Chapter 143: Foundation (Combined Volume)

In the deep water layer, the Canal Dragon King, like a ferocious dragon released from a sluice, caused the canal water system to respond to his anger, surging forward!

The entire water layer, under the influence of incense divine power, transformed into a vast ocean where thunder burst forth.

Blinding lightning filled the heavens and the earth.

Zhang Jian sensed the danger of those thunderbolts and quickly retracted his overly sensitive divine sense, lest he be counter-injured by the thunder.

"How terrifying this divine power is!"

Zhang Jian narrowed his eyes, knowing that this thunder should be the manifestation of the Canal Dragon King's divine office, and it seemed the Canal Dragon King's direction in strengthening his divine office was different.

During this period, Zhang Jian frequently interacted with deities, and thus understood the mysteries of divine cultivation better than ordinary cultivators.

After receiving formal investiture as a proper deity, a deity obtains the corresponding divine Dao inheritance.

Among these, the cultivation of the divine office is of paramount importance.

Similar to the Fengling Mountain God he encountered, and his father-in-law, the White Water Dragon King, they followed a path of balanced development.

Within the divine office, various palaces evolve to match divine functions, even extending to merit pools, water eyes, earth apertures, spiritual pools, and so on, ultimately condensing into various divine Dao treasures.

This assists in maximizing the enhancement of incense divine power.

It also alleviates the cumbersome duties of the divine Dao.

Occasionally, some evolved palaces can also assist in cultivating various divine Dao arts.

But there are exceptions.

For instance, the old dragon king before them directly evolved his divine office into a single ocean of thunder.

Transforming into a thunder pool!

Its slaughtering capability would be maximized.

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

At this moment, Zhang Jian also took the opportunity to communicate with the Slay Demon True Lord.

"Master, you previously said this old dragon king here still has benefits; I wonder what those benefits are?"

Upon hearing this, the Slay Demon True Lord spoke calmly.

"You little brat are quite opportunistic!"

Hearing this, Zhang Jian disagreed: "Master, you can't say that; looking at my slender arms and legs, if I just barge into the conflict between Yin God Venerables, isn't that taking enormous risks? Moreover, I'm not familiar with this old dragon king, so I naturally need to gain something!"

Upon hearing this, the Slay Demon True Lord neither agreed nor disagreed, merely saying calmly.

"Did you choose the Qianyuan Golden Ding as your natal magic artifact?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian immediately realized something and replied: "Master, indeed it is so!"

The Slay Demon True Lord said: "Taking the ding as a natal magic artifact, most are those with ambition, intending to meddle with the mountains, rivers, and state. What scheme do you have, brat? I know, and the Qianyuan Golden Ding itself is also modeled after the Ancestral Grandfather's State Altar Ding, cast in imitation. Being the State Altar Ding, if one wishes to continuously elevate the magic artifact, naturally one needs to rely on the spiritual essence of the mountains, rivers, and state!"

"Later, if the old dragon king asks you what reward you want, just tell him you only need to borrow that fragment of the ancient mountains and rivers map from his treasury for a viewing!"

"Ancient Mountains and Rivers Map?"

Zhang Jian's expression froze.

The Slay Demon True Lord further advised: "Gathering mountain and river spiritual essence, besides your method of occupying mountain and river terrain, collecting qi flow to refine into spiritual essence for tempering the ding vessel, there is another way: directly contemplating the ancient mountains and rivers map, comprehending its form and spirit, and imprinting it onto the Qianyuan Golden Ding!"

"Ancient sages measured the mountains and rivers, gathering the appearance of the Divine Land within it, form and spirit both complete. Obtaining it likewise allows one to condense the essence of the mountains and rivers' spirit, which is also a swift method!"

