28: Chapter 28 Reunion

Zhimeng Divine Kingdom, Huanmeng Divine City!

This is the city's main thoroughfare, running north to south, starting at the massive Dreamless Divine Palace at the foot of Qingci Mountain in the north, and extending all the way down to the foot of Huangliang Mountain in the south.

The street is about a thousand miles long and two miles wide.

The pavilions, shops, and taverns lining the street are variously magnificent, breathtaking, luxurious and alluring, or ancient and elegant; in the distance, one can see towering mountains that pierce the clouds, graceful and shrouded in mist, with veils of flowing clouds and silver waterfalls...

It is currently morning; the street is bustling with a constant flow of carriages and people.

Suddenly, a luxurious cloud carriage speeds in from the south. The carriage body is exquisitely decorated, and a lifelike, giant peacock with fully spread, dazzling wings is carved onto the front.

The cloud carriage is drawn by eight four-winged pegasi. The two carriage drivers are dressed in gorgeous attire, and their cultivation is at the peak of the Divine Master Realm. On both sides, twelve divine guards in golden armor march on the wind, looking spirited and imposing.

Passersby cannot help but exclaim, recognizing at once that this is the exclusive cloud carriage of the Peacock Divine Concubine, which has not appeared for over a decade. They immediately shout, almost fanatically:

"The Peacock Divine Concubine! It's actually the Peacock Divine Concubine's cloud carriage. Am I not awake yet?"

"Am I hallucinating? This can't be real, I'm seeing the Peacock Divine Concubine's cloud carriage."

Even the frail elderly by the roadside, who have long been bedridden, cannot hold back. They stand up as if miraculously rejuvenated, muttering to themselves:

"Ever since the former Divine Son Meng Jianyuan died mysteriously, the Peacock Divine Concubine has been utterly heartbroken, living in seclusion and never appearing in public again."

"Could it be that something major has happened? I can't help but feel expectant!"

Upon hearing that it is the Peacock Divine Concubine's cloud carriage, pedestrians on the street, guests drinking heartily in taverns, customers shopping in stores, and even romantic scholars holding beauties in brothels are all moved. They cannot help but follow along, forming a stream of people tens of miles long behind the cloud carriage.

The cloud carriage heads straight north and stops at the square in front of the Dreamless Divine Palace.

The entire square is about seven or eight miles long and wide. It is usually very empty, but now it is packed with people, a sea of heads. Some stand in the air, craning their necks in anticipation, while others arrive on flying beasts to watch from afar.

Hundreds of sturdy divine guards have been waiting for a long time, each looking high-spirited, all clad in dazzling golden and silver armor. The red tassels on their helmets are brand new and vibrant, like clusters of burning flames.

In particular, there are seven Black-Armored Divine Guards, each exuding a powerful aura, all at the early to mid-stage of the Divine Extreme Realm. The middle-aged man leading them is of medium build, with a dark complexion and a sturdy frame; he is Commander Meng Sanqian, one of the leaders of the Temple Guards.

On both sides of the divine guards is the divine band. Each musician is dressed in gorgeous attire; the women are as beautiful as fairies, peerless in their grace, and the men are handsome and dashing.

Seeing the Peacock Divine Concubine's cloud carriage stop from afar, Commander Meng Sanqian shouts:

"Play the music! Welcome the Divine Concubine and the Prince!"

A resonant voice pierces the sky, seemingly able to penetrate layers of clouds and reach the nine heavens.

Immediately after, heavenly music slowly begins to play. The melodious tune drifts over from the distant horizon, carrying an ethereal and sacred aura. The music is lingering, like silk and threads, as if woven together by countless musical spirits.

Accompanied by this celestial music, the entire square suddenly becomes solemn and respectful, inspiring awe in everyone's hearts.

At this moment, the beaded curtain at the front of the cloud carriage slowly pulls open, and a gorgeously dressed, graceful noble concubine steps out.

She is wearing a bright red long dress, with light makeup, eyebrows like new willow leaves, and skin like snow. Her eyes are like bright stars, and her long emerald hair falls to her waist like a waterfall. From a distance, she looks like a beautiful flower blooming in the clouds.

This attire is exactly the same as what she wore more than a decade ago on the day Meng Jianyuan was named Divine Son. Resuming this old look today is a commemoration, as well as a blessing and a prayer. She hopes that the days to come will be as beautiful as they were back then!

Although she is only at the seventh level of the Divine Sovereign Realm, which is considered mortal in the Zhimeng Divine Kingdom, her beauty is absolutely unrivaled in the Zhimeng Divine Kingdom. In Yun Che's view, even compared to Goddess Hua Caili, it is at most a hair's breadth of difference.

