parentshiftbook Chapter 238: Ten Thousand Taels of Golden Scales Fall to Earth
Chapter 238: Ten Thousand Taels of Golden Scales Fall to Earth
Compared to the humorous doggerel poems recited by others, the verses that Xin Yuhan casually recited were clearly more in line with the scenery of the river and sky before her.
She was already beautiful with delicate features, and now, after reciting a poem, her refined and scholarly air made her even more radiant, drawing all eyes to her. The group of young cultivators traveling with her cheered excitedly and crowded around to congratulate her.
Even the other passengers scattered throughout the airship couldn't help but nod frequently, their eyes filled with approval. On the second deck, Zhang Ping looked at this spectacle but gently shook his head.
It's not that Xin Yuhan's poems are bad. It's just that in this world, chivalry is prevalent and martial arts are revered. Poetry is ultimately just a pastime, far less developed than it was under the imperial examination system of her previous life. Although the words and phrases are well-structured and rhythmic, they lack a certain depth of feeling that blends with the scenery and is etched into one's very being.
Just then, the thick clouds on the west side slowly dispersed, revealing a narrow gap in the sky. The golden rays of the setting sun poured down through the gap, falling directly onto the rows of paddy fields below. A breeze blew, and the surface of the water rippled with shimmering light, making each field of water look like thousands of overlapping golden scales. Looking down from the flying boat, even one's eyelashes were bathed in a warm, golden glow.
Looking at this scene, Zhang Ping's heart stirred, and he subconsciously murmured, "It must be that the Heavenly Palace is holding a grand banquet again, and ten thousand taels of golden scales have fallen to earth."
His voice was very soft and inconspicuous in the surrounding noise, but the squid standing beside him suddenly turned its head.
She opened her mouth slightly, looking at him with surprise in her eyes: "You have such talent?"
Previously, when she tried to recruit Zhang Ping, he only made excuses, saying that he was going to travel around and that building a sect in Penglai was just a passing fancy. At that time, Mo Yu didn't believe him, thinking that this guy didn't seem like a wandering knight who travels through wind and rain at all.
But the poem that just came out at this moment was so perfectly integrated with the scenery before her, its artistic conception so natural that she couldn't quite put her finger on what was so good about it, yet she knew very clearly that this poem was far better than Xin Yuhan's earlier one.
Not only her, but many people on the deck also caught the line of poetry and turned around to look at Zhang Ping in the corner.
"Excellent! Excellent poem!"
Someone took the lead in banging on the railing and shouting praises. As soon as the commotion started, Xiang Chunyuan and his group also noticed him.
"What did that guy just say? Why are so many people suddenly praising him?"
Seeing that everyone's attention was drawn to Zhang Ping, Lin Lun unconsciously tightened his grip on the jade pendant at his waist, his brows furrowing as a hint of displeasure rose in his heart. He pulled over a nearby cultivator who was watching the commotion and asked in an unfriendly tone.
Although the man was quite dissatisfied with Lin Lun's attitude, he dared not retaliate due to Lin Lun's cultivation level, and could only whisper what had just happened.
Lin Lun listened with a dismissive expression. The boy looked to be about his age, but he had grown up in a large family, traveled to famous mountains and rivers, and read all the classics in the library. Could his poetry be inferior to that of an unknown person? It was just that the people on this flying boat were ignorant and couldn't tell the difference.
Surrounded by the crowd, Xin Yuhan blinked her beautiful eyes gently. She had heard Zhang Ping recite the poem clearly, and a sense of surprise had welled up in her heart. The poem was not only exquisite in its imagery, but also perfectly matched the sunset over the paddy fields before her, far surpassing her own poems.
She glanced in Zhang Ping's direction from afar, but made no move to approach and make acquaintance. For cultivators like them, cultivation was the foundation of their existence; a few lines of poetry, no matter how good, were merely pastimes.
She couldn't fathom Zhang Ping's cultivation level, but she could tell that he was about her age. However, the squid standing beside him was someone she paid more attention to.
This minor disturbance didn't last long, and the noise gradually subsided. Zhang Ping didn't take it to heart. He always concealed his cultivation level when he traveled, making it difficult for others to see through his true strength. Even Mo Yu, who was at the mid-stage of the Divine Harmony Realm beside him, couldn't figure out his true level.
Everyone returned to their rooms to rest, while the flying boat continued to speed through the clouds.
The land of Penglai is vast and boundless. Even after entering Penglai territory, they still flew for more than a month before finally arriving at Penglai Immortal City. Along the way, the flying boat stopped at many inns, and many passengers disembarked one after another. Only Xiang Chunyuan and his group remained, clearly indicating that their destination was also Penglai Immortal City.
"We have arrived at Penglai Immortal City. This Flying Pavilion is at your service. If you are satisfied with this trip, you can leave a positive review at the Flying Pavilion after you leave. We welcome you to ride this flying vessel again next time."
As the standard announcement faded, the hatch slowly opened.
"We've finally arrived at Penglai Immortal City!"
After a brief farewell to the inkfish, Zhang Ping disembarked from the flying boat alone and stood before the city gate of Penglai Immortal City.
Unlike other cities, flying boats do not directly enter the city, or rather, very few people can fly over Penglai Immortal City, as the entire area is under a no-fly zone.
Zhang Ping stood with his hands behind his back, facing the oncoming autumn wind, and looked up at the magnificent immortal city before him. A constant stream of people flowed beneath the city gates, with cultivators coming and going in an endless stream.
Everyone had a different expression; some were in a hurry, walking briskly; others were walking slowly and calmly.
Without exception, they were all surrounded by a remarkable spiritual aura, with the lowest level being Foundation Establishment.
Along the roadside were carriages of noble families, with curtains open on all sides, revealing plump cultivators inside, each embracing a pretty maid. They were adorned with jewels, yet their spiritual power was extremely abundant.
There were also independent cultivators carrying heavy baskets filled with ores and herbs they had gathered from the deep mountains. Most of them were not highly skilled and were setting up stalls in twos and threes on the open ground outside the city gate, loudly hawking their wares.
Zhang Ping walked over and glanced around. This was a special market, selling mostly low-grade miscellaneous items, but they were fresh, and occasionally you could find some obscure materials that were hard to find in shops in the city.
He silently memorized the place, and after registering at the city gate, he stepped into the city.
The wide and flat main street was bustling with people. Zhang Ping didn't have a specific destination in mind, so he strolled along the street, immersing himself in the lively atmosphere and charm of this fairy city.
It must be said that this place is more lively than any city he has passed through, and the average cultivation level of the cultivators in the city is also the highest. There are hardly any mortals to be seen.
He wandered aimlessly all day and finally found an inn with a small courtyard to stay in.
The next morning, he went out to inquire about the rules for establishing a sect in Penglai, verifying them with the information he had gathered along the way. After several days of this back and forth, he finally had a clear understanding of all the ins and outs.
That day, Zhang Ping appeared inside a very large building in the city center.
The architecture here is somewhat similar to the Roman Colosseum of my previous life. It is oval in shape, without a roof, and there are no exquisite seats around it, only layers of roughly carved stone steps, which are now filled with a dense crowd.
Zhang Ping, dressed in a plain cloth shirt, stood quietly in the corner.
The surrounding area was filled with thunderous cheers and roars. Some cultivators were so excited that they could hardly control themselves, and their voices were even mixed with a trace of spiritual power. However, they were quickly stopped by the patrolling law enforcement cultivators.
He withdrew his gaze from the noisy surroundings and focused it on the open space at the very center of the arena. That open space was extremely spacious, and a fierce battle was currently taking place there.
"roar--!"