Chapter 1495

"Is it confirmed that the Huai King visited me?"

"Ancestor, the visiting card was personally delivered by the Tusi's grandson, Xie Hongyu. I handled it myself—no one else touched it, so there's no mistake. It's said the one who came to Nanjiang is also a Jianghuai Dragon Person, over seven chi tall. Under heaven, only the Huai King could make a Dragon Person run errands to deliver a letter."

Xin Daming stared at the visiting card, read its contents, then looked at the cover.

"What did the Tusi say?"

Xin Meng replied: "Seeing your intention, Great Elder, if you're willing to meet, that's naturally best. The Tusi will arrange it according to diplomatic etiquette. If not, he'll try to help refuse and delay. But the Tusi hopes you will meet."

Xin Daguang raised his head: "Because of the Long Wang?"

"Yes, the Huai King's consort's affair in Ehe River has made the Tusi very curious. You also know— the Long Wang of Lukang River is the Tusi's deepest wish."

Xin Daming said nothing.

Xin Meng finally reacted, probing: "Ancestor, could it be you don't want to meet?"

"Not bad."

"How could it be otherwise? You weren't on good terms with the Huai King? You jointly resisted the founding emperor of Da Li, and you both gained much longevity—by rights, you are benefactors of our Wanxiang Meng."

"One thing is one thing—gratitude is gratitude, matter is matter. The Huai King—this person—he's very strange."

"Strange?" Xin Meng didn't understand.

"When you lead troops in battle, can you guarantee victory every time you go out, and gain something each time?"

Xin Meng thought, then shook his head: "No."

"The Huai King can— in Nanjiang and Beiting, he's victorious everywhere. He's clear about everything, highly targeted, able to predict what will happen— well, never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway. Since it's the Tusi's idea, agree to it. Pick a day, you arrange it, select some treasure fish as delicacies."

"Yes."

Xin Meng stepped back, his heel touching the threshold, then turned and left.

Xin Daguang muttered silently.

He always had a sense of unease.

Looking at Liang Qu's cultivation career, could this person really be someone who acts without aim?

Going to Beiting means fighting there, capturing Shuofang Terrace; coming to Nanjiang means overturning rivers and seas, occupying Lukang River; leaving Dashun, he must be heading toward a major goal.

In February, Liang Qu visited Ehe River to pay respects to the White Long Wang, stirred up a strange tale about a doomed dragon couple, then immediately sent a visiting card to Nanjiang, naming himself and requesting to "visit" me. Without doubt, there must be something on me that interests or arouses suspicion in the Huai King—

Xin Daguang considered himself unremarkable, some treasures not worth Liang Qu mustering forces over— frowning in thought, Xin Daming's heart sank to the bottom of the valley.

"Is it the Wanxiang Position Fruit? Does the Huai King want my Wanxiang Supreme Treasure?"

"Huh?"

Xin Daming raised his head.

In his perception, the originally stagnant "River Stone" in the Jianghuai Long Gong domineeringly shifted eastward.

"Ah—"

Water flow howled, segments of water channels joined and connected, each hundred li a segment, straight as an arrow eastward.

Bai Yuan darted through the water, swift as wind and lightning, the stirred torrents flung flying fish and shrimp along the way.

"Become much stronger—"

Golden eyes downward, Liang Qu clenched his fists.

Between his fingers, violent spatial ripples surged violently, surging and recoiling like tides.

Since Ehe River, the ripples on his body have evolved from mere "diffusion" into a blend of "diffusion" and "recoil." Though recoil has appeared, the ability to "isolate all things" has instead risen to a higher level— at this moment, transforming into Bai Yuan makes him even superior.

Infinite power accumulates, water control spreads— as long as he wills it, heaven and earth can be held in his palm.

At equal fusion levels, the enhancement of one's own strength—after using 【Hua Ling】 to transform into a Ze Ling—will always be stronger by one notch.

If using 【Jiang Ling】, through neutralization, beasts like A Fei might possibly match wrists with a true Yaolong?

"I don't know if it's possible to avoid black mud interference and match fists with the Fourth Immortal Disciple!"

Bai Yuan threw a punch— white lines like sharp blades.

