Chapter 216: Three-Headed Evil Flood Dragon

The group of demons received their orders and were about to leave, but Hai Sanniang and Kui Qing had not yet been enfeoffed, so they remained kneeling; meanwhile, Sheng Ying'er was babbling away, though it was unclear what she was saying.

Xu Jia said, "Hai Sanniang, your karmic connection does not lie with me. The Hai Mu Jin Gang Dharma Gate practiced by that Dharma King has some relation to you, as she is a figure with a pig's head in the Buddhist school, and also under the seat of Marici, so I shall not enfeoff you."

Hai Sanniang wanted to ask why Jingchi could be enfeoffed while she could not, but since Xu Jia had spoken these words, she was suddenly confused: "What karmic connection does this little demon have with that Dharma King?"

Xu Jia said, "That Dharma King was also a woman, born into a family of serfs in the secret treasury; before you transmigrated into the Beast Path, you were her mother."

Xu Jia was not spouting nonsense; rather, when he was subduing demons in the Dharma Realm, in a single thought, he perceived the past. This is the mark of a True Person of the Earth Immortal level, what is known as "all-seeing and all-knowing."

"Back then, because you were hungry, you stole offerings and were about to be beaten to death. She stepped forward, willing to be offered as a sacrifice, becoming spiritual material for the master's cultivation. As it turned out, through a twist of fate, the master died, and she instead gained favor and began to cultivate."

"Because she had the merit of saving her mother, she learned the vastness of Buddhism, but unfortunately, she went astray. Because you stole offerings meant for the gods, you transmigrated into the Beast Path, and in this life, you are destined to be eaten by others."

Hai Sanniang cursed and grumbled, "What kind of bullshit Buddhist logic is this? If I didn't steal in my past life, wouldn't I have just starved to death?"

"This bird-brained god, demoting me to a pig, must be an Evil Sect god!"

Xu Jia said, "This god is Hai Mu Jin Gang. To be precise, she was not punishing you; she was testing that Dharma King. If she could attain the Dao, all of this would be an illusion to save people, and you would eventually attain the achievement of a Heavenly Being. But she failed, was ultimately burdened by Heavenly Demons, participated in an Evil Sect, and brought disaster upon the common people."

Xu Jia was not speaking in favor of an evil god; it is just that these gods all have the same temperament, including the various myths and legends of Taoism saving people in ancient China. If you are the protagonist, it is fine, but if you are an NPC on the side, you would want to curse their mothers.

These gods seem to have their own logic: first, they bring down disasters and tests, and then they decide whether to enlighten you or not. If you do not pass the test, it is because your virtue is insufficient, and you often end up with a ruined family and separated loved ones.

Xu Jia did not know if there were so many messy affairs in the Yushan realm because of the tests and enlightenments from above, but once the logic is figured out, there is a direction for action.

If there is no suffering, one must force oneself to eat it; if there are no difficulties, one must create them.

As for Hai Sanniang, inheriting the cause and effect of that Dharma King brings many unexpected benefits.

"As for you, Kui Qing, you and Sheng Ying are cultivating under my seat, and you have not established a temple or hall, so there is no need for enfeoffment."

Xu Jia looked again at Xiaopangdun and Chen Xiongda (Gongming); one of these two was the True Transmission Senior Brother, and the other was the Outer Sect First Disciple.

"Hui Zhuo, you have been with me the longest, accompanying me since my humble beginnings. Now I pass on to you the Inner Scene Wonderful Method and the Three Sovereigns Secret Text. As for the Register Text, I grant you the first tier of the Capture Mountain and Water Essence Chart and the second tier of the Human Immortal Register. When your practice is successful, you can stack them."

"Gongming, you were originally a man of the public office and passed the Martial Scholar examination. Although you lack minor virtues, you do not lose the great righteousness. Now I pass on to you the Heavenly Dipper Thunder Fire Technique and the Method of Gathering Sha and Refining Gang to help you nourish your True Qi. As for the Register tier, I grant you the first tier of the General Register and the second tier of the Human Immortal Register. I hope you cultivate carefully and hold fast to the middle path."

