Chapter 68: The Flower Viewing Banquet

The twenty-fourth day of the ninth lunar month marked the grand Flower Appreciation Assembly of the Qishan Monster Realm.

Cheng Xiaomeng and the members of the Super-Research Institute sat upon a branch of the golden parasol tree, holding onto a protruding branch acting as a railing, and looked down.

At this moment, the Monster Capital Plaza was already packed with all manner of birds and beasts, with a long procession stretching for dozens of miles. The massive imperial capital was crammed like a canned sardine.

This crowded procession was divided into countless groups, surrounding the trees planted throughout the imperial capital—every single one of which was a pagoda tree.

From the layout of the imperial capital, one could discern the Monster Emperor's profound fondness for pagoda trees and their blossoms: not only were they planted along the main avenue leading into the city, but the entire imperial capital was densely populated with them, leaving almost no other vegetation in sight.

Within this Qishan grotto-heaven brimming with exotic flowers and rare herbs, the vegetation at the very core of the imperial capital was strikingly monotonous, which indeed felt rather unusual.

Viewed in this light, the Phoenix possessed a truly unique taste.

Cheng Xiaomeng sighed inwardly, withdrew her gaze, and turned back toward her seat.

The branch where they were located was situated in the lower section of the golden parasol tree, at a height equivalent to dozens of stories above the ground, offering a panoramic view of the entire assembly grounds.

Although referred to as a branch, it was actually as wide as a sports field, complete with classical-style inns and gardens built upon it, and even a miniature swimming pool. The experience was in no way inferior to a five-star hotel in the outside world.

At the outermost edge of the branch, a viewing pavilion a dozen meters wide had been set up, specially prepared by the monster kingdom for these foreign guests as VIP seating.

At this moment, the members of the Super-Research Institute were quietly sitting and waiting within this pavilion. Some, like Cheng Xiaomeng, were leaning against the side of the pavilion for a real-time view; a few zealous workaholics were racing against time to write their reconnaissance reports; while a few others, utterly bored, sat before a chess table inside the pavilion, casually playing a game.

Chess was another extremely common sight throughout the monster kingdom.

Ever since entering the monster kingdom, Cheng Xiaomeng had incidentally surveyed quite a few residences of the various monster clans. Due to the differences among the various species, their dwellings varied in form as well, yet almost every single one was equipped with a chessboard of one type or another, with Chinese chess being the most prevalent.

This, too, was the preference of the Monster Emperor. Influenced by the Monster Emperor, the popularity of chess within the monster kingdom was even higher than in human society. There were even rumors that when the Monster Emperor promoted close attendants among the monster clans, chess proficiency was used as a reference, and those proficient in Chinese chess were granted additional favor.

From a researcher's perspective, this standard was rather baffling. Yet, along their journey, they had witnessed an abundance of bewildering matters, so this was hardly worth mentioning, and they simply categorized it as the monster mindset differing from that of humans.

Cheng Xiaomeng walked into the pavilion, sat in her assigned seat, picked up her camera from the side, and prepared to welcome the most crucial part of this exploratory expedition.

Just as she opened the lens cap, a continuous rolling of drums echoed, the sound washing across the entire capital plaza.

Amidst the drumbeats, the peacock and numerous close attendants flew up before the parasol tree, uttering long, melodious cries toward the heavens.

"Welcome His Majesty!"

The clear cries fell like stones into a lake, stirring up successive waves of sound.

At this moment, every monster in the plaza raised its head. Lesser monsters roared, greater monsters chanted, and tens of thousands of different tones chimed in unison, merging all sounds into a celebratory song that resounded throughout the entire grotto-heaven.

"Fierce and magnificent Phoenix King, peerless across the world!
Bathed in immortal grace, wings sweeping the eight directions!
Land of Western Qi, bestowing blessings upon all living beings!
Wherever sagely brilliance reaches, majesty echoes vast and grand!"

The members of the Super-Research Institute on the branch hurriedly raised their recording equipment, locking every lens onto the center.

On the display screens, amidst the rolling waves of sound and beneath the radiance of the golden parasol tree, specks of fire ignited, drifting upward like countless Kongming lanterns.

