Chapter 1451: All the laws of the world, fully ensnared

The sun rose higher, the moisture gradually dispersing.

Emperor's Rock grew ever clearer, gazing into the distance, looking out over the rivers and lakes, unchanging for eternity.

"Excuse me, please make way, make way, don't block the waterway, move forward, there are many people behind making space for the water spiders."

"Keep walking, keep walking, don't stop, first time visiting Yixing? Those who enjoy riverside strolls, head east, there's a reed boardwalk, rest assured, no leeches, mosquitoes, or water snakes—we've cleared them all out.

Those who like playing in the water, head north, there's a water bridge, stepping on it won't make you fall in, and even if you do fall in, don't worry, there are river dolphins around who will rescue you, and if you like, you can even ride the river dolphins to see the cloth shadows along the river—two taels of silver per ride."

"Don't go into unfamiliar waters, don't go into————don't————important matters said three times: if an accident occurs in waters without safety markers, rescue won't be timely, Yixing County bears no responsibility, and will not provide any compensation."

"Where am I? Is this still the Great Shun?"

The stone slabs underfoot were fine-grained, the wind-borne air lacked the goat and sheep stench.

Li Xianghan jumped off the springboard, stepped onto the pier, her gaze withdrawing from the distant Holy Emperor statue, scanning all around, dazzled, eyes wide open.

The rats on her left and right shoulders opened their mouths wide, watching water spiders crawl in and out of the canal, shivering, absent-minded, she felt dizzy and nearly got flung by her owner, instinctively clutching her hair, the meteor hammer swinging through the air like a flying star.

The Holy Emperor laughed heartily, well-versed, leading the tribal chief and the great khan to Mount Pingyang to admire the Emperor's Rock up close.

The logistics staff of the Nanyue and Beiting envoys had just settled in when they were stunned by the Holy Emperor Rock, and immediately urged by the pier's person-in-charge to leave.

One by one, the country bumpkins stood helpless, dazed, swept along by the crowd, step after step moving forward.

Long-legged spiders wrapped in bubbles entered and exited the river, spindle-shaped wooden boxes burst from the water, one batch after another of tourists disembarked and embarked.

Carriages flowed like water, horses like dragons.

River dolphins darted and raced, leaping from the water, crystal-clear spray reflecting sunlight, sparkling in midair. Boys and girls ran barefoot across the river surface, chasing and playing, inexplicably not sinking. Shop fronts bore flagpoles, hung with banners, occasionally one or two golden-haired monkeys sat chewing peaches.

Li Xianghan walked forward.

All kinds of food, unheard of, fragrant and rich.

On the towering buildings, the curtain screens flickered in succession, broadcasting the dream-walking competition with fervor, the commentary passionate, often hearing cheers.

Azure limestone was everywhere, ten copper coins could open it, storing personal belongings inside for a day, retrieving a token like the tiger talisman.

Octopuses waved their limbs, stalls selling exquisite trinkets, frogs hopping, turtles gliding on the stone slab road after polishing it.

Humans and beasts seemed completely accustomed to each other.

The degree of integration surpasses that of humans and gu in Nanyue!

Scanning the world, there's no place as strange as this.

When people arrive in unfamiliar places and environments, seeing others accustomed to what is utterly foreign to them, they fear making a single mistake, inviting ridicule, as if they lack experience and have lost face.

The retinue from Nanyue and Beiting fell into the same predicament. Everyone clearly were the dignitaries and nobles of their respective strongholds,

illustrious and powerful, having seen and eaten nothing unfamiliar, even those as young as eleven or twelve and maidens who had lost their virtue—upon arriving in Yixing, they found nothing familiar anywhere.

"Xie Ge———"

The old tribal chief followed the Great Shun Emperor away; among the younger generation, Xie Hongyu became the leader, everyone unwilling to lose face, unconsciously following this tribal chief's grandson.

Xie Hongyu had no thought of sightseeing with everyone, brows tightly furrowed, silently observing.

Having heard much is nothing like seeing it once—the fief of the Huai King is renowned abroad, the cloth shadows are all the rage in Nanyue, there must be something worthwhile, something to learn, the three-way alliance, personally setting foot on this land—an opportunity once in a thousand years.

"What is this cloth doll called.

""

"Ben Bowa, guest, this is our Yixing's mascot, buy one."

Xie Hongyu weighed it in his hand, glanced at the simply drawn doll, head-sized, something a village woman could make: "How much?"