Among Xu Jia's disciples, there were only three humans in total, and there was also Xu Jian, whom he raised like a son. He was also a True Person of the Earth Immortal level undergoing physical refinement, and Xu Jia was not yet qualified to directly confer a Register upon him.

The two, one a little fatty and one a big fatty, were both smiling. Xu Jia pointed at the center of their brows, teaching them the true transmission, which entered their minds, though no changes occurred.

As for the others, such as his own mother, Niu Dafu, and so on, Xu Jia only granted them the Believer Register, the Wealth Register, and so on.

Soon, they underwent the Retreating God Ritual, burning incense and offering to the furnace, connecting directly to the heavens. The auspicious clouds gradually dispersed, but these auspicious signs were visible in reality, yet left no trace in the Dharma Realm. It is unknown if it was because the level they were in was too high, making them invisible.

The ritual was completed, and Wang Mintong patted his joints, "I'm exhausted. Are you trying to wear an old man out? Such a grand Jiao Ritual, and you let me preside over it alone."

The other Daoists also relaxed. This time, besides the Daoists from Shanju Guan, there were seventeen Daoists invited from other places, all of whom were in a state of exhaustion.

"Do you really intend to set up an altar and establish a sect here?" Wang Mintong asked curiously, "This place is desolate and uninhabited, and these three mountains are so dangerous; the path up the mountain is like climbing a cliff."

"Although it is dangerous here, it is closer to the heavens and suitable for cultivation. Moreover, we do not need the common people to climb up to offer incense. If they want to offer incense, they can do so at the Jinshan Temple at the foot of the mountain or the Shanju Guan on the mountainside."

The Scripture Master of Shanju Guan asked, "True Person Xu, can we use this altar to confer Registers?"

"Of course you can, but there is no time now. Besides, whether you confer a Register or not, you are still cultivating; the Register method only serves as an auxiliary."

On the other side, the various gods and demons enfeoffed by Xu Jia headed towards Dexing, with Chang Yu as the main commander, and Huang Pipo and Hu Jinhua as commanders.

The Golden Toad also wanted to go, but was kept behind by Xu Jia.

Seeing Hu Jinhua after the Register conferment, she was full of spirit; the last time she was like this was when Xu Jia gave her a name.

She stood on Chang Yu's head: "Although the chief culprit has been executed and we were unable to help Master Xu much, there are still accomplices and assistants. All the evil demons and evil gods in Dexing County must be captured and brought to justice, and their Daochang destroyed."

Huang Pipo said, "Should we go to the Dexing City God Temple first?"

"Let's go later. Besides, it shouldn't be us going, otherwise it would disgrace Master Xu's reputation." Hu Jinhua thought further ahead.

That Dharma King's pollution of evil gods was not bad, but there were also those who let themselves go without being polluted; the more terrified the common people were, the more at ease they felt.

Chang Yu ignored the rest; he swallowed one whenever he saw one. But soon, the earth shook and the mountains swayed, and a stream of Black Sha Qi leaked from underground.

Fierce ghosts and evil spirits, some crying and some laughing, all looked like they were not to be trifled with. The Dexing City God Temple's wall cracked open, then dark clouds gathered, a peal of thunder sounded, and lightning struck down.

A fierce Ghost God appeared from the City God Temple.

Inside the temple, it was a bloody mess; many young girls had been dissected and arranged in the shape of a lotus flower.

This was the ritual of the Longevity Sect to please evil gods. It was also the "resentful incense" that polluted the True Gods.

Previously, the Yushan City God said that the True Gods enfeoffed by the imperial court were not easily corrupted by evil, especially a County City God, but now the Dexing City God had been completely corrupted, and the Earth Sha Poisonous Plague Evil Qi beneath the earth had been released.

The City God's Yinyu Dharma Realm also began to shroud reality, with dark clouds covering the sky, making it hard to see the sun.

Yet it happened just as Xu Jia's altar was retreating the gods.

The various demons, ghosts, and gods felt shocked and terrified. It was not just them who found it inconceivable; even Xu Jia on Sanqing Mountain had a look of doubt on his face. When he killed the Dharma King and the White Bone Hall Saintess in the Dharma Realm earlier, he did not perceive this layer of change.

