If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1184 The Great Defection

"Dong Qiuming" stood in front of the cauldron and used the Ancestral Dragon Secret Technique. For a full half hour, the cauldron did not react at all.

The surrounding "traitorous exorcists" became anxious.

"What's going on? The dragon energy from other dragon veins can't control the Great Yu Divine Cauldron?" someone asked quietly.

Dong Qiuming was completely absorbed in his work, oblivious to everything around him, and didn't care about the people or things outside.

"Fellow Daoist Qiu Mingzi, the dragon energy emanating from you is far too weak. From which hidden dragon does this come? It seems you are not destined for greatness!"

"You think it's weak because you've been in contact with the aura of the Qinling Ancestral Dragon. If you've ever been to foreign lands and seen the dragon veins of barbarian countries, you'll know that the dragon aura on Fellow Daoist 'Qiu Mingzi' is not weak at all."

I estimate that he is at least of the rank of a feudal lord.

"What's the point of comparing it to the dragon veins of barbarians? This is the Divine Land, and the Great Yu Cauldron is a sacred object of humanity."

Grand Tutor Yu was able to control the Nine Cauldrons with the aura of the Ancestral Dragon, thus influencing the fortune of the entire human race.

"If it were a barbarian dragon vein, it would obviously not work at all."

"But this isn't about leveraging the human race's destiny, it's just about controlling the cauldron. Grand Tutor Yu's Ancestral Dragon Secret Technique only requires dragon energy; it doesn't specify the quality of the dragon energy."

“But look at fellow Daoist Qiu Mingzi, his performance is not as good as that of an ordinary Celestial Master.”

The "rebel national advisor" who was invited by Akiko Maki to steal the cauldron must not be an ordinary immortal.

The Great Yu Divine Cauldron is of paramount importance; ordinary immortals cannot bear this responsibility, nor can they gain such profound trust.

Since it's not that "Qiu Mingzi" is incapable, then it can only be that the quality of the dragon energy is too poor.

"Buzz buzz buzz~~" The traitors muttered anxiously for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea when the cauldron suddenly began to tremble slightly.

They immediately perked up, focusing intently on the cauldron and carefully sensing its changes with their spiritual senses.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo~~~" As the crowing of a rooster came from the village outside the mountain, a mouthful of earth-evil turbid air was spewed out of the cauldron with a "poof". The huge divine cauldron was enveloped in yellow light and slowly floated up.

"It's done?" He Zhenjun was overjoyed.

With a "whoosh," the three-zhang-tall black cauldron collapsed inward, eventually disintegrating into a wisp of gas that transformed into a beam of yellow light as thick as an arm.

The yellow light flew away, changing directions left, right, front, and back.

At first, it was a bit stiff and awkward, but gradually the yellow light became faster and faster, and more flexible and varied.

"It's a success! Although Fellow Daoist Qiu Mingzi's cultivation level is not high, he can at least control the cauldron."

"The Ancestral Dragon Secret Technique that Grand Tutor Yu taught us is so useful. It can even control the Nine Cauldrons with the dragon energy of ordinary feudal lords. I just don't know if it can influence the destiny of the human race."

"What are you thinking! How could a mere feudal lord represent the entire human race?"

"The rank of a feudal lord is certainly not high enough, but Grand Tutor Yu's Ancestral Dragon Secret Technique is powerful enough! The Great Qin lost its Mandate of Heaven, and the Ancestral Dragon is dead, yet she was still able to activate the human destiny. At least the dragon energy of a feudal lord is alive, and the feudal state still has the Mandate of Heaven."

"But do you possess the level of Grand Tutor Yu?"

The person opposite was speechless.

No matter how powerful the Ancestral Dragon's secret techniques are, they still need people to use them.

Grand Master Yu is not old, but he has already become the recognized "Ancestral Celestial Master of the Dragon Vein"!
Suddenly, the yellow light plummeted downwards with a loud crash.

A deafening roar resounded, and the yellow light transformed back into a three-zhang-tall cauldron, crashing heavily onto the mountainside and creating a two-zhang-deep crater.

The rubble flew like a torrential rain, scattering in all directions and sending the traitorous Taoist masters scrambling for cover, their heads covered in bumps and their faces covered in blood.