The crowd in the entire square is excited and boiling over, with thousands of voices screaming in unison:

"Peacock Divine Concubine, we love you!"

"Oh—my—god! I saw the Peacock Divine Concubine!"

Some young profound practitioners are almost fainting from excitement.

"I have never seen such a beautiful goddess! Am I dreaming?"

Yet, the Peacock Divine Concubine's expression is calm, her heart untroubled. In the less than one day that has passed, she has just experienced the greatest ups and downs of her life.

The only son she has been pining for, who died with neither corpse nor trace, Meng Jianyuan, has miraculously returned, bringing with him all beauty and happiness.

Like a ray of dawn light, it dispels the gloom that has long shrouded her heart. That long-dried heart is moistened again the moment he returns. The whole world has gained color and vitality because of his return.

Looking back from now, the eleven years, three months, and seventeen days have all been shrouded in endless darkness. There was no light or color in her life, only endless sorrow and longing. She spent every such day in torment.

Looking back two years further, she was the favorite concubine of Divine Venerable Wumeng. Her son, Meng Jianyuan, had just turned ten when he was named Divine Son early due to his superior talent. At that time, she considered herself the happiest woman!

Life is long and always full of surprises. She thanks fate for its favor and love, for finally returning her son to her!

Then, a young man steps out of the cloud carriage and stands side by side with the Peacock Divine Concubine. It is none other than the "Meng Jianyuan" (Yun Che) who has been missing for over a decade. He wears a white silk robe, his face is stern, his eyes are deep, and his demeanor is extraordinary, faintly revealing the aura of an emperor.

"Ahhh! The Prince is so handsome!"

"He has such great temperament, he's simply a natural-born king!"

"I want to be the Prince's consort and warm his bed!!!"

Countless young girls scream, and there is no shortage of bold and brazen voices.

Looking at the bustling crowd in the square, the Peacock Divine Concubine waves and nods with a smile, instantly making the whole crowd boil over. With one smile that could topple cities, everyone is infatuated, shouting over and over:

"Peacock Divine Concubine, we love you!"

The whole scene is almost frantic.

After a long while, the Peacock Divine Concubine gently raises her left hand and places it in Yun Che's raised right hand. The two of them fly hundreds of feet into the air, and then drift flatly toward the entrance of the Dreamless Divine Palace.

Suddenly, ten thousand rays of light erupt from the Dreamless Divine Palace, and a tall, majestic, and sturdy middle-aged man flies through the air. He is wearing a golden robe and a golden crown, looking magnificent.

His eyes are like ghosts, seemingly empty and illusory. It is said that anyone who takes one extra look will enter a dream from which they can never escape.

He is not a handsome man, but he is full of charming allure.

"Divine Venerable Wumeng!"

Someone in the crowd screams. Suddenly, the entire square becomes solemn and quiet, silent as the grave. Everyone kneels on the ground, not daring to make a sound. The only sound in the entire square is that of Divine Venerable Wumeng, Meng Kongchan.

"My beloved concubine, Jianyuan, I am here! Ha—ha—ha!"

Meng Kongchan takes a step and arrives in front of the Peacock Divine Concubine, stretches out his strong arms, wraps them around her waist, and pulls her into his embrace, shouting excitedly: "I missed you to death!"

His other hand gently pats Yun Che's shoulder, laughing incessantly: "Haha, heaven has opened its eyes, Jianyuan, you have finally returned!"

"Since you are back, hurry and return to the palace with this Divine Venerable."

As soon as he finishes speaking, he turns and leaves, disappearing into the gates of the Dreamless Divine Palace in an instant.

From afar comes his incredibly majestic and powerful voice:

"Notify the whole country, hold a grand banquet for three days and three nights to celebrate the return of Divine Son Jianyuan, our whole family is reunited!"

Yun Che quickly follows and also enters the Dreamless Divine Palace.

Hearing Meng Kongchan call Meng Jianyuan (Yun Che) the Divine Son, Chief Elder Meng Nanxian in a corner of the Dreamless Divine Palace lets out a sigh, while in another corner, Divine Son Meng Jianxi hears it and his eyes burn with anger!

Why? Meng Jianyuan, missing for over a decade, returns and is still the Divine Son, still radiant, with thousands of favors heaped upon him.

And I, Meng Jianxi, no matter how well I perform, how hard I work, and how excellent I am, I can only ever be a backup!

If the threat from Meng Jianyuan was just a guess before, now it is a fait accompli.

Holding a grand banquet, isn't the next step to announce the restoration of Meng Jianyuan's status as Divine Son?

Thinking of this, Meng Jianxi cannot help but feel extremely indignant; the joke fate has played on him is too big.

