Chapter 143: Brilliant Lanterns Cast Shimmering Shadows, Fragrant Smoke Floats from the Precious Tripod

In the distance, Ding Wei was seen leading the way, his figure enveloped in a desolate and mournful gust of ghostly wind.

Immediately following.

A dazzling escaping light, resembling a daytime shooting star, tore through the heavy clouds. As it sped across the sky, its brilliance was dazzling and resplendent. With a sharp hiss, it traversed the distance of a mile in an instant, slowly descending before them to land on the waist of a small hill.

"......What?"

When he clearly saw the figure within the pearly white escaping light, even with Ding Xian's profound depth of character, he could not help but be startled.

Then, he furrowed his brows in an almost imperceptible manner, thousands of thoughts racing through his mind in a split second.

"To think such naturally-born peerless looks exist in this world—were they not crafted by divine powers? Truly bizarre and wondrous! If this is the case, I fear Yu'er..."

Ding Xian sighed inwardly, yet his expression remained completely unruffled.

A gleam flickered in his eyes as he stepped down from the carriage with a loud laugh, taking the initiative to step forward and greet the guest.

After an exchange of formal courtesies and a period of mutual conversation, Ding Xian was even more pleasantly surprised to find that Chen Heng was not only exceptionally refined and possessed an appearance rarely found in the world, but his words were also elegant and his demeanor neither servile nor overbearing.

"Even if this young man has not obtained the inheritance of the Yin-Corroding Red Water, I fear he harbors other supreme fortunes within himself. This aura of his is indeed quite unusual and rather peculiar."

After a few remarks during which they conversed quite agreeably, Ding Xian could not help but ponder.

As a ghost deity who ruled over a domain in the Five Clouds Wilderness, and a predestined guest who had once listened to the lectures seated before the Pure Yang True Monarch, he was not only profound in cultivation—comparable to a Golden Core True Person of the orthodox immortal path with boundless magical power—but his vision was also extraordinary.

Employing a secret ghost-path technique in his eyes and looking over, he saw that Chen Heng’s face was suffused with a layer of clear, translucent jade color, his gaze as bright as heavenly stars. Meanwhile, his entire constitution of blood, Qi, bones, and sinews was like ten-thousand-times refined magical steel; even though it was currently restrained and not unleashed, it shone as dazzlingly as the fierce sun hanging in the void, giving off a tremendous sense of oppression.

Ding Xian reckoned that if Ding Wei were to fight this person to the death without sparing any means, he feared he would not survive fifty rounds before being captured and slain on the spot.

And this was still without invoking that spell of the Yin-Corroding Red Water...

If the Yin-Corroding Red Water were unleashed, he might not even be able to endure thirty rounds...

"No wonder he was able to break True Monarch Qiao's arrangement and successfully master the Yin-Corroding Red Water. It's laughable that Wei'er was meticulously nurtured by me, and in his cultivation, he has always been cautious and never dared to slack off, yet he still falls far short."

First, he felt a slight sense of emotion.

However, upon second thought, only such a person would be summoned by the True Monarch, and only such a person was worthy of him lowering his status to personally welcome him from ten miles away.

With these thoughts, the trace of inexplicable estrangement and unwarranted melancholy at the bottom of his heart dissolved completely.

"This person is truly a predestined fine son-in-law! If I can establish ties with him and pull him to my side, not only will it forge a karmic connection with the True Monarch, but if one day I were to pass away and shed my mortal coil, this vast family enterprise I leave behind will finally have someone to support and uphold it!"

A smile appeared on Ding Xian's face, and he displayed even more goodwill, leaving Ding Wei, who stood respectfully to the side listening with lowered hands, dumbfounded and filled with disbelief.

Subsequently, seeing Ding Xian invite Chen Heng into the flood-dragon carriage to travel together, he felt even more as if he had fallen into a sea of clouds, unable to comprehend the situation for a moment.

"What does this mean... Is Father planning to take him as a son-in-law? If he's a matrilocal son-in-law, won't my eldest brother and I have to split the fine family estate of the Five Clouds Wilderness in half? No, judging by Father's pampering of younger sister, it's probably more than half; my eldest brother and I will only be able to claim thirty percent?"

