319: Chapter 324: Miao Yu 319: Chapter 324: Miao Yu The divine city at night was not silent; pedestrians thronged the ancient streets and alleys, and melodious music drifted from its numerous halls.
Beside the street, palaces were innumerable, resplendent with gold and jade, and brightly lit.
It was a dazzling sight where lights sparkled and songs echoed, enchanting and intoxicating all who heard.
The sacred city was a city that never slept.
Clusters of palaces shimmered, Divine Radiance swirled around them, and auspicious clouds bloomed, creating an almost dreamlike and illusory scene.
Ye Fan remarked, “The sacred city, with more than half its people being cultivators, is so opulent.
It doesn’t feel like a divine land, more like an indulgent Demon City.” Li Heishui laughed.
“Cultivators are human too, not emotionless Immortals.
They have the seven emotions and six desires.
This is the divine city of cultivators.” Starlight cascaded down, and the moonlight was like water, draping the entire sacred city in a sacred veil.
It was a scene of magnificent beauty, with songs and melodies gently resonating.
The fragrance of exquisite wine drifted from the sky; a magnificent Heaven Temple floated dazzlingly beside the streets, brightly lit.
“What great wine!
Definitely a millennium brew, an unmatched delicacy!” Li Heishui gazed at the wine palace in the sky with a look of intoxication.
“I suspect a great figure is entertaining distinguished guests there.” “Even great figures can be so ostentatious?” Ye Fan was astonished.
Li Heishui shook his head.
“This isn’t ostentation.
High places are lonely, and the immortal path seems endless; why must one cultivate so bitterly?
The way of cultivation has myriad methods, and different people have different paths.
Some seek their own transcendence within the Red Dust.
Especially those great figures—upon reaching a certain realm, they no longer necessarily need seclusion.
Many experience the five colors and re-enter the world of Red Dust, seeking a breakthrough opportunity.” Ye Fan appeared astonished.
“You know quite a lot.” “These are not my insights, but what some old grandfathers said.
We see the Red Dust as still the Red Dust, but to them, it may already appear as the immortal world.
Different people, different paths, different scenes enter their eyes.” “Indeed, the issue is one of realm.” Ye Fan nodded.
“So, what seems like superficial glitter in my eyes may already be the immortal world to others, or perhaps it has transformed into a vivid Pure Land.” Li Heishui said, “Actually, even among the younger generation, some have reached this spiritual realm, independently prehending their path within the vast Red Dust.” “Who?” Ye Fan was taken aback.
“Unknown.
The old grandfathers didn’t say, but I think it’s only a spiritual realm.
True power can’t possibly be that high; otherwise, it would be terrifyingly unlikely.” Li Heishui shook his head.
High in the sky, palaces floated, their lights dazzling.
The rich aroma of wine drifted through the air, intoxicating to the core.
The sound of strings was pleasant, and the songs were moving.
“Most likely, it’s a Grand Elder from the Sacred Lands entertaining a sovereign,” Li Heishui speculated.
“Today we go to Miao Yu Temple.
Next time, I’ll treat you to this Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and we’ll splurge extravagantly.” “How much Source is required to host a banquet here?” Ye Fan asked.
“The quality varies greatly.
The most basic banquet is valued at ten pounds of Source, while extremely luxurious Immortal Banquets can cost tens of thousands of pounds of Source, or even more—it’s immeasurable.” Hearing this, Ye Fan inhaled sharply.
That’s too extravagant!
A single meal worth tens of thousands of pounds of Source?
What on earth are they eating?
“That’s too exaggerated, isn’t it?” “Not at all.
Dragon Ginseng, Divine Phoenix Wings…
just hearing their names, you should know how rare they are.
There’s even Enlightenment Tea that could potentially cause a sovereign to gain enlightenment.” Ye Fan opened his mouth, at a loss for words.
After a long moment, he finally asked, “Who on earth opened this Drunken Immortal Pavilion?” “The Golden Family of the Northern Plains; their background is terrifyingly influential.
