A large tribute?
The situation was deadlocked and they sat opposite each other in silence.
Hu Ziyu refused to change his clothes, so Ling Hong refused to teach him how to send dreams and improve his magic power. He was even too lazy to translate the handover list that looked like a paper talisman.
After each side brewed a cup of tea and ate a few pieces of lotus seed paste and date cake, they decided to cease fighting and retreat a few steps.
Hu Ziyu changed into his modified uniform, adding a pair of trousers underneath. That evening, Ling Hong took him to the Jade Rabbit Monastery's meditation room for some guidance.
Wearing the purple robe, he immediately looked radiant and ethereal. The female fairies crowded around him, taking photos, checking in, and uploading them to social networking sites and Zhuji groups.
Taiyin Xingjun immediately replied with a heart sticker, and Mr. Wu Gang also gave a thumbs up. Although the immortals gave good comments, Hu Ziyu still felt very awkward. I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but compared with the pink at the beginning, purple seems more demonic, more gay, and more cute.
Linghong asked him to spin around on the spot so that he could examine him carefully from head to toe.
"Very good. On the seventh day, you can wear this outfit to appear in person." Hu Ziyu couldn't stop wailing. He didn't want to let the mortal beings see him in this outfit at all.
"Can you change into something more formal and stylish?"
"Okay, then try on this official uniform!" Ling Hong said.
No matter what Hu Ziyu requested or suggested, this man always found a way to bring the topic and method back to changing clothes. Before long, Hu Ziyu surrendered, shifted the focus, and counted the supplies that Chu Tianqi and his party had just offered him.
The alliance founder gave a box of tea, the agency and consultants jointly bought a gift box of Chinese pastries, the daily reporter prepared a fruit basket, and the little bastard had no money on him, so he could only buy a boba matcha green tea from a roadside hand-shaken drink shop. Strangely, Chu Tianqi came empty-handed, having only some Xiang and Hu Ziyu's usual lip balm.
Linghong left the milk green tea behind, and sent Yuchan to take the rest of the offerings to the storehouse for safekeeping. Offerings to the gods had no expiration date or shelf life restrictions; even if they were used a thousand or ten thousand years later, there was no need to worry about them spoiling.
Hu Ziyu protested to his assistant while chewing his boba pearls. "It's not even half a day yet, and you're letting me calm down a bit. You heartless fellow, when you left, didn't your fellow apprentices shed a single tear?"
"Have you seen my information?" Ling Hong's eyebrows twitched.
"Never mind, it's no big deal. The days of cultivation are so plain and monotonous. Ten years pass in a flash, and before I know it, I've passed away and ascended to immortality."
Hu Ziyu thought, if it were that easy to ascend to immortality, wouldn't the heavens be filled with immortals? This guy must have put in a lot of hard work in secret, but since Ling Hong didn't mention it, he didn't ask. He just said, "You locked everything down, so I couldn't see anything. But everything about me is laid bare for everyone to see. It's really unfair."
"There's nothing we can do about it. The standards for selecting gods are much stricter than those for immortals." Ling Hong was very interested in the pearls at the bottom of the cup. He first picked up the cup and shook it, then put it to his nose and sniffed it.
Hu Ziyu couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't expect Ling Hong to have such a childish side.
"Brother Hong, if you like it, I'll give it to you next time the little bastard brings it over."
"Then I would like to thank you in advance." Hu Ziyu changed his clothes obediently. Ling Hong felt better and started using the honorific again.
"In exchange, I can answer your question. When I left, some people were indeed sad. Among our friends at Tianrenzhuji, there is Linghu, that person."
"Oh." Hu Ziyu opened the APP, called out the person's avatar, and checked the personnel information.
Master Linghu, a supreme immortal, lives on Huanggang Mountain.
Born slightly later than Linghong, he died at the age of twenty-six while standing up to the enemy. Although younger than Linghong, his later ascension to immortality gave him a more upright figure and a more mature, masculine charm. "What a handsome young man," Hu Ziyu thought.
That cold, indifferent, and distant demeanor is just like Ling Hong, printed from the same mold. Could it be that their Taoist temple specializes in producing cool handsome men?
