Chapter 797: King Qi of Jinshi

"Daoist... this is my little daughter, Liniang."

The boat captain hurriedly explained to Aaron, then scolded: "Liniang, why aren't you going inside yet?!"

"It is no matter!"

Aaron waved his hand, looking at Liniang, and felt she was quite pretty.

Ancient boatwomen often had some side jobs; if this girl grew any older, she would likely follow in her mother's footsteps.

How much truly happy time could there be left?

All living beings suffer, unable to find liberation!

Thinking of this, he could not help but feel a bit melancholy, and smiled at the little girl: "Liniang, is it? This white tiger is very well-behaved, you can come and touch it... but aside from this tiger, all other tigers will eat people, you must remember that!"

Liniang clutched her clothes with both hands, nodded nervously, stepped forward, extended her small hand, and touched Xiaoyu's fur.

Aaron, knowing nothing of this matter, had already arrived at the north bank of the great river.

After all, chaotic times were approaching; without a bit of martial strength, wouldn't one just be fat meat?

"The Xuanwu Lake Dragon Vein... was discovered by this old Daoist after exhausting half my life's efforts. After reporting it to the True Immortals of the sect, the Grandmaster personally set out, and after surveying the Qi Luck, came to Ziqing Mountain to bury the Treasure Talisman... awaiting the future heavenly timing!"

Even Fang La had heard that there was King Qi in Jinshi City!

And later, Provincial Graduate Gu had mentioned it jokingly during casual conversation, saying that history books recorded—the Jinshi King Qi was heralded in previous generations, with yellow banners and purple canopies, originating in the southeast, ruling over ten thousand states!

The old Daoist spoke without the slightest hesitation.

Under the vision of Spirituality, what appeared in Aaron's eyes was a completely different scene!

A Daoist immediately bowed and retreated, arriving behind the Daoist temple, and grabbed a snow-white Spirit Pigeon from the pigeon coop.

"This Dragon Vein was discovered by our Taoism to extend the life of the Great Song. Whoever dares to move it without authorization is a rebellious subject, a traitor, and shall be killed without mercy! At critical moments, you may display the Gold Medal bestowed by the palace to mobilize the garrison for assistance!"

The blind old Daoist trembled uncontrollably as he said this.

Aaron gave a word of instruction and jumped straight off the boat.

"Thief!"

"That boat captain, what are you holding in your hand?" Another playboy had sharp eyes, saw the Fire Jujube in Wu Laoda's hand, and asked.

According to his hexagram interpretation, Great Auspicious meant there might be a very good result, while Great Ominous meant there might be risks encountered during the process.

After all, he was the absolute authority on how to utilize Spirituality.

Yet he knew that if a local cultivator saw this scene, they would likely pop their eyeballs out!

'Hmm, this Qi is incomparably tyrannical; it can suppress the Five Elements and forbid all techniques... could it be the Legendary Jinshi King Qi?'

Taking a step back, if the jujube was useless... Wu Laoda wouldn't be able to keep that farmland and house anyway!

In any case, he had nothing to lose!

Of course, if the Fire Jujube was useful, he would still have to treat Wu Laoda's family well, lest a high-level expert ask about it in the future and make him look bad.

"Master?"

"My jujube here can cure illnesses if you are sick, and strengthen the body if you are healthy..."

"Daddy is happy... we can finally go ashore." Wu Laoda wiped away his tears, pulled Liniang's small hand, and bowed three times toward the direction Aaron had left: "You must remember, that Immortal is our family's great benefactor!"

These mere few acres of land were but a drop in the bucket to him; why invite a reputation for seizing by force for this?

As a person in a high position, he would instead actively maintain this set of rules and not easily flip the table, simply because it was beneficial to them!

Wu Laoda knew this must be a Noble, and inwardly groaned: "That Daoist has already gone ashore and headed north!"

Just as Aaron was speeding along like lightning, heading toward Jingcheng.

