I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 219 The Value of a Scholar from the Great Yong Dynasty (5k)

"Is Father-in-law ready?"

Looking at the surging, boiling river water all around, Liao Jinzhong felt increasingly uneasy. This commotion was not something a martial artist should be able to produce.

The difference between immortals and mortals is as vast as an insurmountable chasm.

Martial arts emphasizes unlocking the body's potential and using one's own strength to turn the tide.

Those who enter the path of cultivation can, in addition to their own cultivation level, mobilize the power of heaven and earth, such as rivers, lakes, mountains, rocks, trees, wind, fire, thunder and lightning, all of which can be used for their own purposes. This is the difference between martial arts and immortality.

Liao Jinzhong tried to get closer to Xu Qing, but found that the surrounding air had become unusually thick, and even breathing was difficult.

Forcibly suppressing the restless water vapor in her lungs, the old woman activated her full protective qi, which shot up three zhang high like a flame, forcefully resisting the pressure of the surrounding water.

However, water is a balance of strength and gentleness, taking the shape of a square and a round one. As soon as Liao Jinzhong broke through the water's flow, the scattered river water that had turned into rain would recombine and take shape again, just like a malignant tumor that could not be completely eradicated.

Xu Qing made a water control spell, using the power of the water and the earth's energy to sweep the river and its torrents, carrying mud and sand from the bottom of the water, toward the trapped Liao Jinzhong.

At this moment, individual strength seemed insignificant in the face of the overwhelming forces of heaven and earth. Liao Jinzhong was like a rootless duckweed, facing the surging waves pressing in from all directions. He had no other choice but to struggle to break through the water and escape to the shore.

Xu Qing was no longer visible on the water. Liao Jinzhong couldn't find Xu Qing, so he guessed that the other party was likely hiding in the water, waiting for an opportunity to strike, but dared not enter the water to search for the enemy.

If someone skilled in water control were to enter the water, what difference would it make from an old man hanging himself?
Just as Liao Jinzhong was about to escape, a surging river carrying sand, gravel, and the wreckage of a broken ship mast came crashing down from a hundred feet away!

The force of those torn ship hull stakes was far more terrifying than a volley of arrows. After all, even a grandmaster is not completely free from the mundane world. Liao Jinzhong dared not confront them head-on, and could only shout loudly, "Master Li, why don't you hurry up and stop this demon for us!"

"If we are no match for them, you will likely not survive either!"

In the distance, when Crane Daoist saw the giant waves and water dragons roaring and strangling Liao Jinzhong, his expression became extremely solemn.

This person is indeed someone who knows the ropes, and must have a relatively complete lineage of knowledge; otherwise, he would never have such a high level of skill.

Little did Li Heyi know that the other party did indeed possess a legacy, but that legacy was not meant for the living.

"Your Excellency needs to borrow your official seal!"

Not far away, a purplish-red official seal broke through the layers of water curtain and shot towards Li Heyi.

Li He's face darkened, and he hurriedly used his whisk to catch the purple-red seal that had been thrown at him. The old eunuch was afraid that Xu Qing would intercept the official seal, so he used all his strength.

Even though Li Heyi's whisk was a magical artifact, it couldn't withstand the force of the attack. Thousands of white strands burst and danced wildly like snowflakes, making Master Heyi's heart ache.

Fortunately, the demon-hunting captain intervened a second time, which stopped the crimson seal.

The official seal of the Grand Eunuch was also called the Guan Fang. In addition to proving his identity, this official seal was also the certificate used by Supervisor Liao when handling palace affairs and carrying out orders on behalf of the emperor.

Liao Jinzhong didn't know what Li Heyi wanted his seal for, and he didn't have much trust in the Taoist priests of the Celestial Master's Mansion, but with the idea of ​​trying anything as a last resort, Liao Gonggong still grasped at Li Heyi as a lifeline.

At the bottom of the Baisha River, Xu Qing sensed everything that was happening outside. He also couldn't understand what use Li Heyi had for the eunuch's seal.

They certainly weren't planning to send the Tianjin navy to help. Even if they were, by the time the navy arrived, it would be too late.

Xu Qing remembered the large seal, and then, without further hesitation, he took advantage of Liao Jinzhong's distraction and followed the rapids to Liao Gonggong's feet.

Xu Qing, as lifeless as a corpse, was just like a water ghost; even when he touched the feet of a grandmaster, the grandmaster did not notice him at all.

"If you have the guts, then face me, your father-in-law, and see what you've got. What kind of skill is it to hide your face and show your true colors!"

