Chapter 1387

"Gudong."

Saliva welled up, dripped from the throat, the Adam's apple rolled, Liang Qu gulped hard, as if he had bitten his tongue, curling the golden pill before him and swallowing it whole.

The golden pill, the size of a bull's eye, constantly steamed with seven-colored rosy light; the whole pill seemed insubstantial, merely a condensed mass of rosy light—without even touching it, just smelling it once, glancing at it once, he felt his qi and blood surge, as if back when he passed the four gates, when he had just exchanged his blood.

Excited heart, trembling hands.

Leading the demon kings, threatening the southern borders—that was all springtime business; now it is early tenth month.

The cracked yellow earth has nearly dried into desert.

Waiting for the stars, waiting for the moon———

Liang Qu raised his head: "Is this the immortal pill?"

"This is the immortal pill!" Fu Shuo straightened his expression, his eyes full of longing; no matter how top-three the pill dao in the world, if one cannot refine an immortal pill, one is in vain as a master, yet in his longing he also sweat profusely, his face flushed red, seeing Liang Qu only look but not take it, he spoke in a low shout: "Huai Wang, quickly receive it—I can no longer bear it."

Liang Qu startled, suppressed his excitement, paid no heed to Fu Shuo's embarrassment, reached out—directly brushed past the treasure box, and immediately felt his hand sink.

"Huh, so heavy."

Liang Qu weighed it.

This weight truly feels like holding the clouds and rosy light of the sky in one's hand.

The clouds in the sky look light, but actually weigh countless jun.

The pill before him truly looks like rosy light, and its weight matches that of rosy light; even a Wu Sheng like him feels it sink in the hand, let alone Fu Shuo, a Grand Master like this.

At this moment he also discovered that the treasure box in his hand was shrouded by an invisible barrier, thus preventing this spiritual golden pill from escaping.

No need to ask further—it must be an immortal's method.

"Ha———" Fu Shuo let out a long breath, hastily wiped his sweat, his forearm trembling: "Naturally it is extremely heavy in the hand; the immortal's pill, like the Wu Sheng's ritual, has already become a special living entity, possessing its own essence," bearing the weight of heaven and earth.

This pill combines countless wondrous medicines; in my lifetime I have rarely seen such a thing—it can be called the bone and blood of the southern borders, its medicinal power astonishing; even if the White Ape took it, one would still need utmost care, and ordinary people could not bear it at all.

"Southern border bone and blood, hahaha, what a fine southern border bone and blood—Fu Jia's words are truly most apt." Liang Qu laughed loudly, extended his index finger, pointed at himself: "Only, there is one matter Fu Jia misunderstands—this pill is not for the White Ape to eat, but for me to eat."

"Huai Wang eats it?" Fu Shuo exclaimed in surprise.

Such vast wondrous treasures—were gathered by the White Ape, who dragged many demon kings south to coerce the southern borders into yielding, thus called bone and blood, for it plundered all usable 'floating wealth' of the southern borders, hence most precious; few such are born in the present age; I originally thought the White Ape brought it to ask Huai Wang to let the imperial court refine pills, never imagining———

No, also correct.

Fu Shuo chuckled: "Should have thought earlier—this pill contains many medicinal ingredients, all exchanged for expanding the qi sea; indeed suitable for Huai Wang, and moreover, the Ape King alone could not possibly move an immortal to act. Once this pill enters, Huai Wang's great plan may already be accomplished?

When the time comes, Huai Wang will cultivate himself, the White Ape will gain heaven and earth, two kings two fruits, one person one beast, humble beginnings together—then even ten thousand years later, it will still be regarded as a marvel, not much inferior to the ancient hegemon's fame, etched in green history."

"What nonsense is this?" Liang Qu in high spirits: "Just the road underfoot—walk one step, count one step, stride one step, lift one step—how far one can go relies entirely on the help of fellow travelers on the road; this time I must also thank Fu Jia."

"How dare I claim credit?" Fu Shuo hastily bowed: "It is all the immortal's doing; we are merely medicine boys delivering and preparing medicines, responsible for running errands."

"Fu Jia's modesty aside, even if we do not thank now, we will thank later." Liang Qu shook his head, only pulling Fu Shuo, always speaking of merit, always speaking of thanks, making clear that when he reaches Jianghuai he will certainly play host, invite to eat the great marsh treasure fish, and then asked: "I do not know where the immortal is now? Is he in the capital, at the pill workshop? If he has leisure, I too wish to visit and pay respects."

Fu Shuo, however, shook his head, leaned close to whisper: "When the immortal came, he already instructed: Huai Wang, despite everything, take the pill———"

Liang Qu's eyes flashed, and he immediately agreed.

