Chapter 83

"It's open! It actually opened!"

Everyone's faces lit up with joy and surprise as they looked at Lin Mufeng.

Tianyuan Daoist's whole body trembled, his originally dim eyes instantly brightening. The chess game he had been pondering over flashed through his mind, and he muttered, "I see, I see, I understand, I understand!"

Lin Mufeng looked inside the secret realm and said, "Daoist friend, come in with us."

"No, I've already gotten what I wanted. I'll wait for you outside." Tianyuan Daoist waved his hand, his mind elsewhere. He casually found a corner, sat down cross-legged, and continued to ponder the chess game in his mind.

"Thank you, Daoist friend." The others politely thanked Lin Mufeng and then transformed into beams of light, rushing into the secret realm.

Lin Mufeng and Old Sun exchanged a glance and said solemnly, "Let's go in. The sage has helped us this far. If we still can't complete the task he entrusted us with, we'll have no face to see him!"

...

Five days passed quietly.

On this day, the sky was already slightly dark, but Li Nianfan, contrary to his usual behavior, took Daji out.

Because today was the annual Shengyuan Festival, and the evening was the most lively time.

Standing on the mountain, Li Nianfan looked down and saw Luoxian City already lit up with countless lights, like a sea of red, and the festive atmosphere could be felt from a distance.

"Let's go." Li Nianfan took Daji and headed straight down the mountain.

"Clang, clang, clang—"

Just as they reached the foot of the mountain, they heard the sound of gongs and drums from Luoxian City.

Entering Luoxian City, every household was decorated with lanterns. Along the way, there were numerous stalls with various lanterns, illuminating the entire street in a rainbow of colors. There were also many small toys and snacks for children, a dazzling array that left one in awe.

Children gathered around the stalls, their eyes shining brightly, nibbling their fingers, and looking at the toys with longing.

The adults followed behind them, wearing helpless smiles, but still happily paid, making the children laugh joyfully.

Continuing forward, in the middle of the road, there was an open space where groups of six performed acrobatics, and lion and dragon dance teams drew crowds, with cheers and applause echoing continuously.

Li Nianfan smiled at Daji and said, "How about it, lively, right?"

He remembered the first year he came here, he was truly captivated by the liveliness of the Shengyuan Festival. This was much more interesting than staying at home and watching the Spring Festival Gala in his previous life.

"Uh-huh, I didn't think mortals could live so freely." Daji looked at everything curiously, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

This was her first time in the human world, and the grand scene truly amazed her.

Li Nianfan shook his head and said, "That's a mistake. What's wrong with being a mortal? Because they only have a hundred years of life, they understand the beauty of life even more and strive to live happily and brilliantly. How you want to live depends on you, not your identity."

He wanted to correct Daji's thinking.

In the cultivation world, it was natural for everyone to envy the high-ranking cultivators, but mortals have their own way of life and shouldn't envy anyone.

Daji's eyes showed a hint of shock. She looked at Li Nianfan with her beautiful eyes, took a deep breath, and said solemnly, "Daji will remember Master's teachings."

Her heart was stirred, and Li Nianfan's words echoed in her mind like a thunderclap, giving her a vague sense of something, but not quite clearly.

Master's state of mind has indeed reached a transcendent level. Being by his side and listening to just a few words is an unparalleled gain.

"Hardly a teaching, just some casual talk. You can treat it as a motivational speech." Li Nianfan said casually.

"Motivational speech?" Daji was slightly stunned, not understanding.

She felt a bit defeated. It seems her insight is indeed not enough, and she still has a long way to go. Many of Master's words I can't comprehend.

Walking along the street, a river flowed through Luoxian City, winding towards the distance.

Above the river was a stone arch bridge, surrounded by various lanterns. Below the bridge, there were lantern boats, and countless men and women were reciting poetry and engaging in refined activities.

"Sir, would you like to have a cup of tea?"

"Hey, sir, come up and listen to a song."

The sweet voices came from the tower on the other side of the arch bridge, evoking endless imagination.

Daji looked at the tower with its flashing lights, frowned slightly, and asked curiously, "Master, what is that place?"

Li Nianfan's mouth twitched, and he said, "Uh... a place where men and women discuss cooperation."

At the top of the tower, an old man in a black cloak was squinting, looking at the crowd below with a sinister expression.

His long, thin fingers held a wine bottle, sipping it slowly.

Behind him was a large red bed, on which lay a naked girl. Her eyes were wide open, still filled with fear and unwillingness from her death, now lifeless.

Suddenly, the old man's eyes narrowed, staring intently at the white-clad woman in the crowd, his eyes gleaming with greed. He licked his lips and said, "I didn't expect to find such a beauty in the mortal world!"

Behind him, a disciple also saw Daji, stunned by her beauty, and said, "Master, I'll go and capture her right now!"

The old man smiled coldly, "A fine cauldron, it shouldn't be wasted on a mortal."

But the next moment, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with doubt, "Wait a moment!"

The disciple was also stunned and said in surprise, "That mortal boy actually knows Lu Huang?"

The old man said in a low voice, "Follow them and see what happens!"

...

Lu Huang was walking through the lantern fair with Zhong Xiu and Luo Shiyu. Seeing Li Nianfan, he was delighted and hurried over.

"Master Li, Miss Daji, you're also here for the lantern fair."

Li Nianfan nodded and smiled, "Yes, I didn't expect to run into you here. What a coincidence."

"Ha ha ha, indeed, what a coincidence!" Lu Huang laughed, looking excited. He said proudly, "Master Li, I know a place where you can see the entire city from above. Would you like to go there?"

Li Nianfan pondered for a moment and then shook his head, "No, I heard that a sect will be recruiting disciples today. I want to go and see."

Lu Huang nodded, "So Master Li wants to go there. I was just about to head there myself. Why don't we go together?"

"Thank you, then." Li Nianfan smiled and nodded.