Chapter 143: Flower-Lit Lantern Shadows, Precious Cauldron Floating Fragrance

From afar, first he saw Ding Wei leading the way ahead, his form wrapped in a bleak, yin wind.

Then.

A dazzling escape light, like a meteor in broad daylight, sliced through layers of clouds; as it surged, its radiance was brilliant and glowing, and with a sharp 'Zi-la!' sound, it instantly covered several li, slowly descending before their eyes to land halfway up the small hill.

"... What?"

When he clearly made out the figure within that pure white escape light.

Even with Ding Xian's profound depth of scheming, he could not help but be startled.

Immediately, his eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly, and hundreds of thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

"Could there truly exist such naturally bestowed beauty in this world, not created by supernatural arts? How strange indeed! If so, I fear for Yu'er..."

Ding Xian sighed inwardly, yet his expression remained utterly unchanged.

Light flashed in his eyes; he laughed loudly, stepped down from his carriage, and rushed forward to greet the guest first.

After exchanging formal salutations.

And conversing for a while.

Ding Xian saw that Chen Heng was not only elegant in bearing and possessed of a appearance rarely found in the world, but also spoke with gentle refinement and carried himself with neither humility nor arrogance, which delighted him even more.

"Even if this youth has not obtained the inheritance of the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui, he likely possesses other fortunes; this qi fluctuation is quite unusual, very strange indeed."

After a few exchanges that proceeded most pleasantly, Ding Xian couldn't help but think.

As a ghost god capable of ruling over the Five Clouds Wild, a Yi Fang Di Zhi Jie, and as a fated guest who had once listened to lectures beneath the Pure Yang Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun.

He was not only profound in cultivation, comparable to a True Person of the orthodox immortal path at the Jin Dan stage, possessing boundless magic power, but his vision was also remarkable.

He activated a secret art of the Ghost Dao in his eyes to observe.

He saw only a layer of bright, pure jade color shimmering on Chen Heng's face, his eye-light brilliant as heavenly stars, while his entire body of qi, blood, tendons, and bones resembled ten-thousand-times-refined legal steel; even though it was currently held back and unreleased, it dazzled like a blazing sun hanging in the void, exerting a tremendous sense of oppression.

Ding Xian reckoned that if Ding Wei were to fight this person without regard for methods or life and death, he would likely be captured and slain on the spot within fifty exchanges.

And this was still under the condition that the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui was not employed...

If the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui were unleashed.

He might not even withstand thirty exchanges.

He would not be able to endure...

"No wonder he could break Young Master Master Qiao's formation and successfully cultivate the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui; it is laughable that Wei'er, whom I personally raised and taught, who is also cautious in cultivation and never dares to slacken, is still far inferior."

First, he felt a slight sigh of emotion.

But upon second thought, only a figure such as this would be summoned by the words of a Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun, and only such a one would be worth my condescending to personally travel ten li outside to welcome.

With such deliberation.

That inexplicable hint of resentment and vague melancholy in his heart vanished completely.

"This person is truly a heaven-ordained excellent son-in-law! If I can establish a connection and draw him to my side, not to mention forming another karmic tie with the Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun, even if I one day sit in meditation and pass away, this vast family legacy I leave behind will finally have someone to support and uphold it!"

A smile appeared on Ding Xian's face, revealing even more goodwill, causing Ding Wei, who stood nearby with hands hanging respectfully and listening attentively, to stare in dumbfounded disbelief.

Then, seeing Ding Xian invite Chen Heng into the dragon carriage to travel together.

He felt even more as if falling into clouds and mist, momentarily unable to understand.

"Does this mean... Father intends to recruit a son-in-law? If he recruits a matrilocal husband, won't my elder brother and I have to share half of the excellent family assets of the Five Clouds Wild? No, given Father's doting on my little sister, I fear it will be more than half; my elder brother and I might only keep thirty percent?"

He muttered this in his heart, perplexed, and scratched his head.

Ding Wei knew well the capabilities of his own brothers; their heavenly talent could only be considered average.

In a yin land like the Earth Abyss, as long as one does not seek death oneself or deliberately provoke great ghost gods, preserving one's life should not be difficult.

