A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 159: Fire and Water
The capital of Qi, the residence of the garrison commander.

Wei Feng revealed the origin of the object in front of him in one sentence, and Chu Fan's eyes flashed.

"Master Wei, this thing is called the Soul Stone of Soldiers. Is there any story behind it?"

Looking at Chu Fan, Wei Feng said in a deep voice, "I had already guessed that this item was obtained by the general from the battlefield, but after careful examination, I am even more certain that this is the Soul Stone of the Army."

"This Soldier Soul Stone is formed from the murderous aura of soldiers who died in battle, and it is extremely rare, let alone such a large piece. I have never seen anything like it before. General, you are truly fortunate."

The Supreme Path has collected quite a few Soul Stones, but only a handful can compare to this one, and even those are slightly inferior in quality.

"If we could bring this item back to the sect, it would be a great achievement. However, judging from Chu Fan's expression, this will be extremely difficult."

Hearing Wei Feng's words, Chu Fan still didn't reveal the item's use, knowing the other party was intentionally keeping him in suspense. His heart sank, but he smiled and said, "Daoist Master, please demonstrate the function of this Soul Stone. After all, this item is to be presented to the King, and I cannot bear the responsibility if anything goes wrong."

Upon hearing this, Wei Feng nodded, "General, what you say makes sense. In that case, I'll make a fool of myself here."

As he spoke, Wei Feng's expression turned solemn. He put his index and middle fingers together and began chanting an incantation. Chu Fan found it amusing. After a few breaths, Chu Fan suddenly felt the room become scorching hot, and the room was filled with a red light.

Upon closer inspection, Chu Fan saw a dense ball of red light appear at Wei Feng's fingertip, slowly approaching the Soul Stone. The instant they made contact, Chu Fan felt a jolt in his heart and jumped up in fright. He saw that the Soul Stone was suddenly shrouded in black smoke, with gusts of cold wind blowing, causing the surrounding curtains to sway and the tables and chairs to tilt to one side.

"Junior Brother Meng, Junior Brother Wang, take good care of General Chu." Wei Feng gave the order, and Meng Yu and Wang Xiao immediately stood on either side of Chu Fan.

At this moment, Wei Feng's "Blazing Sun" also encountered the black smoke and yin wind. The red and black colors collided continuously, and the temperature inside the room alternated between hot and cold, as if winter and summer were changing. Even though Chu Fan's power was not weak, his expression was solemn.

"This thing is truly evil; no wonder those who came into contact with it before all met with bad ends."

Meng Yu and Wang Xiao sensed the change in temperature, exchanged a glance, and simultaneously released protective light shields to block the erosion of the evil energy.

Protected in the middle, Chu Fan heard the hissing sound of air being torn apart outside and his expression changed drastically. Those streams of air were incredibly powerful, and even iron armor could not stop them. If he were to be hit, he would be seriously injured even if he did not die.

Wei Feng, who was fighting against the Soldier Soul Stone, was also under great pressure. This thing had accumulated tens of thousands of Soldier Fiend Power. If he hadn't been away from his home field, he would have had to flee in panic if he saw it. Although he was in the lead now, he couldn't defeat it for a while if he didn't use his best skills.

The blazing sunlight and the black smoke and eerie wind intertwined and dissolved with each other. Wei Feng, impatient to wait any longer, wanted to establish a good relationship with Chu Fan. With a thought, a flash of black light appeared on his body, and a sharp beam of light struck the Soul Stone.

With a clang like metal clashing, the black smoke and gloomy wind released by the Soul Stone paused. This was the opportunity Wei Feng had been waiting for. He unleashed the blazing sunlight and pressed down on the Soul Stone with overwhelming force. Meanwhile, the lightning shuttle split into dozens, attacking from different directions in turn. In an instant, the hall was filled with streaks of light, captivating the mind. The black smoke that filled the air gradually dissipated into nothingness.

