Chapter 848: Attending the Banquet

Days passed. Ji Yuan had long since finished his calligraphy and painting, while Zao Niang was still refining the fan.

One day, a flying sword arrived from beyond the heavens, circling over Ning'an County for a long time. Ji Yuan glanced at Zao Niang, seeing her fully absorbed in refining the fan. He then looked up at the sky, and the unique aura of Ju'an Pavilion, centered around the large date tree and its plaque, instantly opened a gap.

The flying sword in the sky immediately sensed something, transforming into a streak of light and descending. With a mere stretch of Ji Yuan's hand, the sword landed in his grasp.

The Green Vine Sword, surrounded by numerous small characters and hovering beside the "Sword Manual," subtly rotated its blade. Seeing it was merely a flying sword, it paid no further attention.

"From Tianji Pavilion?"

On Ji Yuan's table, Xiezhi had already reverted to a painting. The magical power Ji Yuan had left on the painting had been squandered, and thus, Xiezhi could no longer maintain its human form.

Ji Yuan glanced at the Xiezhi scroll, nodded, and calmly focused on comprehending the divine intent within the flying sword.

"It seems there's no movement..." Ji Yuan murmured to himself. "Tianji Pavilion has many long-bearded elders and the Heavenly Mechanism Wheel at their disposal. Even if they can't pinpoint the true mastermind, they can certainly deduce some clues. I might also see their moves within my own spiritual realm. For now, at least on the surface, neither side has made a move."

'Is it because too little time has passed?'

After the chaos in Tianyu Continent, cultivators from Tianyu immediately entered the Black Barrens, causing quite a stir throughout the world. However, it was very likely that something bigger was brewing. Ji Yuan could only keep an eye on developments through his own channels while steadily advancing his own plans.

"Ji Yuan, please use your transformation magic to lend me some magical power again," Xiezhi pleaded. "It's quite inconvenient for me to do anything like this."

Ji Yuan imprinted his divine intent onto the flying sword, then flicked it towards the sky. He only withdrew his gaze when he saw it transform into a sword shadow and vanish into nothingness.

"Ji Yuan, Ji Yuan, hey, hey!" Xiezhi pressed. "The Dragon Transformation Banquet is soon. How can I attend in this state?"

Because of its slightly agitated emotions, wisps of dangerously dark smoke rose from the Xiezhi scroll, but this had no effect on Ji Yuan.

"Then just don't attend," Ji Yuan replied. "I'm bringing Zao Niang and Hu Yun."

Ji Yuan slowly rolled up the calligraphy and painting he had written. The Xiezhi on the table grew a little anxious and looked towards Hu Yun, who had been attentively watching Zao Niang.

"Uh-hem, ahem..."

Hu Yun's ears twitched. He looked at the table, immediately understood, and stood up, walking over to Ji Yuan.

"Mr. Ji, um," Hu Yun began, "Master wants to guide my cultivation, and it's a bit inconvenient like this..."

Ji Yuan glanced at Hu Yun, then at the Xiezhi on the table, and shook his head helplessly. He extended his hand and pointed faintly towards the Xiezhi scroll, casting a spell using his own Way of Transformation.

The next moment, a light shone from the Xiezhi scroll. The scroll flew to the edge of the table and transformed into a lifelike middle-aged man. He wasn't particularly refined or elegant, but he was imposing and carried himself with the air of a heroic martial artist.

"Ooh-la-la! Hahahaha! I like this appearance much more this time! Tsk, tsk, this time it's even more like a real person! I told you that last time you were just perfunctory with me..."

As he spoke, Xiezhi even gnashed his teeth in the air, finding the sensation more realistic. His mood instantly brightened, and he found Hu Yun much more pleasing to the eye.

"Come, come, come! Your master will teach you some real things. Do these monsters nowadays truly believe that merely possessing terrifying demonic aura and immense demonic power is sufficient?"

Hu Yun's eyes lit up, and he quickly leaned closer to the table.

"Please tell me, Master!"

"Heh heh. Although your demonic aura is very pure and your demonic power is refined, and you have your own path, you haven't truly grasped the essence of cultivation. For a demon, demonic aura and demonic power are another self; only when they contain powerful intent can you take the first step."

"For instance, 'Deter!'"

As Xiezhi uttered the word "Deter," a terrifying aura erupted from his body, as if a roar echoed from ancient times on an inaudible mental plane.

Ji Yuan reacted extremely fast. The moment Xiezhi said "For instance," he had already waved his sleeve to shield Zao Niang, preventing Xiezhi from affecting her while she was still refining the fan.

Hu Yun, who was directly facing Xiezhi, was instantly frightened back from his illusory boy form into his red fox state. His entire body was stiff as if petrified, and even his normally lively eyes were frozen.

"Hahaha," Xiezhi chuckled, "that was just a thought from me. Your Mr. Ji didn't lend me much magical power, so I wouldn't dare misuse it. But I'll tell you, that Lu Laohu you always think about has long since mastered this technique."