He clenches his fists tightly and secretly swears in his heart that he must not sit still and wait for death. He must, at all costs, destroy Meng Jianyuan and take back everything that belongs to him.

This cost even includes death. Although I, Meng Jianxi, am afraid of death, I am even more afraid of losing!

If one cannot become a Divine Son, one cannot become a True God. What is the meaning of such a life?

————

Inside the Dreamless Divine Palace, Meng Kongchan sits in the high seat.

The seats on the left and right are filled with elders, protectors, divine guards, and other prominent figures of the Divine Kingdom.

Sitting in the first and second seats on the right are Chief Elder Meng Nanxian and Meng Jianxi. Sitting in the first seat on the left is the Peacock Divine Concubine, and the second seat is for Yun Che, but Yun Che is currently standing in the center of the hall, telling his story.

"More than a decade ago, while training in the depths of the Mist Sea, I encountered an extremely strange spatial turbulence, an existence even more terrifying than the Time Black Tide."

"In the spatial turbulence, my profound veins were severed, my cultivation was completely destroyed, and I was almost torn apart and decomposed into fragments of space and time."

"Fortunately, I met my master, a mysterious old man; in fact, that was only a wisp of his remnant soul."

"Master guided me into a strange spatial artifact, where he helped me heal my wounds and taught me cultivation methods and profound skills. I escaped the spatial turbulence there, but I was unable to escape until now!"

This story is one that Yun Che and Creator God Li Suo have deliberated and studied many times, and he feels it is the best explanation for his disappearance for over a decade.

Everyone, including Meng Kongchan, finds it unbelievable and looks at Yun Che with doubt. However, since Meng Kongchan does not speak, others are not in a position to express their opinions.

But Meng Jianxi has long been unable to hold back and says with a sneer:

"Meng Jianyuan, can you be more serious when you lie? Who are you trying to fool with such a story full of loopholes? Do you think everyone is an idiot, or are you an idiot yourself?"

After speaking, he also takes a casual look at Meng Kongchan.

Chief Elder Meng Nanxian follows up and advises:

"This old man thinks what Jianxi says makes sense; this story does have many points worth scrutinizing."

At this moment, he also does not know Meng Kongchan's thoughts and does not dare to call Meng Jianxi by his title as Divine Son anymore.

Hearing his teacher change the way he addresses him, Meng Jianxi feels a sour ache in his heart, full of desolation, feeling like an orphan abandoned by the whole world.

Since Meng Jianxi and Chief Elder Meng Nanxian have spoken, the elders, protectors, and divine guards in their camp also express their opinions one after another.

"Everyone here has trained in the Mist Sea; has anyone else seen any spatial turbulence?"

"This old man also has doubts. This spatial turbulence is too discerning, releasing the Divine Son just when the Pure Land Assembly is about to begin!"

"Can a mere wisp of a remnant soul overcome spatial turbulence? Wouldn't it also be able to easily solve the problem of the Time Black Tide?"

"Does such a powerful existence really exist in the Abyssal World? Does Emperor Yuan know about it? Ha—ha—ha—ha!"

Yun Che stands quietly, his expression calm. He wants to see which forces and helpers Meng Jianxi has. He also wants to know who among those people are allies and helpers of the Peacock Divine Concubine and himself.

Of course, he also knows the importance of this matter, as it concerns whether he can continue to use the identity of Meng Jianyuan.

Finally, Third Elder Meng Youyi speaks. He is a kind-looking middle-aged man with a gentle face. He used to be Meng Jianyuan's mentor and is one of the people the Peacock Divine Concubine trusts the most.

Although he does not quite believe Yun Che's words, he still feels it is necessary to say a word of justice, even if it costs him his reputation.

"In my opinion, what Jianyuan described is not impossible. Everyone should not easily deny the existence of spatial turbulence just because you have never seen or heard of it."

"For example, the people of the Eternal Pure Land have also never seen or heard of the Time Black Tide, but can they deny the existence of the Time Black Tide?"

As soon as the Third Elder speaks, someone immediately agrees.

"That's right, never seen, never heard, instead of reflecting on one's own ignorance, one denies the existence of facts. It is truly shameless to be proud of ignorance and use it to reason!"

Someone from Meng Jianxi's side immediately retorts.

"You are the ignorant one, without any ability to distinguish right from wrong, actually believing such an absurd story!"

For a time, the two factions refuse to give in, and they start arguing in front of Meng Kongchan.

"Enough!"

Suddenly, Meng Kongchan shouts, and the hall immediately falls silent. He turns his gaze to Yun Che and asks with a calm tone:

"Jianyuan, since you said you encountered spatial turbulence, do you have any proof?"

His voice is not loud, but it is majestic and has strong penetrating power. Every word seems to ring in everyone's ears, or even come from the depths of their souls.