An Lin didn’t speak, and the people on the street also stopped speaking.
The street became deathly silent.
There seemed to be some hidden emotions in the people’s eyes as they gazed at An Lin.
An Lin was extremely confused. This was the first time that he had come across such a strange and uncanny scenario. They’ve already finished kneeling and kowtowing… Shouldn’t they continue on with their tasks now? Why are they still standing here and staring at me expectantly?
That brother over there, your noodles have already become cold!
Also, that chef over there, the vegetables in your wok have already become burnt!
All of you are staring at me so intently… What the hell?!
Just as the atmosphere started becoming awkward, a few powerful auras streaked over from nearby.
“You peasants! Why are you all still standing here? Are you trying to inconvenience our exalted immortal? If you want the Immortal’s Blessing, then I’ll give it to you. P*ss off after taking it!” The leader of the group was a mighty-appearing male who was dressed in a magnificent robe. He roared angrily, then waved his hand over the air. Bursts of vital energy transformed into small balls and shot toward the people on the street.
“Ah! It’s City Lord Yang Zheng!”
“Thank you for your blessing, City Lord!”
“May Immortal Yang Zheng live for as long as heaven and earth and glow as bright as the sun and moon!”
The people on the street praised the male effusively as they absorbed the vital energy that he waved toward them.
The large mob of people finally dispersed after absorbing the balls of vital energy.
An Lin came to a sudden realization upon seeing this. So the person being venerated has to bless those venerating him? This custom is far too materialistic…
After making some small observations, An Lin determined that City Lord Yang Zheng was a powerful being of the Soul Formation Stage. The people behind him were all of the Spirit Nurturing Stage.
“Forgive me for not welcoming you earlier, Exalted Immortal!”
Plop!
Yang Zheng enthusiastically kneeled down and kowtowed toward An Lin.
An Lin was given a fright, and he immediately helped Yang Zheng up. “No need to be so courteous, please get up!”
Even the City Lord plonked to his knees and kowtowed upon seeing him. An Lin was truly astounded. At the same time, he couldn’t help but wonder why the local customs in the Divine Source Continent were so strange.
City Lord Yang Zheng and the entourage behind him all stood up. Then, they all gazed at An Lin expectantly.
An Lin: “…”
An Lin paused for a moment before emulating the City Lord’s actions. He absorbed the vital energy of heaven and earth and forged them into his own unique type of energy. Then, he poured this energy toward some of those standing before him.
“Ah… So refreshing!”
“Such pure energy! Ah…! I’m about to attain enlightenment!”
“Thank you for your blessing, Exalted Immortal!”
“May this Exalted Immortal live for as long as heaven and earth and glow as bright as the sun and moon!”
The people standing before An Lin appeared extremely satisfied and happy after absorbing his vital energy.
Yang Zheng shuffled toward An Lin respectfully. “Junior Yang Zheng pays his respects. Exalted Immortal, may I ask why you’ve graced our city with your presence? If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to ask me!”
An Lin was slightly surprised. Is this Yang Zheng a bit too enthusiastic? After all, I’m only a stranger to him.
Even if his spatial walking technique was astonishing, there was still no need for the city lord to be so respectful. If this were in Tai Chu Continent, some temperamental city lords might not even give a toss about passing supreme beings of the Return to Void Stage.
“M-hm… I’ve been cultivating in seclusion for tens of thousands of years, and I’ve only come out of seclusion recently. Thus, I’m not very familiar with the current state of this world. How about you fill me in on the recent events.” An Lin clasped his hands behind his back and peered down at Yang Zheng.
Yang Zheng didn’t question An Lin’s explanation at all. Instead, he became even more respectful. “So you’re an ancient exalted immortal! Please come with me to my manor. I’ll explain the situation to you there.”
An Lin nodded slightly. Then, he followed Yang Zheng and flew toward the center of the city.
…
Resting in the center of Yong Yang City was a mountain.
Clouds drifted and mists swirled, flowers bloomed and waters trickled, immortal cranes soared through the skies… This mountain was like a hidden paradise that had transcended above the mortal world.