"However, this ancient mountains and rivers map has endured the vicissitudes of time, changed hands repeatedly through plunder, and is now fragmented. How much you can comprehend from these fragments depends on your own ability. If you can beforehand condense the ancient mountains and rivers map, gathering it onto the Qianyuan Golden Ding, then without saying you will directly condense the primordial spirit foundation and achieve the golden core foundation, it is not difficult!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's eyes lit up.

Contemplation and such— isn't that his forte?

This problem is no big deal!

Meanwhile, in the water layer, after the furious old dragon king's frenzied output, the Xuan Tian Demon God's divine power dimmed all over his body. He tried to flee the water layer, but the water inside and outside had already been completely surrounded by the old dragon king's divine office thunder pool.

It was as if trapped in a mire.

After enduring several impacts, like prey stuck in a swamp, the old dragon king tightly trapped him and gradually tore apart the deity's true body.

The old dragon king hated the Xuan Tian Demon God intensely; lightning directly wrapped each divine power fragment one by one, thoroughly refining them!

Seeing this, Zhang Jian couldn't help but ask: "Master, have these two deities been completely slain?"

The Slay Demon True Lord said calmly: "Deities are not so easily slain; most deities have both a divine power true body and a manifest true body as their two entities. You should remember that to slay a deity, besides exterminating their divine soul, you must also destroy their temples; only then can they be truly and completely slain.

Of course, this is merely a trait of most high-ranking deities; other weaker minor deities, once their divine soul is destroyed, are basically dead.

However, these two deities of Xuandu have also lost hundreds of years of tempered divine bodies; hundreds of years of accumulation destroyed in an instant, which also counts as having thoroughly devastated them!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian nodded.

Indicating he had taken note.

The Slay Demon True Lord also took the opportunity to give Zhang Jian some private instruction, transmitting part of the experience on how to strangle deities.

Zhang Jian perked up his ears to listen attentively.

Even as the natal ghost god Red Flower Lady was also listening with one ear, but having heard too much, she felt her hairs stand on end.

This Slay Demon True Lord appears to have extraordinarily rich experience in slaying deities; many methods are ones she could not imagine, such as how to trace a deity's true body location, which can borrow the pull of incense power, using wondrous methods to search. However, the Slay Demon True Lord seems to have intended to look after her, also casually explaining part of the corresponding countermeasures.

This has benefited Red Flower Lady greatly.

Meanwhile, at this moment, after slaying the Xuan Tian Demon God, the old dragon king manifested his Li Long dragon body but did not linger; instead, he flew straight out of the water surface, heading toward another direction.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian also withdrew and returned first to the water surface.

As for seeking benefits, he was not in a hurry; this matter requires the other party to come ask.

If the Canal Dragon King truly will not come, he can go to his door later without delay.

At this time, on the passenger boats on the water surface, many examinees discovered that the wind and waves on the canal had finally subsided.

It seemed the heavenly disaster had already passed.

This made many examinees breathe a sigh of relief, while simultaneously feeling immense gratitude toward Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian's single sentence had saved the lives of an entire boat of people.

On the passenger boat, the boat captain brought his young grandson to Zhang Jian's door and knocked on the door.

"Zhang Langjun, you must certainly accept my whole family's bow; if it weren't for you, my whole family would have no life!"

"Zhang Xiong, we are still here! The life-saving grace cannot be repaid!"

Shi Lun also brought several jinshi and followed behind; he was even more astonished by Zhang Jian, regarding him as a heavenly being.

Many jinshi clasped their hands and bowed, even those who had previously been full of complaints.

Zhang Jian immediately helped everyone up.

"There is no need for such ceremony; since we are on the same boat, we naturally share weal and woe!"

Everyone nodded.

After the crowd had not waited long on the shore, once the wind and waves on the river had completely calmed, they set off again.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Canal Dragon King flew out of the water, yet swiftly headed downstream.

As the Canal Dragon King, he immediately sensed that Daoists of the Xuan Du Sect were ambushing the grain transport ships of the Great Qian court downstream.

