C120 The Boastful Great Immortal Huang the Otherworldly Blue Star Wind
Lan Linglong had intentionally lingered just to have a few extra words with Qin Buyi. Yet, Qin Buyi's behavior dashed all of her hopeful expectations.
Azure and Great Immortal Huang noticed Lan Linglong's crestfallen look and huddled together, murmuring.
"Why do you think she's so down?" Azure inquired.
Great Immortal Huang, with the air of one who's seen it all, replied, "It's like us trying to curry favor with the mountain king. She's probably hoping to sweeten the old master up for a future favor or position."
"But the old master is incorruptible, not swayed by bribes in the slightest. That's the root of her disappointment."
Azure, though sensing something amiss in Great Immortal Huang's reasoning, couldn't quite pinpoint it and asked skeptically, "Is that truly what's happening?"
Great Immortal Huang, eager to bolster his credibility and sensing Azure's skepticism, embellished his story. "Absolutely. There's a saying on Blue Star, 'You may not have eaten pork, but you've seen a pig run.' Trust me, Great Immortal Huang. Before the old master took us in, we ruled over a secret realm on Blue Star. I was once a mountain king myself."
Their whispers might as well have been spoken aloud, given the high level of cultivation among those present.
Qi Yun and the rest could hardly contain their mixed emotions of amusement and sympathy upon overhearing Azure and Great Immortal Huang's exchange. Lan Linglong, meanwhile, blushed to the tips of her ears.
Qi Yun, intrigued, posed a question, "Great Immortal Huang, you claim to have been a mountain king. How many Demon Beasts did you command back then?"
With the exception of Qin Buyi, who was meditating with his eyes closed, all eyes turned to Great Immortal Huang. While the attention of the others was of little concern, it was Azure's expectant, puzzled, and curious gaze that truly mattered to him.
Reflecting on his time overseeing the Penglai Secret Realm, Great Immortal Huang remembered he had been a leader in name only, without a single beast, wild or otherwise, under his command.
In an effort to avoid losing face in front of his close companions, Great Immortal Huang puffed up his chest and boasted:
"Back in the day, I commanded a legion of a hundred thousand Demon Beasts. They would come up with all sorts of schemes to curry favor with me..."
With time on their hands, Qi Yun and the others listened intently to Great Immortal Huang's tall tales, nodding along now and then.
Their encouragement only served to inflate Great Immortal Huang's ego even more.
As he held court before the onlookers, Great Immortal Huang occasionally sneaked peeks at Qin Buyi.
Relieved to see Qin Buyi's eyes remained closed, Great Immortal Huang's heart settled back into place.
His greatest fear was that Qin Buyi would call out his bluff, especially with the memory of Qin Buyi storming the Penglai Secret Realm still fresh in his mind.
If anyone truly knew the reality of Great Immortal Huang's past predicament, it was undoubtedly Qin Buyi.
In the midst of Great Immortal Huang's animated storytelling, Azure piped up with a question that piqued her curiosity:
"Huang, since the Penglai Secret Realm has been merged into the Small Chiliocosm by the Master, where are all those Demon Beasts you used to command?"
With a mischievous grin, Lan Tianhe chimed in, "Yeah, Great Immortal Huang, what happened to your 100,000 Demon Beasts?"
Caught off guard by Azure's question, Great Immortal Huang replied with a hint of discomfort, "The 100,000 Demon Beasts, they..."
Azure pressed on, "What about them?"
Great Immortal Huang's eyes darted across the faces of Qi Yun and the others. Aside from Azure's genuine puzzlement, the rest wore teasing smirks, eagerly awaiting his explanation.
Feeling the pressure of his impending exposure, Great Immortal Huang grew increasingly anxious.
Then, his gaze landed on Qin Buyi, and inspiration struck:
"The 100,000 Demon Beasts were vanquished by our invincible, dashing, supremely powerful, and unparalleled Master with a single stroke."
"Seeing my exceptional talent, the Master decided to spare me, and that's how I became his cherished pet."
Azure's skepticism lingered. After a glance at Qin Buyi, she turned back to Great Immortal Huang and asked, "Is that really how it happened?"
Great Immortal Huang, reassured by Qin Buyi's continued indifference to his fabrications, confidently affirmed, "Every word is the absolute truth."
Great Immortal Huang had managed to smooth things over, and Qi Yun and the others played along, their faces lighting up with feigned epiphanies. They all knew Huang was full of hot air, but in their world, reputation was everything. You could lose your head, spill your blood, but saving face was paramount.
Besides, Huang's tall tales involved Qin Buyi, and since the man himself hadn't bothered to contradict them, Qi Yun and the rest wouldn't dream of calling Huang out.
Lan Linglong's understanding of Qin Buyi's thoughts had been thoroughly scrambled by Azure and Huang's interpretations, straying miles away from the original topic.
Amidst Huang's boasting, the Lan family members began to trickle back. Qin Buyi opened his eyes and addressed the group, "Time's up. Let's move out." He gestured with his right hand, and a massive portal materialized before them. One by one, they stepped through the doorway, teleporting to Area One of the external realm.
Qin Buyi was well aware of the recent antics around him. His eyes, alight with a teasing glint, landed on Great Immortal Huang. Sensing the attention, Huang sidled up to Qin Buyi, his furry body affectionately brushing against Qin's pant leg. Qin Buyi remained silent, indulging his pet's harmless boastfulness. After all, a little vanity was a small price for a master to pay.
Once everyone had passed through the portal and departed the Small Chiliocosm, the once-bustling realm returned to its tranquil state. Qin Buyi stooped to lift Huang by the scruff of his neck with his left hand, while his right hand gently caressed Azure's serpentine form. With a mere thought, he activated his Divine Consciousness and reappeared in Area One of the outer world.
The rich spiritual energy of Area One enveloped them all. Qi Yun, awestruck by the potency that surpassed even the Small Chiliocosm, couldn't help but marvel, "Such dense spiritual energy. With this, I could advance to Tribulation Crossing in just a few years." On the inhospitable Blue Star, Qi Yun had managed to reach the Combination Stage. The bountiful conditions of the Heavenly Desolate Realm eclipsed those of Blue Star by leagues.
In these surroundings, Qi Yun, once the Blue Star's most prodigious talent in a millennium, thrived as if he were a dragon in the depths of the ocean, a fish back in water.
In this environment, Qi Yun, the most extraordinary talent Blue Star had seen in a millennium, was like a dragon entering the sea, thriving effortlessly.
Joy and curiosity were etched on everyone's faces as they took in their surroundings. At that moment, Lan Wenhao rallied the group to commence construction in Area 1. Qin Buyi observed the scene but chose not to intervene. Accompanied by Azure and Great Immortal Huang, he returned to his central residence in Area 1 to begin preparations for the upcoming Tribulation Crossing.
Three days whisked by...
Qin Buyi brought himself to the pinnacle of his condition. Stepping out of his residence, he found Area 1 transformed. The Lan family had once again showcased their exceptional architectural prowess. Centered around Qin Buyi's abode, the layout unfolded in the pattern of the Nine Halls and Eight Trigrams.
One by one, structures worthy of being called masterpieces on Blue Star emerged before Qin Buyi's eyes. The vibrant essence of Blue Star was captured in the construction of neon lights, bars, and cinemas, among other things.
As Qin Buyi strolled down the newly built streets, surrounded by towering buildings and a kaleidoscope of lights, he felt a momentary daze, as if he had been transported back to Blue Star.
