Chapter 876: Stunning the Court and the Country

Min Xian, however, felt no impact. He shook his head and averted his gaze. While he found it somewhat peculiar, that was the extent of his curiosity. Perhaps the farmer he had just seen was educated and literate but had been compelled by his knowledge or other pressures to choose a different way of life.

Of course, Ji Yuan had not yet left Dayun Prefecture. He simply stopped appearing before Min Xian to avoid disturbing him. Having seen him face-to-face, Ji Yuan was slightly curious about Min Xian's transformation and also interested in who had recently sought him out. Without resorting to mind-controlling spells or asking directly, Ji Yuan had methods to uncover the truth.

At noon, many stalls, including vegetable vendors, had already packed up and gone home. Min Xian chose a more sheltered spot on the street. Since it was lunchtime, passersby were either returning home or converging towards nearby restaurants and eateries.

On either side of Min Xian's stall were a pushcart general store and a vendor selling women's cosmetics. One proprietor appeared very young, while the other was a lean, middle-aged man with a short beard. Their businesses were not in conflict, leading to a harmonious coexistence. As it was lunchtime, none of them intended to pack up and go to a restaurant; instead, they each took out their pre-prepared meals.

The general store owner produced a bag of white steamed buns, a bamboo canteen filled with water, a small earthenware pot of pickled vegetables, and a pair of chopsticks. The cosmetics vendor had some cold baozi. Min Xian's meal was the most generous, as he had previously packed up a large amount of food from a grand restaurant, and it would be a shame for it to spoil if not eaten soon.

As Min Xian took two oiled paper packages and a wooden box from a drawer in his wooden chest and opened them, the gazes of the two vendors beside him were involuntarily drawn to his display.

The oiled paper packages were of moderate size, containing substantial dishes. One held a mix of roasted chicken and salted sliced pork, while the other contained stir-fried meat slices of an unknown kind, though their color was highly appealing. The wooden box held some cold rice. Observing this, the two vendors beside him couldn't help but secretly swallow, surprised by the old man's luxurious meal.

"Come, come, young men," Min Xian called out. "My little stall isn't crowded with goods, so there's plenty of space. Come over here and eat. I, an old man, can't possibly finish all these dishes alone."

Both the general store and the cosmetics stall were cluttered with items, and their owners ate while sitting on stools, balancing their food on their knees. Only Min Xian's stall was exceptionally tidy, with papers neatly stacked and writing implements set aside, leaving a considerable empty space.

Upon hearing Min Xian's invitation, they first hesitated in surprise, then their faces lit up with delight.

"Since the esteemed elder has said so, it would be impolite not to accept!" exclaimed one. "Thank you, venerable sir, we're coming right over!" said the other.

"Hahahaha, the young man even knows a few refined words!" Min Xian chuckled.

"Hehehe..." came the response.

The two men, carrying their food and stools, came and sat down. Min Xian looked at the pickled vegetables in the small earthenware pot and said delightedly.

"Perfect, absolutely perfect! My two portions are quite oily; these pickled vegetables will be just the thing to cut through the richness!"

"These were pickled by my father; they're delicious, you should try some!" one offered. "Mm-hmm, delicious, and so fresh!" Min Xian affirmed.

Min Xian picked up a few slices with his chopsticks and tasted them, immediately lavishing praise. The young man beamed happily, and the middle-aged cosmetics vendor quickly added:

"Oh, what a memory I have!" he exclaimed. "I have something good too! Relatives from out of town just sent me some homemade rice wine. It's not too strong, so it won't affect our work, and it's guaranteed to be tasty! I'll go fetch it, but we don't have any cups..."

The young man from the general store pointed to his stall nearby.

"I have some at my stall; I'll get three small bowls and saucers," he offered. "Great, I'll go get the wine then!" the other replied.

"So, I'll just sit here and wait, shall I?" Min Xian asked.

"Hahahaha, please remain seated, venerable sir!" "Yes, yes, that's right!"

The three, who had been complete strangers, quickly bonded as they gathered for lunch. They ate and chatted about everything under the sun, their joy akin to the festive spirit of the New Year.

Having eaten and drunk their fill, all three soon found themselves lounging against the wall, basking in the sun. The warm sunlight made them all feel rather drowsy.

"Tsk, the sky was overcast when I left this morning," one remarked, "but I didn't expect it to suddenly clear up by midday. This sunshine is truly warm!"

"Indeed, it feels so good to bask in it!"

The young man and the middle-aged man chatted idly, when they suddenly realized the old gentleman in the middle had been silent for a while. Turning to look, they saw him leaning against the wall, head tucked in, breathing steadily in the warm sunlight. He appeared to have fallen asleep.

The middle-aged man pointed at the elder, smiled, and then lowered his voice.

"The old gentleman has fallen asleep!" he whispered.

"Is it the wine kicking in? It won't delay us, will it?"

"No, no, not at all," the other replied. "It's so warm now that even I feel like napping. There are no customers anyway, so let the old gentleman rest for a bit. We'll wake him if anyone comes."

"Alright!"

As the two men chatted in hushed tones, Min Xian was deep in a dream. It was a jumbled, ever-shifting landscape of his past despair and decline, his bitterness and confusion, pivotal life changes, and then, gradually, a normal person's perspective on people and events, experiencing them, and finally, the dawn of hope…

In the end, Lian Ping'er reappeared before him, standing outside the stall and observing Min Xian with a scrutinizing gaze. This look was very much like the one he once possessed as an immortal cultivator, perhaps even more intense.

"I have only one question for you," Lian Ping'er said. "Are you coming with me or not?"

It was the same question as before. Perhaps feeling that his previous answer might have conveyed too much lingering attachment, leading to a misunderstanding, Min Xian now replied faster and louder than before.

