Chapter 254: Seeking Opportunity at the Jing-Wei Confluence; Meeting the Macaque King in Cangmang Mountain

Jinghe Water Mansion, Crystal Palace.

Lamp flames hung down like stars, flickering in size; bright flames upon them birthed clouds, condensing colors and drifting smoke, hovering all around in a state of flux.

They darted back and forth, colliding with one another and emitting various wondrous sounds.

Vermilion pavilions and terraces, jade trees and precious branches—it all appeared exceedingly magnificent and exquisite.

Many beautiful Water Tribe maidens came and went, their skirts fluttering, holding various platters in their hands containing spiritual fruits and delicacies.

These Water Tribe maidens laughed and chatted, their voices pleasant to the ear.

Taking advantage of the moment they placed the spiritual fruits and delicacies in the hall, they each curiously stole glances at the handsome young man sitting opposite their own Dragon Lord.

His bearing was heroic and imposing, his stature towering like a mountain peak reaching the heavens.

Two bright golden dragon horns curved upward from his forehead, indicating his identity as a member of the Dragon Clan.

Yet his features were very unfamiliar; one could not tell which region's Dragon Lord he was.

"You wish to go to the Jing-Wei Confluence?" The Jinghe Dragon King was currently fiddling with the flowers in a bronze pot on the table; the sparse colors of the flowers were elegant and unique.

Hearing Fang Longye's inquiry, he could not help but exclaim in surprise, his expression shifting uncertainly, and an inexplicable look appearing in his eyes.

"That is correct! Not the confluence point in the present world, but the true place where the two meet, hidden in the profound darkness," Fang Longye said in a deep voice.

Just like the Jing River before his eyes, it was far from as small as the Jing River seen in the present world.

The point where the Jing and Wei rivers met in the present world was naturally not the true location where the Jing River and Wei River intersected; it was merely a microcosm displayed in the present world! As mentioned before, ninety-nine percent of the territory in Nanzhan Buzhou had been folded and hidden away by humans.

The various famous mountains and great rivers that ordinary people saw in the present world were devoid of all divinity, and the reason lay in this: they were all merely microcosms! Just like the Jing River before him, which looked to be only a thousand miles long from the outside.

But in reality? Judging by the few glances Fang Longye had swept across after entering, if calculated by the terminology of his past life, he feared it would have to be measured in light-years.

He had originally intended to enter the true Jing-Wei Confluence hidden in the profound darkness directly from the point where the Jing and Wei were clearly divided in the present world.

As it turned out, he had not sensed that territory at all. It made it seem as if the Jing River and Wei River only intersected and converged in the present world.

Therefore, he had come to the Jinghe Water Mansion to disturb this Jinghe Dragon King, from whom he had only parted a short time ago.

He intended to ask for directions.

After understanding Fang Longye's request, the Jinghe Dragon King shook his head and chuckled; instead of answering directly, he asked another question.

"I wonder if you remember, fellow Daoist, how long I said I have served as the Jinghe Dragon Lord?"

Fang Longye frowned, recalled for a moment, and replied: "I remember you saying, Senior, that you have only been the Jinghe Dragon Lord for a little over ten thousand years."

"Then do you know why I took the position of Jinghe Dragon Lord?" The Jinghe Dragon King said with a smile on his face.

"I do not know," Fang Longye shook his head to indicate.

The Jinghe Dragon King chuckled, and seeing that Fang Longye still maintained a posture of rapt attention, he stopped playing coy.

He immediately reached out and flicked a ray of rainbow light, which contained various pieces of information, directly into Fang Longye's mind.

The hanging incense smoke was cold, and the clouds and mist drifted gracefully.

A short while later, Fang Longye opened his eyes, revealing a look of realization, and murmured: "So that is how it is!"

"You understand now?" The Jinghe Dragon King reached out to pour a cup of tea for Fang Longye and laughed: "Never mind you, even I cannot find the way in!"

"Many thanks, Senior, for clearing up my confusion!"

Fang Longye picked up the teacup, using tea in place of wine, and toasted him.

It must be said that in this world, Fang Longye was not the only one who sought the unity of Clear and Turbid.

That First Emperor of the past had used the good fortune of the Jing-Wei Confluence to balance the Clear and Turbid within his body, and with the body of a Wu-Human, he had cultivated a powerful primordial spirit.

Because of this, this Jing-Wei Confluence was naturally occupied by this First Emperor and became one of his private cultivation retreats.

One could guess with their toes just how formidable the Array Restriction laid out around it must be.

In particular, this Jing-Wei Confluence later assumed the role of a prison to suppress enemies.

And the reason the Jinghe Dragon King held the position of Jinghe Dragon Lord was also aimed at this Jing-Wei Confluence.

The First Emperor's private cultivation retreat, a prison for suppressing enemies—the opportunities and good fortune within, just hearing this name and history, made one drool with envy.

However, a place of such opportunity and good fortune was naturally not easy to enter.

Just looking at the Jinghe Dragon King, a Taiyi Golden Immortal who was already peeking into the Daluo Realm, being powerless to do anything, one could see how it was.

