Grandmaster Ming followed suit, saying with equal deep emotion, "On such an important day as today, I also present the Dean with a poem! Wishing you—unimpeded fortune, carefree wandering amidst verdant maples, solitude in the world of grudges and tribulations, and leisurely fishing on the Cloud Bridge!"
"Good!"
Everyone applauded.
Grandmaster Ming's poem won thunderous applause.
Xie Feng's lips twitched. What on earth had happened?
Why should we wish him well?!
and!
Aren't you supposed to be grandmasters of Literary Dao and art? Aren't your poems a little too "high-level"?!
Make way! Make way!
Just then, Changying, carrying a bowl of noodles, squeezed through the crowd!
"Sect Leader, it's your birthday today! Come and eat your birthday noodles!" She presented the noodles to Xie Feng with a smile.
"Sect Leader, I've prepared a braised pork knuckle feast, and I'm just waiting for you!" Zhou Jin also appeared in the academy!
"My birthday?"
Xie Feng was completely dumbfounded!
To be honest, he didn't know when he was born, and his master never said...
Moreover, when he first transmigrated here, he didn't know the time here either...
If today is his birthday, then he's twenty-eight!
well...
Time flies and ages us all...
Xie Feng suddenly felt a sense of melancholy and wistfulness.
In China, someone this age would probably be married with children, but in the Dao Realm, where people are often over a hundred years old, he's still a child compared to them!
Thinking about it this way, I feel much better.
Xie Feng asked, "Who told you that?"
Everyone looked at each other with mysterious smiles on their faces, and no one said a word.
" Xiao Shang, what are you saying?"
Xie Feng chose the most innocent question.
Sushang shook her head and backed away, hiding behind Changying. She laughed and said, "Brother, it's a secret. You eat your birthday noodles first!"
Within the Dantian.
Hearing that it was Xie Feng's birthday today, Kong Qiusu somewhat surprised and embarrassed; as his senior, he hadn't even known...
Birthdays are important days for everyone, and we should offer our blessings...
He was disappointed...
"You have amnesia, it's not your fault!"
Little Sword over and nuzzled his shoulder with its hilt, offering words of comfort.
"You humans are so romantic, celebrating your births in special ways. You're much warmer and happier than us cold, emotionless sword spirits!"
Little Sword sighed.
After eating his birthday noodles, Xie Feng arrived at the backyard amidst everyone's congratulations and entourage. Zhou Jin had already prepared a braised pork knuckle feast, and everyone sat down casually.
It's called a pork knuckle banquet, but it mainly features pork knuckle, along with other delicacies from land and sea, famous teas and fine wines—everything you could want.
Children sit at one table, adults sit at another.
"Brother," Sushang, who was sitting next to him, suddenly leaned over and blinked her bright eyes.
"We only just found out it's your birthday today, so we only prepared these hastily and haven't notified anyone else yet, like the Island Master of Flame Island. Should we inform them and let them receive some gifts?"
"Goodness, greed is contagious!" Zhou Jin chuckled and teased.
"Let's not bother them, let's celebrate by ourselves," Xie Feng said.
After everyone finished eating, Changying cut up some fruit and invited everyone to eat, and they all gathered around.
It was a hot summer day, and the cool evenings were delightful. The sweet fruits and melons were refreshing, and laughter echoed from the courtyard, floating through the Dark Ink Mountain, turning into the sound of bells that soared into the sky.
"Brother, come here!"
At this moment, Sushang, looking mysterious, pulled him out of the crowd and led him to a secluded courtyard.
"Why are you acting like a thief? Is there a surprise in store?" Xie Feng asked with a smile.
"Uh-huh!"
Sushang nodded, pushed open the back door, and urged, "Brother, come in, the surprise is inside!"
"Still so secretive..."
Before Xie Feng could finish speaking, Sushang gently pushed him inside.
Goodbye~
Sushang waved his hand and slammed the door shut.
Xie Feng: "..."
What surprise could it be? Why all the secrecy?
He turned around. This side courtyard was used to entertain guests. The courtyard was not large, but it was clean and tidy, with a maple tree planted in the middle.
At this moment, under the maple tree, there is a square table with a pot of wine, a dish of peanuts, and two wine cups on it.
A tall figure stood facing a tree, backlit by the moonlight. He wore a dark blue robe, and even from behind, one could tell that he possessed an extraordinary temperament and an innate domineering aura.
That silhouette...
Why does this feel so familiar?
Xie Feng blinked and said, "Second Senior Brother?!"
The man in blue turned around, his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes exuding an imposing aura—it was none other than the Devil Emperor Ge Ya!
In the Dao Realm, he also used the alias Chu Kuang!
Xie Feng was pleasantly surprised; his second senior brother had actually come all this way!
His senior brother loved to wander the world. After their last parting in the Upper Realm, he probably had no ties left and was now roaming the starry sky, disappearing without a trace.
His appearance at the Pill Maple Academy at this moment is indeed a pleasant surprise!
"You're the one who told Xiao Shang and the others about my birthday, right?" Xie Feng walked over and asked.
"Aren't you touched? You didn't expect that, did you? Your senior brother seems carefree, but he's actually very thoughtful! Don't be so moved you cry!"
Ge Ya chuckled.
His greatest characteristic is his confidence!
Very confident!
Otherwise, he wouldn't have said such self-praising things...
The two sat down, Ge Ya, holding the wine pot, said, "I know you don't usually drink, but today is no ordinary day. How can men be without wine! Come, fill it up!"
As he spoke, he downed two glasses of wine.
"Without further ado, all my blessings are in this drink! Cheers!"
Ge Ya raised his glass and downed it in one gulp.
"Senior brother, won't you eat a peanut?"
"That was prepared for you!"
"..."
Xie Feng inexplicably felt that his alcohol tolerance had been looked down upon...
He doesn't like drinking, but that doesn't mean he gets drunk easily, especially now that his cultivation level is so high, a little alcohol can't get him drunk.
Xie Feng did it too.
"Alas, what a pity..."
Ge Ya held his wine cup and suddenly sighed.
Xie Feng asked, "What's a pity?"
Ge Ya said, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if all four of us were together?"
Xie Feng knew that he missed his master and senior brother. No matter how powerful a ruler is, there will always be someone in his heart who is considered his "weak point".
Xie Feng laughed, "Four people aren't enough, but three will do! Senior brother, you should have prepared an extra wine glass!"
Ge Ya was taken aback.
At this moment, a wisp of white light drifted out from Xie Feng's Dantian, transforming into the appearance of Kong Qiusu. He raised his palm, and energy surged forth, condensing into the shape of a wine glass and a stool.
"Long time no see, second brother!"
Kong Qiusu with his hands behind his back, smiling as he looked at Ge Ya!
"Boss! Is that you?"
"It's me!"
You're still alive?!
"How are you still alive?!"
"..."
"..."
The moment the two met, it was like enemies meeting again, with them exchanging barbs and insults, instantly filling the courtyard with a tense atmosphere.
Ge Ya crossed his arms, looked him up and down, and curled his lip:
"Tsk, it's only been a short while, and you've fallen to such a state? Was your mouth too sharp and your character too awful, so you were struck by lightning and your body was shattered? Haha!"