Wet viviparity

Chapter 982 Secret Meeting, Deploying Troops
At the location of the Dou Guang Xu Gou Ling Ying, before Ji Ming was captured by the Dharma Realm, although he had only waved the Qing Sang Fan in his hand halfway, the resulting gale was like an invisible giant plow, completely tearing apart and crushing the remaining Dou Guang Xu Gou Ling Ying.

Jiang Shiliu and the others, who were protected in the shadow's belly, felt a lightness all over their bodies, and the oppressive feeling on their bodies suddenly disappeared.

He and several fellow disciples tumbled out of the spirit's belly and landed on a cold, slippery pile of rubble. The wind howled in their ears, and there was a muffled rumble coming from the distant Dharma Realm. Their nostrils were filled with the pungent smell of burnt and blood.

Jiang Shiliu struggled to lift his head. A small part of the Longmen had been reduced to ruins, now resembling a battlement.

Standing on the riverbank, above the cold waves, a glass dome covering most of the river distorted and shifted in the sunlight; he knew it was a realm of magic.

"I'm still... I'm still alive."

The fat disciple collapsed to the ground, his voice trembling, his face wet with an indistinguishable mixture of tears and sweat.

The tall, thin disciple was deathly pale, his fists clenched tightly as he stared at the Dharma Realm, his lips moving but unable to utter a sound.

The older senior brother knelt on the ground, panting heavily. His gaze swept over the tragic scene around him and finally landed on Jiang Shiliu. Just as he was about to go over to comfort him, a faint, earthy yellow halo suddenly shone brightly in front of them.

"Zhou Qingquan, you quickly lead the team to Tingtao Stone, two hundred miles west of the city."

Remember, carrying my Claw Stone Seal will allow you to avoid the forbidden traps along the way. Upon reaching the Listening Waves Stone, immediately activate the secret passage of the underground river vein. The high-ranking officials of the Zhao clan will surely come via this path. Your responsibility to guide them is heavier than Mount Tai; proceed swiftly!

The light abruptly stopped, and a precious seal fell to the ground.

The older senior brother, surnamed Zhou, was startled. He stood up abruptly, took the seal, and then looked at Jiang Shiliu.

"Senior Quan Shou truly values ​​Senior Brother Zhou, choosing to entrust him with such an important task at this time. It seems that Senior Brother Zhou will undoubtedly be the one to inherit the Xu Gou Yuan Fu in the future," the tall, thin disciple said sourly.

"What time is it?"

Even Jiang Shiliu, with his usual temper, was slightly angered at this moment, and said, "The matter of providing backup is of utmost importance."

"I'm not going."

"Junior Brother Yang, what do you mean by this?" The group looked at the fat disciple with his head down in surprise.

"It's been so long, everyone knows what kind of people the Zhao family are."

Those dragon-like figures are already dead, including the Golden and Silver Horned Dragons from the Zhao clan. We will inevitably face their wrath afterward. Perhaps for the sake of some ridiculous "grand reconciliation," we might be spared the death penalty, but we are destined to be forever barred from the Dao for the rest of our lives.

"No, there's also Miss Zhao Si. She's always been good to us members of the Sanmen sect. She's very good at winning people over, and she treats Shi Liu with special favor. We..."

"Did you forget it?"

The disciple surnamed Yang interrupted the tall, thin disciple, "Have you forgotten that Jiang Shiliu previously contacted that righteous god? Nobody knows how much information he leaked during that time. Whether Jiang Shiliu did it intentionally or unintentionally, would the Zhao family care?!"

No matter how chivalrous Zhao Si Niangzi may be, given human nature's tendency towards self-interest, who can guarantee that Shi Liu won't be implicated?

"You all know the methods of the Zhao clan. Among the four major families within the sect, the Zhao family uses the most severe and cruel forbidden techniques on their collateral descendants, not to mention those on the side branches. Under such unscrupulous torture, won't Shi Liu be forced to confess?"

