Daily Intelligence: From Water Snake to Jinghe Dragon King

Chapter 197 Soul Beast Riot Steals Yin Soldiers, Journey to the West Three Immortals: Tiger, Sheep, and Deer

Even when courting someone, there are priorities, which is a realistic consideration. Liu Qing is very useful to the Li family. Just consider his ability to continuously supply them with salt, allowing the Li family to quickly accumulate wealth and provisions, purchase warhorses, acquire armor and weapons, and raise a private army.

This would make Li Hu, the civil judge, think more highly of Liu Qing and place Liu Qing's importance above that of other aristocratic families.
Furthermore, Liu Qing is also the river god of Dawan Lake, commanding thousands of river demons—a force not to be underestimated.

If the Li family could obtain the assistance of the river demons under Liu Qing's command when they raise their banner, the Li family would surely be able to quickly take control of the Qin region.
Why would a river demon, or the river god Liu Qing, need to help in the struggle for supremacy among mortals?
The reason is simple: after the Yang family established their dynasty, they bestowed titles upon a large number of incense gods who were close to the Yang family, including but not limited to the City God, Earth God, Mountain God, and River God.

These officially appointed gods of incense offerings are not easy for ordinary soldiers to deal with, so they can only rely on the power under Liu Qing's command.

It's not that ordinary people can't deal with incense gods, but the price to pay for annihilating one is too high.

Since Liu Qing possesses this ability, it's natural to let him handle it. This way, too many civilian soldiers can be killed or wounded, allowing the focus to be placed on fighting other rebel armies.
Li Hu, the judge, had a well-thought-out plan: to win over Liu Qing and get him to help the Li family deal with the incense god appointed by the Yang family.
Meanwhile, the mortal forces of the Li family will focus their efforts on dealing with other rebel armies. In this way, both mortals and gods will be able to cope, and only then can the Li family transform from a family into a nation.

Liu Qing understood all of this, which is why he felt perfectly justified in taking Li Hu's judgment.
However, he never expected that even without his efforts to win over the Li family with spiritual materials and medicines, Liu Qing would still help the Li family for the sake of the future.

I got a great deal for free.

Seeing that Liu Qing had accepted his treasure, Li Hu, the civil judge, was very happy and seemed much relieved. Liu Qing also sighed inwardly.
Just now you were mocking Yang Zhen for his hard work and effort for the Yang family, but now you're also emptying your savings of two hundred years for the Li family.
Parents love their children and plan far ahead for them; ancestors are the same, never forgetting their children and grandchildren even after death.

Liu Qing also noticed something else: when Li Hu, the civil official, was talking to him earlier, he kept referring to the Li family as "Li Shimin."

This shows that he now highly values ​​Li Shimin, almost regarding Li Shimin as the head of the Li family, and is convinced that Li Shimin will ultimately lead the Li family to power.

Liu Qing was very impressed. No wonder he was an old ghost who had lived for hundreds of years; his judgment was just as good as his own.

After admiring him, Liu Qing felt relieved. The Li family ancestors regarded Li Shimin as the head of the Li family, so he would only help Li Shimin and not Li Yuan or Li Jiancheng, and he would not have to worry about being suspected or provoked.

With this hidden worry gone, they can act more freely and increase their support for Li Shimin in future endeavors.

Before we knew it, we had finished a whole jar of Drunken Soul Spring wine.

Just as Liu Qing got up to take his leave and depart from the City God's realm with Yuan Datou, Li Hu's personal guards, who had been stationed on the outer perimeter, rushed in to report...

It's said that there's a riot of soul beasts in the Chaotic Soul Mountain to the north. For some unknown reason, a beast tide, led by several soul beasts, has been launched and is charging towards this direction.
Hundreds of ghosts living here have been torn apart by the soul beasts. We beg the judge to quickly send troops to quell the beast tide.

"You go first. These soul beasts are rioting. I need to mobilize troops to suppress them. Otherwise, if the rescue is ineffective and I am despised by all the ghosts, my divine power may be damaged and my cultivation may decline."

Liu Qing did not leave as instructed, but instead stopped in her tracks.

