Chapter 681

“Grandpa, it’s been a long time. You’re as healthy as ever.”

A short-sleeved girl with pink shoulder-length hair and two white cloth coverings on her head encountered the elderly man she had previously dealt with on a quiet, winding path.

Tai Gongwang lifted his straw hat. “It’s Ci Huaxian. Haven’t you been cultivating lately?”

“Because I saw cherry blossoms blooming out of season, I wanted to visit the Hakkai Shrine. By the way, did I ever tell you I was cultivating?” Ci Huaxian crossed her arms and asked.

“It’s common knowledge that immortals often enter seclusion to cultivate,” Tai Gongwang gently stroked his beard.

“Hehehe.” Ci Huaxian forced a smile.

From their first meeting, she had sensed she was an immortal, and his mannerisms carried an indescribable aura.

She had once thought humans grew more immortal-like with age, but last time she visited the heavenly realm where that Son of Heaven resided, she saw a wooden sign reading “Tai Gongwang” beside a private fishing pond.

Maybe it was coincidence. Who knows?

There are too many hidden figures in Gensokyo; she, a former “demon,” had no right to judge others.

“Where are you going with all that on your back?” Ci Huaxian’s gaze drifted to Tai Gongwang’s rear.

He carried a heavy bundle on his shoulder and held a bamboo pole, yet he didn’t look like he was heading to fish.

“Hmm, originally, because of a dream last night, I planned to stay a few days by Mist Lake and catch some big fish, but after thinking it over, that seemed unrealistic, so I turned back halfway.”

Tai Gongwang smiled: “At my age, one overthinks everything—both in life and action.”

Woof!

Woof woof!

Barking from somewhere interrupted their conversation; a powerful shockwave spread, stirring the dense forest.

Both fixed their gaze upward through the gaps in falling leaves: golden radiance and clouds interwove, churning like boiling water, until a beam of light pierced space and converged at one point.

A three-eyed divine figure wielding a three-pronged, double-edged halberd rode a terrifying, monstrous hound, flickering across the Nine Heavens Waterfall of Youkai Mountain.

“The Heavenly Emperor’s decree: apprehend the fugitive and cast him into the Eighteen Layers of Hell! All unrelated parties, get out!”

Some crow tengu guards, initially thinking an outsider had invaded, rushed out—only to see they were chasing Mingwan Wen, and returned to their guard room without surprise.

This left the three-eyed divine figure momentarily stunned.

The anomaly vanished from the sky soon after, but over time, a mysterious force began enveloping Youkai Mountain.

A phantom crash echoed.

Heaven and earth turned: sun rose, moon set, stars shifted; day became night, countless meteors fell from the sky.

“The ability to manipulate the stars—did that demonic lord act? Why didn’t he use spell cards?” Ci Huaxian lowered her gaze and turned toward the cliff:

“That guy just now seemed to have come from the Hakkai Shrine, Tai Gongwang—”

She had intended to invite him for a drink, but her words suddenly halted. Tai Gongwang stood frozen, mouth agape, eyes wide, throat emitting strange sounds.

“Tai Gongwang?”

“Ugh—”

Tai Gongwang turned and broke into a light run: “Old man suddenly realizes that dream was right—today, I’ll catch a big fish at Mist Lake!”

He moved swiftly, as if walking on flat ground, utterly unlike an elderly man.

Tai Gongwang’s figure vanished quickly down the forest path; meanwhile, another faint streak of light plunged into the boundless clouds, as if fleeting mirages of countless floating islands and mountains briefly appeared.

“That’s not Mist Lake,” Ci Huaxian murmured, gazing toward the heavenly realm.

She couldn’t fathom his thoughts. She walked up the stone steps toward the Hakkai Shrine, but halfway, she smelled strong wine and food aromas, and flowers bloomed wildly across the mountains, out of season.

A banquet?

Had spring already arrived?

As Ci Huaxian stepped onto the final stone stair, she saw a group of unfamiliar faces causing chaos at the Hakkai Shrine.

Lu Mingfei shook Su Lin by the collar: “Eat this sobering pill!”

“Eat what? I’m not drunk.” Su Lin pushed his hands forward toward Youkai Mountain and declared solemnly: “Imperial Escape Technique: Nine Clans Separation!”

“Stop playing Nine Clans Match-Three! Go get Yang Jian back!” Lu Mingfei pointed at the starry sky, worried.

Yang Jian was stubborn—he actually charged forward.

“Shandi, we’re fated. Today you’ve eaten plenty of heavenly treasures and awakened your wisdom. Perfect—I’ll give you a Dao name.” Song Shu, half-asleep, poked a squirrel that had swallowed an immortal peach whole: “Your appetite’s gotten bigger?”

“Sorry for chopping off your elbow during the Holy Grail War. You know, battles are chaotic.” Xiao Yan, drunk, counted the golden wine cups: “Come on, I’ll down these one, two, three… sixteen cups!”

