Infinite Professions

Chapter 379 - 198: Night Feast (Part 2)

Chen Chuan was bewildered, unsure why he found himself here after passing out drunk, and felt that everything before him was somewhat bizarre.

As he was in astonishment, a golden light suddenly shone, and then he saw a chariot arrive. The driver was a Golden Armored Divine Being, with a face like red jade, a beard like black velvet, a stature of ten feet, powerful and majestic. Beside the Yellow Turban, the Golden Ring shone like the sun, in the middle of the embroidered jacket, frosty iron armor laid out, making it clear he was extraordinary.

The chariot approached in front of the official residence, and with both hands, he delivered an invitation: "Young Master Chen, today, the poems you composed at the Yellow Crane Tower were full of talent and grandeur, deeply admired by the Divine Monarch. Thus, I bring you this invitation, inviting you to the Wenhua Banquet."

"Yellow Crane Tower?"

"Wenhua Banquet?"

Chen Chuan was taken aback, looking at the divine being before him and the surrounding illusions and mist, finally realizing that he was now in the Underworld.

Though he was a man from a noble family, accustomed to various sights, such an encounter still turned his face slightly pale.

After all, between life and death, there is great terror!

Even though it wasn’t life or death now, it was still crossing between Yin and Yang. Looking at the Golden Armored Divine Being before him and that large red invitation, Chen Chuan initially wanted to refuse, but the words that left his mouth were unexpectedly an acceptance.

"Dare not disobey the Divine Monarch’s invitation!"

Saying that, he bewilderedly reached out, accepting the invitation.

"Young Master, please!"

The strongman smiled, inviting him into the chariot, then whipped the horse, galloping straight out of the city.

Seated in the chariot, Chen Chuan felt no jostling, but his heart was uneasy; he couldn’t help but lift the curtain to look outside. Spectacular, surreal scenes flew past swiftly, soon leaving Qinghe County Town.

Once out of Qinghe County, they reached Little Yellow Mountain, largely the same as seen during the day, but many divine wonders appeared.

Like at the village front below the mountain, he saw a sea of rice and millet, all in a golden hue, even glowing.

In the rice fields, there were also many figures, each a Golden Armored Divine Being, transporting the harvested grain.

"Harvesting rice?"

Chen Chuan was astonished, his expression odd.

He knew the secrets of Yin and Yang, two worlds reflecting each other; where there’s a mountain in the Mortal World, there’s a mountain in the Underworld; where there’s a river, there’s a river.

But this reflective principle is imbued through Wish Power, Mortal World mountains gather human belief, receive offerings and wishes, thus creating corresponding mountains in the Underworld.

This rice follows the same logic, requiring human faith, offerings, or Divine Power to create, it’s no ordinary thing; it’s a Divine Dao Treasure like the previously mentioned Huangshan Wood.

But still, to achieve such a feat, to create divine wonders and treasures, it’s typically a Seventh Grade Little God at least, and still extremely rare.

Let alone...

"So many?"

Looking at the endless golden rice fields, like waves rolling, Chen Chuan’s gaze changed, words could not describe his astonishment.

But before he snapped back to reality, the chariot weaved through the fields and rushed into Little Yellow Mountain.

Within Little Yellow Mountain, divine wonders unfolded; not only were there rows of trees shimmering with yellow light, but Yellow Cranes were flying and Cyan Simurghs were singing; numerous strongmen and palace maidens were picking fruits and treasures from various parts of the mountain, transporting jade brewed nectar and fine wines towards the golden, splendid temple at the peak.

Mountain God Temple!

Unlike the ancient temple seen during the day, it was now a majestic, grand palace temple, with red walls and golden roofs, flying eaves and arching corners, pavilions and towers rising with the mountain, reaching into the clouds.

Seeing this, Chen Chuan was somewhat lost, unsure whether he’d come to the Imperial Palace or barged into the Immortal Court Divine Hall.

"Young Master, please!"

At this moment, a soft voice drew his thoughts back.

Chen Chuan came to his senses, disembarked from the chariot, and found many more chariots parked, even some Exotic Beasts, golden carriages, and jade palanquins.

"Please!"

Without allowing him to look more, the strongman invited him into the hall.

Within the hall, the golden splendor wasn’t glaring, instead offering pure peace.

Strongmen navigated, palace maidens came and went, setting up table after table of feasts, inviting attendees to sit.

Chen Chuan followed the crowd, hazily sitting down, discovering several familiar faces around him; people he’d seen today at the Yellow Crane Tower, even a white-robed scholar sat at the same table.

"Brother Zhou?"

"Brother Chen!"