Liao Gonggong's eyes darted back and forth, afraid that Xu Qing would take advantage of the situation.

But what you fear most is what happens. Just when you're about to take another step and reach the shore, a huge wave, which has been building up for a long time and weighs more than ten million jin, finally sweeps across the twenty-mile distance and crashes over you.

This wave has clearly been brewing for a long time.

Caught off guard, Liao Jinzhong, who had just soared to a height of several dozen feet, was slammed down by a towering wave that was hundreds of feet high.

It's like swatting flies; there's nowhere to hide, let alone face the impact head-on.

With his protective aura broken, Liao Jinzhong fell awkwardly onto the water's surface.

“Our family has been granted the imperial favor and bestowed the rank of third grade official, how can we be slaughtered here?”

Liao, the Grand Supervisor, spat out a mouthful of blood. It was unclear from where he had unleashed his potential, but before falling into the water, he managed to raise his protective aura once again, and it seemed to be even stronger than before.

Above the water, Liao Jinzhong tapped his feet with the energy of the spring, barely managing to steady himself. Although the water in the Baisha River was still surging, there were no more terrifying waves. Liao Jinzhong stood firmly on half a piece of driftwood, looking around.

"Is my father-in-law looking for me?"

Just as Liao Jinzhong was on guard, two icy-cold, iron-like hands suddenly grabbed his ankles!
This month, I'm blackheaded, and in the middle of the night, someone suddenly grabs my ankle in the river. Is this some kind of joke?
"Oh dear!" the supervisor screamed.

Xu Qing's words nearly scared the soul out of Eunuch Liao.

When did this living person get to his feet? How could there be no sound, no sign of life?
Liao Gonggong channeled all his energy into his feet, only to find that one of his legs was movable, while the other seemed to be imprisoned by millennia-old ice, unable to move an inch no matter what he did.

The meridians in this entire leg have been blocked.

Xu Qing's left hand was shrouded in deathly energy, while his right hand was engaged in a back-and-forth exchange of kicks and punches with Eunuch Liao.

As the two struggled, Xu Qing removed all the lightness talismans from his body. Liao Gonggong felt as if there was a piece of iron and lead beneath him, while he was a light feather tied to a lead hammer. He was about to sink into the water involuntarily.

This is no magic or Taoist arts; it's clearly a water demon!
Grandpa Liao felt he had been deceived.

As the river water reached his ears and nose, Eunuch Liao rushed upwards, only to be slammed back down by a wave.

Seeing that he couldn't break free, Eunuch Liao shouted, "I don't care if you're a human or a ghost. Even if you are a ghost, you will definitely help me cultivate today!"

Before he finished speaking, Xu Qing felt Liao Jinzhong not retreating but advancing, actually pushing him into the deep water together.

At first, Xu Qing didn't understand this move. Even when Liao Jinzhong took several of his claws and still clung to his arm, Xu Qing still didn't quite understand.

On the other hand, Liao Jinzhong looked horrified. Inside the protective aura shield that glowed with a faint blue light, Liao the eunuch asked in fear, "What kind of monster are you? Why don't you have any living blood or qi?"

Xu Qing suddenly realized that the old eunuch wanted to use evil magic to absorb his life essence.

But where would a zombie get its essence and blood?

Unconvinced by the evil, Eunuch Liao reversed the evil power and began to seize Xu Qing's power and cultivation.

The moment the pure and surging cultivation flowed into his body like a torrent, Eunuch Liao was visibly delighted, but in just a moment, the delight on his face turned into horror.

"No, this is true qi."

"Ah! Who exactly are you?!"

The living retreated, and the pure Yin energy that only zombies and evil spirits possessed became the last straw that broke the camel's back for Eunuch Liao.

"Father-in-law, your technique won't work. Take a look at mine." Xu Qing used his backhand to control Liao Jinzhong, who was suffering from a backlash of true qi. Then, he activated the Qi-Seizing and Returning to Origin Technique. The master's power was like the floodgates opening, transforming into pure cultivation. In just a few breaths, it all returned to Xu Qing's body.

Liao Jinzhong, who previously had a youthful face and white hair, has instantly transformed into a small old lady with a chapped face, and even her figure has shrunk considerably.

It looks like it might fall apart if the wind blew it away.

"You are not a person of the mortal realm; you are a man-eating monster from the River of the Dead."

Liao Jinzhong, supporting his protective aura, uttered this sentence out of the blue, and then his aura collapsed. He was instantly squeezed by the water pressure from over a hundred feet deep, causing blood to gush from his seven orifices, and he fell completely silent.