"An enlightened master, an enlightened master"

Chu Fan was greatly shocked. Although he knew that Wei Feng and the others were quite powerful, he was still extremely surprised that they could suppress the evil creature on their own.

"If I can introduce Master Wei and the other two to the King, I will definitely be able to suppress Chen Ge and become the first guard general of the palace."

Thinking of this, Chu Fan looked at Wei Feng, who was displaying great power, and his eyes were filled with undisguised fervor. Even Meng Yu and Wang Xiao, who were protecting him, could not bear it.

Under the combined attack of supernatural powers and magical artifacts, the Soul Stone was already struggling to hold on. The thick black smoke had been evaporated by the Blazing Sun Technique, and its main body was being hit by the flying shuttles one after another. A moment later, with a cracking sound, a thin crack appeared on the Soul Stone. Upon seeing this, Wei Feng reached out and pulled out a red talisman, which leaped out and stuck directly onto the Soul Stone.

The Soul Stone, which had been emitting a dark red light, immediately dimmed and returned to its original state. Wei Feng also took a few breaths and put the shuttle back.

Turning to look at the dumbfounded Chu Fan, Wei Feng said in a deep voice, "I wonder if my technique is worthy of the general's attention."

Meng Yu and the other removed the light barrier and came to Wei Feng's side. They looked at Chu Fan together. Upon hearing this, the latter straightened up and then laughed loudly, saying, "Daoist Master, you are incredibly powerful. It was I, Chu, who was blind to your greatness. In three days, Daoist Master, please come with me to the palace to meet the King."

Having received confirmation, Wei Feng felt relieved. He couldn't afford to waste any more days on this. If things didn't work out with Chu Fan, he would have to take a risk. It seemed that Chu Fan was also scheming, but that was fine. No matter what, as long as he achieved his goal, everything was tolerable.

"Master, that Soul Stone..."

Although Chu Fan saw that Wei Feng had sealed the evil object, he still wanted to ask him questions to avoid any loopholes.

"General, rest assured, this thing will not be able to cause trouble within a month. After a month, I will have a way to eradicate this scourge forever."

Chu Fan nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Daoist Master."

After discussing some more matters, Wei Feng and the other two took their leave. Just after they left, a scholar-like man emerged from the back hall, waving a folding fan and pacing slowly.

"Could the general possibly introduce these three men to the king?"

"What do you think, sir?" Chu Fan did have this idea. First, he wanted to establish a connection with Wei Feng to open up more avenues for the future. Second, he wanted to find a remarkable person for the King to complete his mission. Third, he wanted to use this achievement to overpower Chen Ge.

Upon hearing this, the scholar pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "General, aren't you afraid that these three will gain influence in the court? They are already quite skilled in cultivation, and their elders in the sect are incredibly powerful. If..."

Although the scholar did not finish speaking, Chu Fan understood his concerns. However, he had already considered the matter. His honor and disgrace depended on the king. If the king died, his trusted confidant would surely be purged.

If you don't plan ahead, it will be too late to find a patron when the new emperor ascends the throne.

"Does Mr. Qu know that Chen Cong, a direct descendant of the Chen family, has gone to Anle City in the southeast?"

"I've heard that the Dragon King Temple in Anle City miraculously cured the calamity, which is already widely known. Chen Cong said his trip was to treat Chen Que's soldiers. General, you have this question, could there be another hidden story behind it?"

"The scouts report that the Dragon King Temple is quite something. Auspicious clouds are bestowing blessings, and the sky is shining brightly. It seems to be no ordinary place. It's true that Chen Cong said he was treating Chen Que's illness, but it's also true that he was taking the opportunity to recruit the Dragon King Temple's forces. If that's the case, then things will get a bit tricky."

“What the general says makes sense. If that’s the case, then the general should introduce Master Wei and the other two as soon as possible. Since Chen Ge has already made his move, we can’t fall behind. In my opinion, Master Wei and the other two must be at odds with the Dragon King Temple.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Fan's heart stirred. "Mr. Qu, have you discovered something?"

