Chapter 52: The River Crab's Helplessness and Resentment

  Originally a elegant and clean place, it became more and more chaotic as time passed. At this moment, a woman saw that Wang Guang had no woman by his side, so she came up and whispered sweet nothings to him, making Wang Guang's heart itch unbearably. Upon closer inspection, the new woman was even more to his taste than the one he had previously given to Tie Panguan. Overjoyed in his heart, he fondled the woman with both hands, although he didn't use any real force, it still counted as a release of his pent-up desire.

  An ancient proverb says it well, good people will be rewarded, and today it has been verified on you. The Iron Umbrella Taoist who was struggling with the woman saw the new woman in Wang Guangcai's arms and suddenly smiled. It turned out that he also liked the new woman.

  Just as Wang Guang was about to speak, a loud and coarse voice suddenly burst out in anger: "Fellow Taoist friends, we are all practitioners of internal alchemy, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, seeking immortality. How can we waste our energy on these women? This is beneath our dignity. I hope you will all stop this, otherwise I am ashamed to be seated with everyone."

  Following the sound, he saw a young cultivator sitting on a stone platform, with a woman beside him pouring wine. Wearing a white Taoist robe, black hair draped over his shoulders, clear eyebrows and eyes, delicate facial features, yet it was a handsome man. There was also a long sword on his back, with the sword tassel fluttering, making people feel indescribably delighted.

  "Which great heavenly lord are you?! You're ashamed to be with us, yet you still linger here, what's the point of that?" Wang Guang coldly sneered and pinched the soft spot on the woman in his arms, causing her unbearable pain. She didn't dare cry out, but instead forced a smile on her face, her eyes welling up with tears that threatened to fall at any moment.

  Wang Guang suddenly understood the thoughts of the woman in his arms, stood up and dusted off his fingers, pointing at the Qi practitioner and saying: "You piece of trash, are you trying to say that we don't have any shame? Hehe! If you're not interested in women, is it because you can't do it? If so, I'll give you some medicine to take, who knows, maybe it'll help you regain your virility!"

  His words made some of the cultivators at the banquet burst out laughing, while others furrowed their brows in disdain for Wang Guang's words. Some even found his coarse language unbearable and moved to a different seat, distancing themselves from him.

  "What do you mean by this? Don't tell me we have a grudge against each other? Why are you speaking such nonsense and slandering others? As cultivators, since ancient times, we've been pursuing immortality. We long ago abandoned carnal pleasures, not thinking that now you've forgotten your own roots, indulging only in lust. How can you seek immortality like this?" This handsome cultivator was also kind-hearted, unable to bear seeing other cultivators forget their origins, so he spoke out to remind them. Unexpectedly, he was ridiculed by Wang Guang, although his heart was angry and dissatisfied, but he didn't curse loudly, still using gentle words to advise.

  "What a long life." Wang Guang sneered and pointed at the other's strange smile: "You tell me, which cultivator has achieved immortality? Within the Tianyu Imperial Court's radius of ten million miles, have you heard of anyone achieving immortality? Everyone says that immortality is good, everyone says that immortality is wonderful, but who among them has actually achieved it? We can't achieve immortality, so let's just enjoy ourselves for now. If you're not happy about it, you can just pretend you didn't see anything."

  "It was I who overthought." The handsome and elegant cultivator, seeing that he could not persuade Wang Guang, let out a long sigh and closed his eyes to meditate, refusing to pay any more attention to Wang Guang.

  Although the debate had ended, Wang Guang's words made everyone at the table fall silent. Among them, a female Qi practitioner suddenly burst into loud sobs, and for a time, the atmosphere at the table was gloomy and dismal, and all joy ceased.

  "In my youth, I heard that there were immortals who roamed the earth and wandered in the sky. They swallowed the essence of the sun and moon, and plucked the sweet dew of dawn. Living forever, they chased after the sun and moon by day, and rested on the clouds at night."

  "The young man's parents had passed away, and he was filled with boundless sorrow. He heard that an immortal could bring the dead back to life and turn white bones into flesh, so he conceived the idea of seeking out an immortal."

  "In the bustling world, a thousand noises, parents' words and matchmakers' promises are in my ears, but I have experienced the joy of marriage, with a good husband by my side. The thoughts of a hermit, cast aside."

  However, in just a few years, good people died one after another, and the hardships were extraordinary. At that time, young children died of plague, and it felt even more desolate. Seeing coffins being buried in the yellow earth, turning into a pile of white bones, with flies flying around playing happily, my heart was very sad. Not reconciled to this, the idea of seeking immortality arose again.

  "After a thousand hardships and ten thousand difficulties, I have spent three to five years studying under the guidance of a master, and now I have obtained the path to eternal life, I am overjoyed."

  "It has been three hundred years since I set out on this journey, and I have paid countless prices. Now my lifespan is about to end, and I am filled with boundless fear."

  "Though I have no retreat, it is for the sake of eternal life; though my heart is fearful, it is because of that eternal life."

  "Three hundred years of bitter cultivation, never once having a joyful heart. In the end, it's just a pile of yellow earth and white bones, with maggots playing among them, but not even half a person to mourn."

  "Speaking of longevity, the Tao of longevity. Many fellow practitioners have died, but not one has achieved longevity. Some who have successfully refined their golden elixir, have fought with others and ended up with their heads separated from their bodies, without even escaping with their souls; some who have successfully cultivated their primordial spirit, have ventured into ancient secret realms, walking the path of longevity, only to see people enter but never exit; some who have successfully transformed their spirits, in order to overcome calamities, have frantically scrambled about, day and night, ultimately either being struck dead by heavenly thunder, with their souls scattered, or ending up with their lifespan exhausted, reborn into a new life."

