ADAPTED FROM BAI LU CHENG SHUANG'S LOVE IN THE CLOUDS
Congratulations on soon obtaining the Golden Millet Dream
and ruling the Six Realms, Your Majesty.
Save the flattery.
I called you here because I have an important task for you.
You have been obsessively searching
for your missing brother, Ming Xian.
Do you know where he is now?
Does Your Majesty know where he is?
It's no wonder you couldn't find him.
Who would have imagined that Ming Xian,
Yaoguang Mountain's Warrior God, the winner seven years running,
would actually be a fairy?
She fled into enemy territory, Jixing Abyss,
and even degraded herself by marrying Ji Bozai.
Ming Xian
is the little fairy beside Ji Bozai?
Ming Xian went to Zhangwei Mountain,
broke through the Zhulong Barrier,
and took Bo's Medical Classics.
So, the blood flowing through her
must be from the Bo clan.
How can that be?
I didn't summon you here
to have you foolishly ask how that is possible.
I have managed to manipulate the outcome of the drawing
so that the tea gathering will be held at Yaoguang Mountain.
That is your territory. You know what to do.
Ming Xian will attend the tea gathering together with Ji Bozai.
You will investigate her background,
capture her alive,
and bring her to me.
Understood.
You know how to use the Soul-seizing Technique, right?
I will not fail you, Your Majesty.
So, Father has suspected Ming Xian's background all along.
Chao Yuan, do you wish to protect her?
Then grow stronger.
Make yourself the only one by Ming Yi's side.
That way, you can protect her,
possess her,
and make her yours.
Let me teach you how to truly be powerful.
Your Highness.
Or should I call you Chief Situ?
To what do I owe the honor of your summons?
Just call me Your Highness.
I can bear the title.
Lord Chengyun,
you were the one who forcefully broke the array at Jixing Abyss
and tried to enter my Judgment Hall, weren't you?
You've been chasing after Ming Xian relentlessly,
and even now, you still won't give up.
Your Highness,
what is it you really want from me?
You were present when my father and I
spoke that day.
You must have heard everything.
Now, in all Six Realms,
I am the only one who knows the recipe for the Golden Millet Dream.
To make it,
I first need more vagrants.
If you can lend me a hand in this,
then once I've refined the Golden Millet Dream,
I could consider sharing more of both the Golden Millet Dream
and the Heavenly Grief with you.
Your Highness,
sounds like you have big ambitions.
Let's not beat around the bush.
You want to become the ruler of Yaoguang Mountain,
and I
want the throne of Zhushui.
When the time comes,
we can form an alliance
and get
all Six Realms under our control.
Your father still lives. For Your Highness to say so…
My father is old.
Besides,
how do you view your own father?
We're not that different.
With power and titles at stake,
who wouldn't make plans?
Would you rather believe in an old ruler nearing his end
or choose to side with someone who promises you a future?
Since you're offering the Golden Millet Dream,
there must be something else you want, right?
At the tea gathering,
if you manage to catch Ming Xian
and figure out her true identity,
I'd like you to bring her to me first.
Trying to earn some credit in front of your father, are you?
This is my gift for you, Lord Chengyun.
Such power…
Your Highness, you've truly changed.
If you are happy with this gift, Lord Chengyun,
about what I just said…
It's a deal.
-Check out our store! -Come and take a look!
-We have all kinds of styles available. -Come on.
-This way, please. -All right.
After Mu Qibai tricked me
into handing Ji Bozai the Netherbeast-Luring Caltrop,
Tianji assigned me a task.
We're heading to Yaoguang Mountain soon.
I need to complete it first.
Otherwise, I might cause trouble for others again.
What task?
To practice discernment.
Learn how to handle situations.
Scenario one. You're late to the tea gathering,
and a Yaoguang Mountain warrior says,
"How nice of you.
You didn't show up for the meal,
but you came to pay the bill."
What do you say?
"So, you came early
just to avoid paying the bill?"
What a brilliant, sarcastic remark.
