Chapter

The numerous ferocious beasts of Flag Mountain were almost completely wiped out by Yan Nu.

The young man watched, utterly mesmerized, unable to imagine what divine technique Yan Nu was using!

What happened to the promise of only half his True Qi remaining? He ended up slaughtering the entire beast horde?

The nightmare of countless wandering heroes was just... broken like this?

"Brother... what cultivation technique are you practicing? Uh, if it's inconvenient to answer, then forget I asked..." He really couldn't help but ask.

Yan Nu, being straightforward, chuckled, "Great Emperor White Jade Scripture."

"Ah!" The young man was first shocked, as this Cultivation Technique was incredibly famous.

The destruction of the Mount Tai Immortal Sect forty years ago was a world-shattering event, and many of its Cultivation Techniques had scattered across the land, becoming widely known.

But immediately after, the young man's face showed confusion: "This technique is indeed powerful, but it focuses on healing and defense, and the more it's used to nourish the foundation and consolidate the origin, the faster one cultivates."

"But... there's no ultimate skill that consumes very little yet possesses immense power."

He had gotten stuck in a rut, convinced that Yan Nu, being so young, looking even younger than himself by several years, could at most have thirty to forty years of True Qi even if he practiced a divine technique! The reason for the immense power of each move must be due to some special martial skill.

The Great Emperor White Jade Scripture was a cultivation text, and immortals used magic, so naturally, there wouldn't be any records of martial ultimate skills.

"This technique cultivates Yin and Yang energies, but I observed that Brother can control the power of three phases... What else have you practiced?"

Yan Nu was silent for a long time.

The young man quickly added, "Don't misunderstand, I'm just curious. If Brother doesn't wish to say, then just pretend I didn't ask!"

Yan Nu wasn't angry; he was simply confused about what the other person was asking, murmuring somewhat blankly, "Uh, are you perhaps asking about... Hammer True Qi?"

The young man's eyes lit up, and he muttered, "True Qi of Peaceful Governance?"

In his mind, that must be a peerless divine technique, so those four characters automatically appeared in his mind.

"Is this Brother's ultimate skill?"

Yan Nu calmly replied, "Besides the True Qi from the Great Emperor White Jade Scripture, I only have this."

The young man's eyes shone with brilliance: "So that's how it is. Peaceful Governance... Peaceful Governance... the name comes from the Book of Documents, 'governing the world with folded hands'! What a great name!"

"Huh? Doesn't it just mean 'hammer'?" Yan Nu was utterly astonished, not understanding what the young man was talking about. This was just a name he'd casually come up with; did he not know that himself?

The young man sighed emotionally, "Not at all, not at all! The name of this divine technique has great depth!"

"It signifies bringing peace to all people without effort, achieving tranquility for the world!"

"This perfectly aligns with the miraculous efficiency of this technique! The founder of this technique had lofty aspirations!"

Yan Nu didn't quite understand, but upon hearing "peace," he said solemnly, "My goal is precisely to achieve peace for the world."

"Brother has great aspirations!" The young man bowed to him.

He had originally just wanted to know the name of Yan Nu's 'ultimate skill that possessed immense power with little consumption.' Now, this name, 'Peaceful Governance,' perfectly matched his thoughts, didn't it?

It was like Changle Valley's Secret Canon of Xi Yi, which was derived from Laozi: "Looked at and not seen, it is called the unseen. Listened to and not heard, it is called the non-corporeal."

The names of most divine techniques in the world have origins and allusions.

Although Yan Nu's technique sounded a bit like 'hammer' at first glance, it was not so.

Just like Swift Sword Manor's Sudden Sword Dao, at first glance, the name seemed off, but it actually originated from Zhuangzi's Questions of Heaven: "Life between heaven and earth is like a white colt flashing past a crack, and then it is gone."

Therefore, Yan Nu's divine technique must be called 'Peaceful Governance,' not 'hammer.'

The young man didn't think Yan Nu looked like someone educated, his attire meager, wearing only trousers; he probably was a rustic from the mountains. He mused that this divine technique must have been passed down to him by a master, and this youth didn't understand its meaning, hence he pronounced it as 'hammer.'