He muttered inwardly and scratched his head in utter bewilderment.

Ding Wei knew the true weight of his own brothers—their natural talents could only be considered mediocre. In a nether region like the Earth Abyss, as long as one did not court death or intentionally provoke those great ghost deities, preserving one's life and surviving should not be difficult.

However, if they wanted to guard this vast family enterprise of the Five Clouds Wilderness, their strength would fall far short of the task.

Even though this was a Daoist arena bestowed by the True Monarch, human favors and relationships would eventually be exhausted sooner or later.

Moreover, Ding Wei knew deeply that given the supreme status of a True Monarch of the Zhongyi Sword Sect, he would certainly not stay in the Earth Abyss for long, and might leave any day.

At that moment, the true trouble would arrive...

"Thinking about it this way, taking in a matrilocal son-in-law to help me shoulder the burden seems like a good thing after all? I just wonder how big Brother Chen's appetite really is... No! Whether he even takes a fancy to younger sister is another matter entirely!"

As the hesitant Ding Wei reached this thought, he could not help but find it somewhat amusing.

Just as he was deep in thought, the group of ghost generals and ghost servants had long since escorted the flood-dragon carriage far away. Looking up, even their faint traces could no longer be seen.

Only a few of Ding Wei's personal guards remained waiting in place.

Seeing Ding Wei standing idly with lowered sleeves, his expression shifting between smiles and gloomy frowns, they were all completely baffled.

"Second Young Master..."

One of the guards called out cautiously.

Jolted out of his reverie, Ding Wei snapped back to his senses. Glancing around and meeting only a sea of peculiar gazes, Ding Wei felt his face burn with heat.

"Father is too impatient, leaving in such a rush. Quickly follow me and catch up; do not show disrespect to the honored guest!"

With an awkward, forced cough, Ding Wei hurriedly summoned his light to take flight, speeding away.

The guards chorused their assent and likewise transformed into wisps of ghostly smoke, chasing fiercely into the sky.

...

...

Flashing forward like lightning amidst rushing winds, the turbid mists parted. The mountains, ranges, rivers, and lakes on both sides retreated rapidly, leaving only blurred, indistinct afterimages.

Before long, Chen Heng, seated within the flood-dragon carriage, saw a dense expanse of clustered palace halls appear below.

All kinds of golden tiles and resplendent pillars shone brilliantly, making the scene exceedingly magnificent.

At this moment, the two nether flood-dragons drawing the treasured carriage let out long coos at the sight and slowly lowered their cloud-heads, landing upon a vast plaza paved as if with pale jade-colored strange rocks.

"The layout of this cavern dwelling is crude, please do not take offense, please, come in!"

Ding Xian alighted from the carriage with a beaming smile, leading Chen Heng across the plaza and through several layers of palace halls until they arrived at a palatial lodge with green tiles, vermilion pillars, and radiating auspicious light.

Flowers glowed and lamp shadows danced; fragrant smoke floated from precious tripods.

It was just like a banquet in a Dragon Palace—

Two troupes of singing and dancing maidservants were already waiting inside the grand hall, with long sleeves and flowing sashes, their waists lithe as rings. Under the shimmering flames of the lamps, their colorful garments intertwined, setting off a uniquely worldly, flourishing, and luxurious splendor!

...

Ding Xian smiled slightly, appearing quite pleased with himself.

After exchanging polite deferential remarks with Chen Heng once more, he finally took the seat of honor, while Chen Heng was seated at the prime position on his immediate right.

Beside this jade table were set three or five flower vases, with arranged flowers whose hues resembled the scenery of early dawn—appearing and disappearing intermittently, quite novel.

Chen Heng merely glanced at them roughly and withdrew his gaze.

At this moment, he suddenly sensed something and looked towards the peacock folding screen not far from the master seat.

Beyond the screen, the corner of a dress was faintly visible, uncovered by the screen. Judging from its patterns and embroidery, it was quite ornate.

The woman hidden behind the peacock screen also seemed to perceive Chen Heng's gaze and let out a belated gasp.

Then came a flurry of delicate footsteps as she hurriedly scurried into the rear hall.

