Chapter 293: Paying Respects to Yinglong Laozu, Wishing to Emulate Ehuang and Nüying

Fang Longye had not expected this.

The circumstances of the Qiantang Longjun in "Liu Yi Zhuan" had actually become linked to the prequel plot of Journey to the West—Havoc in Heaven.

He had a mind to verify his guess, but unfortunately, it was not easy to ask, and the Qiantang Longjun had only spoken so casually before moving on to other topics.

Long Xuan's eyes darted around, and she said pointedly, "So, Uncle, you've gained quite a few good things?"

The Qiantang Longjun looked vigilant and said, "Let me tell you, don't even think about it. Don't think it's still like when you were a child, where you could get treasures out of my hands just by acting spoiled."

"Tch! A miser, who would want your things?"

Long Xuan said with dissatisfaction.

"However—" the Qiantang Longjun changed the subject, "when you get married, I will send a generous gift."

Long Xuan's pretty face flushed slightly; she glanced at Fang Longye and replied, "That would require someone willing to marry your niece first!"

Fang Longye's brows twitched.

She certainly knows how to needle people~

He remained silent, closing his eyes to rest his mind.

Hmph! The uncle and niece both let out a cold snort in their hearts at the same time.

Just like that, while they were talking, the three of them's palanquins had already arrived at the central area of the Dongting Longgong.

There was a vast complex of buildings there, with pavilions and towers complete in every detail.

After dismounting from the palanquin, Fang Longye followed the uncle and niece, passing through rainbow bridges and water pavilions, winding around bamboo-leaf curved corridors, and finally arriving in front of a grand hall.

This grand hall was crafted entirely from crystal jade, inlaid with the essence of stars, shining and Generating Light.

Divine Light cascaded down, striking the dozen or so layers of brick-carved bracket sets protruding from the four corners, where the brick-carved rafters were vivid and lifelike.

Further down, it was covered with azure Glazed Tile, corresponding to the ridge beasts placed at the four corners.

Visible Dao essence spilled out from within, blooming with light that filled the sky, like a flowering tree of silver blossoms, never-ending.

It could truly be said: Flying eaves reflect the sun and moon, stars gather before the hall.

Wonderful sounds produce jade stamens, falling to the ground with a chime.

Fang Longye looked at this grand hall and felt that he was not facing a palace, but observing the heavens, looking at the earth, and seeing all living beings.

This must be the place where Yinglong Laozu stayed in the Dongting Longgong.

"A mountain need not be high; it is famous if there is a deity. A lake need not be deep; it is magical if there is a dragon."

The places where ordinary immortals and gods linger can all become so-called blessed lands of spiritual energy.

Not to mention Yinglong Laozu, this being of Great Divine Ability; even if it were only stained by a fraction of her presence, this place would become extraordinary.

Calamity does not touch the body, hardship does not approach the head, neither born nor destroyed, neither increasing nor decreasing, pure and at ease.

Fang Longye scanned the area; various Dragon Princes and descendants were almost all guarding in front of the palace, and even the Dongting Dragon Lord stood at the very front with a solemn expression.

"Big Brother!"

The Qiantang Longjun brought Fang Longye and Long Xuan to the front of the Dongting Dragon Lord.

The Dongting Dragon Lord frowned and said, "We are meeting the Mother Goddess today! Why are you still in this lazy state, not even binding your hair or wearing a crown~"

"As an elder, can you not set an example for the juniors?"

"Oh my~ Big Brother!" the Qiantang Longjun said with a cheeky grin, "It's not like you don't know me; even the Mother Goddess hasn't said anything~"

"Forget it, I cannot reason with you. You just rely on the Mother Goddess's favoritism!"

The Dongting Dragon Lord said with annoyance.

It was strange; among all the river and sea Dragon Lords, even though this fellow Qiantang did not have the highest natural talent, nor the best personality, he was inexplicably the most favored by the Mother Goddess.

It was simply unreasonable.

This was also an important reason why Qiantang did not have very good relationships among the various river and sea Dragon Lords.

