Chapter 1383

"What's the price?" The old toad wiped his saliva, "Liang Qing can haggle, right?"

Liang Qu withdrew his gaze, not answering immediately.

Having known the old toad for ten years, he now found handling him effortless—like turning one's palm over—and even had a mature plan to rely on.

After a moment's thought, Liang Qu had already prepared his speech, feeling pleased with himself. He clasped his hands behind his back, stood upright, and gazing from within the Long Gong's main hall at the deep, dark waters, he sighed long and low: "National Teacher, in the past the flood dragons were lawless, single-mindedly seeking the true dragon's legacy, ignoring worldly affairs, causing the rivers and rivers to fall into chaos, the situation to fluctuate, and wicked heroes to arise in droves. Fortunately, I received your aid, National Teacher, and the Grand General from the side offered support, turning back the raging tide when it was already collapsing, propping up the great mansion when it was about to topple—truly a feat of heavenly magnitude.

Yet to this day the water sovereign has not appeared, and though the uprising began long ago, it never achieved full success, causing the flood dragons to flee and hide in the Eastern Sea, secretly watching. When I first entered the Long Gong, the Jianghe and Huaijiang tribes were a hundred affairs awaiting revival. After two or three years of development, though there has been improvement, we still have not seen the former prosperity, all merely superficial.

"What does that mean?" The old toad didn't understand, "Liang Qing, why not speak more clearly?"

"One Ma Wang Dan swallowed into the belly strengthens both courage and gall—who knows how much great medicine it could yield, how many loyal and brave generals it could nurture? It's truly difficult. Why not we discard this burdensome elixir? I, the King, will exchange a thousand mu of good farmland with you, National Teacher. When next year comes and we fill it with lotus flowers, wouldn't that be beautiful?" "A thousand mu of good farmland?"

"Exactly! One thousand mu, one thousand mu—enough to farm for a lifetime. This minced meat is what I struck down; you picked it up. How about it? Pure profit, Old Toad."

"Let's turn this thousand mu of good farmland into ponds—not only can we fill them with lotus flowers, but we can also add bricks and tiles to the plan for surrounding the great marsh with embankments. Wouldn't that be beautiful?" Liang Qu spoke while reaching out to grab the jelly-like fragment.

Next, the old toad should be overjoyed, nodding in agreement, taking the fragment himself, verifying his astonishing guess……

His palm touched the fragment, about to exert force, but the old toad tightly clung to it, stepped back, shaking his head repeatedly: "No, no."

Liang Qu's hand came up empty; he instinctively stepped forward again—still empty—then realized what the old toad had just said, his mind going blank. What? No.

What's going on? This trick doesn't work anymore?

"Old Toad, why not?"

The old toad shoved the jelly fragment back into his universe bag, rummaged again, pulled out a small booklet, and flipped through it with a pattering sound.

Liang Qu's eyes were sharp; he caught sight of much content on the pages, and the more he looked, the more startled he became.

This is actually a project planning book!

The pages are densely filled with project proposals.

"《Fish Life Fish Project》, 《Phoenix Immortal Fish Breeding Project》, 《Immortal Island Pond Project》, 《Three Realms One Body All-Directional Lotus Pond Plan》, 《Holy Mother Toad Treading Back Project》"

So many strange names—undoubtedly, no second such thing exists under heaven. All are Liang Qu's own handiwork, the pits he dug for himself. "Hiss, this this this, did I really say so many projects?"

"Holy Mother Toad Treading Back—does such a project exist? Won't it be you slipping it in yourself? Oh, maybe it's for the old toad going to Nanjiang, drawn by A Fei." "Gurgle gurgle."

The webbed foot flipped to a certain page and directly stuck it before the astonished Liang Qu: "Embankment-Surrounding Great Marsh Project—already failed, the biggest investment blunder in my career!"

"Failed? When did that happen? How come I don't know?" Liang Qu frowned, feigning ignorance: "Wasn't it some petty scoundrel spouting nonsense to you?"

