Chapter 2609 - 2607: Ullambana Festival

Chapter 2609: Chapter 2607: Ullambana Festival

Ever since Wang Fu and Li Bangyan whispered slanderous words into Huizong’s ear, Huizong began to be infatuated with Li Shishi.

The two even found him a portrait of Li Shishi, and in it, she was indeed a beauty not of this world.

The corner of her smiling lips seemed to melt the winter snow.

Emperor Huizong of Song had already sent envoys, but no news has returned yet.

Western Regions and Central Earth are too far apart, and there is no Teleportation Array between the two places.

Traveling between them takes half a year both ways.

Cai Jing, skilled at gauging imperial intentions, knew what Huizong was thinking about, and temporarily set aside this grudge, planning to deal with Wu Zhi later.

As long as the matter with Western Xia is properly handled, afterward everything can be as desired.

In Yangzhou City, the streets crisscross.

People coming and going, extremely prosperous.

The Great Songg Dynasty, commercial prosperity far surpasses previous dynasties.

Streets and alleys are full of various shops and taverns.

This city of Yangzhou alone has over a hundred million citizens.

A man and a woman sat at the bow of the boat sipping casual tea, enjoying themselves immensely.

They were Long Fei and Lin Yingying, arriving in the Capital City three days ago.

Every day they toured places of interest in Yangzhou City.

Lin Yingying couldn’t help but ask, "Didn’t you say you brought me here for business?"

Long Fei chuckled, "You’ve been in the Immortal Realm for a while, but haven’t really explored. We should enjoy ourselves, no need to discuss business!"

Lin Yingying cast a sidelong glance at him, sipping tea and looking at the surrounding scenery, "The Heavenly Dao’s transformation seems to be modeled; no matter the world, all places have the same customs and sentiments."

Long Fei leaned against the ship’s railing, teasing her, "What, is our President Lin lamenting life? Shall we compose a poem to raise the spirits?"

"Compose your head!"

Lin Yingying laughed heartily, feeling that Long Fei was finally familiar.

While on the mountain, Long Fei was earnest, though exhibiting the demeanor of a Sect Leader, he felt detached from the Human Realm.

As their boat passed under a long bridge, a "splash" was heard from the water.

On the bridge, someone exclaimed in surprise, "Someone jumped into the river!"

"Someone jumped into the river!"

"..."

A person in a white robe dressed like a scholar jumped from the bridge into the river.

Long Fei glanced over, raised his hand, and pulled the scholar from the water, grabbing his clothes and hauling him onto their boat.

The scholar lay face up, spitting out sour water, looking dazed at Long Fei and said, "Is this King Yama’s Palace?"

The boatman behind laughed, "Scholar, you’re truly fortunate to be saved by this guest!"

The scholar sat up, looked around disappointedly, "I’m not dead? How can that be!"

He stood up, about to jump back into the water from the boat.

The boatman quickly held him back, exclaiming to Long Fei and Lin Yingying, "Guests, this person must be insane, right?"

The scholar struggled, shouting, "Don’t hold me, only death can solve my heart’s mystery!"

Long Fei instructed the boatman, "Let him go, let him die! Even if he dies, he won’t reach Yama’s Palace."

The boatman let go of the scholar.

The scholar turned back, curiously asking Long Fei, "How do you know I can’t reach it?"

Long Fei smiled lightly, "King Yama’s Palace is in the Netherworld, separated from the Immortal Realm and Human Realm by Yin Yang; it’s not so easy to get there. Even if you go, you’d fall into the Eighteen Layers of Hell, with no Divine Sense. So dying now would mean dying for nothing."

"Is that so?"

The scholar looked at Long Fei, deliberated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Sir, you must be a master of the Cultivation World?"

"Sit down and talk!"

Long Fei reached out to invite, pouring him a cup of warm tea.

Lin Yingying curiously asked, "You are young, yet already at Core Formation Stage the Cultivation Level, why seek death?"

The young man drank tea, wiped his mouth, and said mournfully, "To be honest with you, I’m a painter at Yangzhou Academy. A few days ago during the Tomb-Sweeping Festival, I wanted to create an unparalleled painting, to preserve the beauty of the Great Songg Dynasty. But I have no idea on the painting, pondering till now, not a stroke has been laid!"

"Painter?"

Long Fei and Lin Yingying laughed, "What do you wish to paint? What’s the difficulty?"

The young man replied, "Naturally all things about Yangzhou City, encompassing everything, all streets, all people, all landscapes, all within my painting."

"Interesting!"

Long Fei chatted leisurely with him over tea, "It’s said Empress Nuwa has a Magical Treasure called the Mountains and Rivers Map. It contains the vast world within, though a Magical Treasure it’s also a space that nourishes life. If you achieve this Technique, you might create a unique painting."

The young man clicked his tongue, "I am a mere mortal, how could I have such capabilities. Though, thanks to your hints, my mind feels clearer. Others paint by copying the world on paper; perhaps I can create a world on paper."

Inspired, he quickly rose and bid farewell to Long Fei.

Lin Yingying laughed, "This person is certainly obsessed."

Long Fei commented, "Geniuses in this world, without exception, succeed by being obsessed with something."

As they spoke, the painter suddenly shouted from the bridge above, "Master, I am called Zhang Zeduan, living in the Great Xiangguo Temple inside the city. If opportunity arises, I’d like to drink and discuss art together."

Long Fei nodded, their destination was indeed the Great Xiangguo Temple.

With the Ullambana Festival approaching, it was said Jin Chanzi would appear in Great Xiangguo Temple to preach.

Disciples from afar were coming from all directions.

This Buddhist Sect event was enormously grand.

Though the time hasn’t arrived, there were already a million visitors coming to burn incense and pray, causing the massive Great Xiangguo Temple to feel somewhat cramped.

The Buddhist Sect hoped to solidify its position on the Southern Observation Continent through this method.

Since Huizong ascended the throne, the Buddhist Sect’s status had been declining.

If they make no moves, within ten years, they’d be squeezed out of the Southern Observation Continent.

Jin Chanzi’s arrival stirred all kinds of Demonic Spirits.

Remember, Jin Chanzi is a symbol of eternal life.

Since he journeyed west for scripture retrieval, he was the Peach Fruit in all Demonic Spirits’ eyes.

It’s said, consuming his flesh could grant lifespan equal to heaven and earth.

Such is the pursuit of the Immortal, let alone these Demonic Spirits ever seeking opportunity.

Long Fei was entrusted by someone to protect Jin Chanzi.

This person was none other than the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

Having favored Liangshan Island before, Long Fei owed him a favor, which couldn’t be avoided now.

At the moment, the monkey was caught in an important breakthrough, truly unable to leave.

Something that makes Sunx Wukong nervous is certainly no small affair.

It’s imaginable, the Daoist Sect is completely unconcerned about this.

If someone eats Jin Chanzi, the Daoist Sect might even celebrate with fireworks.

The sect rivalry harms ordinary people.

Right now in the Capital City, there have been incidents of Demonic Spirits hurting people, but unlike before, no cultivation practitioners are getting involved.

So the Capital City, though outwardly prosperous and peaceful, is already swirling with hidden dangers.