In the Deep Autumn, the South Border was tinged with a hint of chill, making the Floating Temple in the dusk feel even more desolate.
After the closure of the Five Element Realm, the Monster Clan didn’t disperse.
Inside the hall of the Floating Temple, an unprecedented vegetarian feast was laid out, and all the monsters were gathered, their expressions varying wildly.
The monk from the Floating Temple, Huai Kong, had his eyelids drooping, sitting under the statue of the Buddha, neither sad nor happy.
With his hands clasped together, he said:
“The mission of the Floating Temple in the South Border is to guard the Celestial Divine Jade, a thousand years of rise and fall.”
“Now that the law has come to an end, after this feast, there will be no more Floating Temple in the South Border.”
Before, the monsters might have harbored some illusions, but now, Huai Kong’s words were as straightforward as they could be.
The Celestial Divine Jade had always recognized its master.
It’s just that over a thousand years, no monster has managed to take hold of it.
Countless eyes turned to the presiding seat.
Which monster lord among them wasn’t a powerful figure commanding storms and waves in the South Border? Yet, the one sitting in the presiding seat was a girl.
She had sat down as soon as she entered, as if it was the most natural thing in the world…
Even though the Floating Temple never controlled the monster clan, it still served as a warning bell hanging over their heads, and now the Floating Temple was essentially out of the picture.
But wait, there was now the Qingluan Divine Maiden managing the divine jade.
Could the future be the reign of the Qingluan Empress?
What would the future of the South Border look like?
However, the hall fell into silence; no monster spoke up for a time.
She was just too fitting for the term ‘Divine Maiden.’
She was already exceptionally radiant, and with the divine jade, even the Qingluan Clan leader, Shang Qin Qing, who sat beside her, seemed to fade in comparison.
The gazes directed at her seemed to create an invisible guard around her, making it unclear how anyone could approach.
To be honest.
Everyone who entered the hall wanted to bow to her twice.
So who would dare ask her something?
Instead, they could only murmur among themselves.
“By the way, where’s Wu Mo?”
“Could it be that after losing the battle for the divine jade, he got severely injured and left in despair?”
“Even the Ming Jiao Clan has disappeared. Is it possible they’re worried about the Bird Clan not being fair with them…”
“Ah, what a pity, we don’t even know how the two monsters fought.”
“Wu Mo is truly a once-in-a-while kind of talent; he had the chance to wield the divine jade, but his luck just had to run out, and he stumbled upon her…”
As all the monster lords were whispering among themselves, a sudden voice interrupted:
“Not true.”
“?”
All the monsters were momentarily stunned, and the one speaking was none other than the Qingluan Divine Maiden herself.
“He isn’t unlucky, nor did he lose to me.”
Ying Bing’s tone was calm, her gaze seemingly traversing the Buddhist hall towards an unseen horizon, as clear as her words.
“Then why did you end up with the divine jade in the end…” an inquisitive monster asked.
“He let me have it.”
“???”
“The divine jade has a part of him, forever.”
Ying Bing’s gaze continued to look outside, but she gently nodded, reaffirming that she hadn’t misspoken.
The expressions of the gathered monsters suddenly became vividly interesting, though mostly they remained confused.
The Celestial Divine Jade, for crying out loud!
The future Monster Sovereign of the South Border!
Gave it up willingly?!
They had only vegetarian dishes at the Floating Temple, no alcohol, so why did they suddenly feel like they must have drunk a little too much?! Could there truly be a monster willing to give this up?
But the expression on the Qingluan Divine Maiden’s face was like that of a Bodhisattva who understood the colors of spring in the human world.
If only her words…
“Wu Mo once said he hoped for unity among the monster clans…”
“Could it be that he was leading by example, letting go of the Celestial Divine Jade to tell us that there’s no insurmountable gap between us?”
“Whoa… if that’s the case, he didn’t even want to accept the worship of other monsters. What a noble monster he is, one who has transcended lowly desires!”
“Waaaah, I’m about to shed little pearls!”