“Why sixteen?” Gilgamesh rubbed his forehead, shaking his head hard.

“Because I’ve participated in sixteen Holy Grail Wars.”

“Why does everyone keep staring at the same hand?!”

Something felt off about today’s wine—it was stronger than usual. Gilgamesh even saw Enkidu standing before him.

“Shut up. Where’s my infinite-refill signature cocktail?” Xing slammed the table.

Kleine, dressed as a bartender, mixed cups of Zui Xian Brew, Dragon Blood Wine, Divine-era Wine, and Iblis Gourd Clan’s craft brew together, then, like a magician, shook them into playing cards and sent each one into everyone’s cups.

“First, I’m not called ‘Shut Up.’” Kleine pushed forward three glasses of orange juice and snapped his fingers: “Second, you’re all underage—you should be drinking juice.”

“...” Huai Shi stared at his wine replaced by juice, speechless.

“Kleine-nii, are they...” Madoka, watching the hellish murals around them, asked nervously: “Is this okay?”

“At this point, it’s simpler to just get them drunk into unconsciousness.” Kleine turned to Ci Huaxian: “Lady, what would you like to drink?”

“Can I... not drink anything?” Ci Huaxian instinctively shook her head.

She observed the surroundings curiously and noticed these people’s auras were strange—some were even immortals.

Zhongli and Yan Sen glanced her way while playing chess, nodding slightly in greeting.

Ci Huaxian returned the bow, then turned to Bo Li Lingmeng, sprawled on a table, drooling heavily, and shook her twice.

Ibuki Kafu returned the bow, then glanced at the motionless, drooling Reimu Hakurei sprawled across the table, and walked over to shake her lightly.

“How much did you drink?”

Ci Huaxian was startled by the overwhelming stench of alcohol—she’d never seen so much consumed even at grand banquets.

“There seems to be an anomaly at Youkai Mountain. Want to check it out?”

But judging by her state, she clearly couldn’t.

“Anomaly? What anomaly?” Lingmeng stood up unsteadily: “Today’s banquet has dishes made by super-talented chefs—come eat some.”

“An anomaly? What anomaly?” Reimu staggered to her feet. “Today’s feast has dishes prepared by someone incredibly powerful—come, have some.”

[76] “It’s been watered down—it was meant for me, but even for you, it’s just water,” Kleine said.

“It’s winter now. Youkai don’t like moving around,” Ci Huaxian sighed:

“I met Tai Gongwang on the way and thought to invite him along...”

“Tai Gong?!” As if triggered by a keyword, Meng Qi leapt upright like a leaping carp: “Don’t bother me with matters of the Immortal Realm, the Three Teachings, or Dalaotian!”

Seeing Su Lin and Lu Mingfei and others staring at him in surprise, he blinked, looked around, then patted his chest in relief.

“It was just an illusion—Tai Gongwang’s still chasing me.”

“Drink some water to calm down.”

Kleine handed him a glass of water.

“Thank you.” Meng Qi took a sip, then froze: “This is wine.”

“Diluted with water. It was meant for me—normally, it’s just water to you,” Kleine said.

"It's been diluted—it was meant for me to drink, but to you normally, it's just water," Kleine said.

Meng Qi took another sip, pulled out the Ten Thousand Worlds Communication Token, and sent a message to the Unicorn: come pick him up—he couldn’t drive after drinking.

The backend Ten Thousand Worlds Communication Sphere still functioned; the Unicorn, with limited authority, could handle minor tasks and auto-ship him here.

“Master.” The Unicorn spoke in human voice.

“Go home.” Meng Qi grabbed his wine flask, flipped onto the ox’s back, waved drunkenly at everyone, and deliberately chanted: “The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao.”

The blue ox glanced at Meng Qi, then lifted its head as if sensing something, clouds forming beneath its hooves, stepping slowly toward a floating island cluster suddenly appearing in the eastern sky.

“Let’s go back,” Meng Qi said, slinging the wine jug over his shoulder, flipping onto the ox’s back, and waving drunkenly at the others, deliberately muttering as if to manifest the Dao: “The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao.”

Meng Qi rode away on the ox, dissolving into midair; the mirage of floating islands vanished with ripples.

“...”

The noisy Hakkai Shrine fell silent. Without continuous drinking, half the alcohol had already worn off; everyone stared at the sky in quiet.

Meng Qi was drunk—but someone else had been jolted sober.

The noisy Hakurei Shrine fell silent; having stopped drinking for a while, the alcohol’s effect had already worn off by half, and all present gazed at the sky in quiet stillness.

Ah yes, yes, yes.

“The Bagua Furnace in Doulao Palace is covered in ash—still playing the Taishang routine?”

No one asked where Meng Qi went or cared for his safety—but in the silence, someone turned their gaze toward Su Lin, one of the habitual offenders.