A thousand li of water flow sank and split apart, cleaving the great sea— such terrifying ultra-long distance, yet strangely, it harmed not a single large fish!

"Under the furnace, I am the one dragon of the world!"

Liang Qu recalled the White Long Wang— once he revered this first dragon under the furnace; now he is utterly confident that even on the White Long Wang's home turf of Ehe River, the White Long Wang is no match for him.

Unfortunately.

Yaolong is Yaolong, furnace is furnace— the two cannot be spoken of on the same day.

"Ape King!? What are you doing here?"

Bai Yuan turned, golden eyes looking down at the great fish: "Sorry for the disturbance. The Whale King wishes to hold a great hunt and asks me to assist, to build waterways— the shortest path between two points is a straight line, so I wanted to borrow passage from the Shark King. Coming in haste, I didn't have time to deliver the visiting card. Could it be the Shark King is unwilling? Then I'll have to choose another route."

Whale King?

The Shark King, who had just emerged, changed expression, retreated ten zhang: "Since it's the Whale King's request, it's only proper. To pass through here is my great honor. I don't know if there's anywhere I can be of help?"

"No need, thank you, Shark King. Another day, come to the Long Gong—I'll treat you to treasure fish."

Bai Yuan sped away.

The Shark King exhaled in relief— after Bai Yuan's great battle against the demon kings of the world, living in seclusion, suddenly encountering him, his fish tail trembled. Merely running to the doorstep without coming out to ask— truly, he's sunk to the depths of shame. How will he face his juniors from now on?

Witnessing the "River Stone" recede into the distance, the Shark King immediately dove back into his cave.

From today on, preparing for the great hunt as an excuse, he will enter seclusion!

Bubbles rose and fell.

【Water Journey Thousand Li】— though it requires water as a medium, its advantage lies in single journeys being long enough— reaching Yun Tian Palace takes only an hour. But constructing waterways, and multiple parallel ones, consumes enormous effort.

If not for having already transformed into 【Vortex Evasion Path】, even monthly maintenance alone could drain his energy, requiring half a day of rest.

Once thirty thousand li of waterway were built, the demon king Yun Jing would sense the route and come to meet him.

The "River Stone" drifted point by point toward Yun Tian Palace, greeting demon kings from all directions— all demon kings must yield the way.

Before the Deep Abyss Palace, the Shark King and Ray King stood on either side, seeing him off. As Bai Yuan departed, the king stuffed two treasure fish for him to eat on the road.

"Borrowing the tiger's might as a fox — feels damn good."

Liang Qu thought to himself.

Disregarding the Whale Emperor's true fish's intentions, this feeling of being unstoppable everywhere one goes, with both humans and beasts falling in line across the world — even Bai Yuan couldn't achieve this.

And this is merely the Furnace's daily routine.

If the Linchuan Immortal wants to eat whole roast lamb today, the Sweat King has to skin and oil the pet lamb his great-granddaughter raised; if he wants to fish the Luchang River tomorrow, the Arhat Bamboo on the old Tusi's grave has to be cut down to make a fishing rod.

No matter who takes his place, they must revere him, they must spare no effort to satisfy him — there is no difference————

No wonder the Furnace doesn't care about factions.

The waterways gradually extended.

Dashun, Nanjiang, and Beiting, all three sides likewise began to radiate outward from the capital as the core, spreading the arrangement of Dragon Dragon Lingxiao.

Dashun was especially simple; every prefecture had a Tianbo Tower, and with slight modification, each became a qualified Dragon Dragon Lingxiao viewing platform.

The entire Dragon Dragon Lingxiao market trembled with an unprecedented amplitude; within Yixing County, the Hedgehog seized control of this massive outflow port and harbor at Jianghuai, swallowing and spitting out goods at astonishing speed, profiting from the price difference, manipulating the market, calling wind and summoning rain.

"Big Hedgehog, this is the freshest new fruit on the market this year, incomparably fresh and sweet, not to be missed."

"Hahaha!" The Hedgehog laughed wildly, waving banknotes, "Buy, buy buy buy, keep buying more premium big fruit!"

March 21st.

Bai Yuan traveled day and night, finally arriving at the Cloud Heaven Palace.

