Chapter 818: Contending for the Dragon

The South.

Jiangzhou Prefecture.

With long arms and long legs, resembling an ape, Dulongzi stared blankly at the sky.

Even in broad daylight, he seemed to have found, within the sky, that Ziwei Emperor Star which represents the Emperor!

"The Ziwei Star is weak... changing several times in a single day. The Heavenly Mandate and national fortune of this Great Song Dynasty seem to have suddenly shortened by ten years?"

Dulongzi calculated incessantly, then suddenly laughed: "The Tanlang Star in the North is flourishing... this is a scheme to invite the wolf into the house! The Great Song Dynasty... is finished! The vengeance of my Daoist Lineage can finally be avenged!"

Years ago, his Daoist Lineage had pointed out a Dragon Cave for a prince, but the Imperial Court discovered it, suppressed them directly, and slaughtered them cruelly; only he escaped alone, and he could be said to have a Blood Sea of deep hatred against the Great Song Imperial Court.

The County Office.

"When a country is about to perish, monsters are bound to appear... I fear this cannot be separated from that Xulingzi."

Seeing at this moment that the Heavenly Mandate of the Great Song had snapped and that a chaotic age was arriving early, he was practically ready to dance with joy.

"My son... do you truly wish to go and be a Document Clerk? Your father absolutely forbids it. This Fengxiang Army has fewer than ten thousand soldiers and its military preparations are lax; how could it be a match for the Imperial Guard?" Chen Hong lowered his voice: "You must not ruin yourself and bring disaster upon the clan!"

"Father?"

With his move spent, Chen Zitong saw a plum tree before him, its branches gnarled like snakes, and could not help but mutter to himself before slashing out with his blade.

Behind the youth, a middle-aged scholar stroked his beard and smiled: "It seems coming to the South to serve as an official was the right choice after all... *cough cough*..."

His name was 'Chen Hong'; he passed the provincial examination at fifteen, but failed the Civil Service Examination several times thereafter, was directly appointed as a From Ninth Rank official, and after working diligently for over a decade, finally became the Magistrate of Hezi County. Beside him was his son, 'Chen Zitong'.

"Military recruitment?" Chen Zitong's eyes lit up. He had always been quite interested in the military, but his father would not allow it and still wanted him to pursue the Civil Service Examination.

"That Daoist from Luzhouji is named Xulingzi, and he has long since gone to Jingshi!" Cangsong said with a hint of jealousy: "He was even enfeoffed as a True Monarch..."

"Haha... greetings, young master."

Just at this moment, a Daoist walked over; it was none other than Cangsong!

Even if Dulongzi left Jiangzhou Prefecture for other prefectural cities, he would still encounter other Daoist lineages.

Dulongzi thought of a propitious grave site he had discovered, and his heart could not help but burn with fervor.

"I obey the Dharma decree!"

What he learned was military blade technique; each move and stance was not particularly elegant, but it was simple, practical, sinister, and ruthless.

"The previous death of the Emperor was already quite suspicious; I did not expect there to be such matters as well!"

"Cangsong pays respects to the True Monarch!"

Cangsong was likewise struck with great awe in his heart.

He immediately performed a salute: "This poor Daoist is Cangsong. Having heard the young master mention the Strange Person of Luzhouji, I came here presumptuously... Does the young master know that even if you go to Luzhouji now, you will not find that Daoist..."

A moment later, the True Monarch spoke: "The heavenly numbers have changed; I fear the Great Song has no more than ten years of national fortune left!"

Chen Zitong wiped away his sweat, feeling some doubt in his heart, but he still changed his clothes and followed the maid to the main hall.

For some reason, after hearing that Daoist's assessment that day, a fire seemed to have been ignited in Chen Zitong's heart, burning hotter and hotter.

"Could it be... that the Heavenly Intent is truly with me?"

Cangsong felt a jolt in his heart and hurriedly stepped out to salute.

At a tea stall not far from the County Office.

