Xianye

Chapter 502 Fencing and Singing in the Night

Tian Xia saw Chen Heng sitting cross-legged on the cliff, his figure obscured by wisps of smoke, making him indistinct and impossible to discern.

A beam of clear light emanated from the smoke, winding like a dragon, seemingly soaring straight up to the heavens, lifting up the full moon that was about to rise from the clouds, exuding a majestic aura.

Tian Xia only glanced at the clear light for a few breaths before suddenly feeling an intense stinging in her pupils, almost bringing tears to her eyes.

Although the two energies still intertwined and floated uncertainly within the clear light, striking and rubbing against each other in an instant, seemingly trying to create a grand scene of heaven and earth, Tian Xia dared not look any longer.

He carefully retreated to the foot of the cliff, rubbed his eyes for a while, regulated his breathing several times, and only then did he calm his mind.

"Master's cultivation is nearing a crucial point. If you go up now, won't you be disturbing his peaceful cultivation?"

At this moment, the Five Qi Universe Ring slowly strolled down, glanced at Tian Xia, and shook its head.

In the past few days, Tian Xia has naturally learned Chen Heng's true identity and his background.

At first, Tian Xia could not even meditate peacefully. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and she felt that her mind was blank and her thoughts were muddled.

In the end, he figured it out himself, and gradually lost that unexpected and excited frenzy, but he still couldn't hide his joy.

"The three stages of the Golden Core in orthodox immortal cultivation should involve a physical form within the spirit, right? Judging from this unusual phenomenon, could it be that Master is about to make further progress in his cultivation?"

Upon hearing the Five Qi Universe Ring speak, Tian Xia quickly smiled and took out food from his sleeve to offer as a tribute.

Although when they first met, he was given a good beating by the Five Qi Universe Circle.

However, Tian Xia now knows that among the several magical artifacts around Chen Heng, only the Five Qi Universe Ring, which looks like a chubby boy, is the easiest to get close to.

As for the others, let alone talking to them, it was difficult to even see them.

The concept of intimacy is naturally out of the question...

Only those within the family know their own situation. Tian Xia knew that although she had entered Chen Heng's residence, given Chen Heng's status, there were probably tens of thousands of retainers like herself in his residence.
Not counting elders and disciples of the Jade Emperor Sect like Xue Jing, Yang Kezhen, Sun Feng, and Shen Cheng, there were also Daoist cultivators like Cai Qing and Wang Yun who secretly pledged allegiance after the Xi Ping incident, not to mention the various sects and dynasties among the Sixteen Kingdoms of Pan Shui.

As for the latter, he was practically a household servant, and compared to retainers like Tian Xia, they were naturally even closer!
If you calculate it this way, it's probably far more than ten thousand, or even several times more.

Tian Xia was well aware of the reason why she had such good fortune.

If it weren't for the deception, he, a mere rat demon, would probably have had no way of finding a way to serve others even if he wanted to risk his life.

If the scriptures were truly divine objects that could be obtained at will, then so be it.

Tian Xia could then have more confidence in establishing himself in Chen Heng's household.

Using the Deception Sutra is tantamount to ascending a mountain of knives and treading on a sharp blade, fraught with danger like spinning on a precarious pillar. Otherwise, Tian Xia would not have had the idea of ​​going to Wen Zhaotian to seek another opportunity.

In this way, Tian Xia naturally focused his attention on the Five Qi Universe Circle.

Hoping to receive some guidance from this person, so that I may avoid some detours and make fewer mistakes in Chen Heng's household in the future.

"Kid, you're on the right track!"

The box of shortbread presented by Tian Xia was just the right consistency, soft yet firm, and incredibly delicious, almost like drinking cheese.

These snacks, which the Escape Shuttle and the others found unappealing, were exactly what the Five Qi Universe Circle wanted. They ate dozens of pieces in one go, and even after licking their lips, they were still somewhat unsatisfied.

"Although you have entered the master's mansion, you don't need to worry too much."

To put it bluntly, with your current cultivation level, if you don't make any significant progress in the future, even if you reach Xudu Heaven, you might not see the master again for another hundred years!
I suspect that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, you will be working in the master's fiefdom, just like that Ge Ji from Hong Jingtian.