An Lin arrived at an exquisite pavilion halfway up the mountain. He gazed toward the bustling city in the distance.
He had to admit, in terms of folk customs, this place was extremely similar to the Kingdom of the Nine States.
An exquisite looking female was preparing tea for An Lin. Her body was slender, and she was dressed in a red, off-the-shoulder dress. Her movements were especially graceful and smooth.
“Hahaha… Senior An Lin, this is the Winter Burning Tea prepared by my daughter, Yang Lingqian. Her tea dao is unmatched in Yong Yang City.” Yang Zheng smiled broadly as he said this.
“Senior, please enjoy some tea.” Yang Lingqian extended her slender arms and carefully held a cup of tea toward An Lin. There was a hint of fervor and expectancy hidden behind her nervous expression.
An Lin gracefully accepted the cup of tea. The tea was red, and it looked like there were flickers of flames dancing within it like lively fairies. It was truly a beautiful sight.
He carefully took a sip. The tea was fragrant and refreshing, yet it also contained a passionate and unrestrained flavor.
“Delicious! Not only is this tea refreshing and lively, but it also contains a unique hint of flame power that makes it taste especially carefree and unrestrained. This tea is quite suitable for refreshing one’s mind,” An Lin praised and turned his gaze toward the female in the red dress. “Yang Lingqian, that flame power is presumably your unique flame power, am I right?”
The female’s face flushed red. “M-hm, that was indeed my flame power!” she answered in a flustered voice. “I’m so sorry for preparing tea like that without asking for your permission first. Please forgive me!”
An Lin smiled and remained silent. He picked up another cup and filled it with tea. Then, the Demonic Star Flame appeared on his fingertip and scattered into the tea. It was as though a star had entered the tea and formed a small universe of stars.
“You were able to infuse your power into the tea, yet it was missing a hint of compatibility and intent realm. Here, try my tea.”
“Um… Yes, Senior!”
Yang Lingqian felt extremely flattered as she accepted the cup of tea. Then, she took a small sip.
“Ah…!” Her face instantly flushed red.
Her slender body trembled in her red dress, and her breathing also quickened.
“Blazing Starry Sky… It’s so beautiful. It’s a flavor that causes one to lose themselves!” Yang Lingqian couldn’t help but exclaim in excitement. Her voice was tender and pleasant.
Yang Zheng stared at his daughter in astonishment.
This was the first time he saw his daughter show such emotions after drinking tea.
“Senior’s tea dao has already reached a pinnacle stage. I admire you from the bottom of my heart.” There was a look of reverence on Yang Lingqian’s face as she curtseyed to An Lin. The way that she looked at An Lin was evidently different from before.
If she had been respectful toward An Lin because of his status before, then she was respectful toward him now because she was immensely impressed by his tea dao.
“Don’t mention it. It’s merely some small crafts.” An Lin waved his hand casually.
Yang Zheng’s respect for him increased even more upon seeing this. Sure enough, An Lin is indeed an ancient exalted immortal. He casually showed off some skills, yet he was able to easily impress the top tea dao master of Yong Yang City.
“Enough with the chit-chat,” An Lin said calmly. “It’s time for you to fill me in on what’s happened these past ten thousand years.”
The fragment of the Heavenly Dao had fallen into the Divine Source Continent ten thousand years ago. Thus, the events during this period of time would definitely involve matters that were related to the fragment of the Heavenly Dao.
“Okay, I’ll tell you right away. Before you went into seclusion, the Divine Source Continent was in the desolate era of the Nine Emperors and Thousand Kingdoms, am I correct?”
“That’s right,” An Lin confirmed. What the hell are the Nine Emperors and Thousand Kingdoms?
There was a look of reverence on Yang Zheng’s solemn face. “Right now, however, we only have one king… one supreme immortal king. His emergence relegated the Thousand Kingdoms Era to the history books. Every inch of land under the heavens belongs to him! Everyone below the throne is under his absolute rule!”