If it weren't for the fact that he and the Dongting Dragon Lord were born in the same batch from the Mother Goddess's Great Dao, and he called him Big Brother, he would probably be just as jealous as the other Dragon Lords.

Just as they were joking, the great doors opened with a sound.

Everyone held their breath and fell silent.

They saw a middle-aged female Daoist slowly walk out from the grand hall, surrounded by auspicious clouds and mist.

Her long eyebrows reached into her temples, and she was extremely majestic.

Fang Longye raised his eyes to look.

He saw that above the crown of this female Daoist, there was an unusual, invisible canopy. It was colorful, with seal script characters appearing and disappearing, like dripping water under eaves, continuous and endless.

The whole person was unfathomable; he could not see her realm at all, but according to his estimation, it was very likely that she was a Daluo.

It was just that the Aura on her body was quite different from the people in the Longgong, yet there were some commonalities, appearing similar yet different.

"Human Race?"

Fang Longye whispered in his heart.

Seeing the female Daoist walk out, the Dongting Dragon Lord hurriedly signaled the crowd of Dragon Princes and descendants to follow him in bowing, saying, "Greetings, Gu."

Fang Longye followed the crowd, bowing and bending his waist; hearing the Dongting Dragon Lord's form of address, he understood.

This must be the personal female scribe cultivated by Yinglong Laozu among the Human Race, who practiced the Yinglong Dharma but was of the Human Race.

Hence, her Aura appeared similar yet different to those in the Longgong.

As for why the Dongting Dragon Lord was so respectful to this scribe of human origin,

it was also easy to understand.

A scribe is a title for a female official, mostly female immortals in charge of etiquette and various matters, who are in fact close ministers.

Not to mention that this Gu was very likely a Daluo.

Even just the saying "a seventh-rank official at the prime minister's gate" made it worth maintaining respect for her.

This Gu was not arrogant; instead, she smiled and said repeatedly that the Dragon Lord was too polite and that she could not accept such courtesy.

Finally, she smiled softly and said, "The banquet is already prepared, and the Lady is waiting for you inside!"

Then, she stepped aside to clear the path.

She turned sideways to guide the Dongting Dragon Lord and his party, as well as that group of Dragon Princes and descendants, into the main hall in order.

……

Inside the main hall.

Pearls hung from the dome, and crystalline light flowed from top to bottom, gradually entering and permeating the space with a clear brightness.

Tables were arranged, and besides various rare delicacies, there were also various spiritual fruits such as Flat Peaches, all in a thousand postures; in the jade vats and treasure urns were nothing but jade nectar and fine, fragrant wine.

Rich spiritual energy rose and surged, endless and continuous.

There were also many palace maids moving back and forth in the hall, guiding everyone to their seats.

Once the group from the Dongting Longgong was seated,

they saw a vast expanse of Purple-Green Qi descend, and in an instant, the entire hall was filled with layers of auspicious clouds and colorful mist.

Faintly, one could hear immortal music and mysterious songs, played on phoenix flutes and jade pipes.

There was also the tinkling of jade pendants and a faint, cool fragrance.

A moment later, boy attendants carrying banners and canopies, and jade maidens holding bright pearls and exotic treasures, clutching longevity fruits and strange flowers, appeared while surrounding a figure.

This figure was none other than Yinglong Laozu. She appeared graceful and luxurious, stunningly beautiful, not at all resembling the name of a so-called ancestor.

Perhaps because she was facing juniors, she did not display the temperament of a female war god consistent with myths and legends, but instead had a somewhat motherly demeanor.

Although she appeared to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, in a daze, one also felt she was thirty or forty.

The moment she appeared,

she caused Golden Flowers to fall and silver flames to rise.

The entire space-time was permeated with a fragrance; breathing it in made one's wisdom start Generating Light.

"Greetings, Laozu!"

Yinglong Laozu sat down on the high platform in the main hall, waved her hand, and chuckled, "Enough! Today is a family banquet after all, so you juniors don't need to be so formal!"

However, even though she said this, how could the juniors possibly relax? Let alone those Dragon Princes and descendants, even the Dongting Dragon Lord and Qiantang Longjun were incredibly restrained.