The old toad eyed him suspiciously: "Embankment-Surrounding Great Marsh, because there are many water demons, to widely store grain, build high walls, and feign kingship, I turned my gaze beyond the great marsh, seeking external aid.

Now the flood dragons are gone, useless half a point—how is that not a failure? This was still Liang Qing's words—couldn't someone have deceived me? I haven't yet come to seek Liang Qu about this!"

Long Eying's eyes flowed, her lips slightly upturned, she glanced askance at Liang Qu.

Liang Qu was greatly startled, cold sweat pouring wildly from his back.

It's over—back then he was still a lowly horse, encountering an old toad comparable to a tiger hunter, the toad king's adoptive father. To eat two precious fish, he spoke without restraint, casually bragging about slaying flood dragons. As his realm kept rising, he'd already blown the braggadocio to pieces.

His mind raced.

Liang Qu explained: "Old Toad, the flood dragon is indeed devoid of virtue, hence its defeat was like a mountain collapsing—not due to useless strategies, but because the flood dragon was trash, never letting us use this dragon-slaying plan before it already failed. Could it be that a mere Jianghe great marsh satisfies you? Have you forgotten the long-held wishes of the toad clan elders?"

"I dare not forget even a moment." The old toad cried out while prostrating southward, "But sitting alone in Jianghe like a tiger crouching, driving away the flood dragons—today my dream has come true, I have already fulfilled the long-held wish of the toad clan elders."

"No!" Liang Qu inhaled sharply and shouted, "That is the long-held wish of the toad clan's ancestors, not yours, Old Toad!"

"Not mine?" The old toad blinked in confusion.

Liang Qu stepped forward: "How know to be granted a marquisate through military command? Singly bearing the aura that overshadows the world!"

The old toad thrust out his belly.

Liang Qu took two steps: "Spirit loftily surpassing heroic predecessors—would the graceful toad consort fall for him?"

The old toad raised his head.

Liang Qu took three steps: "Those who occupy the highest position cannot lack the greatest merit."

The old toad split his toad mouth in a grin.

After three thrusts, Liang Qu declared passionately: "The long-held wish of the toad clan elders was only because they could reach this step, or even fail to do so. Old Toad, you are different—you possess the talent to govern heaven and earth! How could you limit yourself to this?

You brought forth the demon king, you brought forth the water sovereign—the toad clan for thousands of years has never reached this point today; all is due to your leadership. If you were a demon beast, you should nurture your heavenly lifespan, retire after success—but you are not. The great demon was only two years ago, renewed, reborn, to live another five hundred years, now in your prime—this proves Heaven's expectations for you far exceed this!"

"Far more than this?"

"Exactly!" Liang Qu shouted loudly, "Tadpoles dwell in wells, little frogs in ponds, medium frogs in lakes—do you know where great frogs should dwell?"

The old toad murmured repeatedly: "Tadpoles dwell……little frogs dwell……great frogs……"

"Yes, dwell where? Say it out!"

"Great frogs dwell……sea?"

"Snap!" The finger snap rang, Liang Qu spoke with sincere emotion, deep and affectionate, lowering his voice: "You are the unparalleled great frog under heaven." Old Toad widened his eyes, giving him no time to react, his webbed paw came up empty.

Liang Qu snatched the small page, raised his hand, extending index and middle finger, Long Eying lightly handed him a charcoal pencil.

Liang Qu flew like a dragon, danced like a phoenix—directly smearing out "Embankment-Surrounding Great Marsh," changing it to "Three Rivers Flowing to Three Seas," "Freshwater Surrounding Saltwater," ceaselessly drawing maps, marking information.

"As the Great Toad, daring to scheme against the demon king, now that you are a great demon, you should scheme against the demon emperor! I have three strategies: one, Huaijiang flows eastward……"

Flourishingly, the brush ran like dragons and snakes, splashed ink, waved boldly……

Liang Qu in one breath wrote several pages, then shoved the page into the old toad's embrace:

"Old Toad! Embankment-Surrounding Pond—this project has not failed, not only has it not failed, a thousand mu of good farmland is a brand-new beginning!"

The old toad clutched the page, face showing hesitation, still swaying undecided.