"Didn't I tell you? No! No! Absolutely not!"

"Not going... not going..."

By the wall behind the stall, Min Xian murmured indistinctly in his sleep, his voice gradually growing more agitated. The two vendors beside him heard it and quickly responded.

"We're here, we're here!" one said. "Yes, yes, old gentleman, we haven't left, we're still right here!" the other added.

"Ohh..."

Min Xian's body gave a jolt, and he snapped awake. He rubbed his eyes and looked around to find the two vendors watching him.

"Did I just... fall asleep? How long was I out?" he asked.

"Not long at all, just about a quarter of an hour," one replied. "You can nap a bit longer, venerable sir; we'll call you if a customer comes."

"That's right, it wasn't long," added the other.

Min Xian nodded in relief, then shook his head.

"It was just a dream, then," he said. "No more sleeping, no more. That short nap was quite refreshing. You two can also take a nap; I'll watch your stalls for you and call you if customers arrive."

"Oh, well, I'll take a short nap then; please keep an eye on things for me," one said. "I'm not going to sleep," the other replied, "I'll just tidy up my items."

"Alright, you go ahead and nap."

From a second-floor window of the tavern diagonally opposite, Ji Yuan had been savoring the establishment's wine and a few small dishes. Having eaten nearly his fill, he set down his chopsticks and called out to the waiter who was attending to other tables.

"Waiter, the bill, please."

"Coming right up, please wait a moment."

The waiter gave a quick reply, finished attending to the other table, then came to Ji Yuan's table, collected the payment, and led him downstairs.

"Sir, the wine you requested is ready. That will be three hundred cash in total."

Ji Yuan nodded, paid again, and then picked up five small wine jars from beside the counter, all containing the region's better-tasting wines. He then carried the wine out the door. After a final glance at the street a little further off, Ji Yuan swiftly departed Dayun Prefecture, rising into the air and flying back to Tongtian River.

Beneath the waters of Tongtian River, the Dragon Transformation Banquet was still in full swing. However, by the beginning of the third day, guests gradually started to depart, including the Grand Zhen envoy delegation, who had gained considerable benefits.

The moment the large ship appeared at the Jingji Prefecture port, news was immediately relayed to the imperial palace with utmost speed, bringing a sigh of relief to the Emperor, who had been anxiously waiting for three days.

Three days of silence had almost led the Emperor to believe that the entire contingent might have been swallowed by the dragon in the Tongtian River. The loss of several key ministers in such a manner would have been utterly unacceptable.

No sooner had the ship's envoys disembarked and reached the gates of Jingji Prefecture city than the Emperor's imperial decree arrived, commanding them to enter the palace immediately without dismounting from their horses or carriages. They were permitted to ride directly to the Golden Hall, a great mark of favor for the ministers.

Even before the envoy delegation reached the imperial palace, various high-ranking court officials had already received news from the palace and had entered earlier to await them in the Golden Hall.

Upon their return to the imperial court, Yin Zhaoxian and the others immediately reported everything they had witnessed. The spectacles they described left both the Emperor and his assembled officials in awe, and many were filled with longing to experience such wonders themselves.

Water spirits from all corners of the world gathered, true dragons and flood dragons assembled, guests from immortal sects and divine realms arrived to offer congratulations, and even gods and spirits from the divine and ghostly domains paid personal visits. Countless miraculous transformations unfolded, and immortals, wielding immense power and divine abilities, cast spells that transported guests into a world within a book. There, they marvelled at extraordinary scenery, beheld the true form of the phoenix, and even witnessed a spell battle that shook heaven and earth. Finally, they listened to celestial music and watched phoenixes dance and sing in harmony.

There was simply too much to recount, most of it eloquently detailed by Yin Qing, who vividly described the strange and magnificent aspects, making it feel as though the listeners were present themselves.

The Emperor, captivated, found his mind frequently wandering in imagination, yet he quickly reined it back, fearing to miss any exciting detail. After hearing the full account, he repeatedly exclaimed in awe.

"It is truly magnificent!" the Emperor sighed. "I regret not being able to join you all at the riverbed to witness it firsthand!"

Yin Qing smiled and replied:

"Your Majesty, as long as our dynasty continues to flourish, wondrous sights will certainly not be scarce. The future holds great promise! Our Grand Zhen, at this magnificent Dragon Transformation Banquet, held a seat of honor in the main hall, sitting alongside true dragons and dining with true immortals. We are destined to become renowned throughout the four seas and eight directions. Your Majesty is the sovereign who will usher in an age of prosperity; Your Majesty is truly sagacious!"

As Yin Qing finished speaking, the assembled officials below bowed in unison, echoing his sentiments.

"Your Majesty is sagacious!" "Your Majesty is sagacious!"

Even Yang Sheng, a disciple of Yin Zhaoxian and a self-reflective emperor, was somewhat excited at this moment. However, Yin Qing suddenly seemed to recall something, and with an intuitive spark of insight, he began to speak.

"Your Majesty," Yin Qing began, "aside from what has just been reported, there is one seemingly minor matter from this Dragon Transformation Banquet that is worth noting."

"What is it, beloved minister Yin? Speak quickly."

Yin Qing turned to his father.

"Chancellor Yin," he began, "there's a matter—or rather, a few individuals—whom the immortal master of the Qianyuan Sect mentioned earlier, and then some other guests also brought them up. They are also people from our Grand Zhen..."

Yin Zhaoxian considered briefly, then nodded and replied.

"Are you referring to those several great heroes?"

"Precisely!"

Yin Qing turned back to face the Emperor, bowed once more, and began to elaborate on the thoughts he had prepared.