Having just received someone's treasured possessions accumulated over one or two hundred years, how can you simply walk away now that they're in trouble?
It's just that the City God might cause me trouble. He's busy sending threatening messages in my dreams right now, so he can't worry about me.

Li Hu, the civil judge, changed his expression and immediately took to the air, looking towards the Chaotic Soul Mountain to the north. Liu Qing also strained his eyes to see in that direction.

They saw countless birds, beasts, insects, and fish rushing down from the dark, chaotic Soul Mountain, all riding on ghostly mist, heading this way.

When encountering ghosts from the Dharma Realm who couldn't escape along the way, they would swarm forward, tear them apart, and devour them. Soon, the screams and cries of the ghosts would resound throughout the Dharma Realm.

These spirit beasts are the ghosts of birds, beasts, insects, and fish that died in the mortal world. After death, they came to the City God's realm and settled on Chaotic Soul Mountain.
The ghosts of the dead have a lifespan in the underworld, and the spirit beasts that birds, beasts, fish and insects transform into after death also have a lifespan in the underworld. Therefore, the underworld officials and ghost soldiers in the City God's realm only drive them to the Chaotic Soul Mountain and do not slaughter them.

But why did they suddenly riot, forming a beast tide that attacked the City God's realm?

"Can we find out why these spirit beasts suddenly attacked the City God's realm?"

"Reporting to Judge, according to the leading spirit beasts, in the past few days, the ghosts of our Dharma Realm have suddenly increased their hunting efforts in the mountains, killing many spirit beasts whose lifespans have not yet run out."

The mountain people's ghosts went up the mountain to hunt, and they had an agreement with the spirit beasts: they could only hunt spirit beasts whose lifespan had run out, and they were not allowed to kill spirit beasts whose lifespan had not run out.

"Are they desperate for money? Didn't we tell them long ago that we can't hunt soul beasts whose lifespan hasn't run out? Why do these ghosts always ignore us?"

Liu Qing rubbed her nose, blaming herself for the mess.

If it weren't for my massive purchases of vegetables, fish, and meat from the Dharma Realm, these ghosts wouldn't all have gone into the mountains to hunt and kill spirit beasts. In order to earn my incense money, they even hunted spirit beasts that hadn't exhausted their lifespan.

This ultimately led to the revenge of the soul beasts of Chaotic Soul Mountain.

Well, here's another reason why I can't leave right away.

Li Hu, the civil judge, took the divine token from his waist and handed it to his close Yin soldiers: "With this token, you shall quickly go to Xuanjian City to mobilize troops. Have Zhao Gui, the military judge, General Jinjia, and General Yinsuo patrol day and night, leading the Yin soldiers and Yin messengers in the city to help me quell the beast tide."

The City God Temple in Chang'an is of a high status, second only to the City God Temple in Luoyang, the capital city. It is staffed with countless ghostly soldiers, officials, and messengers.
It also features official divine positions such as the Martial Judge, the Golden Shackles General, the Silver Rope General, as well as the Day Wanderer and the Night Wanderer.

Judge Zhao Gui was also one of the Eight Pillars of State, but due to the incompetence of his descendants and the decline of his family, he was reduced to a seventh-rank judge.
As for the General with Golden Shackles and Silver Chains, the God of Day and Night, he was a loyal minister and general who died in battle during the founding of the Sui Dynasty and was personally conferred an imperial title by Emperor Yang Jian, the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty.

"Why aren't you leaving yet? What are you waiting here for?"

The trusted ghost soldiers who were ordered to leave did not leave immediately, but hesitated. When Li Hu, the civil judge, saw this, he shouted and cursed them.

"Judge, we have once again covered the rear to slow down the beast tide. You should go to the city to mobilize troops. There are too many soul beasts. Even with your profound cultivation, you may not be able to fight them all."

"Although I, your master, cannot quell the beast tide alone, I can buy enough time for the ghost soldiers in the city to come. Enough with the nonsense, go quickly!" Liu Qing also said to the ghost soldier, "You go quickly to mobilize troops. I will work with your master to delay the beast tide's attack."

Seeing Liu Qing speak, Yuan Datou, wanting to curry favor with Judge Li Hu, chimed in, "I, the seventh-rank General Fubo, will also assist Judge Li Hu in stopping the beast tide."