Recalling the several projects he'd just seen, Liang Qu gritted his teeth, added another heavyweight chip.

"Holy Mother Toad!"

"Holy Mother Toad?"

"Old Toad doesn't know—when he once went to Nanjiang, he never found a Holy Mother Toad for you, Qu feels ashamed and unable to bear it. Thereafter he often went to Nanjiang, found a holy maiden, much……"

Long Eying's gaze came again, crescent eyes, smiles filling her eyes.

"Cough cough, also can't be said to have much contact—occasionally, occasionally, in short, that holy maiden will soon attain Entering Zhen Xiang, now unlike before, finding the Holy Mother Toad is no longer difficult. I originally intended to present it as a surprise, offer it to you, Old Toad!"

The old toad widened his eyes: "For real?"

"For real!"

"Good good good, sold sold!" The old toad could barely contain his excitement, hopping up and down, "When can the Holy Mother Toad arrive?"

"Half a month is enough!"

Liang Qu spoke with absolute certainty.

The goods were handed to Liang Qu, and the old toad left happily. Long Eying sighed: "This Southern Border Holy Maiden's cultivation is truly formidable. She's only thirty-one or two now, yet she's already Entering Zhen Xiang. Poor husband has to go see her night after night, unlike me, guarding an empty room alone..."

On this side, Liang Qu watched the old toad's retreating figure, just about to marvel at how the old toad was getting harder and harder to fool, when he heard these words. He let out a cold snort, scooped Eying up in one arm, and headed for the throne.

Long Eying cried out in alarm: "Husband, what are you doing?"

"Hmph!" Liang Qu snorted coldly, not breaking stride. The hand supporting her bottom moved inward, pinching the delicate soft flesh on her thigh. "What 'position fruit'? What 'crucible'? It makes the person anxious — don't want it, don't want it! Quench the thirst first, then we'll talk!"

"Ah, I was wrong, I was wrong!" Long Eying hurriedly begged for mercy.

"Hei! Still dare to do it again?"

"Don't dare anymore." Long Eying widened her eyes.

"Now that's more like it."

Liang Qu released his hand, letting Eying sit on his thigh, preparing to take out the fragments the old toad had brought and examine them properly.

"Is that Holy Maiden really about to Enter Zhen Xiang?" Long Eying asked. Seeing Liang Qu look up and make another move, she hastily added, "Just asking, just asking." "More or less. Those two-faced factions have been quite diligent lately."

Liang Qu recalled Bai Awei's message.

That's right, Li Xianghan is about to Enter Zhen Xiang!!

This is the terrifying part of the Calamity Dragon leveraging mid-realm great yaos to feed back — ever since the Southern Border bribery incident, aside from the refinement of the position fruit being interrupted, there's been basically constant cultivation assistance. Finding a "Holy Mother Toad" probably isn't difficult.

Long Eying felt a faint envy — not envy that Li Xianghan could Enter Zhen Xiang, but envy that she could advance with irresistible momentum. Even though her own realm was higher, she was stuck at Six Heyi, Tongtian Juedi. Seeing others break through realms would give rise to a subtle psychology.

"It's fine. I'm the first person in all history. Not to mention you, Madam, wanting to catch up to me — even Zhang Longxiang can't catch up, and the Overlord might not either. Rest easy. Once this wave is done and I reach Golden Core, it'll be over — I can go to the Underworld then, and try again at that time."

Long Eying smiled, leaning against Liang Qu's shoulder: "I'll listen to you. It's just that husband still hasn't said — what use is buying those fragments of the Blue-Lid King?" Yes, what the old toad was selling was precisely Blue-Lid King fragment flesh!

This thing's characteristics are quite obvious. The Blue-Lid King's flesh isn't as soft as the Sea Fangzhu's, but it's also gelatinous, similar to jellyfish.

During the daytime battle with the Blue-Lid King and the Pot King, there was a huge pile of fragments. Most fragments were reabsorbed by the Pot King using shapeshifting methods. When the old toad came to sell, Liang Qu used vortex water to search a radius of several dozen li, planning to find other fragment flesh remnants. If found, he wouldn't need to buy the old toad's. As a result, after a thorough search, he didn't discover a single scrap.