"Your item is the small size, thirty wen each."

Xie Hongyu waved his hand, his servant stepped forward to pay.

"Xie Ge, why are you buying this thing?"

Xie Hongyu said nothing, just twisted hard with both hands, directly tearing open the doll's skin.

Thick white cotton burst straight from inside the doll, the wind blowing, some cotton fluff flying about.

Everyone puzzled, they bought it, tore it open—what's going on?

Xie Hongyu asked: "How much does cotton cost per jin on the market now?"

They stared at each other, blank-faced.

A group of young masters and ladies, following their elders to broaden their horizons, themselves having no experience, no one knew the price of cotton per jin.

Xie Hongyu grew slightly annoyed.

"My lord, I know!" the personal attendant suddenly spoke, "My mother makes clothes, the current market cotton, locally sourced, is roughly twenty wen per jin, if it's long-staple cotton, then thirty wen per jin, basically fluctuating around this range."

Everyone still didn't grasp the issue.

Some had a sudden flash of insight.

"No way, this doll is stuffed with cotton—what profit is there?"

"Great idea, great strategy—this doll costs exactly thirty wen each, exactly one jin of cotton." Xie Hongyu sighed, "This isn't selling dolls, it's clearly selling cotton, even at a loss."

"Xie Ge, what does this mean?"

"Just plain cotton—thirty wen, same as the doll's price, but the doll has an extra piece of cloth—would you buy it or not?"

"Of course we'd buy it, works out cheaper, but what's the seller's motive?"

"Yeah, what's the motive? Cotton is thirty wen, labor and cloth costs—aren't they all a loss-making trade? Selling one loses several wen, small amounts add up, the sum is not insignificant."

Xie Hongyu looked at everyone, shook his head: "These dolls are only in Yixing, those after cotton, buy them back, take them apart, remove the cotton, they can just refill with straw or reed fluff.

The key is, ordinary families gain the incentive to buy, then children at home will have one more toy, this thing will become widely known in every household, attracting more people, reminding those who've come to return.

How much is longing worth? The gains and losses here, the profits and deficits, can't be explained in a sentence or two—whether it ultimately profits or loses—"

The attendant had a sudden inspiration, returned to the stall to ask: "How many years has this doll been sold?"

"Three years, always at this price! Want a medium-sized one, guest? Three hundred wen, that's a thick piece of cotton."

Xie Hongyu laughed bitterly: "To sell at a loss for three years—must be profitable after all, the Huai King's talent is unmatched, his ideas endless, even as a merchant, he'd be filthy rich."

"How does Brother Xie know it's King Huai's idea? Maybe it's some capable subordinate of his?"

"You've forgotten the Huangzhou shark-silk gauze?" Xie Hongyu glanced askance. "Each of you, scrambling like madmen — how much does a bolt of shark-silk gauze cost? A pair of shark-silk socks and you lost your heads. What was the Crown Prince's strength back then? What forces did he have? Did he have capable subordinates?"

Everyone's faces reddened, an awkward silence falling over them.

Li Xianghan's eyes widened.

Damn, that guy thinks this much? He's this formidable outside of cultivation too?

Bai Awei raised a jointed limb, pointing toward the distant Yingchun Tower, wanting to take her dream-walking. Li Xianghan was greatly tempted, but too embarrassed to leave the group, so she could only secretly signal she'd go later, and stayed with the team for now.

Xie Hongyu continued forward, occasionally pulling out a small notebook to record details of each place. Soon he made another startling discovery, and following that line of thought, he was utterly shaken.

"Yixing — no, are all the people of Pingyang practicing martial arts?"

"Ah, Brother Xie, what did you say?"

Xie Hongyu stared fixedly at the three or four young people playing by the roadside: "These people, all fourteen or fifteen years old. Though none have entered the Four Passes, each and every one bears traces of cultivation!"

"This, isn't it normal? Being able to come out alone, they must be————"

"No, I've observed. Though they all speak the official tongue, their speech leans closer to the dialect of those street vendors!

And today's River God Festival, with so many people — if they came, they'd come with their whole families. Why would they let them come out alone, unless they're locals to begin with! All those meeting these two conditions, of appropriate age, are entirely like this!"

Everyone practices martial arts?

Everyone was a bit bewildered.

King Huai's fief — isn't this a bit outrageous?

"Hello there, is this your first time here? You don't look like Dashun people. Need a guide?"