As for which of the sixteen kingdoms it refers to, that depends on the will of Tu Shan Ge.

"Tu Shan Ge?"

Tian Xia's ears perked up, and he quickly asked, "May I ask who this gentleman is?"

"This Tu Shan Ge is quite remarkable, and I dare not underestimate him!"
He had been by the master's side before the master rose to power. Although the master's family and business were now much larger than before, he still treated Tu Shan Ge with the same kindness.

"Nowadays in the Master's mansion, most external affairs are handled by Elder Xue Jing, while private matters are managed by Tu Shan Ge. You could say he's the person directly in charge of you and Ge Ji!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Xia was startled and quickly adopted a solemn expression.

"There's no need for that. Tu Shan Ge is actually quite easy to get along with. As long as you don't commit evil deeds and fall into his hands, he won't do anything to you."

Upon seeing this, the Five Qi Universe Circle first offered a word of comfort, then muttered under its breath:
"However, your true form is a rat, while Tu Shan Ge's true form is a fox. I wonder if foxes eat rats?"

Considering the respect shown earlier, the Five Qi Universe Circle patiently began to speak eloquently.

Tian Xia, who was standing to the side, sometimes seemed to be deep in thought, and sometimes suddenly realized something.

Just as they were getting into the discussion of the Five Elements and the Universe, a clear whistle suddenly pierced the sky from the corner of the cliff, like a waterfall hundreds of feet high, its turbulent flow sweeping away all the turmoil!
The Five Qi Universe Ring and Tian Xia turned their heads to look, and saw the light in the sky slowly recede, and amidst the swirling gale, Chen Heng walked out leisurely.

At this moment, his face was radiant with a clear aura, and his eyes shone brightly, just like the stars in the sky.

"Twenty-four years have passed, and finally, a glimpse of the key has been unlocked..."

Chen Heng looked inward and smiled to himself.

He has now grasped a glimpse of the hidden mystery, and only needs to delve deeper and carefully comprehend it to understand the wonders of the inner world.

However, a quick calculation suggests that the Dan Yuan Grand Assembly is still about twenty years away.

This amount of time is neither particularly ample nor particularly urgent.

The reason why the inner vision practice of the third level of Golden Elixir is called "minor Dharma Image" is because this step also requires comprehending the natural world and harmonizing Qi with the true essence.

Therefore, many Golden Core cultivators from major sects, upon reaching this stage, will undergo trials in the mortal world to refine their minds and use this method to achieve profound understanding and ultimately attain the true realm.

After Chen Heng pried open that key, he also had such thoughts.

However, since there were still some trivial matters to attend to, he didn't want to prolong the process and put it off until the last minute.

It's not too late to first brush away the dust in front of you, and then do a detailed study.

As the appointed time with the old dragon was fast approaching, Chen Heng pondered for a moment before unleashing a sword beam that vanished into the depths of the azure sky.

Mountain mist has risen, shrouding the thousand peaks in a hazy glow.

In just the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, a mountain range resembling a crouching lion appeared.

Chen Heng pressed his sword light down on the cloud, then stood in the night sky, hands behind his back, waiting.

Previously, he had ordered Tian Xia to send two talismanic letters, one to Huangwu Zhoushi and the other to Lao Chilong.

When Huang Wuzhou saw that Chen Heng was willing to step in and resolve the matter of Shui Gongzhi, he was overjoyed. He was even willing to accept the compensation of Tian Xia's money.

As for the reply from the old dragon, it was ambiguous.

Although he did not nod in agreement, indicating that he would let the matter drop after accepting Tian Xia's compensation, he did not explicitly refute it either, but instead wrote a long letter in his own hand.

Stripped of all the effusive praise and polite words in the letter, the underlying meaning was simply to express a willingness to meet with Chen Heng tonight.

The old dragon is the local tyrant of this wondrous land, and its influence here is considerable.

Then Chen Heng might actually need to use this person's power to search for that Daoist traitor named Qian Lie.

Qian Lie was originally an elder of Yunting Mountain in the Yuchen Dao lineage. However, his scheme to harm his fellow disciples and seek power was exposed. So, he decided to go all out and wipe out Yunting Mountain before fleeing with his treasures.

