The Killing Scheme Returns, First Encounter with the True Dragon

Chen Li's visit this time only involved bringing some gifts. He chatted with Jiang Changsheng for two hours before leaving. He was already working in the capital, so squeezing out time to visit him was truly not easy.

During this time, Chen Li also asked him how his martial arts had been recently. He was very low-key, saying that he was still improving, without specifying how strong he was.

He couldn't guarantee that Chen Li wasn't an enemy, so he was very careful when interacting with him.

Half a month after Chen Li left, the New Year arrived.

The Jing Dynasty also had New Year's gifts, signifying the transition between the old and the new.

Dragon Arising Temple was a place of cultivation, so the New Year was not lively.

After the New Year, Meng Qiuhe returned with his disciples. Sixteen went out, and twenty returned. Among them were three infants in swaddling clothes and five scruffy teenagers, meaning four disciples were lost.

Qing Ku had also lost an arm and was no longer as lively as before. Jiang Changsheng was shocked when he saw him and asked with concern, but Qing Ku laughed it off, casually recounting his adventures in the martial world.

"Senior Brother, you were right after all. Down the mountain isn't as good as up here. There's no war, but people's hearts are unpredictable."

Qing Ku said with emotion. Jiang Changsheng didn't know how to comfort him and could only pat him on the shoulder.

The next day, Qing Ku practiced martial arts in the courtyard early in the morning. The disciples in the same courtyard already knew about his experience and didn't disturb him. After Jiang Changsheng finished ringing the bell, he practiced his own skills nearby.

He was used to practicing alone, which made him feel safe.

The return of this group of disciples shook Dragon Arising Temple for a long time, because even the Second Senior Brother was injured. The martial world was dangerous, far beyond their imagination.

A full month passed before the topic of the martial world down the mountain completely disappeared, and Dragon Arising Temple became lively again because there were eight new disciples and three infants, which caused the disciples to often gather around them.

Jiang Changsheng had completely mastered Vajra Howl and Qi Finger, and focused on Dao Follows Nature Skill.

Martial arts emphasized internal strength. With strong internal strength, it was easy to practice external martial arts, and Jiang Changsheng was practicing immortal cultivation techniques!

Jiang Changsheng's senses were already exceptionally strong. He had sensed that the True Qi of the three senior disciples was far less than half of his, and even Qingxu Taoist Priest's True Qi was only about the same as his, which was enough to show the difference between immortal cultivation techniques and martial arts techniques.

He was not arrogant. True Qi was only one aspect, and strength had to take other factors into account, not to mention that his body was still in the growth stage.

Chen Li maintained a frequency of visiting him every six months. Every time he saw him, Jiang Changsheng could feel his exhaustion. The top scorer who was once high-spirited and pointed out murderers had become a heavy and tired official.

The emperor's pursuit of immortal techniques became more and more serious. He often became angry in the court, and officials were often dismissed, causing the court to be turbulent.

Time flew by quickly.

Kaiyuan Year 14.

The fourteen-year-old Jiang Changsheng was almost 1.7 meters tall, with a handsome face. His long hair was casually tied behind his head with a grass rope, revealing his forehead, with sideburns reaching his shoulders. His appearance was extremely outstanding in Dragon Arising Temple, and some female disciples secretly admired him, but he was only focused on practicing.

According to Dragon Arising Temple's rules, if one wanted to start a family, one had to leave the temple and go down the mountain.

This year, in the summer.

On the bell tower, Chen Li sat on the ground, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his face full of anxiety. "Jiang Changsheng, aren't you hot? Why don't you take shelter in the house?"

Jiang Changsheng sat cross-legged on the railing, seemingly about to fall down at any moment, but as stable as Mount Tai. He closed his eyes and replied, "A calm mind makes one feel cool."

"You, you, you, you are becoming more and more like Qingxu Taoist Priest."

Chen Li said with emotion, and then began to complain: "His Majesty the Emperor is really getting more and more muddle-headed, he actually ordered people to dig a canal, running from the north to the south, as long as the coast, this is not a thing that can be completed in ten or twenty years, I heard that he just wants to facilitate the transportation of elixirs, it is simply absurd, simply outrageous!"

Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes with a strange expression.

Canal?

Isn't this Emperor Yang of Sui's operation in Chinese history?

The more Chen Li spoke, the more indignant he became. Building a canal would require too much manpower, material resources, and financial resources. Not only would the national treasury be strained, but the people would also suffer.

"If this continues, there will be more wars, attacking other surrounding dynasties. Alas, the prosperous era will not return."

Chen Li said with a worried look on his face. Jiang Changsheng didn't know how to comfort him.

Judging by this situation, if the Jing Dynasty really falls into chaos, Dragon Arising Temple won't be safe either.

Jiang Changsheng felt a sense of urgency. Although his True Qi was far superior to Qingxu Taoist Priest, he had many enemies.

He must seize the time to cultivate the fourth level of Dao Follows Nature Skill!

Chen Li left after speaking for an hour, unable to bear the heat any longer, almost fainting.

Jiang Changsheng watched him leave, noticing that Chen Li was starting to hunch his back.

Time really does wear people down.

Although Jiang Changsheng was fourteen years old, adding his past and present lives together, he was over forty years old, and he had always been sensitive to the passage of time.

His body was in the prime of youth, so he felt a sense of one day on the mountain is like a year down below.

A month later.

Senior Brother Li Changqing found Jiang Changsheng and asked if he was willing to go down the mountain to train.

Jiang Changsheng refused directly.

Another killing scheme?

Li Changqing left disappointed, after all, going down the mountain could not be forced.

Three days later, Li Changqing led fifteen disciples down the mountain, the youngest of whom were thirteen years old.

Jiang Changsheng was waiting for a prompt.

Sure enough.

The next day at noon, a line of text popped up before his eyes:

[In Kaiyuan Year 14, a traitor persuaded Senior Brother, wanting to lure you down the mountain. You refused, thus avoiding a murder, and received a survival reward - miscellaneous skill 'Years Calligraphy']

Calligraphy?

Jiang Changsheng was disappointed. It seemed that the size of the calamity also determined the size of the reward.

In his spare time, he had completely mastered the Alchemy he had obtained before, but unfortunately, he did not have a medicine cauldron to refine pills.

Calligraphy was not bad either. Dragon Arising Temple had always had dignitaries come to recite poetry and compose music, and there were plenty of writing tools in the temple, all given by the guests.

It was also good to cultivate one's sentiments when nothing was happening.

After all, life here, apart from practicing, was really boring.

Jiang Changsheng asked for writing brushes, ink, and paper that day and practiced calligraphy in his room, while practicing calligraphy, he thought about the traitor.

It was the second time. There was a way to find the spy. After all, he had spoken twice to let Jiang Changsheng go down the mountain. He only needed to ask his eldest brother and second brother to compare.

At night, Qing Ku returned to his room. He had just washed his feet and was sitting on the bed, wiping his feet with a cloth, as he said, "Senior Brother Changsheng, His Majesty the Emperor is coming to Dragon Arising Temple tomorrow. Do you want to go and see? That's the current Emperor, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Hearing this, Jiang Changsheng's right hand trembled slightly. He calmly asked, "What's so good about the Emperor? Does he have more mouths than us?"

Qing Ku laughed and said, "Don't say that, be careful it gets out. Since you don't want to go, then don't go."

Jiang Changsheng raised his hand, admiring his calligraphy, and smiled, "It's not that I don't want to go, I just have nothing to do anyway."

Three words were written on the white paper.

Not a gentleman!

The next day at noon, Jiang Changsheng walked on the stone path between the courtyards. He had just finished practicing his Dao Follows Nature Skill and was preparing to see his imperial father.

From a hundred zhang away, he could already hear the discussions of his fellow disciples.

"Is that the Emperor? He's truly wise and martial!"

"Yes, it is said that the Emperor has cultivated True Dragon Qi, like a dragon in the world."

"I'm curious if the Emperor has found the elixir of immortality."

"Don't talk nonsense, you'll be beheaded if you're heard."

The closer Jiang Changsheng got to the Hall of Bright Mind, the less he heard. Soon, he heard Emperor Jiang Yuan talking with Qingxu Taoist Priest.

