Becoming a God from a Water Monkey

Chapter 1189 A Bustling Scene! (Two Chapters Combined)

The nine-branched beast-head lamp curved and stretched, its candlelight flickering. At first glance, Xu Rongguang thought Liang Qu had given him a piece of exquisitely carved jade. But upon closer inspection, he discovered that this "little jade" was actually a living creature.

"The little guy is..."

"Hey, is this your Ironwood Mountain? Why has it gotten so small?" Madam Xu exclaimed in surprise.

The yawn that was halfway through, which he was about to utter, suddenly stopped. He perked up and gave Xu a thumbs-up.

Liang Qu was taken aback: "Mother, you actually remember the name 'Cannot Move'?"

Mrs. Xu rolled her eyes: "Your nickname is hard to remember, isn't it? I don't know how you came up with it."

"Haha, it's alright, it's alright. His name and nickname are the same. It's easier to take care of him now that he's smaller. Old Master Xu, don't underestimate Tie Mushan just because he's small. He's a great demon!"

Something the size of a fist is a powerful demon!?
As soon as he spoke, the Xu family's eldest and second ancestors opened their eyes slightly, and everyone in the hall stood in solemn respect.

The entire Xu family has only two Zhenxiang, and their son-in-law Yang Dongxiong counts as half a Zhenxiang, making a total of two and a half. Liang Qu can easily pull out half of the family's wealth.
Xu Rongguang put down his teacup: "What kind of negotiation do you want?"

"No rush, no rush, 'don't move.' Let's give Old Master Xu a good show."

The "immobility" had been building up for a long time. A wisp of emerald light flew out from the top wooden horn and entered Xu Rongguang's body. The crowd was not alarmed. Firstly, the light was full of vitality, which did not seem like a bad thing. Secondly, Liang Qu was the Prince of Huai, and they were powerless to stop him from doing what he wanted.

Emerald light merged into his body.

Visibly, Xu Rongguang's face had a rosy glow, his wrinkles had receded by 30%, his age spots had disappeared, his white hair had turned black again, and his energy and spirit were far superior.

"The longevity-extending divine power?" The Xu family patriarch recognized it at a glance.

"Our ancestor is insightful!"

"Such a noticeable life-extending effect, it must be more than five years, right?" the Second Ancestor asked.

"ten years!"

"ten years?!"

"That's right, it extends the lifespan of ordinary people by ten years, and those with extraordinary abilities by three years."

"Where's the time?"

"Once a quarter, four times a year, and if necessary, production can be increased to seven times a year at a cost, once a lifetime for each person."

The First and Second Ancestors were not ignorant people; after calculating the benefits, they were astonished. Unlike longevity treasures, the cost for Grandmasters and Great Demons to unleash their supernatural powers was almost negligible, making them even more precious than longevity treasures. Furthermore, longevity treasures that extended lifespan by ten years possessed medicinal power that ordinary people often could not refine.

"call!"

Xu Rongguang let out a long sigh of relief, swung his arms, feeling light and easy to breathe. In its place, "Can't Move" yawned incessantly, drowsy, curled up in a ball, and slept with its tail under its chin.

"How is Grandpa Xu feeling?"

"Great! Relaxed and at ease." Xu Rongguang was radiant and full of energy, no less so than Yang Dongxiong. "You didn't even discuss this with me before giving me this gift."

"Let's discuss it after we've given it to him. Take everything out. If we can't reach an agreement, can we refuse to give it to Old Master Xu?"

Laugh out loud.

Madam Xu took Madam Xu's hand and pointed to Liangqu with a smile.

Xu Rongguang sat up straight: "You're so young, don't play coy like an old man. Tell me quickly, what's the matter?"

"Alright, Master Xu, I'll be frank. This supernatural power, once activated, will cost five hundred thousand taels of silver!"

