The Path to Immortality Begins with the Life-Extending Lamp

Chapter 155 Hua Su
The eldest son of the Yang family, one of the great clans of the East Sea?
Li Qing's question inexplicably aroused suspicion among several people.

The various tribes of the East Sea mostly rely on the sea and rarely interact with Lingnan. Even if some members of the various immortal sects recognize the patriarch of the Yang family, they are probably from local powerful clans...

"Gentlemen, please!"

Just then, the Ghost Princess had already brewed the tea leaves. The tea was ready, its color like sweet wine, and its aroma rich.

Each of them moved their teacups and sipped their tea, but in their hearts they began to ponder the intentions of this ghostly gentleman.

Li Qing gently stroked the cloud pattern on the cup, leaving no blank space, and began to explain with a smile.

"I have traveled between the two seas, visiting various countries and overseas immortal sects. This tea comes from overseas. Can you all perceive the water-based Daoist essence within it?"

"I've heard that the various tribes of the East Sea are renowned throughout the two seas, and I've long admired them!"

Yang Jue is the youngest Purple Mansion Prime Minister in the Chaojiang Mansion, and also the Lord of the Youtian Weak Water Domain.

His identity is probably known to only a handful of people.

The two men, one in the open and one in the shadows, had such similar identities that Li Qing naturally held him in higher regard.

When the Ghost Princess heard about Donghai-Yang Jue again, she looked confused. In addition, Lady White Bone did not take her with her when she left. It is conceivable that she was just a Ghost Princess who only visited once a night. She was probably not very important in the White Bone Underworld. It is normal that she did not know about it!
Upon hearing of the ghostly man's past experiences of wandering the outer seas, the Daoists suddenly understood, but it was not appropriate to continue the conversation, as this matter was of great importance and involved more than one Yin God True Person...

Li Qing took a sip of warm tea, then changed the subject and asked a question in a low voice.

"What has become of the Netherworld Palace that your White Bone Dao Sect originally possessed...?"

With the Netherworld destroyed, Lady White Bone lost her means of survival and naturally did not want to stay in Lingnan to suffer any more. She accepted the invitation of the Taiyi Sect of the East Sea and left, intending to carve out another Netherworld in the Netherworld.

Even the Venerable Ancestor's desperate pleas couldn't keep him.

Clearly, most of the ghosts and spirits from the original Bone Underworld were also left behind in the Bone Mountain.

"What else can we do? Even if the Underworld doesn't exist, we'll just spend our days running around to the mountain gates, earning soul sustenance to survive..."

Hearing Li Qing's question, which he already knew the answer to, Gui Ji couldn't help but sigh and let out a plaintive sound.

They and the ghosts and spirits of the underworld are themselves outsiders to the White Bone Ghost Register system.

Now that the White Bone Underworld has been lost, and the Southern Kingdom no longer allows the private establishment of licentious temples and evil shrines, many ghosts and gods have either served as ghost generals and protectors for the ghost Taoists of White Bone Mountain, or, like her, are running around for the missions of the mountain gate.

"Hehe, Ghost Lord, could it be that you wish to take in us lonely ghosts?"

The Ghost Princess tapped the teapot with her fingertip, pouring tea for the people in the hall, and then jokingly asked a question.

Everyone says that this Ghost Gentleman has inherited a great family business in the Netherworld, which even amazes the Yin God Immortal. The four people in the hall volunteered to come here, obviously hoping to make friends with him.

"If that's the case, my Daoist abode is always open to you, fellow Daoist!"

Li Qing picked up her teacup, nodded slightly, and took those words to heart.

The White Bone Path has methods for nurturing ghosts and gods without privately establishing ancestral temples, such as the secret "Soul Silk" and the Heavenly Ghost Talisman, one of the Five Mountain Talismans.

Perhaps we should make some private contact with this ghost princess. If we can obtain one or two of her techniques, it would be of great benefit!
Furthermore, "Candle" is about to break through, and now is the time when it needs the spirit beast medicine from the Six Spirit Mountains...

