Chapter 285: The Record of Heavenly Master Xu Slaying the Flood Dragon, Part One

Xu Jia watched Zhang Fajing, who was surrounded by ten thousand zhang of golden light, acting so pretentious, and could not help but feel envious: "This pretense is so good, I have nothing to say."

Xu Jia could not release ten thousand zhang of golden light either; if it were releasing ten thousand zhang of black Qi, or black clouds, or setting up a Ten Thousand Soul Banner to summon ten thousand heavenly demons, Xu Jia could still manage that.

These things all have shortcuts, but the Golden Light Incantation, this simplest of divine incantations, really can only be done one step at a time, accumulating Curse Power by oneself.

Moreover, Xu Jia did not have a specific method to pass this on to future generations, and it is very difficult for anyone to be willing to strip away the merits they have cultivated.

The foundation of Longhu Mountain is still strong; it cannot be compared to those down-and-out households from his past life whose lineage had been broken several times.

Zhang Fajing said indifferently: "Shunji Little Dragon King, Anji Furen, why do you not bow when you see the ceremony of us Two Heavenly Masters?"

Xu Jia also felt satisfied; this questioning tone, full of vigor, truly gave one a psychological climax.

Whenever a Heavenly Master travels, all gods come to pay their respects and report on their duties.

This includes Mountain Gods, Earth Deities, City Gods, River Earls, the Five Direction Dragon Kings, the Four Seasons Duty Officers, the Day and Night Yeyou, and even the Door Gods pasted on the doors, the lions guarding the yamen, the Kitchen Gods on the stove, the Well Gods, and the Toilet Gods, none can be spared.

Because a Heavenly Master acts on behalf of Heaven to proclaim transformation and inspect all gods, representing the majesty of the "Heavenly Emperor"; if there is also an imperial decree, it is acting on behalf of the majesty of both the Heavenly and Human Emperors to patrol the realm.

Of course, these things inevitably have the suspicion of bragging; how could a Heavenly Master of the Desire Realm be so powerful?

Don't say that; it really is true. In a Desire Realm, a Heavenly Master is a grassroots cadre sent down by the Heavenly Court, managing all the indigenous mountain and water deities.

These local deities, don't look at how powerful they are in their own realm, often governing five hundred or eight hundred li, but if they ascended to the Form Realm, they would just be like small fry.

It is just like how a township head can run rampant in their township, but once they get to the county, the province, or even the central government, they are nothing.

Shunji Longwang and Anji Furen were not easy to cross; after all, their divine authority came from the previous Zhang Heavenly Master, so they bowed respectfully, but they were not polite to Xu Jia: "There is no principle of two Heavenly Masters coexisting on Longhu Mountain; where does this talk of two Heavenly Masters come from?"

"This is the personal descent of the Three Heavens, the Lingbao Xu Celestial Master! You wicked beast, with your mortal eyes, cannot see the True Person, yet you dare to be so presumptuous, capturing the strict father of Lingbao Xu Celestial Master! I command you to quickly bring him out in an eight-bearer sedan chair, so as to redeem some of your sins, and you shall be dealt with leniently, without danger to your lives."

Suddenly, the two monsters thought of something, and Shunji Longwang's face turned stiff and pale, saying coldly: "Is this so-called Lingbao Xu Celestial Master the Earth Immortal who made such a great display of power at Yushan? He beheaded my Jin Jiao Bao'er and Yin Jiao Bao'er, and even suppressed my copper flood dragon offspring, who had already cultivated into an Earth Immortal, under a well, never to rise again!"

"What grudge or enmity do you father and son have with our water tribe of the Poyang Dragon Palace?"

"He is merely a scholar; why doesn't he go take the imperial examinations and strive for fame and wealth, instead of pointing at my temple and cursing, desecrating the Altar?"

Hearing this, Xu Jia immediately had a feeling and understood the ins and outs of the matter.

Due to the connection of Cause and Effect, it began with Xu Jia encouraging his old father to cultivate into a Great Worthy and leave a name in history. The internal cause was that Xu Zhiyuan learned of "Dragon Virtue" from Xu Jia, obtained the three essays—"Teacher's Discourse," "Horse Discourse," and "Dragon Discourse"—and established a Confucian Daoist Backbone with the articles of Han Dajia, from which he cultivated Haoran True Qi.

This foundation cannot be said to be very solid, but at least it is a seed with the ability to sprout; as for whether it can grow into a towering tree, that is another matter.

When he arrived at the Laoye Temple in Poyang and asked a couple of questions, his sense of justice erupted.

If one were to say Xu Zhiyuan was "looking for trouble," it was indeed a bit "unfeeling," but he hadn't truly seen the dragon king's sacrifice; after all, he wasn't a local, and he only heard a few words from the boatman before stepping forward, which was indeed a bit irrational... and that boatman was gone, torn apart by a waterspout into a real "bloody storm."

