After Sheng Jun Chapter 6 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 6.2 The Kouyue Sect's Banquet (part 2)
The fingertips with slight calluses habitually caressed the glass lamp in his hand. Zhong Ming paused his movement and lowered his eyes to look at the soul within, "Can you feel it?"
"Of course," Jiang Xingzhi reproached. "With Brother Bai's cultivation level, how could you not know?"
Once cultivation reaches the Soul Split level or above, one can transform from solid to ethereal and possess objects, with all five senses following along. Among today's banquet attendees, not one person had reached Soul Split level, so no one could see through his trick—except for the man before him.
Zhong Ming suddenly smiled, his fingertips again gently rubbing across the lamp's surface, "Is that so? I've never tried it."
Jiang Xingzhi's soul trembled from the rubbing, and he bumped against those fingers in protest, "Yes, very much so!"
The fingertips were struck twice by the soul form, neither too light nor too heavy, the cool sensation actually felt quite pleasant. Zhong Ming felt a tickle in his heart—it was this person's excessive indulgence that made him want to push the boundaries even further...
The thought flashed by, but he ultimately withdrew his hand.
Jiang Xingzhi felt completely relaxed, and quickly noticed those calloused fingers that had caused all the trouble, "Brother Bai is also a sword cultivator?"
Zhong Ming's heart suddenly skipped a beat, "'Also'?"
Jiang Xingzhi: "......"
Damn, he had unconsciously thought of Xu Jian.
Xu Jian also had sword calluses on his hands. Once during a sparring match, he had been grabbed by the nape of his neck. At the time, he thought his vital point would be seized, but Xu Jian had only pressed his neck, his fingertips lightly brushing against the side of his neck.
A spark of electricity had shot through his body from where they touched, spreading to his limbs and bones. He had stood there stupidly, as if his soul had been frozen in place.
...What had Xu Jian said to him at that time?
Just as Jiang Xingzhi was hazily lost in memories, the lamp was suddenly tapped with a "ding ding" sound. Zhong Ming asked, "'Also' what?"
"Nothing." Jiang Xingzhi quickly pulled back his thoughts, feeling his entire soul growing somewhat hot. He spun around inside the glass lamp, changing the subject, "We're here."
As his words fell, the spacious banquet hall came into view.
The hall was decorated festively in red, with large peonies placed in the four corners. The tables were made of golden silk nanmu wood, most guests had already taken their seats, and the Kouyue Sect officials were at the front receiving and arranging things.
Several people in red robes moved back and forth among the guests. Jiang Xingzhi sighed, "I didn't expect even the servants to wear red."
He hadn't used sound transmission to say this, and Shang Luxing beside him paused for a moment before saying softly, "Brother Jiang, those are from the Hehuan Sect."
Jiang Xingzhi suddenly understood—they were there to flirt.
(TL: 搭讪 (dā shàn) – "Flirt" or "make a pass at." It refers to initiating a conversation, often with romantic or flirtatious intent.)
The news of the "divine lamp's manifestation" hadn't spread widely yet. When the Shang family took their seats, only a small number of people turned to look, their gazes either inquiring or envious.
Soon, the Second Elder of the Kouyue Sect and two Dharma Protectors hurriedly came over, bowing to Shang Luxing, "Family head Shang, we heard you brought a divine lamp."
As the Second Elder spoke, his gaze swept toward the brilliantly glowing glass lamp.
Following Jiang Xingzhi's instructions, Shang Luxing corrected, "It's Divine Lamp Daren."
The Kouyue Sect's Second Elder stumbled for a moment, seeming to find it absurd yet somewhat fearful, "Yes... Divine Lamp... Daren."
Jiang Xingzhi released a beam of light in response.
After speaking, the Second Elder looked at Zhong Ming, who had been holding the "divine lamp" the whole time. Learning from the previous example, he got the title right in one go this time, "And who might this daren be?"
Zhong Ming's thin lips pressed tightly together. Seeing this, Shang Luxing secretly pinched his own thigh, steeled his heart, and smiled as he said, "This is... Lamp Holder daren."
Second Elder: "......"
The Second Elder bowed, "Lamp... Lamp Holder Daren."
