Chapter 1422

"Gulp."

A massive swallowing sound rang out; General Yuan scratched his ears and cheeks, his sharp turtle claws scraping against the scaled armor of his neck.

Its cultivation path differed from others', whether human or demon — it followed the "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Method," requiring seasonal Qi; entirely because its own lifespan-treasure and lifespan-system circulated, yet now there was actually a second portion, one that not only allowed seasonal Qi to adhere to each other but also made it yearn for them?

Damn it, how come every good thing under heaven ends up in this brat's hands?

And after getting them he still has to flaunt them right before my eyes.

Hateful.

Flowing water, ah.

Recalling the means by which young Liang had plucked its Qi out of thin air back then — at the time it still thought its Martial Saint secret of extending life by a thousand years was more precious; now it seems truly damn hard to say.

Right too — if he can seize Qi without a vessel, what precious Qi under heaven could he not seize?

Facing "curiosity," Liang Qu calmly took a crisp peach from the Shanxiao's hand, wiped it against his chest, rubbed off the peach fuzz, and bit down with a crunch: "Don't know."

"How would you not know? Weren't you the one who brought it?" General Yuan glanced at the Shanxiao — each with a ghostly, sneaky look — cheering loudly, linking hands and feet to form a monkey-ladder passing fruit, cursing "damn it" in his heart.

"How fresh." Liang Qu finished the peach in two bites and walked into the Time-Worm cave: "Just because I brought it means I have to know?

I merely obtained it by chance, saw a connection, and came to give it a try."

Inside the cave there was no wind; the small bundles woven into four-colored worm cocoons swayed a moment, then fell completely still, suspended from the cavern ceiling. Liang Qu reached out, scraped his palm, and dug down the stones along with their silk threads, placing them into a prepared bamboo tube.

General Yuan paled in shock: "Hey, what are you doing?"

"Asking when you know the answer — of course I'm taking them away."

"No, no, you already gave me the Time-Worms; how can you go back on your word? Break your promise? What's wrong with leaving them with me?" General Yuan grew frantic, no longer caring to fret over the new Qi.

"Look at you, all anxious again. It's not like I'm taking them and not giving them back — once I'm done I'll return them, won't I? Besides, now that the Time-Worms have cocooned, leaving them with you serves no purpose anyway."

"I can safekeep them for you — such powerful Qi, what if something goes wrong? Carrying them on your person is so inconvenient; let me bear the trouble."

"You just want to buy time and secretly use them yourself, right?"

"Cough, how could that be? In all of Peng Ze, who doesn't know I, General Yuan, am an upright turtle gentleman? This is a slander against my turtle character, vile mud-slinging. You call it out here — let me duel it one-on-one... don't run! I'll trade my lifespan-treasure for yours, Huai King! Ten portions!"

"Forget it. I'll return them after fusion."

"Then you have to pay a rental fee for borrowing them!"

"Scram."

Liang Qu waved a hand behind his back, had Jiang Tun swallow the bamboo tube into the Ze Kingdom, and sped off, vanishing.

Originally he'd planned to leave them on Longevity Mountain, finish his business, then come back for them.

But he strongly suspected — suspected the old thing would feel the Qi was useful to him, and once the Qi fusion succeeded, before Liang Qu returned, he'd use it first, then play dead pig unafraid of boiling water: "kill or carve as you please."

"Hmph! Monkey eyes looking down on a turtle! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west — don't bully the old turtle into poverty! In ten thousand years I'll become a King! In a hundred thousand years I'll become an Emperor!" Turtle claws slapped the water; General Yuan seethed with indignation. He looked again at the Shanxiao, exhaled a breath that howled, blowing the monkeys into a tumble, revealing their big red buttocks: "Damned plague-ridden stinking monkeys! Raised you for nothing! Rotten luck."

"Rotten luck."

"Quite something, to actually make the old turtle covet it — but why would the old turtle covet it?"

Liang Qu stroked the bamboo tube, feeling both surprise and puzzlement.

Time-Worms can weave Qi to undergo metamorphosis; don't know what this round of weaving will turn into.

Xuanlong Xuanlong——

Could it really turn into the omen of an Emperor?

This reminded Liang Qu of a three-character cultivation manual.

Speaking seriously, General Yuan is actually of dragon lineage — borrowing dragon blood to extend life, then advancing further with Xuanlong Qi, quite logical——

Moreover, now that he has a second set of suit-Qi, could he perhaps follow the same pattern, weaving Xuanlong Qi to forge another nine-in-one Heavenly Dew Qi?

The Position-Fruit of Jumang came about this way.

Xuanlong Qi's nature is entirely different; proceeding step by step, it might nurture a different kind of Major Position-Fruit.