"Regardless, I must get a foot in the door when the time comes!" Fang Longye sipped his tea and thought to himself.

That was right; knowing of this opportunity, he no longer regarded entering the Jing-Wei Confluence to comprehend the Dao of Clear and Turbid as his primary objective! The changes of Clear and Turbid could be comprehended anywhere. Treasures and opportunities were the key.

That it could make someone like the Jinghe Dragon King, who was already peeking into the Daluo Realm, covet it showed just how great the benefits inside were. "However—"

The curling tea fragrance made Fang Longye's features appear somewhat blurred.

He looked at the Jinghe Dragon King before him, his eyes shining, and thought to himself: "It seems I must become a camper!"

……

Since his envisioned goal had fallen through, Fang Longye did not want to wander outside any longer.

After some pleasantries and small talk with the Jinghe Dragon King, and having consumed some of the meals he had meticulously arranged, he returned to Huashan.

He continued his cultivation, striving to unite the Three Flowers as soon as possible and achieve the perfection of a Golden Immortal.

Fortunately, although his initial goal had fallen through, this trip had not been in vain; at the very least, he had learned of a not-insignificant opportunity.

Speaking of opportunities—

On the side of Nanzhan Buzhou, his true body had submerged into seclusion. On the side of Beiju Luzhou, his Divine Golden Body, hidden in Cangmang Mountain, was meeting with a guest he had invited for the sake of an opportunity.

Pine trees and green woods, hanging vines and growing creepers.

In the flower path, they crisscrossed and covered the area; the rustling shade fell from the branches, sounding like flowing water falling from the sky to the ground, ringing in unison.

In the center, there was a small pavilion, wing-like and overlooking the cliff, cold, lonely, and empty.

Exquisite on all four sides, with winds coming from all eight directions.

Suspended rainbow light illuminated the dome, twisting under the eaves, with frost-white mist filling the ground like snow, crystal clear and bright.

Inside the pavilion, two figures sat opposite each other.

"I never expected that after not seeing you for a few years, Brother Fang would have grown to such a degree."

"Even a Divine Dao avatar has already reached the Golden Immortal Realm!"

Yurong Wang sat on the Cloud Couch, his gaze bright and radiant, sizing up Fang Longye's Divine Golden Body and clicking his tongue in wonder.

Opposite him, beneath Fang Longye's feet, the water shimmered long and continuous; as the wind suddenly rose, the waves became uneven, appearing like fine scales, with seal script characters flickering in and out of existence, deriving hexagrams.

Clearly, it was a Divine Golden Body, yet it lacked even a trace of incense aura, appearing instead no different from a 'Heavenly Immortal' untainted by incense.

"Brother Yuan is not bad either!" Fang Longye looked at the Yurong Wang opposite him, shaking his head and smiling.

He knew that his own Divine Golden Body possessed such an aura largely due to the Talisman Order he had obtained some time ago.

That was a part of an Innate Divine Dao Edict, possessing its own miraculous properties.

But looking at the Yurong Wang before him—

He wore only a set of ordinary Dharma robes, his hair bun held up by a wooden hairpin, and behind him was a vast star map; in every instant, it underwent billions of changes, making time and space appear somewhat insignificant within it.

This demeanor was not inferior to his true form.

He was truly worthy of being a figure who called Sun Wukong brother in the Journey to the West of his past life.

One must know that he was able to reach Golden Immortal Great Accomplishment so quickly not only because he had a Golden Finger by his side, but also because he had support from various sides.

Yet the Yurong Wang before him had actually made such progress as well. How could this not make him sigh with emotion? It must be said that the ape and monkey clan is quite special, born close to immortality, natural seeds for cultivating the Dao. In his past life alone, he did not know how many legends of spiritual apes and immortal apes had circulated throughout the world.

No wonder that Monkey, who clearly had an extraordinary background, also manifested the image of a spiritual monkey when he borrowed luck to enter the world.

"Let us not stand on ceremony with each other!" Yurong Wang waved his hand and laughed. "Exchanging compliments here always feels a bit awkward."

"That said, it seems Brother Fang intends to accept the previous Huai River appointment?"

Fang Longye poured him a cup of wine and smiled: "Brother Yuan is indeed perceptive!"

Yurong Wang laughed: "In that case, Brother Fang is prepared?"

"Not only prepared, but if Brother Yuan arrives at the Huai River, I might even be able to fulfill half the duties of a host!"

Yurong Wang was taken aback, his eyes shifting as if he understood: "It seems Brother Fang is already in Nanzhan Buzhou?"

Fang Longye smiled without speaking.

Seeing this, Yurong Wang was even more certain of this thought and laughed loudly: "That is for the best! I have also finished handling various matters. I was already planning to come and invite Brother Fang to fulfill the appointment in the next few days~"

"It seems Brother Fang has taken the first step!"

"Then I will trouble Brother Fang to wait a little; in a few days, I will head to Nanzhan Buzhou to meet with Brother Fang. At that time, I will have to ask Brother Fang to host a welcome banquet for me!"

Fang Longye raised his Wine Cup and smiled: "Then I shall await Brother Yuan's good news!"

(End of this chapter)