Da Zaojun

Chapter 164 The Unbridled Pursuit of the Dao

Lin Fajing led Song Wuji to the Locked Dragon Well.

There you can see an octagonal well with a huge pillar in the middle. It is made of solid iron and is somewhat rusty and reddish, but it is not decayed.

A coiled dragon was carved on the pillar, but eight key parts of the dragon were locked: its two horns, four legs, head, and tail.

The three broken pieces now are the dragon's head and two horns.

But nothing can be discerned from the iron pillar itself; however, the suppression of the situation beneath it has already gone wrong.

"Lord of the Realm, may I borrow a fire?"

Song Wuji summoned the stove fire, which immediately became useful for melting gold. Lin Fajing also summoned a ball of flame, pale blue in color, which combined with Song Wuji's stove fire to connect the yang copper ruyi rope and the iron pillar, repairing the chain at the dragon's head.

But they heard a sound like a cow mooing coming from down the well.

The Taoist's expression was unpredictable.

However, because Song Wuji was holding the Water Virtue Dragon Scale, he clearly heard the information contained in the deep, long moan that sounded like a cow's bellow.

The dragon in the well claims to be a true dragon of water virtue. Its power has been extracted to nourish this blessed land of Xiaoyao Mountain. Since Song Wuji has obtained the scales of the dragon of water virtue, he is favored by the water element. We should find a way to rescue him.

Song Wuji took a step back and thought to himself, "This dragon probably can't see the situation above. It only knows that the Water Dragon Scales are approaching and thinks that someone who is close to the Water element has come. But it doesn't realize that I am close to the Fire element. As the saying goes, water and fire are incompatible. I'd better stay out of the fight between this evil dragon and the Iron Pillar Palace."

As soon as a chain was replaced, streams of pure energy and spiritual energy were drawn out from below.

“This yang copper ruyi rope is not pure.” The Taoist frowned. “The ruyi’s inner binding magic is incomplete. It was added later. Although I rearranged it, it has the intention of binding a tiger, but it does not have the ability to subdue a dragon.”

These chains were used by the tiger demon to imprison the tiger god Cangxuan. They were also a furnace, refined using the Yangsui Bagua Formation.

This octagonal well with iron pillars also seems to be a Bagua fire formation, apparently imitating Laozi.

"This is the seed of the Samadhi True Fire Supernatural Power."

Lin Fajing produced a golden pill. This golden pill did not look like gold, but was a lead-mercury alloy. However, there were many talismans on the pill, each emitting golden light. It had nine orifices and eight holes, each capable of absorbing and releasing energy.

Lin Fajing directly plucked the seed of the supernatural talisman representing the Samadhi True Fire from the heart aperture of the Golden Elixir before swallowing the elixir internally.

"This talisman seed is the result of the Southern Samadhi Fire Qi Talisman from my cultivation of the Talisman Golden Elixir. I present it to the Lord of this Realm."

Song Wuji said, "I cannot accept rewards without merit. The matter is still undecided. The well is extremely dangerous. I have the lives of tens of thousands of people in Taichang County on my shoulders. I dare not risk it alone."

"As for this Yang Copper Ruyi Rope, it's not worth much. If it can be used to bind the dragon, that would be best. Consider it my contribution to the people of Ganpo."

Lin Fajing was somewhat taken aback, not expecting Song Wuji to refuse: "Does the Realm Lord know that if the fire veins cannot be cleared and the dragon suppressed, the land of Ganpo may be turned into a swamp?"

"And then? This dragon was suppressed here because of Xu Zhenjun's actions back then. It is the duty of your Iron Pillar Palace to guard it for generations. Now that it wants to escape, it is because Xu Zhenjun spared its life and did not kill it outright. This is also the reason why your Iron Pillar Palace has been prosperous for so long." Song Wuji said, "I have not participated in the cause and effect, nor have I been subjected to Zhenjun's Daoist teachings. How can the transformation of the Ganpo land into a swamp be related to me?"