The Tianbo Merchant Guild in Pingyang Prefecture occasionally auctions longevity treasures. Liang Qu had witnessed two such auctions. The first was the "Ten Thousand Year Immortal Vine," which cost 480,000, granting an ordinary person eight years of lifespan and a third year of advanced lifespan. Jian Zhongyi won the bid. The second was the "Longevity Insect Blood Cocoon," which cost 880,000, granting an ordinary person more than ten years of lifespan and a fifth year of advanced lifespan. Liang Qu won the bid and presented it to General Yuan.

The "immovable" [Longevity Seal] grants ten years to an ordinary person and three years to a person at the peak of enlightenment. The effects are comparable at the peak of enlightenment, but it is slightly better than the [Ten Thousand Year Immortal Vine] in terms of lifespan, by a quarter. At 500,000, it is definitely a bargain. The key is that it is produced once every three months. Combined with [Ze Guo], it is equivalent to once every one and a half months. What more could you ask for?

Xu Rongguang did the math: "The 'discussion' you're talking about shouldn't be about bargaining with me, right? A longevity treasure that extends life by ten years, 500,000 is already a bargain."

"Of course, this isn't about haggling. I don't want cash for this 500,000."

"What do you want?"

“Take you, Old Master Xu, for example. If you want to convert this 500,000 taels into equivalent materials, manpower, and wages, and bring it to my border territory for construction, you can build roads or buildings, and the outcome will determine the value of the construction!”

"Oh?"

Xu Rongguang looked at the First Ancestor and the Second Ancestor.

This was the first time they had heard of such a way of "giving money," and it was quite novel. But upon further reflection, they realized that given Liang Qu's current status and position, giving him money this way would definitely not be a loss; in fact, it would bring many benefits, making it quite extraordinary. Combined with the previously given idea of ​​selling the silk...

The Second Patriarch praised, "If the Prince of Huai had not practiced martial arts but instead gone into business, he would have been a remarkable talent."

Liang Qu humbly replied, "It's all just picking up scraps from others."

"In that case, your method will cost far more than 500,000 taels."

"Of course, it's a willing buyer and a willing seller situation. I can't be expected to make a losing deal, can I?" Liang Qu laughed. "But don't worry, sir, it's not just that. You've met the Tianbo Chamber of Commerce, haven't you?"

"Tianbo is a royal merchant. The circulation of medicines relies entirely on Tianbo. Every major prefecture and state has it. Local areas have three layers, provinces have four layers, and the capital has five layers. My Huangzhou also has it. It's commonplace."

"That's right! I also want to do something similar in my thirteen ports, combining the Tianbo Chamber of Commerce with local assistance to build thirteen magnificent mega-markets! All participants can rent stalls at low prices! Trade and transport goods!"

A megacity?

How big of a city is considered a megacity?

Yang Dongxiong pondered silently. He knew that his young disciple's vision was always different from others. He had known this for a long time and couldn't help but look forward to the future of the Thirteen Ports.

Xu Rongguang stroked his beard: "I roughly understand what you mean. You want me to help you choose a suitable powerful clan?"

“Indeed.” Liang Qu clasped his hands in greeting. “In recent years, the Xu family has been very successful in business, with extensive connections that extend overseas. They must be very familiar with the construction capabilities of various local families, and they also know which families have respected elders who are getting on in years and which families have expertise in this area. Asking them to come and help with construction should not be a difficult task.”

“Alright!” Xu Rongguang readily agreed. “Why not act as a go-between? Don’t blame me if we can’t reach an agreement.”

“What are you saying, Master Xu? You just need to act as matchmaker.”

The eldest patriarch of the Xu family spoke up: "Prince Huai, the matter has been settled for you. Tomorrow we will recruit soldiers and horses and head to the port. In the future, you must reserve a few good stalls and shops for our Xu family."

“Grandpa is joking. How could I not keep it? Even if my mother doesn’t keep it, I have to keep it.”

"Hahaha!"

The hall was filled with laughter and chatter, and people gathered around the fire to talk non-stop, creating a lively atmosphere.