Was I being sarcastic?
I didn't mean to.
Scenario two. Tianji buys tea and snacks for everyone
but leaves you out.
What do you do?
Tianji would never do that.
You're that confident?
Scenario three.
The Emperor of Zhushui sees you
at the tea gathering and says,
"The youth are impressive.
Looks like I'm really getting old."
How do you respond?
The Emperor of Zhushui is over 100 years old.
He really is old.
JADE RABBIT HALL
Can you two stop laughing now?
Even your poses are the same.
I didn't want to keep bothering you,
so I asked someone else to help me practice discernment.
Is that really so funny?
-Yes, it is. -Yes, it is.
All right, come on, sit down.
Sit down.
Listen to me. If you keep practicing,
you'll definitely improve over time.
I believe in you.
But I'm so worried.
I caused so much trouble for Ji Bozai last time.
At the tea gathering,
if someone from Yaoguang Mountain
asks you to pass something to Ji Bozai like last time,
will you still do it without hesitation?
Of course not.
I'll check it at least eight or ten times first.
That's the spirit!
See? You've made great progress.
Right.
It seems my recent efforts have paid off.
I'll go find Chen Xi to help me practice more.
See you.
By the way, this is for you.
It's just a habit of mine. I wanted to make you happy.
Of course I'm happy.
Silly.
Thanks.
We three will always be the best of friends,
right?
Of course.
Here.
One candy for each of my good friends.
Here.
PURE AND NOBLE SPIRIT
On the way, quiz me some more.
No problem.
Can the boat carriage carry all this stuff?
No matter how much, it'll fit.
Be careful, Chen Xi.
I've read about so many places
in Yaoguang Mountain to eat good food and have fun.
There's even a market
only opens around the Sunlight Festival at Yaoguang Mountain.
It's said to be a must-visit spot for the immortal couples there.
Let's share a boat carriage together,
and I'll tell you all about it.
Are you sure I need you to tell me about it?
Right, I forgot you were from Yaoguang Mountain.
She's taking my boat carriage.
Immortal Ji, I know
you don't want to be apart from her for a single moment,
but you should still ask her what she wants.
Of course. But Fairy Zhang Tai,
I want to ask Ming Yi about…
some matters regarding artifacts.
That's right.
I've always been very interested in artifacts.
And since, to the outside world,
-she's still my wife, -Hey, you.
traveling with me
will prevent anyone from suspecting her identity, right?
That's hard to refute.
But I've seen through you.
I still want to share a boat carriage with you.
-We'll get there in no time. -Master,
we've finished moving the luggage.
Well done, Chen Xi.
At this tea gathering, I count on you to fight for Jixing Abyss.
It will be fraught with danger,
so be careful, everyone.
I will pray for you in Jixing Abyss.
May stars and blessings forever grace the Abyss.
YAOGUANG PALACE, YAOGUANG MOUNTAIN
The first event of the tea gathering
is tomorrow's spiritual power test.
The spiritual power stone will assess
each warrior's spiritual power level
so the others can adjust their strategies accordingly.
I heard the test would be followed by a travelers' competition.
Warriors can't participate.
This year's prize is a black lingzhi mushroom,
which is especially rare.
I really want to check it out.
You only think about having fun.
-We're here for business. -I know.
Immortal Ji, what should we do next?
Yan Xiao, Meng Yangqiu,
go to the warriors' base
and report the list of warriors for the test.
Chen Xi,
come help me check the artifacts we brought.
Yes, Immortal Ji.
Ming Yi.
No tasks for you for now. Get some rest.
Your Lordship, aren't you worried you'll end up with nothing?
I gave her the Golden Millet Dream
to keep her alive,
not for anything else.
Hesitation suggests fear.
What I want is for her to choose me,
despite the many difficulties.
But what if she doesn't dare?
She is Ming Xian.
What is there to fear?
She just needs time to understand.
-Then… -Enough.
The competition begins tomorrow.
Don't you have somewhere to be?
Understood.