"So, whether we go or not, we'll die anyway," the tall, thin disciple said through gritted teeth, his eyes red.

"go!"

Jiang Shiliu took a deep breath, his voice slightly hoarse from nervousness, yet it conveyed a sense of determination.

"No matter what, we should first go and get the Zhao family's help. As long as we defeat that Ji Zhengdao Shen and keep Quan Shouping safe, the Zhao family will have to be more cautious no matter what."

Upon hearing this, the fellow disciples perked up, all agreeing that it made sense. Their distracting thoughts vanished, and they all exclaimed, "Alright, let's go to Tingtao Stone and meet the sect master!"

Luo Gen Fu Di is located east of Xin Tai Fang in Bao Guang Zhou.

Originally, it was a celestial peak that floated on the sea during the time of the ancient Yuan Emperor, and was attached to Luoshan Mountain, gradually acquiring this name. This place welcomes the breath of the ocean to the east and the elegance of the land to the west. It is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, full of spiritual energy, making it a rare and blessed land.

In the southwest corner of this blessed land, there is a remarkable sight called the Pearl Medicine Market, which is actually the ancestral home of the Zhao clan.

This city is not built on flat land, but in a vast, naturally formed, colorful coral reef forest. Countless jade-white platforms of varying sizes are suspended among the coral branches in a staggered manner, connected by bridges formed by iridescent light.

On the platform, there are giant clam shells, some open and some closed.

Inside the clam shell is a soft seaweed brocade, containing not ordinary pearls, but Luo Gen's top-grade medicinal pearls. These pearls are made from the essence of South China Sea clams cultivated for thousands of years, absorbing the essence of water and the light of the sun and moon.

Above the medicine market, water vapor and spiritual light intertwined, conjuring up illusory images of dragonfish and coral trees, creating a dreamlike and enchanting scene.

A gentle breeze swept through the coral forest, bringing a moist and refreshing scent. It also carried with it the low murmurs of conversation, bargaining, and faint humming of alchemy furnaces from various branches of the Zhao family across the platforms.

Deep within this pearl and medicinal market, on a magnificent clam-shell-shaped platform carved from a single piece of ancient, warm jade, the atmosphere was unusually solemn. In the center, amidst auspicious light and mist, Na Zhenxian stood with one hand hanging down and the other slightly raised, her feet dangling in mid-air, her expression serene, yet her eyes sharp as a hawk's. In her raised hand, she held a small jade mirror that rippled continuously.

The scene in the mirror was blurry, but the battle at Longmen was still visible.

Those sitting around him were the leaders of the Zhao clan of the True Spirit Sect.

The head of the family, Zhao Su, was a middle-aged Taoist priest with a refined appearance. He wore an old Taoist robe with a treasure pouch tied to his silk sash.

Behind him, several elders of the Zhao family, each with a different temperament and appearance, were either resting with their eyes closed or with their brows furrowed. Among them, one or two had spirit figures appearing and hovering beside them.

The younger generations of the clan were also among them, each with a solemn and dignified expression.

“The communication between Longmen has been cut off for more than an incense stick’s time.” Na Zhenxian’s voice was not loud, breaking the silence. “Besides Longmen Immortal Workshop, Chongxu Temple, Mawei Mountain, Fanghua Workshop, and Chenxiang Ghost Market were all attacked at the same time.”

"Where's Inugami?"

Zhao Su's voice was calm and even.

"The Dog Guardian and Prince Mikan have joined forces to set up the Water and Fire Boiling Dharma Realm, which seems to have temporarily trapped that Earth Deity."

Na Zhenxian, speaking in a routine tone, continued, "According to the report from Quan Shougong, this Fiend's supernatural powers are strange and unpredictable, even more so than the previous deviant supernatural powers. Moreover, it has indeed received the support of Qinghua Palace behind it."

