Minglong

Chapter 315 The original poster
After being restored by craftsmen, the Bafang Tongming Pagoda has been completely renewed.

On the top-floor observatory, Lu Wuzhen, dressed in a black and white Taoist robe, held a white sphere of light in one hand, as if cradling the moon, exuding an aura of divine majesty.
“The Five Divine Gifts are extremely rare. There are countless cultivators in the world, but only fifteen people can obtain them every sixty years. Nowadays, spiritual energy is scarce in the world, and people can only rely on the power of divine gifts to nurture their roots and bones. To enter the sixth realm, one needs at least two or three of them. If one wants to establish a sect and become an ancestor, one must first have the Five Qi Gathering. The court has now bestowed this item upon you, and to be honest, I am full of envy.”

Xie Jinhuan, dressed in a white robe, no longer possessed the roguish air of the 'Little Silver Dragon of Danyang,' and simply responded with a smile:
"I see that Senior Lu has already obtained three opportunities. If he gets his hands on this item, wouldn't he be only one step away from establishing a sect and becoming its founder?"

Lu Wuzhen shook his head: "It's not that simple. There are also differences in strength among the six realms. The weakest are the miscellaneous cultivators, who have pieced together one or two opportunities from various sources. They have high cultivation but it is difficult to form a complete system. The middle level is me and Monk Wuxin, who have obtained the Pure Yang or Pure Yin realms by relying on the mantles and inheritances of True Man Ziyang and Bodhisattva Yu Nian."

"The most powerful one is the Five Qi Gathering and Yin and Yang returning to oneness, which is already invincible. However, it only represents the perfection of the body. It is still far from breaking through to the next realm, and it requires a huge amount of spiritual energy. It is necessary to accumulate spiritual energy slowly through Qi cultivation, which will take a much longer time than one's lifespan. Therefore, one can only use all the cultivators in the world as nourishment and rely on slaughtering living beings to obtain it."

"This is why, for nearly two thousand years, the demonic path has been repeatedly suppressed yet still persists. After the Martial Ancestor, the righteous path could no longer establish a sect and claim ancestor status; only the demonic path could advance further. Shang Lianbi's collection of blood taxes at Dragon Bone Beach is a unique approach. If he can accumulate enough resources before his time is up and before he himself becomes a demon, Shang Lianbi could indeed become the 'Blood Ancestor.' However, in the future, all cultivators will follow suit, using gentle methods to turn the lower classes into blood slaves. It's not exactly a good prospect..."

Upon hearing this description, Xie Jinhuan felt that the path of cultivation could become almost hopeless in the later stages. After thinking for a moment, he said:

"If I obtain the Divine Gift of Lingguang and then take the White Tiger, would I then be considered an unsystematic, miscellaneous cultivator?"

Lu Wuzhen nodded: "That's right. Fire is yang and metal is yin. According to the theory of the five elements, fire overcomes metal. When the two are together, the Jianbing Shenci will be suppressed. It is far less domineering than the extreme yin and yang complementing each other."

Xie Jinhuan nodded thoughtfully:
"Does that mean I should go to Dragon Bone Beach to find the Wood of the Five Elements, and then use the Earth of the Five Elements as a vessel to create an extremely Yang body?"

"This is what you will have to do after you enter the Fifth Realm. If you are unlucky, it is not uncommon for you to be stuck in the Fifth Realm for a hundred years. There are countless people in the world with extraordinary talents, but most of them cannot reach the summit, not because they lack comprehension, but because of limited resources."

Lu Wuzhen sighed again as he finished speaking:
"Also, I have some bad news for you. After the chaos of the Witch Cult, something went wrong at the Qilin Cave. The opportunity for the Five Elements Earth has been lost. You can only try to obtain the Qilin Divine Gift from the existing cultivators. If you can't, you can only wait for me and Monk Wuxin to pass away and receive the inheritance from us."

Xie Jinhuan frowned:
"Doesn't that mean that once the existing divine power is exhausted, only the power of the Four Symbols will remain in the world, and even if we plunder the world, we will no longer be able to step into the seventh realm?"

