Dragon Qi World

Manfeng Mountain.

This was Ning Xuan's first time entering the mountain, yet he was very familiar with its terrain. It felt almost like returning to an old haunt.

On the other side, Ugly Slave had received Ning Taiyi's summons, but deliberately hadn't answered. He and his father had agreed long ago: if a summons came, it meant someone was pressing them to hurry. He was to judge the situation and decide for himself.

Ning Taiyi was the head of the Ning Family.

And Ugly Slave was, in truth, the Ning Family's real eldest son.

He naturally had the right to make the call at a critical moment, and determine the Ning Family's future.

At that moment, he suddenly slowed his pace. He had made up his mind.

Originally, he and his father had planned to use his younger brother as a tool to "continue the Ning Family bloodline," leaving him to live under another's roof and scrape by, as long as he could make it through life.

But now, Ning Xuan's strength had changed his mind.

Ugly Slave said, "Qingfeng, there are things Mister Taiyi was supposed to tell you after you passed the test, but there's no time to waste. I'll tell you now."

Ning Xuan said, "Please enlighten me, Celestial Master Ugly."

Ugly Slave said, "Our world has supernatural powers. Their source is Dragon Qi."

Ning Xuan grew solemn and listened closely.

At last, the thing he'd been yearning to learn about had come up.

Ugly Slave said, "Dragon Qi isn't found in famous mountains or great rivers. It's in people's hearts—in the hearts of the common folk.

"The more people there are, and the more united their hearts, the more Dragon Qi there is.

"Mister Taiyi's true identity is Prefect of Wangyue Prefecture. Who in these nine counties and twenty-eight townships doesn't know that county magistrates and prefects come and go, but Old Master Ning stands firm as a mountain? And who doesn't know that Old Master Ning is a great benefactor, and that nearly everyone who treats them well was arranged by him?

"Even in years of famine, when the Prefect opened the granaries and distributed grain, it was only after Old Master Ning went and quarreled with him that he agreed to do so. He pleaded for the people to that extent, and the government trusted him, because Mister Taiyi was the real Prefect. Very few people know this. Aside from the Prefect and the nine county magistrates, no one else knows. It's all an act.

"So, in Wangyue Prefecture, the one who has won the people's hearts is Mister Taiyi."

Ning Xuan was surprised. "So Father is actually quite powerful?"

Ugly Slave shook his head and sighed. "Perhaps it's one of the laws of Heaven and Earth. Those who gather Dragon Qi can't cultivate. Not only can they not cultivate, their vitality also fades faster, and they often die younger than ordinary people."

Ning Xuan stared at him in astonishment. "Then what's the point of gathering all that Dragon Qi?"

Ugly Slave said, "Though they can't cultivate, they can distribute the Dragon Qi they've gathered. Those who receive it will be utterly loyal to them. If he told us to die, we would die. His words have a special magic over us—we have no choice but to obey.

"So, if it were you, would you choose to remain ignorant, living in fear in a terrifying, unknown world, never knowing when you might become some demon's next meal? Or would you seize the opportunity to become someone who can gather Dragon Qi, and enjoy a lifetime of wealth and glory for your family?"

Ning Xuan said, "Of course I'd choose the latter. But what about the Son of Heaven? I mean the real Son of Heaven. Why doesn't he take all the Dragon Qi for himself, rule the land with an iron fist, and govern the realm? Why let others share it?"

Ugly Slave shook his head. "I'm curious about that too. I've made plenty of guesses myself. Perhaps the Son of Heaven can't bear the Dragon Qi of an entire nation, or perhaps he can't precisely control the hearts of the people across all that land. But those are just wild guesses of mine, and can't be taken as fact. Without a doubt, though, the power the Son of Heaven controls far surpasses that of a Prefect."

Then he gave a faint smile and said, "Actually, you can tell just from the title. Prefects are appointed by the Son of Heaven. How could they possibly surpass him?

"Yet wherever a Prefect goes, a family inevitably rises to prominence.

"But the Son of Heaven won't tolerate a family remaining illustrious for two generations.

"Mister Taiyi's vitality is nearly spent. At the beginning of this year, he was away for a long time, visiting many places. He went to the Imperial Capital to complete his official report, and he also went to Vast Province to arrange a marriage alliance for you with the daughter of a concubine in General Qin's family.

"Next month, his successor will arrive.

"His official career has reached its end, and so has his life.

"But Mister Taiyi has many worries.

"He's afraid the Ning Family will disappear."

Ning Xuan said, "So Father raised you for this."

Ugly Slave gave a bitter smile. "It's not that simple. With each new Son of Heaven comes a new court. I belong to Mister Taiyi. Even if I took on my new master's Dragon Qi, it wouldn't erase my loyalty to Mister Taiyi unless it surpassed the amount I had received before. How could the new Prefect tolerate that?