Hu Yun was still in a petrified state. Ji Yuan, observing from the side, listened very carefully, realizing Xiezhi was indeed seriously teaching Hu Yun.

In late December, as if perfectly calculated, all the brilliant light on the fan in Zao Niang's hand retracted back into it. Zao Niang stood up joyfully and gently flicked the fan open.

Snap!

A folding fan opened. Its decorative border subtly fluttered, and the exquisite embroidery depicted a clear date tree. Beneath the tree stood Ying Ruoli. With one hand behind her back, she held a branch in a sword-wielding posture, the branch pointing diagonally towards the sky. Countless yellow flowers followed the direction of the "long sword" and transformed into a dragon of flowers, soaring away.

Zao Niang's embroidery was extremely meticulous; the stitches were so fine and dense that even the tiniest yellow flowers on the paper fan were perfectly clear. In Ji Yuan's words from his previous life, it could be described as having "extremely high resolution."

Xiezhi leaned over to take a look.

"I didn't realize you were so skilled," Xiezhi remarked. "This isn't much worse than Ji Yuan's paintings. But why does it look a bit like..."

Zao Niang lowered her head slightly, then looked up at Ji Yuan.

"Sir..." Zao Niang began, "Zao Niang has always remembered that scene in her heart. Upon hearing about the dragon transformation, she naturally embroidered it... But this is for Ruoli, so I, I just modified it a bit..."

Hu Yun stared blankly at the fan's surface. Previously, the light had obscured it, preventing him from seeing clearly, but now he finally understood. He couldn't help but speak out.

"This, this is clearly Mr. Ji dancing with his sword and sending flowers back then..."

Xiezhi, from the side, clicked his tongue.

"I knew it!"

Ji Yuan, however, didn't mind.

"Haha, it's quite beautiful," Ji Yuan said. "To some extent, it embodies your friendship and also fits the auspiciousness of Ruoli's dragon transformation. Even if she knew you made a subtle substitution, she wouldn't mind."

As he spoke, Ji Yuan looked at the sky and did some quick calculations with his fingers.

"Alright, it's about time," Ji Yuan announced. "Since you've finished the gift, let's go."

Ying Hong's daughter successfully completed her transformation, astonishingly shedding her Flood Dragon body to become a true dragon within a year. This news spread throughout the world via various aquatic tribes, causing a stir among all water-dwelling creatures. The announcement that the Sky-Reaching River was about to host a Dragon Transformation Banquet drew aquatic creatures from all corners of the world like moths to a flame.

Although the Sky-Reaching River was vast, the size of its Dragon Palace was limited. Even though the Dragon Lord of the Sky-Reaching River announced that a hundred-li banquet would be laid out underwater along the river, those truly able to enter the Dragon Palace itself would be the most prestigious guests.

Not to mention the various aquatic tribes within Great Zhen and the inland of Yun Continent, even many aquatic tribes from the Four Seas who felt they had some connection were rushing towards the Sky-Reaching River in the southern interior of Yun Continent.

Many aquatic tribes in the interior of Yun Continent, being under the command of the old dragon, naturally gained an advantage. Regardless of whether they were river gods, water gods, or righteous cultivators, as long as they didn't come from a minor river or stream, they could attend the banquet near the Dragon Palace, or even inside it. Those of significant standing were even permitted to bring their families.

In Chunmu River, a white flood dragon, accompanied by an old turtle and a large green fish, continuously broke through the water currents, moving forward. Although it wasn't exerting the power of a river god, its speed surpassed that of ordinary water control.

"Lord River God, Grandpa Old Turtle," asked the large green fish, "do you think Mr. Ji will go? Will the little fox go?"

The large green fish swam around near the white flood dragon. The nearby waters were carried along by the white flood dragon, allowing it to swim freely within that area.

The white flood dragon grinned without speaking, while the old turtle smiled and replied.

"Mr. Ji and the Dragon Lord are close friends," the old turtle said. "Moreover, Lady Ying addresses Mr. Ji as Uncle. For her Dragon Transformation Banquet, Mr. Ji will surely return, even if he is at the ends of the earth. As for the little fox, well, I don't know..."

Although the little fox would most likely not be able to attend such a banquet, if Mr. Ji truly brought him, who would dare to refuse him?

"Hehehehe," the white flood dragon chuckled, "Lady Ying's transformation has been completed, and she became a dragon in less than a year. She truly possesses extraordinary talent, inspiring great admiration!"

Bai Qi spoke with genuine admiration, but there was no hint of excessive envy in his tone, only sincere congratulation. Decades ago, if he had heard of a flood dragon transforming into a true dragon nearby, even if it were the Dragon Lord's daughter, he would have felt quite uneasy. But now, he felt completely at ease.

"Lord River God, you can definitely do it too!"

The large green fish said seriously, which made the white flood dragon burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha, naturally!"

The white flood dragon danced in the river. Its body was no longer as bare as it once was; instead, faint white glowing patterns appeared on its skin. Although it still had no scales, these patterns sometimes looked like layers of scales covering its body.