Chapter 1232: Promotion, Promotion, Promotion!

In late August, the parching sky-fire turned into a muggy, humid heat.

The court and the countryside were in an uproar; the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet did not return home for three days, passing their gates three times without entering, seeking news from the Imperial Observatory — only to find that the southern border, quiet for a year and a half, had once again mobilized the great shamans within the realm, presenting the posture of arrayed formations at the frontier passes, a threatening stance!

The Northern Court watched closely, ready at any moment.

The fief of Yixing, the Ten Thousand Springs Pavilion.

Inside the fish tank, the wandering rainbow light was gone; the Martial Hall disciples cupped their fists in apology to the tourists crowding the summit: "Today the Phoenix Immortal Fish will not be exhibited, nor will they ever be exhibited again. To those guests who came for the Eight Beauties of Jianghuai, we are truly sorry to disappoint you. As compensation, you may go to the left-hand corridor and receive a large plush 'Benbo'erba'..."

"Little brother, why? Why is the treasure fish no longer exhibited?"

"There is unusual movement at the southern border passes; the Prince of Huai must deploy the Phoenix Immortals, to prepare for unforeseen needs."

"I was hoping my boy could touch it, for a future of great martial fortune! Damn it, fuck the motherfucking southern border."

"How can the fucking southern border be so bad!"

"They fought once last year, and this year they still haven't learned their lesson! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The wooden crate thudded to the ground.

Taotao opened it, Jin Mao the monkey moved objects, the hedgehog tallied the accounts, the fat catfish whipped its long whiskers to direct left and right, Quantou, Yuantou, Long Xun, and Jin Mao Hu helped out, while "Bu Neng Dong" yawned.

"Prince of Huai, the hand-edict has arrived! The hand-edict has arrived! A hand-edict personally written by His Majesty!" At the Yang residence gate, Eunuch Li hurried up the steps, bowed, and presented the sealed memorial: "Within three days, set out immediately for Lingnan, to guard against the southern border rebels!"

"Many thanks, Lord Li!"

"A mere trifle, not worth mentioning. The Prince of Huai guards the frontier passes, a pillar of the state; it is the people under heaven who should thank you."

"Affairs of state are like a farmer tending his fields: one man wielding a plow can till no more than ten mu, but if the strength of many assists him, then the harvest fills the house — no one lacks merit, all have merit!"

"Husband, everything is packed and ready." Long Eying stepped out the door.

"You've worked hard, Lady."

"Elder / Junior Brother, matters here are all arranged; we can depart at any time."

Two rows of people formed walls, arrayed on both sides.

On the left, Long Binglin and Long Yanrui in hunting attire, behind them ten-odd heroic dragon-men, tall and fierce;

On the right, Senior Brother Xu Zishuai, Hu Qi, Xiang Changsong leading the way, commanding ten-odd Martial Hall disciples, encompassing the Three Heroes of the Martial Hall — Xiong Yiheng, Du Hanwen, Jin Xiaoyu — on their first campaign, excitement hard to contain.

Dragon-men, fellow disciples, junior brothers — together they formed a complete roster.

"Very good!"

Stowing the scroll, placing it in Eying's embrace, Liang Qu turned and walked out the main gate, onto the Han white jade courtyard, gazing at the deep blue vault of heaven.

"Husband, who are you waiting for?"

"Since my promotion to Martial Saint, fief, dragon-qi, porcelain, fine steeds... I have received no few rewards from His Majesty, but there remains one matter, requiring a full year, that has not yet arrived. Yesterday Binglin brought dragon-qi back from the capital and took the opportunity to ask about it; coincidentally, the matter is concluded today."

Long Eying's mind stirred: "Chishan?"

"Mm, Chishan!" Liang Qu's eyes sharpened. "It has come!"

"Boom!"

Muffled thunder suddenly sounded.

Blood-red light wandered, the sky's light dimmed.

The villagers of Yixing township all raised their heads.

Gazing into the far distance, though evening had not yet arrived — it should be the time of bright daylight — they saw a mass of fire-burning clouds burning on the horizon, churning and boiling, vast and mighty, arriving like guests, reflecting red on faces.

In the center of the fierce red light, a point of interwoven light and shadow; a fine steed moved its four hooves, overlapping into a cluster of blazing fire; its head bore horns, red scales reflecting light, like a burning fire meteor.

No longer what it once was; seeing his former colleague again, the fat catfish who had already become a Heavenly Yao was filled with pride inside, whiskers crossed, chin tilted at forty-five degrees, acting unconcerned, utterly indifferent, feigning nonchalance. Quantou panicked briefly, but also steadied his mindset — just a mount.

"Bu Neng Dong" yawned.

"Tsk!"

With a loud snort, Chishan hoofed the sky-full of fire-burning clouds and dove down, like a meteor falling to earth, tearing through the sky; beneath its conical shockwave, the cloud layer split in two.