Xu Jia's expression was solemn, and Wang Mintong on the side exclaimed, "Oh no! Something big has happened!"

Xu Jia pinched his fingers to calculate. This Dexing City God had long been polluted, but had been resisting. Because Xu Jia killed the Dharma King and the White Bone Hall Saintess, the three Flood Dragons beneath Dexing knew their time was running out. If they did not act, they would be at the mercy of others, not needing to wait for the Dragon Boat Festival when the Flying Dragon is in the Sky, so they stirred up the Earth Sha poisonous plague evil Qi.

The fifth month is the poisonous month, hence the tradition of avoiding the Five Poisons and the five plagues, and the tradition of hanging calamus and mugwort to drive away ghosts and evil spirits. These three Flood Dragons pushed out the poisonous plague Qi accumulated beneath the earth, intending to create a great epidemic in the human world, then stir up floods and open a path into Poyang.

"The Dexing Earth Treasure is lost!" Xu Jia finished calculating: "The Earth Treasure is the essence of the earth, a treasure that maintains the vitality and spiritual beauty of a region. They forcibly took it and incited the Earth Sha poisonous plague. The City God forcibly used the power of the territory master to seal and suppress it, and was infected by the resentful incense."

"Must go and slay the Flood Dragons first!" Xu Jia concluded, and immediately let the many Daoists of Shanju Guan go down the mountain to rest for a while.

He himself sat on Kui Qing and headed towards the place where the Black Qi was emanating.

At this moment, Hu Agui made a weak sound: "True Person Xu, I have dissipated hundreds of years of Daoist practice for you; can I not get even a little recognition?"

She was barely maintaining a human form at this time, looking exactly like Lin Daiyu or a sick Xi Shi. There was a sense of pity that made one want to love her.

"Just rest well, and I will give you benefits later."

Hu Agui was greedy for the Dharma King's cultivation, and ended up getting herself involved, but it was mainly due to the deception and temptation of the Yin demons, so it is hard to say that flies don't bite seamless eggs.

Seeing Xu Jia ride the ox and disappear in a few steps, Hu Agui immediately turned into a fragrant wind and followed.

Kui Qing reminded him, "True Person, that fox demon is following us. Does she like you?"

"She is just unwilling to give up, wanting to take the opportunity to gain some benefits," Xu Jia said. "Don't worry about her. She is not kind, nor is she a disciple of my sect, and she has had conflicts with Hu Jinhua. Having cultivated to five hundred years of practice and experienced a great calamity, that Dharma King was her calamity. Saving her life is already the merit of her daily physical almsgiving."

Although Xu Jia's words were so heartless, Kui Qing was still thinking about it, secretly thinking: The True Person is really unromantic; I, Old Niu, am different.

Of course it was different; it felt comfortable when it was being milked for essence by the Golden Toad for breeding before, and it even felt the true meaning of "emptiness and form."

Very quickly, Kui Qing, with the help of Xu Jia casting the Wuyue True Form Talisman Chart, ignored the obstructions of the terrain; neither grass, trees, nor thorns could come near, and he walked to the boundary of the Dexing mine.

Those three evil Flood Dragons were originally three underground mineral veins of gold, silver, and copper; because of the evil dragon spawn of Poyang, they gained dragon nature, cultivated in secret to become Flood Dragons, and being dissatisfied with humans opening mines, digging into their flesh and blood, and smelting the five metals, they wanted to seize the Earth Treasure, stir up floods, and enter Poyang.

The place where Xu Jia arrived was exactly the "Jiangnan West Circuit Salt and Iron Commission" established by the imperial court; the head of the commission was a eunuch sent by the court, but at this time, he was already dead.

Not only was he dead, but even the miners here, or the craftsmen of the Household Official who smelted the five metals, could not be seen.

There was only a smell of burning coal, and the Earth Pestilence Evil Qi spewing out from the mine wells.

Xu Jia was equipped with many Dharma beads, avoiding this Earth Pestilence Evil Qi, and Kui Qing was surprised: "Master, this place is so evil! It has become a place of fierce, baleful, and absolute death."

