[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-970":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290268,4477,"Chapter 970: Proficient in Business","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-970",970,"\u003Cp>Four floating airships lined up in the sky, slowly approaching the border of Ji State. In the last airship, Zhang Sheng, seated in meditation, slowly opened his eyes and rose to his full height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The airship formation was slowing down; ahead, four young noblemen in brocade robes stood in a line, blocking the fleet’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Fa Xiang cultivators flew out from the airship, clasped hands in greeting, and spoke calmly: “We are the transport fleet of the Qingyang Military Governor of Great Tang. May we know your names and origins, and why you block our fleet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One nobleman opened his folding fan and waved it lightly. “We are the Four Young Lords of Jiangnan. I’m sure you’ve heard of our names.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Qingming Fa Xiang cultivators frowned. They had never heard of any “Four Young Lords,” nor did they know where Jiangnan was. Yet these four men were extremely young, yet all possessed Fa Xiang cultivation, and their qi signatures were highly unusual—clearly of high status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not knowing their identities, the two Qingming Fa Xiang cultivators still asked politely: “Then why do you block our path?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One purple-robed nobleman said: “Your airships are intriguing. Since you’ve reached Ji State’s border, as subjects of Ji State, we must share its burdens and cannot allow suspicious individuals to move freely. We must inspect your personnel and cargo to check for ties to the rebels. If nothing is found, you may leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Qingming Fa Xiang cultivators’ faces darkened. “We warn you four once: while there’s still time, return whence you came. We’ll overlook your blocking our fleet. Otherwise—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four noblemen laughed bitterly with rage. “Otherwise what? Do you know who we are? This gentleman here is Brother Meng of the Long Duke Mansion! How dare you speak so boldly before Brother Meng on Ji State’s soil? You’re utterly ignorant of heaven’s height and earth’s depth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another nobleman said: “We knew someone would take advantage of the nation’s crisis to sneak through the mountain folk’s lands for illicit purposes! If I’m not mistaken, these airships carry supplies destined for the rebels!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Meng nobleman added: “My second grandfather is on the frontlines destroying enemies—we too must serve our state! Today, if you surrender your airships, bind yourselves, and kneel to await judgment, you may receive leniency. Otherwise—how my second grandfather executes rebels, we shall execute you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Meng is too merciful—still offering these people a way out… uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue-robed nobleman suddenly forgot the rest of his sentence, staring fixedly ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the two Qingming Fa Xiang cultivators, Zhang Sheng appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair was unbound, flowing freely down her back; her usual disguise flickered unpredictably. Leaning on the railing, she stood tall, her qi fluctuating wildly, yet her eyes burned like morning stars. Wounds from the last battle had not fully healed; her breath carried a deep, lingering resonance, while a sharp sword intent gathered around her, her skin pale as snow, her aura cool as frost-kissed jade. When she occasionally lifted her gaze, a glimpse of her true face emerged—unrivaled, disdainful of all under heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four noblemen’s breaths and heartbeats halted, as if a celestial being had plucked away this single moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All four noblemen were at late-stage Fa Xiang; together, their strength was formidable. Their bodies had already screamed warnings, filling them with dread—but their primordial spirits refused to retreat. Each stole glances or cast sidelong glances, none daring to look directly at Zhang Sheng, none willing to tear their eyes away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng seemed lost in thought. Above her head appeared a young Daoist priest. He reached out casually; a rusted sword flew from the Sword Tomb and shot toward the nobleman with the highest cultivation among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Meng nobleman, still dazed, finally snapped back to reality at the brink of death. Sensing the sword’s power with his spiritual sense, his soul nearly fled his body. He screamed and turned to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could a cultivator outrun a flying sword? As the sword rapidly closed the distance, the other three noblemen turned deathly pale—none dared move to rescue him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Meng nobleman, seeing this, roared in fury: “After today, I’ll sever ties with all three of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shot upward into the sky, where an elderly man with a stern face appeared. He let out a thunderous snort: “How dare you! You dare harm someone from our Duke Mansion!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive hand reached out to snatch the flying sword. Yet the instant the hand neared the blade, the young Daoist priest’s eyes flickered open—the sword accelerated instantly, piercing through the Meng nobleman’s back and exiting his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Meng nobleman’s face twisted in shock. He looked down at the wound in his chest, then tumbled from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man was first stunned, then enraged, then consumed by furious shame. He hurled a golden plate straight at Zhang Sheng’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden plate grew larger by the second, swelling to palace size—not only engulfing Zhang Sheng, but covering the entire fleet beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man was newly entered into Yu Jing, yet his offensive techniques were formidable, his perception sharp. He had instantly seen through Zhang Sheng’s weakness: though her offensive power was overwhelming, her defense was frail—her injury left her aura fractured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng had only just completed the Fa Xiang Nourishing Spirit realm; her physical body and total spiritual power were average. Yet her killing techniques were earth-shattering, inconceivable; her Dao heart was flawless, invulnerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the mountain-like golden plate, another elder Daoist appeared above Zhang Sheng’s head. In his hands, black and white qi spun. The golden plate suddenly lost its direction, veered upward, and shot straight into the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man gasped, frantically pulling the plate back—else it might truly vanish into the outer void.\u003C\u002Fp>",968,"2026-06-20T03:38:38.899Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b43ec927fc6210f4877e599bf0119176f65c625723bae2b41f14d23ea723b57d","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-971","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-969",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]