The vortex churned, stirring up mud and sand; two or three yaoguai attempted to venture out.

"Ape, paying respects to the Whale Emperor!"

The Cloud Giant sat high on the dais: "No need for excessive courtesy. Ape King, you've worked hard traveling thousands of miles to build the waterways."

"Not hard, it was a trivial effort, and it facilitates mutual exchange. From the Huai River estuary to the Cloud Heaven Palace, there are ten waterways in total, each averaging a throughput of three hundred people per quarter-hour; ten waterways handle 280,000 people a day. Once the East Sea route is complete, we'll return to the Huai River and branch north and south, linking Beiting and Nanjiang." Bai Yuan reported item by item.

The Whale Emperor nodded: "Enough. Such divine ability is truly beneficial and convenient. A reward is in order! Yun Bo."

Yun Bo beside him stepped forward, carrying up an extremely massive whale pearl, nearly three zhang in diameter, requiring Bai Yuan to encircle it with his arms.

Larger than any Bai Yuan had ever seen, more special — he even saw a translucent "ripple" on this whale pearl!?

What the hell is this?

Is this the same thing as the fist-sized pearl the Whale Emperor rewarded during his travels of old, when Pingyang played host?

Bai Yuan jumped in shock, his eyes full of astonishment: "Whale Emperor, this is————"

"Whale pearl in the eye, clam pearl in the belly." Yun Bo explained, his eyes revealing unconcealed envy. "This pearl was personally crafted by the Whale Emperor's fin. When he cultivated in the past and transformed into the First Post-Heaven Yao Emperor, it was one of the two whale pearls born alongside him.

What the world says — that no treasure in the world is of use to the Furnace — is indeed true.

Yet this whale pearl can be said to break that very limit; it is a half-Furnace-grade special treasure medicine! Rare in the world, perhaps even unique.

If an Awakening Realm Yao Dragon consumes it, assuming sufficient accumulation and compatible attributes, Our Emperor speculates that, like the Whale's Living Eye, there is a slim hope it could directly self-cultivate a Position Fruit; even if not, there is hope to break the Awakening Realm and reach the Boundless Realm."

"Gulp————"

Bai Yuan's heart surged with stormy waves; a massive "holy shit" echoed inside, his limbs went weak, his fur nearly stood on end.

Sufficient accumulation, compatible attributes, slim hope.

Three prerequisite conditions were automatically ignored by him.

He only heard the three words "can self-cultivate"!

Jumang, Ruchou — he died and came back to life, fused nine strands of Long Qi, thousandfold Root Sea, Martial Saint Primordial Yang, remodeled Root Sea, multiple thunder tribulations — the various investments need not be elaborated.

Feilian was similarly on an extremely exaggerated foundation; first he borrowed E Ying to pad his way to Long Wang, then borrowed the Second Dragon Gate to metamorphose.

A whale pearl like this has hope to help someone self-cultivate???

Bai Yuan scrambled to bow: "Th-this-this, too precious, I dare not accept. It was merely three days' work building waterways; the Huai King toiled heart and mind, rushed back and forth, and didn't receive such a supreme treasure either. What merit do I have————"

"Hahaha." The Whale Emperor laughed loudly, lightly raising a fin to straighten Bai Yuan's waist. "Two reasons. One, the Huai King has this supreme treasure but it's useless to him; he hasn't reached the peak of the Yao Dragon, so a Creation Treasure Fish is more useful to him.

Two, this is also a compensation from me, not a thank-you for building waterways."

"Compensation?" Bai Yuan trembled with fear and awe. "The Whale Emperor has never owed anyone; where does compensation come from?"

"Back on the Luchang River, I protected the Flood Dragon because it had a past with me." The Whale Emperor sighed, stood up, and gazed into the distance. "Cultivation is not easy; how many Yao Kings are there in the world? Lose one, die one.

I always hate these regrets, especially for people and beasts I know. Sometimes a hundred years pass without a meeting, seeming so distant; sometimes I fear that when I rest in the future, I'll suddenly remember, want to catch up, and find they've long since passed.