In ancient times, the transmission of news was backward, and furthermore, few people could connect Fang La of Luzhouji with the demon-Daoist True Monarch Xulingzi who was famous in Jingshi, so Chen Zitong was truly taken aback: "Is this true?"

Gazing at the neat annual rings on the cut of the plum tree, Chen Zitong could not help but mutter.

Chen Zitong slapped his palm with his fist.

Only after Chen Hong performed three kowtows and nine prostrations did he stand up, his eye sockets red: "The news has only just reached the county level, but the prefecture and the regional commander must have known long ago. That regional commander harbors evil intentions and is currying favor with local officials; could it be that he wants to become a warlord?"

Chen Zitong read few books, but preferred wielding blades and guns. His martial arts were extraordinary; he once held a staff and fought his way through the countryside, invincible against all opponents.

Chen Hong stroked his beard: "I am also puzzled, which is why I used a stalling tactic instead of a flat refusal..."

A large number of buildings were gathered together; although the construction was simple, the subtle details showed considerable ingenuity.

"Me? A guest?"

"If one truly believes that one can establish everything by relying on Daoist Technique and Dragon Veins, valuing minor arts while forgetting the Great Dao, then failure is inevitable!"

A small boat traveled down the river; there were two people on the boat, and as they looked at the ripe rice in the paddies on the shore, they both nodded.

'Although this Document Clerk is only a minor official, it is close to the core. Once the regional commander favors me, I will be promoted rapidly! And it is not very conspicuous...'

"This disciple is here."

'Sigh... the timing is still insufficient. If the Hidden Dragon were given eight years to study in silence, cultivate prestige, and gather talent... why would there be a need to use this scheme of borrowing a chicken to lay eggs? When the world is in chaos, one could simply raise a banner, have a hundred respond to a single call, and instantly create a great momentum!'

Deep within a cloud-shrouded mountain.

No expression could be seen on the True Monarch's face; he only said: "Since that is the case, you shall descend the mountain and assist the Hidden Dragon!"

"This matter is of great importance; please allow my father and me three days to consider."

"Magistrate, urgent official correspondence!"

"Once the Great Song perishes, the world's Contending for the Dragon will immediately enter an intense phase; there will be no more years for the Hidden Dragon to develop..."

"Father..." Chen Zitong's eyes rolled, and he said: "I heard that a Strange Person has appeared in Luzhouji who can subdue the White Tiger and possesses pear-like fruit and Fire Jujube that can cure all illnesses... Your son will go to Luzhouji to seek some spiritual fruit for you, so as to treat this lung disease..."

"So it is the local magistrate; excuse my lack of respect." Cangsong did not mind and saluted again: "However, this poor Daoist makes a living by these two eyes, and I have never misjudged anyone... If my calculations are correct, the young master's rise to prominence will happen within these three days, haha, haha..."

"Father, this South is not like Zhongyuan. There are many river systems, paddy fields, irrigation windmills, and abundant rice harvests... as long as there is grain, there will be no refugees."

After Chen Hong read it, he was greatly shocked, then suddenly bowed toward the North and wept: "Oh, Emperor..."

This killing intent and martial prowess gave Cangsong a sudden jolt, while at the same time, he felt joy in his heart: 'Originally, this Hidden Dragon still needed eight years to grow... I was worried that coming here this time might be akin to pulling on seedlings to help them grow, but seeing this demeanor, he truly has the nature of a dragon-snake and is worth investing in...'

Once these words were spoken, it was earth-shattering!

"So that's how it is; that makes sense."

Therefore, it is better to stick to what one knows than to venture into the unknown; it is best to start the uprising right here locally.

Pfft!

With a flash of blade Light, this plum tree was severed in two by a single strike and toppled over.

Dulongzi gazed in a certain direction, his eyes deep and dark: "Since the game has begun... let us first slay the Hidden Dragon chosen by the Five Night Sect!"

Chen Zitong's eyes darted, and he assumed a respectful posture: "Please rest assured, Father; your son understands the stakes..."

Chen Hong and Chen Zitong disembarked from the boat; as it was high noon, they found a tea shed to rest their feet and ordered some tea and food.