His last appearance was in this wondrous place.

Yunting Mountain was originally a minor sect, founded casually by Senior Yu Chen during his travels, and its foundation was not deep.

Having suffered a severe blow, they were powerless to deal with Qian Lie, so they had no choice but to report the matter to the Yu Chen Sect, hoping that someone above them could uphold justice for them.

For Chen Heng, killing Qian Lie would not be difficult.

However, if it takes a lot of effort to find this person's whereabouts, it will inevitably slow down his own cultivation.

In this way, if we can borrow the power of the old dragon, we can naturally save ourselves a lot of hard work...

Just then, Chen Heng caught a glimpse of the clouds in the sky, which surged like raging waves and stretched into the distance, creating a hazy, indistinct view.

A wave was faintly visible, and before the wave even got close, a rumbling sound arose, the voice quite complex:

"Such great supernatural power, such heavy malevolence...May I ask how many dragons this immortal has slaughtered?"

……

……

In a short while, it became even darker all around, and the wave of water came carrying with it murky fog and damp wind.

At the crest of the wave stood a burly old man with red scales on his forehead, his eyes filled with hostility.

Chen Heng merely smiled at the old dragon's preemptive move, and with a burst of his profound energy, a stream of pure energy suddenly shot out from behind him, heading straight for the clouds!

Although the pure energy seemed light and weightless, it was actually formed from Chen Heng's profound magical power. As soon as it was released, it caused the water waves to shake several times, with the rapids splashing and revealing an unstable state.

The old dragon seemed to be deep in thought. After a brief struggle, it was the first to withdraw its hand seal and the water wave, and Chen Heng also withdrew his pure energy.

In just a moment, the wind died down and the fog dissipated, and the weather returned to its clear and bright state, as if nothing had happened.

"My name is Xun Jian. I pay my respects to you. I see that your spirit is radiant and clear as day. My disciple underestimated you in his previous words!"

At this moment, the old dragon named Xun Jian took the initiative to bow and said politely.

“I have long heard of Lord Xun’s great name, but meeting him today has made me even more impressed.”

Chen Heng returned the greeting and said.

Before coming to this wondrous land, Chen Heng had visited Cangqiu, a desolate region inhabited by a group of monstrous hybrids. After completing the sect talisman on the Jade Tree in Cangqiu, Chen Heng also took the opportunity to wipe out a group of these monstrous hybrids, easing some of the survival pressure on the humans of Cangqiu.

Of those mixed-race monsters who died under Chen Heng's sword, more than 60% were related to the dragon race and could be considered alternative dragon species.

Xun Jian was also a dragon-type deity, and he had a mysterious connection with his fellow beings. Since Chen Heng did not deliberately conceal his aura, he could naturally sense the abnormality.

However, this person is not one to be stubborn or inflexible.

After only a brief probing and realizing that the other party was not easy to deal with, he quickly withdrew, acting as if nothing had happened...

Xun Jian's actions gave Chen Heng a bit more confidence in facilitating the deal that would follow.

After a few pleasantries, Xun Jian cut to the chase and said:

"I am deeply grateful that you have taken the time out of your busy schedule. However, please forgive my bluntness, but I am quite wealthy and have no shortage of money in my household."

Only the Water Deity Fungus, which is beneficial to the cultivation of us dragons, must not be easily discarded!

As he finished speaking, Xun Jian's expression darkened slightly, and his voice became much more solemn.

Chen Heng simply smiled upon seeing this and said:
"If what the Taoist books say is true, although the Water God Mushroom can help the dragon seed's cultivation, it will also damage its foundation. Using such an external medicine could have serious consequences?"

Xun Jian frowned slightly upon hearing this, and was about to speak when Chen Heng's voice rang out again:
"I have come here today only to have something I wish to show Lord Xun."

After speaking, Chen Heng held up a blood crystal the size of a pigeon egg in his palm. It was plump and full, with specks of red light swirling around it, making it dazzling.

As soon as the blood crystal was released, a faint dragon's roar echoed through the mountains, causing Xun Jian's expression to tremble slightly.

"Is this Dragon Essence?"