"That's true, but apart from the water element, the other four elements are consumed slowly, which will take thousands of years. If we have no hope of immortality and won't live to see that day, all we can do is take care of the peace and well-being of the people in front of us."

As Lu Wuzhen spoke, he handed the divine gift of the military supervisor to Xie Jinhuan, then went to the bookshelf and took out several documents:

"I called you here today to tell you some news. There's been some activity at Dragon Bone Beach. The Azure Dragon's Divine Gift might be coming out soon. Shang Lianbi has specifically notified all the major sects to let us go and get it ourselves. Although there are three opportunities, outsiders can only take one at most, and it's extremely dangerous. Cultivators die on the way to seize the treasure. As long as it's not Shang Lianbi who does it personally, the righteous path can't say that Shang Lianbi is not right. See if you're confident."

Because the time it takes for living beings to take the gifts from the five directions is not too far apart, the time intervals between their appearances are all within a few years.

Xie Jinhuan took the document and examined it. He could see that in addition to some intelligence from spies, there was also a letter from Yanbo City.

The letter was quite beautiful, and its meaning was roughly that Dragon Bone Beach was teeming with life and all things were thriving, and that the leader of the Dan Ding Sect was inviting people to come and participate in the grand event, etc. It looked a bit like Wei Wuyi inviting heroes to participate in the Heroes' Gathering.

However, the Heroes' Gathering is a tournament where there is no bloodshed, but the competition for the Five Divine Gifts involved real swords and spears in the past. People went there voluntarily, and their lives depended on their own abilities. If someone died, it could only be said that they did not know their own limitations.

Xie Jinhuan felt that if someone deliberately plotted against him, or if Shang Lianbi secretly plotted against him, the risk was too high. But if he didn't go now, he would have to wait until he was eighty to take the next risk. After thinking about it, he decided to ask:

Who went?

Lu Wuzhen shook his head:
"Last time you snatched Ling Guang's divine gift, it was a surprise attack, and most people didn't know about it. But this time, Shang Lianbi announced it in advance, so all the super-grade cultivators with some skill will be there. People from the Southern Frontier, Northern Zhou, the grasslands, and the Western Regions will probably come, as well as some old immortals from the Hidden Immortal Sect."

"However, Shang Lianbi is still the number one righteous person on the surface. Yang Huaxian and Kongkong Daoren have openly turned to the evil path, so they certainly won't show their faces in Dragon Bone Beach. It's hard to say whether Sikong Laoer will go there."

Xie Jinhuan felt that with his peak fourth-realm strength, participating in such a divine contest was still very risky. After thinking for a moment, he said:

“If I go there secretly under my own name, or if I arrive openly and honestly, even if I am not plotted against by the evil cultivators, I will probably be besieged and killed by the righteous cultivators.”

Lu Wuzhen wholeheartedly agreed. After all, people who go to Dragon Bone Beach are seeking opportunities, not sightseeing. Xie Jinhuan has a history of killing anyone he sees and stealing the three divine gifts from the Lingguang God. He will definitely be regarded as a formidable enemy. If he doesn't keep a low profile, he will definitely be plotted against by his fellow Daoists.

"Alright, go back and prepare. You need to get to Yanbo City before Qingming Festival. While you're there, take the opportunity to investigate the Gu Poison Sect."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jinhuan inquired:
"He Tianqi hasn't confessed yet?"

Lu Wuzhen shook his head: "It's not difficult to get him to talk, but the person who did it back then was very particular about the soul swap, and the souls have been fused for twenty years, making them inseparable. As long as we use extraordinary means, the former crown prince will definitely suffer the consequences. For now, I can only assume that it was old man Sikong who did it. You are responsible for proving it wrong. If you can help old man Sikong clear his name, then I will consider it a misjudgment."

Xie Jinhuan nodded slightly: "Understood."

Lu Wuzhen thought for a moment and then said:
"If an unknown person goes to Yanbo City, it will arouse suspicion from those with ulterior motives. Should we ask the imperial court to help you prepare a legitimate identity?"