Yinglong Laozu shook her head; she knew that the restraint of these juniors was unavoidable, so she immediately tapped the Jade Ruyi in her hand.

Hearing the sound of the jade chime, she began to preach the Dao.

In an instant, the sun and moon rose and fell, the stars swayed, and all kinds of principles came one after another, with gold and silver intertwining.

Seeing this, everyone from the Taiyi Golden Immortals like the Dongting Dragon Lord and Qiantang Longjun, down to the Dragon Princes and Longnu who had just reached the Immortal Realm, instantly cast aside all distracting thoughts.

They listened to the lecture with full concentration.

For a time, Fang Longye only saw the sun, moon, and stars, the universe and all worlds, ancient scenes, the torrent of Human Dao, the Thousand Changes, and even the Great Dao spanning across space-time, ancient and eternal. Before these, all things became incomparably small.

The Dao has no end; be brave in climbing.

Fang Longye seemed to hear much, yet also seemed to hear nothing at all.

He only felt that every word was a gem, encompassing everything.

Ding-dang—

Not knowing how much time had passed, another chime sounded, and all sounds fell silent.

Fang Longye awoke from his enlightenment, feeling somewhat lost.

When everyone in the hall had awakened,

Yinglong Laozu smiled again and said, "As an elder, it is time to distribute some greeting gifts to the juniors!"

After speaking, she made no movement.

Throughout the entire hall, coral trees with branches and leaves sprouted.

They were in a thousand postures, filled with five-colored mist.

Hanging on them were all kinds of treasures: Dharma Pill Gourds, Dao Scripture classics, Spirit Treasures, divine weapons and sharp blades,... and so on and so forth.

They were radiant and colorful, making one forget the mundane.

The entire hall was filled with the mist of treasure light.

It was all hazy.

Immediately after, thousands of rays of light burst forth, flashing brilliantly, and landed in the hands of everyone in the hall.

The Dragon Princes and Longnu in the hall grabbed the Dharma Pill Gourds, divine weapons, sharp blades, jade-quality classics, and so on that had landed before them.

Each and every one of them smiled from ear to ear.

These treasures all came from the hands of Yinglong Laozu, a master of Great Divine Ability, so their quality could be imagined.

For a time, cheers, laughter, and repeated thanks filled the main hall.

"Well~" Fang Longye grabbed the few rays of light that had landed before him and thought to himself, "Now it's my turn to have others distribute treasures to me!"

Checking secretly, he was immediately startled; this Yinglong Laozu truly had a grand hand.

Among what landed in his hands, besides some cultivation resources, the most important was a complete set of armor and equipment.

A Gold-Thread Eight-Treasure Heaven-Piercing Crown, Horned Dragon Four-Image Universe Armor, Sun and Moon Radiance Washing Vault Robe, plus a pair of Cloud-Ascending Escape Lotus Silk Boots.

Each one was a Supreme Spiritual Treasure; although they were not innate and were only refined post-heaven, they were enough to move him.

He could not help but look toward Yinglong Laozu.

He saw Jinfeng dancing and crane shadows fluttering around the high platform.

Golden Flowers fell, moving back and forth.

Yinglong Laozu sat upright above it all, transcending everything; she looked close at hand, yet also in a different space-time.

Sensing Fang Longye's gaze, a pair of eyes immediately looked over, piercing through everything.

This gave Fang Longye a fright, and he hurriedly shifted his gaze away, which only made Yinglong Laozu find it quite amusing.

……

After the discourse on the Great Dao and the distribution of treasures, the banquet officially began.

Gradually, everyone in the hall, especially the Dragon Princes and their descendants, became less restrained and slowly relaxed their behavior, finally giving it the feel of a family gathering.

There was laughter and chatter, with cups and dishes clinking together.

Dongting Dragon Lord and Qiantang Dragonjun began organizing the various Dragon Princes and descendants to toast Yinglong Laozu in turn.

Since this banquet was clearly held for him, Fang Longye naturally would not be spared.

When it was his turn, he was naturally arranged to toast Yinglong Laozu together with Long Xuan.