BORDER OF ZHUSHUI SPIRITUAL STATE
This man used to be a warrior of our realm.
He made a mistake at the Qingyun Two-Realm Tournament.
The Emperor of Zhushui
sentenced him to be bitten by a fish monster in the stomach
and stripped him of his warrior status.
After that, he went completely mad.
How many more vagrants like this are there?
A hundred and thirty-two.
That's still not enough to make me more powerful.
I'll think of another way.
Your Lordship…
Freshly baked pastries and buns!
-Make way! -It looks so tasty.
PASTRY
-Here. -Sir, take a look!
Come and have a look!
Wait for me!
I don't know how strong the other warriors are
at this tea gathering,
but we must not take things lightly.
Smells so nice.
-Make way please. -One more?
Take a look!
What are you doing sneaking around?
Come again, sir!
I took the wrong path.
Stop right there!
What happened?
It's all a misunderstanding!
-What happened? -They're fighting.
She's my friend.
I asked her to come find me.
It's fine! Nothing.
Please wrap this for me.
Of course. Coming up.
Why…
Why are you here?
Of course I came.
I wrote you so many letters,
but every time, you replied so perfunctorily
with phrases like "got it" or "I see".
I…
Don't tell me
you're married!
If you are, I'll definitely expose you.
It's not like that. Really.
I'm just not good with words,
so I've been focusing on training,
hoping to win the Blessed Rain first,
so I can give you a stable life.
That's the only reason?
Yes.
I knew it!
You like me!
Of course.
FRESH TASTES EATERY
Preparing for the test won't take too much time.
We rarely get a chance to leave Jixing Abyss.
We should take this opportunity to look around.
-Come and have a look! -It's all home-made!
All good stuff.
Come take a look, young immortal.
-These artifacts are finely crafted. -Take your time, Sir.
Pick one you like. I'll buy it for you.
No merit, no reward.
Just choose one.
You helped Yangqiu practice discernment earlier,
so you're half his master.
Think of this as his tuition fee. What do you say?
But…
No buts.
Pick whichever you like.
-All right, then I'll pick one. -Go ahead.
The night market at Yaoguang Mountain is always bustling.
I remember there was a scallion pancake stall there.
I used to go every day.
Even the owner remembered how I liked my pancake.
It's all thanks to your seven consecutive victories
that Yaoguang Mountain is so prosperous.
I didn't realize until I came to Jixing Abyss
that when some are laughing,
others are crying.
This one's really easy to keep alive.
Sir, we'll leave these here.
-No, we won't charge for that. -Yaoguang Mountain truly is wonderful.
When will Mangfu Swamp and Cangwu Hill ever be this prosperous?
Even the artifacts at the market are top-notch.
Yeah. Once we finish our work and get paid,
we can buy new artifacts.
Let's take a look there.
Sure.
Are you the younger brother of Immortal Xu Yun from Jixing Abyss,
Chen Xi?
Wow,
you've grown so much in just two years!
Exactly!
Uncle Xiao, Uncle Tai!
You came to the tea gathering this year too?
-Yes. -Yes.
If you like this dagger,
I'll give it to you.
To be honest, we…
We can't afford it.
Our realms keep losing at the Qingyun Tournament,
and we've been living in hardship.
If your brother hadn't gifted us artifacts two years ago,
we probably wouldn't have even qualified for the warrior selection.
That's true.
Since you're Chen Xi's friends,
you're my friends too.
I'll buy this dagger for you.
Thank you for your kindness, but that won't be necessary.
Once we finish our work and get paid,
we'll buy one ourselves.
Then let me help you.
-No… -No need.
That won't do.
You'll dirty your clothes.
Don't worry about that.
With the Blessed Rain unevenly distributed,
it's hard for the Lower Realms to rise up.
The Six Realms should help each other out.
Come.
We'll get the work done in no time.
Once we're done, food's on me.
Still thinking
about the warriors from Mangfu Swamp and Cangwu Hill?
Yes.
