Marketplace

Deng Gang fixed him with a burning gaze and said gravely, "Brother Liu, I know you possess a Secret Method and the talent to order heaven and earth."

"You've seen with your own eyes how the people cannot make a living under the demon sect's rule."

"Why do you hesitate now? Why won't you join me in sweeping away this chaos and bringing the people of Huang Kingdom an age of peace and prosperity?!"

Liu Zhijian fell silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Since you ask in earnest, Brother Deng, I'll answer in earnest."

Deng Gang nodded slightly, all ears.

"First, my ambition lies in the Immortal Dao."

His gaze resolute, Liu Zhijian said softly, "I spent half my life sinking in the mortal world. Only through my master's guidance was I able to set foot on the path of cultivation."

"Now I have yet to complete Qi Gathering or repay my master's kindness. I truly cannot allow myself to be distracted."

Deng Gang's tone was less resolute than before. Disagreeing with Liu Zhijian, he continued to persuade him. "By pacifying the realm, you can receive offerings. Far from hindering your cultivation, it would help you. When the time comes, obtaining Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi would be as easy as turning your hand."

Liu Zhijian had studied the Daoist scriptures diligently himself. He shook his head. "Mortal World Turbid Qi is particularly adept at ravaging one's will and wearing away one's Dao heart."

"Since you've entered the Dao and begun cultivating, Brother Deng, you mustn't sacrifice the greater for the lesser and ruin your Dao Path."

Deng Gang was somewhat unconvinced. Frowning, he said, "Sweeping away chaos and protecting ordinary people is the ambition in my heart. How could it ravage my will and wear away my Dao heart?! Shouldn't it instead consolidate my destiny and greatly benefit my cultivation?!"

Liu Zhijian couldn't help laughing, but he didn't argue. He continued, "Besides, Brother Deng, do you really think that winning the hearts of ordinary people can determine the state of affairs in Huang Kingdom?!"

"No matter how much you scheme, if a higher cultivator makes a move, you can only cry out in helplessness."

Deng Gang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I naturally understand what you mean, Brother Liu."

"But as far as I know, several formidable fiends of the Supreme Mystery Demon Sect have already left."

"The sect master on the mountain now is only at Qi Refining, and he used inferior Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to enter the Dao. His cultivation realm isn't much higher than mine, and I'm afraid his combat strength is inferior to mine."

"That fiend has been in charge of the demon sect all this time, yet he only dares hide on the mountain. An outside sect occupied Rejuvenation Commandery, and he didn't even dare show his face."

"I hear the fiend has also imprisoned the Hua Household's legitimate daughter and indulged himself in women. That alone shows how poor his character is."

"As for those remnants of the Hua Household at the foot of the mountain, they're all ordinary mortals, hardly worth mentioning."

Liu Zhijian was taken aback.

Deng Gang had actually investigated the true state of affairs on Supreme Mystery Mountain.

It was just that the details were far from accurate.

Liu Zhijian couldn't very well explain matters on his master's behalf, so he earnestly urged him, "Supreme Mystery Mountain has stood for a thousand years. How could it have no formidable trump cards?!"

"Besides, the Southern Verge Immortal Alliance stands above it."

"Which royal household among the nations of the Southern Edge Continent doesn't have an immortal sect backing it?!"

Deng Gang listened quietly to the end. His expression unchanged, he said softly, "I have one too."

Liu Zhijian was a little surprised, but on further thought, he didn't find it unexpected.

Deng Gang was no fool. Since he dared to rise in revolt, how could he lack a powerful backer?!

Liu Zhijian sighed but still shook his head. "Rising in revolt this time is no different from asking a tiger for its skin or pulling chestnuts from the fire. You finally managed to enter the Dao through Qi Ingestion, Brother Deng. Why do this?!"

"Forget it."

"Since your mind is made up, Brother Liu, I won't press you."

Deng Gang knew he couldn't keep trying, or it would damage their friendship. His tone softened. "Back then, Brother Liu, you saved my life and even obtained precious flood dragon blood for me. I owe you a great debt."

"I've always kept it in my heart."

"No matter what, I'll obtain [Kan Water Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi] for you."

"Wait for word from me!"

Deng Gang had found a backer and went off to contend for supremacy over Huang Kingdom; no more need be said of him.

Liu Zhijian had changed as well.

During the day, he played with Jiang Xiaoyu and taught her to read and write along the way.

Unfortunately, Jiang Xiaoyu only cared about playing. She grew sleepy at the sight of paper and brush, and later simply began avoiding Liu Zhijian.

Liu Zhijian could only laugh at himself. An ignorant academic failure like him had somehow become one of those annoying adults who urged others to study and better themselves.

So he simply stopped bringing it up.