The group sat around a table in the courtyard, chatting about everything from the spirits and magical materials of mountains and rivers to ghost stories and strange tales of Lingnan, from their experiences with missions from the immortal sects to the story of Li Qing being stranded overseas.

So, Li Qing took out several bushels of pearls, coral, and medicinal herbs, and greeted the four of them. They also agreed on the exchange of Lingnan Soul Silk, spirit beast nectar, and so on... The group got along quite well, chatting pleasantly from daytime until dusk, when the Daoists took their leave one after another...
The appearance of the true disciples from Liuling Mountain and Baigudao to show goodwill may be due to the indulgence and instruction of the two immortal sects, or it may simply be a private choice by a few individuals!

It just so happens that Li Qing also has a considerable need for the beast-taming spirit bait and the soul-path treasures. Since both sides have their own needs, they naturally hit it off immediately.

After receiving the farewells of several true disciples, Li Qing stood in the courtyard, gazing at the various Taoists outside the courtyard who were drawing their magical implements and offering sacrifices to the clouds, watching them depart into the distance.

After a dozen or so breaths, the four-colored lights disappeared into the distance, and then light, slow footsteps suddenly sounded in the courtyard. It was the faceless madman who had followed from behind the courtyard.

"Who came just now?" Li Qing stood with her hands behind her back in the front courtyard without turning her head and called out softly.

"It is... someone from the Dragon Palace who wishes to invite you, sir, to an audience!"

The faceless man held up a water-repelling jade with both hands and relayed the invitation from the dragon maiden outside the courtyard half an hour earlier.

People from the Dragon Palace?

Li Qing looked puzzled and reached out to take the water-repelling jade from Wumianchang's arms.

The moment he came into contact with the water-repelling jade, a wisp of divine thought immediately entered Li Qing's mind. However, as soon as he approached the divine palace, a faint call rang out:
"My lord, you have come from Linyuan. Please come into the Dragon Palace for a chat!"

This is actually an invitation from Wuxi Dragon Palace?

"I've only been in Dragon Marsh for half a day, yet I've already received visits from the White Bone Path and the true disciples of Six Spirits Mountain, and now I've been invited to an audience by the Dragon Palace. They really think highly of me!"

As he rolled up the jade water, even Li Qing couldn't help but make a lighthearted joke.

He didn't linger. After pondering for less than half a breath, he pointed his finger into the air, summoned the faceless, rampant spirit, and used a talisman to lock the courtyard. He then transformed into a wisp of Xuan Yin Dharma Light and fled into the Dragon Swamp.

Upon entering the Dragon Marsh, the Water-Repelling Jade floated in front, and the clear blue glow created a three-foot-long space that was impervious to water. Li Qing followed behind, making water-avoiding hand gestures and creating an even larger air shield. Walking underwater was quite pleasant.

With the precious jade in front and the Taoist priest behind, they made their way to the Dragon Palace.

Beneath the Five Streams Dragon Lake, the sand and gravel layers are distinct. In the center, stones are used to pave the road, which is divided into ten directions. Coral is used to build the mountain, reflecting five colors. With iron pillars weighing thousands of pounds and square rocks of ten thousand feet, an underwater palace city is built.

Palaces are carved into the coral peaks, and plaques are engraved on the wooden archways. Clam maidens and horsemen lead the way, while perch spirits and fish monsters patrol the water palaces, truly resembling a kingdom beneath the marshes.

Upon seeing Li Qing arrive with the water-repelling jade, all the patrolling water generals and palace-guarding water beasts fled in terror.

It's unclear how the water-repelling jade led the way, but it twisted and turned, guiding Li Qing around the Dragon Palace gate, through the side corridor of the Coral Palace, under the colorful shimmering light overhead, and then through a Dragon Palace garden...

When the water-repelling jade stopped flashing, they finally arrived at a palace.

The precious light on the Bishui Jade faded and slowly fell into Li Qing's palm. When she looked up again, she saw a delicate and exquisite archway standing outside the palace, like a layer of clear light separating the inside from the outside.

Downstairs, several seahorses and stag horses were tethered, their saddles, reins, and harnesses all in place. It was unclear whether these were the vehicles of the palace's occupants.

