Chapter 230: Monster Mansion Banquet
Chapter 230: Monster Mansion Banquet
Chapter 230: Monster Mansion Banquet
As Xu Disheng and the green-clothed man were speaking, a few streams of extremely pure monster qi and profound qi tore through the horizon, landing in front of them. A voice rang out, carrying a somewhat mocking tone. “Gui Yuanhua. Before I came here, I saw Yuan Mochou enter your cave abode, and it was your wife that came out to personally invite him in.”
The expression of the turtle-transformed monster who was speaking to Xu Disheng turned ashen, interrupting his line of questioning toward Xu Disheng. He turned his gaze to the person who spoke just now and said coldly, “Liu Tongbai. If you slander my wife’s name one more time, I will throw away these few hundred years of cultivation and put my life on the line to slaughter you right here, right now.”
Before the human rogue cultivator Liu Tongbai could respond, the several Transformation stage monsters next to him began to roar with laughter.
One of them, a water scorpion-transformed monster called Lai Zishi, came forward and patted Gui Yuanhua on the shoulder. “Brother Liu might’ve been a bit blunt, but in the end he was looking out for you. Brother Gui, you must already know about all this deep in your heart.”
Several decades ago, Gui Yuanhua had taken a half-transformed water serpent monster as his monster companion. But he never expected this water serpent monster to have such a promiscuous disposition. Every time Gui Yuanhua left, she would take advantage of his absence to seduce all kinds of powerful monsters to come to their cave abode, where they would engage in lustful pleasures.
There was one time when Gui Yuanhua had returned to their cave, only to catch her in the act, red-handed. In the end, the powerful half-step Monster Core stage monster beat Gui Yuanhua until he was severely injured, then swaggered off.
If it weren’t for that water serpent monster having a bit of conscience and speaking out for him, that powerful monster would have probably beat Gui Yuanhua to death on the spot.
After that, the water serpent monster’s behavior became even more unrestrained. Gui Yuanhua was completely aware of what was going on, but to hear Liu Tongbai directly bring it up was still shameful to the extreme, causing him to fly into a rage.
“Who is this?” Liu Tongbai asked suspiciously, eyes drawn to Xu Disheng and his important-looking, elegant bearing.
Although Liu Tongbai was a human rogue cultivator, he cultivated in these waters and was extremely close with these monsters. He had frequent interactions with them, and he was also on his way to Red Silk Monster General’s banquet along with Lai Zishi and the other monsters.
“What’s it to you?” Gui Yuanhua shot back. His anger from before still hadn’t completely faded, and he didn’t spare Liu Tongbai any cordialities.
Lai Zishi came forward and stood between them, mediating between the two. “Forget it, let’s not quarrel here any longer. It would be more suitable for us to hurry along to Red Silk Monster General’s banquet.”
The other monsters simply parroted in agreement, and the party of humans and monsters entered the water, making their way toward Red Silk Monster General’s cave abode.
Red Silk Monster General was a half-step Monster Core stage Monster General. He was only a little bit away from being a Monster Core stage Great Monster General, and he held a position in Quicksand Paradise as a nautical patrol guard, possessing broad connections and relationships in the area.
By this point, Liu Tongbai and their party already saw a good number of half-step Monster Generals show up one after the other in Red Silk Monster General’s cave abode.
“I wonder what the objective of the Red Silk Monster General’s banquet is this time?” a wolf monster named Shao Hun said, his wandering gaze filled with envy as he looked around at Red Silk Monster General’s impressive, grand cave abode. “We are both Transformation stage Monster Generals, but compared to Red Silk Monster General, I am completely broke.”
“We’re just rogue cultivator monsters while Red Silk Monster General is a nautical patrol guard of Quicksand Paradise. How could we even begin to compare?” Lai Zishi said, unconcerned. He repeatedly urged them, “Come on now, let’s hurry up and go in. With how rich and powerful Red Silk Monster General is, this banquet ought to be extravagant. I’m already totally famished.”
Liu Tongbai deliberately lagged behind a few steps, pulling up next to Xu Disheng. He smiled and asked, “If I may ask… what should I call you?”
Xu Disheng was sizing up the dignified, imposing appearance of Red Silk Monster General’s cave abode. When he heard himself being addressed, he turned and glanced at Liu Tongbai. “Soul Suppressor,” he responded.
“Soul Suppressor…” Liu Tongbai muttered to himself, seemingly unable to come up with any Monster General that went by the title ‘Soul Suppressor Monster General’. His brows furrowed in thought for a moment before someone tapped him on the shoulder.
“Brother Liu, what are you standing around for?”
It was Lai Zishi, who appeared behind him with a questioning look on his face. His appearance immediately interrupted Liu Tongbai’s deep train of thought.