The glass lamp in his palm flashed rapidly with light, like a soul spinning round and round inside the lamp. Familiar with this person's nature, Zhong Ming could imagine without guessing how heartily Jiang Xingzhi must be laughing at this moment.
His fingertip rubbed once, and the light finally stopped abruptly.
The commotion here drew the attention of guests from various sects and factions, especially the alternating blue, purple, red, and green lights with their high saturation—it was difficult to pretend not to notice.
"What is that?"
"I heard it's a divine lamp brought by the Shang family, containing the soul of an ancient spirit."
"Divine lamp, ancient spirit... do such things really exist?"
"I think I saw similar records in a rare book from beyond the borders, such treasures do exist."
Hearing the discussions spreading around them, Shang Luxing took the opportunity to stand up and repeated his previous explanation to everyone. As his words progressed, the gazes directed at the glass lamp grew increasingly eager—everyone was desperate to witness the legendary "ancient spirit" right away!
There was still a quarter hour before the Kouyue Sect's formal banquet was to begin. The Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect stood up directly, "Family head Shang, might we ask the Divine Lamp Daren to manifest, so we can broaden our horizons?"
Before Shang Luxing could speak, the Second Elder of Kouyue Sect raised his hand to refuse, "Everyone, we still need to pay respects to the auspicious beast..."
"Isn't this perfect?" the Tianyan Sect Master persuaded, "With the divine lamp's illumination, the auspiciousness will triple."
Second Elder: "......"
With even his final reason blocked by the added lucky significance, the calls from the crowd grew increasingly enthusiastic. Jiang Xingzhi judged that the atmosphere was heated enough, and with a flash of the lamp body, everyone fell silent.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, a faint soul slowly emerged, taking form in mid-air. The young man's handsome, jade-like features gradually became clear, with spirit flowing in his amber-colored eyes.
To achieve maximum visual impact, he only materialized his upper body, leaving his lower half in soul form inside the glass lamp.
Behind him, Zhong Ming's hand holding the lamp trembled slightly.
Floating in mid-air, Jiang Xingzhi smiled slightly at everyone. His cool temperature combined with that half-body appearance truly looked quite spiritual.
He spoke with a resonating voice, "After ten thousand years of imprisonment, I finally see daylight again. Today I specially permit you all to question me—no limits on content or form, just express yourselves clearly, and use at least fifteen words."
......
In the Kouyue Sect's administrative hall.
Apart from the Second Elder, all the other administrators had gathered here. The Vice Sect Master, Yue Fu Zhenren, was directing disciples in preparing the upcoming procedures.
Sect Master, Tong Yu Zhenren, kept his hands in his sleeves as he coldly observed, with a hint of mockery on his face, "This venerable wants to see what kind of spectacle you can create."
Yue Fu Zhenren said proudly, "Naturally, it's to turn the Kouyue Sect from decline to prosperity, reversing the declining trend under the Sect Master's leadership."
Tong Yu Zhenren sneered, "Just don't make any mistakes—this venerable can't afford to lose face."
As the two confronted each other, the Dharma Protector Elders standing beside them clearly showed their different allegiances, their divisions obvious at a glance.
The administrative hall was full of dangerous undercurrents until a front mountain disciple hurriedly came to report that the banquet hall was about to boil over. Everyone exchanged glances and put aside their thoughts, rushing together to the front mountain to investigate.
When they arrived, the hall was already a sea of joy.
Above the multicolored glass lamp floated a half-figure of a handsome and graceful person. Everyone in the hall, whether elders, sect masters, or female cultivators, had gathered in front of the glass lamp.
The interactive Q&A was in full swing—
Pavilion Master of Qingfeng Pavilion: "Divine Lamp Oh Divine Lamp, is there a quick way to improve cultivation?"
Jiang Xingzhi: "Yes. Dream less, practice more."
Sect Master of Haosheng Sect: "Divine Lamp Oh Divine Lamp, can you grant me three wishes?"
Jiang Xingzhi: "I can't grant even one, but I can give you chicken soup for the soul to bring you closer to your dreams."
"......"
The red silk and peonies made everyone's faces appear joyous, the scene extremely lively.
Vice Sect Master Yue Fu Zhenren stared at that half ghost, almost losing his balance, "What... what exactly is this thing?"