Chapter 1496

"Yo, expert!" Liang Qu praised.

Not everyone can tell the difference at a glance.

The formation of cognition requires "construction" and "interaction"; a person who has never eaten a peach, even if the peach is pressed to their nose, cannot smell what kind of fruit it is.

The river wind howled, the white dragon's posture graceful, like a strip of white silk, flying down to Liang Qu's side, manifesting as a person, Liang Qu habitually embraced, lest E Ying fall, and E Ying did not hover in vain, yielding to weight, half-leaning, half-supported.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible! The White Long Wang is not dead, the Yellow Long Wang is not dead, under heaven, one river and two rivers—where is there still a vacancy—"

Shou Mountain drifted and spun above Peng Ze, the mountain spirits could not stand firm, hugging rocks with cries.

The old dragon turtle kept circling and paddling, stimulated, muttering incoherently.

"Old Yuan, calm down, the times have changed, open your eyes to the world—nothing is impossible! The birth of the world is possibility within impossibility."

Upon these words, Shou Mountain halted abruptly, the mountain spirits tumbled.

General Yuan stared fixedly at Liang Qu: "It's you!"

Liang Qu poked his ears, blew on his little finger: "Reaction a bit slow, huh? Age problem? Eat more fish oil."

General Yuan was overjoyed.

The turtle claw probed, then jabbed, lifting the earlier eight-petaled golden lotus together onto its claw.

If the dragon maiden can succeed, so can it.

Exchange, must exchange!

Even if we empty the family coffers, we must make a set.

Just as it was about to hand over, General Yuan's thoughts flashed, sensed something amiss, retracted the claw: "Wrong, definitely wrong, Ehe,

Huang Shahe has no vacancy, it's Lu Cangjiang!. The Nanjiang tribal chiefs long wanted to forge a dragon, but you snatched it, she is the Lu Cangjiang Long Wang, just this one position, you want to fool me? Bare-handed white wolf!"

"Hmph, turtle-eyed narrow-minded, Lu Cangjiang? Who are you looking down on?" Liang Qu sneered, eyes full of contempt, scanning Shou Mountain up and down, "Turtle back pointed, then I ask you, how did you sense the difference?"

General Yuan fell silent, then stunned.

Exactly.

How did it sense the difference?

Because of Shou Mountain, because of the unique prosperity of the Long Wang!

Shou Mountain, Shoubao, temporal order, divine abilities, the Twenty-Four Solar Terms method—these form its own cyclic system; any nourishment allows it to sense, the arrival of Dragon E Ying, the prosperity of the Long Wang, nourished its Shou Mountain cycle!

But—

"Why can the prosperity of the Lu Cangjiang Long Wang affect Peng Ze? Dragon Maiden is clearly in Pingyang, why didn't I sense prosperity before?"

General Yuan was dazed, his mind a mess, then immediately sensed something wrong.

"Disaster, if not careful, exposing that Long Wang prosperity benefits Shou Mountain—this brat won't stop doubling down—"

"Alright." Liang Qu didn't beat around the bush, "Let's speak plainly: E Ying is indeed a Long Wang, and a free Long Wang.

Longevity equally enduring, should be the same, at least vitality far surpasses ordinary dragon species by a great margin, exceeding eight hundred years of Yao Dragons.

The key is E Ying's Long Wang prosperity is not limited by river regions, not bound to any specific river, effective wherever she goes, cost is the prosperity range is small, currently unknown if related to strength, probably only as vast as a great Jianghuai marsh, so you didn't sense it before.

39

General Yuan was greatly shocked.

It stared blankly at the expressionless Dragon E Ying.

Have I truly fallen behind the times?

How is this thing made?

"And me?" General Yuan asked urgently, "Do you think I can become? I am a loyal minister of Jianghuai, the Monkey King fought the flood dragon, I led the charge! In the future, us two kings and two rulers of Huaijiang—wouldn't that be splendid?"

"Hmm, then what should I call you?" Liang Qu lifted his head, revealing his chin.

Yeah, what should I call you?

Huai King? Not enough.

Bai Yuan is the Water Monarch, what is Liang Qu then?

Stars surged in the mind, universe exploded, General Yuan saw his own turtle back, saw the turtle hiding under lotus leaves hunting small fish, saw the mountain spirits tugging vines full, saw the time insects repeatedly inhaling and exhaling, refining the long breath of temporal order—endless ideas colliding and fading, rivers flow east, not west.

One pair of pants, two people wear; one palace, two people reside.

General Yuan murmured, expression clearly becoming reverent: "Water Monarch."

"What!?"

