Chapter 272

The intelligence obtained from the Sound-Recording Talisman Bureau is random and chaotic; finding a single piece of information valuable to him is truly like panning for gold in sand.

But one piece is worth all the previous effort.

"The incense offerings of the Dao Bureau, even if not as many as Old Dragon Head's, surely aren't that few, are they?"

Li Li Yuanzhong muttered to himself, recalling the intelligence regarding incense offerings.

Regarding incense offerings, Longhu Temple also kept it secret, but he had come into contact with some of it, more or less.

The imperial court enfeoffs various gods, builds temples to widely receive incense offerings from the world, from the Dao down to the counties, layer by layer without omission, present everywhere; local government office and Town Martial Halls are responsible for harvesting the incense offerings.

Compared to tax revenue, incense offerings are the imperial court's true exclusive possession, not allowing any sect to lay a finger on them; he had seen some records of this in the Library Tower.

This seems to date back at least to Great Yun's founding emperor, Pang Pang Wenlong; when he enfeoffed the various sects, this was one of the rules.

'Those who unauthorizedly establish temples to receive incense offerings shall have their fiefdoms seized and their lineages cut off.'

This rule is not displayed outwardly, but for over a thousand years, no sect has dared to defy it; even as powerful as Longhu Temple, the temple enshrining their founding ancestor is confined within the sect itself.

It is just that establishing temples is a taboo, but secretly snatching incense offerings is not; although Li Li Yuanzhong has not heard of similar rumors, he estimates it is not rare.

"Those daring to act against the Dao Bureau are likely not easy to deal with."

Li Li Yuanzhong felt some concern in his heart, yet was also quite tempted.

He truly lacks incense offerings; whether it is the Army-Commanding Talisman or the Sound-Recording Talisman, both require it.

The incense offerings harvested by the Dao Bureau once every three years, if truly obtained, would be enough to solve his immediate crisis.

"Black eating black, just thinking about it is thrilling... Hmm, play it safe, wait until I fuse the next Divine Hammer; if I can master and control the Sea-Splitting Profound Whale Hammer, that would be even safer, right?"

Li Li Yuanzhong had made his calculation in his heart.

Incense offerings are indeed important, but one cannot forget the danger due to greed; caution is never a big mistake.

With the Army-Commanding Talisman in hand, and a Grandmaster as a teacher, following the proper steps to forge iron and practice Wu Gong, at least before the blood exchange, he estimates he has no bottlenecks; why take risks?

"Normally, the Dao Bureau harvests incense offerings at least around the year-end, there is still time... These few days, I might as well listen a few times; what if there is more detailed intelligence?"

"As for the spiritual herbs and such mentioned in those other pieces of intelligence, I can go look for them too..."

Having made up his mind, Li Li Yuanzhong put away the 'Sound-Listening Ledger', swallowed a Jin Shendan, and pushed the door open to step out.

The moon was bright and the stars sparse; the courtyard was illuminated.

Li Li Yuanzhong looked up; there were hardly a few clouds in the night sky:

"Still no thunder."

Getting started with Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound is not difficult; at least with his current talent, this special Zhong Cheng Wu Gong, if conditions are met, not to say half a year, surely within a year he can practice it to Great Perfection.

The problem is, the conditions cannot be met.

Mount Hengshan's Dao does not lack rain, but throughout the year, thirty or fifty rains are already the maximum; thunder is heard only a few times; no matter how good the talent, one cannot perceive the Thunder Form out of thin air.

"Winter has little thunder; even if there is any, it is only a few peals; perhaps it will have to wait until spring next year."

Li Li Yuanzhong felt slightly helpless, but more so, expectant.

His cultivation of Hundred Beasts Thunder Dragon has never been put aside; although limited by not yet forming the Thunder Form and thus unable to reach Minor Perfection for a long time, other aspects have not been delayed.

Now, he embodies fifty Forms, more than half of which can be transformed into the Thunder Dragon; once he perceives the Thunder Form, Hundred Beasts Thunder Dragon will surely advance by leaps and bounds, chasing right after Old Han.

After all, the various Forms he modified later were all preparation for Hundred Beasts Thunder Dragon.