But if one wishes to guard this vast family legacy of the Five Clouds Wild.

That would be a case of having the heart but lacking the strength.

Even though this is a dao field bestowed by a Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun, human favors and relationships will eventually be exhausted sooner or later.

Moreover, Ding Wei knew well that, with the dignity of a Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun from the illustrious Zhongyi Sword Sect, he would certainly not remain in the Earth Abyss for long; who knows what day he might depart.

At that time.

Would be when the true troubles arise...

"Thinking of it this way, recruiting a matrilocal husband to help shoulder the burden seems like a good thing? I just wonder how large this Brother Chen's appetite truly is... No! Whether he even finds my little sister worthy is another matter entirely!"

Torn between gain and loss, Ding Wei thought this far and couldn't help but find it amusing.

Just as he was lost in thought, the group of ghost generals and ghost servants had long since escorted the dragon carriage far away; raising his eyes, he could no longer see even a faint trace of their path.

Only a few of Ding Wei's own personal guards remained behind at the original spot, waiting.

Seeing Ding Wei standing still with hanging sleeves.

His face showing a smile one moment and a frown the next, they were all at a loss, unable to figure out what was going on.

"Second Young Master..."

One personal guard called out cautiously.

Startled abruptly, Ding Wei suddenly came to his senses.

Sweeping his gaze around, he met only a series of strange looks, causing Ding Wei's face to burn with heat.

"Father is also anxious, departing in such a hurry; quickly follow me, do not let us treat the honored guest with any disrespect!"

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Ding Wei hastily mounted his light and soared into the sky, rushing forward at high speed.

Those several personal guards answered in unison with "Yes," and one after another transformed into ghost smoke, swiftly chasing after him into the heavens.

Traveling all the way with the speed of lightning and wind, the turbid mists parted, and the mountains and Hehu on both sides receded rapidly, leaving only blurred afterimages.

Not long after.

Inside the serpent-drawn carriage, Chen Heng saw a continuous expanse of palaces and towers emerge in the space below.

All manner of Jin Bi sparkled brilliantly, radiating gorgeous light, truly magnificent to behold.

At this moment, the two Nether Serpents dragging the treasure carriage, upon seeing this scene, both let out a long cry, slowly descended from the clouds, and landed upon a vast square seemingly constructed from strange rocks the color of green jade.

"The layout of my grotto-heaven is crude; do not take offense, do not take offense, please!"

Ding Xian disembarked from the carriage with a beaming smile, leading Chen Heng across the square, passing through several layers of palaces, until they arrived at a temple hall with green tiles and vermilion pillars, emanating an auspicious glow.

Flower lights and lamp shadows danced; precious incense burners floated with fragrance.

It was like a banquet within a dragon palace—

Two rows of singing and dancing maids had long been waiting inside the main hall; with long sleeves and loose sashes, their waists slender as rings, beneath the brilliant flame-lamps, their colorful garments reflected one another, presenting a unique spectacle of mortal wealth and elegance, a profusion of brocade and embroidery!

Ding Xian chuckled softly, appearing quite proud of himself.

After exchanging polite refusals with Chen Heng for a while, he finally took the seat of honor, while Chen Heng sat in the first position to his right.

Beside this Brother Yuan table were set three or five small stands holding vases with flower arrangements; the flowers resembled the scenery of dawn at first light, appearing and disappearing intermittently, truly novel.

Chen Heng only glanced at them roughly before withdrawing his gaze.

At this moment.

He suddenly felt something, turning his eyes toward the Kong Que painted screen not far from the main seat.

Just beyond the painted screen, a corner of a robe and skirt was faintly visible, not fully concealed; judging by its patterns and designs, it was quite magnificent.

The woman hidden behind the Kong Que screen seemed to notice Chen Heng's gaze as well; belatedly, she let out an "Ah!"

Followed by a series of hurried, rustling footsteps, she quickly turned and entered the rear hall.

"Come, come! Young Daoist friend, do not be polite or restrained; just treat this place as your own home! And allow this old man to fulfill his duties as a host!"

Ding Xian's face still wore a beaming smile.