The Daoist who had released the pigeon earlier had a solemn expression: "What if other Qi Gazing masters discover the Dragon Vein?"

The noise along the way became so much that even Aaron grew annoyed, so he simply plunged into the deep mountains and old forests; in any case, a straight line was the fastest path between two points, and he could find some food for Xiaoyu along the way.

Only Wu Laoda, holding Liniang, had tears streaming down his wrinkled old face.

As for the question of the Daoist faking things, it was indeed worth doubting... but it was just a single jujube, after all...

But even so, a Daoist specializing in the art of killing was quite terrifying; in complex terrain and environments, conducting small-scale armed skirmishes was even harder for ghosts and gods to guard against.

After finishing all this, he returned to the meditation room to hear the blind old Daoist recount the sequence of events: "Our Chongming Taoism has received imperial favor for generations and is too deeply bound to the Great Song; the risk is too great... The True Immortals in the sect made plans early on to prepare for a rainy day, wanting to find a good place to raise Dragon Qi elsewhere... This old Daoist has walked the world for thirty years, and a pair of spiritual eyes have been ruined, only to finally survey the Xuanwu Lake Dragon Vein and establish a Daoist temple here to guard it... Today, the Dragon Qi has shifted, there must be a change, you must not be negligent! Quickly go and investigate clearly... I hope it is just a false alarm..."

The boat captain said another sentence, which made Aaron's expression stir.

At this moment, running as if flying, feeling that his speed might be faster than taking a boat, Aaron smoothed back his hair blown by the wind and pondered the strange sight he had seen at Xuanwu Lake earlier.

The blind old Daoist woke up, and the first thing he did was issue this order.

"Quick, quickly use the spirit bird to notify the sect, the Xuanwu Lake Dragon Qi just now... has been disturbed!"

The boat captain heard Aaron curse, wiped his eyes, and couldn't help but add: "Daoist?"

A playboy youth nearby laughed: "Do you really believe this jujube is useful? Don't get cheated by that person?"

"Junior Martial Uncle... then this matter?"

Guangyang Marquis Heir Lin Le looked at the vast land to the north, unable to help but show a look of confusion: "Could it be that we lack the fortune? Unable to see a True Immortal?"

Just as the boat captain was about to return, he saw several more passenger boats sailing over.

The result appeared instantly—Great Ominous, Great Auspicious!

"Great Ominous, Great Auspicious, which means the luck is half and half? It's about the same as the result of my last divination about going to Jingcheng..."

"This..."

Lin Le put the Fire Jujube into his sleeve and answered casually.

"Sigh..."

Wu Laoda sighed inwardly and could only kneel: "This is an Immortal Jujube bestowed by the Daoist; it cures illnesses if you are sick and strengthens the body if you are healthy. I wish to offer it to the Young Master!"

The surrounding light changed in an instant, a riot of bright red and purple; those gorgeous colors seemed to have a life of their own, constantly expanding, rendering, twisting, and baring their fangs and claws outward...

"I am fine..."

These children of noble families are actually taught by specialists in every word and deed; even if they are truly playboys, they know the gravity of things.

After saying this, he handed a Fire Jujube that had been treated with alchemy to the boat captain.

After all, Xiaoyu is the king of all beasts; when they encountered several groups of Knights along the way, even just a slight low growl was enough to scare those horses into a state of terror, causing them to retreat far away.

"I am not greedy. Since that is the case... I will gift you ten mu of land and a cottage in exchange for this jujube of yours. Are you willing?"

"Looking at it now, it seems real... This Dragon Qi of Jinshi City is hidden within Xuanwu Lake; I wonder who will end up obtaining it? From what I see... it is likely still latent and has yet to emerge, but there seems to be something suspicious about it?"

"This... this is a True Immortal!"

Aaron rubbed his chin.

This pigeon has undergone special training, can recognize the route, and flies faster and further than ordinary pigeons; it is for the exclusive emergency contact of the Chongming Daoist Lineage!