The Martial Hall disciples stared dumbstruck; in their pitch-black pupils, a curved red ray leaped, long bright and undimmed, bursting with fervor.

The finest horse of the Great Shun — the Dragon Blood Horse.

The finest Dragon Blood Horse — the superlative Dragon Blood Horse, the Red Qilin!

A household with a Dragon Blood Horse — a household of high officials and nobles.

A household with a Red Qilin — enfeoffed as a marquis, then enfeoffed as a king!

"Hua!"

Hooves touched ground.

A gale whipped up, dust rose three zhang high, surging along the long street.

Liang Qu kindly helped shield Eying's long skirt, but his kindness was taken for donkey liver and lung; his own Lady rolled her eyes and slapped away the furry hand on her buttock.

Twin horns towering and winding, scales blood-red and gleaming; apart from the mane behind the neck, no hair was to be seen — if not for the hooves instead of claws beneath its feet, it would simply be an auspicious beast Qilin!

The most noble, most dazzling, most status-displaying Great Yao-level mount in the current world.

None other!

Among the rewards for enfeoffment as a king, aside from the fief, the most precious rewards — Chishan absolutely ranks among them, even contending for first place, comparable to the five Xuanhuang Tablets!

"Long time no see, old partner." Liang Qu patted Chishan's forehead.

Chishan shook its head, mane flying, neighing proudly.

One man attains the Dao, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven; the four Dragon Blood Horses that once came to Pingyang after the retreat from the Guimu Sect's blood-sacrifice conspiracy, entered the stables — yet it alone achieved transcendence!

The little Shenlong gritted its teeth, spat mist to form a white jade saw, aimed at Chishan's horns, sharpening its knife in anticipation.

"I said, brother-in-law, who were you waiting for? We agreed on a year, it's been over a year." Long Yanrui's eyes shone bright, excitedly stroking the smooth scales on Chishan's back; then he crouched down, a trace of regret flashing across his face. "How come they aren't claws? Claws would be so much better, exactly like a Qilin divine beast!"

"Tsk!" Contempt in Chishan's eyes.

"Brother-in-law, what kind of look is that from it?"

"Hahaha!" Liang Qu laughed loudly. "It's a mocking look, thinking you, kid, don't know quality."

"I misspoke?" Long Yanrui looked puzzled.

"There are only three ways creatures in this world walk."

"Three ways?" Hu Qi and Xiang Changsong leaned in closer.

Long Eying was also curious: "I've never heard of walking styles being categorized. Which three?"

"Plantigrade, digitigrade, unguligrade!" Liang Qu held up three fingers. "Plantigrade means walking with palms and soles on the ground, like humans, monkeys, bears.

Digitigrade means walking on the pads of fingers and toes, like cats, dogs, wolves, lions, tigers — equivalent to us humans lifting our heels and walking on the balls of our feet.

Unguligrade means walking on the very tips of fingers and toes — that is cattle, sheep, pigs, deer. They lift even their toes, walking on the tips of their nails.

The further out the point of force application, the more advantageous for running — whether turning or speed, it has the edge, like a spring. The downside is instability, requiring more contact points to maintain balance. If true hooves turned into claws, Chishan's speed would actually decrease, losing the Dragon Blood Horse's divine swiftness."

"I see." Long Yanrui struck his fist into his palm, suddenly enlightened. "Brother-in-law knows so much."

The hedgehog's eyes lit up; he fished out paper and brush, scribbling and sketching.

"Ashui, where did you learn all this?" Xu Zishuai wondered.

"Reading more books."

"Books have this?"

"Books have everything. All matters are ready; no time to lose, let's go." Liang Qu called out, "Third Prince!"

"Coming!"

Discarding the saw, the little mirage dragon flew out of the courtyard, opening its great mouth to spew white mist.

No one needed to move; they were automatically wrapped in carriages of white mist turned from void into substance. Beneath their bottoms long benches appeared, before them long tables, and along the entire palace-like train two white jade chains emerged, connecting to the clasps on Chishan's chest.

Four hooves stamped, and it soared forward.

The white jade palace magnificently rose into the sky.

"Stone in the River" moved south.

The Southern Border and Northern Court both treated it with utmost gravity.

Before the Early Huai King perished the dragon, the man was like a sharp chisel — wherever he went, he chiseled into the cracks, opening breaches.

He shattered the Northern Court's original balance, let the Southern Border's favorable plans take flight. Even Zhang Longxiang didn't have this knack for finding "loopholes."

They thought after the dragon's demise that "special ability" would be gone. Unexpectedly, the hundred strands of long Qi vanished mysteriously, informing the Southern Border's Nine Zhai that Liang Qu was still that unfathomable person!