"That year in the Great Wilderness, bandits broke into the temple and burned, killed and looted. In order to protect the old and the young, he was killed. And so, he ascended to heaven." Ling Hong said in a very calm tone, as if he was profiling a character who had nothing to do with him.
"However, you can delete the friend. Anyway, there will be no special contact." He added.
"Why?" Hu Ziyu asked casually. What he wanted to know was not the story of this outsider, but Ling Hong's own.
Before Ling Hong could open his mouth, the PAD on the table suddenly began to buzz like a madman and shook like a magnitude 9 earthquake. The official banquet was approaching, and he was afraid it was an emergency, so he quickly picked it up and took a look.
But the starry blue pad is silent, and the rose gold one is moving.
Hu Ziyu didn't understand what was going on, so he just clicked yes and waited to see what would fall from the sky.
An hour ago, when he accepted the offerings from Chu Tianqi and the others, a similar window popped up. However, at that time, the PAD only made a crisp ding-dong sound, and the amplitude was also very small, not as earth-shattering as it is now.
After pressing the receive button, tea, gift boxes, hand-shaken drinks, and other supplies automatically appeared at the designated location. Yuchan or other less experienced female immortals would regularly patrol and bring them to the hall. About five seconds later, Yuchan, who was on duty, was summoned by a call from the logistics department. A moment later, she rushed back to the temple.
"Master Rabbit, this is incredible! This is incredible! The front, the front hall..." Yuchan entered the temple in a hurry and forgot to lift her skirt and knees for a moment, and almost fell down in front.
Upon hearing this, Ling Hong put away his PAD and quickly rushed out of the main hall of Guanghan Palace. Hu Ziyu chased after him, and a group of female fairies also joined in the fun. After all, I don't know when I last received a large amount of mail! Back then, the Qing Dynasty had not yet been replaced, and the custom of sworn brotherhood was widespread. The wealthy and powerful would spend hundreds of taels of gold and silver. It was truly the most glorious time for Yutu Temple.
Unfortunately, things are different now.
The moonlight is eternally dark within the gates of the Mingyue Pass, but the stars sparkle brilliantly, blazing all day long, as bright as day. The front courtyard of Guanghan Palace is dotted with winding corridors, shaded by rockery and trees. The plum blossoms have just passed their blooming season, and the head of the General Affairs Department recently had them dug up to plant the seasonal wisteria and azaleas.
This area, once filled with cherry trees, has now become a collection of unsightly pits. Earlier, Linghong had explained that this is called spending the quarterly budget. If you don't spend all the money, you might not be able to claim the same amount the next quarter.
"Since there's still a budget, why not allocate some to the new priests' attire?" Hu Ziyu complained. Ling Hong held his forehead and sighed. "The previous abbot has fled, and it's a good thing the unit hasn't been laid off. How dare we ask for money?"
"Then, just like the front yard of the Taiyin Temple, except for the towering ancient osmanthus trees, why not use 3D projection for everything?" Hu Ziyu asked again.
"No, the equipment doesn't consume electricity, but it does consume the Palace Master's energy and mana. The Star Goddess has boundless magical power, but our Guanghan Palace... Jade Rabbit and Wu Gang alone can't support it."
"Oh." Since even Ling Hong couldn't be dispatched, Hu Ziyu had no other choice.
Now, a knee-high, exquisitely crafted paper house, covering two square meters, stood on that bare, empty lot. Its level of detail and refinement rivaled even that of the Taiyin Temple, even rivaling the majesty and splendor of the Heavenly Palace.
The building boasted corridors, flower fields, flowing water, and pavilions, with nine halls and rooms, large and small. Within the halls, there was a tea room, living room, kitchen, bedroom, study, bathroom, and everything else. Behind the main hall, there was a swimming pool, basketball court, ice rink, and entertainment center. If this were a real, three-dimensional building, the asking price would be at least 100 million. Hu Ziyu, a member of the logistics department, and the others personally arrived, sprinting to the front of the group and bowing to greet them.
"I have another large offering. May I ask if Lord Rabbit will accept it?"
"What is it?" Ling Hong asked.
"It's an electric one made of paper," the younger brother replied.
"Take it, we just happen to be short of platforms," said Hu Ziyu, he knew who the culprit was.
No wonder Chu Tianqi didn't bring anything decent with him when he went to the Rabbit Temple to ask questions.