The higher the cultivation, the more so. So I always hold on, always make mistakes, just rolling forward like this. Afterwards I feel it's not right — Furnace, Yao Emperor, so what? Just higher cultivation; still make mistakes all the same."

Bai Yuan listened, sweat soaking his back, frantically thinking, pondering what would be appropriate for Bai Yuan's identity to say, and finally discovered————

Silence; he could only respond with silence.

The Whale Emperor turned around: "There may be only these two whale pearls in the world, but since it is medicine, it must be given to a beast to use. Even for a true Furnace, such a treasure medicine is still useless.

But for the Ape King, it is just right — same water attribute, mutually compatible, and your realm has reached a critical juncture. Take this as compensation for the Flood Dragon matter; as for how much fortune it brings, it all depends on the Ape King himself. I hope it can compensate for that day's loss.

。"

"Ape King." Yun Bo stepped forward two steps.

The full whale pearl surged with luster, like a transparent film filled with gelatinous water, soft and warm.

Heart pounding wildly.

Surpassing the grade of Creation Treasure Fish and Creation Great Medicine — a half-Furnace-grade supreme treasure.

How much essence?

Could it compare to a complete — no, half of a True Dragon's Legacy?

Knowing this thing might have issues, that eating it might mean being collared with iron chains, obediently whipped to perform monkey tricks — even so, the heart cannot help but be moved!

However, unlike the previous Creation Treasure Fish which was ambiguous and might have problems, this is a heavyweight treasure.

The dagger appears when the map is exhausted?

Adam's apple bobbing repeatedly, Bai Yuan bowed deeply: "Many thanks, Whale Emperor. The Flood Dragon matter — I never took it to heart. Enemies defeated by my hand are never regarded as opponents by me. I gave the Flood Dragon time to catch up; what awaited it was also a distant gaze that sees nothing.

97

Good! I hope the ape king gains something from it.

Sweat mixed with icy seawater trickled through the gaps in his fur.

Holding the whale pearl, he stepped out of the Cloud Heaven Palace; the soft, thin membrane, under the tight binding on his arms, was pulled into an oval.

Bai Yuan shivered.

He suddenly felt like he was holding a blue ball, stepping left and right on the lake.

He stood in punishment for a good while.

Temporarily unable to release in Chuan State, Awei refined the position fruit, continuously spreading plague; the entire Chuan State turned into a poisonous pool, severely polluted.

The large-capacity Qiankun bag was with the old toad; after thinking it over, he could only carry it. Bai Yuan took a deep breath and hurried back to Jianghuai.

Inside the Long Gong, cheers continued, with lanterns hung and decorations strung.

All the demon beasts of Jianghuai, according to their clan order, queued to receive the treasure fish; those in the Great Marsh took theirs early, while the remainder were from remote places like Jianshui and Lanhu, loudly proclaiming they could never repay the ape king's kindness.

The five-day celebration would end only tomorrow; Liang Qu silently locked the whale pearl into the deepest part of the Long Gong treasury, feeling only that it was a hot potato.

He patted the whale pearl—soft and yielding, swaying back and forth.

Eat?

Afraid there might be a problem.

Not eat?

Reluctantly scratching his ears and cheeks.

"Damn annoying!"

"Since it's come to this, let's get to work first————"

"Let's find someone to test it another day————"

It's all the whale king's fault!

Grabbing a treasure and still being anxious and fearful!

After locking the treasury and sealing it with a strip to prevent the old toad from taking it, Liang Qu muttered to himself, forced himself to forget the matter, didn't go home, let the Dragon Sect Yin prepare some Jianghuai specialties, then headed north, building a waterway to Ehe, penetrating the northern water systems.

At the same time, fulfilling his promise, as Bai Yuan, he thanked the White Long Wang.

The White Long Wang remained as indifferent as ever; compared to a few days ago, when over fifty dragon species great demons had departed, ninety percent gone, the Long Wang's Palace was now much quieter.

This time, no need to give any precious gifts; Liang Qu gave because he had undergone tribulation in the Long Wang's Palace and had also skimmed off the White Long Wang's fortune and dragon aura.

Back when the flood dragon affair occurred, afterward Liang Qu had given him many great creation elixirs as repayment, to the extent that even the young dragon's completion yielded nothing, and he still owed much; this visit, bringing some local specialties would suffice.