He offered no explanation as to whether the woman behind the Kong Que screen was a maid or someone else.

He merely clapped his hands lightly, whereupon several ghost servants respectfully tiptoed into the hall, setting out spiritual food and wine.

"This wine is named 'River Sky Twilight Snow,' produced by the Xie clan of Changyou among the Twelve Noble Families; its flavor is truly mellow and sweet. I wonder if the young Daoist friend enjoys such drinks; please, try some."

Ding Xian raised his cup first and spoke.

At this time.

Ding Wei finally arrived late, driving a gust of yin wind into the hall.

Under Ding Xian's staring gaze, he gave an embarrassed laugh, obediently sat in the seat below Chen Heng, and seeing the scene, raised his cup along with his father, beginning to earnestly urge everyone to drink.

"Then this poor Daoist shall accept your kind command."

Chen Heng smiled, lifted the cup of wine to his lips, and drained it in one gulp.

As soon as the liquid entered his stomach, a refreshing coolness immediately circulated through his four limbs and hundred bones.

It was as if on a scorching summer day, one first swallowed a mouthful of cold water, then immersed one's body in a spring waterfall; his mind involuntarily shivered, and even the flow of his blood slowed slightly.

"Truly excellent wine."

At this moment, Chen Heng's mind became clear; the accumulated clutter of thoughts was temporarily swept away.

He only felt that the operation of thoughts in his mind had accelerated immeasurably, his thinking lucid and clear.

Furthermore, this cup of wine likewise contained abundant spiritual energy, which drilled into various acupoints and was silently refined by Chen Heng into his physical body to strengthen his blood and qi.

Pity that he had now already reached the eighth layer of the Mystic Realm in his Tai Su Yu Shen cultivation; the spiritual energy required to ascend to the ninth layer of the Mystic Realm was undoubtedly a vast quantity.

Although the spiritual energy contained in this single cup of wine was not small, for the cultivation of the Tai Su Yu Shen, it was negligible, almost of no help...

"Come! Please have another cup!"

Seeing this, Ding Xian laughed heartily.

Ding Wei, sitting in the lower seat, looked as if he had met a worthy opponent or a general encountered a talented commander; an expression of delight appeared on his face as he frequently raised his cup to urge drinking.

He was by nature someone who loved wine as much as life itself, but usually, being disciplined and restrained by Ding Xian, he could not touch much of this drink.

Seeing the scene today, he could not help but be overjoyed.

And Chen Heng, for his part, refused none of it, drinking everything offered.

Seeing that he was so accommodating, not pretending to be aloof, but rather very spirited and generous.

Ding Xian and Ding Wei exchanged a glance, both filled with joy in their hearts, then tilted their heads back and drained the contents of their cups in one gulp.

Ding Wei gave another signal with his eyes; the two rows of singing and dancing maids, who had been waiting for a long time, received the order and immediately summoned their spirits.

In an instant, the sounds of violins, stringed instruments, flutes, pipes, drums, and trumpets rose melodiously; silk and bamboo instruments mingled, while sandalwood clappers accompanied clear songs.

For a time.

Host and guests were all delighted...

When the drinking had reached a state of half-intoxication,

A noisy clamor of shouts suddenly came from outside the hall; Ding Xian, whose mood had been spoiled, frowned and was just about to erupt in anger when a large ghost dressed in the attire of a Hong Hong Guanshi rushed in ahead of everyone else, excitedly prostrating himself inside the hall and shouting:

"Patriarch, we have captured the Fire Sparrows!"

Ding Xian's hand trembled; the anger that had just surfaced on his face instantly vanished, and he asked, "How many?"

"Three, all of superior quality!"

Like someone presenting a treasure, that Hong Hong Guanshi untied a cloth bag hanging at his waist; as a cloud of ghostly smoke spread out, three balls of light instantly burst forth, leaping ceaselessly within the hall.

Chen Heng looked with his eyes and saw that the three balls of fluorescent light were indeed three small sparrows, about the size of a palm, round and cute; they chirped loudly, their black-bean-sized eyes blinking rapidly.

"Good! Good! This matter was handled beautifully!"