"No need, I'll figure out my own identity."

"Oh?"

Lu Wuzhen wanted to ask what identity they were planning to use, but since it concerned his personal safety, it was best not to reveal it carelessly, so he didn't say anything more...
-
A moment later, on the street.

The four-horse chariot drove into the streets of the eastern city. Yang Dabiao, returning from the Northern Zhou, dressed in the red robe of the Red Scale Guard, rode his steed with great pride and spoke in a low voice to Liu Qingzhi:
"What's wrong with Lord Linghu? He seems much more aloof than before, and he doesn't even acknowledge us when we greet him..."

"Sigh, your status is different now. In a while, Lord Linghu will become the Sect Leader's wife. Will she still be able to mingle with us commoners? You should be more mindful of your status from now on. Who is Young Master Xie now? And what are you, a nobody? Don't try to get close to him for no reason..."

"Hey, that's not a fair way to put it. What's my relationship with Jinhuan? Back when I was working at the Wan'an County government office, Jinhuan was helping that widow Li at the alleyway fetch water when someone locked her in a room and wouldn't let her leave. I was the one who rescued her, otherwise..."

"Is there still this matter?"

……

The carriage was nearby. Xie Jinhuan sat by the window, and upon hearing Yang Dabiao's nonsense, he frowned and secretly recalled:

Among the women I knew in the past, was Widow Li among them...?

If that's the case, then Widow Li's affection cannot be...

No, Widow Li is an elderly woman in her sixties. That day, the door was broken and she was helping to fix it. Yang Dabiao came over to lend a hand...

……

The magnanimous Duoduo, dressed beautifully, sat in front of them eavesdropping. Hearing the sound, she asked curiously:
"Young Master Xie, did you flirt with the widow at the alleyway when you were a kid?"

Zhao Ling leaned against the small couch, holding a wine cup. Because she'd been constantly teased by Xie Jinhuan lately, she didn't dare sit down near him. Upon hearing this, she responded:
"His eyes could look at a lump of coal with such deep affection, it's no wonder he's being coveted by a widow."

"Guji?"

Coal Ball sat on the table, its little wings outstretched, as if to say—what's with the sentimentality? It hadn't even given the bird a second glance in months…

Although Xie Jinhuan had other thoughts again, his iron will remained unshaken. Seeing his landlady drinking alone in sorrow, he got up and sat down in front of her, leaning over and supporting himself on his knees, gazing deeply into her almond-shaped eyes:

"I'm not a casual man. Ordinary cosmetics wouldn't even catch my eye..."

Zhao Ling noticed Xie Jinhuan's eyes shifting, a faint glint of light emanating from them, his handsome face seemingly glowing and becoming the center of attention. She quickly closed her eyes and pushed her cheek away.

"You're not allowed to cheat like that. What kind of talk is it for a righteous young hero to use seduction techniques to seduce women?"

Xie Jinhuan only knew very basic seduction techniques, but when it came to dealing with the girls around him, it was always a surefire way to make them fall in love. For this reason, this move was listed as a forbidden technique in the bedroom. At this moment, seeing the landlady close her eyes, he lowered his head and moved closer to her lips.

As a result, the loyal Naido rushed over upon seeing this and stood in front of the princess, making it seem as if she wanted to kiss the princess but had to kiss herself first:
"Young Master Xie, how could you be so disrespectful to a princess of noble birth?!"

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan naturally went all out and pecked Nai Duo on the face, eliciting a surprised "Ah~".

Zhao Ling opened her eyes and, seeing her personal maid's righteousness, felt a surge of anger. She pulled Duo Duo aside.
"What's the panic? Even if I gave him ten lives, he wouldn't dare..."

Boo boo boo…

Then Zhao Ling, filled with shame and indignation, crawled out from under him and hid everywhere, pushing Duo Duo in front of him as a shield. Duo Duo, in turn, held up a coal ball to cover herself, which looked a bit like an eagle catching a chick...
-
At noon, at Xiaoyao Cave.