As the Canal Dragon God, he naturally could not stand by and do nothing.

Not only because it concerned his incense offerings, but because these cultivators had already crossed the boundary.

At this moment he was furious, like a beast king whose territory had been invaded.

However, when the Canal Dragon King arrived at the narrow waterway at the junction of Jixian Commandery and Shanyang Commandery, his face was utterly gloomy.

Dozens of large grain transport ships had mostly sprung leaks and sunk to the riverbed.

On the water's surface, soldiers' corpses floated in disarray.

Many of the corpses were swollen, with arrows embedded in them.

Casualties were countless.

Of the thirty thousand reinforcements, at least sixty percent had become water ghosts; a small portion relied on drifting wooden barrels and planks, still struggling.

Some fortunate ones had swum back to the shore.

At this moment, only a few dozen lonely grain transport ships remained on the water; the commanders on the ships were still shouting loudly, trying to rescue the soldiers who had fallen into the water.

"Xuan Du Sect!"

The old Dragon King sank his face, his gaze turning toward the mountains; the Second Sect Master of the Xuan Du Sect had clearly learned in advance of the unfavorable situation at the Dragon Palace battlefield and had already withdrawn with his followers.

The old Dragon King held his breath in his chest, his fury having no outlet.

"Xuan Du Sect, this matter this god has remembered; this god will surely seek justice for my Canal Dragon Palace and for these tens of thousands of water ghosts!"

He drew a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a stern light.

Meanwhile, deep in the mountains, many rebel troops were retreating in order; the one called the Chong God, the Second Sect Master of the Xuan Du Sect, at this moment also noticed the old Dragon King's gaze, seeing that the other dared not pursue due to divine law, he gave a faint, cold smile.

Although such a Dragon King deity possesses vast divine power, most of it is restricted by divine law and region; once beyond the jurisdiction of the Canal God Office, he might even be weaker than peers of the same rank.

What does such a powerful one have to fear?

As for revenge.

When the Xuan Du Sect sweeps across the southern commanderies and carves out a territory, this Canal Dragon King might even have to live by the Xuan Du Sect's favor.

"Hmph!"

With a touch of pride, the Chong God vanished in an instant.

Next, it only remains to see whether the Hidden Dragon method chosen by the Xuan Du Sect can in one stroke capture Jixian Commandery, seize the foundation of Dragon Rise; if it cannot, before the Great Qian court reacts, sweeping across the southern commanderies, the Xuan Du Sect will also face great trouble.

……

However, the Second Sect Master of the Xuan Du Sect does not know that, at this moment, the situation within Jixian Commandery has already undergone great change.

Shi Lun's family letter quickly reached the entire Shi family, and the Shi clan elder, Shi Jun'an, personally went to meet the Governor Wu Hongqiao.

Wu Hongqiao realized the gravity, immediately summoned the Commandery Magistrate Wang Gong, simultaneously summoned the leader of the Black-Clad Guards Jiang Chang, and also the Daoist Lü of the Dongshen Guan; while actively deploying, he additionally requested the Daoist Lü of the Dongshen Guan to again attempt to warn the imperial envoy and Governor of the southern commanderies, Cai Hengxing, who was far away in Shanyang Commandery.

And when the great battle on the canal ended, the Black-Clad Guards within Jixian Commandery, in cooperation with the garrison troops stationed there, began to sweep away the infiltrated agents of the Xuan Du Sect with the force of thunder before one could cover their ears.

Countless killings began simultaneously.

……

In the city of Shanyang Commandery, Cai Hengxing's white hair had been growing during this time.

He had originally only gone to Fengyang Commandery to investigate the death of Governor Tong Tongguang, but ended up encountering the rebellion of refugees in Shanyang Commandery, being driven like ducks to the shelves, forced to become the Pacification Grand General.

Even if it were only this, it would be enough.

However, during this time, the bandits within Shanyang Commandery were not only not eradicated, but rather increased the more they were suppressed.