Xu Qing frowned. What did Liao Jinzhong mean by what he said before he died?
After surfacing, Xu Qing collected Liao Gonggong's body and then returned to the ship where Master Feng was.

On the mast of the multi-story ship, which was dozens of feet high, the demon-hunting captain stood at the top, constantly searching the water.

The Taoist priest, dressed in a Taoist robe, stood at the edge of the deck. In front of him, several banners formed a strange array. Not far from the array, a dozen whirlpools appeared on the river surface, and these whirlpools grew larger at a visible speed. Occasionally, one or two whirlpools would come into contact with each other and instantly merge into one.

The location of Daoist He was right in front of the nearest whirlpool. He held a magic sword in one hand on guard, and Liao Gonggong's purple-red seal in the other. It was unclear what he was planning.

The demon-hunting captain, who occupied the highest point, was still searching for Xu Qing and his companion. At his feet, a blue flag was planted at the top of the mast, fluttering in the wind.

The demon-hunting captain didn't take it seriously; the flag looked just like the flags behind generals on the stage, with nothing unusual about it.

Clearly, the seven-foot-tall man before him was unaware of the profound emotional trauma this small oversight would inflict. "Thud—" came the sound of a sharp object piercing through flesh.

Immediately afterwards, a demonic whisper rang in the ears of the demon-hunting captain—

"Are you looking for me?"

The life force in the Demon-Slaying Captain's body was rapidly draining away. He looked down at the sharp claws protruding from his clothes in front of his chest, and with his last bit of strength, he stiffly turned his head. He saw Xu Qing standing behind him, smiling at him in a sinister way.

How did you...

With the foot-long claws withdrawn from his chest, Xu Qing used his blood-stained, corpse-like claws to make a shushing gesture.

The demon-hunting captain obediently breathed his last, making no further sound.

Xu Qing skillfully placed the corpse into the miniature garden, then pulled out the flag from the mast and re-tucked it into her waistband.

These back flags are not very convenient to use. Perhaps we can have the embroiderer work overtime another day to make a set of general costumes. That way, when all four back flags are used up, they can be inserted into the back. Wouldn't that be more convenient?

As Xu Qing pondered some practical tips for daily life, he looked down at Crane Daoist, who was intently watching the river below.

What kind of tricks is this old man from the Celestial Master's Mansion up to?
Seeing that he couldn't uncover the mystery by opening his Yin Eyes, Xu Qing reached out and took out the Heaven-grade Illuminating Treasure Mirror, pointing it at Daoist He.

"Hmm?" Xu Qing blinked. This Crane Daoist actually had two shadows!
Both being disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion, Lingyangzi, who ruined his parents through gambling, has three distinct traits, while this Crane Daoist is somewhat lacking in refinement.

Xu Qing clicked his tongue, moved the mirror, and looked at himself again.

This time he photographed those strange whirlpools in the water.

Xu Qing looked at the mirror and was stunned for a moment.

What appeared in the mirror was the scene of the Yinhe Ancient Road.

This familiar grave, the familiar bones and sandstorm, and those ghost soldiers of the Ghost King's Tomb who wander back and forth.

Isn't that his old neighbor's house?

He set off a small firecracker in front of his neighbor's house just a few days ago, how could he possibly forget?
Seeing this, Xu Qing was secretly pleased. He simply reattached the lightness talisman and jumped onto the deck.

"The Taoist priest seems to have the leisure and refined taste to enjoy the scenery here."

Li Heyi watched Xu Qing walk leisurely toward him and finally couldn't help but sigh.

"I originally thought that Governor Liao would be able to injure you, but I did not expect that you are so skilled that you were able to defeat a grandmaster so easily."

"Repel?" Xu Qing smiled but did not respond.

The Taoist priest never believed he could defeat a Grandmaster, but Xu Qing accepted it after thinking about it.

Unless they are naturally mutually restraining, or one of them is seriously injured, as long as one of them does not intend to fight to the death, they will not perish.

At least they can escape. Besides, the only ones capable of taking the life of a Grandmaster are celestial beings and cultivators with over five hundred years of cultivation who have survived the lightning calamity.

“Fellow Daoist, I am aware of my own limitations and know that I am no match for you. However, it will not be easy for you to take my life.”

"Speaking of which, I am quite curious about your lineage and teachings. If possible, I would love to imprison you in an underground cave and learn from you day and night, but alas..."

"This humble Taoist is destined to lack the ability to capture you alive."

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow. Judging from this, if they didn't capture him alive, were they going to beat him to death?

That's really strange.

"Old man, don't be so arrogant. Does the Taoist priest think that setting up a small formation will give him the ability to suppress a grandmaster?"