"Understood, then I will thank him after use."

Fu Shuo laughed: "Speaking of medicine use, there are two matters I must inform Huai Wang of."

"Please speak, Fu Jia."

"This pill is an immortal pill, combined with countless treasures; Huai Wang must absolutely not treat it as an ordinary pill; taking this pill involves two major points: first, this medicine is not to be taken, not to be eaten—it is to be inhaled."

"Inhale?"

"Exactly." Fu Shuo pointed to mouth and nose: "Requires the king to use heart-fire to roast it, await the immortal pill briefly manifest as rosy clouds, then inhale according to the rhythm of nine shorts and one long, three advances and three retreats three layers, once every half a day, ninety-nine eighty-one half-days, seven days total—only thus can the medicinal power be fully absorbed."

"Understood, second?"

"The first is the method of use, the second is the place of use; Huai Wang is the Yangtze River-crossing Xu Jiangming, thus this pill is best taken in a watery marsh, namely Jianghuai, so as to borrow the power of heaven and earth to assist the king in refining it."

Liang Qu slightly startled, secretly lamenting he had never before taken such a complicated medicine, only heard of how much to take per day, before or after meals, never heard that even the place of taking medicine had particulars—wanting to return home to take it, the immortal pill truly lives up to its name.

"Good, I have noted it down—any further admonition?"

"No admonition, but there is a doubt: speaking of which, as of today, has Huai Wang retested his fate pattern?"

"Retest fate pattern?"

"Yes." Fu Shu stroked his beard: "Fate pattern is not eternally unchanging; I have heard Huai Wang's Yangtze River-crossing fate was measured when he was young and could take a master; now, ennobled and become a Wu Sheng, glorious gate, high merit—I think there should have been some change?"

Liang Qu seemed thoughtful, closed the medicine box, pressed down his urge.

Under the Lower Position of the Thousand Threads Long Qi Method, the Thousandfold Root Sea Method—if before the third stage the root sea is thousandfold, then there is hope to self-nurture the position fruit!

Previously I inferred the small sun in the dantian was the embryonic form; unfortunately, before the thousandfold root sea, it thus drained nutrients, causing the root sea to crack.

Now his root sea has reached eight hundredfold, only lacking the final two hundred; after gaining the southern border campaign results, roughly estimating the treasure medicine's effect, it is precisely when the two hundred are fulfilled, everything returns to normal!

This is called: One Golden Pill Swallowed into the Belly.

And so.

Under the watch of many powers, having just returned from Jianghuai after completing the position fruit feast, Liang Qu went to treat the waters on the Yellow Shahe River for two days, then leapt to the capital, immediately continuing onward.

His erratic movements directly terrified the southern border nine strongholds enough.

In recent years.

No, should say since Liang Qu entered Zhen Xiang, having the ability to interfere with the situation among major powers, he has always been like a dung-stirring stick, poking the north to make the Northern Court shout, poking the south to make the southern borders shout, poking east once, striking west with a stick.

"River-Middle Stone" can indeed show the Wu Sheng's position, but requires someone to divert attention to look, glancing once. A Wu Sheng is not a machine—sitting in meditation, cultivating, chatting and acting, naturally will not constantly monitor heroes under heaven; thus there are the Bureau of Astronomy and the Four Wilds Heaven-Measuring Instruments—first for divination, second, someone monitors the twelve double-hours, a dedicated person records and tracks.

If not needing much attention, then let a clerk watch two or three, record separately; if worth noting, then one person per item, even two per item, to prevent nodding off and mishaps.

Liang Qu is different—regarding Liang Qu's "River-Middle Stone" position, both the southern borders and the Northern Court have a whole team recording, analyzing, reporting, fearing this fellow "poking" over.

Seeing Liang Qu go to the capital, then straight south, the Star Tower almost thought Liang Qu had received orders to go south, until seeing this fellow turn a corner, return to Pingyang, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hualala."

Bubbles surged up, came rushing horizontally, wind racing, lightning flashing, a small river otter startled, immediately leapt vertically, jumped out of the water, performed a set of ape fists, great peng spread wings, opened stance, waiting to see it was Liang Qu, then pitter-patter clung to the god's thigh.

Liang Qu spread out the marshland, within a hundred-mile radius nothing escaped his notice.

He raised his hand and grabbed; the treasure fish came on its own. He tossed it to Little River Otter, who was overjoyed, bit the treasure fish, and ran outside — a whole string of river otters followed behind.

Liang Qu turned his head: "Old Bei. When can you become a Great Demon?"