You have to know, the Hong Kingdom never withdrew. The vortex water is an extension of Liang Qu's limbs — like rolling his body across flat ground, yet not finding a single pebble.

During this period he also spiritually linked to call Long Pingjiang, asking if he'd discovered anything while cleaning the plaza in the daytime. The result was also nothing.

At this point Liang Qu understood. The Pot King — no, the Eight-Claw King's divine ability is formidable. The flesh was completely, one hundred percent filled back into repairing the Blue-Lid King's damage. However much was beaten, that much recovered — not a bit wasted. Only the old toad, out of instinct, had sneakily intercepted a piece during battle.

Long Eying likewise understood the old toad's strangeness, yet found it hard to believe a small piece of yao king flesh could be worth a whole Xiao Mawang Pill.

That's a precious pill refined from an entire yao king's corpse shell.

"This... I'm only guessing. Have to test it first."

Originally thought the Blue-Lid King and Pot King would need to be dealt with slowly. Unexpectedly, a twist of fate — that very night the old toad delivered the key to breaking the deadlock... Liang Qu suppressed his excitement, raised a hand in a beckoning gesture. The Long Gong gates swung wide open. A large grass carp, controlled by vortex water, flew straight into his palm. He waved a hand, slicing off half a fin, then cut his own finger and directly carved the "Chuan" character pattern onto the severed fin.

A mere fragment — why would it be worth a top-grade precious pill?

Think as he might, Liang Qu could only think of one possibility.

This fragment can solve his most critical difficulty in commanding the Blue-Lid King or Pot King!

Enlightenment!

Remote enlightenment!

Long Eying instantly understood the whole story.

Husband wants to use the fragment flesh to remotely enlighten the Blue-Lid King? But what's there to enlighten about the Blue-Lid King? Aside from the position fruit, its own strength is ordinary. Take the position fruit? Unlikely. The Blue-Lid King came because of the Bai Yuan's boast. Taking the position fruit would be a massive blow to the Bai Yuan's prestige. If not the Blue-Lid King, then... the Pot King!

Long Eying's eyes brightened.

Compared to the Blue-Lid King, the Pot King is indeed commendable in many more ways. She often saw Liang Qu use A Fei and "Cannot Move" as well as the Little Shenlong's divine abilities, so she understood a bit. Combined with the previous time Liang Qu enlightened the Sea Tooth King, the two of them frozen stiff and motionless for a long while.

"Husband wants to 'enlighten' the Pot King, gain the dozens of divine abilities it has imprinted over hundreds of years — that would truly be like adding wings to a tiger, an enormous boost. Alas, the Pot King and Blue-Lid King are now virtually one body. Can't 'enlighten' both at once. If he enlightens the Pot King and it freezes, the Blue-Lid King won't stand by idly, and vice versa.

The sixty-year cycle approaches. Waiting a few years for the Pot King to separate — might not make it in time. Now... as long as he can remotely enlighten the Blue-Lid King, he can naturally separate them, leaving the Pot King helpless!"

Her gaze fell on the fish fin.

Fresh blood slowly seeped in, dull and lusterless.

【Command Failed】

"No good?"

"Mm."

Liang Qu's teeth ached. He released the grass carp in his hand.

Could his guess be wrong? No way to use a limb to remotely command the Blue-Lid King, separate and transform?

It shouldn't be. Aside from this reason, why would it sell for such a high price?

The two kings are virtually one body.

As long as he commands the Blue-Lid King, the Pot King can't escape — it'll obediently wait for him to come.

"Ordinary fish can't use a severed limb for enlightenment. Could the Blue-Lid King be special? After all, with the Pot King's help, it gained the Eight-Claw King's divine ability. The Eight-Claw King of old could make each tentacle become independent, turn into a great yao, and each was still part of the main body." Long Eying spoke up.

"Also true." Liang Qu's eyes lit up. He was just about to take it out when Eying stopped him again.