Su Lin glanced at the Natural Proof, still tucked in his system inventory, untouched, and stared back expressionlessly.

“It’s time to bring back Young Yang.”

Yan Sen smiled, lifted his teacup, splashed water into a mirror, and within the circle of stars, pulled Yang Jian out from the mirror’s surface, holding the “Legendary Comic.”

Zhongli had entrusted him to watch over the group—including Yang Jian, who had wandered off.

“Evil spirit!” The demonic lord, with long blue hair and red eyes, saw Yang Jian and the vanished hound emitting ominous aura, and immediately searched.

“External power is still external. Only by staying humble and cautious can you walk farther on this path. You must master these rules—and remain ever vigilant,” Yan Sen said.

Yang Jian’s forehead glowed red; his ghostly shadow fused with his divine form. His battle state eased, and the giant dog of his ghost dream returned to his consciousness.

Su Lin pulled out the comic, rolled it into a tube, and tapped Yang Jian once: “If you can’t catch it, come back. Why are you fighting people?”

Yang Jian laughed: “Isn’t it standard to show off on your first day?”

Su Lin pulled out the manga, rolled it into a tube, and tapped Yang Jian once: “If you can’t catch him, come back—why are you fighting people?”

Yang Jian laughed: “Don’t everyone show off on their first day?”

“After getting familiar with the work environment, you’re going to take orders but ignore formal summons?” Su Lin asked.

Yang Jian fell silent; he had accidentally overheard the two talking, remembered his cousin Yang Jian’s warning, and thought it was better to stay outside than return.

Originally, capturing that fast-moving bird-man wouldn’t have been lost or interfered with, but perhaps due to the ‘Xiaotian’ dog’s actions, some misunderstandings arose.

At that moment, the meteor shower in the starry sky reversed direction, countless beams of light hurtling toward them.

Uh.

Yang Jian raised an eyebrow.

Su Lin returned the manga to him, and six wings of ash materialized behind him: “Lucifer.”

The wings of ash detached, reborn from the ashes of destruction, cycling endlessly; the radiance flowing from the soul gradually took shape into a figure.

If you won’t go to the Eighteen Layers of Hell, then let’s send them on a tour through ten thousand heavens instead.

Su Lin had intended to say that, but a gale howled—a crimson figure streaked out from behind, reeking of alcohol, while a yin-yang jade swelled continuously, slamming straight into the meteor shower that had seemingly braked too late.

“I’ve told you countless times!”

BOOM!

With immense pressure, space around the yin-yang jade twisted briefly, crushing every obstacle in its path.

“Inside the Fantasy Realm!”

“Give it to me!”

“Use spell cards!!!”

BOOM—BOOM—

Once, twice, thrice—the yin-yang jade was raised and slammed down repeatedly.

The meteor shower shattered silently; from its center, crushed under unbearable pressure, came the girl’s fury: “It wasn’t us who broke the rules first—it was—”

“Shut up! Dream Sealing!”

BOOM!

BOOM!

Seven-colored lights kept igniting on the horizon, but both spiritual energy and power were confined to an extremely narrow range, as if brutally violated—the starry sky—

Broke.

Pieces cracked and fell away; blue sky and white clouds reappeared.

In online game terms, the Reimu Priestess has the strongest buff within the Great Barrier, and this generation even holds the authority to manage it.

Kaguya said, playing a handheld game console:

“Even the youkai sage who founded the Fantasy Realm isn’t exempt. At first, the youkai found spell cards too troublesome and refused to compete on equal footing with weak humans.”

So why did the spell card rule become popular in the Fantasy Realm starting with this generation?

“She beat up every youkai and human who didn’t use spell cards.”

Kaguya pointed at herself and sighed: “Including me.”

“My lord,” Lucifer glanced at the ash-body that had not yet materialized into reality.

“It’s fine now. Rest well.”

The crimson killer, drenched in blood—whose, no one knew—flew back from the direction of the sun. Su Lin rubbed his eyes, returning Lucifer, who burned money and cosmic essence at a rate of one per second, back into slumber.

He rubbed his face and whispered to Yang Jian: “If that cop asks, say you were walking the dog. Got it?”

Yang Jian fell silent for a moment, then said: “But I didn’t have a leash.”

Su Lin: “...”

Fortunately, the Fantasy Realm had no rule about civilized dog ownership, and the cop couldn’t recall what had happened—only drank, sulked, and cursed the youkai of Youkai Mountain.

“Even triggering an anomaly is bad enough, but not using spell cards? What if it damages the Great Barrier?”

“Too egregious,” Su Lin agreed: “This isn’t just any ordinary youkai—it demands a heavy-handed response.”

Reimu nodded: “Exactly. That’s why I smashed that thing into Hell.”

This incident is recorded in the Chronicles of the Eastern Guangzhou:

Six jades per second unleash power—I, the cop, am Chewanren.