It felt just like paying respects to one's parents.

"Not bad!"

Yinglong Laozu took the toast from Fang Longye, stared at him, nodded, and said, "Handsome in appearance and peerless in talent, you are worthy of little Xuan'er!"

This immediately gave Fang Longye the urge to roll his eyes.

You are really "the melon seller praising his own melons" here! It makes it seem as if I am climbing the social ladder—though saying this might sound like I am being narcissistic and boastful. But Fang Longye did not feel that marrying Long Xuan would be taking advantage of anyone.

By doing this, he was clearly the one suffering a loss! He was just about to speak.

Yinglong Laozu waved her sleeve and scolded with a smile, "Little fellow, what's the rush? Speak later!"

He had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

……

Just like that, the family banquet lasted for nearly three days and three nights.

After the revelry, Yinglong Laozu ordered the others to disperse, leaving behind only the two Dragon Lords, Dongting and Qiantang, as well as Fang Longye and Long Xuan.

Then, she led them to a side hall.

In the hall, the incense burner was cold, and smoke curled in wisps.

Flowers of all shapes and postures were in full bloom, bright and beautiful, fragrant and lush.

Yinglong Laozu sat upright at the head of the hall, then looked at Long Xuan and beckoned, "Little Xuan'er, come here and sit before me."

"Yes."

Long Xuan responded in a sweet voice, walked forward gracefully with her skirt trailing, carefully approached the ancestor, and sat down beside her, looking very well-behaved.

Next were Dongting Dragon Lord and Qiantang Dragonjun.

Before Yinglong Laozu could even open her mouth to give instructions, Fang Longye felt that something was wrong.

"Damn it!"

"Why does this feel like a trial?"

Looking at Yinglong Laozu, who was dressed in fine attire and sitting high up on the Cloud Couch, Fang Longye couldn't help but complain to himself.

"Sit!"

Yinglong Laozu's red lips parted slightly, carrying an air that brooked no doubt.

Fang Longye obediently sat down and said earnestly, "Ancestor—"

He was interrupted directly by Yinglong Laozu just as he began: "Little fellow, there is no need for us to beat around the bush."

"I know your difficulties. However, since you have taken a young woman's body, you must take responsibility!"

Well—once you say that, it's no longer interesting.

What do you mean I took her body? Fang Longye thought to himself, women are indeed born good at twisting black and white!

He dared not refute her.

There was no help for it; who told her to have the bigger fist!

He had no choice but to put on a posture of honestly listening to an elder's lecture.

Yinglong Laozu continued, "Speaking of which—in the past, the two consorts of Emperor Shun, Ehuang and Nvying, passed away right here in Dongting Lake."

"That was truly a moving and tragic tale!"

"Perhaps because of this, little Xuan'er, born in Dongting Lake, grew up listening to the story of Ehuang and Nvying, and inevitably developed a longing for worldly love."

"That is why she was tricked by a scoundrel like you."

"Falling into a Love Tribulation and unable to extricate herself, wasting her bright future for nothing; it truly makes this palace sigh with regret!"

Well—you really know how to tell lies with your eyes open.

Fang Longye complained incessantly.

However, he also understood.

Yinglong Laozu's implication was that they could imitate the precedent of Ehuang and Nvying to let Long Xuan enter his household, without forcing the position of the absolute primary wife.

The key point was—he was very worried.

Seeing Fang Longye hesitating, Yinglong Laozu's expression sank immediately: "What? You scoundrel, you don't want to take responsibility?"

What kind of cultivation did Yinglong Laozu have? When she got angry, Fang Longye felt his vision go black, the world ceased to exist, and he could not even sense the Great Dao.

He had to say hurriedly, "No, how could that be, Ancestor—how could I be that kind of heartless and ungrateful person!"

"The key is, I once made a secret vow of love with someone else. That confidante of mine has a powerful background, and I am afraid of bringing unnecessary trouble to the Ancestor—"

Feeling Yinglong Laozu withdraw her aura, he said cautiously, "Ancestor, it is truly not that I am unfaithful. How about letting Xuan'er take a step back?"

(End of this chapter)