Qin Manyun rubbed her eyes. She thought she was hallucinating. After taking another look, she saw that the Holy Emperor was not alone. Zhong Xiu was by his side.
What were they doing here? To listen to the story?
It made sense for Luo Shiyu to come here due to her young age, but they had lived a few hundred years! It did not make sense for them to come here for the story! Also, the Holy Emperor was still furious moments ago, so furious his face even changed its shape out of rage. The incident happened not too long ago, but he hurried here just to listen to the story? Looking at the impatient look on the Holy Emperor’s face, it appeared that he really was there to listen to the story.
The Holy Emperor arrived late and all the front seats were already taken. He did not insist on sitting. Instead, he stood at the back of the crowd with a serious and focused look on his face.
At the same time, he saw Luo Shiyu and Qin Manyun in the crowd. He transmitted his voice, “Shiyu, you’re so rude! You didn’t save your father a seat even though you came early!”
Luo Shiyu rolled her eyes and did not bother answering.
Qin Manyun was surprised by what just happened. It seemed that they were regulars here! What story was it that it could even catch the attention of the Holy Emperor!
She felt that something was up. Her face became serious and was ready to listen carefully.
Meng Junliang sat in the center of the tavern. He gradually rolled open the scroll and said flatly. “I followed the Saint’s will, using the Fallen Town as my starting point all the way to the west and preaching to the mortal world. By fate, those who’re interested are welcome to join me as my followers.
“Continuing from where we left off. Wukong was appointed by the Emperor to be in charge of the Flat Peach Garden. After spending some time playing and watching the garden, he asked the Land…
“How many plants are there?”
“The Land replied, “There are three thousand and six hundred plants. There are one thousand and two hundred plants in the front row. Their flowers and fruits are smaller. They take three thousand years to ripen. A mortal man will have good health after eating them. The middle row has a thousand and two hundred plants with layers of sweet fruits that ripen every six thousand years. It enables men to fly upon eating it without getting old. The last row consists of a thousand and two hundred plants which are slightly purple. They ripen every nine thousand years. Once eaten, men would live as long as the sky, like the sun and the moon.”
“Wukong was delighted upon hearing…”
The audience was captivated by the story. They wondered what the flat peaches looked like. Even Qin Manyun who came here without expecting much was surprised to find the opening of the story so interesting. Her small lips were slightly parted and her eyes displayed a hint of awe.
Flat peach? How could they even exist in the world? And eating one of them would make one an Immortal? Then, what was the whole point of cultivating? This was the first time she had ever heard of an Immortal Fruit. Before this, she would never even have the guts to think about it!
“Shiyu, what the scholar’s saying… Is it real?” she could not help asking.
Luo Shiyu was concentrating on the story, hence, she was rather annoyed when Qin Manyun talked to her. She was the Saintess of the Linxian Palace. Why was she making a big deal out of it?
She still explained softly, “Of course. The story must be something that happened in the Immortal Land. It’s most likely something the expert experienced.”
“Tzz…” Qin Manyun took in a cold breath. She felt her scalp itching and she had goosebumps all over.
So, this expert had seen the Flat Peach Garden?
So scary! Unbelievable!
Meng Junliang did not stop telling the story. “The Heavenly Emperor was furious. Even without the help of the Four Heavenly Kings, they still had Heaven King Li, along with Prince Nezha. Twenty-Eight Nights, Nine Star Palace, Twelve Yuan Chen, Five Elements, Four Valued Power, East West Stars, Gods of South and North, Five Mountains Gods, and All Stars. A total of one hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers deployed eighteen Heavenly Nets over the mortal realm, trapping the Huaguo Hill which would surely capture the monkey for punishment…”
The ordinary men were all captivated by the story, while cultivators like the Holy Emperor were stunned, their minds ringing with a loud hum.
Everything in the story was affecting their worldviews. The Flat Peach Garden was already astonishing, yet there was the Immortal Dan from the Old Laojun, as well as the Golden Jelly drank by the Heavenly Court—every item could induce longevity!
Their faces were complicated. Who would have thought that the longevity the cultivators sought after their entire lives was such an effortless thing to the Immortals? It was something that could be achieved by simply eating a flat peach!
When she heard that Wukong was eating all the flat peaches in the garden by himself, Qin Manyun could not help but gasp. She cried out in her heart, ‘Give me one! I don’t care if it’s not ripe yet!’
Following that, Wukong stole all of Old Laojun’s Immortal Dan and finished all of the Immortal Wine. Qin Manyun and the cultivators listened as their eyes reddened with envy and jealousy!
What a waste of Heavenly resources! What a waste!
Even though Wukong was the main character of the story, they could not help but criticize Wukong for wasting the resources!
Waa…so jealous!
Following that, when they heard that the Heavenly Court was approaching the Huaguo Hill, they could not help but hold their breaths, sweating on behalf of Wukong.
Qin Manyun’s doubts had all vanished and were replaced with deep astonishment.
Luo Shiyu was not wrong at all! This is not story-telling, this is preaching!” Qin Manyun took a deep breath. She felt as if a whole new world was unfolding in front of her like a scroll unveiling a painting. She did not dare breathe loudly, looking at Meng Junliang intently to avoid missing out on a word.
A hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers surrounded Huaguo Hill.
Even the thought of it made one anxious. Their heartbeats quickened, sending chills all over them. A hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers—that was a hundred thousand Immortals! To the people in this Cultivating Realm, the existence of even one Immortal was something other-worldly!
That was so shocking! Unbelievable!
The entire tavern was silent. There was not even the sound of breathing.
Of course, the fighting scene did not disappoint the audience. The different Gods fought with their different Immortal Moves, moving the mountains and seas, the stars and the clouds, controlling the thunder and lightning, manipulating the sky and the ground.
Seventy-two changes, the match of intelligence and courage.
Wukong showcased his Clairvoyance Eyes, Downwind Ears, and Golden Eyes one after another. So stunning! What a Godly Immortal!
In comparison, the skills of the cultivators were like kids playing with toys when compared to these Immortals. Almost embarrassing!
So this was the world of the Immortals?
Qin Manyun used to be proud of herself for being the Saintess of the Linxian Palace. Now, she felt how insignificant she was.
Suddenly, she seemed to understand something.
‘No wonder the scholar chose to preach in this mortal space. He’s trying to train my perseverance! When I first came, I was annoyed by the gaze of ordinary men, thinking that I was above them. Yet, in the eyes of the Immortals, I’m just like an ant to them!’
No matter if it was this scholar or the expert Luo Shiyu talked about, they had acquired all the knowledge in the world and still decided to stay hidden in the shells of ordinary men. One would only treat everything with an unperturbed heart after realizing the vastness of the world. If one kept on thinking of oneself highly, one might have no chance of becoming an Immortal!
Qin Manyun suddenly understood this!
Luo Shiyu, who was by her side, halted slightly. She glanced at Qin Manyun as she felt that Qin Manyun appeared slightly different than before. Although they had been as close as sisters in the past, she always felt a distance between them due to their status. However, she could now feel the distance disappearing. Instantly, Qin Manyun seemed way friendlier than before.