However, this matter did not wrong Shunji Longwang; even if someone was using his name to act with authority, bullying the people, and running rampant in the countryside, he still had to take eighty percent of the blame.

What's more, he had given birth to so many little flood dragons. He himself had experienced a family-extermination tragedy, so even when he was arrogant, he was insidious; but his offspring had not experienced it, and he would not tell them about this humiliating matter, so many little flood dragons were just such arrogant and domineering playboys.

Demanding blood food sacrifices was considered normal; they ate young boys and girls, seized the original yin of virgins, and even transformed into human form to go ashore, where they learned more and brought it back to teach their brothers and sisters—all the good things they couldn't learn, but the bad things didn't need to be taught.

If it weren't for the backing of this Shunji, these little flood dragons wouldn't have the guts to do such things.

Moreover, it was not that he didn't know what the little flood dragons were doing; he knew everything. Why was he so indulgent? Above himself, there were not many.

And below himself, dividing people into different ranks—isn't that normal?

What is wrong with asking you to contribute a few boatloads of livestock? What is wrong with asking you to sacrifice a few young boys and girls? You want me to bless you with favorable weather; isn't it a good deal to trade a few people for millions?

You have taken a huge advantage! You can't handle a little bit of willful exercise of power? You want to rebel against me? Point at my nose and curse? You have such great guts!

Not only did Xu Jia understand the ins and outs, but even Zhang Fajing sensed the surging public opinion.

The common people were all hiding; they also hated, and they also feared.

But they had no ability to resist, nor did they have guns in their hands.

Whoever wins, they help.

If the wicked dragon wins, it is a divine dragon; even if it wants ten times the number of young boys and girls, they will grit their teeth and offer them up.

If the two Heavenly Masters win, it is a wicked dragon, and they will condemn it with words, weep bitterly, and tell of their years of hardship.

If it is a draw and neither can do anything to the other, they will resent both sides, thinking neither is any good, while being caught in a dilemma...

Xu Zhiyuan's cursing of the dragon was just a fuse.

Xu Jia stood out: "Since you have asked with such sincerity, this poor Daoist will tell you with great mercy..."

"This poor Daoist's lineage originates from Xu Xun, the Heavenly Master; I am considered his successor."

"Back then, when the Heavenly Master spared your life, did he make you swear an oath?"

"Did he leave behind any prophecy?"

"He calculated that you would stir up trouble again, and he also calculated that five hundred Earth Immortals would appear at the same time... someone would come to finish what he left unfinished. Guess who this person is?"

Xu Jia opened the mountain gate, and the first batch of disciples he accepted was five hundred people.

Although Xu Jia did not think they would all achieve Earth Immortal status, if he himself achieved "God Immortal" and verified his Yang Spirit, his wisdom would be sufficient to enlighten five hundred Earth Immortals.

Five hundred Earth Immortals—even if each one only established an Earth Immortal Blessed Land the size of a township, that would be five hundred townships, enough to build a Dao Kingdom on earth.

Although he had not yet cultivated into a God Immortal, Xu Jia was still somewhat confident; after all, it was much better than his past life.

Shunji Longwang's thoughts followed Xu Jia's words back to those years, but he quickly sobered up: "Don't be arrogant; your father is in my hands! You and the Heavenly Master, besides sharing the surname Xu, have nothing in common. You are devious and not grand or magnificent; you use only crooked methods. I know everything about the affairs of Jiangnan West Circuit, and I know how you got your start, let alone tell me."

"You built your fortune through intimidation and deception. The monsters you recruited are all village monsters and village freaks that I look down upon. You use them to deceive the ignorant, widows, and widowers; how are you any more noble than me?"

Shunji Longwang sneered: "Do you think you can scare me by holding the name of the Heavenly Master?" Xu Jia was not angry when he heard this: "My father is in your hands; if you have the ability, kill him. He will leave a name in history, and I will find someone to write a biography for him. I will have no more scruples, and you will see if I can cure you to death!"

Zhang Fajing pulled Xu Jia back: "Don't be led around by him. When the Thirty-Sixth Generation Heavenly Master was still young and went down the mountain to train, he was led around by their glib tongues, which is why he agreed to a gamble, pointlessly committed a wrong, and left behind much wicked karma. Let me talk to him."

Zhang Fajing retracted his golden light and said: "Shunji Little Dragon King, the Thirty-Sixth Generation Heavenly Master passed away years ago. Now, on Longhu Mountain, I am the one in charge. I advise you to quickly release the person and apologize; this matter will be settled, otherwise, you will have a lot of suffering."

