The King of Black Fog

"The situation is turning grim," one said.

"Hasn't it always been like this?" came the reply.

...

Eagles soar through the sky, fish dart in the shallow waters,...

Chapter 379 The Hundred Flowers Festival

The basket itself has no magical power, but it is imbued with the power of the Kunpeng. It's similar to how the rope on a crab is sold for the same price as the crab itself. Now, this basket itself has nothing, but it can hold water.

Anyone, including ordinary people without magical powers, can use it to hold water, and the effect is permanent, just like a basket specifically designed for carrying water.

"Queen Mother of the West, Guanyin Bodhisattva, look carefully!" Li Qianxia used a basket to scoop up water from the Milky Way.

“Then I’ll make a basket out of moonlight.” Chang’e also wove a basket.

Yaochi thought for a moment: "There are fish, water, and moonlight, but we are missing someone to admire the moon. So I will make a basket specifically for people to admire the moon."

With the favored concubine as a backdrop, even a mortal obsessed with moonlight could be easily won over by the basket that was brought up.

Of the four baskets, only Yang Qinglan had learned about Guanyin; the other three had each achieved their own level of Taoist magic, which was the key to the first challenge.

If Yang Qinglan were to handle this challenge herself, fetching ice, water, wind, and fire would be a piece of cake. Her understanding of the natural world far surpasses that of others. Even Guanyin said that she would become a celestial being faster than Li Changzhou before her.

The four of them only stayed in the Milky Way for a short while before the riverbank was already filled with heavenly soldiers, generals, and gods from all walks of life.

Nominally, these people came to see the magic, but in reality, everyone came to see the fairy.

The four of them rode back to the Jade Pool on a cloud. The Queen Mother asked Guanyin, "What do you think, Venerable One?"

Guanyin smiled and replied, "They are all top-notch celestial beings."

Celestial being is a high realm, so it can naturally be used to praise someone, just like how people in the mortal world use 'jade,' 'flower,' and 'dragon' to praise someone. This is the highest form of praise.

The Queen Mother smiled and said to the four, "Reward them!"

Four fairies, dressed in red, green, white, and black, each presented Yang Qinglan and her companions with a peach that had been growing for three thousand years.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The four of them spoke in unison, their voices so beautiful that the Queen Mother was delighted and nodded repeatedly, bestowing upon them many fine wines and dews.

What is Qiongjiang Yulu? It is wine brewed with Qihui (a type of medicinal liquor).

Just one cup is enough for a third-class immortal to toil for a month. The Heavenly Palace is coveted by everyone, and there must be a reason for it.

“Your Majesty, I have one too.” The Flower Fairy stood up. “My bamboo basket can be used to pick lotus flowers in winter, winter plum blossoms in summer, chrysanthemums in spring, and peach blossoms in autumn.”

She made a basket, and sure enough, it could pick flowers of all four seasons, regardless of the season.

"Very well, reward me!" the Queen Mother said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I would also like to ask for a peach." The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, an earth immortal, also entered with a smile.

"Oh?" The Queen Mother became interested this time. "What does the Mystic Maiden want to fight?"

"I'll make a basket to boost morale—when two armies clash, one basket will ensure both sides retreat to their camps," the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden explained with a smile as she wove a basket.

"Peace throughout the land, with no more war—that would be best!" the Queen Mother laughed. "Reward her!"

The Queen Mother then looked at Guanyin: "Today is a grand feast of a hundred flowers, and all the guests are female immortals. Your Excellency need not be concerned about your status."

Guanyin smiled and bowed, saying, "Then this humble monk will also make a fool of himself."

She opened her hand, and a golden basket appeared in her palm as the Buddha's light gathered.

"Bodhisattva, what is the use of this basket?" asked the seventh fairy, Xiaoqi, curiously.

"This basket of mine can strike down those petty thieves, just watch." With that, Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled and glanced at Yang Qinglan before tossing the golden basket down to earth, heading straight for the Tongtian River.