Chapter 1394

The Yellow Shahe River, turbid waves swirling and colliding, sent up sprays of cool water vapor; otter otter pushed the boat's rudder, brown fur on its head fluttering wildly.

"Xiong Yiheng, Du Hanwen, Jin Xiaoyu, fall out!"

"Present!"

"Come on, follow me inside."

"Yes!"

On the deck, the remaining martial hall disciples watched as Liang Qu led the three away, all of them envious.

"Wow, they were summoned by the Great King—this must mean another benefit, I heard these three guys are all going to join Langyan."

"No choice—who let them be the first batch? Did you even see His Majesty the Emperor back then? One step ahead, steps ahead—do you get it?"

"Time waits for no one; back when we killed mountain ghosts, I hadn't even enrolled yet—I'd definitely be able to compete, sigh, but even the Guimu Sect is useless now."

"Blow it out your ass—if they really let you go, you'd probably piss your pants from fear; no mountain ghosts, but isn't there the Huangzhou Branch Hunting Competition? You never even got first place there."

"Hmph, I was just hiding my talent."

"Sand clam hiding talent."

"Squeak-gah."

Liang Qu flicked his fingers together, a breeze shutting the door, sealing off inside from outside noise.

Xiong Yiheng glanced at the three futons on the floor, the low table before them, the fruit on the table—he had already rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists: "Senior brother, what's the matter? Still coming to the cultivation chamber? Just give the order."

Liang Qu smiled: "Don't rush; I don't even know yet if you'll agree or not. —Look at you, so eager—let me finish speaking."

Jin Xiaoyu clasped his fists: "Senior brother, please speak."

Liang Qu tapped the joint of his finger against the table behind him: "Did you all see these three treasures on the table? You've been out here so long, often dealing with Heposuo—you should recognize them, the Water Source Fruit."

The three nodded.

Water Source Fruit, entirely dark purple, with four evenly distributed green leaves on top like a veil, the superior form of the Chicken Crest Fruit, equally a popular exchange item in Heposuo, twenty minor merits per piece, not cheap.

It is said that back when Liang Qu fished, he was especially fond of Chicken Crest Fruit and Water Source Fruit, which allowed these two treasures to flourish and prosper.

"Now, I need each of you to take one, eat it, and score it—the total improvement must be ten. You eat the first piece, remember the effect, record it as five points. After an interval of one shichen, I'll give you the second piece—eat it then. After another one and a half shichen, the third piece—using the first as a baseline, separately total your scores and give them to me. You may communicate with each other, but do not refer to each other's scores."

"What's this? Getting three treasures for free? Senior brother, rest assured—it's a sure thing." Xiong Yiheng slapped his chest.

Du Hanwen responded respectfully.

Jin Xiaoyu frowned slightly—could Liang Qu be testing their absorption efficiency, focusing on cultivating one of them?

"—, I've said it, listen to me finish—the second and third Water Source Fruits later aren't ordinary; eating them might possibly cause negative effects, severe ones possibly reducing cultivation, so I say this upfront—if you don't agree, it's fine."

The three jumped in fright—how could eating treasure medicine cause regression?

"How bad is it not?" Du Hanwen asked.

"Not severe—or rather, the most likely scenario is that you'd eat one normal one, one with stronger medicinal effect, one with weaker medicinal effect."

Jin Xiaoyu pondered, then actually relaxed.

So saying, they're not testing the trio's aptitude, but the fruit itself.

"Let's try." Xiong Yiheng shouted, "Assault boiling water and tread fire, senior brother!"

"Senior brother being able to summon us should also prove that cultivation decline is only a minor situation—willing to give it a try."

"Me too."

"Good!" Liang Qu stepped aside, "When you've decided, just take one each."

The three showed no hesitation, each reaching out, picking up a fruit, finding a futon, and swallowing it down.

Two shichen later.

"Record your feeling—it's five points, then cultivate your qi, I'll return later." Liang Qu turned and left the room.