"Originally, you were going to Vast Province to marry into General Qin's family, and I'd already prepared to become a dog."

Ning Xuan was puzzled.

Ugly Slave continued explaining. "Dragon Qi, once it appears, won't dissipate. If I fall, my Dragon Qi will naturally sink into this place, and someone else will be able to absorb it. Why do you think he wouldn't kill the dog once the hunt was over?"

He raised his head. "Perhaps the new Prefect needs to consider whether anyone is capable of inheriting my Dragon Qi. He also needs to consider whether I'd fight back with my life. After all, I'm a Celestial Master, while he's just an ordinary person.

"I have to find a balance between being a dog and threatening him with force. Then, over time, feelings can grow, and I can truly become one of his own. Only then will I have really become part of the new Prefect's system."

Ning Xuan looked at his elder brother with sympathy.

His brother's life was truly wretched.

Even if Ning Xuan really had been sent off to marry into a family at Hanzhou Ranch, at least he would have had a woman's belly to lie on, and at least he would have lived in silks and fine foods, wouldn't he?

But his brother?

He had lost his name, lost his face, and had nothing except the truth and his power.

And Ning Xuan could easily imagine that his brother also bore the burden of "secretly protecting the Ning Family and restoring it to greatness."

Was this any way to live?

His brother was destined to spend his whole life trembling with fear, standing on the edge of an abyss, treading on thin ice.

Could his brother make it to the other shore?

"Then, Celestial Master Ugly, what did Father mean by testing me?" Ning Xuan asked.

Ugly Slave said solemnly, "Your strength is extraordinary. It's even reached the level of those Demon-Plague Warriors."

Ning Xuan asked in surprise, "Demon-Plague Warriors?"

Ugly Slave said, "When most people are infected by demonic energy and blood, they die. But a few warriors with strong wills can resist it somewhat, coexisting with the demonic energy and blood. Through cultivation, blood-devouring, and other means, they gradually gain greater control over demonic power.

"But these Demon-Plague Warriors are usually eccentric and short-lived.

"Yet you can wield strength comparable to theirs without being infected.

"You should know that those who cultivate Dragon Qi are Celestial Masters. If a demon gets close to them, even a thousand, ten thousand Celestial Masters wouldn't be enough to kill it. And on top of that, a Celestial Master must close his eyes and let his spirit roam to cast spells.

"So Celestial Masters need powerful Daoist Boys.

"We need Daoist Boys not only to help hold off demons, but also to kill demons once they've been trapped.

"That's why Demon-Plague Warriors are so important.

"Those alchemists, for instance, aren't qualified to have Demon-Plague Warriors. They can only choose somewhat stronger martial artists from the jianghu."

Ning Xuan understood. "So I'm not a Demon-Plague Warrior, but I have their strength. That gives the Ning Family an advantage?"

"Yes." Ugly Slave nodded, then said, "Several days ago, Mister Taiyi came to me and told me about your special abilities. Then he told me that the Son of Heaven once promised that anyone with the power of a Demon-Plague Warrior who remained uninfected could be appointed as a general.

"The reason is that Demon-Plague Warriors are short-lived, but generals aren't. Not only do they live longer, they may also break through their limits through cultivation, extend their lives, and guard the realm forever."

Ning Xuan said, "So you brought me to Manfeng Mountain to see what level my strength had reached. But last night, you accidentally heard the wind from my blade as I practiced, and, along with a few other things, that's what made you decide."

"That's right," Ugly Slave said. "I've made my decision."

"Since I've confirmed that you're qualified to become a general, there's no need to leave Manfeng Mountain specifically for the next Prefect.

"I need to help Mister Taiyi strip the place bare.

"If the demons in a region are wiped out, the Prefect there will receive an extra gift of Dragon Qi from Heaven and Earth.

"The stronger the demons, the greater the gift.

"Though this gift isn't like the steady, unending flow of the people's hearts—it only comes once—it's still a lot.

"With this Dragon Qi, I can advance further and better deal with whatever may come.

"Our coming to Manfeng Mountain has already touched certain people's interests. They've come looking for us.

"And now, we can make our move.

"Qingfeng, all you have to do is draw your blade. I'll deal with those demons."

Ning Xuan was stunned.

There was a great deal of information packed into his brother's words.

It sounded like the demons in Manfeng Mountain weren't beyond their power to deal with. They'd deliberately left them alone for the next Prefect.

That meant his brother had to be powerful.

And this dynasty was powerful too.

As for becoming a general...

Being a general was better than being a live-in son-in-law.

Besides, the strength he'd shown was still less than half his true strength.

And as time went on, the gap between his apparent strength and his true strength would only grow wider.