There are eight major wine houses and Immortal Palaces in the sacred city, and this one ranks among the top three.” “Once I’ve swept clean the stone resources of all the Sacred Lands, I’ll treat you to Immortal Banquets here every day,” Ye Fan laughed.
“Immortal Banquets are only held occasionally when a Peacock King entertains a sovereign; we better not entertain such thoughts.” Li Heishui shook his head.
The night in the divine city was truly different.
Walking along the ancient street, past endless rows of palaces, it felt as if one had arrived in the immortal world—a dreamlike, illusory experience.
Ahead, a crystalline brightness shone.
Miao Yu Lake, under the night sky, was as lustrous and gentle as beautiful jade, gleaming with blue light, like a giant gemstone.
The lakeshore was already crowded with people, the vast majority being young, all craning their necks in eager anticipation.
“The night view here is truly remarkable.” All kinds of flowers and plants by the shore shimmered with auspicious light, harmonizing with the crystal-clear blue lake, resembling a Divine Garden from beyond this world.
Silver moonlight poured down.
A dozen Jade Boats drifted on the lake, each carrying a beautiful lady, their dresses fluttering, the sound of their Jade Flutes melodious, as if ing from a vast, ethereal Pure Land, cleansing one’s Heart Spirit.
Further away, Dragon Boats and Phoenix Pavilions, all radiating five-colored brilliance, appeared hazy in the night.
And above the deeper part of the lake, the sky was even more splendid, with arrays of jade palaces faintly visible, shrouded by night and mist, crystallinely radiant.
“It’s truly like entering an immortal palace,” Ye Fan said.
“Miao Yu Temple has such remarkable methods, making even its wind and moon seem so pure and ethereal.” “Naturally.
The Wind and Moon Land they manage is rarely matched within the divine city; only Shuiyue Small Building and Guanghan Palace can pare.” “Many people should understand what’s going on, so why do they flock here?
Even the successors from the Sacred Lands cannot resist.” Li Heishui chuckled.
“Those successors have hearts of iron.
They aren’t necessarily here because their hearts are moved; it’s just the allure of the wind and moon.” Ye Fan nodded.
“That’s true.
Miao Yu Temple needs the support of a future Peacock King, and the successors from the Sacred Lands also wish to meet the most beautiful woman of the Eastern Wastelands.” “Still, it’s hard to say.
After all, An Miaoyi is different from previous Nunnery Masters.
Her immortal grace is unparalleled.
Such a flawless woman might indeed captivate some of those successors.” Ye Fan laughed.
“What about you?” “Me…
if I could win the beauty’s heart, it would naturally be wonderful!” Li Heishui laughed heartily.
“You rascal, you’d better not get yourself captivated.” “Indeed, one must be careful.
Especially you, little kid Ye.
At your young age, your determination isn’t very firm, and you haven’t experienced such occasions.
Don’t be fooled.” Ye Fan was somewhat speechless.
“Don’t disbelieve me; what I’m saying is true.
Previous Nunnery Masters of Miao Yu Temple led some Saint Heirs and descendants of Ancient Nobilities to fall for them.
Not to mention this generation’s An Miaoyi, who is one of the most beautiful women in the vast Eastern Wastelands.
Calling her ‘one of’ is being modest; she’s probably the Eastern Wastelands’ number one beauty.” A cold smile touched Ye Fan’s lips.
“The allure of romance is, at its peak, merely a play on the human heart.
If she offers herself to me, I’ll gladly accept.
What more could there be to it?” “Don’t underestimate her.
If you look down on her like this, you might really fall into her trap,” Li Heishui said, his expression uncharacteristically solemn.
“Her lineage, aside from its profound heritage, is truly not much weaker than the Sacred Lands.
Their cultivation method is very eerie and impossible to guard against.” “What cultivation method do they practice exactly?
Can it pare to the ancient scriptures?” “In ancient times, they possessed an ancient Daoist dual-cultivation Divine Skill.
I only learned recently that over a thousand years ago, they acquired another nine secret arts, said to be a Secret Scripture of Buddhism from the Western Desert.
