Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 213 Home Page
Lu Xingzhou felt a little heavy-hearted.

Previously, we rarely considered issues at this level, but upon closer examination, we found that there were indeed many problems.

If it's "ascension," what standards must be met to achieve it? Is one isolated from another realm after ascension?
If the two realms are separated, how did Maha and this ancient corpse get here?
If an ancient corpse was only at the Huiyang level in life, which is the superior level, could it ascend to immortality? Why can't the superior-level imperial advisor and emperor ascend to immortality?
In addition, this ancient corpse also had a group of subordinates who were killed by the formation. How could those subordinates be considered ascension beings?
Maha is still refining the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir that can make people immortal, which means he hasn't ascended to heaven... Is he in another realm?
If the two worlds are not isolated, then why is there no news of them in the world, and what is this world from their perspective?
The Great Qian Dynasty in a box? A world within a painting?
What are the medicinal herbs in the alchemy furnace?
"Is this where you got your alchemy notes?" Ye Tinglan suddenly asked.

Lu Xingzhou snapped out of his daze and nodded: "Yes."

"Besides the alchemy notes, are there any other records?"

“No, my cultivation technique is here.” Lu Xingzhou sighed. “As a temporary residence, people would only take notes on things they were paying attention to at the time. Who writes a diary if they have nothing else to do?”

Ye Tinglan searched around again, but found nothing. A little disappointed, she walked out of the cave.

Outside lay a wilderness ablaze with embers, as if a mountain pass separated fire and water.

In the center of the field stood the enormous dragon and tiger skeletons. Ye Tinglan stood before the skeletons, gently stroking them for a moment, and whispered, "Such creatures do exist in this world."

Lu Xingzhou was taken aback: "Never seen it before. In various ruins?"

Ye Tinglan smiled: "There are some that are still alive."

Lu Xingzhou's heart skipped a beat: "The demon race."

Ye Tinglan nodded approvingly: "The current Demon Emperor is a mother dragon."

Lu Xingzhou: "...We don't need to emphasize 'mother'."

“I just thought you would be interested.” Ye Tinglan stared at the skeleton in a daze and said in a low voice, “Besides the demon race, there should also be some immortal mountains overseas, where humans and demons live together, each with their own power, like a forest of sects. It’s just that they are far away from us and we rarely come into contact with that kind of environment.”

"Couldn't the Mahayana and the ancient corpse have come from there?"

“Of course it’s possible… but those places are ancient realms in themselves, with boundary membranes.” Ye Tinglan said, “Otherwise, the world would hardly be at peace.”

Lu Xingzhou nodded. The people like Maha were clearly stronger. If that level of cultivation was common in those places, there would be virtually no fertile ground for ordinary mortals to survive; it would be a completely different kind of society focused solely on cultivation. Calling it another realm wouldn't be an exaggeration. Perhaps the so-called isolation was a way to protect mortals?
Ye Tinglan said, "These things are far removed from ordinary people, and normally you would never come into contact with them in your entire life. But you came into contact with them when you were only at the lower third rank, which is a strange fate... If the original owner of this place had not died, you would still have crossed paths."

Lu Xingzhou said, "Actually, even without this place, I would have gotten close to it soon, wouldn't I?"

Ye Tinglan turned to look at him.

Lu Xingzhou continued, "The place where you want to take me for trials is most likely to be a ruin of this kind."

Ye Tinglan smiled and said, "It wouldn't be that peaceful."

She paused, then changed the subject, saying, "Although these dragon and tiger bones are no longer of much use, you can still carry some with you. Not only are they a kind of medicinal material, but if you encounter something similar in the future, their bones might create some bloodline connection, or at the very least, they can be used for witchcraft."

Lu Xingzhou then took one leg bone from each of them and placed it on his body.

Ye Tinglan looked around, her gaze sweeping over the spirit stone mine as if she hadn't seen it at all, and she was quite disappointed: "This place is just a cultivation treasure land, of unexpectedly high quality, which is why it is occupied and used by that Maha. But it is not a place where ancient secrets are buried."

"So it's a treasure land for cultivation." Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this. How much do you look down on treasure lands for cultivation? Those are places that people fight tooth and nail for, okay? Super-grade cultivators have already taken them all and are causing trouble, and you're actually quite disappointed.

After thinking for a moment, he cautiously asked, "Sir, do you know of any... um, the kind of thing that involves feng shui manipulation to enhance the earth's energy? It's not very effective in ordinary places, but this kind of feng shui can work, right?"

Ye Tinglan glanced at him and chuckled, "However, there's no need to do anything else here. This dragon and tiger embrace is a natural feng shui formation. Keeping it secure is more important than anything else."

He finished speaking with a cold laugh: "Changing the feng shui and energy flow is an act of defying fate. Maha's failure is directly related to the severe backlash he suffered from this act. Are you trying to kill me for Shen Tang's sake?"

"I didn't know it was that serious," Lu Xingzhou said with a forced smile. "So, there really is such a method?"

"Have."

"Can you teach me?"

Ye Tinglan asked curiously, "You know that this will come at a huge price, yet you still want to learn it? Shen Tang's Qi is already very strong; she doesn't need to do this."

“It’s just that having more skills is never a bad thing, and it’s always good to be prepared.” Lu Xingzhou blinked. “Why do you have to think it’s for Tangtang? Who knows, maybe one day it’ll be for you, sir.”

