Chapter 780 - 305: Declaring to Heaven, Entering the Inch-Sized Realm

September 1st, 5 a.m.

The eternal sun cast a golden ray over He Yue Village, heralding the arrival of a new day.

The morning bell tolled right on time, its deep and majestic sound sweeping away everyone’s fatigue and dispelling the night’s gloom.

Countless natural auras, like a serpent’s rush, swiftly circled around Dafeng City and then converged into the festival platform suspended in the air above. Not far off, the Luo River began to flow backward into the sky, with a faintly discernible earthy yellow figure flickering within it.

The crowd eagerly awaited.

With a sudden and high-pitched dragon’s roar, the water from the Luo River evaporated into a mist, dissipating the heat of early autumn and offering coolness to the guests at the festival. Subsequently, the crowd saw a giant dragon emerge from the mist, interweaving with the previous natural auras above the festival platform.

"God of the Luo River!"

The atmosphere among the farming disciples became instantly charged with excitement and fervor.

Taozhu Da Feng Immortal stood at the front of the festival platform and shouted,

"Majestic heavens, overseeing the earth... The farming community of He Yue Village—the humble soil... all flora and fauna flourish... peaceful and serene, honoring the spirits of the earth..."

After the opening ceremonial words were sung, he waved his hand, and three rings of azure qi-like clouds sequentially descended, arranged in an orderly manner from high to low, from inside to outside, each three meters wide, labeled with names.

"Esteemed guests, please be seated."

The various major factions took their respective seats on their designated platforms.

The forces from Little South Continent naturally sat adjacent to one another.

However, the forces from other continents deliberately kept their distance from them, thus dividing the guest seats into two factions: Little South Continent and non-Little South Continent. This dissatisfying situation left the factions from Little South Continent grumbling inwardly, as it was the other factions that actively isolated them.

Luo Qingyao glanced around but did not see Fu Manman, leading to some puzzlement.

She knew Man’Er was not someone who didn’t keep her promises. Could something have happened unexpectedly to delay her?

"How strange, I haven’t seen Master Manman," Zhuge Hong remarked, looking at the White Jade Capital’s seat that was still empty while the adjacent seat of Wenxin Heaven already had the Le Hall Great Saint seated there.

This Great Saint, known as the "Music Saint," is one of the Wenxin Seven Saints, well-versed in music and ceremonies, frequently attending important ceremonies of major factions or academies. Therefore, it’s unclear what Wenxin Heaven’s stance is on this Great Prosperity Festival.

The guest seats gradually fell silent.

Taozhu Da Feng Immortal loudly announced, "Esteemed guests, gathered here in unity, He Yue Village shall serve you wholeheartedly and hopes your visit is worthwhile. I hereby declare—"

A voice from the seats called out,

"No guests have arrived from White Jade Capital!"

Taozhu Da Feng Immortal paused briefly, looking toward the glaringly empty White Jade Capital seat.

If it were any other factions, it would be acceptable for no one to come. But White Jade Capital was different. As a leader of the Immortal Dao with a strong presence for nearly a millennium, White Jade Capital can be considered the leading force in the world.

The absence of someone from White Jade Capital—was it because they didn’t want to come, or because they couldn’t come?

If they didn’t want to come, why not? Was it a lack of support for He Yue Village or for this Great Prosperity Festival?

If they couldn’t come, was it due to reasons from He Yue Village or from themselves?

These questions needed to be clarified, for after all, this was White Jade Capital, not just any ordinary sect, family, or nation.

For the farming community, the Great Prosperity Festival had to proceed smoothly, with no room for delay!

Even if White Jade Capital didn’t support it, it must go on!

But, an explanation was due for everyone else.

Taozhu Da Feng Immortal then declared loudly,

"The skies do not await auspicious times, people do not wait for fortunate days. The Great Prosperity Festival resonates with the Heavenly Dao, benefiting all beings, and cannot be delayed."

Upon these words, the guest seats buzzed once more, everyone discussing, their words laced with concern for this Great Prosperity Festival. A situation where White Jade Capital was absent hadn’t happened before. If White Jade Capital didn’t support it, the festival might not proceed. But from Taozhu Da Feng Immortal’s attitude, it seemed certain to be held as scheduled.

It inevitably led to doubts about whether the farming community did something wrong.

Luo Qingyao heard these murmurs of speculation and said,

"They’d rather doubt the farming community’s actions than suspect if there’s an issue with White Jade Capital."

Fan Qi remarked, "To question White Jade Capital is to question themselves."

"True. However, wasn’t White Jade Capital supposed to have Man’Er participate? She’s not the kind to be late." Luo Qingyao furrowed her brow, "Could something have happened after we parted at the Phoenix Dynasty?"

She turned to Zhuge Hong, "Xiaohong, what’s your intuition?"

Zhuge Hong tapped her forehead with her finger, then said,

"White Jade Capital."

"What do you mean?"

"My intuition tells me that Master Manman is currently at White Jade Capital."

Luo Qingyao was taken aback, "Wasn’t she coming to the Great Prosperity Festival? How could she have gone back to White Jade Capital? Can you sense any specifics of what’s happening?"

Zhuge Hong pursed her lips, "That’s asking too much of me."

"Alright then."

Luo Qingyao knew that detailed matters were very difficult for Zhuge Hong to sense.

She then planned to inform Fan Wubing about the matter.

At that moment, a giant shadow of a carp appeared on the horizon. The shadow flickered momentarily before vanishing, followed by an arc of light descending into the White Jade Capital seat. As the light faded, the crowd got a clear view of the arrival.