Sure enough, Jiang Xiaoyu soon returned to normal.

Every night, Liu Zhijian still went fishing in the river.

Unfortunately, his catches were meager.

Now and then, he would catch a small, fine-scaled fish, but when he checked the fish basket after returning, it would be empty.

Liu Zhijian was no fool, and he naturally noticed something strange.

Those small, fine-scaled fish were clearly the [Clear Qi Above the River] he had been searching so hard for.

After fishing at night for several months in succession, Liu Zhijian had begun to discern a pattern.

Late at night, when all was quiet and the bright moon hung high, he used the seven emotions and six desires in his heart as bait, went fishing by the river, and cast his hook toward the moon's reflection in the water.

The moon is Greater Yin, utterly pure and pristine, and it also governs all waters.

Isn't the bright moon's reflection in the great river the clearest, purest place in the whole White Dragon River? It's just the place to gather [Clear Qi Above the River].

Once Liu Zhijian understood, he felt as though a whole new vista had suddenly opened before him.

No wonder the sect's seniors didn't record the details of Qi Gathering.

It seems everyone's affinities are different.

When I fish in the river, [Clear Qi Above the River] appears as small, fine-scaled fish.

I don't even need to draw water and refine Qi, as described in the [Qi Gathering Method].

Presumably, other people have different affinities, so the details of their Qi gathering and the forms in which [Clear Qi Above the River] manifests are different too.

Writing them down might instead lead later generations astray.

After Liu Zhijian understood this, he instead became trapped by the barrier of his own knowledge and views, unable to settle into meditation and catch another small, fine-scaled fish.

My cultivation is still lacking. My Dao heart isn't pure enough.

Liu Zhijian sighed inwardly. Knowing he was unlikely to catch much today, he simply picked up his fishing rod and glanced into the fish basket.

Inside, more than a dozen small, fine-scaled fish were swimming back and forth through empty air.

This strange sight would no longer be visible once the sun rose, the moon set, and day broke.

It was truly wondrous.

It seems I have to fill the basket before I've gathered a full strand of [Clear Qi Above the River].

With that settled in his mind, Liu Zhijian was no longer in a hurry. He picked up the fish basket and strolled toward Wild Goose Pond Mountain.

He had returned a little early today.

The eastern sky had yet to brighten, with only two or three streaks of rosy dawn just beginning to appear.

Liu Zhijian waited at the crossroads for a while.

Only when he saw Jiang Xiaoyu open the door with a yawn and sit on the threshold in a daze, her chin propped in both hands, did he set off toward the thatched hut.

When Jiang Xiaoyu saw Liu Zhijian, she sprang to her feet and ran over excitedly. Gripping the fish basket, she peered inside. "Let me see, let me see."

"Tch, how come it's just a few little fish again? They're not even enough for one bite."

"What do you know? These little fish are hard to catch, and they taste good too. One of them is worth at least ten big fish!"

"I don't believe you! Nyah, nyah, nyah..."

"Hold your head still. I'll tie your hair."

Supreme Mystery Mountain.

A formidable man named Deng Gang had risen within Huang Kingdom. He had already swept through an entire commandery and had even issued a proclamation declaring his intent to contend for supremacy over the realm.

The royal household of Huang Kingdom bore the surname Chu.

As it happened, they were distant relatives of Old Daoist Wu, the previous sect master of Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Unfortunately, Old Daoist Wu himself did not acknowledge them, and when he returned to the Central Continent, he took only Chu Siyue with him.

They had lost their greatest backer and were unable to defeat Deng Gang. The fall of their realm was imminent.

The Chu Clan was in a panic, repeatedly sending messengers to Supreme Mystery Mountain with letters begging for help.

Li Chengxuan merely accepted the letters and sent the messengers away without seeing them.

He couldn't be bothered to spare a glance for these contests for supremacy in the mortal world.

The only thing worth his attention was that Deng Gang had entered the Dao and begun cultivating, and seemed deeply hostile toward Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Supreme Mystery Mountain had ruled Huang Kingdom for a thousand years, but had never put much thought into it.

The minor Qi Refining clans, Rogue Cultivators, and Bandit Cultivators under its rule had been replaced so many times that no one knew how many generations had come and gone.

It was only natural for a few cultivators to seek revenge against Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Yet in all those thousand years, no one had managed to fight their way up the mountain.

Huh, that sounded suspiciously like planting a flag. Very dangerous.

Li Chengxuan gathered his wandering thoughts and received another letter forwarded by the Hua Household at the foot of the mountain.

That's a bit too blatant.

I haven't even made a move yet, and the mastermind has jumped out on his own.

Li Chengxuan opened the secret letter and read it, then frowned. "The Azure Cloud Sect wants to build a marketplace..."