"Hoo!"

In the courtyard, Li Li Yuanzhong pondered for a moment; the medicinal power of the Jin Shendan had already spread, violent and surging, making him unable to help but let out a stifled groan.

"Dragon Zen, Hun Tian!"

Li Li Yuanzhong stood in a stance holding the hammer, controlling the two Divine Hammers, shifting his body within the small courtyard; the two supreme arts-level stance techniques flowed and transformed upon him.

With the enhancement of the two Divine Hammers, his hammer technique talent was already of peerless grade; although the enhancement for Dragon Zen Diamond Sutra was not great, the progress of Longhu Hun Tian Hammer was very fast.

Under the enhancement of the other several weapons whose control effects were 'Longhu Hun Tian Hammer Great Perfection' and 'Perfection', in just over ten days, this supreme art was actually about to reach Great Perfection.

If not for this progress, he would not have been able to borrow the Angry Sunny Chicken Egg from Long Xi Xiang so easily before.

Hoo-hoo~

The long hammer danced; when it went out, it was like thunder; when it fell, the sound was faint.

"Sound itself reflects many things: power, angle, fluency and transformation..."

Li Li Yuanzhong half-closed his eyes and immediately felt the difference.

The sound of the swinging hammer, the sound of air surging, the sound of bones and muscles rubbing, the sound of blood surging, the sound of internal Qi circulating... all sounds originating from him entered his ears, filling his heart.

Sounds that were commonplace in the past became incredibly vivid and lively at this moment.

With this, he could keenly detect slight errors in his hammer technique and body; corresponding to them, under fine adjustments, his hammer technique and movements became more and more perfect and natural.

Compared to practicing in the past, it added three-tenths of progress!

"This is an unexpected joy."

Li Li Yuanzhong's heart was calm; the violent disturbance of the Jin Shendan's medicinal power did not seem painful; he was immersed in practicing.

Gradually, he forgot both the object and himself.

Before nightfall, a carriage descended from Dragon Chant Peak, passed through the barrier between the inner and outer sects, and entered Mount Hengshan City.

"Master, your injuries are this severe; is there anything the disciple cannot serve you with, that you must descend the mountain yourself?"

Inside the carriage, a female disciple with a delicate and clear face was full of worry.

Amidst the strong scent of medicine, Chu Shan Xuan Kong sat cross-legged; a trace of blood color flashed across his aged face as he opened his eyes:

"The mountain is cold and unsuitable for recovering from injuries; the city is more convenient."

His voice was not loud, very weak.

"Disciple..."

"If you wish to return to the mountain, then simply return."

Chu Shan Xuan Kong glanced at her lightly; the latter's face turned deathly pale, and she immediately prostrated herself on the ground: "This disciple never meant such a thing."

"Go down."

Chu Shan Xuan Kong waved his hand, his face full of exhaustion.

That female disciple kowtowed several loud times before stumbling out of the carriage.

"When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter."

Chu Shan Xuan Kong tugged at the corner of his mouth, smiling in self-mockery.

A Grandmaster who has achieved the Great Perfection of Blood Exchange is known in the Jianghu as the Dragon Gate; cross it, and the sky is high and the sea vast, becoming a hegemon for an age; fail to cross, and naturally, one's head will be broken and blood spilled, leaving one in deep sorrow.

"I am only one hair's breadth away, only one hair's breadth away..."

Taking a deep breath, Chu Shan Xuan Kong's expression changed, and unwillingness surged in his eyes.

To break through to Grandmaster, he had made various preparations and considered himself fifty percent certain; in fact, he had almost reached the very end, but alas, after his blood soul and divine soul merged, his divine soul could not leave his body, and he fell right before the gate.

"Give me one more chance, and this gate will surely open!"

Exhaling a mouthful of turbid air, Chu Shan Xuan Kong's gaze tightened slightly as the carriage stopped before the mountain gate.

"Is Senior Brother Chu going down the mountain?"

The carriage curtain was lifted; before the carriage stood a man in white robes embroidered with cloud patterns and bamboo pines, holding a sword and standing, looking lightly at the pale-faced Chu Shan Xuan Kong inside the carriage.