Seeing that the seventh-rank Fubo General Yuan Datou was helping them, the Yin soldiers' worries eased slightly. They bowed to Yuan Datou and then turned to flee towards Xuanjian City.

Only Liu Qing was ignored by the Yin soldiers. Why? Because Liu Qing seemed to have the lowest cultivation level, merely a Refining Void and Joining the Dao, and even lower than my cultivation level, yet he dared to boast that he could help my master block the beast tide.

Liu Qing was frustrated, realizing he had been underestimated by a mere bunch of ghost soldiers.

Those who can serve as underworld soldiers and messengers within the City God's realm in Chang'an City, even those with the lowest cultivation, have at least reached the stage of Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness. For example, this close underworld soldier of Li Hu, the judge, once received Li Hu's blessing and has surprisingly reached the early stage of the Divine Power Realm.

Judging solely by one's cultivation level, it's reasonable to underestimate oneself. However, who told you that combat strength is equivalent to cultivation level?
Li Hu, the judge, nodded slightly to Yuan Datou. Although Yuan Datou's cultivation was somewhat low, he felt he should be grateful for the other party's initiative in helping him.

Wenpan Li Hu stepped on the ghostly mist, his figure as fast as lightning, and rushed towards the beast tide. Liu Qing spat out the Yin Jade Spirit Banner, flapped his fiery wings, and followed closely behind. Yuan Datou saw Liu Qing go first, and then activated his incense and divine power to follow.

The Yin Jade Spirit Banner is most suitable for dealing with all creatures without a physical body, whether they are ghosts, dragons, demons, or spirit beasts.

"You wicked beasts, how dare you gather the soul beasts of Chaotic Soul Mountain to attack the City God's realm! Do you believe I will cross out your lifespans from the Book of Lifespans?"

Li Hu, the judge, had already reached the Five Qi Realm. Even with his ability to control the ghost mist, his speed was only slightly faster than Liu Qing's fire wings. When Liu Qing arrived, he heard Li Hu cursing the leading soul beasts at the front of the beast tide.

These spirit beasts can actually transform into human form, clearly they are the ghosts of monsters who died in the mortal world.

After briefly sensing their aura, I realized that these spirit beasts were no match for me; they too possessed the cultivation of the Three Flowers Realm.
No wonder they dared to launch a beast tide; they were relying on their own power.

Liu Qing was about to get close, but when he sensed the powerful cultivation of the several soul beasts, he couldn't help but retreat.

When a demon dies in the mortal realm, its ghost arrives in the City God's realm, but its strength is greatly weakened. The fact that these spirit beasts still possess the cultivation of the Three Flowers Realm shows just how powerful they were in life.

He's probably at least a demon king in the mortal realm.

If he is a demon king, he is probably a stupid demon king. With such profound cultivation, even if his physical body dies, his demon soul can still seize a physical body and live another life. How could he be so stupid as to be locked up by the ghost soldiers and ghost messengers and brought to the City God's realm to become a pitiful soul beast?

Upon hearing that their lifespans were to be shortened, the soul beasts were instantly filled with fear. Even the leading three-flower realm soul beasts showed fear in their eyes.
This shows how terrifying the Judge's Pen and the Book of Death are.

"Old man, don't try to scare us. We're not easily frightened. This trip of yours is just a routine inspection. You certainly didn't bring the Judge's Pen with you. Besides, even if you did, the Book of Death and Longevity isn't under your control!"

"Yes, Tiger Power Immortal is right. You only have the Judge's Pen, not the Book of Life and Death."

"Yes, yes, Tiger Power Immortal and Sheep Power Immortal are both right. The Book of Life and Death is in the hands of the City God. You old man, you scared the three of us."

"Don't be afraid, eldest and second brothers, I, the third brother, the Great Immortal Deer Power, won't be scared by you either."

These three spirit beasts are quite old-fashioned; while others call themselves gods, they actually call themselves 'immortals'.

You should know that after the Heavenly Court took control of the Three Realms, these immortals should be called Gods of Authority. The Jade Emperor called himself the Lord of All Gods and wanted to trample all living beings in the Three Realms under his feet, which is why he changed the title of immortals to gods.

