The one who answered was a woman.
A woman dressed in full regalia, elegant and noble, dignified and graceful, yet also breathtakingly beautiful.
Many within the grounds recognized this woman—she was none other than the Manor Lord of Linglong Manor, Chu Jiaohong.
"Well, if it isn't Sister Hong."
The speaker was Yun Bao.
It was almost unbelievable. Yun Bao was, after all, an emissary of the Immortal Dynasty, a former Mighty Immortal in his previous life and now a Purple-Gold True Immortal in this one. Yet, facing Chu Jiaohong, he actually addressed her respectfully as "Sister Hong." What was even more astonishing was that Yun Bao seemed rather wary of Chu Jiaohong; at least, when facing her, he didn't carry himself with the same lofty arrogance as before.
There were rumors that Sister Hong had been a prominent figure in the Ancient Era.
But exactly which period of the Ancient Era, and which prominent figure, very few knew.
"Oh? Isn't this Immortal Yun Bao?"
Chu Jiaohong smiled faintly. "I heard you were the Immortal Dynasty emissary this time. I didn't expect it to be true."
"I am a person of the Immortal Dynasty; naturally, I must serve it with utter loyalty."
"'A person of the Immortal Dynasty'—how nicely put."
Chu Jiaohong looked at the group of Immortal Dynasty officials and asked with a smile, "May I ask, Immortal Yun Bao, are you descending upon the temple fair today for official business or personal matters?"
"What if it's official business? And what if it's personal?"
Chu Jiaohong shrugged. "If it's official business, then go ahead and attend to your duties. If it's personal, then please take a seat. Everyone is still waiting for today's temple fair feast to begin."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Yun Bao said flatly, "Although I came today on official business, I'm in no hurry. Since Sister Hong has spoken, how dare I spoil your elegant mood?"
With that, Yun Bao waved his hand, and the thousands of Immortal Dynasty officials and nobles all took their seats.
"Your Majesty, the Immortal Dynasty's esteemed officials and nobles have all been seated. You may begin."
Chu Jiaohong's voice carried over. Emperor Yunqi frowned in thought, glancing at Tang Yunhao beside him. Tang Yunhao, too, couldn't figure out what game the Immortal Dynasty was playing. After a moment's consideration, he sent a secret message: "It seems Yun Bao and his group still want to join in the temple fair festivities. In that case, let's not stand here foolishly. If they want to join the fun, let them."
After receiving the message, Tang Yunqi nodded. Returning to the foot of Panlong Mountain, he led the assembled officials and generals. Just as he opened his mouth to announce the start of the temple fair feast, before his words could even fade, a harsh shout echoed from the sky.
"Brat! Not everyone has arrived yet. What are you shouting for?"
Who had the audacity to be so disrespectful to the Emperor of Yanluo? And to scold him as a "brat"?
Just as everyone was shocked and puzzled, an old man flashed into view within the grounds.
Seeing this old man, Tang Yunqi, Tang Yunhao, and the others all showed expressions of helplessness, for the old man was none other than their troublesome ancestor, Old Demon Tang.
"Yunqi, did you prepare everything I asked for?"
"Everything is ready."
"Where?"
Tang Yunqi pointed. Everyone looked over. It was a pavilion—the only pavilion at the foot of Panlong Mountain. Inside the pavilion stood a majestic imperial throne, and the table was laden with all sorts of delicacies: the Thousand-Year-Blooming Tai Xuan Fruit, the starry Nebula Beans, the rare and precious Colored Spirit Jade Dew... each and every one of these delicacies was a rare treasure.
Initially, everyone had assumed this pavilion was prepared for the Immortal Dynasty emissary Yun Bao. Now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
Moreover, the Yanluo Emperor had not invited Yun Bao to sit on the imperial throne representing the Yanluo imperial position.
If it wasn't for Yun Bao, then for whom?
Could it be the Yanluo Emperor's own seat?
That also seemed unlikely.
Although Tang Yunqi was the esteemed Emperor of Yanluo, that was all he was. In front of the Immortal Dynasty emissary, this Yanluo Emperor didn't amount to much; naturally, he wouldn't dare put on imperial airs.
If it wasn't for Yun Bao, nor for himself, then for whom?
Could it be for this ancestor of the Yanluo Royal Family?
That didn't seem right either.
This ancestor merely circled the pavilion, glanced at the delicacies, nodded with some satisfaction, but did not sit down.
"Old Senior Tang, you just said not everyone has arrived yet. May I ask who you are referring to?"
Chu Jiaohong asked.
Old Demon Tang didn't even look at Chu Jiaohong. Rubbing his chin, he paced around the pavilion as if pondering whether these delicacies suited his taste. Casually, he said, "Who else could it be but that lad Gu Tianlang!"
"Oh? Gu Tianlang?"
Chu Jiaohong was slightly taken aback and asked again, "Old Senior Tang, are you referring to the Chixiao Monarch, Gu Tianlang?"
"Nonsense! Is there a second Gu Tianlang in this world?"
After receiving confirmation, the smile at the corner of Chu Jiaohong's lips gradually faded.
She had come to this temple fair today not to stop the Immortal Dynasty, nor to help the Yanluo Royal Family, nor out of any interest in joining the festivities. The sole reason for her presence was to see for herself whether the recently emerged monarch in Yanluo was the real one.
Back when she was still in slumber, she had once been teased by Gu Tianlang. That humiliation was something she had never forgotten to this day.
Because of this, after awakening, she had been searching for traces of Gu Tianlang, yet until now, she had found none. Instead, she had encountered many fake Gu Tianlangs.
Recently, another Chixiao Monarch had emerged in Yanluo. Moreover, she heard that the Bloodfiend Dragon-Elephants of the Chixiao faction revered him immensely. Not only that, back at Linglong Manor, he had effortlessly come and gone within the formation she personally set up. Chu Jiaohong had been wanting to catch that fellow to see if he was the real monarch. If he was, she could settle that old score. If not, she was still curious to see who possessed such formidable abilities.
Upon hearing that Old Demon Tang was waiting for the Chixiao Monarch, the expressions of the three hundred-plus Chixiao members, including Heishui and Heifo, also changed repeatedly. Old Mei stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked, "Old Senior, the monarch you speak of—is he the one who recently emerged in Yanluo Kingdom?"
"Exactly, that's the lad!"
Old Mei did not press further, as he had never seen the monarch who emerged in Yanluo and didn't know if he was genuine. Most importantly, he wasn't clear whether Old Demon Tang had concrete evidence proving that person was the true monarch, or if he mistakenly believed it, or perhaps was deliberately claiming that person was the monarch as a strategy against the Immortal Dynasty.
Given that this concerned Yanluo's safety, Old Mei cautiously asked, "Might I ask where the monarch you speak of is currently located?"
"That lad slept for several days and just woke up. He's freshening up now and will be here shortly. But what do you mean 'the monarch in my mouth'? Gu Tianlang is your monarch."
Old Demon Tang scolded, "Don't say I didn't warn you. When that lad Gu arrives later, don't you dare question his identity again. That kid has already been stewing in anger from all your brats doubting him, and he's just itching for a place to vent. If you doubt his identity again and his temper flares, just see how he deals with you!"