The Martial Hall disciples looked at the spacious carriage, walking back and forth, reaching out to touch, incredulous.

Almost however prosperous you could imagine, that prosperous it became.

Want to sleep, call Third Prince once, and the carriage turns mid-air into a single-bed dormitory. Want to cultivate, it becomes individual small cultivation rooms, no one disturbing.

The locomotive cultivation room.

Long Eying and Long Binglin as guardians, Long Yanrui patrolling front and rear, became the train conductor.

Liang Qu sat cross-legged in meditation, abstinent for three days, body and spirit at their peak.

The Marsh Cauldron.

A shallow layer of blue tide, rippling with dark waves.

One hundred thirty strands of Heaven-and-Earth Long Qi intertwined above like feathers.

However,

Not enough,

Far from enough!

Favored Ascension requires six Spirit Fish, not six strands of Long Qi.

Fortunately, one dose of Ten Complete Great Tonic Medicine remains unused.

Phoenix Immortal Fish!

Inside the Marsh Nation, the old toad stuck out its belly, snoring fast asleep.

"Rainbow Light" wandered, passing through the round, bulging belly.

The fat catfish shook its head and swayed its tail, twirling its long whiskers on both sides, opening its great mouth to proclaim to all water beasts that its great mouth had merit — without the great mouth, no Phoenix Immortal.

"Awesome awesome! Boss Afat is amazing! Great mouth invincible yo!"

Fists knocking double pincers, the little mirage dragon feigned admiration. "Can't move" yawned.

"Afat!"

Whiskers folded ninety degrees in understanding; the fat catfish leapt from the water, mouth gaping in a dive.

"Splash."

Wrapped in bubbles.

Afat entered the Marsh Nation, as if sensing danger; the Phoenix Immortal Fish flicked its body, turning transparent — but this transparency still bore faint traces. Inside the Marsh Nation, there was nowhere to hide.

Liang Qu leapt from the great mouth, exhaled all air, sucked in a fierce breath, swallowing all surrounding vortex waters.

Hurricane turbulence, instant vacuum — the Phoenix Immortal Fish, carried by the whirlpool, flowed in a lump into his abdomen.

Liang Qu instantly circulated his technique, refining the treasure fish.

Surging heat flowed from his abdomen to his four limbs and hundred bones; the blue tide in the cauldron surged violently!

【Water Marsh Essence+】

【Water Marsh Essence: 128,000】

Before Liang Qu could wonder why the essence was so little.

Rainbow light pierced through his belly, flowing outward.

Liang Qu: "?"

Rainbow light wandered and fled; looking closely, the Phoenix Immortal Fish's outline had shrunk by a circle.

The treasure fish is profound and strange — it transforms yet does not die, does not diminish.

Liang Qu vaguely understood, opened his mouth wider again, and floated in the vortex again.

In the marshland, the water beasts sat in rows, chewing hailstones, watching the deity swallow and spit, repeatedly refining the phoenix immortal treasure fish.

The little clam dragon twisted its buttocks to cheer Liang Qu on.

The fat catfish held its chin with its whiskers.

At this moment, its brain burst with stars, the universe exploded, it saw its own huge mouth, saw the toad squatting on a stone catching dragonflies, saw the pufferfish tribe's extending and contracting technique, saw the deity repeatedly swallowing and spitting, refining the treasure fish... endless ideas collided and vanished, the river flows east, not west.

"Ribbit!" The old toad flipped over, scratched its butt.

The exploding universe recoiled and collapsed, vanishing into darkness.

The fat catfish also scratched its butt.

I'm hungry, it's time to eat.

【Marsh Essence+】

【Marsh Essence+】

【Marsh Essence+……】

Blue tide like the sea, colliding and recoiling.

【Marsh Essence: 2,017,600】!

"I really miss it..."

One treasure fish, two million marsh essence, infinite energy accumulated in the abdomen, the stomach scorching hot like a fireball, since ascending to the flood dragon, how long has it been since such a bloated sensation?

The phoenix immortal fish changed from "one bolt" size to "one foot of torn cloth".

The edible immortal-grade treasure fish, rare in the world, after another surge of insight, not eaten clean, treasure fish breeding is not easy, Liang Qu left behind a "small seed".

Eighty-four times the root sea tide rose and fell, enduring the refinement of the phoenix immortal treasure fish's blood and essence.

Six strands of inferior long qi slowly rose, the cauldron mouth wandered, breaking apart into fragments of starlight.

【Marsh Essence: 1,957,600】

【Heaven-Earth Long Qi: 124】

Six spirit fish wandered the marsh sea, towering like mountains.

Splash!

The marsh cauldron patterns connected, light flooded out like a violent splash.

Drip!

The water drop hit the brow, icy cold to the bone, the spear-wielding divine general Qi Gao Tian Di transformed into a pale green illusion, striding forward with star-like steps, the heavenly stars shining in harmony.