"Seven days is enough!"

Old Quelo was covered in cracks, like aged, dried paint cracking, or like shale, layer upon layer of "thin brittleness," yet he couldn't stop being happy.

A Quelo of three zhang is a Great Demon; back in Huazhu County when he saw Old Quelo, he was already nearly three zhang, and after serving ten years as a pond mascot, he was practically about to become a Great Demon.

"Hahaha, good good good! I'm also seven days!"

Old Quelo sensed Liang Qu's mood and asked with a smile: "You want the River God position?"

Liang Qu didn't speak, merely kept laughing, then immediately sat cross-legged in the pond and opened the treasure box.

Old Quelo saw the Golden Core, his heart stirred, knowing this kid was about to break through again; for a moment, he couldn't help but reminisce.

Ten years — to Sui Quelo, ten years is surely not long, but the length of time is always judged by how many things happen; when there are many things, it seems very long.

Although when they first met, this kid was a bit more shameless, a bit more lowdown, coming to cheat, to sneak attack an old Quelo's home — but —

He truly, truly approached the words of a child bit by bit.

【Water Marsh Essence +1】

Liang Qu adjusted his Qi mechanism; since he was going to take it near the Jianghuai, the Long Gong conditions were certainly better than Pingyang, but living in the Long Gong was truly not as comfortable as here — the Imperial Capital, Yixing, Yellow Sand River, Jianghuai, Heyuan Prefecture, Lingnan, Cloud Heaven Palace — he had run to half the places under heaven, and in the end home was still the most comfortable, the most reassuring and pleasant.

From a small mud hut, to a two-courtyard house the villagers helped build together, then later a three-courtyard, and finally the Wang Fu.

The Old Monk, Su Guishan, Dragon People, Chen Qingjiang, Yang Dongxiong —

This kind of psychological steadiness, groundedness, sense of security — compared to that little difference between Yixing and the Long Gong — was more important.

Long Eying returned from the Long Gong; Long Pingjiang and Long Pinghe deployed defenses one after another.

"Master, the west wing has been prepared for you." Long Eying bowed.

The Old Monk smiled faintly, stepped into the room; in the courtyard, Otter Kai and Scarface both narrowed their eyes simultaneously, the autumn wind bleak, yellow robes fluttering, the jujube tree shed a leaf.

"Huuu— really not easy."

Liang Qu opened his eyes, looking at the Golden Core in his hand.

After forcing the Southern Frontier, another half year passed; during this period receiving the imperial carriage, welcoming the Emperor, then waiting for the Emperor to request pills, the Empress plucking the Position Fruit,

refining the Position Fruit — so many things, in a trance it seemed like a very long time had passed.

He introspected his own body.

The immortal island floated in the air, broken walls and ruins everywhere, the cracked earth dried even more terrifyingly. Beneath the withered peach tree, the three Dharma Sharira entwined by roots had already completely dimmed, like dragon pearls turned to stone after a wish.

Looking closely at the sun in the sky, it had become even more "withered" than before obtaining the Dharma Sharira; the degree of difference was hard to describe, only a feeling of insufficient human Qi and blood, a waxy yellow complexion.

"Can it succeed?"

"It will succeed!"

All thoughts stripped away; Liang Qu reached in, broke the confinement, the Golden Core turned into a golden dragon and instantly fled — but where could a single pill escape to?

He grasped it in one grip, heart-fire burning!

Intense high temperature was born from nothing; the Golden Core struggled even more violently, to no avail, finally just like sublimation, it directly exploded and puffed into a mass of clouds and mist.

Like a galaxy big bang, the sky full of silver river, magnificent and splendid; no time to appreciate, witnessing everything before him, Liang Qu followed Fu Shuo's instructions and began to breathe.

The motionless glow began to circulate; within the galaxy, vortexes emerged one after another, and finally from the center of the vortexes, visible orange "star dust" flowed out, surging into his nasal cavity.

"Good thing, thought it would be like smoking opium."

A fleeting thought flashed through Liang Qu's mind.

His chest heaved; the "star dust" circulated one round.

This time it no longer entered the abdomen, but surged into the lung cavity, along countless tiny organs, into the lungs, and burst open!

Surging medicinal power exploded with a boom.

In the Lower Dantian cracked nearly into a desert, the yellow earth seemed to finally welcome a spring rain; the turtle-shell-like cracked fissures slowly closed, but Liang Qu suppressed the medicinal power, not letting it mend the cracks, instead guiding it toward the boundary — beyond the eight hundred times yellow earth, the boundary expanded again!

Liang Qu's spirit greatly revived.

