"Although the Eternal Spring doesn't compare to my Flat Peaches, it is still a rare longevity treasure in the Three Realms, not something to water peaches with!" the Queen Mother said with a joyful smile, growing fonder of the Turquoise Pool the more she looked at it.
If this were to spread, that the Eternal Spring was only fit to water Flat Peaches, wouldn't her Flowers Conference seem even more prestigious?
Moreover, it was clear at a glance that the Turquoise Pool was born with wealth and fortune. Although she was still only an Immortal, her foundations were deep, and with her innate divine skills, she might even ascend to a Heavenly Position in the future.
The Turquoise Pool served by the Queen Mother's side.
Despite being in the presence of the Queen Mother, she was not at all intimidated, using the skills she had once used to coax her grandfather, slightly adjusted to suit the Queen Mother's personality, charming the Queen Mother into holding her hand continuously.
The so-called Flowers Conference, features both Immortal Flowers and Fairies.
Soon, just as the Queen Mother was about to announce the start of the banquet, a Palace Maid came to report.
"Your Majesty, the greatly compassionate Bodhisattva Guanyin from the South Sea's Mount Putuo has arrived!"
"Quickly invite the revered one inside," the Queen Mother said.
Turquoise Pool looked at Yang Qinglan, who remained serene and composed, standing with Chang'e and Li Qianxia on a lotus leaf, looking like three lotuses blooming on a stem, standing out even in this Flowers Conference.
She shifted her gaze towards the Bodhisattva Guanyin, who was walking in slowly, as all the Fairies stood up to pay their respects.
After a parting in the Song Dynasty's South Sea, here they were, clashing once again in the Tang Dynasty with the Bodhisatva Guanyin.
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In the Heavenly Palace, the Bodhisattva Guanyin attends the Flowers Conference; meanwhile, in the Mortal World, the four pilgrims have reached the Tongtian River.
"'After eight hundred li, seldom traveled through the ages,' Master, this river is eight hundred li wide!"
"Brother, I think it's more. My Flowing Sand River is eight hundred li, and this river is much wider than the Flowing Sand River. I think this tablet is written by mortals; 'eight hundred li' is just an arbitrary figure."
"Brother Sha is right," a monkey, dismounting from the clouds, laughed, "I, Wukong with the Eyes of Golden Flame, can see a thousand li in the daylight, yet I can't see the banks of this river, which must be at least a thousand li wide."
Riding on The White Dragon Horse, Tang Seng looked at the river surging like dragons before him, feeling both anxious and fearful.
"Master," Sun Wukong approached the white horse, "it's getting dark; let's rest here today and think of a way to cross the river tomorrow."
"Yes, yes, yes, I'm starving!" Zhu Bajie immediately agreed.
Tang Seng sighed and said to the monkey, "Alright, Wukong, go and see if there's any household nearby."
Sun Wukong instructed Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng to watch Tang Seng, then rose into the clouds, his eyes releasing golden light, and soon spotted Chen's Village.
Descending from the clouds, he led the three towards Chen's Village.
The four disciples were soon receiving lavish vegetarian dishes at Chen family's villa, from fruits, vegetables, plain rice, snacks to noodle soup, all served perfectly in line.
Zhu Bajie immediately grabbed a steamed bun to eat and picked up an apple with his left hand.
However, Tang Seng felt uneasy and said to the local gentry, Chen Cheng, "Elder, just preparing some common vegetarian meals would suffice, there's no need for such a grand reception."
While accepting a dish from the maid, Chen Cheng personally served it and said,
"Elder doesn't know that there's a Great King of Numinous Power in the Tongtian River, who demands a boy and a girl each year. This year it was my family's turn, but fortunately, your arrival here exempted this year's sacrifice!"
Zhu Bajie ate joyfully, Sha Wujing did not bother, and only Tang Seng had some doubts as he looked towards his eldest disciple.
Sun Wukong feigned calmness, making a motion for his master to keep calm and not be agitated.
The monkey asked Chen Cheng, "What else did that Great King of Numinous Power say?"
"He also said—to prepare another five buckets of steamed rice for the elders!" Chen Cheng, seeing how much Zhu Bajie could eat, instructed the maid again.
Sun Wukong grabbed Zhu Bajie's ear, who casually slapped him away and continued eating.
Chen Cheng continued, "He also said, he has heard of the name, Great Sage Equalling Heaven, and made way for Sunwalker, vacating the Tongtian River to ensure your safe passage."
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong smashed the table and laughed heartily, scratching his ears and cheeks.
"Master, you heard it too. It's just a little demon; it ran away even before old Sun arrived! Alas, had the demon not fled, it could have carried Master across the river!"
"Now then—"
"No rush, it's just a dead river, can it stop the living? We'll cross sooner or later. Master, you must be hungry too, let's eat first!"
Sun Wukong, in high spirits, voluntarily served Tang Seng some dishes.
At that moment, Zhu Bajie raised his head, his eyes wide, and asked Chen Cheng, "That Spirit Child, didn't he mention Marshal Tianpeng?"
Chen Cheng thought for a moment and shook his head, "No, he only mentioned the Great Sage Equalling Heaven."
"Fuck his—"
"Enough, fool, eat your food!" Sun Wukong also served Zhu Bajie some dishes, then said to Sha Wujing, "Sha Junior Brother, eat!"
"Okay, Big Senior Brother!"
Sha Wujing, too, had the appetite of eight men, devouring his food ferociously.
After a while, Chen Cheng went outside.
At the doorstep, he ran into his younger brother, Chen Qing, who peeked into the room and said, "These... saint monks can really eat!"
"No matter how much they eat, they can't deplete us. The Great King of Numinous Power instructed us to keep Tang Seng well-fed and plump; we shouldn't starve them. Go tell the kitchen to prepare more."
"Right away!"
Inside the hall, Sun Wukong's Eyes of Golden Flame swept around.
Well-fed and plump?
As a demon who had consumed countless humans, he was all too familiar with these words.
What a crafty Great King of Numinous Power! To think he could deceive old Sun!
He wanted to rush at once into the clouds, smash the Numinous' head with his Jingu Bang, destroy his lair, and eradicate his offspring. Yet on the surface, Sun Wukong remained composed.
He couldn't rely on Bajie and Sha Monk; speaking up would only worry Tang Seng, so he pondered alone in silence.