Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 192 Who knows if it's a blessing or a curse?
The Nine-Bend Dragon God's eyes widened in fury, and he transformed into a dragon-like form.

"Fellow Daoist, please sit for a moment. I will go and capture them to get to the bottom of this!"

"I have treated them well, why are they treating me like this!"

"Fellow Taoist, please wait."

Chen Ji called out to Jiuqu.

Jiuqu glared angrily at Chen Ji.

"Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps going to plead for them?"

"Of course not."

Chen Ji shook his head.

"I just feel there's something fishy about this matter. Fellow Daoist, you might as well wait for me to finish before making a decision."

"What's suspicious about this?"

Although Jiuqu was not completely calmed by what she heard, she did feel somewhat relieved and transformed back into human form to hear what Chen Ji had to say.

When was the last time you saw them normally, fellow Daoist?

"Let me think about it."

Her golden eyes, curved in nine directions, were slightly lowered.

"It's been four or five years."

"Four or five years."

Chen Ji muttered to himself, marveling at how carefree the Dragon God was, ignoring such a matter for four or five years.

But then I thought about it again and it seemed quite normal.

Ordinary deities worshipped in incense typically live for hundreds of years.

Moreover, the Nine Bends belong to the dragon family, so even without the position of river god, they could easily live for thousands of years.

Four or five years is indeed a short time for him, like not seeing his friends for four or five months, so there's really nothing to say about it.

However, four or five years is indeed a long time for people, enough for some changes to occur.

Chen Ji shook his head.

"Since you didn't know they had turned into human demons, and there was nothing unusual when you met them before, it means they weren't like this before. They probably only recently became like this. You could investigate the reason."

"indeed so."

Jiuqu nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

Chen Ji continued to add.

"Moreover, if it weren't for what they did, you probably wouldn't have caught the eye of the River God of Xidu so quickly."

"Ok?"

Jiuqu was taken aback, then realized what was happening, and shook his head with a wry smile.

"I don't know if this is good or bad. I came here to infiltrate Xidu, but I never expected to become Xidu myself..."

"Not that much."

Chen Ji smiled.

"Every cloud has a silver lining. Fellow Daoist, with your reputation, you have been able to infiltrate the West River Water Palace. Perhaps every drink and every bite is a matter of destiny."

"That's the only way to think about it."

Jiuqu nodded and then asked about what had just happened to Chen Ji.

"How do you intend to investigate these two, fellow Daoist? The aquatic creatures here do not stay on the shore for long, so we have not usually investigated matters on the shore."

"Speaking of which, I would like to ask you a question, fellow Daoist."

Chen Ji frowned and asked.

"I had heard from you before that aquatic creatures have difficulty going ashore, but I have also seen aquatic creatures in the Hutuo River, and they do not seem to have this restriction. I would like to ask why?"

"This is a local matter, and it has nothing to do with other aquatic creatures."

The nine bends slowly began.

"Fellow Daoist, do you know that this place is near Fenshan Town?"

"Ah."

"The Ghost King of Fenshan Town set up a large array in the chaotic graveyard, which absorbed too much Yin energy. This Yin energy could not dissipate, so it condensed in the earth veins, even affecting the nearby earth veins."

“Aquatic creatures naturally come into contact with yin energy when they cultivate. If they then go ashore to cultivate, they will be tainted by this ghostly energy, which will easily affect their cultivation.”

"I see."

Chen Ji suddenly realized what the aquatic tribe was worried about.

He had previously noticed that the Yin energy in Shanghe Village was heavier than in other places.

They assumed it was the river god causing trouble, but they never imagined that the river god was also a victim.

Therefore, aquatic creatures are indeed not suitable for staying on land for too long.

The yin energy in Shanghe Village can breed human demons, so it is indeed not difficult for it to corrupt these aquatic creatures.