He hurriedly wrote a secret message, tied it to the pigeon's leg, and released the pigeon.

Wu Laoda looked conflicted.

The boat captain hurriedly called out his wife and daughter, and toward the direction where Aaron had left, he kowtowed repeatedly...

Several Taoists escorted the blind old Taoist as they arrived at Ziqing Mountain.

Several Taoists entered, saw this scene, and were immediately shocked; they hurriedly took out Spirit Medicine and fed it to the old Taoist.

These are the guardians of the Dao; while the various Daoist lineages do not speak of it openly, they are actually cultivating them in secret.

"As boat-dwelling folk, if we could go ashore to live and have a few patches of thin fields, without having to toil on the water, we would be content..." Wu Laoda replied cautiously.

This immediately gave the boat captain a fright, and he hurriedly sent his daughter back into the cabin.

The old Taoist's eyes were filled with nothing but whites, looking extremely terrifying. At this moment, not knowing what Daoism he had secretly employed, after surveying the Qi Number, his face suddenly turned pale and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Just as the surrounding Taoists were in a panic, the old Taoist let out a long sigh of relief: "Fortunately... fortunately... the Dragon Qi was only temporarily disturbed, the Dragon Vein has not been altered, and it is still lying dormant..."

Lin Le's eyes lit up, but he did not reach out to take it, instead asking: "What is it that you desire?"

Right before the boat captain's shocked gaze, he walked from the surface of the water to the shore, mounted the White Tiger, and left with a whistle.

And at this moment, when he looked at Ziqing Mountain again, he immediately noticed a difference.

After a moment.

Just as the Dragon Turtle roared, inside a small Taoist temple by the edge of Xuanwu Lake.

"As you command!"

Aaron said to the boat captain: "Since we have met and you have given me a ride, it can be considered fate. I have nothing of value on me, only a few jujubes, so I shall gift you one!"

"No matter... My mother has been feeling unwell lately, and her coughing illness has flared up. I was just looking for some Spirit Medicine or supplements, so this is perfect."

A certain blind old Taoist suddenly covered his ears, let out a miserable shriek, fell from his prayer mat, and his limbs continued to twitch.

Aaron rode the White Tiger, traveling at lightning speed, not even needing to take the main road.

Thinking of this, he used 'Divination' again to calculate a hexagram regarding the connection between the Xuanwu Lake Dragon Qi and himself.

He gave a call, and Xiaoyu leaped nimbly, covering a distance of three or four zhang, and jumped directly onto the shore.

Lin Le asked.

"Brother Lin..."

Lin Le took the Fire Jujube and returned to his cabin, only then revealing a smile on his face.

The pouncing ability of a fierce tiger is nothing to joke about.

Wisps of cyan-purple Qi, like purple smoke rising from an incense burner in the sun, generated from the peak of Ziqing Mountain, drifting down like a waterfall and merging into Xuanwu Lake.

"I'll go right now!"

A sword-bearing Taoist nearby asked; he was tall and sturdy, with a sharp glint in his eyes, clearly a martial Taoist, and his martial arts did not seem low.

These Taoists were all from the Chongming Daoist Lineage and all possessed cultivation, which meant they had Heavenly Human Induction; there was no running away!

Once the Daoist Lineage fell, everyone would suffer a massive loss, so they all agreed with solemn expressions, not daring to be negligent.

"Daddy, why are you crying?"

Lin Le, who was on the deck, jumped over, looked into the cabin, and could not help but look full of disappointment: "Where is that Taoist who rode the White Tiger?"

Aaron was somewhat speechless.

Liniang, who was nearby, said crisply: "It was given to Daddy by the handsome Taoist..."

He gazed at Ziqing Mountain not far away, as if remembering something, and secretly consumed a bit of Qi Number to open his Spirituality vision.

Looking again, that patch of golden color seemed to transform into a... Dragon Turtle with horns on its head and four claws with a snake's tail?

