After Sheng Jun Chapter 7 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 7 Perfect Coordination (part 1)
The banquet hall was illuminated with a kaleidoscope of colors.
Yue Fu Zhenren's chest heaved twice as he walked through the crowd and stopped in front of Jiang Xingzhi. Before he could speak, a melodious ancient voice rang out, "No cutting in line, go queue up at the back."
Yue Fu: "......"
Jiang Xingzhi waved his hand, "Go."
Yue Fu turned his head, "Family head Shang, what is the meaning of this!"
Shang Luxing, who had been rejoicing in the attention his Shang family was receiving just a moment ago, now faced the questioning of the Kouyue Sect's Vice Master. He was quite embarrassed, "I meant no offense, it's just that the Divine Lamp Daren appeared voluntarily after being summoned."
"Divine Lamp?" Yue Fu examined Jiang Xingzhi, his mind full of doubts, yet still maintaining a degree of reverence, "How can you prove this is truly an ancient spiritual relic and not just a trick to deceive..."
Thud! Before he could finish speaking, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended from above. Before anyone could understand what was happening, they saw Yue Fu Zhenren, who had already reached the Nascent Soul stage, turn pale and his knees buckle, about to kneel down—
A sleeve wind swept past, catching him a foot before his knees touched the ground, barely managing to support him.
Jiang Xingzhi said languidly, "This is the power from ancient times."
"......" Only those who had experienced such absolute suppression across cultivation realms could understand how terrifying it was. Even after being helped up, Yue Fu still felt his legs trembling, and the muscles in his stiff face twitched uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Jiang Xingzhi consoled him, "You are the first person in ten thousand years to experience ancient divine power."
When the words "ancient divine power" came from his mouth, Yue Fu's legs reflexively trembled again as the aftereffects of the suppression surged up. Meanwhile, countless envious gazes were directed at him, as if saying: what a lucky person.
Yue Fu steadied himself and took a step back, "I... I believe now."
Jiang Xingzhi graciously waved his sleeve, the corner sweeping a semicircle in front of him, nearly brushing Yue Fu's nose.
Zhong Ming kindly pulled him back a little while supporting him.
Seeing that this might lead to enmity, Shang Luxing quickly reminded everyone, "Noon is approaching, shouldn't we start the banquet?"
His words awakened everyone present.
Yue Fu also regained his attention and walked to the main seat. He glanced at Tong Yu Zhenren, who had been observing silently throughout, suppressed his emotions and said, "Sect Master."
Only then did Tong Yu Zhenren step forward and greet the guests with a smile, "My apologies for the discourtesy."
Jiang Xingzhi thoughtfully watched their retreating figures. When the lengthy opening ceremony speeches began, he returned to his spiritual form within the glass lamp.
He had barely turned around inside when he heard a voice from above, "What are you thinking about?"
Jiang Xingzhi looked up; from his angle, he could only see the man's protruding Adam's apple above his collar and his strong jawline. He said, "The Kouyue Sect's Master and Vice Master are acting strange."
Zhong Ming looked down at the strangest person in the entire gathering.
Jiang Xingzhi continued, "I heard there's internal discord in the Kouyue Sect."
Zhong Ming frowned. So far, apart from members of the Kouyue Sect, no outsiders had seen the legendary "auspicious beast." To gather all the prominent sects of the Three Realms with such fanfare...
Zhong Ming asked, "What do you think their true purpose is?"
Jiang Xingzhi said gravely, "To have everyone vote for their new Sect Master?"
Zhong Ming: "......"
The large hands holding the glass lamp shook it left and right, making Jiang Xingzhi dizzy, "Brother Bai, what are you doing?"
Zhong Ming said softly, "Do you hear water?" The water in your brain.
Jiang Xingzhi: "......"
****
For the time that followed, both tacitly avoided continuing this topic, each maintaining some dignity.
The opening speech finally ended, and Yue Fu Zhenren rose first. The noon sunlight fell directly on the red silk surrounding them, making it look like burning red lotus petals when the mountain wind blew.
His gaze passed through the hall doors to the layered mountains in the distance as he pulled out a bell from his wide sleeves. The clear, melodious sound of "ding-ling" rang through the empty valley.
Everyone fell silent.
Yue Fu spoke in a deep voice, "The auspicious time has arrived, the auspicious beast shall appear."
As his words fell, red mist spread between the distant mountains, with strong winds rustling through the forest leaves. Some restless cultivators in the audience couldn't help but stand up, "Is the auspicious beast about to appear?"
Ding-ling, ding-ling... the bell continued to ring softly in the hall, like a summons.
Jiang Xingzhi poked his head out from the lamp's spout, trying to see more clearly, "Brother Bai, hold it higher."
Zhong Ming looked down at the lamp and head in his hands, and only his hundred years of tempering through various hardships prevented him from immediately throwing this head away.
His temple twitching, he said, "Jiang Xingzhi."
Jiang Xingzhi urged, "Quickly, quickly."
"......" After a pause, Zhong Ming resignedly lifted Jiang Xingzhi's head above his own, "Is this high enough?"
The head attached to the lamp's spout nodded, "Perfect."
Nearby, Female celestial He Yao from the Xianxia Sect turned and caught this horrifying sight, nearly spilling her wine cup in shock.
Fortunately, the exclamations from the audience soon drew back her attention. In an instant, golden light flashed within the red mist spreading through the forest, faintly revealing the form of a serpentine creature.
"It's the auspicious beast!"
"Could it be the ancient auspicious beast 'Torch Dragon'?"
Jiang Xingzhi stretched out a bit further, his clear eyes narrowing slightly.
The "auspicious beast" in the valley rode the clouds and mist, writhing between the mountains, its fire-red serpentine body bearing an elderly human-like face. The massive spiritual power swept through the forest with devastating force, breaking all nearby trees at their waists, and even the banquet hall could feel the gusting winds.
At the main seat, Yue Fu Zhenren held the bell in one hand, his lips curling imperceptibly.
Unlike the excitement in the audience, Jiang Xingzhi's gaze fell directly on the "Torch Dragon" writhing in the red mist, and after a moment, he muttered, "Not enough."
Zhong Ming glanced up at him.
Nearby, Shang Luxing also heard these words and looked amazedly at that head which could overlook the entire scene, "It can't go any higher, Brother Jiang."
Jiang Xingzhi shook his head, "That's not what I meant."
Shang Luxing wasn't sure what to make of this, "Then what..."
Before he could finish, he saw Zhong Ming raise his hand and throw Jiang Xingzhi, lamp and head together, toward the "Torch Dragon"! Shang Luxing was shocked—Brother Bai had finally lost patience with Brother Jiang and thrown him out!
He tried to advise, "Bai..."
Zhong Ming spoke, "The power isn't enough."
Shang Luxing froze, "What?"
But Zhong Ming didn't answer him again, his dark eyes reflecting Jiang Xingzhi flying toward the red mist, his fingertips still retaining the lamp's cool temperature.
As people were marveling at the Torch Dragon's cloud-riding display, they suddenly saw a lamp with a head cutting through the sky above, heading straight for the Torch Dragon in the valley. They stood up in shock. "What's happening!"
"That looks like the Divine Lamp Daren?"
Crash…–the bell nearly fell from Yue Fu's hands. He stared blankly as the glass lamp broke through the air, approaching the "auspicious beast Torch Dragon" within moments.
Yue Fu's face suddenly turned pale. He hurriedly stepped down from the main seat and rushed to Shang Luxing, "What is Family head Shang doing! The appearance of the auspicious beast is a solemn occasion, how can you randomly disrupt the ceremony?"