Minglong

Chapter 371 The Wind Stops, the Rain Ceases, and the Moon Shines Bright

In the early hours of the morning, the months-long torrential rain quietly stopped, and the starlight and moonlight once again shone upon the city of Yanbo.

Outside the city, thousands of sails gathered at the port, with the ferry of the Northern Underworld Sect moored among them. A few wizards dressed in white were patrolling the deck, and a shed was set up on the shore, where an extra-large silver fish was being grilled.

The ship's cabin was brightly lit, and several figures could be seen moving around through the windows.

Empress Dowager Guo was worried that Yanbo City would resort to underhanded tactics if it couldn't afford to lose, so she stood on the rooftop terrace to keep an eye on the surroundings. Meanwhile, Coal Ball was perched on her shoulder, shaking his head and looking down at the barbecue stalls.

The room was filled with a faint smell of medicine. Xie Jinhuan removed his breastplate and weapons and lay in Sister Guo's bathtub. He was almost burnt out after the fierce battle. Even the breastplate made of fragments of immortal artifacts was smashed to pieces. His physical condition was imaginable.

Although he had used his blood and qi to heal his injuries, the immense consumption had left him so weak that he could barely lift his eyes. In addition, he had taken the Righteous Path Evil-Dispelling Pill, which made his Dao heart as hard as iron. Now, all he could think about was enjoying himself as soon as possible...

The next room was more lively.

Bu Yuehua was handling various medical instruments at the table, which also contained the spoils of the trip. Nangong Ye was examining them beside her.

Ye Yunchi fought three opponents midway and was slashed on the side by a flying sword, but the injury was not too serious due to the protection of the sword energy. On the contrary, the effects of the 'Seven Emotions Pill' and 'Unrequited Love Pill' that he took at the beginning gradually came in.

He was lying on his pillow, resting, covered with a thin blanket, seemingly asleep, but his mind was filled with thoughts of:

Have five, have five, have five...

Ye Yunchi knew that his mind was being influenced by the drugs, and he wanted to suppress his distracting thoughts, but he kept making excuses for himself. It was as if a fairy and a succubus were fighting in his mind. The fairy said:
Don't let your mind wander. Even without parental consent, marriage still requires proper betrothal and formal arrangements...

He was a married man, and she was a dignified Confucian woman. How could she disregard propriety and become a vixen who broke up other people's marriages, let alone a mistress or concubine?

The sword is still in the Hundred Flowers Forest. I can't control my distracting thoughts, but I'm too ashamed to ask for it back...

The succubus is bewitching:
A man of such exceptional character, literary talent, martial arts skills, and appearance—if you miss him, where will you find another like him for the rest of your life?

Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is having no offspring; without offspring, how can you be a good wife and mother...?

He was engaged, but they weren't married yet. You went all out and forced him into marriage because you were pregnant, hoping to gain status through the child...

He was so badly injured just now, yet he still jumped out to shield you from a dangerous attack. That shows he still cares about you. You're a grown man, and you don't take the initiative to show him any kindness. Do you expect this upright and righteous little kid to chase after you?

……

Ye Yunchi felt that both sides made sense, and he didn't know how to choose, so he could only close his eyes and pretend to be dead.

While the three were busy with their own tasks, there was a knock on the door:
dong dong~
Nangong Ye put down what he was holding, intending to ask Xie Jinhuan about the situation, but as soon as he opened the door a crack, his red lips were kissed with a 'pop'.

Nangong Ye was so frightened that she trembled all over. She quickly looked at the screen on the inside of the room, and then glared at the lawless brat. Her beautiful phoenix eyes were full of murderous intent!
Xie Jinhuan changed into a clean white robe, his expression was quite serious, but his eyes were full of longing for the Supervisory God, wishing he could take the Houhou Fairy away and defile her right now.

But since Senior Sister Naigua was still lying in the room, he couldn't act too recklessly. So he first glanced around the room:
"How is Senior Ye?"

"It's alright, she's already asleep. Come in and talk. How are you feeling?"

"Sigh, I feel a bit weak."

As Xie Jinhuan brushed past him, she secretly pinched her mother-in-law's skirt, startling Nangong Ye, who had just shown some concern. He quickly moved away, but there was nothing he could do but grit his teeth and hide by the window.

