Chapter 4, Dullness

Everyone's predictions came true; as the sky darkened, thick fog rolled in, blocking the radiant light of the Princess of Clouds. The originally joyful and festive morning glow transformed into a day of howling winds and oppressive black mist. Amidst the fog, a group of black-clad celestial youths lit windproof glass lanterns, guiding a man in black as he slowly descended beside the mountain ridge

She could not afford to feel happy, for she understood the displeasure of the Lord God. He clearly despised her smiling face yet rewarded her with a golden elixir, commanding her to become human and not to smile.

Hu Chunzhen is truly wronged; she does not think as much as Ju Feng does. On the contrary, she feels that Ju Feng's arrival is entirely justified. Isn't the birth and death of the various birds and beasts in this mountain all Ju Feng's responsibility? He is merely familiarizing himself with the many demons under his jurisdiction, which is also a demonstration of his diligence and loyalty to his work. As for Ju Feng's arrogance, she is not angry; after all, he is also a descendant of Zhuozhou, and it is normal for him to have a bit of a temper.

Jufeng felt that there was more to her words than met the eye. Although Ding Shen held a lower rank at the local level, even pickled vegetables are still vegetables, and no matter how miserable one's situation, one is still a deity. He should not lower his status by engaging in back-and-forth exchanges with the fairies. Thus, he cast a cold glance downward, snorted softly, and walked past with his head held high

However, she just happened to have a face that is always smiling

Although the Crow Steward always wears a black robe, does not like to smile, and appears quite dejected, he is actually a very good person. Someone like Bai Guanghu Chun originally did not qualify to attend the Hundred Demons Conference, but the Crow Steward said, since you are here, you might as well stay and see the world, so the two of them obtained a small seating area by the food serving passage.

The leading celestial being spoke proudly: "This is the elixir refined by the Supreme One, bestowed upon you by the Divine Lord, to celebrate this grand occasion with you."

Yong Wei brought Hu Chun before him, looked at him for a while, and said coldly: "I do not like its smiling face"

Yong Wei raised his hand again, and the celestial children conjured a large jade tray from their sleeves, delivering a small box of celestial elixirs to each table

During the gathering, there was a profound silence, and although the various demons did not speak, their faces were filled with indignation. Among them were those who recognized Hu Chun and those who did not, but all were demons from Jialing, fully aware of the immense effort required to attain spiritual transformation. The fact that these two celestial beings, born as immortals, would so demean the spiritual entities of the mountains and ridges inevitably stirred feelings of resentment and anger within them.

How are you doing

All the demons quietly cheered, albeit briefly, and knelt in unison to express their gratitude for the generous blessings of the deity

"You are deliberately seeking death," someone coldly said from above, already very displeased

The occasion was grand, the atmosphere was powerful, leaving everyone in awe, with no one daring to laugh; all stood with heads bowed in solemnity, respectfully welcoming the arrival of the deity.

However, the topic of discussion among everyone is not his arrival; everyone is saying: If Lord Jufeng comes, the Divine Lord will surely grace us with his presence, right

Hu Chun fell to the ground, feeling weak all over, and the fall was quite painful. She supported her waist, wondering if she had broken anything... Huh...? ... What is this...? The fresh sensation shocked her; she stared blankly at the hand that was supporting her waist. ... ... She had a hand now. She was wearing a white dress, a very ordinary white, but her hair was very black and surprisingly long, trailing on the ground with quite a bit left over, shiny and smoother than her fur. Hu Chun lifted the ends of her hair, feeling it as if she were touching her own tail, and was quite pleased with the sensation. She was wearing a white dress, a very ordinary white, but her hair was very black and surprisingly long, trailing on the ground with quite a bit left over, shiny and smoother than her fur. Hu Chun lifted the ends of her hair, feeling it as if she were touching her own tail, and was quite pleased with the sensation.

Hiding in the corner, Hu Chun could gaze unabashedly at the Lord of the Gods. He was indeed handsome, with an aura of immortality radiating from his face. No matter how beautiful a monster might be, it always lacked a certain charm compared to the celestial beings above. The Lord of the Gods had a delicate, fair complexion, adorned in a magnificent black robe that was simple in style yet flowed elegantly to the ground. It turned out that Lady Laiyun was imitating him, though she wore the hues of the evening glow while this gentleman donned the colors of dark clouds. The crown of black jade atop his head was also tall, and his long, jet-black hair cascaded down from the crown, perfectly arranged and falling smoothly down his back. Amidst this expanse of black, there was a subtle sheen, further highlighting the exceptional quality of his hair.

She recalled her sister Ling Qiao's face, cold as mountain snow, and her indifferent attitude, no joy or sorrow. No wonder Yong Wei preferred Ling Qiao a bit more and even allowed her to visit Jia Ming Mountain. She could only take the opportunity to see him during the gathering of the little demons in the lower realm. At this thought, Xiu Qiao couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness in her heart; there was no need to deliberately hide her smile, as she truly could not smile at all.

