The Flood Dragon Took to the Waters, the Daoists Descended the Mountain

The first light of dawn shone, and rosy radiance dyed the clouds.

Xuanming had just finished meditating when a sudden warning stirred in his heart.

The next instant, Floating Cloud Mountain shook, earth and mountains trembling.

Rocks tumbled, plants swayed, and waves rose in the streams.

In the Path-Seeking Courtyard, the old pine shook its branches, pebbles bounced, and the stone stools and table rattled. Inside the thatched cottage, the desk and shelves teetered, while a fierce wind rose with a howl.

Sinking his qi into his dantian, Xuanming lightly stamped his left foot. Vast Magic Power spread outward from him in every direction.

In an instant, the wind died, the earth settled, and the stones stilled around the Scripture Pavilion and the Path-Seeking Courtyard, as though what had just happened was merely an illusion.

But Xuanming knew it was not that simple.

He rose into the air and drifted onto the eaves of the three-story Scripture Pavilion. Raising his hand, he formed a seal, light blooming at his fingertips, then pointed lightly beneath his feet.

A streak of light sank into the Scripture Pavilion. The building blazed with radiance, and a great formation centered on it steadied Dao-Treasuring Peak.

This formation had been left by the founding patriarch and refined by three generations of Daoists at the Truth-Seeking Abbey. Its power was not to be underestimated.

It had been established on Dao-Treasuring Peak to safeguard their legacy.

The Scripture Pavilion was both what it protected and the formation's core.

After his cultivation reached the Third Realm, his junior brother, the abbot, had taught him how to control the formation, making him something of a guardian of the Scripture Pavilion.

Xuanming had no objection.

He spent every day in the pavilion and lived nearby. If something happened, could he truly stand aside with his hands tucked in his sleeves?

Being an old Daoist in the Scripture Pavilion who concealed his true depths was not bad, either.

The trope might be trite, but as long as no one comes to bother me, let it be trite. The height of vulgarity is the height of elegance.

After stabilizing Dao-Treasuring Peak, Xuanming looked around.

From his lofty perch, he surveyed his surroundings.

On Firecloud Peak, spirit cranes took flight, restless and agitated.

On True Mystery Peak, a hundred-foot sword silhouette soared into the sky. The inherited ritual sword displayed its might, steadying the main peak.

Above Blazing Sun Peak, a great cauldron hovered.

On Pure Maiden Peak, a hundred lotuses bloomed.

Each of the other peaks revealed its own wonders, stabilizing the earth veins.

As for the panicked birds and beasts in the mountains, the Daoists could only wish them well. Their abilities were limited; protecting the Truth-Seeking Abbey's own little patch of land was already enough.

The earthquake did not last long.

After roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea, it lowered its banners and stilled its drums.

The Daoists sprang into action.

Some comforted the disciples, while others investigated the cause.

Inside the Scripture Pavilion, Xuanming brewed tea and read scripture.

After all, he held the highest seniority in the Truth-Seeking Abbey and was an idle old Daoist with no authority to wield.

With his old arms and legs, he had no appetite for grand achievements. Naturally, he settled down with his scriptures and waited for his junior brothers to uncover the truth.

There were few Daoists on Dao-Treasuring Peak.

Chang'anzi could handle everything perfectly well.

An incense stick's worth of time later, Changchunzi came to invite him in person.

Setting down his scripture, Xuanming strode out of the pavilion. With a light push of his toes, he leaped dozens of feet, heading straight for True Mystery Peak.

His white hair streamed, and his Daoist robes billowed.

Whisk in hand, he bore the air and bearing of an Immortal.

At that moment, he seemed an Immortal elder walking the mortal world, drifting through the mountain forests.

True Mystery Peak stood roughly five thousand feet tall. Dense green pines and verdant cypresses surrounded buildings of every size, arranged in harmonious tiers that set one another off in magnificent splendor.

After six years, he entered this peak once more.

A faint ripple stirred the tranquil lake of Xuanming's heart, bringing a touch of melancholy at how the place remained while its people had changed.

But that was all.

He had spent six years in the Scripture Pavilion nurturing his spirit and tempering his heart, with sixty years of life settling within him. In his previous life, he had also passed through the arena of wealth, fame, and fortune, steeped in glittering luxury and scattering gold like dirt. In the end, his life and death had not been his to decide, and he did not know who had reaped the benefit of the hundreds of millions he had painstakingly amassed.

He had learned to take many things lightly.

Inside the Mystic Law Hall, the Daoists had gathered.

At the sight of Xuanming, they rose to welcome him.

After exchanging Daoist bows, they took their seats in turn.

Just as in the Scripture Pavilion, Xuanming sat in the foremost seat on the right, second only to the abbot's.

In the past, he had occupied it because of his seniority.

Now, he occupied it through both seniority and strength.

Knowing the situation was serious, the Daoists wasted no words. Every gaze turned toward Xuanxu.

He had personally gone to investigate what had happened.

Joy and worry mingled on Xuanxu's face as he said gravely:

"Senior brother, junior brothers, I have investigated the matter. This earthquake on Floating Cloud Mountain was caused by a Flood Dragon taking to the waters."

"The demon passed through Floating Cloud Mountain's water veins. Water and earth are one, their veins connected, and that was what caused the earthquake."

"Now the Flood Dragon has gone far away. Floating Cloud Mountain is safe again, and our Truth-Seeking Abbey is unharmed."

Hearing this, the Daoists breathed only half a sigh of relief.

They heard what the abbot had left unspoken and understood why he was worried, for their own feelings were exactly the same.

There was no danger in the mountains.