Rao Xunjian had expected this, but seeing it in person still made his pupils shrink in surprise:
"This dragon essence is quite pure!"

"Water fungus is beneficial to dragons, and so is dragon essence. Since dragon essence is only born from a hybrid, for us cultivators, to use it, we need to use various secret medicines to remove the impurities inside. In this way, it is not worth the loss."

Chen Heng glanced at Xun Jian and said:
"But Lord Xun is of dragon lineage, so they are of the same origin and should not face such restrictions when using him, right?"

"How many of these items does the real person possess?"

Xun Jian changed the subject without changing his expression, a hint of hidden greed appearing in his eyes.

"This is enough for Lord Xun's use. What do you think of this?" Chen Heng smiled.

"Good, very good!"

Xun Jian's expression changed to a smile, and after thinking for a moment, he said warmly:

"This is not the place to talk. I have a water palace not far away. I hope you will not find my humble abode too simple and will come here to chat!"

"It just so happens that I also have a matter to trouble you with, Lord Xun."

With Chen Heng's keen eyesight, he could see the fleeting greed on Xun Jian's face, but he didn't take it to heart and simply said calmly.

"Even if it were ten, let alone one, it wouldn't matter!"

Seeing Chen Heng nod, Xun Jian immediately patted his chest and made a boastful statement.

Not long after they rode the wind, they came upon a mighty river, vast and boundless, shrouded in mist and haze, a sight that filled them with joy.

When Xun Jian lifted the restriction and led Chen Heng into the underwater palace at the bottom of the river, a banquet had already been prepared in the main hall.

All sorts of exquisitely prepared delicacies and fine wines were neatly arranged on the jade table, and a group of turtle ministers and dragon generals from the Water Palace came out to accompany them, while there were also singers and dancers below the hall to serve wine.

It exudes an air of overwhelming wealth and status, which naturally inspires admiration in people!
After arriving at the place, the two politely declined each other's offer of seats several times before finally taking their places.

After several rounds of drinks, Chen Heng remained indifferent to the elaborately decorated water mansion of his family.

Whether it was the magnificent palace with its jewels and precious aquatic plants, or the exquisite soft clothing and melodious music playing below, he didn't pay much attention to them, merely glancing over them.

Seeing that he couldn't get any details out of Chen Heng, Xun Jian was somewhat helpless. He simply put down the jade cup in his hand and asked:

"I wonder what you were referring to just now, Master. If I can help, I will certainly spare no effort!"

"I just want Lord Xun to find someone for me."

Chen Heng raised his eyes and said Qian Lie's name.

He also knew that this person might not use his real name after escaping to Miaobao Land, so he also took out Qian Lie's portrait.

"Who is it? Isn't this Master Ji Lei? Is Master also looking for this person to refine pills? But this person often travels around, and I don't know if he is at home now."

Upon first hearing the name Qian Lie, Xun Jian pondered for a moment.

Upon seeing the portrait, even though Qian Lie had deliberately changed his appearance, he still couldn't hide it from Xun Jian's eyes, which were like those of a powerful demon. Therefore, he simply shook his head and smiled.

"Wandering around?" Chen Heng's eyes flickered.

"It doesn't matter!"

Since Xun Jian intended to showcase his family's power in front of Chen Heng so that he could gain the upper hand in the upcoming transaction and obtain more Dragon Essence, he naturally laughed loudly and declared:
"As long as this Master Jilei is still in the Wonderful Treasure Land, I will be able to find out his whereabouts in three to five months, or at most half a month!"

After saying this, Xun Jian waved his hand, and a ten-foot-tall monster with cheeks growing from the back of its neck stepped forward.

After being given a few instructions by Xun Jian, the majestic monster left the main hall and flew straight to the outer room.

"Speaking of this Master Ji Lei, he is not simple. When he came to my residence as a guest last year, I observed his magical power and I was afraid that he had already achieved the third level of the Golden Core realm."

After watching the monster disappear into the distance, Xun Jian shifted his gaze and smiled at Chen Heng as if nothing had happened:
"Given his considerable cultivation and exceptional alchemy skills, it's no wonder that the Hundred Barbarian Palace has taken notice of him. I believe that given time, this True Man Ji Lei will become a rising star in the Wonderful Treasure Land!"