This Dragon Turtle had a green back and purple eyes, appearing as if it were sleeping, yet it had suddenly been disturbed and let out a roar of rage!

"In this way, although Dasong is relegated to the south, the state can be preserved. My Chongming Daoist Lineage will not fail the imperial grace above, nor the common people of Jiangnan below, and can preserve the Daoist Lineage in the middle; it is a strategy that achieves all three ends... It is just that acting against the heavens is destined to have setbacks; perhaps it is... a Great Calamity!"

These wisps of cyan-purple Qi dissipated, rendering the bottom of Xuanwu Lake a golden hue.

"Xuanwu Lake Dragon Qi, is it? It seems there may be a use for it in the future..."

"A jujube bestowed by an Immortal?"

The boatman in the lead called out: "Is that Wu Laoda who escorted the tiger-riding Taoist on the other side?"

"It is I!"

At this moment, a flash of light appeared in Aaron's eyes, and their color instantly turned dark.

After teasing the little girl, Aaron refused the boat captain's suggestion of fish soup and continued to watch the scenery of Xuanwu Lake.

"If the Taoist has time, you can ascend Ziqing Mountain to overlook the scenery of Xuanwu Lake; that is the best view."

By the edge of Xuanwu Lake.

Liniang wiped the tears from her father's face and asked innocently.

Just kidding, how would the boat captain dare to lie to him? Did he not want to live?

Aaron rubbed his temples and grumbled resentfully: "How stingy, if you don't want me to see it, then don't... you even wanted to Backlash me?"

Although taking up arms without authorization carries great consequences, the very lifeblood of the Chongming Tao has been touched by others, so what is there left to fear?

……

During times of dynastic change, whether it be flood dragons or carp, all who wish to become a True Dragon must endure countless storms and disasters; and that is only for a new dragon!

In this world, martial arts have no concept of Internal Energy, and light-body techniques like stepping on one's left foot with the right to spiral into the sky are nothing but a dream... At the highest level, one can at most face ten or a hundred men, and that is only with excellent equipment.

"I couldn't ask for more, I couldn't ask for more..." Wu Laoda was stunned for a moment, then kowtowed repeatedly.

Wu Laoda leaned in and asked curiously, "Why have you all come as well?"

On the other side.

Xiaoyu was resting her head on her forelimbs at this moment, unconcerned; she tilted her head slightly, opened her large mouth, and seemed to yawn.

Perhaps the blind old Daoist had grown old and become fond of nagging: "After all, our Tao is too deeply entangled with the Imperial Court, and I fear there will be great disaster in the future... But if all goes smoothly, when the Great Song Dragon Vein in the north collapses, the Grandmaster can gather the power of the five great Perfected Ones to sever half of the Great Song True Dragon, cutting off the wrist to save the body, and let the remnant dragon come to Jinshi to absorb the nourishment of the Xuanwu Lake Dragon Vein... perhaps it can extend its life!"

This was not divination or alchemy, but merely a crude application of Spirituality and Instinct.

Young Master Xing and his group laughed and joked for a while longer, searched along the riverbank, but since they truly could not find that White Tiger and the Daoist, they could only return in low spirits.

The boat captain widened his eyes; the surprise had come too suddenly, and he was unable to react in time, so he could only kneel and kowtow.

'What the hell is the difference between saying this and saying nothing? This divination technique should be thrown away...'

"Many thanks to the Daoist for bestowing the jujube!"

For the old dragon to extend its life and compete for the Heavenly Mandate of the new dragon, the difficulties will only be greater!

This incident might just be a small beginning under the operation of Heavenly Secret!

The Chongming Tao wishes to act against the heavens, so there will only be more calamities in the future!

"Heavenly Mandate!" The Taoists were also struck with awe.

Heavenly Secret is vast and boundless, and the Heavenly Mandate is Chaos... The more profound a Taoist's cultivation, the more they revere this Heavenly Mandate!

(End of this chapter)