From the Carp that Brings Children to the Celestial Officials

Chapter 455 The Earth Gods' Business Acumen

You Ming always felt that the Earth Deities of the Human Realm had a great talent for doing business.

What was originally a dispute over the Lake Suicune has been blown out of proportion by them.

But thinking about it, it's normal. This competition involves eight fifth-rank deities. With their own power and the power of the deities and cultivators they have invited to help them, the power in the Nine Provinces is absolutely enormous.

Such a big event naturally attracts the attention of countless people.

From the perspective of the gods, this is definitely a great opportunity to make a fortune in incense offerings.

Just like the [Canglang Little Spirit Realm] that Changning County previously developed, it also used the competition for [Essence of Mysterious Water] as a gimmick to create a comprehensive project that integrates entertainment, gambling, and trading.

In modern terms, this is called using culture as a platform for economic development.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

It's winter now, and the weather in the north is already quite cold. Although it hasn't snowed in the past few days, the entire Bibo Lake is covered in white as far as the eye can see. The lake water hasn't frozen, but it's a deep, calm, and unfathomable blue.

The deepest part of Bibo Lake is said to be a thousand feet deep. Although it is called a lake, it is almost no different from the ocean to the local people.

In places unseen by mortals, the lake surface is shrouded in mist and spiritual energy, which intertwine to create a vast illusion.

In winter, almost no fishermen go out to fish in the lake. Even if someone occasionally goes into the water, they will quickly return to the shore.

Because underwater, thousands of divine soldiers patrol day and night.

As You Ming approached the illusion, his body seemed to break through an invisible barrier, and he instantly disappeared onto the lake's surface.

The next moment, the scenery around him changed instantly. Looking up, he saw countless tall but strange buildings with extremely large eaves and brackets standing side by side, and the bluestone-paved streets looked slightly damp.

Aside from some cultivators and deities, there were also many strangely shaped creatures wandering around.

These people were naturally demons whose human forms were not fully realized.

Because this event was held at Bibo Lake, most of the monsters that came were aquatic creatures.

The interior structure of the entire illusion is also very peculiar, with layers of clouds rising in the void, and different buildings on each layer of clouds.

From bottom to top, layer upon layer, like stacked building blocks.

It appears to be on the verge of collapse, but in reality, there is a deity of at least the third rank maintaining everything and supporting this vast illusion.

Different building floors actually represent different areas.

Trading, entertainment, gambling, spectating...

For example, in the trading area, you can see many demons and cultivators setting up stalls to sell elixirs, magical artifacts, talismans and other items.

However, if one wishes to travel to other areas, one must take a special spirit boat, as flying is prohibited in most areas of the illusionary realm.

The reason given by Shinto is to avoid excessive chaos and difficulty in management.

But You Ming believed that their real purpose was to collect money, because each ride on the spirit boat required the expenditure of incense offerings.

Moreover, the places where the spirit boat docks are all kinds of bustling areas, just like a tour group driver will take you to a shopping mall.

You Ming found it quite amusing, but he silently memorized these techniques in his mind. These were all teachings exemplified by the seniors, and he was determined to apply them when he had the chance.

"Where are you headed, sir?"

As You Ming was reflecting on this, suddenly, a spirit boat slowly descended from the heights. On this spirit boat stood a slender figure, as thin as a bamboo pole, holding a bamboo pole in his hand. From a distance, it looked as if two chopsticks were leaning together.

This person must be some kind of deified being, specially bred to serve as a servant.

"Go to the Miaole Pavilion on the ninth floor."

You Ming casually tossed a stick of incense into the boatman's pocket, then leaped onto the boat.

In fact, given his understanding of space, it wouldn't be difficult for him to directly cross space and reach the ninth level.

But at this point, there's no need to be unconventional.

He was not welcomed by these earthly deities of the human realm to begin with.

"Alright, hold on tight."

The boatman pushed off with his bamboo pole and gently swung it through the air. The previously empty space seemed to be filled with layers of rippling water, and then the entire boat tilted slightly upwards, slowly rising along a spiral trajectory.

Occasionally, when they encounter cultivators or deities on the road who wish to travel to other regions, the small boat will stop and give them a ride.

You Ming looked up at the surroundings, surrounded by a cacophony of noise. Crowds of people jostled each other on the buildings around him. It had been a long time since he had seen such a lively scene.

Although he devoted himself to spiritual cultivation, he also enjoyed the bustling and prosperous worldly scenes.

The boat meandered around the water, and after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it anchored at a bustling dock.

【Miaolefang】is located at the highest point of the entire illusion, and is also the most bustling place.

The vast expanse of water and light intertwines to create a magnificent illusionary array, with islands floating in the air on all four sides, and countless buildings appearing on them, each with its own unique spectacle.

In the surrounding void, countless painted boats floated back and forth, with music and graceful figures drifting everywhere.

In the water, some mermaids play harps; when the strings are played, the lake surface transforms into a mirror-like display, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Some magicians from Lingzhou hummed softly at the bow of the ship, their melodious voices making you feel as if you were in a dream.

A group of aquatic dancers walked barefoot on the waves, their bodies transforming into streams of light as they danced with the waves.

Even though You Ming had seen many stage performances in his previous life, the scenes before him concealed the power of cultivators and gods, reaching straight to the heart. Even a cultivator of his level couldn't help but feel joy.

"Brother You Ming, I'm here."

Following the address given by the River God, You Ming arrived at a five-story building. Above the main entrance of the building hung the three characters "Drunken Dream Pavilion".

He looked up and saw that the River God was drinking by a window, with other guests around him.

The Drunken Dream Pavilion may not seem large, but its interior is a hidden world, with spatial arrays set up everywhere, making the interior space hundreds of times larger than the outside.

At the same time, every table, regardless of its location, can clearly see and hear the outside world.

Many gods, demon kings, and cultivators sat together, drinking the local specialty "Spring Spirit Wine." As they were intoxicated, and accompanied by the dreamlike songs and dances from the outside world, it truly felt as if they were in the heavenly realm.

"Let me introduce you. Brother You Ming is not only the master of Yuanling Mountain, but also the director of the [Fertility Department] in the Heavenly Realm."

The River God had changed into ordinary clothes, which concealed his burly appearance and made him look like a plump rich man from the mortal world.

Especially when he was introducing You Ming, he was all smiles, his face full of wrinkles, which was quite comical.

(End of this chapter)