The servants brought tea and snacks, poured water and added tea, and then added sesame oil until Madam Xu could no longer resist the drowsiness and started to yawn, and then the gathering gradually ended.

the end.

With a thought, Liang Qu replaced [Ze Guo] with [Qing Mu Sheng Ling], and another beam of green light entered Xu Mu's body.

My gray hair has turned green again, probably because it's late at night and my tired spirit has mostly recovered.

The changes were exactly the same as those of Xu Rongguang.

Mrs. Xu, supporting her mother, exclaimed in surprise, "Mother, Ah Shui, what's wrong with you...?"

Liang Qu didn't care: "Good things come in pairs, right? We've given them all to Old Master Xu, so we can't let one person benefit from it all, can we?"

Xu's eyes reddened as she reached out and ruffled Liang Qu's hair: "Good child, I haven't spoiled you for nothing."

Having parents alive is a blessing.

……

It was already midnight when I returned to the courtyard.

The moon was bright and the stars were few. In the late autumn, there was a chill in the night. Liang Qu rubbed his stomach. He hadn't eaten much at Qixia Tower. He had been busy bragging to the clan chief and the prefect, reminiscing about the glorious past. So he pulled Long Eying to make dumplings, starting with kneading the dough, to have for a late-night snack.

Firewood crackles as it hits the stove, flames lick the bottom of the pot, and tiny bubbles gradually form. White dough sticks to the palm of the hand, leaving fingerprints, and is rolled from the root to the tip, then pressed down. No matter how rough or forceful, the feedback is always gentle.

"Huh, why is there an extra stitch?"

"Ha~ Lichan said it's a new style of silk, she deliberately left it like this... Phew~ She said it looks good on my legs because they're a bit chubby, and she wants me to try it on..."

"It does look good. The wires make the fleshy look more obvious when it moves, but the lady looks good in anything."

As the water temperature rose, white bubbles slowly rose from the bottom of the pot. Long Eying's face turned red from the steam of the boiling water, and her bare feet stepped on the air, her toes curling tightly.

"Hoo hoo... Can I ask you something?"

"Love."

"What a mess, um~ why don't you accept cash?" "Do you have to ask now, madam? I'm hungry."

"Haha, who told you to be in such a hurry? I want to hear it!"

"Guess?"

The firewood crackled, the boiling water in the pot churned, and her black hair, mixed with sweat, clung to her forehead. Long Eying hadn't rolled the dough out properly, so she wiped her forehead and poured some cold water on it to prevent it from boiling over, but it started churning again soon after.

"My husband asked for 500,000, and also wants them to build something of equal value. Hmm... well, this asking price is already a bit low, and he's such a young Martial Saint. It's a favor, so he'll definitely build more, maybe 600,000, or 700,000? Haha, don't tickle my feet, it's itchy!"

Liang Qu removed some firewood and turned the fire into a small flame.

“Madam is clever! This is the main source of income, and not just that; we might earn a million or even more.”

"How could there be... so many?"

"Because of sunk costs, I said I would lease the space cheaply and leave the stalls to them, which is equivalent to a shareholding. People all over the world will know how powerful I am. Since they have already come here, they will naturally not be stingy. In the future, it will also be a form of publicity for myself, a face-saving project."

"Would leasing even work? Wait, wait a minute, why not just give them the shops directly?"

“It’s useful. Just give them long-term leases, ten or twenty years, but don’t give them ownership. In such a mega-market, no matter how big or small, ownership must be in my hands or in the hands of one person. Otherwise, it will become a dead market over time.”

"why?"

"When there are many people, it is necessary to reach a consensus. Moreover, some people will hold onto their positions without actually doing business, just to earn rent. But high rents can easily lead to losses, so people can't stay long. They often move around, and when the gap is long, customers can't find a shop they like, and the flow of people in the city will gradually decrease."

"And... um... there."

As the boiling water bubbled and the dumplings were put into the pot, Long Eying hurriedly poured in some cold water.

