking majestic.

The horse-faced little green-tailed creature was wrapped in a water sphere, floating in mid-air, swimming back and forth.

The young lady of the Wang family smiled slightly as she drew portraits of the little boy and her loyal fish guard.

The little maid couldn't resist touching the adorable Thirteen Ants, but was swatted away by Little Green Tail's tail.

The maid was indignant and wanted to make a move, but was gently reprimanded by the young lady of the Wang family, and then obediently picked up an inkstone.

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Inkstone

[Rank] Yellow.

[Attributes] Literary skills +40, Painting skills +40.

[Description] A hundred li east of Huangzhou lies Mount Kongzi, where, according to legend, Confucius once climbed during his travels to Chu. On the mountain is a stone where Confucius sat, untouched by vegetation. There is also an inkstone there, from which ink seeps forth. —From *Shanchuan Jiyi* (Records of Strange Things in Mountains and Rivers)

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This is a strange rock that fell on May 20th at [Canghai Island]. When you touch it with a brush, ink will spontaneously flow.

Li Yu gave it to the young lady for painting.

[Thirteen Ants] spotted Li Yu immediately. Forgetting about being an "ant model" any longer, they stepped on the water droplets and leaped into Li Yu's palm.

The young woman quickly finished her work, looked at her lover, and smiled sweetly.

The maid cheered and ran over, holding the inkstone. The ink spilled all over the floor and almost smeared Li Yu's face.

The group talked for a while.

[Snake Princess] Ya Ya brought some fruit and food so that Li Yu could rest for a while.

Afterwards, Li Yu summoned [Queen Mao] and ordered her to learn the [Jie Jin Diao] brewing method and take over the brewing affairs in [the pot].

Then, another acre of land was cleared for planting [Xianpu] [Xiupu].

After finishing all that, we began the [treasure appraisal], starting with the [book pavilion]—

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"Langhuan Paradise"

[Rank] Heavenly Grade

[Attributes] Writing style +450, contains tens of thousands of books, which can be stored and retrieved at will.

[Description] During the Taikang era of the Jin Dynasty, Zhang Maoxian served as an official in Jian'an. He traveled to Dongshan Mountain. Following a stream deeper into the area, he came across an old man lying on a rock with a book as his pillow. Maoxian sat down and discussed the matter with him. Upon examining the book, he found it written in tadpole script, which he could not decipher. Maoxian found this strange… — *Langhuan Ji*

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[Langhuan Paradise] is said to be the place where the Heavenly Emperor stored his books.

During the Taikang era of the Jin Dynasty, Zhang Hua, an official in Jian'an, encountered an old man who guided him to a blessed land. There he saw the "Ten Thousand Scrolls Abode" and the "Foolish Dragon" guarding it.

Although the Langhuan Paradise is a "Heavenly Grade" site, it is only used for storing books.

Some of them are not as good as they seem.

Li Yu, however, was quite satisfied.

He has other plans for [Langhuan Paradise], but he is currently missing one crucial item, which requires him to make a trip to a certain [Heavenly Grade Moonlight Scroll].

Following the [book pavilion] comes the [clothing]—

Bird work clothes.

(End of this chapter)