Xie Jinhuan curled the corners of his lips and ran to the table to bother Sister Bu again, but Bu Yuehua was afraid that the powerful Master Ye would discover her improper behavior, so she quickly moved to the other side of the table:

"Sit down properly now that you're here. Give me your hand so I can take your pulse."

Seeing that Senior Sister Naigua was resting, Xie Jinhuan naturally couldn't go behind the screen to visit her. Instead, he stretched out his arm for his wife to check on his body, while also inspecting his spoils.

The trip was very fruitful. Besides the Crimson Gold Hammer and Bone Knife, there were also newly acquired flying swords, fragments of the Daoist ancestral scriptures, Mo Yuan fragments, four divine gifts obtained before and after, debts owed by Lü Yan, and so on. All the spoils of war combined were enough to build a top-tier sect.

Although his teammates are like wings to him, he still needs to consider how to distribute them fairly.

Senior Sister Naigua has put in a lot of effort both ways. It's definitely not enough to just get one Lingguang Divine Gift. She needs to add a few more immortal herbs, and then go back and use her connections to ask the landlady for a few genuine paintings by the Sage of Painting and the Sage of Painting, as a reward. Given Senior Sister Naigua's personality, these things should be more to her liking than ordinary magic artifacts.

As for the captured three-inch flying sword, it is a growth-type magic weapon. There are probably only one or two of them in the entire world. Its value is immeasurable. If it continues to be nurtured, it is not impossible for it to become a celestial weapon or divine artifact.

However, this item is a celestial artifact, unsuitable for a martial artist. The only ones who can use it at home are the master and disciples of Ziwei Mountain. The extra gift from the Azure Dragon God will definitely go to Bing Tuozi, who is skilled in thunder magic. Therefore, this little flying sword must be given to Mo Mo as a token of love. It would be unreasonable for Mo Mo not to give it to him on the spot after receiving it...

The bone knife of the Ancient Mystic Venerable is a magical artifact that enhances spells, and its grade is quite high. It would be very suitable for Sister Bu. However, it is definitely not appropriate to give so many to Zihui Mountain and only one to Queyue Manor.

Long Boyuan's Crimson Gold Hammer can amplify fire magic and martial arts techniques, but Sister Bu can't use it. She can only take it back to Luojing and see if the Imperial Observatory can exchange it for a treasure of the same value for Sister Bu.

Furthermore, the two fangs of the Xuanjiao can be forged into two poisoned daggers, perfect weapons for Wanyi and Zisu. Because the Xuanjiao's cultivation is extremely high, anything it forges will be of exceptional quality; it just requires some additional high-quality materials. The remaining snake scales can be used to forge a set of dragon armor, undoubtedly suitable for the landlady who practices martial arts. Even the extra dragon tendons can be used to make a small whip…

As for the divine gift from the supervising soldier, the landlady's item was borrowed from the White-haired Fairy and needed to pay off her debts, and Sister Bu also needed it...

What about Sister Guo?
Having been saved in the first place, and now being helped in this instance, as an old-fashioned immortal, he probably wouldn't even look at these tattered things. If he wanted to repay the favor, he figured the only way would be to offer himself in marriage...

……

Xie Jinhuan pondered this, feeling that so many spoils were still not enough to share, and was thinking about how to distribute them equally when he heard footsteps at the door.

Tread...  

Looking back, I saw Sister Guo, dressed as a witch, coming to the door to greet me:
"Xie Jinhuan, come out here for a moment."

Xie Jinhuan got up and went outside upon seeing this:
"Sister Guo hasn't rested yet?"

"With the situation still uncertain, how can I think about resting?"

Empress Dowager Guo gestured towards the brightly lit Yanbo City outside:

"The matter of the treasure hunt has been settled. There is no need for the cultivators from the North and South to stay in Yanbo City. They will all leave in a couple of days. Let's go with them to avoid any further complications on the way."

Xie Jinhuan's original plan was to use the immortal artifact mask as bait, waiting for Yanbo City to be unable to accept defeat and come to rob them.