A voice cut in.

Xie Hongyu looked up at the two youths before him, red armbands on their sleeves, brimming with enthusiasm and youthful vigor, even sporting acne on their faces.

"Yes, and you are?"

"Wow, you speak the official tongue — that makes things much easier. I saw your clothes are different from ours, thought you were from out of town and couldn't understand us, so you were holding back.

We're volunteers from Yixingli, and also disciples of the Huayin Martial Hall. See the red armbands? That's our mark. If you run into any trouble, or harassment, or get lost, you can come find us anytime!"

"Martial Hall disciples, doing this — do you get paid?" Xie Hongyu probed.

"No money, but we get credits, and three meals included."

"What are credits?"

"Credits, now that's a good thing — you couldn't exchange them for money even if you wanted to————" the volunteer rattled on enthusiastically.

Fierce, flourishing vitality surged boundlessly, like grass in rock crevices, like trees on sheer cliffs, like———— Liang Qu, the dragon who died young at twenty-something!

The Southern Border people looked around once more.

The entire territory, like Liang Qu's life, like Liang Qu's age, radiated an unprecedented morning vigor, vitality, flourishing sensation!

Xie Hongyu listened and recorded, studying seriously, analyzing pros and cons, both envious and awed.

Damn it.

How could there be such a person in the world?

He was over forty this year, already a Zhen Xiang Grandmaster. With a Zhen Xiang lifespan of three hundred, he could barely count as a young man. Yet he had never imagined that Liang Qu! A youth more than a decade younger than him, could achieve such a level, such all-around mastery!

Throughout history, there has never been a dragon who died young at twenty-eight.

Throughout history, there has never been such a prosperous fief.

Xie Hongyu once took pride in being a Tusi's grandson, learning all manner of knowledge. But now this identity of his couldn't compare to half of Liang Qu's. The support and pride in the depths of the locals' eyes when they mentioned Liang Qu.

Cultivation, ability, methods————

Damn it, he was jealous.

Repeated deep breaths, Xie Hongyu calmed his emotions: "We're an envoy mission from the Southern Border, indeed our first time here. Don't know what fun places there are — could you recommend a couple————"

"Tsk, sorry, there are, there are. We have here————"

Prosperity on land.

Inside and outside the Long Gong, after Bai Yuan's solo challenge of all the Demon Kings under heaven, the "River-Mid Stones" gathered once more.

Even sea merchants dispatched water beasts to come and participate in the learning.

"Big Brother!"

"Second Brother!"

"Second Brother!"

"Great Sage! This time we'll be counting on your care."

"No need for formalities. All Demon Kings attending today's auction get a Purple Card to start!" Bai Yuan greeted warmly.

The Little Horse King looked worried, glancing at the Big Horse King: "Big Brother, do you think they'll sell to us?"

The Big Horse King sighed: "We have to at least try."

The Big and Little Horse Kings whispered privately. "Bai Yuan" had noticed the two brothers early on, and Fu Shui went to welcome them. According to prior arrangement, he directly produced two Red Cards and tossed them to the two Kings.

"This————" The Big and Little Horse Kings were caught completely off guard.

"Take them. Later, when you have an epiphany, go claim it directly. Must not breathe a word to other Kings — just say you accumulated enough on your own." "Bai Yuan" spoke blandly, then left.

"Hiss."

The Big and Little Horse Kings only felt the Red Cards in their claws burning hot, overwhelmed by unexpected favor. The resentment from always being bullied and coerced by the monkey, at this moment given a rare benefit, actually mysteriously evaporated by more than half!

Bai Yuan returned to the Long Gong throne, gazing at the assembled Kings.

"Every year on the sixth of the sixth month is the rare River God Celebration. Later, please————"

The daylight gradually shifted.

Inside Yingchun Tower, lip-shell parted, exhaling clouds and mist. Lao Mengyao took a sip of her drink, stretched lazily, preparing to enter a dream — when she suddenly discovered a sneaking figure.

"King Huai's disciple!"

"Holy Maiden of the Southern Frontier!"

Li Xianghan looked over and likewise noticed Laomengyao.

Having arrived only half a day ago, it was not hard to discover that the Huai Wang had newly taken on two disciples; even their portraits were obtained, and Li Xianghan had noticed something off at the time—how could the Huai Wang's disciples be exchanging glances with the Fierce Tiger King like that?

Could it be— a beauty trap?