Using medicinal power on healing is drinking poison to quench thirst; expanding the flow diameter, borrowing power from heaven and earth is the key!

Forcefully suppressing the urge to inhale a few more strands, after nine short and one long, he held his breath and circulated the cultivation method.

Inside the pond, an astonishing and oppressive momentum spread grandly!

"Shu shu shu."

Cold light fierce, broken fur flying.

Scarface and Otter Kai fought from the east room to the west room, from the front courtyard to the back courtyard; river otters rushed forward one after another, Otter Kai clawing, kicking legs.

The Northern Court.

Some families rejoice, some families worry.

Liang Qu advanced by leaps and bounds; "Su Hebalu's" brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

—

"My realm is dropping more and more severely; my cultivation has risen, but I still haven't grasped the essentials of Six Heyi and Tongtian Juedi; if I can't stabilize it, won't I fall out this year? Sigh, wonder how Mengyao is doing."

Lao Yingtian pinched his brow; ever since coming out of the Blood River Realm, he had gradually gained a foothold; after obtaining Ice Marrow for the Elder, he also left Great Snow Mountain and returned to the Northern Court; perhaps "Su Hebalu" was always solitary, so no major problems arose, only his cultivation dropping day by day troubled him, hating that he couldn't seize the opportunity.

Yao Dragon ah.

Hunt Tiger is already the peak of talent and opportunity; above that is Entering Zhen Xiang; above that is Yao Dragon!

Even with "Su Hebalu" fused it's this difficult; if he truly falls, how difficult would it be to return?

Before, in the Blood River he was only a Hunt Tiger; if not for Liang Qu, Entering Zhen Xiang would probably be difficult; if there's a chance, he must seize it no matter what.

"Tiger General."

"What is it?"

"People from the Lotus Sect have come, saying they have a matter to trouble the General, requesting an audience."

"Suhebaru" felt a stir in his heart, braced his knee, and stood up: "He's here."

Blood River Realm.

Fei Taiyu and Wu Lingxu stood atop the high platform.

Before the two of them, dense piles of blood treasures were stacked like mountains.

"Is Elder Yu still in seclusion?" Wu Lingxu exclaimed in surprise, "It's been three years since he came to my Heavenly Fire Sect, right? Why is he always in seclusion?"

Fei Taiyu stroked his beard: "He must still not trust us, but that's fine too; as long as he's cultivating, it's fine. After some time, once Your Majesty awakens and fully refines the dragon bones, his strength will surely advance by leaps and bounds, and all things in this realm will be like patterns observed on the palm — nothing escaping scrutiny."

Wu Lingxu nodded, and spoke no further.

"Huuu——"

Long breaths inhaled and exhaled; the once brilliant galaxy had already shrunk for the most part, leaving only the last small half.

Replacing it, Liang Qu looked inward at his own body; the immortal island shattered, yet beneath the immortal island, the eight-hundred-fold Root Sea surged to over nine hundred ninety folds!

A thousand folds is within reach!

According to Liang Qu's previous estimate, the spirit medicines obtained from the Southern Border, eaten raw, would be around a thousand folds, but now the immortal pill's effect is even better than imagined; even with the Root Sea cracking having an impact, it should reach around one thousand fifty!

Truly worthy of an immortal's creation.

One step from the goal, most exciting; Qi and blood grew increasingly restless, only calming down with great difficulty, and then another half day passed.

Mid-October.

Crack.

Sound of cracking.

Liang Qu opened his eyes, with no excitement at all.

He stared blankly at his own Lower Dantian.

Countless efforts, countless spirit medicines, he himself leveraged the general trend of the world, earned how much merit, the Root Sea finally crossed the thousand-fold threshold, and furthermore, with the help of the remaining medicinal power, reached one thousand fifty folds, boundless and endless.

However.

The Lower Dantian was still cracked, the great sun at the horizon still dim and yellow, not the slightest sign of fertility!

What's going on?

Third Stage, one thousand fifty folds Root Sea, not enough?

Liang Qu frowned tightly, unable to understand where the problem lay, nor how to solve it——

Just at this moment.

A white light flashed.

Rumble.

Muffled thunder exploded.

Liang Qu raised his head, and suddenly saw lead-gray clouds pushing in horizontally from east and west, covering the sky and blotting out the sun.

Is it raining?

No——

A flash of inspiration struck, and Liang Qu stood up.

"Huala."

The water sac swelled, burst open with white flow, and a small pale-green turtle floated out of the pond, flustered: "Quick quick quick! Is the one before me the Great King Huai? My Great King invites the Great King Huai to face the lightning tribulation together!"

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