Furthermore, True Qi of Peaceful Governance referred to the True Qi, while the entire set of techniques itself probably had another name, perhaps called Scripture of Peaceful Governance.

As for how this technique was practiced, where it came from, or who founded it, there was no need to ask further, lest it cause displeasure.

Most divine techniques and ultimate skills in the martial world were like this, only the name and characteristics were passed down, while the true secrets were known only to the user.

The young man silently took note and bowed to thank Yan Nu, "Thank you, Brother, for saving my life this time. May I know your honorable name!"

"My name is Yan Nu."

"Your surname is Yan? Which Yan?" The young man found the name a bit strange, not like a formal name. It sounded more like a nickname, like 'Tan Nu' or 'Hu Nu,' of which there were many.

Yan Nu blinked, "Two fires make Yan. My surname is Jiang."

The young man nodded. He could tell Yan Nu was much younger than him and bowed again, "So it's Brother Jiang Yan! I am Huang Ai, Huang Banyun."

Yan Nu found it a bit odd, "Why do you have two names?"

Huang Banyun was taken aback. Thinking Yan Nu was from the wilderness, he didn't mind and immediately smiled, "My courtesy name is Banyun. Brother Jiang can address me by my courtesy name!"

Yan Nu gave a hearty laugh, "Oh, courtesy name, hello!"

"Ah?" Hearing this address, Huang Banyun was almost depressed!

The monkey on his shoulder was gesticulating wildly, clapping its hands and laughing, making strange clicking sounds.

Huang Banyun waved his hands, torn between laughter and tears, "No, no, don't call me by my courtesy name... uh, I mean, you can just call me Banyun."

"Banyun, I've remembered. Thank you for your spear." Yan Nu handed the long spear back to him.

Huang Banyun looked at the heirloom Mysterious Iron Spear, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. This Mysterious Iron Spear displayed great power in Brother's hands. I said I would gift it to you earlier, and I must not go back on my word. Please accept it!"

"Isn't that your father's spear?" Yan Nu asked in surprise.

Huang Banyun's expression turned sorrowful. "My father was one of the Eight Heroes of Qingzhou. Sixteen years ago, he teamed up with many other wandering heroes to eliminate demons, coming to Flag Mountain, only to die at the hands of a dog demon."

My father's heirloom should not have been given away, but after today's battle, I can't even kill a spirit dog. How can I talk about avenging my father against the dog demon of Flag Mountain? I might never catch up to the demon's pace. Rather than let this spear gather dust in my hands, it's better to give it to my benefactor.

"Benefactor possesses an ultimate skill, and will surely become famous in the martial world in the future. If you are willing, perhaps you can slay this demon..."

He was dispirited, seemingly believing revenge in this life was hopeless. He couldn't help but harbor thoughts of entrusting his hopes to a youth like Yan Nu, who possessed the divine skill of 'True Qi of Peaceful Governance'.

"Just how powerful is the great dog demon of Flag Mountain?" Yan Nu asked curiously as he walked.

Regarding the dog demon of Flag Mountain, all he knew was from stories he heard as a child; he had no idea how powerful it truly was.

Huang Banyun followed, saying sternly, "It has occupied this mountain for sixteen years, ambushing and killing nearby villagers and travelers... It has devoured countless people and gained considerable power."

"But to be honest, I don't know exactly how powerful it is..."

Yan Nu asked doubtfully, "The nearby villages seem fine. The villagers don't seem too afraid of the demon on this mountain. I heard this dog demon has been quiet for the past few years, why is that?"

"Heh heh..." Huang Banyun suddenly sneered. "In Fei County, a half-immortal arrived, calling himself 'Old Daoist Wulong'. He sold 'Demon-Repelling Talismans' for villagers to hang at their doors. Since then, the dog demon has never entered the village, only preying on travelers without the talismans."

As he spoke, he took out several peachwood talismans from his embrace.

Yan Nu suddenly realized, "I saw these in the nearby villages. Every house hangs these peachwood talismans. So this talisman is that powerful, protecting the peace of the common people!"

"Powerful? It's fake!" Huang Banyun angrily threw the peachwood talismans to the ground, gritting his teeth.

