The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

"Greetings, Master Wang. I never imagined that you and I are from the same clan." Wang Huanzhen returned the greeting with a cupped hand. Regardless of Chong Hezi's background, at least he saved him, that much was undeniable.

Therefore, Wang Zhenhuan was still very grateful to this Taoist priest whose age was hard to discern. Moreover, now that the three branches of Taoism were split, what did it matter what one's origin was?

Besides, wasn't Wang Zhenhuan himself a Taoist priest who had only recently become a Taoist? Thinking of this, Wang Zhenhuan smiled self-deprecatingly, then shook his head and gave up on the idea.

After following Okiwako into the house, Okiwako whispered to him, "Please sit down, fellow Daoist. I will first take the pulse of your friend. The owner of this government office is an old friend of mine. You can rest assured and relax."

Wang Zhenhuan nodded and then sat down on a chair nearby. While Chong Hezi went to take his pulse, she began to look around the room. The room was small, with only one large communal bed.

Ao Shuang, Xiao Liu Zi, and Ling Zhi Zi were all lying on it. The room was simply decorated. There was no other fancy furniture, just a wooden cabinet and two chairs.

This shows that the owner of this place was very poor. This also explains why, in this era of war and chaos, Xiayi still had such a bustling morning market.

It seems the local officials here are no ordinary people. But on second thought, someone who can be personally acknowledged as an old friend by a Purple Qi True Person like Oki Kazuko must be no ordinary person.

Just as Wang Zhenhuan was lost in thought, Daoist Chonghezi had finished examining all three of them. He took the towel handed to him by his advisor, wiped his hands, and smiled at Wang Zhenhuan.

"Fortunately, your friends are all lucky; their injuries are all to their spiritual consciousness. I will prescribe some medicine for them, and they will recover after taking it. Only that strange fellow Daoist's injuries are more serious, and he needs to rest for a few days."

Hearing Chong Hezi's words, Wang Huanzhen finally felt relieved. What he feared most was that something would happen to Ling Zhizi, since Ao Shuang and Xiao Liuzi were acquaintances of his. However, he had never met Ling Zhizi before.

If something had happened to Ling Zhizi, he couldn't imagine how he would face Lin Qingyan afterward. Now that he had received a positive answer, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and bowed to Chong Hezi.

"I cannot express my gratitude enough. If you ever need anything in the future, Master, I will be at your service at any time." Wang Zhenhuan said from the bottom of his heart. The words "at your service at any time" were indeed very important.

This means that no matter when or where, as long as Chonghezi makes a request, no matter how many times, he will definitely come to help. The Taoist values ​​promises most; a promise is a responsibility.

Chong Hezi naturally understood Wang Zhenhuan's meaning, and his appreciation for Wang Zhenhuan grew even stronger. He smiled and helped him up, nodding to him and saying, "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. Healing the sick and saving lives is simply the duty of a Daoist like me."

Moreover, the harm caused by this mirage dragon far surpasses that of natural disasters. If it were to infiltrate the crowds, the consequences would be unimaginable. I presume you saw me in the city around 5-7 AM today.”

"That's right. My friend and I were just returning to Xiayi when we saw you with a group of soldiers at the edge of a large pit on the banks of the Huai River," Wang Zhenhuan nodded.

"To be honest, fellow Daoist, I was previously at Guangde Palace, by imperial decree, performing the Great Ritual of the Nanchang Refining Office to deliver the souls of those who died in the chaos of war. I never expected that this mirage dragon would take the opportunity to escape."

"I didn't have time to change out of my robes before I rushed here to Xiayi. I'm sorry to have been seen by you, fellow Daoist." Chong Hezi smiled and gestured for Wang Huanzhen to sit down.

After listening, Wang Huanzhen suddenly understood. So that's how it is! No wonder he was wearing such magnificent robes when he saw Okiwako this morning. It was because the Dharma assembly had just ended.

He followed Oki Kazuko to a chair and sat down. After pouring her a cup of tea, he asked, "So, the reason you stayed in Xiayi earlier was precisely because you were afraid that the mirage dragon would infiltrate the crowd?"

"Indeed!" Okiko nodded. Wang Huanzhen suddenly realized that he and Ao Shuang had been talking quietly, but Okiko had overheard them and looked in the direction they had been.

He had initially thought it was due to Okiwa's keen senses, but now he realized that Okiwa was actually wary of the Mirage Dragon. Thinking this, Wang Huanzhen asked Okiwa, "Master, may I ask how the Mirage Dragon is doing now?"

"Look, thanks to your help, fellow Daoist, I have already subdued him," Chong Hezi said, taking out a bronze oil lamp from his robes and placing it on the table. He then gestured for Wang Huanzhen to enter.

Seeing this, Wang Huanzhen glanced at Chong Hezi, then picked up the oil lamp with some disbelief. He examined it carefully in his hand; it looked like an oil lamp, but strictly speaking, it should be considered an oil lamp base.

The entire base is made of bronze, and a coiled dragon is carved on it. Upon closer inspection, it is indeed the likeness of a mirage dragon. A yellow talisman also covers the outside of the oil lamp.

It must be the same talisman that Daoist Chonghezi threw out at the end. The purpose of this talisman is to seal the divine consciousness of the mirage dragon. He had already learned this from Lingzhizi.

The mirage dragon's consciousness is immortal and indestructible, so it can only be sealed. It now seems that the mirage dragon was originally in the palace and was sealed inside this oil lamp.

"This oil lamp must be no ordinary object, otherwise how could it seal the soul of this mirage dragon?" Wang Zhen asked curiously.

"Of course," Chong Hezi explained, nodding. "This oil lamp was made by the previous sect leader of the Yuqing Sect. The wick is made from the dragon tendon of the mirage dragon, and the fuel is made from the dragon's saliva and oil. It can burn for a thousand years without going out."

"Isn't that even more powerful than shark oil?" Wang Zhenhuan exclaimed in amazement upon hearing this. The bronze exterior of the oil lamp was worn smooth, indicating that it had been used for a long time and frequently.

"No, ordinary shark oil cannot compare to this. The oil of the South Sea mermaids can only burn continuously. This dragon's ambergris not only burns,..."

After burning, it emits a unique fragrance, and what comes out is not smoke, but the white mist that you saw before. This mist also possesses the illusionary power of a mirage dragon.

It can transform into pavilions, towers, mountains, lakes, seas, concubines, and beautiful women. It has always been a favorite of the current emperor; there are even rumors in the palace that the emperor spent nearly half a year alone in his study.

As Okiko finished speaking, she raised an eyebrow at Wang Huanzhen. Wang Huanzhen thought he had misread it and rubbed his eyes to look again. Okiko had already regained her otherworldly and dignified appearance.

"It truly is a treasure. I just don't know why such a treasure would suddenly escape from its seal," Wang Zhenhuan said with a sigh, stroking the oil lamp.

"I don't know. Perhaps the empress or empress in the palace doesn't like this treasure."