The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 480 - 279: Grand Gesture
She found it extremely interesting. Although the ceremony had yet to begin, the plaza was already filled with a collection of lifeforms.
She was quite curious, but after all, there were too few people she knew in this world. Despite the many cultivators standing here, there weren’t many familiar faces. After a while, a light cough sounded beside her, and turning her head she saw that Tu Jin had somehow slipped back.
There was a quarter of an hour left before the ceremony began. She had just taken her seat not long ago when groups of little beings, each with wings and smaller than a hand span, flew over. Each one was holding a green jade wine cup. Though the cup seemed delicate even to her, it was quite a struggle for the little beings to hold. She quickly reached out and took the cup from one of the little beings who had stopped in front of her.
After placing the cup down, the little being left without pause. In just that brief moment, she managed to see that the wings on the being’s back were thin as cicada wings. Though its body was humanoid, its face was blurry and seemed to be without distinct human features. With their coming and going, a delicate fragrance reached her nostrils.
Xu Moyou also took a cup, took a sip and, seeing her wide-eyed, couldn’t help but explain with a smile: "These are spirit monsters transformed from plants, called Plant Spirits. Since they possess no remarkable abilities but have a very fragrant odor, humans like to capture them to create incense. Now they are rarely found in the outside world. These Plant Spirits live under the protection of Guangcheng Palace. Apart from tending the Jade Fields and brewing wine for the palace, they also help the disciples of Guangcheng Palace with some simple chores."
The world is so vast and full of wonders. The liquid inside the cup was as clear as water, emanating a familiar scent to her. She took a sip and discovered that it was indeed the Nine Heavens Liquor that Nangong Zhen had strongly recommended, although the vintage wasn’t as aged as the one in his gourd. She didn’t like the pungency of alcohol, so she brought the cup close to her shoulder for Qi Zai, who was immediately excited, to drink.
No sooner had she drained one cup than a Plant Spirit descended from the sky with a tiny silver pot to refill her cup. In the hands of the Plant Spirits, this silver pot looked like a charm but could pour cup after cup of wine – it was surely a Magic Artifact!
She took a sharp breath. There were nearly ten thousand Plant Spirits on the field, and with every three sharing one silver pot, Guangcheng Palace had crafted over three thousand such silver pot Magic Artifacts, just for pouring wine and tea!
This Immortal Sect really spared no expense.
On the field, young cultivators visiting Guangcheng Palace for the first time were also marveling. Nine Heavens Liquor, made from the finest Spirit Rice, was so pure that upon entering the throat, it turned into spiritual power that traveled throughout the limbs, indescribably comforting. After drinking one cup, most of the youths stood still, seemingly digesting the spiritual power in silence before taking another sip once the Plant Spirits refilled their cups. For them, this was indeed a rare opportunity.
Guangcheng Palace had given all the guests a gift to start off with. However, various sects and schools soon issued orders: Although Spiritual Wine was good, they permitted their disciples to consume only three cups, otherwise, they’d be red-faced at the start of the ceremony, which wouldn’t look proper.
Although Qi Zai was still eager for more, Ning Xiaoxian had no intention of letting it drink its fill, so she followed Xu Moyou’s example and placed her palm over the top of the cup, signaling to the Plant Spirits, who then understood not to come down and pour more wine. Just as she put down the cup, a faint, otherworldly music was heard, unlike any mortal music. It resembled bell chimes, harps, with twists and turns like an ancient zither and, at times, a spirited violin, with melodies she had never heard before.
This music shattered her previous understanding of music. Before, she thought that music had to be heard with the ears, but she never imagined there was music in the world that resonated directly from within the divine soul. Every change in pitch was imprinted in the heart and lingered incessantly. After just listening to two pieces, she felt refreshed throughout her body, her spirit platform clear and calm, as if cleansed thoroughly. The various hardships faced on her Westward Journey seemed like distant dreams, no longer able to cause her any sorrow.
But this music was not flawless. Listening to half of it was still enjoyable, but listening longer, she realized the music was pleasant to the ears, yet cold and unemotional, so after a short while, she opened her eyes. Looking around, most of the cultivators on the square were like her, eyes tightly shut, indulging in the music. Some even had faint tear streaks on their faces, seemingly evoking sorrowful memories. Mr. Mo You beside her was still smiling genially, apparently unaffected, while Bai Qing, the Grand Master across from her, sat with an expressionless face, sitting upright with a straight back.