Seeing this, Ding Xian laughed loudly twice, brought his five fingers together, released a strand of spiritual light, and collected the three Fire Sparrows that were trying to rush out of the hall, saying:

"I still need to enjoy wine and conversation with my honored guest; you may go down and claim your reward!"

The Hong Hong Guanshi, overjoyed, bowed low, respectfully kowtowed several times, dared not speak another word, and quietly tiptoed out of the hall.

"Brother Chen, my servant was rude; do not take offense... That he acted so presumptuously, and that my father is so delighted, truly has a reason!"

After a bout of heavy drinking, Ding Wei's face already showed signs of intoxication; pointing a finger at the steward who was cautiously retreating, he laughed and said:

"Speaking of coincidences, Yuanjun Master Qiao wishes to see you, and this Fluorescent Sparrow happens to be related to Yuanjun Master Qiao as well—is that not interesting?"

"Can this bird be used in medicine? Or can its bones and tendons, after further refinement, serve as an external artifact?"

Chen Heng set down his wine cup and asked.

Hearing this, Ding Wei froze for a moment.

Meanwhile, Ding Xian on the main seat merely shook his head with a smile.

"Brother Chen jokes... This Fluorescent Sparrow is simply sought after by Daoist cultivators outside the Earth Abyss as a pet because it is round and cute, exists only within the Earth Abyss, and is rare in number."

Ding Wei spoke again, adding an explanation:

"A clanswoman of Yuanjun Master Qiao, that noble lady currently studying the Dao at Yu Yuchen Sect and known to contemporaries as 'Little Master Qiao,' once mentioned this bird, seeming interested.

Yuanjun Master Qiao entrusted this matter to us, father and son; after searching bitterly for several months, we have finally succeeded!"

"Little Master Qiao?"

"Does Brother Chen not know?" Ding Wei let out a wine-scented belch, growing even more proud and intent on showing off:

"Then do you know exactly how many noble ladies within this Xudu Heaven are famous throughout the Nine Provinces and Four Seas, their reputations filling the cosmos, solely due to their beauty?"

Chen Heng shook his head.

"Yuanjun Zhuang Si of Xiantianmo Sect, Seeing Pei Zhi of Tai Fu Palace, Yin Yin Ruohua of Xuehe Sect, Gu Yi of Huzhao Sect, Xie Maixi of the Changyou Xie clan, Zhen Luo of Jiuzhen Sect, Tangting Sima Tangting Sima Wenjun of the Tangting Tangting Sima clan..."

Counting on his fingers, Ding Wei rattled off more than a dozen names as if reciting family treasures, then laughed:

"Finally, there are the Twin Qiaos of Mishan; the 'Little Master Qiao' I just mentioned is one of these Twin Qiaos!

Brother Chen, you are at least a cultivator from outside the Earth Abyss; how could you never have heard these names? These are all figures on the Rouge Ranking! Famous names! Could you be pretending not to know?"

Chen Heng shook his head again.

"Enough!"

Ding Xian on the main seat shook his head, suddenly frowning and interrupting:

"That so-called Rouge Ranking is nothing but the reckless nonsense of shameless madmen! Even the organizer has died with his clan exterminated, and Lei Ting Prefecture suffered a huge loss because of it; why are you still talking about this?!"

Scolded once, Ding Wei shrank his neck and fell silent in embarrassment.

This Rouge Ranking.

Had actually emerged only recently.

Its creator was a true disciple of Lei Ting Prefecture.

Although Lei Ting Prefecture did not belong to the Bapailiu Sect, it was at least the foremost of the unorthodox schools, and that eldest true disciple had naturally seen the world and witnessed much firsthand.

He prided himself on being romantic and, relying on being the next successor of Lei Ting Prefecture with deep background,

secretly recorded every beauty he had seen in the world, listing them for evaluation under the name Rouge Ranking.

Little did he know that this very action brought about his death and the extermination of his clan, causing Lei Ting Prefecture to suffer severe losses as well.

Those listed were all noble daughters of prestigious families and geniuses of various sects.

How could they allow a mere successor of Lei Ting Prefecture to comment on them?

And what of those who failed to make the list?

What then?