The Taoist He, who had been expressionless and seemed to be filled with bitterness and hatred, surprisingly showed a smile.

"Why do you need to deliberately try to trick me? Even if I admit that I have the ability to subdue a Grandmaster, would you believe me? If you are really that cautious, you should run away immediately. Anyway, no one knows your identity, and no one will laugh at you for it."

What do you think, fellow Daoist?

Xu Qing looked at the spot where Li Heyi was standing. The banners and array devices seemed to have some tricks up their sleeves. As long as there was the slightest movement, these arrays would be triggered passively.

Xu Qing didn't know much about orthodox formations, but if you understand one method, you understand all methods. Although he didn't understand the formations of the Celestial Masters sect, he had studied talismans and feng shui, and there were some commonalities between them.

The formation in front of them did not appear to have any killing intent; it looked more like an auxiliary formation for evasion, repositioning, and defense.

Xu Qing circled the formation, finally standing at a tricky spot, and reached out to take the flag hanging from his waist.

Upon seeing this, Li He's expression changed. As the green flag crossed several meters and landed at his feet, Xu Qing's figure followed closely behind, appearing at the center of the formation.

"You are indeed extraordinary!"

Facing Xu Qing, who was so close, Li Heyi was surprised but not flustered.

Xu Qing shook his head and reached out to slap away the illusory image in front of him.

At his feet, a stick of incense and a Taoist robe were quietly placed on the ground.

"Compared to Eunuch Liao, the Taoist priest interests me more."

Zombies are different from living people. Some things that are useful to living people have little effect on zombies, except for one type: incense and candles.

This stick of incense truly piqued Xu Qing's interest.

There was no further response from the deck. Xu Qing knew where Li Heyi was. Without hesitation, he jumped into the nearest whirlpool.

After crossing the deep waters, the river sands, where the sun never shines, were originally a place where the Yin veins converged. When Xu Qing crossed the quicksand again, what appeared before him was not river water and silt, but the ancient Yin River road filled with bones and sand.

Although he was drilling into the riverbed, when Xu Qing emerged, he was headfirst, breaking through the soil on the desolate riverbed of the ancient Yinhe River.

This strange feeling was like being in a different dimension of time and space. Xu Qing had not had this novel experience when he used the twin coffins to teleport before.

Just as Xu Qing appeared, he saw a Taoist priest not far away holding an official seal and shouting loudly:
"The seal and military tally of the Great Yong are here! Marshal of the Eight Banners, why don't you show yourself at once and help me capture the bandits!"

Xu Qing glanced to the side and saw smoke and dust billowing in the distance, with the clamor of soldiers and horses, as if a large army was about to attack!
So that's how the Taoist priest borrowed the official seal.

Xu Qing made a quick decision, took down the green flag, and shot it straight at Li Heyi!

Crane Daoist remained calm and unhurried. He cast a talisman and seemed to be walking on clouds, soaring and leaping on the spot. By the time Xu Qing arrived, he had already moved more than two miles away.

"This is a Cloud Climbing Talisman. I have only obtained two in my entire life. Fellow Daoist, you cannot take flight. Even if you have the means, you cannot do anything to me."

"Do you know the saying, 'The villain dies from talking too much'?" Xu Qing said expressionlessly.

Li He frowned, about to say a few more words, when he saw Xu Qing take out three more flags from under his robe.

Originally, the flags were the flags that military generals wore on the stage, symbolizing the imposing presence of "thousands of troops and horses."

The flag in Xu Qing's hand has a similar function: it can create four illusory clones. These four clones have no physical form, but the person who possesses the flag can move freely between the clones created by the flag.

In other words, Xu Qing can use these four flags to fly in place by stepping on his right foot with his left!

While Daoist He was still in shock, he saw Xu Qing throw out a blue flag. By the time Xu Qing appeared next to the blue flag, a second red flag had already arrived in front of Daoist He.

No cloud-climbing technique could match the speed of Xu Qing's flag relay. Before the golden and black flags could even fly out, Xu Qing had already grabbed Crane Daoist by the neck like a chick.

Xu Qing grinned and snatched the official seal from Li He's hand.

Just then, the smoke and dust from afar swept up to the two of them.

Looking at the army formation before him, and the general leading the troops.

Xu Qing raised the official seal and said, "I am a man of the Great Yong Dynasty, and I have achieved merit and fame. Now that the official seal is here, the thief who stole it has surrendered. You may all return to your posts and not linger here!"

Crane Daoist was dumbfounded. How could there be such a shameless person in this world?
(End of this chapter)