For the three about to join Langyan, the Water Source Fruit was not hard to digest; after one shichen, its medicinal power had completely dissipated, even half a shichen was enough.

"What do you guys think senior brother is up to?" Xiong Yiheng wondered.

"Who knows—maybe the imperial court has cultivated some premium treasure medicine?"

"No need for senior brother to personally find people to test this—what's his status? Does this little matter really need bothering him?"

"That's true—time's almost up."

Inside the incense burner, the long incense snapped; the three fell silent, not long after, Liang Qu returned to the cultivation chamber, his body carrying a scent of mud and sand—evidently he had just come back from water control.

He flicked his wrist, producing another three Water Source Fruits.

The three immediately noticed the difference.

These three fruits were noticeably larger in size, their eggplant-colored skin now sprouting faint red patterns, the four top leaves turned into five—just by appearance, they felt more potent.

Eat again.

Three shichen later.

"Eight points."

"Eight points."

"About the same."

"Don't rush, wait a bit longer to see."

Liang Qu dropped a line, then hurried out again.

The three were puzzled, but half a shichen later, their faces changed one after another: "Strange, it feels like we're declining?"

"Me too."

One and a half shichen later, Liang Qu returned.

This time he didn't smell of yellow mud, but of an indescribable fragrance, very pleasant—none of them had ever smelled such a unique scent, and they unconsciously took deep breaths.

"How about now?"

The three exchanged glances, then Du Hanwen scratched his head and replied: "Senior brother, the fruit you gave us is a bit strange—we're inexperienced, we've never eaten anything like this. At first, we did digest it completely, then our qi and blood increased, enough to score eight points of medicinal effect, gaining three points, but over time, that increased portion of qi and blood dropped."

"Dropped? Dropped how much?"

"Roughly equivalent to — having only eaten a fruit with six or seven parts efficacy; the previous eight parts was an illusion, water-bloated, and it's still dropping right now." Du Hanwen turned his head.

Xiong Yiheng and Jin Xiaoyu both nodded in agreement.

Immediately after, they saw Liang Qu's face light up with great joy.

"Confirmed at six or seven parts?"

"Still dropping —" Jin Xiaoyu added.

"Good, the third fruit won't be eaten for now; tell me when it stops dropping."

"Understood."

Night fell.

The scent on Liang Qu turned back into that of yellow sand, and he asked again about the situation.

"Around five and a half parts." The three spoke in unison.

Liang Qu took a deep breath and, for the third time, laid out three Water Source Fruits.

These three were completely different from the previous ones.

The Water Source Fruit shrank a full size, its eggplant color turning pale purple, the green leaves falling to three pieces, looking as if it hadn't matured, plucked just after setting fruit.

Midnight.

"Strange, too strange."

Xiong Yiheng, Du Hanwen, and Jin Xiaoyu were all shocked; in all their years of cultivation, they had eaten no small number of spirit medicines, but never in their lives had they eaten such a strange spirit plant.

One "hollow show," one "small but solid." The previous one had moisture content; this one has disguise — its inner quality is far better than it appears. In short, whichever one, none matches the feeling of the first one eaten.

"What about physically?" Liang Qu recorded seriously, "Any effects?"

"None, all very normal."

"Good. You three go send up wolf smoke signals right away, wait another three days, confirm there's no problem, make a trip back to Pingyang, each use five days of Tiger Amber to nurture Qi, then go find the Hedgehog and draw a breakthrough fund."

The three were overjoyed: "Many thanks, Senior Brother!"

Incense curled, the quiet room fell silent.

"As expected, spirit medicines can also advance in rank!"

Liang Qu's face flushed red.

Invincible!

Fierce to the point of making one's hair stand on end.

The authority of the Position Fruit is entirely a conceptual product; "Regrowth" and "Rewithering" consume none of his physical strength,

Root Sea!

Spirit medicines, divine ability ranks all "Regrow."

Then — what about a person's realm?