Many of them are immortals, so of course they are not afraid of being hit by stones.

But the change was too sudden, without any warning. They were talking nonsense and were completely unprepared.

Dong Qiuming stood there, stunned, his face full of confusion.

How did you suddenly fail when you had successfully controlled the cauldron?

"Fellow Daoist Qiu Mingzi, are you planning to send the Divine Cauldron into the earth's veins?" Zhong Yuangong's heart stirred, as if he understood something, and he said with a hint of resentment, "This is the Qinling Mountains, where the aura of the ancestral dragon permeates the mountains."

But where does the dragon energy on your body come from?
"Using dragon energy to control the cauldron is as if the dragon vein itself has arrived. How could an external dragon vein be accepted by the ancestral dragon of the Qinling Mountains?"

"I see, I was careless."

Dong Qiuming suddenly realized.

Having just become familiar with the flying escape technique, he planned to try the earth escape technique, intending to send the divine cauldron into the Qinling Mountains' earth veins.

If he uses the Great Qin Dragon Qi, then there will naturally be no problem.

But at this time he was the "national advisor of the rebel army", not the Heavenly Master of the Great Qin Dynasty.

Thinking of this, Dong Qiuming's expression changed slightly. "Not good. Although Zulong is dead, he still has a connection. I have to leave first. Be careful."

He burrowed into the ground and disappeared without a trace, while the real Akiko slowly flew over from a distance.

After waiting for about half a cup of tea's time, Master Guan flew over from Xianyang City. He only glanced at it from the sky before heading to the Black Ice Platform with an expressionless face.

"Did he discover something?" Qiu Mingzi's expression was uncertain, and there was even a hint of murderous intent in her eyes.

Zhong Yuangong sighed, “Where did you find these helpers? Not only are the talents of the Celestial Masters sect lacking, but their dragon energy is also weak.”

She's also very carefree, clumsy, and unreliable.

Qiu Mingzi was speechless. That was none other than the great immortal Dong Ye, who was about to attain the Great Luo realm!

Is he lacking in talent? He's clumsy and reckless; his previous use of the Earth Escape Technique was indeed too impulsive.

But you can't blame Master Dong for this.

In the past, Master Dong was so high and mighty. Why would he need to be so careful, like a thief? Well, Master Dong is indeed a thief now, but he doesn't have the awareness of a thief and isn't careful enough.

"Believe me, I have invited the most reliable person I could find, and his dragon aura is the strongest hidden dragon in the Divine Continent outside of the Great Qin."

You don't need to worry about Guan Zhenren.

Even if the divine cauldron is still there, it's just that a stone pit has been smashed. In the past, there have often been instances of people accidentally losing control of the cauldron.

He wouldn't doubt anything.

Even if he did have suspicions, he discovered something else.

"The Qin Dynasty only has three years left to live, why is he risking his life?" Qiu Mingzi said calmly.

—If he dares to risk his life, he dares to take it.

"I'm afraid he'll inform Yu Fengxian!" Zhong Yuangong said worriedly.

Qiu Mingzi laughed and said, "Only we know the exact location of Yu Fengxian; Master Guan and the others don't know."

He Zhenjun asked, "Fellow Daoist just mentioned 'the strongest hidden dragon,' could it be that you have found the owner of 'the aura of the emperor in the southeast'? Is it Jingju from Dang County?"

Everyone's saying that Jingju has the looks of an emperor.

The River God had also placed a bet beforehand, sending a dragon girl from the Continental Marsh, whose father had died, to the Jing family as their 'wife.'

Qiu Mingzi shook his head and said, "Jingju ultimately did not rise up, and the dragon veins did not even manifest. How can he be qualified to appoint a 'national advisor'?"

He Zhenjun frowned and said, "Could it be the 'National Preceptor of Chu' from Dazexiang?"

Akiko nodded gently.

He Zhenjun asked doubtfully, "Can't you see, fellow Daoist? Chen Sheng and Wu Guang lack resources and are likely to become the vanguard of the king. Giving them the Great Yu Cauldron would be a complete waste."

Not only is it a waste, but our future will also be affected.

Qiu Mingzi sighed, "Even beings greater than us never considered going straight to assisting the true emperor. It's impossible for several hundred of us to all pledge allegiance to a regional lord."