Is the Fierce Tiger King someone who would be lured by beauty?

After Liang Qu returned, he never helped her cultivate, leaving her unable to "send messages on the wind"; now that she knows the situation, she is even more bewildered, and dares not report it casually before fully understanding.

"Check out!" Laomengyao raised her hand.

"Half an hour in the dream, I charge three taels of silver."

"Done!"

"Roar! Here it comes! It's starting!"

Cheers shook the heavens, transmitted to Yingchun Lou, simply like a tsunami.

Li Xianghan was secretly observing how others boarded the machine, so she could be more skilled later and maintain elegance; hearing the commotion, she forgot about "entering the dream" and immediately flung herself to the window, gazing left and right.

On Pingyang Mountain, crowns and robes unfurled, banners fluttered, a thousand attendants accompanied, the Holy Emperor, the Sweat King, and the Tribal Chief stood together as three sovereigns.

Spanning the long street, the entire Shangrao pier was cleared, a high platform erected, yet no one was seen.

Li Xianghan puzzledly searched.

Boom—

The azure sky shattered, thunderbolt from a clear sky!

A white mist like cow's milk suddenly unfurled and spread, permeating Yingchun Lou, enveloping everyone. Strangely, within the white mist, suddenly there was a hiss, something brushing past.

Look closely.

Horse!

An exceptionally majestic steed!

Nostrils exhaling air currents, muscles rippling like flowing water, ten thousand horses galloping together! Behind the herd came the sound of water, and then ten thousand Jiang Tun surging forth, entwined and swimming, a hundred li all alike.

Li Xianghan widened her eyes, reached out to touch, and indeed felt a faint impact force.

What is this thing?

Divine ability?

Isn't sacrifice just slaughtering two livestock, dancing a bit, chanting a few incantations?

The cheers were deafening, the entire Yixing boiled over, emotions intense enough to infect every person.

"Good!"

Xie Hongyu stood in the first row, glanced at the red-faced man beside him, the old man shouting hoarsely from exhaustion.

Chen Zhaoan's temples twitched with blue veins.

Holy Emperor! Tribal Chief! Sweat King!

I've never seen them in my life, today they all appeared, hateful that last year's outbreak came too early—should have been saved for this year.

What a pity, what a pity— if we do it again, our lives might not be spared; the Huai Wang said he disagreed no matter what.

On the altar, Xiang Fang Su glanced at the illusory shadow on Pingyang Mountain, thought of what exalted figures were watching, her hands and feet turned ice-cold, she was extremely nervous; today's scene truly frightened him, he wouldn't dare do such a thing even in his dreams.

Chen Zhaoan was too far away, merely excited; he wasn't that far, but instead felt panicked.

Boom—

Lightning struck again, dark clouds gathered, pitch black, with occasional flashes of light.

The populace clamored, this year's sacrifice seemed somehow different.

Li Xianghan strained to catch every detail; suddenly, drumbeats like thunder, on both sides of the long street, bare-chested strong men beat drums, below screams erupted, making pores contract, Li Xianghan suddenly lifted her head.

Claw.

A sky-covering eagle's claw seized the dark clouds! Protruding from the horizon! What a ferocious eagle-beast, its wingspread nearly wanting to cover heaven and earth.

Eagle cries echoed, the sharp eagle's claw gripped the dark clouds, moreover gripped every person's heart, clenched tightly.

Afterward came beast roars, long cries!

In the Long Gong, on the earth, suddenly strange fish with spiny scales and one-legged ox-beasts rushed out in succession!

Three giant beasts, three monsters, in heaven, on earth, in water, coming from three directions, shaking off earth and bathing in water, looking down on Yixing, tens of thousands of people tiny as ants.

"What the hell is this?" Li Xianghan was utterly bewildered.

Xie Hongyu was even more shocked, scanning his surroundings, trying to find the source of this marvel.

"Ah ah ah!" the Third Prince's veins bulged, "Ancestors aid me!"

Within the Yixing area, hundreds of lip shells opened and closed, more white mist gushed forth, converged, surged, transformed.

The Tian Wu mist and mirage intertwined at this moment, wind and clouds gathered.

Everyone trembled, facing the colossal three beasts, the central divine general, bare-chested, bathed in torrential rain, holding a great drum and battle axe, stood firm between heaven and earth, descended upon the water!

Dong dong dong! Dong dong dong!

The heaven-standing giant moved.

A strange dance, urgent drumbeats, the bare-chested figure swinging its sash.