"Pity, ultimately it doesn't match the Time-Worm's characteristics like seasonal alignment does."

A faint, sharp explosive cry rang by his ear; Liang Qu recalled the Time-Worms' earlier state — when not weaving the four-season Qi they were at ease, but instead resembled the late stage of Heavenly Dew mixed with too many heterogeneous Qi.

Heavenly Dew, Withered Wood, Xuanhuang — corresponding to Water, Wood, Earth — even touching the four seasons Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter is this difficult; Xuanlong even more so.

"Enough. Wait a month; once put into the Ze Cauldron we'll know."

Let the Time-Worms suffer a bit; the saved essence he'll spend himself.

Looking forward to the surprise Xuanlong brings.

Returned to Yellow Shahe.

On the deck Liang Qu ran into Lan Jicai, who had gone out scouting; they exchanged a few polite words, but Liang Qu always felt the other's gaze on him was strange, very excited. He didn't think much of it, greeted him, and entered the quiet room.

Lan Jicai watched Liang Qu leave, then looked at Yellow Shahe, immediately took out paper and brush, thought a moment, then felt he couldn't leave evidence, so only sketched it in his mind.

"Lord of Huaijiang, suspected to know multiple Heaven-Earth lineages, able to borrow the Living-Beings Grand Array, Fengyi Position-Fruit, pointing out the Yellow Sand Dragon King at the Demon King peak——

Heaven-Earth rejects the actions of Great Li and the Whale Emperor; could it be that, with the Dragon Lord as a cautionary precedent, merely changing a single innate True Spirit of Huaijiang is still insufficient to resist, requiring the Three Rivers to merge as One?"

Quiet room, incense curling.

Light flickering.

【Water Ze Essence +2451441】

【Water Ze Essence: 18,740,000】

Essence-blood swallowed; the Ze Cauldron's blue tide surged violently!

Treasure-Fish can let the Round-Head nurture and guarantee Water Ze Essence doesn't dissipate, but Dragon King essence-blood won't work — must be consumed as soon as possible O

Scorching energy surged into four limbs and hundred bones, meridians and skeleton, trickling along.

Bones sprang; abrupt mutation arose.

Heat and medicinal power had just begun to spread, not yet guided by Liang Qu into the Immortal Isle, nor entered the Root Sea, before they were sucked away by the Grasp-River-Pull-River body's whirlwind, vanishing without trace.

Subsequently, the already incomparably tyrannical physical body, at the hundred-foot pole's top, advanced another step!

Hmm?

Liang Qu widened his eyes.

"What's the situation?"

Grasping Jiang and pulling He, when he was born from the fruit, he was struck by heavenly thunder tribulation, and then spent eight million essences to nurture himself, making him feel that upon entering Zhen Xiang he could shatter the Yaolong's ultimate martial bones, and with this he easily repelled Wu Lingxu and Fei Taiyu; at this level, can he still improve?

But——

Two million plus essences is roughly the amount of a Phoenix Immortal Fish, this little bit—can it strengthen martial bones?

Liang Qu's mind stormed.

"Grasping Jiang and pulling He, grasping Jiang and pulling He, Jianghe Dragon King——does Dragon King's essence blood have a miraculous effect on my martial bones?"

Liang Qu opened his eyes wide.

Is the current Grasping Jiang and pulling He still not the limit? Not the complete form?

Jianghe, Dragon King, True Spirit, Grasping Jiang and pulling He, the original dragon tendons and tiger bones——

Liang Qu stood up, momentarily startled and doubtful.

He suddenly recalled the Old Dragon Lord's suggestion, giving the Fortune Treasure Fish to the Dragon Lord to let it swallow and absorb, nourishing itself, then exchanging for more dragon blood—there would surely be loss in between, but if the guess is true——

Martial bone enhancement could improve all aspects, root sea and temple cultivation could also be enhanced, thus further helping the fruit's growth. Conversely, root sea and temple cultivation might not necessarily feedback to enhance martial bones.

This would be equivalent to enhancing aptitude!

"And there's also Profound Long Qi!"

"Hiss——"

Dragon blood, four-attribute treasure fish, Profound Long Qi.

The Dragon King's birth, heaven and earth suddenly changed, the king's lord flourished.

He seems to have grasped all the top-tier gains that appeared alongside the Dragon King; these things seem, as if, or perhaps could become a whole, bringing a full set of enhancements?

In this world, no treasure can affect the furnace, yet in this single line of uselessness.

The set-long qi, Fortune Treasure Fish, and the first demon lord's natal essence blood—all are standing at the peak, touching the barrier's existing treasures.

When interlocked, what kind of effect could they burst forth?

Complete form's——furnace martial bones!?