Li Qing's eyes flickered for a moment, and she held up the Water-Repelling Jade Token in her left palm, then strode into the Dragon Palace.

Upon entering the archway, it felt as if one had entered a protective barrier. Beyond the archway, there was no more water, but instead, there was a refreshing breeze and a sense of tranquility.

In the Dragon Palace, the roof tiles are made of green jade, the door hinges are made of warm jade, the screens are made of tortoiseshell, and the railings are made of coral. It is truly a palace of green jade and a treasure trove of the sea.

For hundreds of years, the Five Streams Dragon King has been guarding the waterways of the southwest, and his wealth is unparalleled in its extravagance.

Further into the Dragon Palace, the gates opened one after another, with no way out to the left or right. There were no clam maidens or fairy maidens to be seen, nor any trace of dragon offspring.

Between the two palaces and the emerald screens, rows of bird-script characters are arranged, called talismans to ward off evil spirits and protect against water and fire. Strings of pearls and jade hang from the corridors, and the walls of the corridors are inscribed with the slender gold calligraphy of Jinling. Palace lanterns burn eternally on both sides, resembling an octagonal flower viewing platform.

The deeper Li Qing went, the more confused she became. How could a grand dragon palace look so deserted?

Two steps later, after crossing a waterside pavilion, one could see a two-foot-long lynx chasing after white peacocks, five-colored pheasants, and other rare birds playing in the courtyard, with phoenix feathers inevitably falling.

The civet was about the height of a person's thigh, with snow-white fur all over its body, seemingly belonging to a kind of exotic beast. Its most peculiar feature was its pair of heterochromatic eyes, half blue and half purple, which were both lively and somewhat cunning.

As if caught bullying the spirit bird, the cat stood frozen in place, its outstretched paw suddenly retracted, and it turned its head to glance at the intruder.

However, with just that one glance, the spirit cat immediately let out a "meow," and in fright, it leaped over the artificial hill, crossed the courtyard, and fled far away!
In its pair of mandarin duck eyes, what appeared to be a Taoist priest in cloud robes beneath the waterside pavilion was clearly a heavy, dark blue canopy. Beneath the dark blue canopy stood a ghostly groom and bride, hand in hand, and upon looking at them, two deep and eerie gazes simultaneously met theirs.

How could this clever cat not be so frightened that its fur stood on end?
"A nine-lived spirit cat? How could the Dragon Lord raise such a strange beast?"

This beast can see into the yin and yang and discern right from wrong. However, its pair of pupils made Li Qing feel somewhat uncomfortable... But what puzzled him even more was that this place was already in the Dragon Palace Garden, where spirit pets and rare birds were kept. Was it not within the inner palace?
Did I take the wrong turn?

Just as they were wondering, a faint melody began to play from the inside of the side of the carriage. It was the sound of silk and bamboo instruments, seemingly decadent, but it was clear that someone was there.

Li Qing glanced again at the fluffy cat ears that weren't quite hidden on one side of the eaves, and at this moment she no longer had the mind to tease it.

Although he did not know who the Dragon Lord was, having been invited here, how could he turn back? He lightly flicked his sleeves and headed towards the front hall where the eight kinds of music were playing.

Just as I crossed the threshold, I saw three or five women kneeling below the hall. They were called jade maidens holding flutes and fairy maidens tuning silk strings, playing the eight notes of the pentatonic scale. The music was lively and the atmosphere was decadent, quite like the style of a rich and powerful young nobleman.

Just as Li Qing entered, the singing and dancing ended. Several maids put away their pipa and wind instruments, bowed slightly, and retreated outside.

These people are not clam spirits or dragon maidens, but all land-dwelling women?
Li Qing raised an eyebrow and softly called out to a girl holding a pipa, intending to inquire about the whereabouts of the Dragon Lord.

"May I ask, fairy maiden, is the Dragon Lord inside...?"

However, Li Qing grabbed the corner of his sleeve and stopped her, which made the girl anxious, surprised and ashamed. She hurriedly said, "The master is in the hall, young master, please come in!" and then ran away covering her face.