  "Toiling for eternal life, every day is filled with anxiety. Hiding in the deep mountains and ancient forests cannot obtain the secret of longevity. Walking among the sect's secret territories, it is inevitable to suffer injuries and fall."

  "All along the way for three hundred years, only no one has seen anyone who has achieved eternal life! Only no one has seen anyone who has achieved eternal life!"

  The female Qi practitioner was in pain and sorrow, her soft words bringing boundless sadness to the hearts of many Qi practitioners. However, there were also those who didn't care, simply laughing and drinking merrily, without a hint of sadness in their eyes.

  Wang Guang felt a chill in his heart after hearing these words. This guy had initially become a Qi Refiner for two reasons: one was to possess greater power to enjoy life, and the other was to achieve longevity, so as not to end up dying of old age with a weak body on his deathbed.

  "Although immortality is not obtained, it can be reborn and re-cultivated. This time it's not possible, but next time it might be." King Guang sighed and comforted the female Qi cultivator. In fact, wasn't he also comforting himself?

  "We cultivators may have the method of transmigration and rebirth, but only after becoming a Dan Master can we preserve our divine intelligence in the next life. If I were to transmigrate like this now, my divine intelligence would not be preserved. In that case, even if I could cultivate again in the future, it would just be another person's struggle! Who knows if that person will make the same mistakes as me, and thus continue to cycle through rebirths, like a puppet in the mortal world, forever without hope of eternal life."

  The female practitioner said that she was here, but in her heart, she suddenly felt a trance-like state and involuntarily took off her clothes to hug the man beside her, wanting to engage in carnal desires. Fortunately, a handsome male practitioner nearby shouted loudly to stop her, calling her back from her confused state.

  "All say that immortals are good, but who knows that immortals have troubles?" Wang Guang vaguely remembered the previous sentence and couldn't help but utter it in a low voice.

  "Immortals are just a bunch of nonsense, living one day is to enjoy one day. We have other pursuits besides longevity. Refining magical artifacts to kill and take pleasure, researching formation spells to satisfy our inner desires, swallowing the essence of the sun and moon to comprehend the principles of heaven and earth... there are countless interests when you count them down, why bother with just longevity? That's just an illusion!" The black-robed Daoist on the side suddenly shouted loudly, grabbing a nearby woman and pinning her under him, but his body was still trembling. His face was twisted in ferocity, yet he was unwilling to accept death.

  "Why not enjoy together? Is it necessary to cry and be sad with this friend in order to achieve the so-called longevity? What is being pursued? Why must one be entangled in a certain way?"

  As they spoke, no one paid attention to them. The crying woman cultivator completely sobered up after a while, put on her clothes and turned around to leave. Three or five other cultivators also left one after another. Wang Guang sighed and didn't say anything, he just held the wine jug and drank cup after cup.

  It's unknown how long had passed, the sky was dark and dim, with only over ten Qi-practicing cultivators left sitting in a circle. Among them were Hei Shan Dao Ren and Tie San Dao Ren. These dozen or so Qi-practicing cultivators each silently ate and drank, not speaking to one another, the atmosphere extremely depressing.

  The king carefully observed the scene, and saw that the eldest prince was sitting by the pool under the protection of a group of guards. The prince's face was covered in sweat as he continuously poured wine, water, and delicacies into the water channel for King Guang and his people to eat.

  "The prince is making me feel ashamed in my heart." Wang Guang sighed and went to the front of the prince, bowed his head and saluted.

  "It doesn't matter. I provide for you, and from you, I get safety. And you also benefit from me. Today, let's just enjoy the wine and food, and consider it a private gathering between us." The prince smiled, making everyone feel at ease. Unfortunately, the other person still had a purple aura wrapped around their face, hiding their true appearance.

  "I don't know what the prince wants to see us for today, but I don't think it's just a simple pleasure trip." Wang Guang said with a serious expression, waving his hand holding the dusting cloth.

  The other Qi practitioners all shifted their attention to the prince after hearing Wang Guang's words.

  The prince put down the miscellaneous objects in his hand, adjusted his collar and said seriously: "The emperor is critically ill, and there are also enemy countries invading the border. The emperor ordered me and all my brothers to lead the army to fight against the enemy, although it is said that we are resisting the enemy, but in fact, it is to select a suitable successor. Today, I come here, hoping that all the Taoist priests can help me kill enemies on the battlefield and make merits to contend for the emperor's position."

  "Since ancient times, when the emperor dies, the eldest son succeeds. As the crown prince and eldest son, as long as you don't make any mistakes, no one can shake your position." The iron umbrella Taoist said in a low voice, pushing away the woman in his arms.

  The prince listened silently, his face looking somewhat unpleasant, he opened his mouth, but only let out a sigh.

  "Boundless Heaven Venerable! Is the prince worried about the assassination of the Qi practitioners?" Wang Guang chuckled softly, his voice low: "This humble Daoist understands the prince's concerns. As long as the prince doesn't drive this humble Daoist away, I will follow the prince to that battlefield to fight a battle. Not to mention killing enemies and achieving merits, just hoping for the prince's safety, not being assassinated in the chaos of war is enough."

  "Dao Chang is a sensible person." The prince heard Wang Guang's words and immediately had a joyful expression: "In the chaos of war, it's easiest to be ambushed. A stone can make a horse lose its footing, and a small soldier can make a great general fall."