Hu Chun also felt as if a weight had been lifted from his chest, after all, the feeling of being under a heavy cloud was too burdensome

As she passed by Hu Chun, her eyes inadvertently glanced down, softly resting on the white fox that was cradling the picked-up celestial elixir in its paws. She raised her hand, and her large sleeves unfurled like a waterfall, truly beautiful. However, Hu Chun found himself unable to resist, floating off the ground, bound by her celestial power, his limbs weakly suspended an inch away from her hand.

Everyone gasped in shock, not expecting that there was someone who could be even more reckless than Jufeng

Even so terrified, they still smiled as if they were very happy

Xiu Qiao was taken aback, unconsciously retracting the smile on her face. How could she have forgotten that after Yong Wei descended to the mortal realm, he disliked seeing people smile and did not want to hear laughter? In the entire Jia Ming Mountain's Shi Tang Palace, no smiling faces were allowed, nor any sounds of laughter.

The monsters also held him in great respect; upon his arrival, they all stood up, offering him greetings and salutes. Even Huiya stepped down from the head table to welcome him, personally escorting him to the VIP seating area

The deity did not become angry; he merely sat there silently, not even looking at the torch peak. However, the more he remained unresponsive, the more frightening it became. The various demons grew increasingly anxious, fearing that if the deity were to become enraged, a series of thunderbolts would descend, and everyone would meet their end here today

The young lady who has arrived is enveloped in an aura of a fairy, possessing a pure and sweet appearance, charming yet not gaudy, dignified yet not lacking in grace. She still bears the visage of a young girl, speaking with a gentle smile, her laughter soft and pleasant, yet there is an innate pride about her, unlike Hu Chun, who becomes overly eager with just a smile.

Yong Wei's empty hand trembled slightly, and a golden pill appeared in his palm. He flicked it with his finger, and the pill flew into Hu Chun's mouth as if it knew the way by itself. It was not that she swallowed it; rather, the pill burrowed into her throat on its own, with a gurgling sound, and was involuntarily swallowed into her stomach

Yong Wei's eyes did not possess these demons either. Under the guidance of the celestial youth, he sat down in the position prepared for him, at a table above Huiya and Laiyun. After he sat down, he did not lift his eyelids; with a flick of his wide sleeves, the dark mist instantly dissipated, and the celestial youth's glass lamps were extinguished all at once.

Hu Chunzhen felt that she was going to lose her life today, as the spot on the back of her neck where the deity was gripping her felt as if ice needles were piercing into her flesh, both cold and painful, rendering her entire body unresponsive to her commands

Hu Chun's eyes were not enough, dazzled by this blinding light, and startled by that fright, he couldn't even care to eat the white light, standing with his mouth agape, looking back and forth.

The most eye-catching among them is Shan Bahuiya, adorned in a suit of purple luminous dark gold armor paired with a crimson-scaled cloak, sitting amidst the dazzling red light created by his wife, shining like a bronze lamp. He has a decent appearance, but his robust physique and well-developed muscles give an impression of lacking intelligence. Especially with his wife possessing such an ethereal grace, her presence beside him accentuates his commonness, making him seem like a rustic demon from the mountains.

As she was about to run to the edge of the mountain path, she suddenly felt a rush of wind in her ears and a chilling sensation on her back, as if an elastic band was pulling her back at an incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, she was seized by the fur at the nape of her neck.

When Hu Chun is standing, he is not as tall as the table, leaning against the table leg, giving off a feeling of peering over the entire scene

Outrageous! The fairy clearly did not expect that a lowly fox demon from the lower realm would dare to kick her in public! Although the kick did not hurt, it was particularly humiliating, leaving her so furious that she did not know what to curse. The words 'outrageous' felt insufficient to express her anger. Thus, she clenched her hand, and the celestial power in her palm instantly became sharp, already infused with murderous intent

The elixir of immortality from Taiyi Zhenren is exceedingly precious to the myriad demons of the lower realm, which explains their overwhelming joy. Indeed, the Lord God has been generous, ensuring that all who witness it share in the bounty, even guests like Hu Chunbai Guang each received one. After expressing their gratitude, the demons solemnly consumed the elixir, and Hu Chun hurriedly swallowed hers as well, as she was on the verge of completing her merits, and with the power of the elixir, she could more swiftly attain human form

The butterfly spirits danced the Hu Xuan dance, the magpie spirits played the Nine Bells tune, and the bee spirits flew about in the sky, scattering flower petals like rain. Although the banquet had not yet begun, the atmosphere was already lively to the utmost, with laughter and joy soaring into the clouds

"When you become human, do not laugh anymore." Yong Wei disdainfully let go.

All the demons gasped in shock, feeling that Jufeng was likely at the end of his life

"Good! Yong Wei, kill her for me. Even if you can't make a shawl, a hand tube will do." The fairy immediately became cheerful again, and her words were filled with laughter.

Hu Chun has pointed ears and listens for news everywhere, gathering a wealth of information. For instance, Lord Jufeng and the Divine Lord knew each other when they were in the heavens. Furthermore, Lord Jufeng is able to speak on equal terms in front of the Divine Lord.

