GRMFBS CH108

Zhan Yan’s curiosity was greatly satisfied.

Weng Yan coughed twice and handed Zhan Yan a card, “Hold on to this. This is your pass to enter the venue. Don’t lose it.”

After entering the venue, he didn’t plan to take Zhan Yan with him anymore. He needed to keep his eyes and ears open! He had to watch the surroundings carefully and absolutely not give anyone another chance to laugh at their Chiyang Sect!

Zhan Yan looked at the card curiously. It was pure white, without even a logo, looking just like a blank business card. He thought that things at such a real gathering of supernaturals would be more special. If not printing some meaningful runes, shouldn’t there at least be some text?

“Why is there nothing on this?”

“Well… it’s mainly to prevent fights,” Weng Yan said.

Not to mention patterns, each cultivation sect has its own unique symbols, different demon clans have their own, and the underworld is the same.

The same goes for text. How many human languages are there? Demons have their own script, ghosts have their own language. Which one to print and which not to, isn’t that just asking for trouble?

Someone had proposed it at the beginning, but after several rounds of discussion with no result, and almost starting a fight, everyone unanimously decided:

“Our Cultivators’ Conference has always been about simplicity,” Weng Yan concluded.

The next day, after entering the venue of the Cultivators’ Conference with his pass, Zhan Yan deeply understood what “simplicity as the style” meant.

White walls, concrete floors, and all the tables, chairs, and benches were of a simple and unadorned style. Anyone who didn’t know better would think they had entered a newly renovated, unfurnished house.

The people who came in, however, were dressed in all sorts of ways, greatly showcasing their individual characteristics. Everyone walked around the venue very freely.

The venue wasn’t completely empty; it was divided into several areas.

There was a lecture stage with rows of seats below, where one could go up alone to present their ideas and achievements. By moving a table up, it could be used for a two-person debate, which was very convenient for everyone to watch.

There were large round tables and chairs arranged in circles, convenient for everyone to discuss together.

They were all equipped with whiteboards and whiteboard markers. Above the whiteboards were rolled-up projection screens that could be pulled down for use. Those who liked the traditional version could write by hand, and those who liked high-tech could use the projector.

There was also a protected open space for sparring with restraint, which was arranged next to the lecture stage.

Although simple, it had all the functional requirements, with a focus on practicality.

Zhan Yan couldn’t help but think of the “Supernatural Gathering” he had attended with Matthias before. Comparing the two, the previous cosplay event was probably more in line with Matthias’s imagination.

He had even met Gu Jiancheng at that gathering. It was funny to think about the devil horn headband he wore on his head.

But it was impossible to meet Gu Jiancheng here. Sigh, he was still a little expectant.

Zhan Yan wandered around the Cultivators’ Conference by himself, listening here and there, trying to gather some useful information.

The venue was simple, but the people were diverse. Because there were no ordinary people who needed to be kept in the dark, everyone was very relaxed. People wore all kinds of clothes; Taoist robes and kasayas walked side by side, and four-legged creatures and floating ones were partners.

As Zhan Yan was wandering, the gossip started to refresh:

[You passed through the ghost cultivator Lou Dan.]

[The ghost cultivator Lou Dan is very unhappy and said, “Hey, you kid, why don’t you watch where you’re going?”]

Zhan Yan: …Why aren’t you visible, you ghost cultivator?

Should he pretend not to know and keep walking, or stop?

At this moment, a loud voice from not far away saved him.

“Hello? Okay, fine, I know, I’ll go pick them up in a bit.”

This voice sounded so familiar.

Zhan Yan looked over and waved happily, “Hey! Old Bao!”

Bao Qingshan had just hung up the phone. He turned around and saw him, his eyes wide.

“Zhan Yan?! What are you doing here? You, you, you… which family are you from?”

Zhan Yan was overjoyed, “What do you mean, which family? I got in through connections, I don’t know anything. Hey, so you’re not an ordinary person, huh? Show me around?”

[The ghost cultivator Lou Dan learned that you got in through connections and can’t see him, so he is no longer angry.]

[But the ghost cultivator Lou Dan still feels upset, so he decides to scare you.]

Zhan Yan: …

He watched as a person… a ghost, suddenly appeared next to him.

He already knew in advance, how could he be scared?

Zhan Yan decided to try a different approach.

He widened his eyes and looked at Lou Dan, “Wow! That’s so cool!”

Lou Dan: Suddenly, he felt too embarrassed to scare a child.

“Ahem. It’s just a small trick,” Lou Dan said with the air of a senior master and walked away.

Bao Qingshan: …

The two resumed their previous conversation.

“Don’t tell anyone,” Bao Qingshan told him.

“Don’t worry! We’ll be the same as before, I won’t tell anyone!”

Zhan Yan always kept his promises, so Bao Qingshan was relieved. But he had something to do now, he had to go pick someone up.

Zhan Yan heard him on the phone with the person he was going to pick up:

“Shibo, are you lost again? Where are you?”

“No, I’m asking if there are any landmarks around you… What? There’s a cloud above your head… Don’t look up, look around you. There’s a tree nearby…”

Zhan Yan: …Pfft.

“Share your location,” he quietly reminded Bao Qingshan.

Bao Qingshan taught the person how to share their location and told them to wait where they were. He would go pick them up, and they shouldn’t wander around.

After hanging up, Bao Qingshan explained to Zhan Yan, “She’s not from our sect, she’s from the one next door. We have a good relationship with them. It’s her first time out, so she doesn’t know the way very well. I have to go get her.”

Zhan Yan went with him to pick up the person. When they got there:

Bao Qingshan: “Shibo!”

Zhan Yan: “Big sis!”

Yuan Shiyi: “Big brother!”

Both had been influenced by the Northeastern dog demon.