A paper Tesla appeared out of thin air, the same red as Chu Tianqi's, looking both festive and imposing. However, it lacked an engine or a battery, just a beautiful empty shell. Furthermore, it was a bit miniscule, like a toy for a three-year-old.
"A bunch of mortal fools!" Ling Hong was a little angry, and his good mood was wiped out.
"Burning these things will only increase pollution and is of no use at all! Look at this house, can people live in it? This house, can it carry people? Besides, it takes so much mana and energy to control it, it's even harder than a lotus lampstand!" The poor logistics guy was swept to the end of the stage for no reason and was spitted in the face by Linghong.
Although it was Chu Tianqi's good intention, Hu Ziyu still regretted clicking to accept it, but if he had to return it directly and let his younger brother take it away to be scrapped, he was reluctant to do so.
"Oh, this is great!"
A clear and pleasant female voice came from behind the crowd.
Taiyin Xingjun, dressed in Tang Dynasty attire, a yellow short jacket, a beige skirt, and a pink and orange shawl draped over his shoulders, slowly approached, accompanied by a troupe of female immortals. Taiyin Xingjun would regularly inspect various locations in Mingyue Pass, examining and reviewing the performance and achievements of the immortals. This time, it was Guanghan Palace's turn.
Hu Ziyu leaned forward to bow, and Ling Hong bent his body even more. It was a rare occasion for the female fairies in the Jade Rabbit Temple to see the big boss, so they all knelt together.
Taiyin Xingjun smiled and said, "Everyone, please stand up!" Everyone stood up one after another. The logistics guy felt relieved and, while everyone's attention was diverted, quickly slipped away. Linghong straightened up and scolded, "Xingjun, don't be ridiculous. Even General Li, the Marshal of the Central Altar, who is known for his eternal age of seven, can't fit this. It's a good model."
"Well, wouldn't it be better to make it bigger? Have the Golden Toad modify it, add a few talismans, and create an energy-saving device. It should probably work." The "energy-saving device" Taiyin Xingjun referred to was precisely the amulet that slowed down mana consumption. Whether the immortals and gods were soaring through the clouds, traveling a thousand miles a day, or even driving, all of these activities were extremely mana-intensive. "Xingjun, you're not planning on having me drive this new car to take Lord Hu to the official banquet, are you?" Linghong suddenly felt his vision go dark and he almost fainted. The future of Yutu Temple was also bleak.
"Of course, I know you want to borrow that broken-down machine from the Security Department from Wu Gang, but no way! At least, it's mine!" said the Moon God. The Moon Temple's seat was originally a heavy wooden phoenix, pulled by two porters and two fine horses. However, one day, the God of Stars, on a whim, drew inspiration from Western fairy tales and adapted it to resemble Cinderella attending a palace banquet. The pumpkin-shaped cabin was surrounded by Victorian-style vines and flowers.
Ling Hong absolutely didn't want to drive a monster that would draw attention. "Xingjun, among the seven newly promoted priests this time, there are gods from our Taiyin Temple. I'm sure you've also been invited to the induction banquet. In that case, I'm afraid it wouldn't be convenient for us to ride with you," Ling Hong declined.
"I don't really mind whether you ride together or not. You can decide for yourselves whether you want to ride the Pumpkin or the Mortal King. However, I do hope that you can drive the Million-Dollar to surprise those straight men and women who have always looked down on the Rabbit God." As he said that, Taiyin Xingjun turned around and winked at Hu Ziyu.
"Remember to use the Supervisory Station app later to request a replacement for the Jade Rabbit Temple badge. Only by requesting it in the name of the gods will those incorrigible civil servants act quickly. If you ask Linghong, Chunxiang, and the others to help you, you might not get any response until next Mid-Autumn Festival." Hu Ziyu clasped his fists in thanks and then transformed into a PAD for research. Then, disregarding the opinions of the Jade Rabbit Temple's superiors and subordinates, Taiyin Xingjun began directing the female fairies to dispose of the two large items Chu Tianqi had burned or brought with him.