Heavy Breathing.

"Let the treasure fish be placed first, wait for the time insect's long qi to come out and see."

Liang Qu clenched his fists; the enhancement of martial bone essence was no fake, he decided to first ease up, cannot rashly use the four Fortune Treasure Fish.

"The New Year is coming soon, there's a period of leisure; previously we agreed to make pills for the demon lords, rebate, no, thanks, the fees piled up unused—can be used to test whether dragon blood is special, or simply absorbing the Great Medicinal of Creation."

The netherworld and Dragon King, finally come to an end.

Looking out the window at flying snow, the seasons change.

He spat out a mouthful of turbid air.

As the year's end approaches, most imperial court institutions are on holiday, and Liang Qu is also currently on leave.

In the last two years, after next year comes the Great Hunt Assembly, and there's the revived Great Li Taizu; the year's end may not necessarily be peaceful, perhaps now is the last one.

Liang Qu shouted loudly: "Xiao Yao, Xiao Li, Tu Tu Kai! Pack up, go home!"

"Yawn!"

The Old Dragon Lord roamed freely in the Yellow Sha River, familiar with unknown waterways, inexplicably sneezed, feeling his body's weakness, looking at the missing four scales on his dragon tail.

"Could it be that brat is thinking of me again? Damn it, dragon blood, dragon scales, dragon maidens all given, what else does he want?"

"Come on, come on! Er Ma Zi, drink, drink!"

"Where did the wine come from? I didn't see any."

"Nonsense, of course I brought it myself; having vegetables, meat, and white flour is already good, you still hope to have wine?"

The temporary stove blazed fiercely, five large pots set on the stove, gurgling and spewing hot steam, a large chimney-like puff of hot mist, bamboo sheds beside the iron pot stretching on, tables, chairs, and stools in disarray, crowds dense, some standing to eat, some arriving early, grabbing seats to sit and eat.

When the middle pot lid was lifted, a large bowl of vegetables served, the noisy clamor grew even more intense by three parts.

"New dishes served! Quick! Shunzi, quickly, save some pig blood sausage for me!"

"Come on! You've been working at Liang Ye's place all this time, not getting daily mountain delicacies and seafood, eating dragon liver and phoenix marrow—what about us fighting over this bit of meat?" A villager laughed.

"Hey! Liang Ye went to the Yellow Sha River, is there a big stove at home? And big pot dishes are the most fragrant! Ai yo! Which Wang Ba——" Fan Xinglai raised his big bowl, shouting for Shunzi to add rice and add vegetables, suddenly someone bumped him with their buttocks, he slid off the long bench; fortunately he had martial arts foundation, his horse stance was solid, otherwise he would have almost fallen to the ground, about to curse.

"Liang Ye!"

A call rang out, thereafter rising and falling, gathering under the erected bamboo shed into a tsunami.

The snow on the eaves trembled and fell down.

Outsiders hearing the voice looked over, seeing the tall youth under the bamboo shed, their eyes lit up, and then they found it strange.

A solemnly enfeoffed king, actually mingling with villagers, shoulder to shoulder, eating this big pot pig-killing dish?

Huai Wang, a strange person too.

E Ying watched as Liang Qu squeezed into the crowd to join the fun, eating the big pot meal with everyone, helplessly shook her head, and went home first.

Liang Qu pulled out his chopsticks, pressed and wiped the tip with his elbow, took a large earthen bowl to scoop noodles, squeezed Fan Xinglai out, sat with Chen Shu's second son Xiao Kui, then took the pork and cabbage strips Shunzi passed over, and ate heartily.

The noise in the bamboo shed grew even louder by three parts.

"Which Wang Ba——" Fan Xinglai, upon hearing Liang Ye, realized something was wrong, his words abruptly shifted, he stood straight, turned around, raised his thumb, "I said which king's overlord aura suddenly leaked sideways, turns out it's the host!"

"Isn't Liang Ye supposed to be governing the waters of the Yellow Sha River? Came back for the New Year?" Someone shouted a question.

"Yes, rushing back for the New Year, not because he's mixing poorly outside and dares not return home—this year after year cannot be missed."

Everyone burst into loud laughter.

"If Liang Ye mixes poorly, who else mixes well?"

Liang Qu swallowed a bowl of food: "Speaking of which, it's quite a coincidence—just came back hungry, caught up with the flowing water banquet; whose family has a happy event to celebrate?"

"Who else could it be? Your family!" an old uncle shouted in reply.

"Me?" Liang Qu was surprised, looking left and right, "How come I didn't know myself?"

"It's Uncle Lu." Chen Shun explained, "After Uncle Yu, Uncle Lu became a grandmaster, so he set up a banquet before the New Year to celebrate, offering food to anyone who came, local or not, to share in the joy."