Shunji Longwang was somewhat wary of Longhu Mountain, but Anji Furen pulled her: "Back then, your Longhu Mountain was unrivaled in prominence, going to the capital to preach to the old emperor, almost making him become a Daoist monk, and even daring to commit the world's great taboo by conferring a Register upon the emperor."

"In the end, didn't the old emperor fail to become an Immortal? A new emperor took the throne, you were replaced by Buddhism, and the previous Heavenly Master passed away. He passed away, but did he ascend? I fear his wicked karma was severe, and he had to undergo Soldier Dissolution, right?" Anji Furen said: "Xiao Tianshi, you are currently only at the Earth Immortal cultivation level; there are many things you cannot interfere in, otherwise, you will inevitably bring disaster to your Longhu Mountain!"

This Zhang Fajing had just advised Xu Jia not to be led around, but now that his family's bottom line had been exposed by the black fish spirit, he was feeling extremely weak and his face turned red with anger: "Monster! Are you worthy of commenting on my Longhu Mountain?"

He immediately said: "Zhao Yuanshuai, Xin General, Deng General, surround Poyang, shoot and kill the wicked flood dragons, and summon thirty thousand Heavenly River Water Troops to block the mouths of all the major rivers entering Poyang, so they cannot escape."

Immediately, several voices were heard: "Orders received!!"

Zhao Yuanshuai is the Protector Marshal of the Zheng Yi Sect Altar of Longhu Mountain, and the two generals Deng and Xin are the personal Guardian Divine Generals of the Heavenly Master, chosen and cultivated since childhood, refined into ministers of his heart and mind. When his thoughts move, they move.

Marshal Zhao is a Ghost God of the God Immortal Realm, while Generals Deng and Xin are Ghost Gods of the Earth Immortal Realm.

Shunji Longwang sneered, "Do you think I fear you? Let us fight today; once I pull your Longhu Mountain down from the Altar and shatter your Golden Body, you will know that my Poyang Dragon Palace is not to be trifled with. As for the Jiangnan West Circuit, or even the entire South, it is not yet certain who has the final say!"

Hearing this, Xu Jia was so angry he laughed instead, saying to Zhang Fajing, "Heavenly Master Zhang, this fellow has lost his mind. To speak such wild words, his heart must be clouded by Tribulation Qi. Today, you and I must perform a Beheading Dragon. But after the Beheading Dragon, there will surely be blood and storms; I fear it will trigger a Great Tribulation, and as the Dragon Qi leaks out, countless common snakes and serpents in the world will benefit."

"It does not matter. One punch to avoid a hundred punches. The thousand-year prestige of my Longhu Mountain must not end in my hands."

"Good!" Xu Jia no longer held back and directly opened an Altar above the clouds.

He asked Zhang Fajing to hold out for half a quarter of an hour, as he needed to unleash a major technique.

Although Xu Jia started out in the heterodox paths, he knew many techniques of great power. He was learned and well-read; even if he was not proficient in the origins of the three teachings, whenever he saw a Divine Ability or spell with great power, he would surely make an effort to memorize it.

Seeing Xu Jia preparing so earnestly, and knowing his own father was being held captive by this evil dragon—and that this was likely not a performance or a feint, but a true major technique—Zhang Fajing took the initiative to agree, taking the front line to provide cover for Xu Jia.

One could see the God Immortal Marshal Zhao, riding a tiger and holding a whip, charging straight toward the Shunji Little Dragon King, who held the Red Pillar Dragon-Suppressing Staff.

The Little Dragon King unleashed the Thirty-Three Heavens Creation Dragon Tower. Suddenly, the Hun Tian Umbrella, the Sky Covering Map, the Sky Supporting Pillar, and various other dragon-heavenly Magic Tools deployed, each held by a puppet refined from the corpse of a senior dragon, forming the Thirty-Three Heavens Dragon God Array to resist the Heavenly Net and Earthly Grid Array laid down by Longhu Mountain, while simultaneously empowering all the aquatic tribes.

The various aquatic Military Officials and troops, empowered by the array, saw their forms swell, almost manifesting a Dragon Phase; turtles and soft-shelled turtles became dragon-turtles and dragon-soft-shelled turtles, yellow eels became yellow dragon-eels, loaches became dragon-loaches, shrimp became dragon-shrimp, crabs became dragon-crabs, and even water insects and the like were transformed into dragons.

This dragon-transformation was a temporary, explosive mutation that consumed essence, blood, and spirituality; those who survived the battle would surely die shortly after, with nine out of ten being short-lived.

However, at this moment, their eyes were red, and they charged forward with their weapons.

Xu Jia's own troops—the Longhu water forces, the Huangtian Sect Altar troops, or the wading-spirits and Buyu-spirits—could not really hold their own; most of the fighting and killing still relied on the regular troops of Longhu Mountain.