This only made Li Qing more puzzled.

Upon entering the hall, no one was found. Only a jade wind chime could be seen in the hall, surrounded by blue spiritual light, connecting water and wind into one. The flowing water struck the bell, and the wind kept moving, making the crisp sound of the wind chime echo endlessly in the inner hall.

Another magical artifact-level Qimen Baole!
It is said that the Dragon Palace is luxurious, and everything displayed inside and outside this hall is a rare treasure in the prefecture.

"Is the Dragon King well?"

"Tiannan Liqing has come to accept the invitation."

After a long while, seeing that the Dragon Lord had not yet appeared, Li Qing coughed lightly and called out loudly.

"dragon……"

As Li Qing slowly approached the warm pavilion in the main hall, she seemed to see a blurry shadow behind the beaded curtain. But, after all, this was the Dragon Palace, and how could a guest disturb the host?

Moreover, he didn't know whether the Dragon King was truly fast asleep or just using this as an excuse. So he stood quietly in front of the beaded curtain.

"wrong!"

After pausing for about twenty more breaths, Li Qing's expression suddenly changed, and he realized that something was wrong.

As Li Qing's primordial energy expanded slightly, the black seal script on his right hand immediately connected into a line, transforming into the Five Peaks Suppressing Ghosts Talisman. The dark blue Heavenly Palace Profound Origin Qi coiled around his body like a celestial python.

"You've got real patience!"

Suddenly, a soft laugh rang out from inside the warm pavilion. The beaded curtain in front of the pavilion parted, and wisps of smoke immediately drifted out from between the curtains.

In that warm pavilion, there was a woman with her clothes half-open, reclining on a daybed. Her body was like a swaying willow, her face like a blooming peach blossom, her brows exuding charm, and her fair neck displaying elegance.

The woman rested her chin on her hand, brushed her hair back, and swayed her waist gracefully. She wore a green silk robe with brocade sleeves, and her silk stockings were spotless. Her charming smile captivated the mind. How could she not look like a fairy princess?
How could Li Qing not know at this moment that she had been tricked into the harem by the women of the Dragon Palace?

Without saying a word, she flicked her sleeve and turned to leave!

Before Li Qing could take two steps, the screen outside the pavilion blocked the way, and the doors and windows on all four sides were tightly closed, leaving him no way to leave!
"Li Erlang, please sit down in front of me."

The woman, with a figure as graceful as a willow in the breeze, sat up in an incredibly unbelievable posture. She beckoned with her delicate hand to a spot three feet in front of the bed, and instantly, a magical vine materialized, weaving into a blue rose chair.

As the woman sat up, Li Qing's pupils contracted slightly, and he could then see the distinct four-clawed azure dragon on her silk robe.

"You call yourself 'I,' and possess such an aura; you must be a member of the Li family of Jinling?"

There are actually members of the Li family clan in this Five Streams Dragon Palace?

At that moment, regardless of whether Li Qing was willing to sit down, the woman lightly flicked her sleeve, and with incredible magic, she moved Li Qing several feet away, inviting him to the rose chair.

"I heard the old dragon praise Erlang's name more than once, and the reports from Jinling also recorded the recent Guihua Mansion incident in great detail."

"I wonder if I might have the honor of becoming your companion?"

Inside the warm pavilion, a fragrant breeze wafts through the air, accompanied by a hazy, flirtatious atmosphere.

This is Princess Huasu of Jinling, the queen of the Five Streams Dragon Palace, and also a female Taoist priestess who has one foot in the hands of the Yin God!
This Lady Huasu, who was in charge of the marriage alliance between Jinling and Wuxi Dragon Lord, was extremely arrogant. As soon as she entered Wuxi, she built a grand dragon palace, with female warriors serving as officials. They wielded swords and talismans as if they were double-edged swords, which made even Chu Dragon Lord very wary.

But somehow they set their sights on Li Qing, dismissed everyone else, and used a water-repelling jade talisman to summon him into the palace...

"I truly do not know what Your Majesty's intentions are?"