The gathered monsters felt as if they had uncovered a profound truth.
“From now on, the Celestial Divine Jade doesn’t just belong to the Qingluan Clan.”
A warm reminder: If you find this book enjoyable, to avoid losing it next time, remember to add it to your bookshelf!
Ying Bing grasped the large-headed doll at her waist, her voice soft:
“I will make sure the divine jade visits each clan regularly, in sequence. You guys can discuss among yourselves.”
Having said that, she no longer looked at the varied expressions of the many monster lords, getting up to leave.
Huai Kong the monk caught a glimpse of Shang Qin Qing from the corner of his eye, sighed lightly:
“Before we finish the vegetarian feast, there’s one more item for all you patrons to taste, which is the Love Fruit, representing the flowers of the Floating Temple in the South Border.”
With that, he took out an oddly shaped red fruit that was heart-shaped.
Ying Bing didn’t even look back.
“This Love Fruit reminds us of the enduring bonds formed over a thousand years…”
Swipe—
Huai Kong became a little bald due to the sudden return of the Qingluan Divine Maiden’s focus.
Ying Bing calmly looked at the old monk, opened her delicate hand, and raised it.
The look in her eyes clearly said: “Give me, thank you.”
“One for each patron, please.”
He picked up one fruit.
Ying Bing’s other hand released the large-headed doll, making a ‘two’ gesture.
Huai Kong: “…..”
The Qingluan Divine Maiden left without bringing a cloud with her.
She only took two fruits with her.
“How should we decide the order for the divine jade? I still think the first one should go to the Ming Jiao Clan, after all, that’s Wu Mo’s clan…”
“Let’s eat first; I want to try this fruit.”
“Ugh, sour! Such a sharp, sour flavor!”
“And you?”
“Ugh… it’s not spicy.”
“Hmm? Why do I feel a warm sensation in my stomach? This fruit seems to have some divine effect…”
…….
Meanwhile.
In the water’s abode of the Floating Temple.
The Water Clan was enjoying Master Li’s big pot meals, while the Sky Flood Dragon, Little Li, stood on a massive shell, wielding a spatula, fervently frying the ingredients inside with the power of the wild.
All on his own, he was frying enough food for five or six gigantic shells, and still had plenty of room to spare.
After finishing everything, Murong Xiao acted as the waiter, while the Water Clan started feasting heartily.
“Big Boss Mo, you’ve worked hard!”
“No, um… you all have worked hard too.”
Li Mo jumped down from the giant shell, watching the Water Clan merrily gobble up their food, and sighed lightly to himself.
Many in the Water Clan had labored hard in the Five Element Realm, only to leave with nothing.
But he had completed his mission… cough.
If only the investment returns could come through now.
“Maybe it’s because the Ice Chunk hasn’t fully refined the Jade Phoenix Divine yet, so the returns are delayed?”
“The rewards… if nothing else, the Golden Creation Seal is surely guaranteed…”
Li Mo lost himself in thoughts, his spirit soaring higher and higher.
Then he shook his head again, reminding himself not to bite off more than he could chew.
He still relied on many divine items, not fully taking advantage of them yet.
For instance, the ‘Wukong Quest for the Dao Chart,’ the ‘Celestial Star Transformation Scripture,’ and even the ‘Ultimate Body of Weaponry’ he had started with, were still not maximally utilized.
Investment returns weren’t urgent; letting the Ice Chunk take its time was fine…
She had just obtained the divine jade, and the monsters would surely have some follow-up to manage…
“Do you eat fruit after meals?”
“Hmm?”
Little Li, lost in deep thought, unconsciously accepted whatever was handed to him.
So he found himself holding a bright red fruit.
Shaped like a heart.
….
PS: Darn it, every time I write about the Ice Chunk, I can’t help but want to add more detail, make it more intricate.
Little Lu Pu is nearly done in, goodnight, dear audience!
The dream of the “Great Heaven” has already been thought out:
“Please recharge~~~”