"Water Monarch! You are my water-affinity monarch, the old Dragon Monarch returns, that is also third in rank."

"Hahaha, hahaha! The old thing isn't stupid hey."

Liang Qu bared his teeth, slapped his thigh wildly.

Dragon E Ying was helpless.

General Yuan rubbed his claws, shook Shou Mountain: "Then—Water Monarch, do you see my becoming Long Wang? What Shoubao, pick as you wish."

It went all in, all Shoubao on Shou Mountain, all can be sold!

This account is profitable.

As a dragon species, lifespan at most exceeds black crocodiles by half, up to a thousand years. Living to today relies entirely on Shoubao cycle, trembling, like walking on thin ice; once broken, instant lifespan exhausted, sudden death.

Once becoming Long Wang, one's lifespan at least doubles, two thousand no problem, the extra several hundred years, combined with Long Wang prosperity, stored Shoubao seeds, it can start anew, Eastern Mountain rising!

"What Long Wang?" Liang Qu's smile faded, suddenly stern, lecturing: "You think wanting to ascend means you can ascend!"

"?" General Yuan froze for a moment, then furious, splashing water madly, "Playing me? I knew you were plague-ridden—"

Dragon E Ying's eyes turned cold.

General Yuan's words paused.

"Look at you, again impatient." Liang Qu disdainful, golden eyes scanning heaven and earth, "Ascending Long Wang isn't that easy, doesn't need one great river, but also needs a feng shui treasure land, all of Huaijiang now lacks, needs opportunity."

"Pah, painting cakes who—"

"The Long Wang won't do for now, but breaking the shackles of the dragon bloodline is possible."

"Water Lord! Consort Queen!"

"Hmph." Liang Qu stuck out one leg, then settled back in. "First arrogant, then respectful, fickle and inconstant. Fine, where's the stuff?"

"It's all tribute for you, Water Lord."

General Yuan raised both claws high, holding up the Azure Dragon Sacred Longevity.

Compared to the enormous, unmatched giant turtle claws, the small green vine looked like a bacterium.

Liang Qu took the Azure Dragon Sacred Longevity.

The green vine was like jadeite, semi-transparent, its texture hard.

This was the first time he had come into contact with such a tyrannical longevity treasure; the vigorous vitality practically seeped into his body, and even his breathing became much smoother.

Good longevity treasures often double as healing spirit medicines!

Good treasure.

This trip to the Southern Frontier, courtesy costs nothing.

Shen Da's Position Fruit is indeed refined; the Position Fruit has long since become part of his body. Wanting to take it out isn't as simple as gouging out a corn.

If it were an unrefined Position Fruit, why would Liang Qu have dragged things out until now? Treasure exchange — stash it in the Marsh Cauldron first to check the quality; if it's no good, forget it.

Great Creation Pills aren't of much use to Awakening Realm Martial Saints, but longevity treasures are different. Shen Da has indeed extended his life by two hundred years through the essence of heaven and earth, but who would complain about having too much lifespan? Especially an ancestor carrying a whole stockade on his shoulders.

Longevity treasures are the hard currency among hard currencies.

As for leaking the Long Wang's intel —

If it really comes to taking the Position Fruit, Liang Qu has two plans ready, not sure if they'll be usable. First, lure out General Yuan's thoughts.

General Yuan is fickle and inconstant, greedy and lustful, base and vile, but his strength is extraordinary. He's good at lying low, a hidden-gem old turtle. The type who can casually pull out some item or strength and stun everyone.

Under General Yuan's pained gaze, Liang Qu tossed the thing to Long Eying and landed atop Longevity Mountain: "Drop your defenses."

General Yuan relaxed his whole body.

"Really hard to change —"

Liang Qu walked a circle, golden eyes Xiong Xiong, and saw the black lines on the dragon turtle's physique.

He didn't know how General Yuan cultivated; carrying a tall mountain on his back, an algae forest could grow underneath.

He was the largest in size of all the Yao Kings Liang Qu had seen so far. Relying on Longevity Mountain alone he could run a plantation, bar none. Completing it via the Heavenly Pivot and Earthly Axis method — really not that easy.

"Don't know how much essence it'll take."

General Yuan is a bug-like existence among all dragon bloodlines, and also the strongest Liang Qu has ever supplemented.

Rolling up his sleeves, Liang Qu manipulated the Heavenly Gang Great Hand and thrust it in.

"Holy crap!" General Yuan yelled. "This sour-refreshing feeling!"

"Don't yell."

The Heavenly Gang Great Hand combed through the body's meridians; Liang Qu's eyes were serious.

Long Eying sat cross-legged on the spot to cultivate.