The Truth-Seeking Abbey was secure.

But what of those below the mountain?

What of the common people?

They had neither magical power nor elders to protect them.

When a Flood Dragon took to the waters, fortune and disaster were hard to predict.

If the Flood Dragon possessed virtue, it would use its Magic Power to steady the currents and protect the water veins. Even if the water rose above the banks, it would not harm the people or cause casualties.

But if the Flood Dragon lacked virtue, floods would surge to the heavens. The people would suffer disaster, displaced and homeless; worse still, corpses might float in clusters and the starved dead litter the land—a tragedy in the mortal world.

Since ancient times, virtuous Flood Dragons had been few, and those without virtue many. Otherwise, the Evil Flood Dragon would never have earned its evil reputation.

And from this Flood Dragon, the Daoists had sensed no virtue, only malice. Otherwise, Floating Cloud Mountain would not have shaken so violently, nor would they have needed to intervene to stabilize the Truth-Seeking Abbey.

An Evil Flood Dragon took to the waters, bringing evil currents and wicked waves.

The people below the mountain were in peril.

Inside the Mystic Law Hall, a crash rang out.

Hot-tempered Xuan Yang slammed the table and sprang to his feet.

"That dragon is hateful!"

"If I could defeat him, I would descend the mountain myself, slay the dragon, and rid the people of this scourge."

The Daoists nodded, yet could only sigh helplessly.

After all, they could not defeat him.

Flood Dragons were unlike flood serpents. Such beings had already entered the Qi Refining Realm, and a Flood Dragon capable of taking to the waters to transform into a true dragon stood at that realm's pinnacle. In single combat, even a True Person at the perfection of Qi Refining would be no match.

"Enough."

"There will be experts to slay the Evil Flood Dragon."

“Neither our Daoist Tradition's elders nor the Imperial Court will stand idly by.”

"What matters now is how to bring relief to the people."

Xuanming spoke.

Xuanxu nodded. "You are absolutely right, senior brother."

As the Daoists voiced their agreement, their gazes turned toward Xuanxu and Xuan Tong.

Those two were skilled at handling worldly affairs, after all.

Xuanxu's eyelid twitched, and Xuan Tong's heart shuddered.

They did not want to take on this troublesome task, but what wrong had the people done?

In this hour of peril, however unwilling they were, they could only steel themselves and step forward. Otherwise, their Dao Heart would know no peace.

In prosperous times, ascend the mountains to cultivate; in troubled times, descend the mountains to save lives.

This was an iron law of the Daoist tradition, and its very spirit.

When the people faced danger and the common folk suffered, aiding the imperiled and relieving the distressed was an inescapable duty for Daoists.

Xuanxu asked, "Junior Brother Xuan Tong, what do you think?"

Seeing the abbot toss the question to him, Xuan Tong lowered his head and rolled his eyes. He pondered in silence, then raised his head with a gentle expression and benevolent features. Suppressing his heartache, he answered:

"Reporting to the abbot, Floating Cloud County below Floating Cloud Mountain has suffered no disasters in ten years. The incense donations received from devotees seeking blessings and longevity have accumulated to ten thousand taels. Our Truth-Seeking Abbey grows crops and raises poultry, providing for itself, and spends only a little on annual rituals. Eight thousand taels remain to this day."

"What comes from the people should be used for the people. I believe we can take out these incense donations to provide disaster relief."

Void nodded. "Excellent! Junior Brother Xuan Tong, you are most thoughtful."

After Xuan Tong sat down, the Daoists fell silent. No one disturbed Xuanxu's deliberations. A moment later, he finally spoke, issuing his orders:

"Floating Cloud County has long supported our Truth-Seeking Abbey. Now a demon has wrought havoc, and its people are suffering through no fault of their own. This should never have happened, and our Truth-Seeking Abbey must not stand idly by."

"Junior Brother Xuan Kong, check how much grain and oil remain in the abbey's stores. After setting aside enough for our disciples' daily needs, take the surplus down the mountain and set up porridge kitchens."

"I accept your command."

"Junior Sister Xuan Su, the disciples of Pure Maiden Peak have hearts as fine as orchids and are skilled in medicine. Sorry for the trouble, but please lead them down the mountain to treat the people."

"Rest assured, senior brother. I will do everything in my power."

"Junior Brother Xuan Yin, sorry for the trouble, but please see to the supply of medicinal herbs and other provisions."

"You are too courteous, Abbot. It is my duty."

"Junior Brother Xuan Yu, come down the mountain with me and use our arts to control the waters, lest the flooding spiral beyond control. Junior Brother Xuan Yang, you will stand guard to prevent other demons from taking advantage of the chaos."

"Understood!"

"Senior brother!"

Seeing that his turn had finally come, Xuanming paid close attention.

"Sorry for the trouble, but please remain at the abbey to prevent petty villains from slipping in while our defenses are thin."

The other Daoists nodded at this.

Over the past six months, they had sparred with Senior Brother Xuanming.

Though he was in the third realm, his magical power was so profound, his Dao body so formidable, and his strength so great that even they found him difficult to defeat.

Even the abbot could only fight him to a draw without using the inherited ritual sword.

Had Senior Brother Xuanming not entered the Dao relatively recently, leaving his mastery of spells less developed than theirs for the time being, he might well have beaten them without giving them room to fight back.

The Daoists sincerely admired this late-blooming senior brother, who was growing ever more vigorous, with the vitality of a dragon and tiger.

Of course, having witnessed the formidable power of a superior Foundation Establishment method, they also privately devoted more time to studying the Yin and Yang Foundation Establishment Manual, each gaining something from it.