Chapter 530

"Great harvest!"

Liang Qu sat atop the crow's nest on the central mast, having eaten his fill, breathing the river wind, gazing at the entire fleet—how could his mood not be good?

【Master of the Cauldron: Liang Qu】

【Zé Líng's Favor: Wu Dao Tong Shen Third Reckoning (Chuánzhǔ Dìjūn); Yìng Lóng Pattern: Second Layer; Tiān Wú: First Layer】

Wu Dao Tong Shen Third Reckoning triples martial talent and increases damage against water-type beasts by thirty percent.

The latter needs no explanation—"noble" suffices.

The enhancement of talent and comprehension rendered Liang Qu's thoughts clearer and more lucid than ever before.

From "three" to "four," it felt as if he had shattered a bottleneck, entering another level, another world.

The overlapping and integration of the patterns of "Wan Sheng Wansheng Baoyuan" and "Jiang Long Fu Hu Jin Gang Gong" were as clear as patterns on one's palm.

The subtle synergies between them erupted one by one, paving a ten-thousand-li highway!

Moreover, spear techniques, archery, fist techniques…

Though he had not practiced, new insights and realizations kept arising from past memories and experiences.

"I could design a specialized monkey-claw set for Tè Tè…"

Liang Qu felt that with his current understanding, he could fully revise lower-level martial arts to better suit the user—even though his martial knowledge and theoretical foundation were sparse, even pitifully limited.

In the entire Yang Family Martial Hall, many disciples looked forward to Master Yang's monthly personal guidance, because no other senior brother could do it.

Now Liang Qu could too!

But.

"Master probably relies on martial experience…"

Master Yang had spent half his life in the mud and blood of martial arts—his experience was no joke.

The Falling Star Arrow, Seven Kill Spear—half of Liang Qu's techniques came from his master.

Aside from talent modification.

"The Divine Retention has changed…"

【Absorbing a trace of Chuánzhǔ Dìjūn's divine essence, Divine Retention has evolved into the Divine Lord Seal.】

Liang Qu activated "Wan Sheng Wansheng Baoyuan," cultivated the 【Divine Retention】, allowing it to arise without manifesting.

A unique divine essence flowed and brewed.

【Divine Retention】 is the inherent method of "Wan Sheng Wansheng Baoyuan," akin to the 【Golden Body】 of "Jiang Long Fu Hu."

Its purpose is to engage in mental visualization, guiding the cultivator to draw closer to a certain entity.

Beings, beasts, natural disasters—all can serve as objects, unleashing power.

Like the "Nuo Mask"—wear the mask, imagine yourself imbued with divine power, becoming immensely strong and impervious to blades and arrows.

It is said that practitioners of the Louguan Sect who cultivate this method all retain the image of Laozi, achieving miraculous longevity.

"Contemplate the true form of Laozi: nine chi tall, yellow-skinned, bird-beaked, prominent nose, elegant eyebrows five cun long, ears seven cun long, three vertical lines on the forehead extending top to bottom, feet bearing the Eight Trigrams… Seeing Laozi extends lifespan, the mind becomes as bright as sun and moon, knowing all things."

He had retained the image of Chuánzhǔ slaying the dragon—and truly received a trace of divine essence…

"It must be a good thing."

【Divine Retention】 is now 【Divine Lord Seal】—even without using it, its power is unmistakably supreme.

The cost, though…

Liang Qu could vaguely sense it.

Previously, even after overexertion, he retained some mobility, never rendered utterly immobile.

Greater power means greater cost—likely similar to the state he was in after observing Chuánzhǔ slay the dragon yesterday…

"Huh!"

Liang Qu gripped the mast and stood up.

The crow's nest was a small platform atop the main mast, built for lookouts, offering boundless visibility.

"With Chuánzhǔ Dìjūn's favor, the spiritual fish required for each ascent isn't doubled—the red qi is a guaranteed annual trickle, more than enough to spend freely…"

Perfect!