Those bandits, in a short time, had swept across more than ten counties, claiming to have tens of thousands of troops.

Sitting in the master's chair, he lightly rubbed his wrist; handling documents during this time had already made him hoarse, and he still had to run around, coordinating all departments to exterminate the bandits.

Daoist Xue stood beside Cai Hengxing, and thus furrowed his brow.

"Cai Xiong, you also need not be anxious; reinforcements from the surrounding commanderies are accelerating their rush to aid; when the reinforcements arrive, destroying those rebels will be easy!"

Now, the rebellion within Shanyang Commandery mainly lies in the self-proclaimed Ming Wang descended into the world, Chang Li.

Daoist Xue also does not understand how Chang Li, merely a common farmhand by origin, could gather so many bandits in such a short time.

However, regarding the slogan shouted by Chang Li, he is quite concerned.

Chang Li claims to be the Ming Wang descended into the world from the Xuan Du Sect, an incarnation of a deity, born specifically to testify and relieve the suffering of billions of common people, and has put forth the slogan "Unequal wealth and poverty, I am your equal," attracting many refugees and displaced persons, with the ranks still growing.

What makes the Dongshen Guan sensitive is the Xuan Du Sect.

This Xuan Du Sect has long been belittled by the Dongshen Guan as one of the evil paths, a sect of the demonic teachings; it has always been surrounded and suppressed, hunted down by the Dongshen Guan.

Daoist Xue is very clear about how difficult this sect is to deal with!

Upon hearing this, Cai Hengxing nodded.

"May I soon be able to complete the imperial order!"

The two were deep in discussion when Xue Daoist's expression shifted, and in the distance, a divine swift crane of unmatched grace flapped its wings as it flew from afar, landing instantly in Xue Daoist's hand.

This was a rare bird specially trained by the Daoists of Dongshen Guan for transmitting messages, capable of flying a thousand miles in a day with astonishing speed.

Having taken the message from it, Xue Daoist's face changed abruptly.

"Xue brother, what's wrong?"

Xue Daoist glanced at Cai Hengxing, his expression revealing difficulty; sensing something amiss, Cai Hengxing quickly took the letter, and after just one glance, he was struck as if by lightning.

"Thirty thousand reinforcements ambushed mid-crossing, suffering over half casualties?"

Cai Hengxing's eyes were filled with utter disbelief.

He could not help but lose himself in shock.

"How could this be possible?"

Xue Daoist also realized the gravity of the situation; he drew a deep breath and said in a solemn voice: "Governor, this matter is no falsehood. From now on, we must proceed with caution, lest the heretics of Xuandu Sect seize the opportunity to attack the capital of Sanyang Commandery!"

Upon hearing this, Cai Hengxing felt somewhat dizzy, unsteady on his feet, and instinctively braced himself against the grand master's chair, muttering under his breath.

"Thirty thousand reinforcements!"

"Without reinforcements, how can Sanyang Commandery's city be defended!"

……

On the canal, the river was now clear and tranquil, with no other vessels visible for a thousand li, only a single passenger boat drifting amidst the water and clouds.

This scene struck many examinees, accustomed to bustling crowds, as strangely eerie.

Yet they knew that, under such heavenly calamity, merely surviving was already a feat—other boats likely had no such fortune.

That day, on the river's surface, an invisible white mist began to rise from the water's depths, spreading across the surface of the Grand Canal.

"Divine power?"

Inside the cabin, Zhang Jian, sensing the change on the water, stirred and rose to his feet, noticing the white mist rolling in; soon, many examinees in the cabin, and even the boatman, seemed to fall asleep in an instant.

At that moment, waves surged upon the water, and only ethereal, distant immortal music could be heard as a troop silently emerged from the river's surface.

At a glance, they were all shrimp soldiers and crab generals, led by a youth of handsome features, with dragon horns upon his head.