The white-robed scholar also spotted him: "I knew it, with Brother Chen’s literary talent, how could you not catch the Divine Monarch’s eye? Truly remarkable, truly remarkable!"

Chen Chuan looked at him in surprise: "This is..."

"This is the Wenhua Banquet of the Literary Sacrifice!"

The scholar named Zhou Ce laughed: "The Huangshan Divine Monarch hosts the Wenhua Banquet, entertaining scholars who excelled in the Literary Sacrifice, it’s a rare opportunity beyond any price."

"Wenhua Banquet?"

Chen Chuan murmured, a bit lost.

Zhou Ce dared not speak much, only signaling him to wait.

They waited only a moment before palace maidens brought food and wine, fruits and delicacies, and jade brewed nectar, gradually filling the banquet table.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, ceremonial voices resonated.

"Qingshui River Water Elder, gifting an Eighth-Grade Treasure, a Qinghe Jade Lotus Root!"

"Baixi Town Land God, gifting a Ninth-Grade Treasure, a Fire Jade Ganoderma!"

"Qinghe County City God, gifting a Seventh-Grade Treasure, a Sun and Moon Essence Stone!"

"Qinghe Temple Qingfeng Master..."

"White Mountain Temple Venerable Baiyun..."

"..."

The ceremonial voices continued, esteemed divine beings arrived, each adorned in official robes and attire, and some Buddhist Daoists as well.

They were the various surrounding gods, summoned to the banquet.

"Qinghe County City God?"

Chen Chuan’s eyes narrowed, cautiously peering ahead, seeing a divine being wearing a black official cap and a light blue official robe. Though divine light shrouded him, obscuring his appearance, Chen Chuan could still confirm it was the Qinghe County City God.

Why did he come?

In the battles of faith, one advances or retreats; wasn’t he almost crushed by the Huangshan Divine Monarch for his faith, nearly forced out? Yet he still comes to the Huangshan Divine Monarch’s birthday banquet, seemingly in high spirits?

Could it be...

A thought turned in Chen Chuan’s mind, suddenly a sense of clarity.

Once a thought was resolved, the world felt wide!

He can lie flat, others can too.

Though he didn’t know how the Qinghe County City God managed to "lie flat" amid the struggles of faith, seeing his demeanor, Chen Chuan was mysteriously convinced of his "lying flat" reality.

This is the tacit understanding of "lying flat"!

As the gods arrived, the hall grew even more glorious.

Human gods took their seats; scanning the hall, it was already packed to capacity.

Only the main seat remained vacant.

At this moment...

"The Divine Monarch arrives!"

A pronounced announcement echoed through the hall, followed by resplendent golden light, like the brilliance of a great sun pouring down.

The golden light was blinding, though not painful, causing Chen Chuan and the others to avert their eyes; after a moment, they could barely discern the central main seat, where a divine being stood majestically. The dazzling brilliance had faded, but an aura of authority remained, his features obscured, revealing only the attire’s outline, draped in a yellow robe, inner blue garments, jade crown, and cloud shoes, beyond words in majesty.

It was...

"Salutations to the Huangshan Divine Monarch!"

All the gods saluted, bowing in unison, prompting the mortals to also rise and salute.

"No need for formalities!"

The divine being smiled, gently gesturing for everyone to rise: "Today, this banquet is not only to celebrate my birthday but to also celebrate the achievements of the citizens and divine beings of Huangshan and Qinghe Counties, in literature and martial arts, medicine and agriculture, and all the arts!"

After speaking, he raised his cup: "Come, let us drink together!"

"To the Divine Monarch, to Huangshan, to Qinghe!"

The divine beings followed suit, raising their cups in toast.

Shen Hex smiled, drank his cup dry, then addressed everyone: "Don’t be restrained, indulge in this banquet; tonight, with Yellow Millet Wine, we shall not return sober!"

"Ha!"

Divine beings laughed, joyfully blending with the festivity.

Below at the Wenhua Banquet, Zhou Ce’s eyes gleamed, filling a cup: "Brother Chen, this is Yellow Millet Wine, with the effect of calming the spirit and nourishing the soul, a great benefit to us, absolutely not to be missed, come!"

"Yellow Millet Wine?"

Chen Chuan murmured, looking toward the cup, seeing that the exquisite wine was all golden, with rich, pure aromas of rice drifting forth, reminding him of the golden sea of rice outside the mountain.

"We’ll showcase martial arts to amuse the Divine Monarch!"

While lost in thought, a voice called, snapping Chen Chuan’s gaze to a familiar yet not-yet-conversed face.

It was the Qinghe County Captain—Song Wu!