Chapter Thirty-Three: Speaking of Dragons

  Moreover, it is now the time when the hidden dragon of Wu State appears. Master carefully investigated the roots and found some clues that vaguely point to the south. This matter concerns our sect's vital energy, and Master originally wanted to go in person to investigate, alas...

  Wu State is in the south, which is Wen Chang, bordering several prefectures along the river. Qing Xū's tone was still the same as before, but his voice had lowered somewhat, after all, Da Qian still had more than 20 years of national fortune, and discussing this matter at this time was tantamount to treason.

  "Hiss......" This matter is serious, even Yu Heng, who has been cultivating since childhood, was unstable for a moment, but afterwards, he regained his composure and asked: "Master... please tell me in detail! Let the disciple know some basics, so as not to offend any taboos."

  "You are the core of my sect, and with the chaotic era approaching, I wanted to tell you this all along!" Qingxu said with a smile, as if the entire hall was filled with joy, calming down Yu Heng's somewhat flustered heart.

  "For over two hundred years since the founding of our great nation, although each emperor has worked diligently to govern, alas, the grand mansion is on the verge of collapse and cannot be avoided. This is heaven's will, not something that human power can reverse. The chaotic world twenty years later was destined to happen, and when it does, countless lives will be lost, with barely one in a hundred surviving. Alas! What sin have the common people committed?" Qingxu said this, his face involuntarily showing a sorrowful expression.

  "The Great Dry True Dragon cannot suppress the world, and the dragon energy of each state naturally stirs and wants to move. At this time, there will be hidden dragons emerging, competing for dominance in the world, each relying on their heavenly fate."

  "I'm a Taoist, like going to assist the hidden dragon, supporting the dragon court, letting the world settle down early, avoiding slaughter, naturally having great merit and auspiciousness. At this time, each state has dragon energy descending. I was assigned to Wu State, so I can only find Wu Long to assist." Qingxu Daoist's voice is light, but what he says is mysterious.

  "This... " Yu Heng thought for a moment, saying: "Why must we assist the Hidden Dragon? Our Daoist sect seeks longevity and eternal vision, carefree clouds and wild cranes, avoiding the world and roaming freely. Why not seal the mountain gate and quietly wait for the great calamity to pass?"

  "Alas! Foolish child! Can the great calamity be avoided just because you want to? At that time, if you don't kill people, others will come to kill you. If other scattered cultivators and small sects assist Wu Long, taking advantage of the opportunity to expand their power, with the dragon's aura sweeping horizontally, I fear we will be the ones who will be exterminated!" Qing Xu sighed bitterly.

  This Wu state, although the White Cloud Temple is dominant, there are still some small schools and scattered cultivators who want to overthrow the White Cloud Temple and take its place.

  Yu Heng's face turned pale with cold sweat, and he trembled as he asked: "Is the dragon's aura so formidable? My sect has the White Cloud Sword to suppress the aura, and we also have two true immortals..."

  "Not relying on the national master, how can we accomplish the law? The hidden dragon's body resides in the hopes of millions of people, with great momentum and great opportunities. Those who assist the hidden dragon also receive the favor of the dragon's law, with the virtues of good fortune descending upon them, their path advancing rapidly, although they are connected to the fate of death, even ghosts and immortals cannot be achieved, but for a time, the energy is strong, it's as if heaven and earth are working together, we have the ultimate treasure, but I'm afraid..."

  These words struck Yu Heng's heart, and it sank directly downwards. However, the clear and void voice continued to transmit: "Moreover, do you think that our greatest enemy is those scattered cultivators?"

  Without waiting for Yu Heng to respond, he said: "Do you know why the Tai Shang Dao of the North spans three states and has a majestic momentum? It was during the last Dragon Contest that it assisted Da Qian's ancestor in sweeping away the two major sects with dragon energy, destroying their Taoist traditions and seizing their most precious treasures!"

  Yu Heng was shocked, and the reputation of the Northern Land's Taishang Dao naturally spread like thunder in his ears. He didn't expect the reason to be this.

  "In the end, Qing Xū concluded: 'So, this dragon dispute is inevitable and unavoidable. We can only take sides and not avoid killing each other!' His voice was as cold as ice, carrying a murderous aura."

  Yu Heng was stunned for a moment, then knelt down with a loud thud, saying: "This matter is of great importance, and the disciple must exhaust his heart and soul to carefully investigate and gather information. He will not lightly make enemies or leave behind karma!"