Everyone opened their eyes wide, attempting to clearly discern the scene before them.

At first glance, they were clusters of flames; upon closer inspection, they resembled fragments of illusory crimson feathers; blinking once more, one realized they were unmistakably crimson birds.

Tens of thousands of illusory red birds flew in from all directions, converging toward the thickest branch at the center of the golden parasol tree.

Upon that branch, a blazing crimson-gold fire surged upward rapidly, growing higher and fiercer. Its intense radiance even overshadowed the inherent glow of the golden parasol tree itself, shrouding the entire imperial capital beneath a halo of crimson-gold light.

The glare of the flames was piercing, forcing the observing members of the Super-Research Institute on the branch to squint involuntarily.

Though their position was hundreds of meters away from the source of the blazing fire, they could still feel the oncoming wave of heat, momentarily feeling as though they were gazing directly at the midday sun. Simply looking at that mass of flames left them temporarily dazzled.

A clear cry pierced the sky, falling like an invisible decree, causing tens of thousands of monsters in the plaza to drop to their knees simultaneously.

The flames on the branch dimmed, replaced by gusts of wind.

That was the wind stirred up by a giant bird.

Its wing feathers were as red as fire, surrounded by spiritual light. It flapped its wings atop the giant tree, and the currents generated by its pinions set millions of golden parasol leaves fluttering, making the entire scenery of the grotto-heaven seem to flicker in response. Simply beholding it, the majestic momentum alone induced a sense of dizziness.

Cheng Xiaomeng, seated within the viewing pavilion, held her breath. Although she had mentally prepared herself long ago, upon truly beholding that existence, she still felt her heart skip a beat.

The sheer magnitude of this golden parasol tree spanned the entire grotto-heaven, making any entity appear as insignificant as an insect amidst the foliage before it. Yet, when this crimson giant bird appeared, the mythical sacred tree was reduced to mere accompaniment.

The sacred realm of Qishan, where the phoenix perches upon the parasol tree.

This was an auspicious omen of legend—a wondrous spectacle existing only in storybooks. The members of the Super-Research Institute raised their heads in unison, dozens of eyes locked tightly upon the entity amidst the tree, making even the act of blinking a luxury at this moment.

"Take a good look. Witnessing a phoenix with one's own eyes is an opportunity ordinary people rarely encounter in a lifetime."

An experienced senior researcher in the team lowered his voice, reminding the others.

"According to historical records, over the past several centuries, several emperors have come to Qishan to set up altars, perform rituals, and offer sacrifices, attempting to win the gaze of the phoenix and descend auspicious omens, but every single one of them failed without exception."

Another person nearby turned their head: "Doesn't that mean we currently enjoy the treatment of emperors?"

"More than just the treatment of emperors. Even within the cultivation world, countless individuals yearn to step into the monster kingdom and obtain the auspicious appearance of the phoenix, among whom are no lack of powerful major sects and supreme masters capable of shaking entire regions. Yet in the end, not a single one succeeded; let alone seeing the true form of the phoenix, they couldn't even catch a glimpse of its avatar."

The senior researcher remarked, "It is entirely thanks to this Monster Emperor placing great importance on secular forces that we were able to come here as guests under the banner of our unit. Being able to witness the true form of the phoenix with our own eyes right here is an opportunity that even Void-Tearing Supreme Masters might not necessarily possess."

"Rounded up, I suppose I can be considered a Void-Tearing Master as well," the person beside him chuckled sheepishly.

At this moment, only the two of them were still conversing. In truth, there was no need for the senior researcher's reminder; the remaining members of the Super-Research Institute had long since lost any other thoughts. Every gaze was directed straight upward, those carrying equipment raised their lenses in unison, and every focal point fell entirely upon the gigantic shadow perched high within the parasol tree.

That colossal shadow folded its wings, sitting and resting upon the giant tree amidst the adoration of the millions of subjects at its feet. The radiance of the golden parasol tree gilded its silhouette with a golden halo, as though it had genuinely stepped out of mythology.

"The assembly begins." A majestic voice echoed throughout the realm.