General Yuan carefully sensed the changes in his body. Although he didn't cultivate the Four Gates and Seven Passes and couldn't sense the shackles, he could feel his body becoming increasingly "smooth."

It works!

"How does this brat know everything? Planted some longevity treasures, all given to that damn macaque."

Two days.

A full two days' time. 【Water Marsh Essence: 46,720,000】

Consumed over 3,000,000 Water Marsh Essence, severed the last tangled black line.

"Boom!"

A tyrannical aura rushed straight into the sky; the mountain spirits and monkeys on Longevity Mountain tumbled head over heels, shrieking in chaos. Some longevity treasures growing on Longevity Mountain suddenly burst into bloom, continuously supplying medicinal power!

Liang Qu flew into midair.

The surging vitality brushed past, making his fingernails and hair grow a whole section longer!

"Hahaha, this power, this power!"

General Yuan was excited and overjoyed. His own weak circulation had stabilized a large chunk, but this still wasn't the main harvest.

The old dragon turtle closed his eyes, circulating qi and blood through his whole body.

"Hm?" Liang Qu's gaze shifted.

He actually sensed a trace of the Four Gates and Seven Passes feeling from the old dragon turtle!

"No, not right. Seems like it but isn't — you're walking a different Four Gates and Seven Passes? Yao beasts can cultivate the Four Gates and Seven Passes too?"

General Yuan opened one eye slit, domineering aura leaking out: "Of course. What did you think I've been doing for over a thousand years?"

"Looking for little girls?"

"Cough cough."

"Who doesn't have hobbies!? Do Western Water Turtles not like various races? I've always researched all kinds of cultivation methods! Combined the Twenty-Four Solar Terms method, deduced a 'Four Gates and Seven Passes' suitable for me! I want to cultivate the human race's method!"

Liang Qu was shocked: "Turns out you're a theory genius? Then why didn't you cultivate earlier?"

"Originally there were shackles. I worried that if I cultivated I couldn't switch cultivation later. If I figured out something better afterward, caught between advance and retreat — what to do? Everything needs a fallback."

The words had just fallen.

A faint glimmer flashed and vanished from the old dragon turtle's body surface; his whole body swelled.

Skin Gate! Not just that — Flesh Gate, Bone Gate, Blood Gate, almost in one continuous breath!

The improvement was near negligible, but for an existence like General Yuan, being able to progress at all is no easy feat.

After the Four Gates, the Viscera Gate!

Boom—!

The qi pillar rose again, its momentum like splitting bamboo, layer upon layer of qi waves exploding in succession.

Long Eying opened her eyes, silently counting, surprised to discover nine layers of qi waves.

Nine apertures fully opened!

Liang Qu gasped in astonishment.

Never did I imagine that one day, my record of entering the Galloping Horse stage through four gates and breaking four apertures in one breath would be shattered like this.

Not finished—after the nine layers of qi waves, another layer emerged!

The tenth aperture!

"Corresponding to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms method?" Liang Qu gazed at the turtle shell arrangement.

Having entered the Galloping Horse stage, the old turtle clearly became cautious, and finally, under Liang Qu's gaze, opened a full twenty-four apertures, a powerful Shoushan linkage!

Even the already cleaned turtle belly sprouted a layer of green moss.

"Why aren't you leaving yet?" The Yuan General suddenly opened his eyes.

"Hmm?"

The Yuan General bowed his head: "Water Lord, why are you idling away your time here?"

Liang Qu fell silent for a moment, then swept his sleeve: "Very well, you cultivate as you wish. Eying, we're leaving—first to the imperial capital, to see the Holy Emperor."

Two streaks of flowing light vanished into the horizon.

Confirming the "River Stone" had departed, the Yuan General exhaled in relief, seeing no one around, he drove the monkey troop into the cave, secretly retrieving five treasures from Longevity Mountain, a smile spreading across his face.

If Liang Qu were here, he would surely recognize that this object is identical to the treasure once demanded by the Mirage Dragon.

Strange Stone!

Passing through the Four Gates and Seven Paths, burying a specific divine ability seed during tiger hunts, then using the strange stone to open the cosmos upon entering Entering Zhen Xiang—thus one can become a Cosmic Entering Zhen Xiang, possessing one's own internal space!

The Yuan General secretly rejoiced.

Back then, when I begged the Dragon Lord for essence blood to extend my life, following the Twenty-Four Solar Terms method, I had already planned for external circulation as a fallback, with internal circulation to come later.

Of course.

At that time, I lacked the means to obtain a strange stone, nor did I even know what a strange stone was—only hearing rumors that someone could open an internal cosmos, which was merely a youthful daydream.