Everyone has different ideas, and once they leave Guanzhong, they will go their separate ways.

If we are on the same path, we will naturally travel together; if we are on different paths, we will part ways.

Anyway, all we're trying to do is cleanse ourselves of negative karma. Choosing the wrong people the last few times isn't a big deal.

He Zhenjun looked gloomy and very dissatisfied.

Unless the master of the aura of the emperor in the southeast is determined, this group of celestial masters who defected from the Qin Dynasty will indeed not pledge allegiance to the same feudal lord.

Many Celestial Masters even planned to leave the Central Plains directly to temporarily avoid the wrath of Grand Master Yu.

Once you leave Guanzhong, you can choose your own future.

But there's only one Great Yu Divine Cauldron!

Whoever possesses the divine cauldron holds more trump cards. This is an obvious fact.

Why do you, Qiu Mingzi, have the sole right to handle the cauldron? And why do you act so entitled to it?

Qiu Mingzi is just a celestial being, but he is a veteran Xuanxian!
Qiu Mingzi saw He Zhenjun's face and expression, and could guess the reason in her heart.

But he didn't care, nor did he feel that he had let them down.

They didn't even dare to reveal the Heavenly Dao, unwilling to bear the consequences of leaking the secret techniques of the Feather Phoenix Immortal Ancestral Dragon.

He dared to do it, and he did it; he will inevitably bear great karmic burdens, and may even be tainted by murder.

Having paid the highest price, shouldn't he be granted the right to dispose of the cauldron?
"Everyone, as you all saw before, 'I' can control the cauldron!" Qiu Mingzi looked around at everyone and secretly transmitted his voice: "Get ready, tomorrow night at three-quarters past dawn, we will take the cauldron eastward to Xianyang!"

The Black Ice Platform, deep within the palace.

Ying Banli said with a serious expression, "Master Guan, I feel something is wrong. There was a loud noise coming from down the mountain just now, and I feel inexplicably uneasy."

Master Guan sighed, "Your cultivation is insufficient to perceive the changes in the Ancestral Dragon, but because of the bloodline of the Ying royal family, your spiritual sense has been awakened."

Ying Banli's heart tightened. She first peeked out the gate to make sure no one was there before whispering, "Could it be that they're going to steal the cauldron?"

Master Guan nodded and said, "It's possible. I felt that the Ancestral Dragon was angry."

There is only one situation in which the First Emperor would be enraged: when someone tries to steal the destiny of the Qin Dynasty.

In this situation, it's highly likely that the attack is targeting the Phoenix Cry Black Mountain Cauldron.

Ying Banli asked, "Do you have any more information?"

Master Guan shook his head and said, "The Ancestral Dragon is dead, only a trace of its spirit remains. To say that the Ancestral Dragon was angry was merely my own spiritual sense being touched."

Having served as the Celestial Master of the Qin Dynasty for hundreds of years, my own energy has long been connected with the dragon's energy.

If the First Emperor were still alive, I would certainly be able to obtain more specific information from the dragon veins.

Now"

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "From now on, you must not leave the Black Ice Platform again, and the Iron Eagle Warriors' patrol routes should also avoid the large cauldron at the foot of the mountain."

Ying Banli exclaimed in surprise, "Someone wants to betray the Great Qin and steal the Divine Cauldron. Why didn't you take precautions? Why did you turn around and let the thief in?"

Master Guan said, "Grand Tutor Yu knows their plans; she has her own scheme. We shouldn't interfere, nor can we."

Ying Banli breathed a slight sigh of relief. "What are the Grand Tutor's plans? Should we cooperate in something?"

Master Guan said, "We do need to cooperate with her. What we need to do is protect ourselves and not cause her any trouble!"

Ying Banli's old face twisted in pain. "What kind of cooperation is this?"

"This is the request she made," said Master Guan.

"Alas, Grand Tutor and True Man, they are both too carefree," sighed Chestnut Taoist.

Master Guan said calmly, "Qiu Mingzi alone is a peerless celestial being with unparalleled supernatural powers, capable of sweeping through our entire Imperial Observatory by himself. If you don't stay put, what else can you do?"
Grand Tutor Yu isn't magnanimous; he simply cares deeply for us.