"There's also the issue of cost. We have to build it ourselves, find people, find materials, supervise, and design—all of which are a waste of time and energy. If I only look at the results, it's equivalent to passing these hidden costs onto them. These big families are already more familiar with the local area than we are, so finding people and collecting materials is actually cheaper for them. Okay? I'm really hungry."

"Hmm... one last question, husband, can it be eight times a year? Why did you say seven times a year?"

"Hey, why do you think I, your husband, would seek out Master Xu? This kind of thing can't be publicized or auctioned off. It's the same as the Tiger Amber auction at Huaiyin Martial Arts Hall. The items are good, but the production is limited. What if two old men who are about to die come to me at the same time in the future, both with backgrounds? Who should I give the opportunity to? What will the one who doesn't get it think?"
Therefore, I can only go through a VIP referral system, letting Old Master Xu help me find suitable clients. Old Master Xu is a hundred years old, perfect for advertising. As for the seven, that's a safety net, for our own family, or to use as a favor in the future. I don't believe that the power to prolong life is unique in the world; there must be more internal circulation like this to prevent a good thing from turning into a bad one. The Xu family buys cloth, travels all over the country, and knows many merchants. Even if I choose a supplier, the Xu family acting as a guarantor is equivalent to guaranteeing it, making others more willing to invest.”

After adding cold water several times, the dumplings were thoroughly cooked, boiling hot. Liang Qu, starving, couldn't resist any longer and swallowed them in large gulps.

After finishing a pot of midnight snack, Liang Qu didn't feel full. Seeing that it was still dark, he urged E Ying to cook another pot.

"My husband is capable, but he has a sweet tooth."

"Is it delicious?"

……

There are many longevity-promoting treasures in the world, some even mass-produced. Lao Yuan is one of them, but even his own production is not enough for his own use. His entire life is on Longevity Mountain, which is more important than his eggs.

The longevity peaches listed in the old merit exchange book are another one, with tiered exchange. The first "price" is so cheap that it even seems like a welfare benefit, much like the imperial court giving old monks the Xuanhuang token in the past.

If it's the first time exchanging, the required merit points are not much at all, but merit points cannot be transferred; they can only be exchanged for doing business with the imperial court.

This is the fundamental purpose.

The advantages of being "unable to move" are twofold: first, the supply is continuous; second, there is no issue with the potency of the medicine. Apart from a few exceptions, the precious materials that can extend life by ten years can only be consumed by a high-level Wolf Smoke Martial Master.

"Longevity and healing should be the fundamental aspects of the [Azure Wood Creatures], while increasing strength is not so prominent." Liang Qu recalled the feel of the jade dragon horn.

Supernatural powers can turn the rotten into the miraculous. The third level of the Dragon Man's Dragon Transformation can directly double his strength. This is the proper performance of someone who is dedicated to this path.

[Thirteenth entry into the Huai River, River Favorability +1.3641]

River Dominance: 0.6 (Favorability: 67.2047)

The old monk, Su Guishan, Yang Dongxiong, Xu Shi, Long Eying, Guan Congjian and others stayed in Huangzhou. Liang Qu led a group of officials and apprentices westward again, and on the way, he received another hint to enter the Jianghuai region.

With the construction of river god temples at all thirteen ports, the river's fortunes are bound to surpass the seventy mark!

With the experience from the previous five inspections, the Liangqu River canal can observe the remaining eight ports even faster. Once people arrive, they can be released without stopping.

“After going around in circles…” Cha Qing looked at the snow-capped mountains on both sides of the river.

"Haha, this is because we considered your experience. You speak the Xueshan dialect, we can't let it go to waste." Liang Qu stepped onto the deck.

This is the westernmost port, bordering Hantai Prefecture. Passing through Hantai Prefecture leads to Blue Lake.

"We will certainly live up to your expectations!"

"Alright!" Liang Qu pressed down on Cha Qing's shoulder. "Thank you for your trouble, Cha Qing and Kou Qing. Right now, the port is in its initial stage of development. We'll work a little harder, but it won't be much. Let's see what happens in two years!"