Most cultivators simply take one step at a time; aiming too high leaves them empty-handed and prone to falling to their death. An unexpected miracle might merely be ripe opportunity—discovering, by mistake, that it fits just right.

The Yuan General was no different: cultivating, cultivating, until a true fortuitous encounter arrived—he obtained the strange stone from the immortal island ruins of the Jianghuai Great Marsh, yet back then, given its size, not to mention insufficient essence blood, the Dragon Lord simply perished!

Flooding waves surged.

The great grass fish flicked its tail, darted into the current, and vanished without trace.

"The old thing actually has a strange stone?"

Liang Qu exclaimed in astonishment.

Unless it's a superpower like Great Shun, Northern Court, or Southern Frontier—even the Great Snow Mountains couldn't produce this—how could the old turtle possibly obtain it?

"It wants to open an internal cosmos, tsk tsk tsk."

Even just external circulation grants longevity—what more could internal and dual circulation achieve?

"Heroes under heaven—like carp crossing the river."

Truly a freak among the turtle clan.

Imperial Capital.

The Holy Emperor sighed: "Where would I get so many fruits for you to see? Naturally born and nurtured spirit fruits are rare in the world, mostly in the hands of immortals; few fall into the hands of Yao Dragons, mostly passed down through generations.

If powers naturally obtain them, which isn't offered to immortals? Conversely, individuals easily hoard them—yet the court, no, I myself, have no such fruits matching your description. Could it be that I should go ask the immortals for you?"

"Cough, that's unnecessary."

"You really still want that?"

Liang Qu coughed once, sighed.

I had anticipated this.

Powers like Southern Frontier, Northern Court, and Great Shun—truly wanting to secure their positions still rely on the illusory ties with immortals; that faint "radiation" naturally makes them think of offering tribute to maintain bonds.

Treasures are useless—what else could they offer as tribute?

He also dares not truly seek immortals, fearing that approaching the Chuanchuan Immortal might bring mishap.

You can become a rainbow—why can't I?

You're merely a Yao Dragon—becoming a rainbow is too far, beyond your grasp. Give me your lineage, give me the spirit fruit, I'll become the rainbow, I'll shoulder the Whale Emperor and the Great Li Taizu on my back.

The Chuanchuan Immortal isn't his father, nor is his relation to the Holy Emperor particularly close—let alone him.

"What do you seek this spirit fruit for?"

Liang Qu glanced left and right, whispered: "Intuition!"

"Intuition?"

"Yes!" Liang Qu nodded firmly: "I feel this spirit fruit would be useful to me!"

Revealing one's purpose carries risk—or rather, since completing the visit to Northern Court, from the moment one intended to visit Xin Damian, trying to hide everything completely has become unrealistic.

Randomly making excuses only invites suspicion.

Proactively seeking reliance, while keeping oneself ambiguous, actually makes it easier to maintain one's position.

This lineage business—like the Thousand Threads Long Qi—demands all or nothing; one, two, three threads are useless; nine hundred ninety-nine threads make no essential difference from having none.

"So you're going to seek Xin Damian?"

"Hehe, Your Majesty's discerning eye—so I wonder, could it be like this, like that————"

The Holy Emperor's expression flickered slightly.

Liang Qu earnestly advised: "Your Majesty, with the situation developed to this point, forming alliances, the old tribal chieftains would surely not miss this opportunity—if we could seize it————"

The Holy Emperor remained silent.

A moment passed.

"Go test the southern borders first."

March 28.

Turbulent deer flood the Cang River, mountains flank both banks.

Crimson clouds surge northward, the White Jade Palace links with mist and clouds, ethereal and vanishing.

Liang Qu carried Long Eying, journeying repeatedly to the southern borders!

The Centipede General brought Entering Zhen Xiang and five others, forming a ceremonial array, banners fluttering; he had long spotted Liang Qu, yet his attention was wholly elsewhere, nearly uncontrollably drawn to Long Eying.

Not because Long Eying was beautiful—given his centuries of experience, even if he favored beauty, he would not lose composure over it.

Long Wang!

Confirmed through countless intelligence reports—the true Long Wang!

The lifelong dream of the old tribal chieftain.

"Wuhu!"

The Third Prince flew ahead first, exhaling mist to lay out steps.

Silver Kui boots, snow-colored Chi boots, stepping alternately upon the White Jade steps.

The Centipede General drew a deep breath: "Virtuous couple, twin jades shining upon the world, both ascending the Yao Dragon—rare since ancient times. Now arriving in the southern borders, mountains and rivers gain hue, grasses and trees hold spring."

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