Chapter 151: The Flowstone Loves Binging TV Shows

Ning Xianyu knew that although mortals were weak, they could still triumph over heaven by half a move. Though fragile individually, mortals were the most numerous beings in existence.

Mortals were remarkably resilient, and their process of growth and evolution was far swifter than that of immortals, demons, or spirits.

In all realms, spiritual energy would eventually dissipate, and the ultimate victors standing at the top of the food chain would always be mortals.

"Alright, alright, I'll go. Stop trying to scare me," Ning Xianyu said helplessly. "How do I take away the Flowing Stream Stone?"

Nian Laisheng replied, "I saw you came out quite effortlessly. Do you have some kind of divine artifact on you?"

Knowing she couldn't hide it, Ning Xianyu could only ask, "Does the Astrolabe count?"

Nian Laisheng nearly clapped in applause. "Count? How could it not? Both the Astrolabe and the Flowing Stream Stone are fragments of the Heaven-Mending Stone. They share the same origin."

"If you take it with you, the Flowing Stream Stone will naturally submit obediently."

"Besides, you were transformed from the Breath Soil, and the Heaven-Mending Stone and Breath Soil both originated from the Chaos period. They share the same root and feel a natural affinity. If you just speak a word, the Flowing Stream Stone will willingly follow you."

It sounded easy enough, but Ning Xianyu suspected the Flowing Stream Stone wouldn't be so docile.

"When I went down earlier, it even manipulated me into turning into some kind of matron. Does that look like someone who would listen?"

Aware of what had happened down below, Nian Laisheng could not help but remark, "I suspect the Flowing Stream Stone was simply too lonely and wanted someone to play with."

"Go find it. With the Astrolabe accompanying you, it shouldn't act up anymore."

He said a great deal, the gist of it being that Ning Xianyu should go down and not be afraid.

Helpless, Ning Xianyu had no choice but to go.

Returning to the shores of Peace Lake once more, she really did not want to go down.

Yet go she must.

Standing by the lake, she hesitated, utterly reluctant to descend. Instead of touching the stone tablet again, she stayed on the shore and began calling out to the little red figure and the Astrolabe.

"Call your brother out. He's being too mischievous. Come back and play together, won't you?"

She called out several times, but the water remained completely still. She thought these stones were truly lacking in loyalty; whenever they were needed, they were nowhere to be found.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, she saw the surface of the lake ahead slowly rising.

The entire lake transformed into a massive sphere of water, gently floating up into the air and looking just like a round, crystal-clear boulder.

Once airborne, the boulder began to shrink, eventually reducing to the size of a human head as it drifted right before her.

Ning Xianyu reached out doubtfully, and the stone settled into her palm.

Upon touching it, she found it truly was a stone with a hard exterior, yet it looked remarkably clear and transparent, with what appeared to be flowing water inside.

Peering closely, she was astonished to see a grand courtyard depicted within. A dazed young emperor sat dumbly in one spot, accompanied by Zhang Lang, while not far away stood Xuanyuan Tunhan and Xiahou Fang.

Surrounding them were numerous tiny stone puppets—so minuscule that upon closer inspection, they turned out to be estate servants.

They all looked as though they were watching a play.

Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Tunhan and Xiahou Fang were fighting fiercely, trading blows back and forth with great intensity, yet neither could gain the upper hand.

"So we were trapped inside you all along! They searched everywhere for your true form and couldn't find it simply because they were already inside."

If they kept searching like that, Xuanyuan Tunhan and Xiahou Fang would never find the Flowing Stream Stone.

Ning Xianyu looked up and down at the stone and asked, "Stop playing around. Let them out, and I'll take you to play with the other stones."

The Flowing Stream Stone seemed reluctant, however, and transmitted a voice directly into her mind: "I want to watch the show. They haven't finished acting yet."

The voice belonged to a very soft and sweet young girl, sounding exceptionally adorable and instantly evoking a desire to pamper and spoil her.

"You still want to watch? Were you really that bored in the lake?"

"Bored! Every day I only get to see a few palace maids and eunuchs, which is terribly dull. I want to watch plays. People used to sing operas here all the time, but now they don't come anymore."

Ning Xianyu looked ahead. The lake was now empty, but not far away stood a tall platform that must have once served as a stage.

This had been a place where emperors escaped the summer heat for leisure and entertainment. No doubt opera troupes used to perform over there while the palace residents watched from this side.

Yet now that the emperor no longer brought troupes here, the Flowing Stream Stone had grown bored and started causing trouble.

No wonder Zhang Lang's features always felt so stylized and the plot so clichéd—it had all been learned from stage plays.

"If you wanted to watch plays, you should have said so earlier. Can you read?"

The Flowing Stream Stone replied, "I can."

Ning Xianyu said, "I'll take you to tea houses to listen to storytellers, to theater gardens to watch plays, and I'll buy you countless storybooks so you can read to your heart's content every day. How does that sound?"

As it turned out, girls in any realm loved binge-watching dramas; watching stories unfold was the very essence of life.

The Flowing Stream Stone was overjoyed. "Really? Don't trick me."

Without a blush on her face, Ning Xianyu declared, "Do I look like someone who would lie? If you don't believe me, ask the Astrolabe."

She summoned the Astrolabe, leaving the two stones to communicate with each other.

The Astrolabe couldn't speak at all, and the Flowing Stream Stone fell silent as well. Yet the moment the two stones touched, a palpable sense of joy radiated from them, as if they had found the happiness of long-lost siblings.

For reasons unknown, the Flowing Stream Stone could speak, while the Astrolabe remained a silent child.

The two stones presumably exchanged thoughts for a short while, though what they discussed remained a mystery, as their communication ended almost as quickly as it began.

"Astrolabe says you're gluttonous and lazy, but otherwise all right," the Flowing Stream Stone summarized.

Ning Xianyu instantly felt a surge of contempt for the Astrolabe.

Living in her divine domain without paying a single cent in rent, how could it have the nerve to give her such a low evaluation?

As a freeloading stone, shouldn't it have some self-awareness?

[Stones really are cold-blooded to the core, completely devoid of emotion.]

While mentally complaining to the system, Ning Xianyu still had to coax the Flowing Stream Stone. "So, are you willing to withdraw your magic and come with me now?"

The Flowing Stream Stone still looked somewhat reluctant. "Can I watch them finish fighting first? I want to see who wins."

Oh my, the little thing was quite hooked.

Ning Xianyu chuckled and said, "Actually, I want to see it too. Let's watch together."

Thus, within the illusion, Xuanyuan Tunhan and Xiahou Fang continued their battle with mounting intensity.

Delighted by the spectacle, Ning Xianyu egged the Flowing Stream Stone on: "Can you change their clothes, outfits, and builds?"

Deeply engrossed in the show, the Flowing Stream Stone agreed that it could.

With a mischievous grin, Ning Xianyu suggested, "Can you put them in women's clothing—something a bit dazzling and flamboyant?"

She placed the Flowing Stream Stone on the ground and traced a simple outline with her magic, conjuring up two flamboyant outfits straight out of an online game.

The Flowing Stream Stone had never seen anyone dress like this before and decided it was worth a try.

In the blink of an eye, the attire of Xuanyuan Tunhan and Xiahou Fang transformed.

Exaggerated busts, long slender legs, high-heeled boots, long braids, and short skirts...

Words simply could not capture how breathtaking they looked.

Mid-fight, Xuanyuan Tunhan and Xiahou Fang both froze. Glancing at each other's outfits and feeling the sudden breeze against their skin, they instantly realized they had been played for fools.

*Flowing! Stream! Stone!*