nycdaug Chapter 171 A sudden change at night
Chapter 171 A sudden change at night
Qingcheng.
The streets are full of flowers and the sound of drums and music is deafening.
Meng Bai looked up and saw street vendors shouting their wares and crowds of passers-by walking among the shops.
There were happy smiles on the faces of the people, and the sounds of children playing and fighting rang in Meng Bai's ears.
Meng Bai couldn't help but sigh: "This Qingcheng is much more lively than Yucheng a thousand years ago. Huaimin is not as good as Fangzhi in Qi Refining, but he is indeed good at managing the dynasty."
Meng Bai passed through the bustling streets and arrived at the gate of the imperial palace.
Meng Bai narrowed his eyes slightly, and the Emperor's Qi-gazing Technique began to unfold unconsciously.
The huge fortune of the Xuan Dynasty appeared before Meng Bai.
"The country is peaceful and the people are safe, and even the luck is endless. I know I have found a good successor!"
"Excuse me, are you Taoist Master Meng?"
The imperial guards at the palace gate asked.
Meng Bai nodded.
The imperial guards were delighted upon hearing this.
"The Emperor has been waiting for you for a long time. Master Meng, please follow me."
Then the imperial guard took Meng Bai to the palace.
On the way, the imperial guard said, "Master Meng, the emperor knew you were coming, and he personally painted a portrait of you so that we, the guards, could recognize you at the first opportunity."
Meng Bai nodded slightly after hearing this.
“That’s thoughtful.”
The imperial guard asked curiously, "Master, are you the legendary Qi-refining master who has achieved the state of refining emptiness and merging with the Dao?"
During the thousand years of prosperity, all the Qigong masters who had mastered the art of refining qi disappeared one after another and no longer showed themselves in front of people. In the eyes of the imperial guards, those Qigong masters who had mastered the art of refining emptiness and achieving the state of harmony were just legends.
Meng Bai was stunned when he heard this.
"The Qi Refining Master!"
Then Meng Bai smiled and said, "That's about right!"
"So you are really a great Qi Refiner. It is said that when my Xuan Dynasty was first established, there were many great Qi Refiners and many talented people."
"It's a pity that I was not born in that era and didn't get to see the faces of those powerful Qi Refiners."
Meng Bai smiled calmly: "Why is there no Lianxu Hedao in your palace now?"
The imperial guard replied, "Of course there are, but the identities of these masters are extremely mysterious, and I have not met any of them yet."
During the conversation, the imperial guard had already led Meng Bai to a secluded and quiet courtyard.
"Master Meng, this is the residence that the emperor arranged for you. I will take my leave now."
Meng Bai nodded slightly upon hearing this.
About half an hour later.
Fang Huaimin came hurriedly.
"Senior Meng, I am very busy with government affairs and cannot meet you right away. I hope you will forgive me for my negligence."
Meng Bai shook his head.
"No problem."
"I made a pot of spiritual tea. Would you like a cup?"
Meng Bai handed Fang Huaimin a cup of spiritual tea.
Fang Huaimin took it slowly.
"Thank you, Senior Meng, for the tea."
Meng Bai said calmly: "No need to be so restrained in front of me."
"Senior Meng, you are an immortal, so I must show you the proper respect."
Meng Bai shook his head when he heard this.
Fang Huaimin then said, "Senior Meng, my grandfather said that you were very knowledgeable and talented. If there is anything I don't know about handling state affairs, I can ask you for advice. Can I ask you for some advice on government affairs?"
"of course can."
"..."
Two hours later, Fang Huaimin left the courtyard.
Meng Bai sighed slightly: "He is truly a good emperor who serves his country and his people!"
......
The next day, the millennium celebration was held as scheduled.
A grand celebration was prepared in the palace.
All Qingcheng officials above the sixth rank can participate.
For a moment, the palace was bustling with activity.
Meng Bai was seated at the first seat on the left at the banquet.
At the banquet, many dignitaries were puzzled when they saw a Taoist priest in green sitting at the first seat.
"Who is this Taoist priest? Why have I never seen him before?"
"He actually sits in the first seat on the left, which is higher than the seat of the Patriarch of the Bai Family!"
"When did such a person appear in Qingcheng!"
"..."
Soon Fang Huaimin arrived at the banquet.
In an instant, the noise at the banquet became much quieter and there was more silence.
Fang Huaimin took his seat and said, "Today is the millennium ceremony of our Xuan Dynasty. May our people be strong, peaceful and prosperous, and live forever!"
Many dignitaries raised their glasses and said, "Long live forever!"
Fang Huaimin then introduced: "Everyone, this is Taoist Master Meng from Zhiyun Temple. He is my honored guest!"
The Patriarch of the Bai family, who was sitting in the first seat on the right, was shocked and confused after hearing this.
Zhixingguan, could it be that person?
It was recorded in the notes of their Bai family's ancestors that they encountered a powerful ghost cultivator in the decisive battle between the Xuan Dynasty and the Yu Dynasty.
The many Lianxu and Hedao masters of the Yu Dynasty were no match for him. At this critical moment, the first Xuanhuang invited Taoist Master Meng from Zhiyun Temple.
Taoist Master Meng single-handedly killed the ghost cultivator of the Yu Dynasty and made an indelible contribution to the victory of the Xuan Dynasty.
But if that person is the one, how could he still be alive now!
Thousands of years have passed, and all is dust.
No, no. This Taoist Meng should be the descendant of that person.
In this way he can indeed sit in the first seat on the left.
The head of the Bai family was originally a little dissatisfied, but after hearing about Zhiyun Temple, he disappeared without a trace.
The banquet went smoothly.
Meng Bai watched the performance all day with great interest.
Of course, no one dared to provoke Meng Bai without blinking an eye.
After all, Fang Huaimin is now at the peak of his career and holds great power. No matter where Meng Bai comes from, provoking the distinguished guest of Xuanhuang would be courting death.
There are many dignitaries who want to establish a relationship with Meng Bai.
Some people even wanted to marry their daughters to Meng Bai.
Meng Bai politely declined all of them.
These officials were all old hands in the officialdom, and when they saw that Meng Bai was not interested, they left one after another.
After a day's work, Meng Bai felt a little tired, so he said goodbye to Fang Huaimin and returned to the courtyard early.
......
Today is the millennium celebration and everyone is immersed in the banquet.
The guards at the palace seemed a little vacant, and Meng Bai walked alone in the dim corridor.
Suddenly Meng Bai stopped and said calmly: "Come out!"
Shortly after leaving the banquet, Meng Bai sensed that someone was following him.
A masked man in black slowly walked out from the darkness.
"I didn't expect that you, a Taoist priest, are so capable that you could actually detect my presence."
Meng Bai narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Who are you? You don't look like someone from the imperial palace."
The man in black sneered: "Listen carefully, you stinky Taoist priest. The one who killed you is Sun Siming, one of the Twelve Golden Guards of Black Feather."
"When you go to hell, remember to tell the King of Hell my name."
Meng Bai raised his eyebrows: "Killer!"
"How dare you commit a crime in the palace!"
Sun Siming suddenly rushed towards Meng Bai and said with a cruel smile: "I'm going to kill the running dogs of the Xuan Dynasty!"
Meng Bai calmly pointed at Sun Siming who was rushing towards him.
A powerful sword energy killed him instantly.
Meng Bai sighed slightly: "It seems that tonight is not very peaceful!"
A moment later, several terrifying flames ignited in the palace and shot straight into the sky!
Everyone at the banquet thought this was part of the performance.
Until a palace maid screamed.
"Oh no! There's a fire! There's a fire!"