  "Good! Very good!" Seeing his disciple had gained some understanding, Qingxu was delighted.

  "Remember, although this matter of the land god is not likely to be related to the hidden dragon, you can't take it lightly. Your divination has obtained the true transmission, and your spiritual eyes are open, able to see the aura. This time, prioritize gathering information, if you obtain anything, report back to me immediately. When Qinghe Shifu returns to take over, I will come out of the mountain myself!" The words fell like jade beads in a plate, carrying a resolute determination.

  Yu Heng nodded solemnly and accepted the order, then retreated.

  Fang Ming did not know what had happened at Baiyun Temple at this time.

  At this time, he was listening to the report of his subordinate.

  "What? Someone has injured the patrolling yinbing?" Fang Ming had sent out yinbing to patrol Qingxi Village every day, driving away evil spirits. Unexpectedly, a ghost had actually injured a yinbing. Could it be that a fierce ghost had appeared?

  "But what about the vengeful spirit? How did Xie Jin arrange for that?"

  The yin soldier who came to report bowed his head and replied, "This morning, Er Huo's brother was patrolling Yuanhe Village when he encountered a wandering soul. A dispute arose, and the wandering soul attacked, injuring the yin soldier. Xie Huo Chang has gone to handle the situation, but..."

  "What's there to hesitate about? Speak!"

  "It was just a wounded ghost of the vanguard, it's a woman!" The vanguard gritted his teeth and still said it, after all, being injured by a woman in ancient times is a great loss of face. They were all comrades-in-arms, so they naturally wanted to help cover it up, but when the master asked, they had to say it even if it was embarrassing.

  "Oh! It's actually interesting!" Female vengeful spirits, of course, also exist. Those who can wound the yin soldiers are either skilled in martial arts when they were alive or have absorbed human energy after death to become malevolent ghosts. For women, it is even more difficult to break through their own moral boundaries and kill people, but it's not impossible, just extremely rare.

  At this time, he became interested and said: "You go tell Xie Jin to take down that ghost and bring it here, listen for instructions!"

  The dark troops received their orders and left.

  As for whether Xie Jin can take down that ghost, Fang Ming is not worried at all. Xie Jin was able to match up with the fierce ghost Peng Chun before, and now he has accumulated divine power after being a yin soldier for a long time, and his subordinates are more numerous than before. If he still can't take it down, unless that woman is an evil spirit cultivator.

  Before long, Fang Ming heard the report: "Subordinate Xie Jin, bringing the ghost prisoner to come and report!" He couldn't help but smile slightly.

  Upon arriving at the grand hall, he saw a woman kneeling below the hall. Xie Jin seemed uneasy and personally stood guard beside her, looking very cautious. Knowing that his lord was powerful and wise, he naturally didn't fear this female offender, but as someone under him, he couldn't let this woman disturb his lord.

  It seems this woman's martial arts skills are quite high! Fang Ming smiled and activated his divine sense to take a look, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

  In Fang Ming's view of his prophetic vision, the girl had a white aura on her head with a hint of red, which could only be said to be slightly stronger than an ordinary person, but her luck was vastly different.

  White gas turns into water waves, spreading throughout the body, presenting a wavy shape, faintly tinged with red, resisting the attached gray spots, this is the air transport form of the alchemist.

  This girl used to be a female Qi cultivator, now she should be called a ghost cultivator.

  His heart skipped a beat, but he didn't say much. He sat up straight and said, "Who's down there? Report your name!" For an instant, he had the air of the county magistrate from his past life possessing him. He restrained himself again and swallowed back the words "What grievances do you have?"

  "Miss Gu Xiolan, unintentionally offended the lord's subordinate, I hope the lord will forgive and tolerate!" In Gu Xiolan's view, this lord had a red and white glow flashing on his body, vaguely forming a full moon shape, with an aura that pinned her to the ground, unable to move even slightly. Her heart was greatly frightened, knowing she was in trouble, and listened obediently.

  "Oh? Gu Xiaolian, lift your head up and tell me honestly who you are, why you died!"

  Gu Xiao Lian raised her head, this young woman was dressed up, apparently already a married woman. However, with peach-like cheeks and willow-like eyes, double pupils like scissors cutting water, slightly turning autumn waves, her body had a charming bone structure, and also had the aura of reading books and cultivating Taoism, which gave off an ethereal and otherworldly intention. The two auras mixed together without conflicting, forming a unique temperament.