"Fake?" Yan Nu frowned.

He then realized that his sister had also gone to that village and showed no reaction upon seeing this talisman.

Huang Banyun said indignantly, "I was deceived. I thought this talisman was useful, which is why I rushed into the mountain for revenge..."

Following that, he bowed deeply to Yan Nu again. "If not for your saving me, I would have surely perished here!"

"Please accept my bow once more!"

"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Yan Nu grinned.

As they walked, they arrived at a towering cliff face. Yan Nu circled around half of it and found no path forward. The stream he had been following had also ceased to flow.

He sensed a pulling force from the water talisman upwards. There were no signs of a struggle around, so he thought his sister should be healing on top of this cliff, and the so-called old demon of Flag Mountain was not in the mountains.

So Yan Nu sat down and asked, "Since this talisman is fake, why are the demons and wild dogs really not bothering the villagers anymore?"

"That Old Daoist Wulong is likely a pseudonym of the Flag Mountain dog demon!" Huang Banyun said hatefully.

Yan Nu quickly reacted, "You mean, the dog demon sold talismans himself to drive himself away?"

"Exactly!" Huang Banyun said gravely. "That 'Old Daoist Wulong' suddenly appeared in the last few years. Villagers in the surrounding ten miles all bought his peachwood talismans. Not only did he make a fortune, but he also gained widespread fame."

"In order to avenge my father, I heard about this and bought a few."

"However, the so-called Demon-Repelling Talismans are all lies! They are just ordinary peachwood plaques!"

"Of course, I don't understand talisman making." Huang Banyun pointed to the little monkey on his shoulder. "But Wanzi was also enlightened by the Heavenly Dao and opened its spiritual aperture. It showed no reaction to the peachwood talismans."

"But I still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking it was because Wanzi's cultivation was too low and it wasn't considered a demon. But the big yellow dog we just encountered, it has eaten many people and is already a half-demon, only one step away from forming demon bones."

"When it saw me take out the talisman, it drooled and mocked me. It was then I realized I had been greatly deceived."

"Since this talisman is useless, yet the villages that hung it were not invaded by the dog demon and its subordinates... there are only two possibilities: either Old Daoist Wulong is in cahoots with the Flag Mountain dog demon, or he is the Flag Mountain dog demon!"

"I believe the latter is more likely!"

Yan Nu was a bit confused and asked strangely, "Why is the latter more likely?"

Huang Banyun's expression was melancholic. "The dog demon disguised itself as a human and committed fraud in the city. It's likely trying to target officials and scholars, or even coveting the children of powerful families."

"Many demons that have high-level transformations and are good at deception love to do this."

"The Flag Mountain dog demon must have comprehended a powerful transformation technique, and now wants to feast on the upper class. Thus, it has let go of ordinary villagers and, incidentally, created a false identity as Old Daoist Wulong to build its reputation."

As he was speaking, a clear voice suddenly came from above. "That's right, having fame makes it easier to associate with scholars."

"However, this stupid dog is still too foolish. Does it really think these little tricks can fool powerful families? The more talismans it sells, the greater the flaw."

"There are too many demons in the world now. Do they really think scholars are as easy to fool as they used to be?"

Yan Nu looked up in surprise and joy. "Sister!"

A radiance like moonlight poured down. Huang Banyun looked on in shock as a graceful beauty, stunningly beautiful, light and ethereal, descended on waves of air.

Could she be the expert who created the True Qi of Peaceful Governance? No, this is an immortal!

If there were immortal aid, his great revenge could be achieved!

He couldn't help but excitedly bow. "Huang Ai, Huang Banyun of Pingyuan Commandery, pays respects to the immortal!"

"The fairy has skin like ice and jade bones, is refined and elegant, her spirit like autumn water, and she floats like light clouds. To see your divine appearance today is like bathing in the spring breeze. If I knew the fairy's Daoist title, I would be endlessly honored."

Shen Leling saw his barrage of flattery and was not pleased. She smiled faintly. "My Shen Family cultivators do not use Daoist titles until they ascend to immortality... I have cultivated for ninety years on Mount Cangwu and am simply called Leling Shen Wangxin."

What? Yan Nu was dumbfounded beside her.