Now, cultivating both Buddhism and Daoism, they have elevated it to a miraculous realm.” “Dual cultivation…
Can that even work?” Although Ye Fan had heard of it, he found such cultivation methods hard to believe.
“You’ll know soon enough,” Li Heishui chuckled slyly.
“Buddhism…” Ye Fan touched his chin and said no more.
Suddenly, the music of strings and flutes swelled in unison, and a beautiful song began to繚繞 under the night sky, stirring the hearts of all who listened.
“This humble one is An Miaoyi…” A heavenly voice drifted over.
An Miaoyi had finally appeared.
Like a cold fairy under the moonlight, ethereal and transcendent in her flowing white dress, she flew towards a flower boat.
It was a Five-Colored Jade Ship, piled high with fresh flowers, glimmering with auspicious specks of light.
It carried her into the depths of the lake’s mist.
“What does this mean?” someone asked, puzzled.
“The main event has arrived!
If you want to go over and glimpse her beauty, you’ll have to spend Source.” The lakeshore instantly erupted into a frenzy.
Many people rushed forward, purchasing Jade Boats to row out into the lake, creating a cacophony of noise.
Ye Fan and Li Heishui went forward to inquire and found that the amount of Source required was outrageously expensive, leaving them both tongue-tied.
Yet, many people didn’t care, all for the chance to see An Miaoyi up close.
“Isn’t it just An Miaoyi?
Is it really worth all this?” Even Li Heishui was somewhat speechless.
They couldn’t even afford a Jade Boat; the price was astronomical.
But there were truly too many people with Source, all spending extravagantly.
“Can’t we just fly over?” Ye Fan asked.
“That would be too embarrassing, and we might get beaten back.” Li Heishui thought for a moment, his eyes scanning the crowd.
Then, they lit up.
“Got it!” He fixed his gaze on the seventh disciple of the Head Elder of the Five Elements Palace, chuckled, then walked over and called one of the disciple’s attendants aside for a hushed conversation.
As a result, the attendant, looking as if his backside were on fire, scrambled onto the Dragon Ship to report frantically.
“What?!” The seventh disciple of the Head Elder of the Five Elements Palace paled instantly, quickly descended the Dragon Ship, and hurried away through the crowd.
Li Heishui swaggered onto the Dragon Ship, then waved Ye Fan over, inviting him aboard as well.
The surrounding people looked on, baffled, not understanding how the Dragon Ship had changed owners.
But they didn’t dare inquire too deeply, simply watching as Ye Fan and Li Heishui entered the lake.
“What did you say to him?” Ye Fan asked.
“I merely provided him with a piece of news: that his fiancée, who is as fierce as a tigress, had arrived,” Li Heishui replied nonchalantly.
“That was a nasty trick, wasn’t it?” Ye Fan was beginning to understand Li Heishui’s methods.
Li Heishui chuckled.
“His fiancée is the youngest daughter of the Head Elder of the Five Elements Palace.
Even if he suspected something, he absolutely wouldn’t dare to linger here for a moment.
His entire future is at stake.” There were many Jade Boats on the lake, but Dragon Ships like theirs were limited in number, all having been reserved by disciples of Great Sects.
They stood at the bow, steering with divine energy, riding the wind and cleaving through the waves, soon arriving at the depths of the lake.
Killing intent!
Both of them sensed it—an incredibly strong killing intent, though it wasn’t directed at them.
Not far away, a Divine Ship, even larger than their Dragon Boat, floated.
A lone figure in purple clothing stood upon it, hands clasped behind his back, black hair dancing wildly, his eyes unfathomably deep.
“The Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace!” Li Heishui exclaimed.
Opposite him was a massive golden ship, equally grand, like a floating citadel.
A man also stood upon its deck.
He was clad in golden armor, his build powerful and imposing.
His skin was bronze, his face chiseled, and his long eyebrows slanted upwards into his temples, giving him an inparably heroic air.
“The successor of the Northern Plains’ Golden Family!” Li Heishui chuckled.
“Never mind the Sacred Lands; just these two being here guarantees a good show.
They fought a great battle not long ago.”
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