Just at this moment, the gloomy sky finally began to rain, a wild storm washing over the mud.

A fierce sound of flowing water came from the mine pit.

Xu Jia lay down, his ear pressed to the ground, listening to the sounds of the earth.

"The underground Water Veins are surging up; with gold and water combining, these three evil Flood Dragons have already activated from their immobile state."

At this time, a black wind blew, and the earth cave made a "woo-woo" sound; Wufeng Shizhe appeared again, very dejected: "It's over, it's over."

Seeing his sorrowful expression, Xu Jia asked: "What has happened to you?"

"Those few female Immortals reported the First Emperor to the Heavenly Emperor, and while the First Emperor doesn't care about this, the Qin laws are strict; I am going to be ruined."

"Will you be demoted to the mortal world to become a turtle?"

"Hard to say."

"Then why not form a covenant with me and work at my altar?"

Wufeng Shizhe looked Xu Jia up and down; after three days apart, one should look at him with new eyes, and he exclaimed: "What is this? You have become a Heavenly Master! No, that's not right; the Heavenly Master's twenty-four-tier Register method is perfect, manifesting the great cycle of heaven and earth through the four seasons and the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, constantly returning, neither increasing nor decreasing. You only have the six-tier Register method, having attained spring; it is the beginning of cultivation, not yet reached the summer prosperity, and you have begun to bear fruit, reaching a small success."

"You are a probationary Heavenly Master." Wufeng Shizhe thought, looked at Xu Jia again, then lowered his head to think, and finally said helplessly: "If I am truly at a dead end, I will go to your altar to work."

Xu Jia nodded: "Then what are you doing now?"

"The work assigned from above still must be done; there is much rain in the south this year and drought in the north, so I am currently assisting in spreading rain and wind. This rain will last for half a month, and this wind will darken the sky and cover the earth."

"I want to nail and kill the three evil Flood Dragons below, but the mine has been dug into pieces and is filled with Evil Qi. They have shed their forms and gained spirits, so I cannot find the key points by following the feng shui; I still need you to do me a favor, brother."

Wufeng Shizhe said: "This is not difficult, but these three evil Flood Dragons have high Dharma Power, and now that they have obtained the Earth Treasure, even if we find their forms, what then?"

"Although they have shed their forms and gained spirits, no longer one with the mineral veins, they still have some connection and can borrow the power of heaven and earth. Once I fix the Earth Veins, they will lose their strength; as mere Primordial Spirit spiritual bodies, they will not be hard to deal with."

Wufeng thought: "This is a deed of Merit; you must build a temple for me and write a memorial of thanks for me."

This was the same logic as presenting a silk banner; Wufeng Shizhe still thought there was room for maneuver, in case the matter was raised heavily but dropped lightly.

"That's simple!" Xu Jia agreed.

Wufeng Shizhe immediately released a great deal of wind, pouring it in from all directions; a portion entered the mine pit to investigate the situation, and a portion covered the entire area to ascertain the movement and form of the three evil dragons' spirits.

In that underground cave, there were indeed three Flood Dragons, but unlike what Xu Jia predicted, these three Flood Dragons were one body with three heads; the copper head was in the middle, and the gold and silver were on the sides, their bodies like cast bronze, with furnace fire and Black Qi emerging from their seven orifices.

It was somewhat like the so-called "King of Bronze and Fire"; as a Chinese Beheading Dragon Heavenly Master, could Heavenly Master Xu perhaps open a China branch of a dragon-slaying university? These three-headed Flood Dragons each exhaled, and a Jade Ring floated up and down; it was exactly the "Earth Treasure."

The Huaiyu Mountain Range is rumored to be the place where the Heavenly Emperor Relic Jade was left in the past, which is why it can produce jade; I did not expect the rumor to be true.

This Jade Ring faintly carried the prestige of the Heavenly Emperor and the dragon energy of the Lord of the Three Realms; being swallowed and exhaled by these evil Flood Dragons, it had the power to refine their entire body's energy.

(End of chapter)