Chapter 263:Visual Feast
Chapter 263:Visual Feast
Mr. Shuijing occasionally glanced at the princess, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow, joy, excitement, and melancholy. He didn't dare let the princess notice, just stealing glances at her.
Zhongshan had been observing Mr. Shuijing all along and had never seen him behave like this. Was this still the same Mr. Shuijing, who used to be calm and composed?
Judging from the princess's attitude towards Mr. Shuijing, she seemed to have no feelings for him, merely an acquaintance, and not a close one at that.
Unrequited love? Mr. Shuijing was in love with the princess? No, at least in Zhongshan's mind, Mr. Shuijing wasn't that kind of person, and his gaze seemed to hold a story of its own. Something must have happened in the past, but the princess seemed unaware. Could it be some lost memories from before?
Regardless, it was all speculation. Zhongshan could only suppress his doubts for now and understand them later.
"Oh? Qianyou, is what you said true?" The princess suddenly exclaimed with joy. It seemed Princess Qianyou had told her something.
"Yes!" Princess Qianyou blushed. She looked at Zhongshan beside her.
"Quick, quick, let me see what it is! I was wondering why Qianyou called me, turns out there's something good." The princess immediately turned to Zhongshan.
Mr. Shuijing also looked at Zhongshan with curiosity.
Looking at Princess Qianyou, Zhongshan said, "Princess, let's start with this lamp tonight!" Zhongshan said. After speaking, he suddenly produced a three-zhang-high paper lantern, a sky lantern, from his hand.
Simple to make, especially in the hands of cultivators.
On the giant sky lantern were written the words: "Princess Qianyou, a thousand years, a thousand years, countless years."
"What is this?" Princess Qianyou asked puzzled.
Zhongshan wanted to say it was called the 'Zhongshan Lantern,' but he ultimately couldn't bring himself to say it.
"This is a lamp that will spread the princess's name throughout the ancient capital. Princess, shall we release it together?" Zhongshan smiled.
"Lamp? Release?" Princess Qianyou asked in confusion. While the princess and Mr. Shuijing looked at Zhongshan in confusion.
"Princess, hold it like this, let me show you." Zhongshan said.
Princess Qianyou followed Zhongshan's method, holding the sky lantern, while Zhongshan ignited the flame below. The entire sky lantern lit up, and the words on it became clearer.
"Princess Qianyou, a thousand years, a thousand years, countless years."
"Let go gently," Zhongshan instructed Princess Qianyou.
"It's flying, it's really flying!" Princess Qianyou exclaimed with excitement.
"Yes, it's flying, but there's no mana fluctuation, how did it fly?" The princess also looked surprised.
Mr. Shuijing felt a slight surprise, but quickly understood the principle, took a deep breath, and sighed softly.
"Zhongshan, do you have another one? I want to release one more." Princess Qianyou said excitedly.
"We do," Zhongshan said.
"Oh, Mr. Shuijing, you must have figured out the principle of this lamp." Zhongshan suddenly turned to Mr. Shuijing.
"The master is wise, Mr. Shuijing is inferior." Mr. Shuijing immediately humbly replied, but his tone implied that he had understood the principle.
"Good, I'll help the princess release another one, and you teach the princess to release one." Zhongshan smiled.
"Okay, okay!" The princess immediately became excited.
But Mr. Shuijing's eyes brightened as he looked at Zhongshan, taking a deep breath, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes.
The queen didn't notice anything, but Princess Qianyou smiled knowingly at Zhongshan.
In a swift motion, Zhongshan produced three more sky lanterns.
Together with the princess, they lit one, while Mr. Shuijing happily taught the queen to release another, and Ah Da and Ah Er excitedly followed suit, releasing one as well.
In total, there were four sky lanterns, slowly ascending higher and higher. Soon, one of the sky lanterns flew out of the light curtain area where Princess Qianyou's mansion was located.
It seemed like a signal.
Suddenly, from all directions on the ground, countless sky lanterns ascended into the sky, more and more appearing. From all directions, a multitude of sky lanterns flew up.
Ten thousand cultivators mobilized by Zhong Zheng ran in all directions, continuously releasing these sky lanterns.
They danced in the sky. This was what it meant to fill the sky. Countless sky lanterns ascended slowly, and the entire ancient capital suddenly fell silent.
Everyone looked up at the sky, a hint of surprise and incredulity in their eyes. Lanterns? Flying lanterns? Who had the audacity to perform magic in the ancient capital? Moreover, the scope of this phenomenon covered the entire capital. Even in the distant places, once they approached, they could still see these flying lanterns.
The law enforcement teams of the capital quickly investigated and found that there was no mana fluctuation around these lanterns. How was this possible? Moreover, each lantern was engraved with "Princess Qianyou, a thousand years, a thousand years, countless years!"