"Come, come! Little fellow Daoist, do not stand on ceremony or feel restrained; treat this place just like your own dwelling! Allow this old man to fulfill his duty as a host!"

Ding Xian's face remained wreathed in smiles, and he did not bother to explain whether the woman behind the peacock screen was a maidservant or someone else.

With a light clap of his hands, several ghost servants respectfully stepped into the hall on tiptoe, serving spiritual delicacies and fine wine.

"This wine is named 'River and Sky at Dusk', produced by the Xie Clan of Changyou among the twelve great clans. Its flavor is quite mellow and sweet; I know not if the little fellow Daoist is fond of the cup, but please have a taste."

Ding Xian raised his goblet first and spoke.

At this time, Ding Wei finally arrived in the hall, belatedly riding upon a ghostly wind.

Under the probing gaze of Ding Xian, he gave a sheepish laugh and obediently sat down below Chen Heng. Seeing the situation, he followed his father's lead in raising his goblet and began enthusiastically urging him to drink.

"Then this Daoist shall not decline your kind offer."

Chen Heng smiled, picked up the cup of wine, and drained it in a single gulp.

As soon as the liquid entered his abdomen, a cool sensation instantly coursed through his limbs and bones.

It was as if, on a scorching midsummer day, one had first swallowed a mouthful of icy water and then submerged one's entire body into a mountain spring. His mind shivered involuntarily, and even the flow of his blood slowed slightly.

"Truly fine wine."

At this moment, Chen Heng's mind and spirit were thoroughly clarified, and the accumulated chaotic thoughts were temporarily swept away.

He felt that the speed at which his thoughts operated had increased manifold, and his mind was exceptionally lucid.

Moreover, this cup of wine also contained abundant spiritual Qi, which burrowed into his various acupoints and was silently refined by Chen Heng into his physical body to strengthen his blood and Qi.

It was only a pity that he was already at the eighth tier of the Taisuo Jade Body, and the amount of spiritual Qi required to advance to the ninth tier was undoubtedly a massive astronomical figure.

Although the spiritual Qi contained in this cup of wine was not insignificant, to the cultivation of the Taisuo Jade Body, it was utterly negligible and of almost no help...

"Come! Pray, have another cup!"

Ding Xian laughed heartily upon seeing this.

Ding Wei, seated below, acted as if he had met his match or encountered a kindred spirit; a delighted expression appeared on his face as he repeatedly raised his goblet to urge him onward.

He was naturally a person who loved wine as his life, but usually, he was disciplined and restrained by Ding Xian, preventing him from touching the cup too often.

Seeing this scene today, how could he not be overjoyed?

And Chen Heng accepted all comers without refusal, drinking every cup down.

Seeing that he was so accommodating, without putting on lofty airs, and appeared extremely spirited and generous, Ding Xian and Ding Wei exchanged a glance, both feeling joyous in their hearts, and tilting back their necks, they drained their cups as well.

Ding Wei cast another look, and the two troupes of singing and dancing maidservants, who had been waiting for instructions, immediately roused their spirits.

In an instant, zithers, stringed instruments, xiao flutes, and wind instruments sounded melodiously, mingling strings and bamboo with the crisp percussion of sandalwood clappers.

For a time, both host and guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves...

When the banquet was halfway through, a clamorous shouting suddenly came from outside the hall. Ding Xian, whose mood had been disrupted, furrowed his brows and was about to flare up in anger when a senior ghost dressed in steward's attire hurried into the hall in advance, prostrating himself with great excitement as he called out:

"Master, we have captured the fluorescent finches!"

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

"Three, all of superior quality!"

Like a retainer presenting a treasure, the steward untied a cloth bag hanging from his waist. As a wisp of ghostly smoke drifted open, three balls of brilliance instantly burst forth, leaping about ceaselessly within the hall.

Chen Heng looked with his eyes and saw that those three fluorescent lights were indeed three small birds, about the size of a palm, rounded and adorable, chirping softly with black bean-like eyes blinking rapidly.

"Good! Good! Well done!"