With a snap of her fingers, the villa and its seat shrank to the size of a palm. She then instructed the two female fairies on her left and right to carefully carry them to the main hall and storage room of Guanghan Palace, respectively. Once the billion-dollar villa landed in the main hall, it immediately returned to its original size. With another snap of her fingers, a waist-high stand rose beneath it, elevating and supporting the entire structure. With another snap of her fingers, a box-shaped acrylic panel, capable of covering the entire view, appeared. The Moon Star Lord circled the four corners, examining it closely. He said, "This house is truly wonderful. The craftsmanship is exquisite, unprecedented. I strongly recommend that after your death, it be brought to the Golden Toad Retreat for use in my Moon Palace." After a moment, he addressed the other fairies, "This house will be placed in the main hall. Anyone with favorite stuffed animals, figurines, figurines, or finger puppets can pose for photos with them!" The Twelve Golden Hairpins of the Jade Rabbit Temple cheered in unison. The female fairies accompanying the Star Lord, though delighted, remained expressionless.
"But this house was burned down by the candidate Shancai boy to give to Lord Hu to live in..." Knowing it was futile, Linghong still tried to save the situation.
"It's okay, I don't care." Hu Ziyu patted his shoulder.
"From now on, I have Yutu Temple as my home, and everyone here has become my family and friends. I'm already very satisfied. If you like this manor, please feel free to borrow it." Besides, even though the paper house was exquisite, it was just a model when I received it. Without water in the bathroom, electricity in the hall, and a kitchen where I couldn't cook, everything was in vain.
Upon hearing this, Taiyin Star Lord smiled.
"Little rabbit, you're so good! I'll help you get an A on the temporary exam and give you a thousand merits!"
"Then I would like to thank the Star Lord first," Hu Ziyu said. Although he still didn't understand what merit was used for, Ling Hong had said before that he would reward Hu Zilin with 100 merits, and he had just thanked him on his behalf and accepted it without any time to study it in detail.
"Let's go and see the Jade Rabbit's new mount!" Taiyin Xingjun said again. As soon as he finished speaking, a circle of shrinking magic array covered the entire hall, and in the blink of an eye, everyone was moved to the front of the warehouse.
The Guanghan Palace's storehouse was built into a rock face. Ancient masters used magic to carve four large holes, providing seating for the Taiyin Hall, the Security Department, the Jade Rabbit Temple, and other immortals. Currently, the large hole beneath the Jade Rabbit Temple plaque contained a model barely large enough for a three-year-old child. Several engineers from the Jinchan Institute had been ordered to wait inside.
The Moon God flicked his slender finger, and the 10:1 paper Tesla immediately enlarged to 1:1. If you don't get close and look carefully, you really can't tell that it is made of paper.
"Men, you have two days to build this into a top-tier supercar capable of darting through the heavens and underground. Go from zero to three hundred kilometers per hour in three seconds!" Taiyin Xingjun ordered. The engineers groaned inwardly, their faces uglier than each other. Even Hu Ziyu, Ling Hong, and the others couldn't bear it.
"Whether you need personnel, money, mana, magical weapons, or amulets, just ask. If the Jinchan Institute's inventory is insufficient, we can use Taiyin Palace's!" Xingjun added. The foreman of the engineers quickly requested a dozen more people. Furthermore, to strengthen the paper, they also needed to hire more craftsmen in charge of the coating process.
Xingjun agreed to all of them in one breath.
"Little rabbit, this is the gift I send you. How is it? Do you like it?" Taiyin Star Lord was so happy that he pulled Hu Ziyu over and kissed and hugged him.
Although Hu Ziyu was grateful, he still felt goose bumps on his scalp and limbs when he saw that the group of engineers went to work with hatred, and they could not blame the Star Goddess, so they could only stare at him with cold eyes.
Ling Hong watched everyone's actions, puzzled, and returned to Hu Ziyu to ask: "Even if we can really get on the road, how do we drive it?"
"Uh." Hu Ziyu was stunned again. Good question, how should he drive it? His social circle has always been very narrow, and he relies on pedals to get around. Occasionally, when he goes out for a trip, Chu Tianqi or his classmates drive him. He has no idea how to drive a powered vehicle. After thinking for a while, he replied: "I don't have a driver's license either. I saw Qiqi driving before. As soon as he inserted the key and stepped on the gas, the car slid out automatically. It seemed quite simple.
Why don’t we go to the official website to research it later?”
There was no other way, Ling Hong reluctantly responded with a "hmm", which was considered as his agreement.
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