Ying Banli said, "Xianyang still has 100,000 troops, which can suppress the rebellion."

Master Guan said, "They're gone. They were transferred to Hanzhong in the south by the magistrate of Xianyang long ago."

Before the end of the year, they need to organize local military and civilians to reclaim at least five million mu of fertile land; the task is very heavy.

Ying Banli stamped his foot anxiously and said, "I didn't even realize that with the relocation of civil and military officials to Xingyang, the departure of the Grand Tutor, and the entry of 100,000 troops into Hanzhong, Guanzhong was suddenly empty."

"You're like the emperor who's not worried but the eunuch is. Alright, I have to go now," said Master Guan.

Ying Banli tugged at his sleeve and said, "The Divine Cauldron is the most important and urgent matter. At the very least, the True Person should be stationed at the Black Ice Platform."

Master Guan said calmly, "Do you know that from Taiyuan County to Hedong, and then along the Yellow River all the way to Dong County, eight or nine counties and hundreds of counties in the Central Plains are suffering from floods?"
I must be stationed at the Weather Bureau at all times, keeping a close eye on the landscape of China.

This is the important matter, the urgent matter.

Ying Banli was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Didn't the three Celestial Masters of Jin'ao Island enter the Central Plains long ago?"

They are the 'Great Rain Masters' who have received a twenty-year long-term contract.

Could it be that they outwardly agreed to help Qin spread rain, but in reality, they were just like Qiu Mingzi, deliberately sabotaging the task?

Master Guan said, "Those three fellow Daoists have been doing their best and fulfilling their duties. They have been traveling all over the Central Plains and haven't had a proper rest."

Alas, even divine powers cannot defy fate!

Even the mighty Rain Master is no match for the Heavenly Thunder Department.

For example, if a major flood is about to occur downstream, the Rain Master will go and disperse the rain clouds.

But even if the Thunder God and Rain Master bring down even greater torrential rains upstream, why do downstream areas still suffer from floods?

"Heaven is sending down disaster, we are providing disaster relief; the two sides are now locked in a stalemate."

After saying this, he bid farewell to Ying Banli and quickly returned to the Qingyu Division to continue studying the landscape painting of Shenzhou.

They were no match for the Thunder Department, but if left unchecked, the disaster would only worsen.

After hesitating for a moment, Ying Banli couldn't resist and went down the mountain to take a look at the cauldron.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that the celestial master at the foot of the mountain who was researching the secret methods of the Ancestral Dragon was looking at him strangely.

—Oh dear, Master Guan is right, they are so fierce, I, an old Taoist priest, cannot handle them at all.

Old Master Chestnut shuddered and quickly returned to the Black Ice Platform. He didn't go out again until the next evening, just past 3:45 AM, when he felt inexplicably anxious.

He had a strong urge to go down the mountain to see the large cauldron.

But when he thought about the way those Taoist priests looked at him during the day, he chickened out again.

"Something's happened! Something's happened! Qiu Mingzi and the others have defected! The Great Yu Divine Cauldron has been stolen!" Suddenly, from the foot of the mountain outside the Black Ice Platform, the Celestial Master shouted in alarm and anger.

Ying Banli's expression changed drastically, and he immediately ran out.

Before he could ask any questions, several streaks of light descended from the sky. They were Guan Zhenren with an ashen face and Lu Jin Gong with a strange expression.

"Master, what's going on?" Chestnut Daoist's heart pounded even harder.

Lu Jin Gong spoke first: "Let me make it clear beforehand that although I am friends with Zhong Yuan Gong, He Zhen Jun, and Zhang Zhen Ren, and we came to the Central Plains from the East Sea together at the invitation of the Eastern Sea Marquis, I am not with them."

"What happened to Zhong Yuan Gong and the others?" a newly promoted Celestial Master shouted from inside the hall. "Did they steal the Great Yu Divine Cauldron? Damn it, that's our cauldron, our opportunity to attain enlightenment!"

"The Great Yu Divine Cauldron is also lost?" Lu Jin Gong was shocked, then murmured, "Just now, the protective array of the underground treasure vault of the Qingyu Division was destroyed, and Zhong Yuan Gong and the others escaped Xianyang with the True Form Diagram."

(End of this chapter)