Ke Ko Wenbin shaded his eyes: "That kid's grinning like an idiot again."

"Let him laugh. Tonight we'll toss him and his bed into the river."

…

Dawn broke.

A large flock of waterbirds, drawn by the fishy scent, landed on the masts, squawking and fighting.

The outline of extended land appeared on the horizon where water met sky.

Soldiers stood at the bow, hoisting three-colored signal flags.

After confirming the password, the local government office verified their identity, mobilized swiftly, sent word, and as the fleet docked, carriages and horses from all merchant groups arrived in droves.

The registrar and shopkeepers' abacus beads clattered in unison, drowning out even the cries of the birds.

Live fish, frozen fish, freshly dead fish—all were registered and carted away in loads.

"Hey, Bai Bai Yinbin!" Ran Ran Zhongshi called out.

"Don't mess with me, Brother Ran Zhongshi."

"Hahaha, just joking." Ran Ran Zhongshi patted his shoulder. "Twenty days out—hard work. You've got three days off. Go rest. The rest is our job."

"Commander Ran, don't skimp on our share! It's blood and sweat money!" Xiang Fang Su shouted.

"What if I did skim a bit?" Ran Ran Zhongshi feigned a kick. "Didn't you eat your fair share of the good fish on board?"

"Did you see me eat?"

"If I skimmed, would you see it?"

"So you did skim!"

The dock buzzed with lively noise, never quiet.

Liang Qu bid farewell to his comrades, slung his gear over his back, and headed home.

Just a little over a month away, Yixing Town had changed again.

In the center of the blue-stone street, the drum tower, built in early June, stood fully completed—impressive, only half a li from Liang Zhai.

"Yixing Town has its landmark now."

Passing the drum tower, he reached home. Wu Long, smelling him from afar, leapt over the courtyard wall, tail wagging excitedly.

Liang Qu patted the dog's head, noticing a faint scent of vermilion lacquer, and looked up.

As expected.

The entire Liang Zhai had been transformed!

Before departure, craftsmen from Tianbo Trading House had come to work; a month later, the renovation was perfectly finished.

A stone pattern of a cloud-treading figure now adorned the entrance, nothing else changed.

The two small side rooms for storage remained unchanged.

Entering the second courtyard.

The side rooms had been drastically altered—each raised by nearly half a story, with new balconies on the second floor, nearly level with the main hall.

After circling twice, Su Guishan was nowhere to be seen.

Liang Qu went to the west side room—the renovations were identical.

Upon entering, the first impression was improved lighting—brighter than before.

Though the front and back were separated by wooden doors and walls into a study and meditation chamber, it didn't feel cramped, for the side rooms were spacious—nearly a hundred square meters—and the division created a layered spatial rhythm.

Especially on the outer wall of the northern meditation chamber, a sloping staircase led to the second-floor bedroom, cleanly dividing upper and lower spaces; along the corridor outside the bedroom, two plant stands were placed against the wall—elegant and lived-in.

Uncle hadn't wasted his youth.

A few casual words, yet the renovation was tasteful.

"Master!"

Liang Qu glanced around briefly, lowered his gaze, set down his spear and great bow, and bowed respectfully to the old monk reading in the study.

The scar-faced attendant clasped his hands and brought a stool.

The old monk set down his scroll, flipped through the pages on the desk, and pulled out a manuscript.

Liang Qu's heart stirred—he took it respectfully: "A method of perception?"

The old monk said: "The 'Body Perception Method.' You may copy it first and deliver it to your master."

Liang Qu did not think the old monk was joking—he was always meticulous, and had already informed him before sending methods to his master and senior brothers.

"Does it have some benefit?"

"When hunting the tiger and reaching the Ultimate Form, there is a step called 'Melt the Hundred Classics,' meaning to fuse and unify one's martial arts—so even if one does not practice for ten years, one does not lose a single fraction of skill. The 'Body Perception Method' opens a new path: by diligently cultivating it, one can reach this state."

Hiss!

Liang Qu's heart leapt.