"Ah, Senior Brother Lu." Liang Qu suddenly understood, clapping and laughing loudly, "That's great, how many days are you preparing?"

"Three days, today is the second."

"When the mood strikes, after eating we'll go find the hedgehog to put on tab, extending it to the day after the New Year festival!"

"Lord Liang, noble righteousness!"

Mountain cries, sea roars.

Eating only three-tenths full, inquiring about Yixing's recent situation, boasting a little, adding two dishes, Liang Qu first went to Pingyang Temple, handing over the latest *Weishi Lun* to the old monk.

The series of events after going to the underworld truly left no breathing room, leaving no chance to catch one's breath, and only now has a gap been found.

After casual chat, setting the festival date, then going to Yang's mansion to boast, Tiannanhaibei.

"They said it was slow, but then it was fast—between heaven darkening and earth dimming, I spurred my horse forward, hand raised, sword fell, hand raised again, sword fell again, I hurled the long spear in my hand, it flashed once in the sky, then turned into a golden light, the new master of Snow Mountain cried out in pain", then I pierced his brain, he fell from his horse, life or death unknown."

"That means he's dead!" Cao Rang affirmed.

"Still fighting the flood dragon while on horseback?" Xu Zishuai questioned.

"Don't worry about that—anyway, the Snow Mountain new master's horse isn't as fast as my Chishan."

"How did I hear it was the Dragon-Elephant King who killed him?" Lu Gang wondered.

Liang Qu waved his hand: "All just rumors spread by word of mouth, deceiving outsiders, it's Your Majesty worrying that I stand out in the forest and will be destroyed by the wind, so Bei Ting and Nan Jiang sent masters to assassinate me, this peerless genius, so they blamed the Dragon-Elephant King, but actually I killed him, though the matter is too shocking, so it's been sealed—don't spread it, just know it in your hearts."

"Tsk tsk tsk————"

Xu Shi extended her index finger, jabbing hard at Liang Qu's forehead.

Laughter erupted in the hall.

Heavy snow fell.

The frog clan's territory.

"Ha ha hi!" the old toad, big and small bundle, let the yellow skin bag wrap him, leapt out of the waterway, descended upon the clan's land, waved his webbed claws, "Little ones, do you miss the elders?"

"Roar!"

Frog cries rang out, mud flying.

Fat fish, a frog leading the way.

Time flew by, the festival atmosphere grew stronger, the smell of sulfur filled Yixing.

In a flash, gathered again at Dragon Palace, the otter's head bore a porcelain tray passing dishes, Ah Fat's fin held playing cards, his head covered in paper slips, cold sweat dripping, he strained to glance sideways and peek, opposite, the round-headed one flung another slip, giving it to the Third Prince, slapping it onto the fist.

Fat fish angrily flung the cards, doubting the round-headed one of cheating.

It demanded to check the cards!

The round-headed one glanced, extended his fish tail.

"Two grandmasters in one year, this year we can say it's continuous, not easy." Chang Song looked around excitedly, the sect flourishing, unprecedented!

"This is troublesome, now is it Yu Shixiong saying the祝词, or Lu Shixiong?" Hu Qi hesitated.

"Isn't it simple?" Xu Zishuai slammed his wine cup on the table, "Say two copies! Yu Shixiong one copy, Lu Shixiong one copy!

"

"Good! Two祝词! Two fortunes!"

"I think it's fine."

"Two senior brothers, hurry up and serve them."

Yu Dun and Lu Gang exchanged smiles, inwardly inspected their dantian divine abilities, all feeling moved today, having prepared their thoughts, they rose one after another and raised their cups.

"Warmly welcoming spring, longevity and eternal peace."

"Embroidered curtains roll waves, fragrance draws ears. Hasty pipes and loud strings, together celebrating human auspiciousness. Full jade cup links dancing sleeves. Southern spring congratulates thousands of thousands of years."

"Good!"

Everyone rose in unison.

"Warmly welcoming spring, longevity and eternal peace."

"Embroidered curtains roll waves, fragrance draws ears. Hasty pipes and loud strings, together celebrating human auspiciousness. Full jade cup links dancing sleeves. Southern spring congratulates thousands of thousands of years."

Cups clinked, wine droplets fell, one or two on the plate.

The little otter put down the porcelain tray, looked at his head's wine cup, wiped off a chicken leg.

Early February.

Frost snow filled the sky, torn red paper slipped into stone crevices, trembling.

Huai Wang "Stone in the River", again returned to Huangsha River.

The Dragon Lord overlooked Huangsha River, lightly nodded.

Thirty thousand li Huangsha River, heaven and earth shaken.

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