“Ah… Nothing, I just felt like this monster that was traveling with Gui Yuanhua seemed a bit unfamiliar, that’s all.”
Lai Zishi didn’t seem to mind, replying nonchalantly, “The Quicksand Earth Territory is so vast. Even in our small pond, dozens of Transformation stage Monster Generals appear every year. How is it strange at all for him to be unfamiliar?”
Liu Tongbai didn’t respond. He simply followed Lai Zishi, and after answering the questions of the small monster guarding the gate to Red Silk Monster General’s cave abode, he went in.
Strange, curious rocks were interspersed throughout the cave abode, emitting crystalline light. There were ornate, magnificent pavilions filling the spacious cave, and the grand, towering Monster Mansion at the very center emitted a profoundly striking aura. It was embedded in the sea floor, seeming to suppress its surroundings with its impressive demeanor.
“I heard that the enormous Monster Mansion over there is where Red Silk Monster General’s ancestor stays in secluded meditation.”
“That’s right! Not to mention his noble, inspiring Monster King ancestor, apparently even Red Silk Monster General is on the verge of breaking through to the Monster Core stage!”
The living beings who came to attend the banquet were a diverse lot. Over half were half-transformed monsters from the nearby waters, while the rest were like Gui Yuanhua, Lai Zishi, and the others, who were rogue cultivator Monster Generals. There were also some rogue cultivators like Liu Tongbai, who had been cultivating in these waters for a long time and had managed to receive an invitation to the banquet.
An ordinary monster paradise consisting of only monster race like the Sandsea Paradise were extremely xenophobic toward the human and demon race. Quicksand Paradise was also a monster paradise, but it was completely different from other monster paradises.
The Divine Palace of the Quicksand Sea Deity was located in Quicksand Paradise. Since their deity was appointed by the laws of heaven and earth, Quicksand Paradise did not discriminate against any races, so there were quite a few human rogue cultivators who joined their ranks.
As a nautical patrol guard belonging to Quicksand Paradise, Red Silk Monster General also held no discrimination towards human rogue cultivators. As a result, the monsters and humans here in the Monster Mansion acted as equals, laughing and chatting together.
Xu Disheng’s party, consisting of Dao Foundation stage humans and Monster Generals, was brought to the main hall right beneath the majestic Monster Mansion, where they were allowed to take their seats.
By this point, dozens of rogue cultivator Monster Generals had streamed into their hall in succession. There were four or five human Dao Foundation stage rogue cultivators among them who seemed to be well-acquainted with the others present. Since Red Silk Monster General hadn’t arrived yet, they took the opportunity to greet them and exchange pleasantries.
A little while later, the high-pitched and resonant voice of a sea snail monster rang out from outside the hall. “Respectful greetings to Red Silk Monster General!”
A young man in black and red armor strode into the hall with a smile on his face. Trailing behind him were several Monster Generals with powerful auras, clearly much stronger than the riff-raff monster rogue cultivators present.
“Greetings, Red Silk Monster General!”
All monsters and humans alike present in the hall cupped their fists in salute, showing their respects.
The rogue cultivator Monster Generals were at the same cultivation realm as Red Silk Monster General, but the difference between their status was like that of an ordinary Dao Foundation stage disciple from the Peak Destroying Sword Sect and a genius disciple from the Shangqing Sacred Sect. The two couldn’t even be compared!
“Ladies and gentlemen, as you were!” Red Silk Monster General announced, his face beaming with a cordial smile that seemed to never fade. “I have gathered the rogue cultivators of the nearby waters to share this grand, joyous occasion with you all!”
In the front row of seats, a half-step Monster Core stage rogue cultivator stood up and cupped his hands. “Red Silk Monster General, what special occasion is it?” he asked bluntly.
“Mountain Traversing Monster General, there is no need to rush. It won’t be too late to mention it once the banquet begins! Come forth, servants. Start the banquet!”
The moment that Red Silk Monster General gave the order, dozens of female fish-tailed monsters in airy, half-transparent red muslin lingerie filed into the hall, each one carrying an exquisite silver platter. Once they entered the hall, they placed the dishes down on the banquet table.
“Blood Jade Elixir! Water Origin Herb! Bright Heart Fruit! As expected of the wealth of Red Silk Monster General!” Lai Zishi exclaimed, eyeing the precious spiritual fruits and herbs laid out on the platters. His gaze was filled with greed, and he almost couldn’t control himself.
Most of the other rogue cultivator Monster Generals were much the same. When they laid eyes on the luxurious variety of precious spiritual fruits and herbs before them, they longed to dig in and gorge themselves voraciously, but they did everything they could to keep themselves in check.