Yet, although he had read a few books, he had absolutely no interest in those Civil Service Examination essays and could not even pass as a Cultivated Talent!

However, at this moment, he felt some confusion: "Why would the Regional Commander recruit me? Could it be that he wants to win over Father? But if a Regional Commander of a single territory acts like this, where does that leave the Prefect?"

But thinking of his previous investment, he no longer had any room for choice and could only firmly agree.

Chen Zitong became interested and asked casually.

A dangerous light flickered in Dulongzi's eyes as he stared fiercely at the map: "Jiangnan is wealthy and prosperous; Jiangzhou Prefecture has a million people and can support an army of one hundred thousand—it is truly an excellent place to build a foundation. Alas... one must compete with the Five Night Sect."

"You Taoist..."

Cangsong's thoughts raced, and he said loudly: "Although the Hidden Dragon is only sixteen years old now, he is already showing signs of greatness... This Daoist believes that the more this is the case, the less we can give up; on the contrary, we must help him advance rapidly, otherwise all previous efforts will be wasted!"

In the main hall, his father, Chen Hong, was speaking with a military officer.

"Hmph, it is all because of your affairs."

"Contending for the Dragon has entered its peak ahead of schedule; I fear many Daoist Lineages did not anticipate this... They will surely be caught off guard, and this is my opportunity."

Just at this moment, a maid ran over: "Young Master... the Master requests the Young Master to come to the front hall to meet a guest!"

Chen Zitong knelt down as well, his heart full of confusion and bewilderment.

This military officer had a dark red face, carried an aura of balefulness, and had a voice like a booming bell; he looked them up and down and laughed: "Your son is indeed a man of talent! My Regional Commander also has good intentions; I hope the County Magistrate will not decline..."

Upon hearing the assessment that he was "no ordinary person," Chen Hong felt a stir in his heart, but his face remained completely expressionless: "Are you here to swindle a meal out of this official?"

The autumn wind brought a refreshing coolness.

'At this time, I can only silently pave the way, secretly sending some seeds of military stars, ministers of state, and master strategists under the command of the Hidden Dragon... These are all still green, and can only be tempered in the flames of war; the capable shall rise, and the incapable shall die... Sigh... To become a dragon, one must experience the trials of thunder and rain; even if they break, there is no other way...'

For instance, Jiangzhou Prefecture had a 'Fengxiang Army' stationed there, with a Regional Commander appointed to sit in command of the region, though primarily in charge of military affairs.

The Daoist Master said: "What do you think of the Hidden Dragon chosen by our Daoist Gate?"

The Daoist Master said: "But having done such a thing, even if his supernatural powers are extraordinary, he will inevitably suffer Backlash... The karma of a nation's National Fortune is something even Immortals find difficult to bear; there is no need to worry about him anymore... Cangsong!"

Having said this, he laughed loudly and left, regardless of the dumbfounded Chen Hong and his son.

The boat sailed slowly and stopped at a pier.

The Great Song had thirty-eight prefectures, and each prefecture had a garrison.

"Who are you?"

The Daoists below were in an uproar, whispering to one another; one Daoist stepped out, knelt, and said: "The Heavenly Mandate of the Great Song was jointly determined by the Daoist Masters of various lineages during the Daoist Gate Assembly back then; how can there be such a change?"

"The Zhongyuan has suffered from drought for three years, and there are countless refugees and rebels... Even after the clearing by Zhang Ye, there are still signs of chaos in various prefectures and counties; it is indeed not as good as the south, a land of rice and fish, a peaceful home."

"The Hidden Dragon is not necessarily guaranteed to succeed... Many have died young, and the Daoist Gate's investment is only for the initial foundation; afterwards, it depends on the lord's strategy, judgment, virtue, and courage... to gain the support of all sides, and only when his wings are full can he finally achieve his goal!"

The Daoist Master nodded slightly, and Cangsong took the initiative to stand with the two rows of Daoists.

Two days later.

Of course, from the perspective of a Daoist's Qi Gazing technique, it was that the True Dragon in Jingshi was weak, while the flood dragons, snakes, tigers, and wolves in various places were restless.