Qinghua Palace

An elder snorted coldly, "That emperor has overreached. Does he really think my sect is like Taiping Mountain, able to tolerate Yunyu Temple holding out in the heartland for so long?"

"Now is not the time to investigate Qinghua Palace."

Zhao Su raised her hand and pressed down, stopping the elder's anger. "Dragon Gate is the throat of trade between my Zhao family and the East Sea Dragon Palace, and it is also the source of my Zhao family's reputation. Now that reputation has been tarnished, whether we should take drastic measures is more important than whether we can eliminate future troubles after taking them."

The elders looked at each other, and the only way to eliminate future troubles was to wait and see when the Holy Ancestor Zhao Tan would get rid of the Little Saint.

What instructions did the Holy Ancestor give?

Zhao Su asked.

Na Zhenxian bowed slightly to the family head, "The deputy commander is still in the Central Plains and it is inconvenient to make any moves, but a decree has been issued: the matter of Longmen is to be handled by you in full authority."

"Then wait and see what happens."

Zhao Su uttered a startling statement: "Haste makes waste. This righteous god wants to seize the Dog Yuan Talisman to cultivate the 'Six Jia Spirit Flying Strategy Essence Book,' so that when he is formally summoned in the future and reforms his ways, he can naturally become a member of the True Spirit Sect."

Since he's so determined, let him be!

Na Zhenxian understood Zhao Su's meaning, "You think this Earth Deity has changed its stance."

"Nothing lasts forever. Brothers, fathers and sons, masters and disciples, lovers will all change over time. Some become enemies, some become strangers, some remain as close as ever, and some become increasingly estranged. Which category do you think the righteous god and the little saint belong to?"

"What if the Little Saint has placed a restriction on a righteous god?" An elder had just raised an objection when he immediately dismissed it, laughing with shame, "Never mind, I was confused. If such a restriction really exists, then we should wait and see."

A prominent member of the clan chuckled knowingly, “They’re not father and son, not brothers, and certainly not master and disciple. No matter how strong their relationship is, it’s still based on self-interest. Once this righteous god obtains the Dog Talisman, refines our sect’s true methods, and reforms, the threat will be even smaller.”

“I’m afraid he’s too ambitious. He’s not satisfied with the Dog Origin Talisman and wants to replace my Zhao family.” Zhao Si Niangzi said, “Moreover, Dog Lord has always been loyal to the Zhao family, and the Origin Talisman can only be transferred after his death. If he really does that, I’m afraid he will lose the hearts of the people.”

“If he, Quan Shougong, were truly loyal and righteous, he wouldn’t have killed his own disciples and grand-disciples.”

He knew that his disciples and grand-disciples had been favored by the Zhao family for too long, and that if they were to inherit his Dog Origin Talisman, the scattered disciples would surely lose even more power.

"We know nothing about who his successor is. It would be better to let him die at the hands of a righteous god, so that he can give full play to his last bit of power," an elder said emphatically.

"Zhao Si Niangzi".

A kind and venerable elder spoke up: “You have always been chivalrous and fond of making friends from all over the world, but at this time you should also understand that family is above all else. You should not learn from those sinners in your family and help outsiders to reform and innovate.”

Zhao Su slowly stood up and said, "I had already communicated with Inugami beforehand and sent capable people from my family to provide support."

To be on the safe side, the patrolling sea demons and the river-crossing troops were immediately dispatched to the Longmen Listening to the Waves Stone to meet them. Fourth Sister Zhao Ni personally led the operation, with Uncle Lang Xing overseeing the operation.

Furthermore, please have my third uncle take this talisman to the old camp of the spotted shark in the Coral Forest and order Xie Yue Shui Xian to lead his demon soldiers to seal off the area within three hundred li around Dragon Gate, ensuring that no suspicious person is allowed to escape, including the remaining True Spirit Sect disciples of the Immortal Workshop.

(End of this chapter)