When I was at Yaoguang Mountain,
I had no idea
that in the Lower Realms,
even the warriors struggled so much.
How hard life must be for ordinary people.
Where there are victors, there must also be losers.
The Qingyun Tournament may seem fair,
but in reality, it creates a vicious cycle.
The Lower Three Realms lack Blessed Rain
and suffer from a loss of talent.
As time goes on,
the gap just keeps growing wider,
and the beings in those realms
sink deeper into hardship.
The strong keep getting stronger.
Whether Jixing Abyss or Yaoguang Mountain takes first place,
it won't change the situation.
If only the rules of the Qingyun Tournament
could be changed someday
and the Blessed Rain could be shared equally
among all Six Realms.
Why are you smiling?
I know, human nature is fickle.
Maybe I'll change my mind one day.
I'm being too idealistic.
I'm smiling because we,
who once fought against each other at the Qingyun Tournament,
are now having this conversation.
But you're right.
If we don't dream,
that day will never come.
In truth, the beings of the Lower Three Realms
don't care who wins first place at all.
All they want is the Blessed Rain,
enough to eat, and clothes
to keep warm.
When I was in the Sunken Abyss,
I saw countless people who wanted to live
but had to bend their souls for survival.
It wasn't their fault.
They just wanted
to live too badly.
You've gone through so much in the past.
Thank you
for holding on and surviving,
or I wouldn't have met you now.
You once said you had a mark on your forehead.
I think
my mother planted it there
when I was still an infant.
It holds some vague memories of her.
I can't see her face clearly,
but she told me
this mark
was formed from her blood and mine.
Haven't you ever thought about looking for her?
Of course I have.
When I was in the Sunken Abyss,
I imagined countless times
that they'd come looking for me.
But perhaps
they are no longer alive.
It doesn't matter anymore.
What matters
is that I had my master who saved me and guided me.
I have Buxiu who respects me
and Granny Xun who cares for me.
And then there is you.
What about me?
You lied to me.
Ji Bozai, I…
I'll give you one more chance to say it.
You love me.
TEA GATHERING OF QINGYUN TOURNAMENT
We are going all in the fights anyway.
-Yes. -Right.
All set.
I should be fine.
The first event of the tea gathering
is tomorrow's spiritual power test.
The spiritual power stone will assess
each warrior's spiritual power level
so the others can adjust their strategies accordingly.
But doesn't that mean exposing one's own strength?
Yes, and no.
First up,
a warrior from Flowing Wave Gorge.
The Qingyun Tournament is fought in teams.
Within each team, there are naturally warriors of varying strength.
Those with greater power can choose to conceal it
and act
as hidden trump cards during the actual match.
What if
everyone hides their strength?
Those who do are usually evenly matched and rely on surprise tactics
to win.
But like Yaoguang Mountain in the past, Zhushui Spiritual State
doesn't bother with that.
They send out their strongest warriors
to display their power
and crush the opponents' will before the fight even begins.
Next, a fighter from Zhushui Spiritual State.
CHAO YAN, FOURTH PRINCE OF ZHUSHUI
-Impressive. -Yes.
Indeed.
When Jixing Abyss was still one of the Lower Realms,
our warriors, after seeing the strength of Yaoguang Mountain's warriors
at the tea gathering, would expect defeat
before the fight even began.
Now, a warrior from Jixing Abyss.
He looks like a fool,
but his spiritual power is surprisingly strong.
-Exactly. -Right.
That's the warrior without spiritual veins, right?
What's so special about him…
That he gets to join the Qingyun Tournament?
-I wonder. -Indeed.
I heard he had exceptional healing skills.
The Empress of Jixing really does have an eye for talent.
True, or she never would've discovered Ji Bozai.
That kid's impressive.
Yes.
-He's got real potential. -He reminds me of Ming Xian
back in the day.
Indeed.
I'm confident.
We've got Immortal Ji
and Master Ming Yi, who can forge all kinds of artifacts.
Even so, don't get cocky.
Overconfidence leads to defeat. Remember that.
Oh my.