Even if the evaluations were crafted with extreme caution, they inevitably incurred wrath;

shortly after the Rouge Ranking appeared, the Lei Ting Prefecture true disciple who created it quickly died with his clan exterminated, and Lei Ting Prefecture consequently closed its mountains for three years as punishment for lax discipline.

But because the evaluations on the list were indeed apt,

even Daojun Tai Wen Miao Cheng of Chiming Sect had once smiled while reading them, praising a few lines and saying that this person's death was truly a pity, an overreaction to a small matter.

Thus, no one used great divine powers to completely erase all stored thoughts of it.

It was only officially no longer mentioned, yet privately it inevitably spread by word of mouth.

Ding Wei already admired the Daoist path and beautiful women.

After occasionally hearing about this matter,

he even spent a large sum to hear this story; even after being severely scolded by Ding Xian afterward, he found it sweet as honey.

"Actually, I heard that there should have been one more person on the Rouge Ranking, but before the Lei Ting Prefecture true disciple could list her, he himself died with his clan exterminated, and that noble lady's name became a mystery."

Relying on having a few drinks in him,

and knowing his father also wished to curry favor with this person,

Ding Wei finally could not restrain his habit of boasting and secretly transmitted his voice to Chen Heng to brag:

"I only heard this; I don't know if it's true?

That person seemed to be a true disciple of Chiming Sect..."

Chen Heng lowered his eyelids, set down the cup in his hand, and his expression remained plain and indifferent.

"Of prominent birth from the Siye Wei clan, named Wei What?"

Ding Wei felt quite regretful, shaking his head as he transmitted his voice:

"I only heard there was such a noble lady; whether she actually exists or not remains unknown. It is a pity that the Lei Ting Prefecture true disciple died too early; before he could even write down the noble lady's name, he died with his clan exterminated, leaving people puzzled."

He smiled and said:

"Brother Chen, have you heard any rumors or clues?"

At this moment,

the exquisite gauze curtains in the hall descended; against the light of the night lamps and bright candles, they cast a faint layer of shadow over Chen Heng's face, preventing the drunken and blurry-eyed Ding Wei from clearly seeing his expression for a moment.

"The Siye Wei clan, one of the twelve great clans; naturally, I have heard of them."

A moment later,

Chen Heng raised his eyes and smiled.

"What was the name of that noble young lady again..."

Ding Wei muttered, letting out a wine-laden burp; just as he was about to speak again, Ding Xian, seated at the head of the table, shot him a glare, startling him.

Realizing he had overstepped, he quickly laughed it off, dropped the subject, and resumed urging everyone to drink.

A full hour later, the revelry finally ended and the banquet dispersed.

After watching Chen Heng being led away by a female attendant to rest,

Ding Wei waited until he was far gone before slowly reaching into his sleeve, taking out the Yin Battle Rope Chen Heng had gifted, and, buoyed by wine, began examining it closely.

"What a treasure! A fine treasure from Mountain Pot Hermit to Young Lady Lady Yue! This Brother Chen is indeed generous; we treated him to a single meal, yet he gifts us such a treasure! Even if he is a Daoist cultivator unable to wield ghostly artifacts, he is still remarkably generous!"

Ding Wei laughed loudly and said,

"Father, your Yuan Yuan Fayan never errs; this person is truly worth befriending!"

"Generous? He merely wished to avoid owing a favor!"

Ding Xian, at the head seat, sighed and shook his head.

"Do you hold him in such high regard merely because of the 'Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui'?" Ding Wei asked.

"Is that not enough, you brat!"

Ding Xian glared at Ding Wei and shouted,

"This Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui is the legacy of the Old Fiend Yin Xing; if you truly knew the relationship between that old fiend and Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun, you would likely be even more obsequious than your father!

Having obtained this legacy, he has entered the gaze of Zhen Jun Fa and has already leaped straight to the heavens!"

Ding Wei was startled, his intoxication vanishing by more than half.

But before he could ask, Ding Xian had already turned his gaze toward the rear of the hall, pressed a hand to his forehead, and helplessly said,

"Yu'er, I ordered you to perform a dance earlier; why, now that the banquet has ended, have you still not shown yourself?"