Although Song Wuji spoke politely, he was also quite assertive: "It's a seed of supernatural power, Abbot, you should keep it for yourself."

Lin Fajing gave a wry smile: "I see."

"When Master Lin said that this dragon would be born in five hundred years, it was a case of a trapped dragon ascending to heaven. It was able to offset the calamity of being disinfected by the five hundred years of imprisonment in one fell swoop. Secondly, it was originally intended to be completely eradicated, but it was persuaded to stop. The young dragon's crimes were not punishable by death, so the True Lord suppressed it. However, he predicted that five hundred years later, this dragon would not only not repent, but would also cause trouble in Ganpo."

"But it is true that the five-hundred-year period had already arrived three hundred years ago. At that time, the abbot of the Iron Pillar Palace did not release it as promised, partly because he was afraid of its revenge, and partly because the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was declining and cultivation was becoming increasingly difficult. So he reinforced the Iron Pillar Red Well and suppressed it for another three hundred years."

"Who knew that suddenly the world would change drastically, and the Three Realms and Six Paths would be thrown into chaos. This evil dragon took the opportunity to break three chains."

Then another sound came from down the well, desolate and mournful.

It is said that the man surnamed Xu is not martial and has been suppressed for 300 years instead of 500. When he comes out, he will definitely kill all your disciples and descendants!
Song Wuji secretly confirmed this and immediately felt that the atmosphere in Tiezhu Palace was probably not very good.

They amass wealth for Buddhism and indulge in unrestrained behavior for Taoism.

The perspectives are all downward, looking down on all living beings, some seeming high and mighty.

However, since this Taoist was a fifth-rank cultivator, Song Wuji couldn't go on a killing spree, otherwise he would have been killed immediately.

Lin Fajing said, "Taoism speaks of karmic debt, and this is indeed the karmic debt of my Iron Pillar Palace. However, we cannot complete this matter on our own. We have been cultivating by borrowing the fortune of the evil dragon for many years, and therefore we have suffered losses. But if we really release it, even if we all die, it will be difficult to atone for our sins. Moreover, the True Lord has also left a prophecy that he will cause trouble again in five hundred years. Our ancestors also reinforced the palace again because of this prophecy. In fact, we have a clear conscience."

"Now that we have asked the Lord of the Realm for help, if he is unwilling, then so be it. At least there is an extra chain. If I stay here to oversee things, I can have more time to be lenient and perhaps there will be a chance to resolve the situation."

Song Wuji nodded, finding the Taoist priest much more agreeable.

But I always felt that this incident was similar to the incident of the Evil Sword Immortal of Mount Shu, which added a layer of worry to my heart.

Lin Fajing continued, "Although the Realm Lord did not respond, it is because of the Realm Lord's considerations and concerns. I will not insist. Now I have a second matter to ask the Realm Lord."

“My mountain gate is, after all, a place for quiet cultivation. When the mountain gate was closed, some disaster victims fled here, and my temple sheltered them for a period of time. But since the lord of the territory has protected this territory, these people should be registered and taken down the mountain gate by the lord of the territory.”

"Otherwise, with just over five hundred people living in shantytowns, their emotions and desires would be hard to conceal, and they would eat, drink, and relieve themselves all in one place..."

Song Wuji nodded: "These people can come back with me. Thank you to the Dao Palace for protecting us these past few days. On behalf of these people, I am extremely grateful to the Iron Pillar Palace!"

Lin Fajing shook his head: "I only hope that the Lord of the Realm will not be angry. When the demons and monsters change drastically, we will close our mountain gates and not save the common people."

He knew the situation himself. Even the patriarch was struggling to survive. In this chaotic world, with everything in turmoil, they needed to be cautious. Keeping their mountain gates closed could help them avoid some disasters. If they were to actively face a calamity, they would likely be confronted by powerful demons of the fifth rank or even the fourth rank, which would affect the entire Ganpo region...

(End of this chapter)