  "I am a native of Sanhe County, and I was married into the Li family, a prominent household in the county, when I was young. My husband is fond of mysticism and likes to practice Taoism, so he has collected many Taoist books and devoted himself to cultivation. I have also learned some Taoist skills by following him."

  "More than ten days ago, my husband was admiring the moon with me when he suddenly turned pale and exclaimed: 'The heavens are sending a killing machine, the earth is producing a hidden dragon, I must find it, to spread our Taoist teachings.' From then on, he became like a madman, day and night calculating in the house, gradually becoming emaciated, even vomiting blood, making me worry endlessly."

  "One day, my husband suddenly shouted: 'In the south...' and then dark clouds covered the sun, thunder struck down, breaking through the roof, splitting my husband in two, the house collapsed, burying me underneath, and I died...". As she spoke, the young woman's voice trembled with sobs, and Xie Jin felt a pang of sympathy in his heart.

  "I have seen the method of ghost cultivation in ancient books, and I remember the way to cultivate it. After becoming a ghost, using this method can preserve one's physical form, but no matter what, I couldn't find my husband's soul. His cultivation is far deeper than mine, he should be able to become a ghost cultivator..."

  "The county's laws are strict, almost erasing my soul, I could only barely escape from the county. As a ghost cultivator, I need yin energy resources, so I was wandering around searching for them. Unexpectedly, I came here and offended you, sir, please forgive me!"

  Gu Xiolian finished speaking and bowed deeply.

  This woman's origin is strange, making Fang Ming deeply sigh.

  Sanhe County is also a neighboring county of Anchang, and unexpectedly lives a great repair.

  Unfortunately, the Xian Tao cultivation has many taboos, and it is all passed down through oral tradition from master to apprentice, without being written down. That Li person was able to obtain the true teachings of the Daoist sect, cultivate deeply, observe the overall situation in the world, and calculate the hidden dragon. Such talent can be called a true descendant of the Daoist sect, and is viewed as a treasure by various major Daoist schools.

  But such a heaven-defying, taboo matter was directly calculated, and no measures were taken to ward off evil spirits. He was actually struck dead by heavenly punishment, his soul scattered, and his misfortune extended to his wife and children, leaving Fang Ming speechless.

  However, the heavens have sent a fatal omen, should the hidden dragon emerge? On the contrary, it has given me an idea, Nan. Which Nan, is it south of Wu State or the southernmost part of the world? Or perhaps some place with the word "Nan" in its name?

  It's a bit overwhelming for now, so I won't bother with it and just put it aside for the time being.

  "Gu's family, you have violated my laws and regulations, but the ignorant are not guilty. This time, I will spare your life, but from now on, be careful with your actions and do not commit any more offenses!" Fang Ming's tone turned gentle, with an intention to win him over.

  Although this Taoist nun's skills are far inferior to those of her late husband, he has already passed away and there is no one else to choose from. Having someone like her is better than having no one at all, especially since Fang Ming is currently in need of someone who understands Feng Shui and the ways of the Tao.

  "Thank you, sir!" Gu Xiaolian bowed in gratitude.

  "You're a ghost cultivator, so can you handle this kind of yin energy?" Fang Ming pointed with one hand, and a wisp of black air rose from the ground, floating in front of Gu Xiaolian.

  "This..." Gu Xiaolian's eyes flickered, her silver teeth clenched, and she pinched a seal, drawing the black energy into her body. As the black energy entered, Gu Xiaolian's body became even more solid. A joyful expression appeared on Gu Xiaolian's face as she said, "It's indeed yin energy, I wonder where you got it from, sir?"

  Fang Ming smiled silently, he was the god of land, in charge of the land, this yin energy is also a kind of earth energy, naturally can create some.

  Gu Xiao Lian knew this matter wouldn't be easily told to her, but for the sake of their relationship, a pleading look still flashed in her eyes.

  "Haha... you want this yin energy, it's simple." Fang Ming smiled, looking at Gu Xiaolian, until the latter's face turned red like a peach blossom. Only then did he say: "I'm currently lacking someone who understands Feng Shui and Daoist techniques. You can join me and work for me. This yin energy will naturally be your reward!"

  "This matter... Please give me some time to consider!" Gu Xiao Lian furrowed her eyebrows and said.

  "It's settled!" Fang Ming saw the look on Gu Xiao Lian's face and knew that this matter was settled, secretly rejoicing in his heart. He instructed Zhen Zhu to take Gu Xiao Lian down to rest.