Seeing this, Ding Xian let out two hearty laughs, closed his five fingers together, and released a stream of spiritual light to capture the three fluorescent finches that were trying to fly out of the hall. He said:

"I am still enjoying wine and merriment with my honored guest; you may go down and collect your reward yourself!"

The steward happily prostrated in a bow, kowtowed respectfully a few times, and not daring to say too much, stepped backward out of the hall on tiptoe.

"Brother Chen, my servant was boorish, please do not take offense... That he was so presumptuous, and that my father is so overjoyed, there is truly a reason for it!"

After a bout of heavy drinking, Ding Wei already wore a look of intoxication on his face. He pointed a finger at the steward who was cautiously retreating and smiled:

"As it happens, it's quite a coincidence. True Monarch Qiao wants to see you, and these fluorescent finches happen to be related to True Monarch Qiao. Isn't that interesting?"

"Can this bird be used in medicine? Or after its bones and sinews are refined again, can it be used as an external tool?"

Chen Heng put down his wine cup and asked.

Hearing this, Ding Wei was slightly stunned.

And Ding Xian on the master seat smiled and shook his head.

"Brother Chen jests... These fluorescent finches are merely valued because they are round and adorable, and exist only within the Earth Abyss in scarce numbers, which is why immortal practitioners outside the Earth Abyss frequently seek to purchase them as pet beasts."

Ding Wei spoke and offered an explanation:

"A kinswoman of True Monarch Qiao, that celebrated noble maiden studying the Dao within the Yuchen Sect whom people call 'Little Qiao', once mentioned these birds and seemed quite moved.

True Monarch Qiao therefore entrusted this matter to my father and me. After searching painstakingly for several months, we have finally succeeded today!"

"Little Qiao?"

"Does Brother Chen not know?" Ding Wei gave a drunken hiccup, feeling even more pleased with himself as he intended to show off:

"Then do you know how many celebrated noble maidens within this Xudu Heaven are renowned throughout the Nine Provinces and Four Seas for their beauty, enjoying fame across the universe?"

Chen Heng shook his head.

"True Monarch Zhuang Si of the Primordial Demonic Sect, Pei Zhi of the Tai-fu Palace, Yin Ruohua of the Blood River Sect, Gu Yi of the Huzhao Sect, Xie Maixi of the Changyou Xie Clan, Zhen Luo of the Teaching of Nine Truths, Sima Wenjun of the Tangting Sima Clan..."

Ding Wei ticked them off on his fingers, reeling off a dozen names like counting family treasures as he smiled:

"Finally, there are naturally the Twin Qiao of Mishan. The 'Little Qiao' I mentioned just now is precisely one of these Twin Qiao!

Brother Chen, you are a cultivator from outside the Earth Abyss after all, how could you have never heard of these names? These are all figures from the *Rouge List*! Their reputations are resounding! Could it be that you are feigning ignorance?"

Chen Heng shook his head once more.

"Enough!"

Ding Xian on the master seat shook his head and suddenly frowned, interrupting him:

"That so-called *Rouge List* is nothing more than the rambling nonsense of a shameless madman! Even the mastermind has already been killed and his entire clan wiped out, and the Thunder Firmament Mansion suffered a huge loss because of it. What are you still bringing this up for?!"

Scolded thus, Ding Wei shrank his neck and sheepishly clamped his mouth shut.

This *Rouge List* had actually only come into the world quite recently.

The one who created this ranking was a true successor disciple of the Thunder Firmament Mansion.

Although the Thunder Firmament Mansion did not rank among the Eight Sects and Six Sects, it was at least the foremost among the unorthodox paths. That eldest true successor disciple naturally had seen the world and witnessed them with his own eyes.

Boasting of his romanticism and relying on being the next successor of the Thunder Firmament Mansion with a deep background, he had secretly memorized the beauties of the world he had encountered one by one, ranking them for commentary under the title of *Rouge List*.

Little did he know that it was precisely this act that brought him fatal disaster, implicating the Thunder Firmament Mansion into bleeding heavily.

Those on the list were all aristocratic noble maidens and proud talents of various sects.

How could they tolerate the comments of a mere successor of the Thunder Firmament Mansion?

And what of those who failed to make the list?

Even if the commentary for those on the list was extremely cautious, it inevitably incurred wrath.