The blue tide split in two.

The gap between the towering tides widened further, long unfilled, the center became a smooth path.

Liang Qu witnessed the towering divine general entering the clouds step by step approaching, step by step shrinking.

Until.

Human and deity united!

The flood surged, huge waves rose to the sky.

Every time the river chief is exalted, one always undergoes a perspective shift.

Before the great battle with the flood dragon, Liang Qu was beheaded.

After the great battle with the flood dragon...

Eyes wide open, directly facing the flood dragon's golden pupils!

The long spear gripped tightly.

Today,

Slash!

Flood dragon!

Lines shattered, colors mottled, the nine-headed dragon beast roared and struggled, turned to ash and smoke, exploded into blood mist, scattered across the great marsh.

【... Martial talent increased sevenfold, damage against water-attribute demons increased seventy percent.】

【Divine Lord's Seal slightly transformed】

【Golden pupils slightly transformed】

【Sound recognition enhanced】

【Can consume seven spirit fish, exalt the river chief: Martial Dao Communion with Gods, Seventh Level.】

【Marsh Essence: 1,887,600】

【Heaven-Earth Long Qi: 117】

【... Martial talent increased eightfold, damage against water-attribute demons increased eighty percent.】

【Can consume eight spirit fish, exalt the river chief: Martial Dao Communion with Gods, Eighth Level.】

【Marsh Essence: 1,807,600】

【Heaven-Earth Long Qi: 109】

Ears sharp, eyes clear, the sea of consciousness vast.

Will freely squandered.

Six senses capture all movement, the《Consciousness Method》like a thriving tree, countless inspirations burst in the mind.

At this moment, Liang Qu's consciousness burst with stars, the universe exploded, he saw his own meridians, saw his own bones, saw the toad squatting on a stone catching dragonflies, saw the white ape pulling the chain, roaring heaven and earth, saw the flood dragon split in two...

Endless ideas collided and vanished, the river flows east, not west.

The Baoyu energy in his lower abdomen was suppressed with increasing ease, fully integrating the cultivation feedback brought by the Zeling, as if a bridge had been erected in between, merging and adding the Baoyu energy, making it extremely surging, increasingly chaotic, awaiting only a single supernova explosion!

The eighty-four-fold Root Sea remained unchanged; the sea of clouds spread and contracted, yet with each "breath" it became increasingly surging, repressed.

Within the Longting Immortal Island, divine light floated, pillars coiled with dragons, merely awaiting the depiction of a Venerable God within the vast empty hall, standing tall and upright, reaching heaven and earth.

【... Martial Dao talent increased ninefold, damage to water-attribute demonic beasts increased ninety percent.】

【Can consume nine Spirit Fish, elevate Favor: Martial Dao Penetrating Spirit Ninth Layer.】

【Water Marsh Essence: One million seven hundred seventeen thousand six】

【Heaven and Earth Long Qi: One hundred】

The aura in the quiet room grew increasingly terrifying, like a volcano before eruption, thick volcanic ash accumulated in the sky. The little Shenlong could not conceal it all; a trace or two of aura leaked out, and every dragon-man and disciple in the palace felt as if a stone pressed upon their chests, unable to catch their breath during their midday nap, nearly suffocating.

Long Eying acted again to freeze and seal, isolating for a second time.

Crimson clouds rushed forth, the sky's palace crashing through drifting clouds, advancing without cease.

Suddenly, Long Binglin's expression moved, assuming a listening posture, turning his head to speak a word or two with Long Eying, then leaping down from the carriage.

The "Stone in the River" drew ever closer.

The Southern Frontier Great Wu silently drew near.

In Nanhai Commandery, Lingnan Province, the Chong King looked north, not south.

Suddenly.

The House Steward came to report.

"The Huai King wants me to delay for some days?" The Chong King was startled, "Why? Has something happened to him, that he cannot arrive?"

"It is not that he cannot arrive, nor has anything happened to our Lord." Long Binglin bowed deeply, "If it is to face the enemy, there is naturally no problem, but our Lord wishes to invite the Chong King to join hands, to create a fine opportunity together."

The Chong King's heart stirred, and he unconsciously stepped half a pace forward, to the House Steward's astonishment.

"What fine opportunity? What fine opportunity is there?"

"May I ask if the Chong King wishes to simply pacify this matter, or to ascend another level?"

"Ascend another level!" The Chong King did not hesitate in the slightest.

"Now the Southern Frontier Great Wu moves, yet the situation is not as dire as in days past; for various reasons, that person will certainly challenge our Lord to a duel. If the grand plan is to be carried out, our Lord cannot easily show his face... If the Chong King cooperates, delays, creates a fine opportunity, the great victory of last year can be recreated!"