After exchanging pleasantries and strengthening their bond,

Leaving the Long Wang's Palace, Liang Qu unexpectedly found the White Long Wang's personality actually quite decent—at least not the cold, hard-to-communicate type, but more like someone who dislikes trouble and is straightforward and decisive.

Finally, before heading to Nanjiang, he first went to Peng Ze.

"Oh!"

"Roar!"

The mountain spirits cheered.

The old turtle opened his eyes, then closed them again, ignoring everything.

"Are there treasures on Longevity Mountain that can extend the young dragon's lifespan? Bring some out to play with!"

"?"

A mouthful of fresh blood surged to the Elemental General's throat; he glared angrily: "Still want longevity treasures? This year's plantation division doesn't even include you—where are the time insects?"

"He's out playing; when he's had fun, he'll come back on his own. I'm asking you—do you have any or not?"

"No!" the old turtle snorted coldly.

Liang Qu crossed his arms, stood at ease, his golden eyes Xiong Xiong, scanning the surroundings: "Unyielding! Do you know who the young dragon of Ehe is?"

"Ehe, young dragon?" The Elemental General startled, released his perception, then snapped: "Where in Ehe is there a young dragon?"

Damn!

The old thing turtle-shrank in Peng Ze, not fond of surfing the net.

"I misspoke—look at Pingyang instead?"

"Huh? There's an extra stone in the river? Who is this?"

"My wife."

"So fast?!" The Elemental General shocked, then realized something was wrong: "Wait, which wife of yours?"

Liang Qu: "?"

"You took a minor concubine under my name?"

The Elemental General's turtle eyes widened: "Really a dragon girl!?"

Liang Qu crossed his arms, closed his eyes, ignored him.

The mountain spirits on the mountain also followed, standing at ease, arms crossed, eyes closed.

"How could it be? Dragon people at most reach Entering Zhen Xiang; wait, you, it's you—you broke the upper limit of the dragon species?" The Elemental General trembled all over, pupils dilated.

It too is a dragon species, yet it has cultivated to this day, matching a demon king, not by breaking shackles, but by relying on the Twenty-Four Solar Terms method, bypassing the Four Gates and Seven Paths, achieving the Dao in another way!

"What's so great about breaking the upper limit?"

Liang Qu raised his head, speaking half-sentence in a cocky tone, then fell silent again.

Damn!

The old turtle cursed furiously in his heart, his inner celestial and human natures at war, his face shifting colors, finally he lifted his turtle claw, plucking down an eight-petaled golden lotus from Longevity Mountain, feeling deeply pained.

"Immortal Maiden Jade Stone Longevity! Low-grade creation longevity treasure; for young dragons below the tenth level, it can extend life by twenty years!"

"Not enough." Liang Qu shook his head. "I need something that can extend the lifespan of an awakened-realm young dragon."

"Damn." The old turtle swore violently, "You're not even thirty yet? Extending the lifespan of an egg, are you? Don't your master's people also only reach Entering Zhen Xiang? Wanting a creation longevity treasure?"

"Don't ask."

The old turtle, chastened by pain, returned the golden lotus and produced another section of green vine, eyes bloodshot: "Azure Dragon Sacred Longevity!!! A Perceiving Realm juvenile dragon can also extend lifespan by thirty years!"

"You really are a walking treasure trove, a treasure-hoarding divine turtle!" Liang Qu exclaimed in admiration.

"Cut the crap! Speak quickly."

"Fine, just wait a moment."

Liang Qu communicated through the link, having the Third Prince relay the message.

General Yuan was overwhelmed with excitement, but soon discovered that the "Stone in the River" originally in Pingyang Li began moving toward Peng Ze, filling him with eager anticipation.

Two quarter-hours later.

The White Dragon coiled and turned, soaring sinuously through the vault of heaven.

Brilliant sunlight shone upon the dragon scales, white to the point of blinding.

Magnificent, beautiful, grand — no words in the world can describe it.

General Yuan first drooled, but soon realized something was wrong; a closer look revealed the truth.

"Holy shit, the Long Wang!??"

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