Mr. Qu closed his folding fan, looking smug and said, "The general said that the Dragon King Temple was blessed by auspicious clouds. The forces of Master Wei and the other two must have discovered this. They saw that the other side's power was already established and they couldn't make a move, so they came to the general who was at odds with Chen Ge."

“What you say is true, sir. Master Wei said he would spread his teachings in the capital. It might just be a clash between two major powers. No, we must inform the King of this immediately. If that’s the case, we can make preparations in advance. Perhaps Qi can gain some benefits from these two forces.”

That night, Chu Fan led his personal guards toward the palace.

Not far from Chu Fan's residence, in an inn, Wei Feng and his two companions were bowing respectfully, while a light screen in front of them revealed Ning Dao's figure.

"You must do this matter carefully. The demon race has already gained considerable power in Anle City, making it difficult to take action. Moreover, the Chen family has begun to win over the demon race's forces. You must be aware of this."

“Disciple understands. Today, I have persuaded Chu Fan, and we will be able to meet the King in three days. Once we meet the King, I am confident that I can persuade him to allow our sect to spread its teachings here.”

"Very good. If you succeed, the Dao Lord will be generous with his rewards. Do your job well. You only have less than four years left."

As soon as he finished speaking, the light screen dispersed, and the transmission talisman dimmed and landed in Wei Feng's hand.

"If I'm not mistaken, Chu Fan will definitely go to the palace tonight. The King of Qi is no pushover either, but I don't believe he can resist the temptation of such a huge profit."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yu said in a deep voice, "Senior brother, while the art of Daoist soldiers is unique, the demon race's method of creating gods through incense offerings is not entirely useless. Although it is a heretical practice, it can be effective in a short time. If it were the King of Qi..."

Upon hearing this, Wei Feng shook his head. "If the King of Qi is short-sighted, it's not a problem. As long as people believe in our sect's methods, that's enough. The demon race is short-sighted, foolishly hoping to become gods through incense offerings, unaware that their potential is limited. Within one or two decades, we might find ourselves at a disadvantage."
However, a hundred years from now, there will be no place for them in the entire state of Qi, and the descendants of the king may not share the same thoughts as their father; longevity and immortality are their lifelong pursuits.

Wang Xiao nodded upon hearing this. "What Senior Brother said is true. After all, that incense offering took a shortcut, and its life and death were entirely in the hands of its superiors. How could Wang Jun tolerate that? He might make good use of this method, but he won't rely on it. That's where we can make our mark."

Wei Feng looked at Wang Xiao approvingly, "Junior Brother, you see things clearly. However, when you meet Lord Wang in three days, you should still show some real skills and leave a good impression, which will be beneficial to our plan. Junior Brother Meng, you will personally present a skill to Lord Wang then."

"Understood, brother." Meng Yu immediately accepted the order and began to think about how to further impress the royal ministers and achieve a stunning effect. Meanwhile, in Anle City, the Crimson Python was completing its transformation. After Chen Cong and the restored Chen Que offered incense, the Crimson Python had revealed its two claws, which gleamed coldly and added to its majesty.

Just as it was absorbing incense offerings, a ball of light suddenly appeared within the golden statue, spreading out like a curtain, and Lang Rong's figure appeared inside.

The crimson python's eyes immediately turned to it, and seeing the crimson python gleaming with golden light all over its body, Lang Rong nodded in satisfaction.

"Indeed, such good fortune in just a few months has not been in vain. Listen carefully, if the Chen family wants to create a golden body to take back to Qi, you do not need to refuse. Just send a wisp of your soul into it. Don't worry about anything else. Just focus on your cultivation and wait for our orders."

Upon hearing this, the red python nodded. Lang Rong was very satisfied with its attitude. He flicked his finger, and a golden pill landed in front of it. The aura emanating from the pill gave it the feeling that as long as it ate this pill, it could grow two more claws.