The summoned rays of light once again illuminated the mountains, and everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet dared not make any sound

She truly harbors doubts about this Lord Deity, not due to a lack of experience, but because she has never encountered a celestial being of this style, excluding those from the underworld. He is even less pleasing than the Crow Steward.

The demons exchanged pleasantries and compliments, stepping forward to pay their respects to Huiya, and gradually took their seats

The fairy examined her closely but disdainfully refrained from touching her. After a few glances, she regretfully frowned, "The coat is quite good, but unfortunately, two patches of fur have fallen off the most critical area on her back, making it impossible to use as a shawl."

As the demons were arriving in numbers, Hu Chun thought that Hui Ya was about to announce the start of the banquet, when she was unexpectedly astonished to see Ju Feng. Ju Feng had descended from the cloud on their side of the passage, and thus saw her at a glance, leaving both of them somewhat speechless.

This person is indeed Ju Feng, who is not afraid of being blamed by Yong Wei, and even deliberately provokes him, saying loudly: "I won't eat this thing, come here, little fox, let me reward you." He beckoned to Hu Chun with a finger.

If she were to delay and ask for another elixir, it would mean she would receive nothing at all. Hu Chun did not dare to avoid going over, as she still owed a favor to the people of Ju Feng. If she did not go over now, it would be embarrassing for Ju Feng, and she would end up with no good outcome. Hu Chun was quite aware of this.

Xiu Qiao pouted but did not confront Ju Feng

She possesses a particularly beautiful appearance, standing out even among the most alluring of seductresses

No one dared to speak, and the venue was silent; even the golden armor of Huiya had lost its luster

"Xuqiao." Jufeng raised his wine glass, took a slow sip, seemingly dissatisfied, and then set the cup down. "You are so arrogant; your sister would not be pleased if she knew."

Her hands are also very beautiful. She suddenly recalled the perfectly round face illuminated by white light and hurriedly fumbled over her own face. She touched her pointed chin and smooth cheeks, which seemed to be shaped like a melon seed.

At this critical moment, a charming female voice said, "I actually arrived later than the esteemed deity, my apologies." Although she spoke of her rudeness, there was no sense of remorse in her demeanor, and her smile gradually revealed an air of arrogance stemming from her favored status.

The deity did not speak, but merely shifted his body slightly, as if inviting her to sit beside him

Her heart was torn apart, and in a pair of eyes, she saw her own terrified reflection, the eyes of the deity.

She is usually very smooth and can endure grievances with humility, but just when she has completed her meritorious deeds, she is treated with such disdain by others, which transforms her sense of injustice into pride. Taking advantage of the moment when the fairy releases her grip and her celestial power weakens, Hu Chun struggles and pushes her hind paw against the fairy's chest

The myriad of demons did not recognize her, and neither did the deity nor she herself have any intention of wanting to be recognized by everyone. Like Yong Wei, she did not see this group of demons; however, she was slightly different from Yong Wei, who saw no one in her eyes, while there was Yong Wei in hers. As she approached Yong Wei, a smile emerged in her eyes, never once shifting away from Yong Wei.

At the banquet, there was only one person who was not in a hurry to eat, and even looked down upon the food, sneering softly and saying: "Using these pot base ingredients to fool people."

Hu Chun recognized it was the voice of the Lord Deity. She sat on the ground, only able to look up at him. His eyes were too dark and too clear, and thus she clearly saw herself reflected in his eyes

In fact, the demons that have come are familiar to Hu Chun and Bai Guang, as they are all renowned demons of Jialing. However, once they appear at the grand event, they seem somewhat unrecognizable. Their attire is excessively extravagant. At this moment, one can see that Jialing spans across mountains and seas, extending over several states, with the rare treasures from the mountains, seas, cities, and villages adorned on the bodies and heads of the demons.

Hu Chun listened, her anger flaring up, but the gap in celestial power was clearly laid out before her. No matter how furious she was, what could she do? She didn't even have the strength to break free. Yet, she felt indignant in her heart; she had cultivated for a hundred years and had made many arduous efforts for the sake of achieving perfection in her merits. Yet, in the eyes of this little girl, she was merely a superficial being.

Hu Chun knew it would not end well. As soon as she landed, she hurriedly fled for her life. As long as she could run down the mountain, she was familiar with the surrounding terrain and could easily find a cave to hide in. Regardless of the deity or fairy, they all had to return to Jieming Mountain, and it was unlikely that they would relentlessly pursue her over such a trivial matter

"You have also come, haven't you?" When Hu Chun walked past her with his tail in tow at Jufeng, he greeted him with a smile, as was his usual ingratiating behavior

Dressed entirely in black, his face appeared particularly pale, which made his eyes and lips stand out prominently. His eyes were as dark as jewels, and his lips were as red as the tip of a peach. Although his mouth was pursed in displeasure, there was an inadvertent hint of playfulness. Perhaps it was simply because he looked so young, seemingly just in his early twenties, that one would have such an impression

Thus, she hurriedly pretended to be flattered, while in reality, she was terrified and quickly ran to Ju Feng's side. Just as she was about to reach out her hand to take it, Ju Feng, unafraid of inciting hatred, threw the elixir onto the ground, prompting Hu Chun to pick it up.