Although Chen Hong loved him, he was often troubled by his tendency to stir up trouble, which was why he kept him by his side to teach him.

"Oh? Why?"

Chen Zitong narrowed his eyes and reached for the short blade in his bundle.

The wind of the blade pierced the air with a whistling sound.

"Good!"

The true elite of the Great Song were the Imperial Guard of Jingshi, composed of soldiers selected from all over!

These hundreds of thousands of Imperial Guards were not only strong and well-equipped, but their morale was also top-tier; they were the greatest asset for the Great Song officialdom to guard the imperial throne and suppress the regions!

Once something happened to the Imperial Guard, the regional warlords would inevitably become restless; this was entirely a matter of comparing strength.

Cangsong felt a chill in his heart; if he were to descend the mountain and get too involved, he would be gambling with his own life and future.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth, wearing a brocade robe, breathed in the air that seemed to carry the scent of rice with a hint of Greed, and said with a smile.

Seeing a sound like a dragon or a snake roar suddenly emerge from a sea of white and red, and a snake Shadow appear, he could not help but nod in satisfaction.

A great man standing in the world, how can he live under others?

In this life, he must accomplish something great so as not to live this life in vain!

'If my future great cause can be achieved, please cut down this tree!'

"Naturally, it is true." Cangsong replied with a smile, then carefully examined Chen Zitong's features: "To tell you the truth, this Daoist is skilled in physiognomy; this young master has a full forehead and is showing signs of greatness—I fear he will be no ordinary person in the future!"

Cangsong Daoren held a horsetail whisk and arrived at a large hall.

Chen Hong gritted his teeth, and after sending the military officer away, Chen Zitong asked in confusion: "Father, what has happened?"

In the center of the hall were densely packed spirit tablets, and below them was a Daoist with a ruddy complexion, white beard and hair, and skin like a baby's, without a single wrinkle.

The middle-aged man's face turned pale again as he spoke, and he coughed a few times, his health seemingly poor.

But there was no help for it; the Daoist Masters could see the situation of the Great Song, so they had made arrangements early on, looking for those who possessed Dragon Qi to invest in and laying out the layout for Contending for the Dragon.

Chen Zitong was holding a hundred-refined steel blade, practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

Cangsong Daoren silently circulated his profound arts, gazing at the Qi Number of the county office.

"Although the founder gave instructions long ago that Contending for the Dragon is dangerous, a life-and-death struggle, and would harm those around one... but my master, fellow disciples, and grand-disciples have all died... what else is there to fear?"

Chen Hong shook his head: "You've been causing such a ruckus along the way that your reputation has reached the ears of the Military Commissioner of the Fengxiang Army, who specifically sent someone to recruit you as a Document Clerk... Although our Chen family is not a scholarly household, and a Document Clerk is not a military post, how could you associate with common foot soldiers?"

Not long after, a yamen runner hurried in and delivered an official document.

'In times of chaos, military power is paramount; currently, everyone is still habitually inclined to value civil officials over military officers, so whoever realizes this first will gain the most.'

"My son is indeed intelligent; you have already seen the crux of the matter."

"The Emperor... has passed away!"

Such local garrison troops sound imposing, but in reality, they are merely garrison soldiers; whenever natural or man-made disasters occur and refugees appear in the region, the young and strong among them are recruited to form the army, yet they receive little training during peacetime and only handle miscellaneous chores and logistics during wartime.

After the meal, Chen Hong coughed repeatedly again, only feeling better after drinking some tea.

Chen Hong glanced at his son, knowing that he was likely feeling too constrained and wanted to find an excuse to go out and roam, so he couldn't help but say: "Zitong, your filial piety is commendable, but your father is fine..."

Thinking of this, Cangsong could not help but recall the young man with the fate of an Anti-King he had seen that day.

If he could find the other party and use his Anti-King fate to pave the way for the True Dragon, clearing away the thorns and brambles, the plan would be even more perfect, but alas...

(End of this chapter)