"The Hundred Barbarian Palace?" Chen Heng asked with great interest.

"You may not know this, but last year, after Master Jilei cultivated his inner realm, he was personally recruited by an elder of the Hundred Barbarian Palace and made a worshipper of the Hundred Barbarian Palace. With this status, even I have to show respect to Master Jilei."

Speaking of the Hundred Barbarian Palace, it is a celestial sect within the Heavenly Illumination Realm, inherently superior to us ordinary people from the mortal realm…”

When Chen Heng asked him, Xun Jian smiled and answered slowly.

This time, the mighty monster returned less than half an hour after it left.

After whispering a few words to the spirit, Xun Jian slowly smiled and turned to Chen Heng, saying:

"What a coincidence! What a coincidence! That Master Ji Lei is currently in Liang Kingdom, not far away!"
Since you, sir, are so inclined to visit, why not send a formal invitation first? With my introduction, I'm sure you, Master Ji Lei, will personally lend a hand and refine a fine elixir for you!"

"I am not seeking this person for alchemy purposes."

Chen Heng shook his head:

"There's no time to lose; I want to see him right now."

"Now?" Xun Jian was taken aback.

"Tonight, with its fine wind and bright moon, it is the perfect time to commit murder."

Chen Heng smiled, casually placed the wine cup in his hand on the table, and stepped forward to pull Xun Jian aside:

"Thank you for showing me the way, Lord Xun!"

When Chen Heng grabbed him, Xun Jian tried to pull his sleeve away.

The immense force caused him to stagger, as if he were about to lose his balance. He hesitated for a moment, and his movements slowed down.

In the blink of an eye, he was enveloped by a sword light and shot out of the riverbed, soaring straight into the sky!
This change happened as fast as lightning.

Before the assembled high-ranking officials of the Water Palace could even step forward to offer their assistance, they saw that their lord had vanished from the spot.

The group of demon cultivators looked at each other, speechless for a moment...

same moment.

Wonderful Land, Wencheng, Liang Kingdom.

Having just finished enjoying himself with several beautiful women, Qian Lie stepped out of the warm pavilion. Standing in the courtyard, he straightened his clothes slightly, feeling inexplicably relieved.

At first, Juanbao was filled with anxiety after betraying Yunting Mountain. He was like a rat running around in the street, worried that Yunting Mountain would report the matter to Xiaoming Great Swamp, and then the rumored disciples of Yuchen would come down to the mortal world to take him away.

But after waiting for so long, no disciples of Yu Chen have arrived.

On the contrary, Qian Lie's life is becoming more and more prosperous. Not only has he broken through to the third level of the Golden Core stage, but he has also become attached to the behemoth that is the Hundred Barbarian Palace. Given time, he may even be able to reach the Primordial Spirit stage!

If that time really comes, even though Qian Lie is a latecomer to the sect, he can still openly and legitimately join the Hundred Barbarian Palace and become a member of this great sect!
"This wonderful land is truly my blessed land, Qian Lie! If I had known this earlier, Yun Ting Mountain would have rebelled long ago!"
I only regret not killing more back then, but it's not too late. Once my cultivation advances further, ha, I will return to Yunting Mountain sooner or later. With the assistance of Baiman Mountain, Yunting Mountain will be an easy target.

So what if it's the Jade Emperor's lineage? I don't believe the Jade Emperor would bother with such trivial matters!

Just as Qian Lie was envisioning a bright future, a faint rumble of thunder seemed to sound in the sky, arriving suddenly and disappearing in an instant.

Looking up through the layers of clouds, one could vaguely see two people riding on rainbows.

I don’t know what kind of escape technique that rainbow light is, but I feel that it is extremely sharp. Even when it is suspended in the sky, it does not move, but it gives people a terrifying feeling that it can cut through everything!
"Qian Lie?" A voice came from afar in the rainbow.

"Who are you—"

Upon hearing the name again after so long, Qian Lie was stunned and subconsciously replied with a comment.

Before he could finish speaking, a sword light suddenly flashed across the sky and disappeared in an instant.

next moment.

A magnificent head, soaring into the sky!

(End of this chapter)