The immortal is beside me

Chapter 67 Flower Appreciation Conference
The twenty-fourth day of the ninth lunar month is the day for the flower viewing festival in the Qishan Demon Kingdom.

Cheng Xiaomeng and others from the Chaoyan Institute sat on a branch of the golden sycamore tree, holding onto the branches that served as railings, and looked down.

At this time, the Demon City Square was already crowded with all kinds of birds and beasts. The long queue stretched for dozens of miles, and the huge imperial capital was packed like a can.

This crowded team was dividing into countless groups, surrounding the trees in the imperial capital, all of which were locust trees.

The Demon King's interest in locust trees and locust flowers can be seen from the layout of the imperial capital: not only the avenue leading into the city, but even the entire imperial capital is planted with these trees, and there are almost no other plants to be seen.

In this Qishan Cave Heaven filled with exotic flowers and plants, the vegetation in the core Imperial Capital is so monotonous, which is indeed somewhat unusual.

Looking at it this way, Phoenix's taste is truly unique.

Cheng Xiaomeng sighed inwardly, withdrew her gaze, turned around and walked towards her seat.

The branch they were on was located at the lower part of the golden sycamore tree, about several dozen stories above the ground, high enough to take in the entire conference scene.

Although it is called a branch, it is actually as wide as a playground. There are classical inns and gardens built on it, and even a small swimming pool. The experience is no less than that of a five-star hotel outside.

On the outermost side of the tree branches, there is a viewing pavilion that is more than ten meters wide. This is a place specially prepared by the Demon Country for these foreign guests, which is equivalent to a VIP seat.

At this time, everyone in the Super Research Institute was sitting quietly in the pavilion waiting. Some people, like Cheng Xiaomeng, were leaning on the side of the pavilion to watch in real time, some were seizing the time to write the survey report, and a few scoundrels were sitting in front of the chess table in the pavilion, chatting and playing chess casually.

Chess, this is also a very common arrangement in the demon country.

Since entering the Demon Kingdom, Cheng Xiaomeng has also taken the opportunity to survey the residences of many demon tribes. Due to the different races of demons, the residences are also different in shape, but almost all of them are equipped with chess tables with various chess types, and the most common one is chess.

This was also the Demon Emperor's preference. Under his influence, chess became even more popular in the Demon Nation than in human society. There were even rumors that the Demon Emperor considered chess skills when promoting his demon servants, and those who were proficient in chess were given special treatment.

From a researcher's perspective, this standard was indeed somewhat puzzling. However, they had witnessed countless puzzling things along the way, so it was nothing to worry about. They simply attributed it all to the fact that demonic thinking differed from human thinking.

Cheng Xiaomeng walked into the pavilion, sat in her seat, picked up the camera beside her, and prepared to start the most important part of this exploration trip.

Just as she opened the lens cap, the sound of continuous drumming was heard, and the sound spread across the entire capital square.

Amid the sound of drums, the peacock and its attendants flew up to the paulownia tree and let out a long cry to the sky.

"Welcome His Majesty!"

The clear sound is like a stone falling into a lake, stirring up waves of sound.

At this moment, all the demons in the square raised their heads. The small demons roared, the big demons recited words, and tens of thousands of different accents spoke in unison. All the sounds merged into a blessing song that resounded throughout the cave.

“The Fierce Phoenix King is unrivaled in the world!

Bathed in the immortal grace, flying across all directions!
The land of Xiqi benefits all people!
Wherever the Holy Spirit goes, His majesty is overwhelming!"

Everyone at the Super Research Institute on the branches hurriedly raised their video equipment, with each camera aimed at the center.

On the screen, amidst the waves of sound and under the light of the golden sycamore tree, tiny sparks of fire lit up, floating upwards like sky lanterns.

Everyone opened their eyes wide, trying to take in the scene before them. At first glance, they looked like balls of flames; upon closer inspection, they looked like illusory red feathers; blinking again, they realized they were clearly individual red birds.

Thousands of illusory red sparrows flew from all directions and gathered towards the thickest branch in the center of the golden sycamore tree.

On top of the branch, a red-gold flame was rising rapidly, getting higher and higher, and more and more intense. The strong light even overshadowed the glow of the golden sycamore tree itself. The entire imperial capital was shrouded in the red-gold halo.

The flames were so blinding that everyone at the Super Research Institute watching the ceremony on the branches couldn't help but squint their eyes.

They were several hundred meters away from where the fire started, but even so, they could still feel the heat hitting their faces. For a moment, they felt as if they were staring at the midday sun. Just looking at the flames made them dizzy.

A clear cry pierced the sky, like an invisible decree, and tens of thousands of demons in the square knelt down.

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

It was the wind brought by a giant bird.

Its wings were crimson as fire, and its body was shrouded in a halo of light. It flapped its wings above a giant tree, the wind whipping up from its wings stirring up thousands of golden leaves. For a moment, the entire cave seemed to shimmer. Just looking at it, the sheer imposing presence was enough to make one dizzy.

Cheng Xiaomeng, sitting in the viewing pavilion, held her breath. Although she had been mentally prepared, she still felt her heart skip a beat when she actually saw that being.

The golden sycamore tree is so huge that it penetrates the cave. Any existence in front of it seems as small as insects among the trees. But when the giant red bird appears, the mythical sacred tree becomes its foil.

Qishan Holy Land, where phoenixes roost on the wutong trees.

This was a legendary auspicious sign, a wonder found only in storybooks. Everyone at the Transcendental Research Institute raised their heads simultaneously, dozens of pairs of eyes fixed on the presence among the trees. Even blinking seemed like a luxury.

"Take a good look. Seeing a phoenix with your own eyes is an opportunity that most people only have once in their lifetime."

An experienced researcher in the team lowered his voice and reminded everyone.

"According to historical records, over the past few hundred years, several emperors have come to Mount Qishan to perform rituals and offer sacrifices, attempting to entice the phoenix to lower its gaze and bring down auspicious signs, but without exception, they all failed."

Someone nearby turned around and said, "Aren't we being treated like emperors now?"

"It's more than just the treatment of an emperor. Even in the cultivation world, countless people wanted to enter the demon kingdom and obtain the auspicious sign of the phoenix. Among them were some powerful sects and great men who could intimidate others. But in the end, none of them succeeded. Not to mention the phoenix itself, they didn't even see its clone."

The old researcher said, "It's only thanks to the fact that the Demon King values ​​mortal forces so much that he allowed us to be guests under the name of our organization. We can see the Phoenix in person, an opportunity not even the most powerful gods can have."

"Then if you round it off, I can be considered a god." The man next to him smiled awkwardly.

At this point, only the two of them were still talking. The old researcher didn't need to remind them; the rest of the Transcendental Research Institute had already lost all thoughts. Everyone's gaze was directed upwards, and those carrying equipment raised their cameras, their focus completely fixed on the giant figure perched high among the sycamore trees.

The giant figure folded its wings and, as the thousands of people below gazed upon it, sat and lay atop the giant tree. The glow of the golden sycamore tree gilded its form with a golden halo, as if it had stepped out of a mythical world.

"The conference begins." A majestic voice resounded throughout the country.

(End of this chapter)