Only the great general Yu Yaosheng continuously employed the Taiping Qingling Teaching Technique to amplify the troops, merging them into great Ghost God giants, which accounted for some of the combat power.

Otherwise, there was Ao Jin acting as support, providing buffs to Yuan Jiangjun as he fought wildly with his twin melon hammers, providing replenishment of Water Virtue Dharma Power, healing injuries, and boosting stamina.

Yuan Jiangjun was, after all, at the Earth Immortal level. After hammering several shrimp soldiers and crab generals to death, a small Flood Dragon came to meet him. This Flood Dragon had a slender body; it was born of the Shunji Little Dragon King and a water snake. It had a snake's head and a dragon's body, no horns, four feet, and three claws—a "Chi Dragon" appearance.

This small Chi Dragon had refined a treasure: the Snow Crystal Treasure Bottle, refined from frost and snow.

Turtles and soft-shelled turtles have a habit of "hibernating." As soon as it got close, ice shards spread over the water. Yuan Jiangjun felt the biting cold, and the Chi Dragon held a three-pronged fork, thrusting it straight at him. If it hit, there would be three more bloody holes.

"This evil Flood Dragon, you are a water creature yourself, why use a fish fork as a weapon?" Yuan Jiangjun was furious. He channeled his blood energy to resist the frost and low temperature. Coupled with a burst of warm spring-like Water Virtue provided by Ao Jin, he no longer felt his movements restricted. He parried the steel fork and simultaneously turned, exposing his turtle back—a fine piece of plate-armor spiritual shell, hard and sturdy; even if struck by the steel fork, it was difficult to pierce.

As for Zhang Fajing, he retracted his golden glow, turning it into a Golden Rosy-Cloud Robe refined by Divine Ability, with a Golden Rosy-Cloud Crown on his head. Holding the Three-Five Evil-Slaying Male and Female Swords, he began to fight the thousand-year-old demoness, Lady Shunji, in the Cloud Void.

This old demoness was, after all, in the God Immortal Realm and suppressed Zhang Fajing, but it was difficult to break his golden light robe. At the same time, her sharp eyes saw Xu Jia setting up an Altar in the Cloud Void, borrowing power from above.

She shouted loudly, "Whoever goes up to the cloud head first and kills that Daoist will be rewarded with the method to advance to God Immortal!"

Shunji Longwang and she were both unable to spare their hands; only the remaining Earth Immortal small Flood Dragons could spare theirs.

Four of them were entangled by Generals Deng and Xin, and one was entangled by the combined efforts of Yuan Jiangjun and Ao Jin.

There were two remaining Earth Immortal small Flood Dragons. They had originally intended to assist the Dragon Palace Daoist soldiers to avoid being slaughtered, but upon hearing the reward, they could no longer care. Wrapping themselves in a water tornado, they flew up into the sky, heading straight for the clouds.

Xu Jia had already set up the Altar technique. Seeing the two Earth Immortal Flood Dragons coming, he released the Golden Flood Dragon Sword and the Silver Flood Dragon Sword.

The two swords were also refined from Flood Dragons. At this moment, they reverted to the form of Flood Dragons. Although their bodies were small and nimble, they were of gold and silver bodies, refined into swords; their fangs and claws were all transformed from sword blades.

If the two swords fought alone, that would be one thing, but they possessed a "combination" ability, allowing them to transform into a double-helix form, shredding any enemy.

At the time, Fenglei Daoren was also an Earth Immortal, and he did not dare to test the swords.

These two Flood Dragons were blinded by greed. One charged up first, and only a flash of golden light was seen; the next moment, it was severed into two pieces.

The upper body was still charging forward, while the lower body fell from the cloud head, landing in the water and splashing up a spray.

"What a sharp sword!"

Everyone at this moment became wary of these two swords.

If it were the God Immortal Realm, Xu Jia could not behead them, but since you are an Earth Immortal like me, and I am a direct descendant of the Spirit Treasure, what kind of mongrel wild Flood Dragon are you to dare test the sharpness of my precious swords? The Flood Dragon did not yet feel pain and came charging up, howling. When it felt the surrounding air go silent for an instant and looked back to see its brother had not followed, it became annoyed, and only then did it see its own body severed in half.

Blood flowed out like a fountain, and only then did the pain arrive. It screamed.

The next moment, the Golden Flood Dragon Sword blocked across its mouth, splitting it into two pieces from the upper jaw down the chin.

It could no longer scream, falling from the cloud head and crashing into the water.

It was dead beyond doubt, and even its Soul was shredded by the fierce power of the Golden Flood Dragon Sword, increasing the baleful and fierce Qi of this treasure.

The Silver Flood Dragon Sword was dissatisfied: Big brother, why didn't you leave any for me! (End of chapter)