Once a disciple of the Longhu Temple becomes a True Disciple, apart from their own master's lineage, whether they are a Helmsman or a Deputy Hall Master, they may address each other as senior and junior brothers.

Even if Chu Shan Xuan Kong was sixty years older than him.

"So it is Junior Brother Xin."

Chu Shan Xuan Kong coughed lightly: "Where I, an old man, am going does not require me to report to you, does it?"

"Nowhere, nowhere."

Xin Xin Wenhua shook his head: "I am merely curious why Senior Brother Chu, with injuries so severe, would still personally go down the mountain."

"Just some private matters."

Chu Shan Xuan Kong was very weak, yet his voice was sharp: "Does Junior Brother Xin suspect me? If so, why not travel with this old man?"

After all, he was a Zhun Grandmaster, mere inches from the Grandmaster gate; he narrowed his eyes slightly, and even Xin Xin Wenhua felt some pressure.

But it was only for an instant; he smiled and agreed:

"Although I have some trivial matters, since Senior Brother Chu has invited me, this junior brother naturally dares not refuse."

"You?"

Chu Shan Xuan Kong was slightly angry.

Xin Xin Wenhua climbed into the carriage on his own accord and ordered the stunned carriage driver:

"Are you not leaving yet?"

"Oh, oh."

That disciple drove the carriage in a state of panic and confusion.

Inside the carriage, Chu Shan Xuan Kong had already closed his eyes; Xin Xin Wenhua paid no heed to his cold glare, simply taking out a stalk of spiritual incense on his own, lighting it, and dispersing the medicinal smell within the carriage.

"..."

Chu Shan Xuan Kong kept a cold face with his eyes closed, pretending he did not exist.

Xin Xin Wenhua did not mind and asked:

"This junior brother dares to ask a question: Senior Brother Chu, you have neither taken a wife nor a concubine, and have no children or descendants below you; I wonder what private matter you must attend to?"

Swish!

Chu Shan Xuan Kong opened his eyes, yet he was not angry, simply letting out a long sigh:

"Junior Brother Xin, we have no old grudges and no recent grievances; even when you previously hosted the banquet for Li Yuan, I did you the favor of selling you face, and since then, there has been no further targeting or disturbance..."

"Now, I am severely injured and my life is near its end; is this how you repay me?"

"Senior Brother Chu speaks these words as if Junior Brother were bullying you."

Xin Xin Wenhua was stunned; he could not take this blame, for if it got out, he would be in trouble, so he could only make it clear:

"A few days ago, someone privately entrusted someone to deliver a letter to you; do you, Senior Brother Chu, remember the content of that letter?"

"What letter?"

Chu Shan Xuan Kong was slightly stunned.

Xin Xin Wenhua was somewhat suspicious: "You do not know?"

"Junior Brother Xin, if you have something to say, speak plainly."

Xin Xin Wenhua looked at him deeply: "If my guess is correct, that letter should be from the Xieshen Sect!"

"Xieshen Sect?"

Chu Shan Xuan Kong's pupils contracted, and immediately his face turned ugly:

"Is Junior Brother afraid that I will betray the Sect?"

"Senior Brother Chu, you are also the Deputy Hall Master of the Dragon Chant Hall; I assume you have heard of those matters; this is a sect rule, not that Junior Brother intends to make things difficult."

Xin Xin Wenhua sighed in his heart.

When a sect elder is severely injured, they must still be strictly guarded; this is truly inhumane and appears cold and ruthless.

Yet behind every rule that seems unreasonable lies a history of blood and tears.

Not only the Longhu Temple, but the Wudadao Sect, and even various Zhou Sects, and some Fu Sects have similar rules.

For no other reason; there have been too many examples.

Especially the Longhu Temple; they suffered a great loss, as the previous Lord of the Dragon Gate betrayed the Sect and joined the Xieshen Sect, once becoming a laughingstock among the Dao Sects!

"With the methods of the Xieshen Sect, is it difficult to deliver a letter silently and without a trace?"

Chu Shan Xuan Kong coughed several times, his emotions agitated: "How could this old man collude with the Xieshen Sect?"