As the most chaotic area in the capital, Xiaoyao Cave looks like a chaotic market during the day, with all sorts of people from all walks of life on the streets. However, unlike before, the poisonous rats that used to only appear at night can now be seen in large numbers during the day. There are even a few poison masters wearing brand-new cloaks, standing behind tables covered with red cloth and full of medicine bottles, loudly hawking their wares:

"The secret formula of Queyue Manor, 'Always Smiling Powder,' can relieve a thousand worries with one dose. It is specially formulated to treat liver qi stagnation, excessive yang, and irritability. Tested by many famous doctors from the Imperial Pharmacy, it is guaranteed authentic and trustworthy. Now it's free..."

Witch doctors are known for their unorthodox methods, which can have a very high ceiling and cure many terminal illnesses. However, the price is also high risk, with a much higher rate of medical accidents than modern doctors. Ordinary people would not dare to try witch doctor methods unless absolutely necessary.

Now, after being exiled to the southern border and working as a fake medicine dealer for a hundred years, he has returned to the Central Plains. Although those who cultivate know the potential of the witchcraft religion, it is not easy to get ordinary people to accept it. What the Crescent Moon Manor is doing now is to carry out large-scale charity work to change the perceptions of ordinary people.

However, the Gu poison sect is skilled in poisons, which is not something that can be given away. Other effective remedies are too expensive, so they brought out the technical reserves of perilla.

"Always Smiling Powder" is probably Lin Zisu's most normal prescription. It has no drawbacks except for making people smile. It has a miraculous effect on depression and bipolar disorder. After being given away for free, it even set off a trend of "smiling at everyone" in the capital. People took a sip whether they were sick or not. As a result, cases of private fights on the streets of the capital decreased by 30%. After all, you can't hit a smiling person...

However, the trade-off is that the style of Beijing's underworld has become somewhat bizarre.

Inside a dilapidated courtyard with its door closed in the shantytown of Xiaoyao Cave.

Fan Hai Nie, the leader of the Blood Rain Pavilion, crouched behind the roof, watching the poisonous rats scurrying about on the street. Although he flashed a sunny smile revealing eight teeth, his eyes were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. He muttered in a low voice:
"It's true what they say, different people have different fates. We used to do shady business in the Free and Unfettered Cave, fighting for the rich kids. At least that was more respectable than these bastards selling blood essence. But look at us now, these poison rats have transformed into registered sorcerers, their shops occupying half a street, while we're stuck hiding in corners, not even daring to take any work..."

Beside him, a disciple, maintaining the same smile, sighed:

“We’re opportunistic, but Queyue Manor is the initial investment, it’s different. I heard that the owner of Queyue Manor is living in the Danyang Marquis’s mansion. Xie Jinhuan claims to be an external retainer of the Nine Dragons Hall, but who doesn’t know that Bu Yuehua is Xie Jinhuan’s mistress? With that connection, even a dog tied up in a shop can make a fortune. Look at Yang Sichen, ten cartloads of cash were delivered directly to his door before we even discussed business. And Jinghua Manor blindly ordered 30,000 taels of silver worth of pills. Does the hall master think they’re doing Queyue Manor a favor? They’re only doing it because of the name ‘Xie Jinhuan’…”

"Even if it's just opportunism, we've already surrendered. Marquis Danyang, if you won't offer us any support, at least give us an explanation..."

"Sigh, it's all because our leader is too cautious. He promised to collect a pledge of loyalty, but when the people arrived, he ran away and even got beaten up. If our leader hadn't left and had openly stated his intentions, our thousands of brothers in Blood Rain Tower wouldn't have been reduced to being less than dogs..."

"If being a dog were so easy, everyone would be scrambling to do it. Look at Bu Hanying, he used to walk around hiding, but now the court has issued him a dog tag, he's wearing robes made by the Danyang Academy, and he's even calling the celestial officials of the Imperial Observatory brothers. If I had that kind of status, I could bark twice a day at the Danyang Marquis's residence without any problem..."

As Fan Hai Nie was grieving, he suddenly heard two soft coughs from behind him:

"Cough cough..."