Ye Tinglan stared at him in astonishment for a long time, then suddenly laughed: "Theoretically, I will only teach you alchemy... But I have already taught you the method of bone connection, so it won't hurt to teach you a little more... If you have the ability, then use it."

Lu Xingzhou bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, sir."

…………

Shen Tang was restless in the room, and kept pacing back and forth.

Anuo sat cross-legged to one side, her little head turning back and forth with her movements.

Shen Tang finally reached out and pinched her cheek: "You're saying your master has no relationship with this gentleman?"

Ah Nuo's voice distorted: "For now, it really doesn't matter." It's just that this gentleman looks like Sister Yu, and nobody knows what Master is thinking or whether there will be any consequences later...

"It's okay, he was willing to take her to the secret realm, and even went there alone for so long! A lone man and woman hiding down there for so long, they could have even had a child!"

Ah Nuo glanced at her sideways.

"What kind of look is that? I'm thinking of you!" Shen Tang said seriously. "If I give you a younger brother or sister, you won't be as pampered!"

Ah Nuo almost burst out laughing: "Master's wife, don't you want to give me a younger brother or sister?"

"I..." Shen Tang gritted her teeth, "At least I'm not that fast!"

Ah Nuo smiled and buried her head in her chest, nuzzling against her: "Okay, okay, good teacher's wife."

"If you know I'm a good person, then keep an eye on those vixens for me," Shen Tang urged. "If you see them crossing any lines, sabotage it, understand?"

Ah Nuo said, "Master's wife, aren't you quite magnanimous? One minute you agree with Sister White Hair, the next you agree with Sister Yao..."

"Well, there's no other way. If your master really likes it... Besides, they can help your master too."

“Then Mr. Ye is of the highest rank, so he can be of even greater help.”

Shen Tang stared blankly, speechless for a long while before finally managing to stammer, "But she's also your master's master, how can you be master and disciple?"

“She’s not really a master,” Ah Nuo said. “Master said this kind of thing is at most called tutoring, which is more interesting… uh…”

Ah Nuo quickly covered her mouth, her eyes darting around.

Shen Tang gritted her teeth: "Fine, so you've already fallen for her, haven't you?"

"No, no," A'nuo said with a forced smile. "Anyway, no matter what the meaning is, you're A'nuo's only master's wife."

Shen Tang beamed and picked up A Nuo, giving her a kiss: "Tell me what you want to eat, and your teacher's wife will buy it for you."

These women are too easy to fool, not even as good as children. Ah Nuo sighed wearily.

"Sect Master." Shen Qi's shadow appeared behind him: "Shi Tielong has already sent an envoy to the capital, most likely to seek support from Prince Jin or the Huo family."

"He didn't understand that the more open the competition was, the less likely the Prince of Jin and the Huo family would act rashly. At most, they would send one or two experts to help him behind the scenes... What about the rest?"

"Shi Zhong has led his troops to Dongjiang to support Shi Tielong."

"How can he back us up?" Shen Tang gave a mocking smile: "Can he make other companies refuse to give us their goods and only give them to the Dongjiang Gang?"

Shen Qi said, "I'm afraid it really is possible."

"That will only affect the area around Dongjiang County. The core is in Xiazhou now. Even the Dongjiang Gang is moving to Xiazhou. What's the point of messing around with Dongjiang County?"

"With Shi Zhong's arrival, the Dongjiang Gang should be here soon as well."

Shen Tang smiled slightly: "Guests from afar are honored. Have someone wait at the main road until Chief Shi arrives, and tell him that I, Shen Tang, am hosting a welcome dinner for them at Songfeng Tower in Xiazhou."

Shen Qi gave Shen Tang a deep look. Whenever Lu Xingzhou wasn't around, the princess truly had the air of a ruler, and her initiative and aggressiveness in doing things were very strong.

But as soon as Lu Xingzhou appears, she seems like a completely different person.

Shen Qi thought for a moment: "When hosting a dinner party, we must be wary of sudden changes during the meal. Shi Zhong is ultimately a second-rank official, and his strength surpasses that of all of us."

"It's alright, the Prefect will be there too, to mediate business conflicts in the prefecture. Peace brings wealth, after all." Shen Tang smiled, revealing her neat white teeth. Shen Qi felt that she looked somewhat familiar. He turned his head and saw that A Nuo had the same expression on her face, as if it were a copy.

"Sect Master! Sect Master!" Tang Yunzhong rushed in from outside: "Our first batch of goods was robbed by masked men in the suburbs as expected when it left Xia Prefecture."

Shen Tang smiled and asked, "How is it?"

"Commander Wan of the Demon Suppression Division staked out the area and captured all the intruders. They were brought back for interrogation and found to be members of the Cangshan Sword Sect."

"This is their home turf, they haven't figured it out yet... Such a generous gift delivered to their doorstep, wouldn't it be a waste not to return the favor by visiting the Cangshan Sword Sect?" Shen Tang put down A Nuo in her hand: "Go and call your master out to work, stop squatting there and being all lovey-dovey with your private tutor."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Xingzhou appeared outside the door: "Hey, I really am here to do something important!"

Ye Tinglan stood there expressionless, glaring at Shen Tang, with a bellyful of complaints but no way to express them.

Why are you staring at me tearing this up? What does it have to do with me anyway?

I'm planning to help you become my wife, and you're treating me like a mistress?

(End of this chapter)