Sleeve and feet shifted, figure weaving, the battle axe in hand gleamed coldly, opening heaven and earth. The monster howled, swung its body, charged head-on, a heaven-shaking, earth-moving colossal battle!

The axe cleaved into the one-legged ox's shoulder, white mist gushed, the ox lowed miserably.

The eagle's claw seized the giant's shoulder, tore off a great expanse of cloud-mist. The strange fish seized the moment to bite the thigh. The giant roared in pain and anger, backhand lifted, repelling the great eagle, backhand smashed down, stunning the strange fish.

Ripples spread in the water tank, dust lay close to the ground, not falling.

The Sweat King and Tribal Chief stared unblinking; they knew it was false, that aura at most was Entering Zhen Xiang, yet they could not help but be drawn by this shocking spectacle.

Inside the Long Gong, the demon kings also watched this scene silently; they did not quite understand, but could also be moved by the emotion, their still hearts throbbed.

White mist flowed, warhorses galloped, charging past the chariots, everyone on the same battlefield.

The giant beast wailed, the warhorses neighed—this was the most primal slaughter—

Bloodshed, desolation.

The magnificent grandeur unique to the barbarian wilderness era!

The fat fish flicked its twin whiskers, shouting encouragement, following the surging black mist, creating black beasts, joining the battle.

The battle axe split the heavens, a canyon appeared between the white clouds.

White mist poured down in torrents, bringing wave after wave of coolness.

The strange fish cried out in misery, crushed under impact, its body tugging at the drifting clouds above, the dock people's legs trembling, nearly fleeing, until it struck—discovering they were unharmed.

The three beasts fell repeatedly, the time they struggled to rise growing longer each time.

No one noticed time passing.

The giant's battle axe in hand curled its blade, moving like flowing clouds and water.

Fish scales scattered, cow bones shattered, feathers rained down from the sky, drifting down leisurely.

The drum broke, the axe grew dull.

The giant half-danced, half-fought, covered in scales and wounds, still mighty—it tore off the giant eagle's wings, dragged the magic bull's single leg, pulled out the strange fish's scale armor.

White mist drifted and splashed, waterfalls poured down, spreading across the ground.

The three beasts cried out in succession, collapsed, flailed and struggled, mountains shattered and earth split, countless chains emerged from the void, binding them.

The wind ceased, the waves stilled.

Heaven and earth fell silent.

The giant silently raised its head, like a mountain, bathed in wind and rain.

"Gudong!"

Nanjiang and Beiting swallowed saliva, long seeing no movement.

The tightly held breath slowly eased.

"Just a sacrifice—what's the fuss—" Li Xianghan muttered inwardly.

Boom!

The giant standing in place suddenly exploded.

Li Xianghan nearly cried out, Xie Hongyu's pupils trembled, everyone's hearts leapt again.

"Offer the sacrifice!"

Sound waves surged, scattering dust.

Xiang Fang Su's veins bulged, she exerted all her lifelong strength, her lungs near bursting.

Everyone was dragged from the ritual, returned to reality, drenched in cold sweat.

The three beasts were violently dragged, suspended upside-down in the sky!

The sky suddenly cleared, sunlight scattered like needles.

Behind them stood over ten Martial Sages and Great Manifestations; before them, over ten Demon Kings.

All hopes and visions converged today, gathered here.

All heavenly laws and principles, fully encompassed!

Liang Qu stepped forward, sleeves flying.

In an instant.

Heaven and earth's spiritual mechanisms surged suddenly, various colors inexplicably separated, flowing wildly in a unique form!

On Huaijiang, lotuses bloomed one after another; by the riverbank, reeds rose to form a jade-green wall!

The Ze Ding trembled.

【Sacrificing Huaijiang, utmost righteous principle, heaven and earth, land and water, none disrespect, heaven and earth in great harmony, river favor +1012.4459】

【Dominating Huaijiang, seizing favor 19.9】

【River dominance: 19.9 (River spring favor: 1124.3958)】

【Obtained firewood sacrifice debt energy three strands————】

【Obtained jade land deed energy three strands————】

【Broken sacrifice subduing dragon triggered mid..

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【Current progress: none】

【Achieving breaking the sacrifice subduing dragon grants the River Sovereign Emperor's favor—each level of Martial Dao Divine Connection gained doubles Martial Dao talent, increases damage against water-attribute demon beasts by 10%.】