Since that was the case, Li Qing didn't stand on ceremony and sat down in the rose chair with an air of nonchalance, pretending not to know anything.

Lady Huasu came from the bridal bed, her silk stockings lifting her bamboo clogs, and twirled around Li Qing twice, before bending down and whispering in his ear:

"I find you, my lord, to be handsome and dignified. Would you be so kind as to come into my bedchamber and seek the Great Dao together?"

The female ruler's words possessed both the nobility of a woman from a high-ranking family and the danger of a female Taoist priestess. Her words were like a cat's claws, scheming and rubbing, yet each word concealed a deadly glint of swords.

However, sitting in front of her was Li Qing!
The female ruler leaned down to tease him, a few strands of hair falling down beside her cloud-like hair, trying to stir the young man's heartstrings. The shadow beneath Li Qing immediately transformed into the image of a graceful woman, with frost gathering in her depths, and a chilling aura instantly spreading.

Two streams of energy clashed violently, one teasingly resting on Li Qing's left shoulder, the other rising in fury from the Netherworld. They collided fiercely across Li Qing's seat.

Above, the flowing clouds and sleeves evoke a blue dragon, curving and straight as desired; below, the dark and boundless Dharma domain gathers chaos, twisting and following its shape. Both are the ultimate roots of the Purple Mansion. When they collide and strike each other, the Cloud Book Ghost Talisman takes shape, transforming into a half-black and half-white yin-yang fish, distorting the candlelight in this small, warm pavilion!
"Silence!"

How could the projection of the Ghost Mother, separated by a vast empire, possibly defy this female ruler? Li Qing was even less willing to let her suffer a loss in front of his own family.

Furthermore, with the Five Peaks Seal accompanied by the minor supernatural power of summoning souls, his entire right hand seemed to be covered with a layer of eerie light. He then roughly grabbed the female ruler's right wrist, cutting off her next move and preventing her from causing any more trouble.

At the same time, Li Qing's divine thoughts surged violently within her Niwan Palace, strands of thought passing through the divine palace, connecting with the Ghost Mother, and desperately trying to dissuade her from her tyranny...

"Is the Queen testing me?"

At this moment, Lady Huasu's right wrist was grabbed by Li Qing. Seeing the little supernatural power about to strike her, she immediately frowned, her eyes filled with tears, and she showed a pitiful and aggrieved look.

"No, Erlang, you hurt me!"

As soon as the woman pulled her jade wrist out of Li Qing's palm, four bruises appeared on her fair wrist, and her clothes were also damaged when she collided with the ghost mother. Suddenly, it looked as if she had been humiliated by Li Qing.

Given this, Li Qing felt even more apprehensive. He really didn't know what this female ruler was up to. Was she going to stage a charade with the Dragon King to catch them in the act of adultery? Or was she trying to frame his family?

"So you really want to harm me?"

Seeing the female ruler looking so wronged, Li Qing's face darkened, and a series of guesses welled up in his heart. A cold killing intent instantly surged up his head. In that instant, he wanted to summon the Long-Hate Ghost Scissors and kill the vicious woman in front of him!

However, leaving this place is the right thing to do, otherwise, if someone sees us, we'll be unable to explain ourselves.

At this moment, Li Qing's Yin eyes opened, and with a raise of his right hand, the Xuan Yin Qi instantly transformed into a ten-foot-long hand, scattering the magic power that sealed the pavilion door. Ignoring everything else, his Heavenly Mansion Xuan Yuan Qi seemed to be wrapped around his body like a celestial python, and he ruthlessly smashed through the pavilion door and left directly.

The Hua Su Lady was left standing in the warm pavilion, looking utterly bewildered.

Why did he suddenly give me that murderous look?

The queen looked at the gift that had been prepared beforehand beside the bed: a top-grade golden bean of the Samadhi realm, refined with the supernatural power of "scattering beans to create soldiers." This was originally meant to be given to Li Erlang after she had teased and befriended him, to help him win the championship at the Qingping Banquet.

This has become such a mess, it's made her extremely embarrassed and angry.

"Why are they all suddenly getting all worked up for no reason..."

(End of this chapter)