Shortly after the *Rouge List* came out, the Thunder Firmament Mansion's true successor disciple who compiled the list was quickly killed and his clan exterminated, and the Thunder Firmament Mansion consequently sealed its mountain for three years to show punishment for lax discipline.

However, because the commentaries on the list were truly apt, even Daoist Lord Taiwen Miaocheng of the Chiming Sect had once smiled while reading it, praising it with a few words, saying that this person's death was truly a pity and that a mountain had been made out of a molehill.

Therefore, they did not use supreme divine powers to completely erase all carriers of those thoughts.

Only on the surface did they no longer mention it, while in private, word-of-mouth spread inevitably.

Ding Wei had always yearned for the immortal path and human forms.

Having occasionally heard of this matter, he had even spent a large sum of money to hear this story, and even though he was severely scolded by Ding Xian afterward, he still relished it gladly.

"Actually, I heard that there should have been one more person on that *Rouge List*, but before the Thunder Firmament Mansion's true successor could place her on the list, he himself was killed and his clan wiped out, and even that noble maiden's name became an unsolved case."

Emboldened by a touch of intoxication, and knowing his father also wished to befriend this person, Ding Wei finally could not resist his habit of boasting, and secretly transmitted his voice to brag to Chen Heng:

"I only heard this too, and I do not know if it is true or false?

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

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

"It is the illustrious background of the Siyefu Wei Clan, what was the Wei called?"

Ding Wei felt it was a pity, shaking his head as he transmitted his voice:

"I only heard that there was such a noble maiden, but whether she truly existed remains unknown. It's a pity that the Thunder Firmament Mansion's true successor died too early, before even writing down the noble maiden's name, and was killed along with his whole clan, leaving people in suspense."

He smiled and said:

"Brother Chen, have you ever heard any whispers or rumors?"

At this moment, the gorgeous silk curtains within the hall hung down, and against the candlelight of the night lamps, they cast a faint shadow over Chen Heng's face, preventing Ding Wei's drunken eyes from clearly discerning his expression for a moment.

"The Siyefu Wei Clan, one of the Twelve Great Clans—I have naturally heard of them."

After a moment, Chen Heng raised his eyes and smiled slightly.

"I am asking what that noble maiden's name was..."

Ding Wei mumbled with a drunken hiccup and was just about to speak again when he was glared at by Ding Xian on the master seat, causing a start in his heart.

Realizing he had lost his composure, he hurriedly let out a ha-ha laugh, glossed over the matter, and repeatedly urged him to drink.

After a full hour, the banquet finally ended as the revelry peaked.

Seeing Chen Heng being led away by maidservants to rest, Ding Wei watched him walk into the distance before slowly reaching into his sleeve, taking out the Yin-Dou Rope presented by Chen Heng, and riding his alcoholic haze to play with it carefully.

"A fine treasure! A fine treasure given by Mountain Lord Hu to Miss Yue! This Brother Chen is indeed generous; treating him to a round of wine actually yields us such a treasure! Even though he is an immortal cultivator and cannot drive ghost artifacts, he is still extremely generous!"

Ding Wei laughed heartily and said:

"Father, your wise eyes made no mistake; this person is truly someone worth befriending!"

"Generous? Nothing more than not wanting to owe a favor!"

Ding Xian sighed and shook his head from his master seat.

"You treat him with such high regard? Just because of that 'Yin-Corroding Red Water'?" Ding Wei asked.

"Is that not enough, you rascal!"

Ding Xian glared at Ding Wei and scolded:

"This Yin-Corroding Red Water is the inheritance of the old eccentric Yin Xing. If you truly knew the connection between this old eccentric and True Monarch Qiao, I fear you would be even more flattering than your father!

Since he has obtained this inheritance, he has entered the True Monarch's eyes and ascended to heaven in a single step!"

Ding Wei was startled, half of his drunkenness sobering up on the spot.

Before he could ask, Ding Xian had already turned his gaze to the rear of the hall, stroked his forehead, and said with a helpless sigh:

"Yu'er, I ordered you to perform a dance just now, but how is it that the banquet has ended, and yet you still have not shown your face?"

...

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