"The rules are thus; Senior Brother should understand."

Xin Xin Wenhua felt somewhat helpless as well; for his own part, he truly did not wish to do such a thing, for it would indeed wound the brotherhood of the same sect.

Yet he also knew clearly that great terror lies between life and death; rather than testing the human heart, it is better to sever temptation, otherwise, he would not have appeared.

"This old man understands."

Chu Shan Xuan Kong let out a long sigh, seeming to age several decades in an instant; he waved his hand and called out to the disciple driving the carriage:

"Return to the mountain."

Was the intelligence wrong?

Seeing his appearance, Xin Xin Wenhua grew somewhat suspicious, while Chu Shan Xuan Kong spoke no more until they returned to the Longhu Longhu Dandan Hall.

"Could it be that people of the Xieshen Sect are sowing discord?"

Outside the courtyard, Xin Xin Wenhua remained doubtful, but since they had returned to the inner sect, after pausing for a moment, he departed.

"He has left..."

Inside the courtyard, Chu Shan Xuan Kong never dismounted; he sat cross-legged in meditation until the night grew deep and no people remained nearby, only then extending a hand to press down.

With a 'Crack!', the carriage bottom split open; he reached down and fished out a dark-red token from beneath:

"Thousand Spirit Soul-Salvation Stele!"

Under the faint red glow, Chu Shan Xuan Kong's face flickered uncertainly; he had seen similar tokens many years ago, at which time he had not even looked, but now...

"Only a hair's breadth remains; if I stop here, even if I die, I will not be content."

Chu Shan Xuan Kong murmured within his heart, yet remained somewhat undecided.

After hesitating for a moment, he still took several copper coins from his sleeve, deciding first to divine a hexagram for himself, but then put them away.

"Since the heart has already made a decision, why divine?"

With this thought, Chu Shan Xuan Kong crushed this 'Thousand Spirit Soul-Salvation Stele' used by the Xieshen Sect to summon experts from various sects.

Hum~

A flash of red light vanished into his body.

Chu Shan Xuan Kong felt a thunderous roar resound through his mind; in a trance, he seemed to see blood-red light interwoven, and in the dim shadows, a terrifying existence with a thousand eyes appeared to be gazing at him.

"Worship it as a god, and you may gain a hundred years of life!"

Chu Shan Xuan Kong gained sudden enlightenment in his heart and felt the will of this deity:

"Seek... it is just... the Split-Sea Black Whale Hammer!"

The Longhu Longhu Dandan Temple has many rules; for inner and outer sect disciples and menial disciples, there is a small assessment once a year; for all sect disciples, there is a grand assessment once every three years.

On this day, the wind and snow were heavy; Li Yuan rose early, casually mumbled a mouthful, and quickly walked toward the Dragon Gate Main Peak.

The Pure Yang Peak belongs to the Hun Tian Rudder, which belongs to the Great Dragon Gate; assessments for newly entered disciples all take place at the Dragon Gate Main Peak.

"The Pure Yang Peak disciple assessment is based on the total number of weapons forged in a year; naturally, I have exceeded the requirement."

Li Yuan took this assessment very seriously.

It was not that the assessment itself was so important, but that after the assessment, even in the second year of entry, the quotas for spirit pills and spirit rice previously used would be reset.

"Dragon List forty; each year one may purchase four spirit pills and fourteen hundred jin of spirit rice; the higher the rank, the better the treatment indeed, but unfortunately, I did not enter the top thirty."

In the wind and snow, new disciples from the Dragon Gate's various halls and rudders surged toward the Dragon Gate Main Peak; Li Yuan's pace was naturally very fast; he passed a Dragon Stele and glanced up.

"Li Yuan, Dragon List thirty-ninth, Meridian Opening."

"Reaching forty, climbing higher is not easy."

Li Yuan scanned the Dragon Stele rankings.

In these ten-plus days, he had forged another meridian; the Longhu Hun Tian Hammer had also reached great mastery, and the Long Chan Vajra Sutra had also achieved some accomplishment.

The progress was considerable, yet he had only barely climbed into the fortieth place.