"This is the Dragon Transformation Pill bestowed upon you by the Supreme Lord. It is extremely precious. You can swallow it and serve the Supreme Lord well in the future. You will surely receive many benefits."

After speaking, Lang Rong's figure disappeared, and the light screen dissipated.

The red python looked at the pill in front of it and swallowed it without saying a word. After the pill entered its mouth, the red python felt hot all over its body, as if it was about to explode. It hurriedly used its cultivation method and also absorbed the incense in the main hall. After a full half hour, the red python slowly suppressed its aura. All four claws under its belly had grown out. Its whole body was golden, like a divine dragon.

"Having reached this point, the next step is to develop two horns on the top of the head and perform a great act of merit, at which time one can become a true celestial dragon."

Just as the Crimson Python was contemplating his future path, in the backyard, Chen Cong saw that Chen Que's complexion had improved considerably, and then saw Fu Daoren nod at him. Finally, he felt relieved, and after having someone carefully look after him, he followed Fu Daoren out.

"Master Daoist, is my nephew alright?"

Upon hearing this, Master Fu said, "Although the young layman's body is weak, his spirit is still good. As long as he takes good care of himself, he will recover in less than half a year. After this ordeal, it can be considered a blessing in disguise."

"What do you mean by that, Taoist priest?"

"The young lay Buddhist received the Dragon King's incense offerings, and his body contains the essence of the incense. Perhaps he will have good fortune in the future."

Fu Daoren's words were ambiguous, leaving Chen Cong quite confused, but judging from his tone, it shouldn't be anything bad.

Thinking of this, Chen Cong felt slightly relieved, then changed the subject and brought up another matter.

"Master, I, Chen, wish to have a golden statue of the Dragon King made. I wonder if your esteemed place would grant my request?"

Having witnessed the Dragon King's profound supernatural powers, Chen Cong had made up his mind to worship the Dragon King. However, this required the Dragon King's consent; otherwise, even if a golden body was created, it would still be nothing more than an inanimate object.

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Fu Daoren's eyes, which quickly disappeared. As he pondered, a majestic voice suddenly echoed in his mind, a voice he knew all too well.

"Promise him."

"Dragon King!" Fu Daoren was greatly surprised. This was only the second time he had heard the Dragon King's voice since receiving a telepathic message several months ago. How could he not be excited?

Then, Fu Daoren put on a listening posture, which surprised Chen Cong who was standing to the side.

"Yes, the disciple obeys."

Although he was excited, Fu Daoren quickly composed himself and bowed to the astonished Chen Cong beside him.

"Just now, I received the Dragon King's order to grant the layman's request. However, the Dragon King requires the layman to create a golden statue in Anle City, and it cannot be more than three feet tall. Otherwise, I will not grant the request."

When Chen Cong heard the Dragon King's telepathic message to Fu Daoren, he was also shocked. Upon hearing the Dragon King's request, he immediately bowed respectfully and solemnly declared, "I, Chen, will certainly comply."

Two days later, the area outside the Dragon King Temple was bustling with activity. Those in the know naturally understood the inside story, while some outsiders, unaware of the connections, offered a few words of flattery.

"The Chen family of Yuannan is going to invite a golden statue of the Dragon King back. This is a special relocation ceremony for the gods. Do you see that one? The city lord of Anle City. The people next to him are either noble families or people of high status in the city. This is enough to show how much they value the Chen family."

“The Chen family of Yuannan is not well-known, but they are among the most elite people in Qi. If we didn’t live nearby, we would never have met them in our lifetime.”

While everyone was discussing, the ceremony in the main hall of the temple was completed. Under the guidance of Taoist Fu, Chen Cong and Chen Que knelt down and performed a grand ceremony, offering incense and sacrificial items, explaining their purpose. Finally, Taoist Fu personally held the incense, which rose straight into the sky, swirling around the main hall and forming a cloud of auspiciousness.