Bao Qingshan: ???

“How is Shibo your big sis?”

“How is big sis your Shibo?”

After introducing each other, they finally figured out their relationship.

Yuan Shiyi’s name was poetic, but she was actually from the most famous body cultivation sect, the Vajra Sect, which was right next to Bao Qingshan’s Withered Pine Stream. The two sects had a good relationship. The only problem was that the Vajra Sect’s inheritance was a bit slower than their Withered Pine Stream. After several generations, there was a generation gap in this generation. Yuan Shiyi became Bao Qingshan’s Shibo.

Zhan Yan rubbed his chin, his eyes curved, and said to Bao Qingshan, “Come on, let’s figure out our seniority!”

Bao Qingshan: “Get lost!”

The two of them brought the directionally challenged big sis back to the venue.

Yuan Shiyi was very embarrassed, “It’s my first time here, I don’t know much. My master wants me to make a name for the Vajra Sect.”

Bao Qingshan: “It’s fine, you’ll make a name for yourself after a few debates.”

Yuan Shiyi became even more worried, “But I’m not good with words, I’m afraid I’ll embarrass my sect.”

Bao Qingshan comforted her, “There won’t be any consequences even if you don’t debate well.”

The three of them happened to pass by a lecture stage.

On the stage, there was a cushion on the left and right. Two senior masters were debating, their words flowing like a river.

Yuan Shiyi’s expression became even more worried. She stood under the lecture stage, unable to move, both anxious and trying to learn.

Zhan Yan also stopped to listen. He heard the two masters mention the Candle Dragon in their debate.

The two senior masters spoke at a rapid pace, accompanied by emphatic gestures, and they would even clap their hands from time to time. Zhan Yan listened with full concentration, feeling that their speaking speed was getting faster and faster.

Then they started arguing.

As they argued, they started fighting, seamlessly transitioning to the martial arts field next door.

Zhan Yan: …No wonder they arranged the martial arts field next to the lecture stage.

Yuan Shiyi’s eyes lit up, and she said with a sudden realization, “So you can debate like this! I can do this!”

Bao Qingshan: “That’s not…”

Yuan Shiyi excitedly headed for the martial arts stage.

Zhan Yan patted Bao Qingshan on the shoulder, “Let her be. A reputation earned through fighting is still a reputation.”

Oh right, the Vajra Sect wasn’t a support class like their Withered Pine Stream.

Zhan Yan began to inquire, “Hey, I heard those two people talking about some Candle Dragon’s afterimage. What’s that about? Have you seen it?”

Bao Qingshan’s mouth twitched as if he had a toothache, “That thing… I’ve been inside.”

Zhan Yan: Huh?

Isn’t the Candle Dragon’s afterimage a rift from a time loop? How can you go inside?

Bao Qingshan was still explaining, “That thing is a bit like a dungeon in a game. You can see some special past images inside. It’s not just an image, it’s also dangerous. It depends on what the scene is. Some scenes are very peaceful, while others are more dangerous.

“If you ever find yourself walking and suddenly the surroundings change, you might have entered the Candle Dragon’s afterimage.

“But you don’t have to worry. Most of the Candle Dragon’s afterimages have been dealt with now. Only some well-hidden ones haven’t been found. It’s not easy to get into those.

“If, and I mean if, you accidentally encounter one, remember to find a safe place to hide. Just hide well. The Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau—that’s our official organization—they’ve developed some kind of instrument that can sense the abnormal fluctuations of the Candle Dragon’s afterimage. Once someone enters the Candle Dragon’s afterimage, it will emit this abnormal fluctuation. They will send people to rescue you soon.

“The Wan Yao Alliance—that’s the demon clan’s power—they also have ways to sense the fluctuations of the Candle Dragon’s afterimage, and they will send demons over too.

“No matter which side arrives first, you will be rescued. It’s just that they might fight…”

Zhan Yan: Found it, a major reason for the conflict between the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau and the Wan Yao Alliance—both sides are competing for the Candle Dragon fragments.

The two walked while chatting. Zhan Yan saw a tall and sturdy centaur walk past. He was wearing a long robe. The part of the clothing from the human waist was extended backwards, covering the upper part of the horse’s body.

Zhan Yan poked Bao Qingshan and asked in a low voice, “Hey, is that a horse demon? Can all demon clans transform into a half-beast state?”

Bao Qingshan: “No, he’s just a centaur. He immigrated from abroad.”

Zhan Yan: “Huh?”

Bao Qingshan: “I heard that the treatment over there is not as good as ours, so he came over.”

Zhan Yan watched the centaur walk to the back of a line and start queuing. The person at the front of the line was blocked by the long queue and couldn’t be seen. He could only see the banner hanging behind, with white text on a blue background: “Specializes in treating difficult and complicated diseases,” which looked very much like a quack.

Zhan Yan walked a few steps to get a better look. Oh, it was Granny Zhuo Shu sitting there.

[The centaur, Basil Gallagher, cannot shapeshift and finds life in the country very inconvenient. Hearing that Zhuo Shu is good at solving all kinds of difficult problems, he decides to ask her for help.]

Isn’t this a language translation barrier? Granny Zhuo Shu is good at treating illnesses! She can’t perform surgery to change a centaur’s horse body into two human legs…

Speaking of which… Zhan Yan suddenly thought of a question.

He poked Bao Qingshan and asked in a low voice, “Hey, how do you think the organs in a centaur’s body are arranged?”

Bao Qingshan: Right!

A human’s internal organs are in the upper body, while a horse’s internal organs are in the horizontal body. The part that connects to the centaur’s human body is normally the horse’s neck.

The veterinarian DNA, stirred!

The truly tall and sturdy centaur, Basil Gallagher, suddenly shivered.

He looked around in confusion.