The two were reminiscing about the glorious years, mostly Jiang Yuan talking, mostly with emotion, and Qingxu Taoist Priest echoed, calm and indifferent.

Outside the courtyard near the Hall of Bright Mind, golden-armored guards were stationed, and idlers were not allowed to approach.

Meng Qiuhe and a group of disciples were waiting on the Emperor's only path. This was a small stream that ran through Dragon Arising Mountain, with a small bridge spanning it. The flowers and plants on both sides of the stream were extremely lush. The group of people were in the stone pavilion next to the small bridge, more than a dozen people, so crowded that the pavilion could not stand.

Meng Qiuhe was boasting about what he had seen and heard during his last experience. Seeing Jiang Changsheng approaching, his eyes lit up and he said, "Rare guest, Junior Brother Jiang, why are you here? Come in quickly, you guys make some room."

The three disciples sitting stood up quickly, and the other standing disciples also made way.

Jiang Changsheng was the only disciple Qingxu Taoist Priest had said could practice freely and did not need to attend lectures. His status was special, and coupled with the fact that he usually came and went alone, the disciples felt a sense of distance from him and dared not offend him easily.

Jiang Changsheng entered the pavilion and sat down, smiling and asking, "Second Brother, why are you in the mood to tell stories?"

The three senior disciples of Dragon Arising Temple were all martial arts fanatics. The eldest brother, Li Changqing, was exceptionally talented, while Meng Qiuhe's talent was average, but he relied on diligence to make up for his shortcomings, and had even won against Li Changqing in sparring.

Meng Qiuhe smiled and said, "Naturally, I'm here to see the True Dragon Qi. It is rumored that the Emperor is like a dragon in form, how can I not pay my respects?"

The word 'respects' was said with a bit of skill.

Jiang Changsheng began to chat with his fellow disciples. The disciples felt fresh about his arrival, especially Meng Qiuhe.

Meng Qiuhe was very curious about Jiang Changsheng's current strength. He had approached Jiang Changsheng last year and proposed the idea of sparring, but Jiang Changsheng directly admitted defeat, saying that he was not qualified enough. As a senior brother, he could not force his hand, so he could only give up.

Half an hour later.

A group of golden-armored guards walked over, and the figures of Qingxu Taoist Priest and Jiang Yuan appeared in the disciples' field of vision. The disciples came out of the stone pavilion one after another, kneeling and saluting. Jiang Changsheng was also like this, kowtowing to his biological father, there was nothing wrong with it.

As Jiang Yuan approached, Jiang Changsheng couldn't help but look up, and just happened to meet Jiang Yuan's gaze.

Jiang Yuan was dressed in a golden dragon robe and wore a delicate imperial crown. His face was stern, and his temples were already streaked with gray. He happened to be walking over, his gaze lowered, and it met Jiang Changsheng's raised eyes. Jiang Changsheng froze and quickly lowered his head.

He had imagined countless scenarios of meeting Jiang Yuan, even considering a direct confrontation, but how could he make Jiang Yuan believe him?

There were no witnesses.

Qingxu Taoist Priest had only happened to save him outside the palace.

"This little Taoist, raise your head."

Just as Jiang Changsheng's mind was in turmoil, Jiang Yuan's voice came. He didn't raise his head, assuming Jiang Yuan was calling another disciple.

Qingxu Taoist Priest's voice rang out, "Changsheng, His Majesty is calling you."

Jiang Changsheng subconsciously raised his head, meeting Jiang Yuan's gaze again. He didn't hide his nervousness; it would be suspicious if he wasn't nervous in front of the emperor.

He noticed an old eunuch behind Jiang Yuan, head lowered, back bent, his body extremely weak, as if half of him was already in the grave.

Such powerful True Qi, even stronger than Qingxu Taoist Priest!

Jiang Changsheng remembered him. This old dog was the one who had taken him out of the palace back then, but it wasn't this old dog who fought Qingxu Taoist Priest; he had been handed off by many people along the way.

Jiang Changsheng didn't pay much attention to the old eunuch, but lowered his eyes and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

I won't write green poison plots, everyone can rest assured to read. The descendants in the introduction are definitely the protagonist's own bloodline~~~ New book sets sail, asking for votes, asking for rewards~~