Seeing this, Chen Cong and his companion were overjoyed. This auspicious sign meant that the Dragon King had given his consent. Then, Fu Daoren shouted, "Ascend the golden body!"

Several Taoist priests standing to the side pulled up the four corners of a red cloth, revealing a golden statue of a dragon king about three feet tall. The statue had a dragon's head and a human body, wore a brocade robe, held a tablet in both hands, and had bright eyes, exuding an aura of majesty.

"Spiritual Awakening"

When Master Fu saw that the golden body of the Dragon King had appeared, his expression turned serious. He waved his whisk repeatedly, and the incense in the hall was instantly gathered into a ball by the wind. In a short while, it condensed into a red cloud the size of a fist, which slowly fell towards the golden body of the Dragon King under Master Fu's control.

Just as the cloud entered the three-foot-tall golden body, a beam of golden light shot down from the Dragon King's golden body in the main hall, scattering into countless points of light that slowly sank into the golden body. Half a moment later, under everyone's gaze, the golden body actually rose into the air, emitting a dazzling golden light that made the entire hall extremely bright.

The main hall was filled with golden light, as if a god had descended to earth. Upon seeing this, the worshippers gathered outside cried out and immediately knelt down to kowtow, praying for the Dragon King's blessing. Strands of incense and prayer power continuously gathered, and finally, under the deliberate control of the red python, they were all sent into the three-foot-tall golden statue.

With the help of incense offerings and the sustenance of the spirit, the three-foot-tall golden body seemed to shed its impurities and become even more majestic. Its eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. Chen Cong dared not look directly at it and hurriedly lowered his head.

After a while, the golden light dissipated and landed on the altar. The red cloth next to it automatically covered its body. When Fu Daoren saw this, he waved his whisk, and everyone stood up.

"Layman Chen, the golden statue is now complete. On the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, and on festive occasions, you must offer incense and prayers. Before the golden statue is laid to the ground, the red cloth must not be removed. Please remember this!"

"Rest assured, Master, I will certainly comply."

Seeing that the golden statue was complete, Chen Cong felt relieved. He would bring it back to Yuannan and hold a grand ceremony to make the whole area worship this god.

"With this Dragon King God, perhaps Chen Ge can suppress Chu Fan and become the most trusted palace guard of the king."

"Master Fu, we have been away for a long time and are eager to return home, so we will take our leave now."

"May you have a safe journey, Layman Chen. I will not see you off." Knowing that the other party could not calm down, Fu Daoren did not try to keep him any longer. After saying a few more words, Chen Cong and his family drove away.

Before leaving, they presented more than ten boxes of valuables as offerings. Fu Daoren was very pleased with this and offered some amulets for peace, which he accepted on behalf of the Dragon King without any qualms.

In Yunmengze, while Gu Xu was quietly cultivating in a mountain cave, he suddenly felt a jolt in his mind. He opened his eyes, did some calculations with his fingers, and smiled faintly, "I didn't expect the demon race to be able to take this step. They really have some ability. However, Qi Feng should be more anxious about this matter."

With his mind focused, Gu Xu continued to comprehend the profound art, no longer bothering with those trivial matters.

Meanwhile, at the Supreme Dao's headquarters, Qi Feng, who was in seclusion, transmitted a message to Ning Dao, instructing Wei Feng and the others to expedite the transmission of the Dharma, urging them to mobilize all available resources.

The capital of Qi, the residence of the garrison commander.

Chu Fan bowed to Wei Feng and the other two, saying, "Three Daoist masters, the King has summoned us today. Please come with me."

Upon hearing this, Wei Feng nodded and said, "General, please."

Chu Fan took the lead, leaving the mansion on horseback, while Wei Feng and the other two followed in a carriage.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped, and Wei Feng heard Chu Fan's voice.

"Master Wei, we have arrived at the royal palace."

(End of this chapter)