Especially since they have accumulated a lot of yin energy through their usual cultivation, they are more likely to lose their minds if they are tainted by ghostly energy. "It's good that you understand, fellow Daoist."

Jiuqu slowly opened its mouth.

"Therefore, I will have to trouble you, fellow Daoist, to investigate this matter."

"Actually, I have already asked two fellow Daoists to investigate this matter. It was rather impolite of me not to inform them in advance."

Chen Ji said, sounding somewhat embarrassed.

When he sent the copper toad and the mudfish demon to gather information, he had not yet entered the water palace.

Only now do I realize that I am quite familiar with Jiuqu.

This is indeed a bit impolite.

Jiuqu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Given that the two men were acting so cautiously on the shore, it is indeed appropriate for you to be so careful."

"I am not petty. If you find anything, please do it. If you need my help, just say so."

"Then thank you, Dragon God. I happen to have another question I'd like to ask."

Chen Ji cupped his hands in greeting before asking about the fate of the dozen or so women from before.

"I guessed that you wanted to ask them, so I have already sent someone to invite them over."

"However, although I taught them some cultivation skills, they are still mortals after all."

Before Chen Ji could ask, he took the initiative to explain.

"I am not looking for them for my own selfish desires, but because their destinies are special. If the Ghost King obtains them, the harm will be even greater."

"Ok?"

Chen Ji looked at him with a puzzled expression, but remained silent, waiting for Jiu Qu to continue explaining the reason.

"I was originally a snake. After gaining intelligence, I cultivated using the methods of household spirits and have some knowledge of fortune telling and physiognomy."

"The women I married all have a Yin destiny, and they were able to survive in the Water Palace by practicing their respective arts."

"If it falls into the hands of the Ghost King, I'm afraid there will be many more array bases on the formation tomorrow."

"I see."

After Chen Ji understood, he also admired the Nine-Bend Dragon God's methods.

By abducting women, they not only successfully tarnished their own reputation but also cut off the key to the Ghost King's spellcasting.

Chen Ji was a little curious: Jiu Qu wasn't working in the Xidu River, so how did he know about the Ghost King of Fenshan Town, and even knew more about him?

"And how do aquatic creatures, who are difficult to bring ashore, know about these women?"

"They were all provided by matchmakers and temple keeper. To make their families feel better, I would prepare some gold, silver, jewelry and silk as gifts for them."

"No wonder..."

Chen Ji nodded, finally understanding how Jiuqu determined the list.

Then he asked another question.

The situation at the mass grave was complicated, and he only found out how the Nine-Bend Dragon God knew by having the Stone Mill Demon and Lady Hongci investigate.

"That's what the spirits in the water said."

The Dragon God looked towards the direction of the chaotic graveyard.

“Back then, there were countless corpses in the mass grave, and many wandering souls who could not go to the underworld chose to stay in the mass grave.”

"But what the Ghost King wants is not these vengeful spirits and evil ghosts, but soldiers with fighting power."

"So they began to arrest ordinary wandering spirits on the mountain."

"Some of the souls that were unwilling to obey the Ghost King took advantage of the chaos to escape and came here with the current."

"They returned to their old haunts to seek revenge, and that's when they explained the details to me."

“Some of these ghosts even know which graves the Ghost King placed the array base in.”

"I am also aware of this matter."

"what?"

Jiuqu looked at Chen Ji curiously and asked him how he knew.

"To be honest, I also have two fellow Daoists with me, who happen to be ghosts, who infiltrated the group and brought back this information."

"I see. That's certainly not simple."

Jiuqu sighed, about to say something, when he heard a chattering voice coming from afar.

"I heard that people from the village have come?"

"I wonder whose daughter is here again?"

"Based on the age mentioned last time, she's probably the third daughter of the Xu family, right?"

The women chattered as they rushed in, but suddenly froze, staring at Chen Ji with a strange look in their eyes.

"Why did the Dragon King marry a man this time?"

(End of this chapter)