With this, who would dare to cause trouble for no reason? If someone broke the law and was caught, they could be dealt with, but now there was no violation!
Countless cultivators looked at the skyward-bound sky lanterns, a hint of astonishment flashing in their hearts. Who could have done this?
This night was destined to be a sleepless one for the ancient capital. Merchants looked at the skyward-bound sky lanterns, seeing nothing but business opportunities.
The Hou Mansion!
The Hou Mansion stood in the square, with the protector appointed by the Great Xuan King, Lingfeng, standing behind.
A hint of surprise and a cold smile flashed in the eyes of the Lord of the Hou Mansion.
Princess Qianyou, however, looked extremely satisfied as she gazed up at the sky, watching the sky lanterns ascend higher and higher, farther and farther away. The sky was filled with lanterns, just like countless stars, and each one bore her name.
"So beautiful. If only this starlight shower were for me." The queen said enviously.
Mr. Shuijing opened his mouth but didn't say anything.
After waiting for a while, the countless sky lanterns also ascended into the clouds, obscured from view.
"I'm very satisfied, sir!" Princess Qianyou smiled.
"Is this all it takes to satisfy you? This is just the beginning." Zhongshan chuckled.
"Huh?" Princess Qianyou looked puzzled.
And at that moment, outside Princess Qianyou's mansion, a crisp sound rang out.
"Boom!"
Like thunder, a burst of fire shot up into the sky.
"Bang!"
The fire burst in mid-air. After the explosion, it dispersed in a very regular manner, turning into hundreds of points of light, scattering in all directions, forming the outline of a giant left foot.
"Boom!"
"Bang!"
Following closely was a giant right foot, a colossal fireworks right foot.
The fireworks burned in the sky for a while, forming two large feet perfectly.
The fireworks of the left foot disappeared, and not far away, another loud boom resounded.
"Boom!"
"Bang!"
Another left foot made of fireworks appeared, followed by the right foot.
In the sky, a pattern formed by fireworks resembled two real giant feet, and they started running forward, each step being a fireworks foot.
The giant feet began stomping around the entire ancient capital, initially from one giant to a group of giants midway through Zhongshan's consideration of the capital's vastness. A group of giant feet ran wildly throughout the ancient capital, heading east, west, south, and north.
For a moment, the entire ancient capital was in an uproar. Countless people came out to witness this sudden spectacle. Countless fireworks shot up from all directions, running rampant throughout the ancient capital.
Finally, after circling the capital and arousing the curiosity of the entire city, the fireworks feet returned to the vicinity of Princess Qianyou's mansion. Everyone looked in that direction, and at the instant the last fireworks foot disappeared.
Suddenly, countless fireworks flowers shot up into the sky around Princess Qianyou's mansion again.
For a moment, it was incredibly bright from all directions. The flowers were in full bloom, countless blossoms bursting open, all created by fireworks.
"Peonies, roses, chrysanthemums..." the queen exclaimed excitedly, watching the flowers in all directions, her eyes full of excitement.
As thousands of fireworks blossomed, countless 'flowers' bloomed. At this moment, from all directions of the ancient capital, from the edges of the capital, countless fireworks once again shot into the sky. They were butterflies, countless butterflies made of fireworks, flying into the sky.
One by one, the fireworks blossomed, resembling butterflies flying continuously. One extinguished, another was born. Slowly, countless butterflies danced gracefully and flew towards the center of the ancient capital, towards the target at Princess Qianyou's mansion.
Although such effects could be created with spells, this was the ancient capital! When had such a spectacle ever been seen here? Moreover, countless powerful individuals had observed it, finding no mana fluctuations whatsoever.
Countless butterflies fluttered and flew towards Princess Qianyou's mansion. As they approached, all the flowers around Princess Qianyou's mansion suddenly transformed into orchids, and with the combined efforts of the surrounding fireworks, a super-sized orchid abruptly appeared, shining in purple.
This was the Purple Heart Sky Orchid, the flower that Gu Lin had taken out not long ago. Now, it was displayed with fireworks, appearing even more dazzling.
Countless butterflies flew over, gathering on the Purple Heart Sky Orchid. Then, they scattered in all directions, creating the most beautiful scene.
The entire process lasted for nearly two hours, but looking back on those two hours, no one felt tired. Not only everyone present but also the entire city felt the same.
This was a momentum, a majestic momentum.
After the fireworks ended, many people still waited, as if unwilling to end the festivities. But many also knew it was over and quickly flew towards those who had set off the fireworks earlier, to inquire about where they had come from.
Similarly, in a corner of the Gathered Mortals Pavilion, Zhong Zheng had already hired a large group of people who sat in a row, waiting for visitors to place orders.