Heart pounding, pupils trembling slightly. A major realm might not work, but could a minor realm directly "Re-sublimate," breaking through once?

Liang Qu hurried out, diving straight into the bedchamber.

Dawn broke dimly, revealing hot mist; thighs jade-white and snow-smooth lay across him, Long Eying half-curled soft and limp in Liang Qu's embrace, her eyes full of resentment.

"This Position Fruit, how could it be like this?"

Before, nurturing Qi nearby was enough to transform it; now it absolutely requires one exchange — if one round is satisfying that's fine, several days and nights without leaving bed has happened before, but it just has to be that after one round ends, a half-day pause, then another round again.

"Hehe, it's fine, it's fine, isn't this all to figure it out? Once it's all clear, it'll be fine."

Liang Qu embraced Eying, stroked her hair, one hand five fingers sliding into the silky strands down to her chest, grasping the softness, touching the heartbeat, the other hand laying out the Water Source Fruits.

The three-leaf Water Source Fruit regrew a fourth leaf, identical to the original.

The situation is now very clear.

"The same thing can only Regrow and Rewither once; currently my Position Fruit is not fully gestated, so after catalyzing, the thing returns to its normal state, thus it can be used again, and after catalyzing, it doesn't completely fade — it leaves a trace of aftertaste, a tiny bit of progress; Rewithering is the same. In short, the original state is the coordinate axis zero; it can only go plus one, minus one, not plus two, minus two."

"Regrowth and Rewithering are a perfectly corresponding, symmetrical relationship; ordinary Disaster-attribute Position Fruits cannot compensate, but Goumang can compensate Rushou! Likewise, Rushou can compensate Goumang!"

"Can gather and release, the prototype of a Great Position Fruit may be extremely high; I really am a genius."

"Currently not fully developed, so both Regrowth and Withering fade; if it were thoroughly complete, would it not stay fixed? Become true Sublimation?"

"Could a top-tier creation great medicine Regrow to the point of benefiting the Furnace?"

Liang Qu hesitated a moment, crossing out this thought in his mind.

Not too likely.

The Furnace corresponding to the authority — authority cannot affect authority; even Goumang probably cannot create a spirit medicine that lets the Furnace benefit.

Only the Furnace itself can let the Furnace benefit. Otherwise, why would the Whale Emperor and Great Li's Taizu scheme so painstakingly against two generations, even this third-generation Dragon Lord?

But strengthening spirit medicines is very helpful to him right now.

All thoughts gathered back.

Reviewing October's gains once more.

Current him: Wu Sheng sixth stage, holds the River-Pulling Body, Root Sea twelve hundred times, refined the Long Right Fruit, self-gestated Goumang and Rushou, suspected Great Position Fruit prototype.

Can be called the Young Dragon graduation set. Already invincible among Martial Saints; develop a bit more, finish governing the Yellow Sand, smoothly obtain the Wu Fruit.

First time feeling there's hope to elbow out a win!

Need to cultivate one more cycle!

On the deck, the river wind vast, mid-October, the Yellow Sand River's nights gradually turned cold.

Si Nan finished official business, took out his close-fitting booklet, picked up his brush, licked ink, read two pages.

"October 13th, the Huai King who rested for half a year finally returned to manage the waters; perhaps I can avoid the Governor's reprimand, but the Huai King's mind doesn't seem entirely on water management."

"October 15th, the Ape King went to the East Sea, again laying waterways for newly met Demon King friends; besides water management, the Huai King sets aside one or two hours daily to go into the cabin, unknown what he's doing; hope this time it lasts longer."

"October 19th, today after reporting on the rooms, I went to the quiet chamber, found no one, then heard sounds from the next room, curiously peeked in—these enfeoffed kings, truly debauched and excessive! No wonder they cleared out all the disciples, leaving only the water beasts."

"October 23rd, how can the Ying Dragon have such abundant energy? Strange, strange, the queen consort is also a formidable person."