"I will give my life for the Prince of Huai!"

"That's it then. I'll turn back. If there are any problems, we'll take the waterway from west to east. It'll be a short while. I'll be in Huangzhou for the next half month."

"Yes!"

"By the way, Your Majesty, Huo Hongyuan of the River and Lake Bureau also wants to come and join you."

"River Patrol Yaksha?"

Cha Qingxiao said, "Your Excellency is the Prince of Huai, and your friend is the Water Lord. On the Huai River, if you don't give your approval, what kind of demon is he?"

"Haha, great! Have him come to Huangzhou to find me, since this is his hometown."

"clear."

The treasure ship of creation returns to Huangzhou once more.

At this time, there was less than a day left before the Great Hunt. Along the way, Liang Qu's favorability had increased by almost three points, and there was still a lot of money to be gained, but his rule had not increased by a single point. Unfortunately, like in Jianghuai, making such a big fuss for no reason would not only scare people, but also be dangerous.

But Liang Qu had a brilliant idea on the way...

"Restructuring?" Prefect Xu Wanxing asked in surprise.

"That's right. The Great Hunt is held every year. What's new about it? It's hard for ordinary people to watch. Only those with strength on the mountain can see it. Others just look at the odds and the storytelling, just to join in the fun."

I want to change that. Back then, I won first place in Huangzhou and benefited greatly from it. Now that I have achieved success in my cultivation, I also want to give back to the people of Huangzhou.”

Learning from past mistakes, Xu Wanxing was unsure of Liang Qu's meaning: "How would you like to change it?"

boom!
The golden sign fell.

Xu Wanxing's pupils contracted: "The Xuanhuang Token!"

“That’s right. When I was crowned king, His Majesty awarded me five Xuanhuang tokens. I’ll use one of them to represent this year’s champion! I’ll also change the arena from the mountains and forests to a naval battle!”

Xu Wanxing's heart pounded. The appearance of a Grandmaster of the True Image under the jurisdiction of the Prefect and the Governor was certainly a good thing.

It's a political achievement!

The Xuanhuang plaque is undoubtedly a universal product, serving as both a medium and a direct means of absorbing Qi, with an extremely high success rate.

Isn't it just turning mountains and forests into water battles?
change!
Must change!
"Rest assured, Prince Huai, go ahead and do as you please! I, Xu Wanxing, will give you my full support! Huangzhou will give you its full support!"

"Alright, quickly issue the order and spread it throughout the prefecture so that the local people will not panic."

"Don't... panic?"

Dusk.

"Boom."

The earthquake trembled, the Ba River dried up temporarily, and the water level in Pengze dropped by three-tenths of an inch.

Throughout Huangzhou and its surrounding prefectures, and even in Datong, a giant column of water suddenly rose up, clear and transparent, with schools of fish swimming around it!
As the sun sets, the earth shimmers with light, like scattered gold.

Liang Qu stood on the clouds and shouted loudly:
"Fellow villagers, do not panic. I am Liang Qu, the Prince of Huai. I came to Huangzhou eight years ago and won first place! I have come to observe and assist in this year's Great Hunt. This year's Great Hunt will be held in this water column! There are thirteen levels in total. The higher the level, the more points are awarded. The person who gets the most points will receive a Xuanhuang Token!"

Gum!

Huo Hongyuan, carrying his bundle, swallowed hard and stared blankly at the water column in the sky.

"Haha, Ah Shui really knows how to play! Pulling out a Xuanhuang token, that's quite a move!"

The voice sounded familiar, and Huo Hongyuan turned his head.

Xu Zishuai, Lu Gang, Hu Qi, Xiang Changsong, Ke Wenbin... and the disciples of Huaiyin Martial Arts Hall crawled out of the Huai River, dizzy and soaking wet.

"Hey, this brave warrior looks familiar. Haven't we met somewhere before?"

(End of this chapter)