As Liu Qing was inwardly grumbling, he suddenly had a jolt: Tiger Power Immortal, Sheep Power Immortal, Deer Power Immortal.

If it weren't for the shared name, there would probably be three more monsters on the journey to the West after the Special Scholar!
However, judging from the words of these three demons, they seem so foolish—is this truly a calamity for the Journey to the West? Upon careful consideration, Liu Qing felt it made sense.
Looking at the story of Journey to the West alone, these three demons were first tricked into drinking urine, and then provoked into having their heads boiled in oil. They can be considered the three most foolish demons among all the demons on the journey.

In terms of stupidity, he does fit the description of the three people in front of him.

There's an advantage to monsters being foolish: once they've grasped a principle, they're not easily swayed by others.
For example, right now, Judge Li Hu is using his judge's pen and the Yin Shou Shu (a type of ancient Chinese writing tablet) to scare them, trying to buy them more time.
If it were any other cunning and scheming demon, they would surely think long and hard, and hesitate, which would perfectly suit Li Hu's delaying tactic.
But the three Tiger Power Immortal, Sheep Power Immortal, and Deer Power Immortal were foolishly simple-minded and unaffected. Once they made their decision, they waved their hands and ordered their various soul beasts to continue their assault on the City God's realm.

Various kinds of tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, eagles, foxes, roe deer, blackfish, crabs, turtles, etc., whether they live in the mountains, swim in the water, or fly in the sky.
Once a soul is captured by the City God after death, it will transform into a spirit beast, riding on ghostly mist, hovering in mid-air, roaring and bellowing, and pouncing towards Judge Li Hu.

Judge Li Hu gave a bitter smile, knowing that his trickery was futile and that his attempts to wink at a blind man had failed, so he had no choice but to confront the issue head-on.

Then he let out a clear and melodious whistle, and the divine power of incense within his body surged forth, spreading out and forming five mountain peaks around his body.

One mountain peak was yellow, exuding the heaviness of earth; another was golden, radiating divine power; one was like a volcano, constantly spewing lava; another was a towering tree, its branches and vines whipping at the soul beasts; and the last one was an ice mountain, from which ice blades flew out, shooting towards the soul beasts.

The most common attack method for a cultivator at the Five Elements Realm is to transform divine power into the Five Elements.

The divine power of the incense was divided into the five elements, manifesting as five great mountains that protected Li Hu, the judge, in the center. These mountains unleashed the power of the five elements, shattering any approaching soul beasts.

Liu Qing tossed the Yin Jade Spirit Banner in his hand into the air, channeling demonic energy into it. The banner spun rapidly, suddenly growing many times larger.
As the banner was waved in mid-air, streaks of blood-red soul threads emerged, like monstrous pythons, binding the soul beasts below and dragging them into the banner.
Furthermore, accompanied by a violent dragon roar, the Jinghe Old Dragon, along with his wife and children, the Gaga Demon Lord, and other Yin spirits and demons, once again made their grand entrance.

They would gather in groups of three or five, seize a soul beast, and drag it into the Yin Jade Spirit Banner. Soon after, the soul beast pulled into the banner would have its mind erased, becoming a new puppet, manipulated to harm its own companions.
Liu Qing sent out a wisp of his spirit to control the Yin Jade Spirit Banner, while his main body laughed loudly, wielding a Spirit-Binding Chain in each hand. He then unleashed his perfected Wind Transformation Divine Power, plunging into the horde of soul beasts, binding them, and tossing them into the Yin Jade Spirit Banner.
Divided by his own mind, he manipulated the Yin Jade Spirit Banner, binding it with blood-red soul threads. The Jing River Old Dragon and its companions drove them away and captured it. Now, with the addition of Liu Qing's true form binding his spirit...

With all three methods employed simultaneously, they quickly captured several times more soul beasts than before, including Yin gods and demons. This Yin Jade Spirit Banner truly lived up to its reputation as a spiritual treasure specifically designed to counter ghosts; the puppets it controlled actually multiplied with each battle.

(End of this chapter)