"Husband be careful. A part of the Eight-Claw King's old body could monitor the Sea Fangzhu. The Blue-Lid King's might not be unable to. The Frog Duke is miraculous — in the Frog Duke's hands, the Blue-Lid King couldn't sense it. In husband's hands, it might not be the same. Better to think it through clearly before taking it out."

Liang Qu raised an eyebrow, instantly feeling it made sense: "Madam truly is a worthy inner helper."

Immediately he began to sit in meditation, regulate his breath.

Long Eying got down from Liang Qu's thigh, straightened her clothes, closed the Long Gong main gates.

The Blue-Lid King and Pot King's resting place.

At the yao king realm, one can sleep or not sleep. If not wanting to sleep, it's nothing but meditation as a substitute — can still recover spirit, just not as cleanly and neatly as sleep.

Staying three more days on the Bai Yuan's territory, naturally no need for sleep. The two kings simultaneously sat in meditation cultivating.

At a word from Blue Canopy King, Pot King finally quieted down, yet remained sunk in deep frustration, taking no interest in anything. The barnacle clan was strong, true enough, but its greatest weakness was immobility — like a living target — so it had poured endless effort into spatial traversal and counter-traversal; those few divine abilities alone, from discovery to transcription, had taken decades, and it believed that beneath its furnace, the world held no more constraints. Until it ran into a white-furred monkey.

Decades of time and resources, countless in number, turned to empty talk in an instant.

All pride, all sense of security, vanished into nothing in a single moment.

After idling a while, Pot King began muttering to itself again.

"How could this be? How could this be?"

Blue Canopy King grew tired of listening. Why was this guy starting up again? It regretted letting Pot King attach itself; the thought of being "inseparable" for the next few years... "Huh? That's not right!"

Blue Canopy King's expression changed.

Pot King noticed the situation and keenly sensed that a piece of Blue Canopy King's flesh had "suddenly" appeared inside the Long Gong. Though shedding a piece of flesh was no great matter, there had been no perception of it beforehand, and Bai Yuan was treacherous — the beast could not help but worry.

"What's going on? How could there be an omission? Wasn't everything fully restored? Quick, Blue Canopy King, use the divine ability I gave you, transform the flesh back! Huh? Blue Canopy King?"

Pot King looked down and discovered that Blue Canopy King had, at some unknown time, gone blank and unresponsive, staring vacantly — it was greatly alarmed.

"Blue Canopy King! Blue Canopy King! What's wrong? Wake up!"

"Blue Canopy King, long time no see."

Atop the calm, undisturbed water surface, Bai Yuan stood with hands clasped behind its back.

Blue Canopy King was greatly alarmed, glancing left and right, putting on a brave face while trembling inside: "Ape King! What place is this? What do you want? Defying all under heaven!?" "Rest assured, it's nothing major — just go to sleep..."

Bai Yuan slowly stepped forward, walking toward Blue Canopy King, its large hand opening.

Blue Canopy King retreated at full speed.

Suddenly.

It abruptly lifted its head.

Wind rose and clouds surged; an indistinct colossus crashed from high into the ninth-heaven flowing clouds, booming and rising, streaming into mist, then suddenly tearing open. A hand! It's a hand!

A sky-covering giant hand pressed down horizontally from the horizon!

Shadow enveloped it; Blue Canopy King's umbrella canopy rose and fell, its eyes splitting with rage.

"No, no, don't come over!"

"Blue Canopy King! Blue Canopy King! What on earth happened?" Pot King called out with all its might.

Suddenly.

Blue Canopy King's body stirred; it slowly came to, as if it had just spaced out for a very long time, dreamed a very long dream, staring blankly. "I'm such a fool, really — I never should have..."

Pot King was overjoyed: "Blue Canopy King? What happened? What was wrong with you just now?"

The shout gathered its scattered thoughts back; Blue Canopy King waved its tentacular feet, pressing a hand to its forehead: "Nothing, just a slight deviation in cultivation caught me off guard."

"Really?" Pot King was skeptical.

"Really." Blue Canopy King lifted its head and spoke: "Huh, looks like Ape King came to deliver some flesh?"