But since the White-Haired Fairy isn't coming, waiting passively for her to come to us would obviously be risky.

It's alright if Shang Mingzhen ends up courting death, since he has the "Azure Dragon God's Gift" and "Supervisor God's Gift" on him. If he's killed, Nai Duo can probably get a share. But if Old Demon Shang comes and makes a move in the shadows, it will be difficult for him and Sister Guo to escape unscathed.

Leaving Dragon Bone Beach with the leaders and patriarchs of various sects from the North and South, with so many high-ranking figures from both sides, Old Demon Shang couldn't possibly kill them all to cover his tracks. Even if Old Demon Shang really had the ruthless means to wipe out so many powerful figures in one fell swoop, no one would believe he was 'ambushed by evil forces'.

Xie Jinhuan pondered this over and thought it was a good idea, but if trouble arose on the road, he couldn't rely on these fellow Daoists traveling along the same route. To return safely, he would mainly have to rely on his own strength. He then said:

"Then I will recover as soon as possible and try to set off as soon as possible."

Empress Dowager Guo glanced at Xie Jinhuan's complexion and felt that he was indeed a bit weak. She then flicked her wrist and took out a black bead.

The bead was about the size of an infant's fist, and its entire body was jet black, radiating an extremely cold aura. Even though it was sealed by the energy, one could still feel the surging spiritual energy contained within it.

"This is a Jiao Pearl, similar to a True Dragon Pearl, but several grades lower. Master Qixia once searched for Dragon Pearls and was able to refine them for his own use. I also managed to snatch some fragments, but I still haven't figured out how to use them. See if you can refine them."

Dragon pearls and dragon cores, to put it simply, are demon cores, just like a cultivator's inner core, which are the essence and vital energy condensed over many years of cultivation.

Humans use blood sacrifice to refine their own kind, and what they plunder is this thing. It can enhance their physique in all aspects. The higher their cultivation level and the more of it they have, the greater the benefits it brings.

However, the blood sacrifice method of the demonic path has a well-known premise: "using form to replenish form." The sacrifice can only be a human. If other species or even genders are forcibly refined, the physique will be affected and deformed.

Under normal circumstances, the dragon pearl of the Xuanjiao will only transform on the spot if swallowed by a snake. Humans can only use it to make magic weapons and indirectly obtain the supernatural power of controlling water and lightning. If one refines it directly, one will immediately become He Can.

After learning about dragons for so long, Xie Jinhuan felt that he should have some connection with them. Upon hearing that the White-Haired Fairy could refine dragon pearls, he immediately took the black pearl and tried it out.

Huhu~
As the technique of seizing the essence drew in, wisps of dark spiritual energy immediately emerged from within the dragon pearl.

Xie Jinhuan carefully sensed it and found that the blood and qi in his body were restless, but like the fellow Daoist who sacrificed himself, there were no signs of abnormality in his limbs, but the effect was several times greater.

Nourished by the endless spiritual energy, Xie Jinhuan's almost completely depleted body rapidly recovered, and his perception of the water element of the Five Elements gradually became clearer. It seemed that some other power within his body was being activated, and his eyes widened in surprise:

"It seems like it really could."

Empress Dowager Guo stood before him, scrutinizing him. She noticed that Xie Jinhuan was surrounded by shimmering silver scales, his eyes gleamed with silver light, and he even exuded a dragon's might similar to that of the old demon, Gao. She nodded thoughtfully.
"Then this is probably a special divine power bestowed upon you by the gods. Judging from the current situation, your cultivation will likely advance significantly after refining the Flood Dragon Pearl, and you will also be able to control the Yin Thunder Water Technique..."

He stopped abruptly before he finished speaking.

Looking up, one could see that as Xie Jinhuan's energy and spirit recovered, a strange hunger appeared in his eyes. While refining something in his hands, his eyes were wandering around her chest and waist.

As the refining process continued, this state intensified. His breathing became heavy, veins bulged on his forehead, and his robust physique exuded an astonishing masculine charm, as if he wanted to pin her down right then and there...

?

Empress Dowager Guo looked down, then raised her hand and flicked him on the forehead:
"Where are you looking? Have you been possessed by a demon?"

(End of this chapter)