Acting on their professional instincts, the two immediately gripped their weapons at their waists and turned around, revealing bright, eight-toothed smiles:

"Who?"

"cough……?"

The person who came coughed once, but managed to maintain his composure.

The two looked closely and saw the newcomer sitting on the roof ridge, one hand on his knee, wearing a cloak and a mask, with a string of throwing knives hanging at his waist. His casual demeanor revealed a hint of ruthlessness as he coldly stared at the two of them.

Fan Hai Nie was slightly taken aback, then his face lit up with joy, and he leaped into the courtyard, cupping his hands in greeting:
"Senior Brother Wei, you're still alive? That's wonderful..."

Xie Jinhuan could tell the two were very happy, their mouths practically stretched to their ears, so he raised his hand to interrupt them:
"I was accidentally injured by Xie Jinhuan and have been recuperating for a while. I've just recovered. I've come here to deliver a message to you: from now on, I, Wei Kun, am the leader of the Blood Rain Pavilion. If you disagree, state your name and I'll have a private talk with him."

Although Fan Hai Nie referred to 'Wei Kun' as the 'Lord of the Blood Rain Pavilion,' this was merely a consensus within the martial arts world and the sect, and had not been officially confirmed. Seeing that this unexpected expert was willing to take on the mess of the Blood Rain Pavilion, he quickly bowed and said:
"Senior Brother Wei's acceptance of the position of sect leader is well-deserved, and no one in the sect is dissatisfied. Now, Blood Rain Tower is leaderless and has not dared to open for business for several months, so it can no longer pay monthly salaries. We hope that the sect leader can make arrangements so that the people below will have peace of mind and know what to do..."

Xie Jinhuan knew that Blood Rain Tower had been shut down for several months, and the fact that it hadn't disbanded yet was a testament to its considerable wealth. He responded upon hearing this:
"We are no longer allowed to take on underworld business. From now on, we will only buy and sell intelligence. As for the sect's revenue, I have talked to the Crescent Moon Manor. They can't handle all the revenue from the thirty-two states of the Great Qian Dynasty. They will share a portion with us, which will be enough for several thousand people to eat, drink, and relieve themselves."

"Oh?"

Fan Hai Nie, realizing how capable the poster was, having already quietly obtained the 'dog tag', was filled with boundless admiration and quickly bowed in respect.

"The Lord is truly wise and powerful! We will follow the Lord's arrangements!"

"Also, there's been some commotion at Dragon Bone Beach. I'm planning to go check it out. Send some capable men there first to find out who's there, their skill level, and even their entourage. Give me all the details beforehand..."

"what?"

Blood Rain Tower relies on intelligence for its survival, and it actually has spies in Dragon Bone Beach. Upon hearing this, Fan Hai Nie straightened up a bit:

"Master, you...you must reconsider. Old Demon Shang isn't doing this out of kindness; he's deliberately throwing one out for outsiders to snatch, fearing public outrage by hoarding all the opportunities. As far as I know, Long Boyuan and Zhang Jiwu are both preparing to depart. Duan Yuechou, as the alliance leader, has to consider the bigger picture and avoid taking risks, otherwise she would probably go too. Even Xie Jinhuan might be there. If you go, I'm afraid..."

Xie Jinhuan felt that these people were indeed well-informed, and replied:
"Xie Jinhuan is hated to the bone by the evil Taoists, so how could he dare to take risks in such a place? As for Long Boyuan and Zhang Jiwu, they are both martial artists. It's not that I'm not confident, but I'm worried about the experts from other sects. You go and scout ahead first, and I will do what I'm told."

"..."

Fan Hai Nie had finally found a new sect leader who could lead everyone like dogs, and he was truly afraid that the new leader would die young. However, since the sect leader had made up his mind, he could only nod and ask:

"Hmm... Everyone inside is idle. How should we hand over the affairs of Crescent Moon Manor?"

"Just wait, someone will come to discuss this with you later."

"As ordered..."

……
-
I didn't get up until 2 a.m. today, so I didn't write much. I'll just combine two chapters into one.
(End of this chapter)