-He's incredible. -Yes.
-Remarkable indeed. -Impressive!
-Amazing! -Wonderful!
-Excellent! -Impressive!
So impressive.
As expected of Immortal Ji!
True.
-Impressive! -Immortal Ji is indeed remarkable.
Whoever faces him is doomed.
The Crown Prince of Yaoguang Mountain is here!
Greetings, Your Highness.
Now that Ming Xin is the Crown Prince,
he sure makes quite an entrance.
-Right. -Yeah, no kidding.
What's he showing off for?
He lost miserably last year.
He's been competing for years, but his strength is just average.
Exactly.
-Wow. -Impressive.
-Amazing, Your Highness! -Truly incredible.
-That was impressive. -Yes.
Such power!
What kind of elixir did he take to get that strong?
-Right. -Oh my.
Unbelievable!
Ming Xin is about to reach the Transcendent Stage?
How is that possible?
Even his mother, Lady Meng, once said
he didn't have the talent to reach such a level.
Perhaps
someone's helping him.
Ming Xin acted strangely at the tea gathering.
It seems he has already realized who you are.
From the way he looked at me, I think he has.
But right now, what matters most
is the travelers' competition tonight.
I must win the black lingzhi mushroom to bring Twenty-Seven back.
Due to the rules,
as a warrior, I can't compete,
and you shouldn't show yourself either,
or Ming Xin might get suspicious.
So, I want to ask Buxiu to help.
So, the great Warrior Goddess already has a plan?
In that case,
let's restore our heart imprints first.
If Ming Xin makes a move and you're in danger,
I'll be able to reach you in time.
You drive a hard bargain, don't you?
Ming Yi, what happened to your hand?
Nothing.
Either way, we should restore our heart imprints.
You're just taking advantage of the fact that our names are still
on the Marriage Stone. Did I agree to do this?
So what if you didn't? I got what I wanted.
Smarty-pants.
Oh my goodness.
-Incredible! -How many has he beaten now?
This immortal has already defeated
725 opponents
without a single loss.
That many?
Does anyone else want to challenge him?
That's sick!
Anyone?
-Anyone? -If no one can defeat him,
the prize will go to this immortal.
I'll be taking it, then.
Please.
-Where did they go? -They vanished!
The black lingzhi mushroom is gone too!
-Really! I saw it. -It's gone!
-It's really gone! -The black lingzhi mushroom is gone too!
Yeah, what happened?
Just as Your Lordship and Fairy Ming Yi predicted,
the lingzhi mushroom disappeared.
Someone attacked, and Ming Yi was taken.
It must have been Ming Xin.
Your Lordship, aren't you going to do anything?
She can handle it.
I have faith in her.
Ming Xian.
For your cat to come back to life,
you'll need a black lingzhi mushroom.
I knew you'd bite the hook
with this as the bait.
Let's see
if you have what it takes to snatch it from me.
Back then, you were obsessed with forbidden arts
and drew countless designs for magical artifacts.
When the Empress found out, she confiscated them.
Now that I've gone through them,
I must say, they're quite useful.
Perfect for dealing with you,
Ming Xian.
What's that supposed to mean?
Trying to make me think my mother is behind all this?
You think such cheap tricks would work on me?
Of course, the Empress wouldn't harm you.
You're her most useful pawn.
What dark spell did she use back then
to turn you into a man?
Even your face
looked completely different.
The Crown Prince of Yaoguang, whom I hated for so many years,
turns out to be a woman.
How revolting.
It's a pity you don't know
how I gave you the Heavenly Grief.
I slipped it into the scallion pancake
the Empress herself made for you before the Qingyun Tournament.
You're insane!
How dare you show up at the tea gathering
with people from Jixing Abyss, our enemy?
Once I bring you to that person…
Spiritual power from Zhushui Spiritual State?
Did the Emperor of Zhushui give it to you?
No wonder your power surged at the tea gathering.
Who are you taking me to?
The Emperor of Zhushui?
So you were faking it all along! e tea gathering.