"October 25th, alas, the Huai King need not stay on the proper path; if the Huai King could devote half his energy to flood control instead of the queen consort, perhaps the Yellow Shahe River of our Great Shun would have long been cured by now? ———— The Huai King is too young, youthful and lustful; perhaps if he were several decades older, he might be better."

"Heavens above, earth below, two beasts!"

Long Yao and Long Li poured warm water, rolled up their trouser legs, barefoot stepping on the quilt.

Sinan glanced, listened to the two maidservants muttering, then continued writing downward from the previous pages.

"November 1st, the Huai King is debauched and excessive, yet flood control efficiency seems surprisingly faster than before, once again catching up to the schedule; the Yuan King's water beasts are also formidable—those ferocious-toothed generals linking pincer fists actually transformed over half of the Demon King's territory; I went to see it, quite impressive.

Strangely put, whenever the Huai King frequently takes leave, upon returning, his efficiency matches that of the Yuan King, rising a notch, balancing the time back.

I have a premonition that the Huai King will soon request leave again — "

"What are you recording?"

Liang Qu poked his head out; Sinan, sharp-eyed and quick-handed, leaned back and shut the diary, calmly saying: "Just some official duties, Huai King need not worry."

"How can there be lying in the 'Ear Recognition Method'?" Liang Qu scratched his head: "If it's official business, why can't I look?"

"The Huai King, though ennobled as a king, should not pry into everything."

"Alright, alright." Perhaps it's a love letter written to Xiang Fang Su; the maid is shy, Liang Qu thought, "By the way, has the flood control progress caught up, right?"

Sinan's brow twitched; despite not wanting to admit it: "Yes, but — "

"Then that's wonderful, help me request leave, first for one month, I have matters."

Karma, "This is — the Holy Mother Toad?"

"Bai Awei" looked left and right, poked his head out, face full of suspicion.

Li Xianghan carefully said: "Indeed, there is no Holy Mother Toad in the Nine Villages, but this is already the most beautiful in the frog gu, and moreover, I bought it at great expense."

Liang Qu extended his limb, propping his chin.

Beautiful it is.

The toad before us, entirely golden-yellow, with elongated corners of the eyes, is a "phoenix-eye"; enthusiasts of crawling pets surely like it.

The problem is —

Is it not too small?!

Li Xianghan held the "Holy Mother Toad" in her palm, face full of apprehension.

Altogether, it fits in a palm; the old toad is small, small compared to the rest of the frog clan, itself only one person tall and one person wide, cannot compare to A Fei or the Frog King, but —

"Ah, isn't there a larger one?"

"Larger? I haven't heard of any; they're all gu worms, cannot grow large, Your Majesty, gu worms and demons are different, gu worms are human-refined, mostly ambush-oriented, naturally the smaller the better — " Li Xianghan explained flustered.

", well, well, give me the toad, you go cultivate first, later we'll look again."

Li Xianghan rejoiced: "Many thanks, Your Majesty!"

Taking up the "Holy Mother Toad," Liang Qu felt a bit embarrassed handing it to the old toad, placed it in the pond to rear first; before the Holy Emperor arrives in Yixing, he again rushed nonstop to his master's home in Pingyang, summoning all his second, third, fourth, and third senior brothers.

The Yellow Shahe River, the Isle of Mirage Dragons, the Netherworld Courts — all are The Most Critical Priority; coming up, there may not be time, several major matters must be completed first.

By rights, the dregs of immortality pills should also arrive, especially from the Blue-Capped King's side, where the Pot King was tormented for half a month, timing is about right; if prolonged, it would easily be recalled back, fortunately we can leverage the Eastern Water Division's tribal construction to make a trip to Jianghuai.

"Junior brother, what urgent matter has you flustered? Speak clearly, I am merely a tiger hunter, a great martial warrior; if you provoke someone, oh, is it a female immortal? I might try my best, give it a go; if it's a male, senior brother now cannot settle it, eh, how did everyone arrive?"

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