Seeking Resentment

The new emperor of the Deng Kingdom issued an edict, declaring his intention to tour the west and perform the feng and shan sacrifices to Heaven.

Though the new emperor came from a military background, he could not disregard the dignity of the court and the royal family's standing merely to make travel convenient.

After deliberating, the ministers decided to travel by water, heading upstream.

Once they reached Danzhou City in the west, they would disembark and continue overland.

As for the site of the sacrifices, they would naturally choose the tallest and most distinguished mountain within the kingdom's borders.

Supreme Mystery Mountain!

Yet legend said an immortal sect dwelled on the mountain, far removed from the mortal world.

The ministers had considerable doubts about this.

Later, the empress strongly recommended it, and the new emperor gave his imperial word, personally decreeing that the sacrifices would be held on Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Outside the capital, a canal connected the moat to the White Dragon River.

Deng Gang, dressed in a white dragon robe and wearing a crown, gazed at the enormous dragon boat before him. After a moment's silence, he said, "A dragon boat this immense must have taken quite a long time to build."

Qiao Yuniang's expression remained calm as she answered respectfully, "Your Majesty, this dragon boat was built by the emperor of the previous dynasty. I merely had its exterior refurbished. It was quite simple and took very little time."

"I see." Deng Gang smiled and nodded slightly. He stepped forward and said, "Board the boat. We depart!"

Aboard the dragon boat.

Deng Gang looked outside through a porthole.

It was now midsummer, and the White Dragon River ran high.

Taking the dragon boat upstream was no easy task.

The Deng Kingdom court had therefore imposed a boat-hauling levy, recruiting trackers along the White Dragon River to pull the dragon boat forward.

Deng Gang had now reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining and awakened his flood dragon bloodline. His body was already nearly inhuman.

In the distance, he saw a group of gaunt, dark-skinned trackers in ragged clothes, chanting as they pulled thick towropes. They looked as tiny as a colony of ants.

Soldiers on horseback rode alongside them, brandishing whips as they supervised.

Whenever anyone failed to give their all, the soldiers' long whips lashed down mercilessly.

From time to time, trackers collapsed from exhaustion or screamed as they were whipped.

But officials along the river quickly dragged them away and replaced them with new trackers.

"Your Majesty..." Qiao Yuniang held a jade tray and reminded him softly, "It is time to take your pill."

Deng Gang withdrew his gaze, glanced at the crimson pill on the jade tray, and casually picked it up and swallowed it.

It tasted fishy and sweet at first. Then a wave of scorching Qi swept through the meridians of his entire body, sparing him the labor of breathing in Spiritual Qi and circulating it through his body. It also gave him a light, floating sensation, as though he were ascending to immortality.

Ever since Deng Gang had entered the Dao through Qi Ingestion, his cultivation had advanced a thousand miles in a day. The Essence Treasure Pill deserved much of the credit.

By now, Deng Gang was nearly dependent on it, taking a pill every day.

As the Essence Treasure Pill's effects took hold, Deng Gang's body began to show signs of transforming into a flood dragon again. His eyes had already turned grayish white, and hot breath issued from his mouth and nose, with sparks faintly visible among it.

His earlier thoughts of how the boat-hauling levy placed too heavy a burden on the people along the river and caused them too much suffering had long since vanished. All that rose in his heart was a violent desire.

Qiao Yuniang naturally had no wish to offer herself to him. She gave a gentle wave, and a group of trembling beauties entered and lay down on the bed of their own accord.

Deng Gang pounced onto the bed like a vicious beast ready to devour anyone in its path.

Qiao Yuniang glanced at them, then rose and left, closing the door and shutting all the ugly behavior inside the cabin. Looking at the densely packed trackers on the bank, she could not help falling into a trance.

To imitate the evil flood dragon's deeds of old, it would naturally be best to have the people's resentment boiling over too.

Unfortunately, that Gou'er has swallowed so many pills, yet he still hasn't reached Perfected Qi Refining to attempt Foundation Establishment. He can't experience the wonders of the Old Method, stirring up waves and flooding both banks.

I can only use this clumsy method, tormenting mortals and abusing the people to draw out their resentment.

I wonder whether I can gather enough resentment before we reach Danzhou.

Before long, the dragon boat arrived at the foot of Wild Goose Pond Mountain.

As a remnant of the previous dynasty, Deng Gang had hidden from place to place since childhood and naturally had no hometown. He could only treat Wild Goose Pond Mountain, where he had first risen, as the birthplace of his reign.

As the saying went, to grow rich and powerful without returning home was like wearing fine clothes at night.

The fleet stopped briefly at the foot of Wild Goose Pond Mountain to rest, giving Deng Gang a chance to go ashore and experience returning home in wealth and glory.

The foot of Wild Goose Pond Mountain was already far more prosperous and lively than before.

Deng Gang had no family. Besides the officers and soldiers who had followed him in conquering the realm, he also named a few old acquaintances he remembered on Wild Goose Pond Mountain and granted them rewards.

Wild Goose Pond Mountain had also been spared the boat-hauling levy that had thrown the Deng Kingdom into turmoil and made the people's faces change at its mention.

Thus, when the people of Wild Goose Pond Mountain saw Deng Gang arrive, their gratitude and awe were entirely genuine.

Deng Gang, however, found it all utterly uninteresting.

After making a token effort, he went to the thatched cottages halfway up the mountain.

Back then, Wild Goose Pond Mountain had had three leaders, Deng Gang, Liu Zhijian, and Elder Luo, and there had been three thatched cottages as well.

Now Elder Luo had long been dead, while Deng Gang had fulfilled his wish, succeeded in restoring the kingdom, and ascended the throne.

As for Liu Zhijian... perhaps he had succeeded in gathering Qi and returned to Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Because the cottages had been the new emperor's former residences, and because they held great significance in showing how he had risen from humble beginnings and taken up arms for the people, the three thatched cottages had been very well preserved.

Every brick and tile, every blade of grass and tree, was just as it had been.

Deng Gang examined them carefully, his expression grave. Suddenly, he said, "My lady, do you think my present cultivation is truly enough to attack Supreme Mystery Mountain?!"

Qiao Yuniang's expression remained composed. She neither belittled Supreme Mystery Mountain's foundations nor flattered Deng Gang's cultivation realm. She said only, "By the time Your Majesty completes the river tour and goes ashore, your Manifestation should be perfected."

"I have obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill from my Household. Once Your Majesty takes it, you should be able to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."

"So long as Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain does not intervene, razing Supreme Mystery Mountain should be effortless!"

"A Foundation Establishment Pill... effortless..." Deng Gang's thoughts wandered far away as he murmured the words. He turned back and asked with a smile, "I cultivate the Old Method. Will the Azure Cloud Sect's New Method pill truly work?!"

"Of course it will." Qiao Yuniang did not try to argue over the similarities and differences between the New and Old Methods, instead offering a fact as proof. "The Essence Treasure Pills Your Majesty takes every day are also New Method pills. Your Majesty should know very well whether they work."

Deng Gang nodded slightly at her words and smiled. "You are right, my lady. I worried too much."

For Qiao Yuniang to have been chosen by the Azure Cloud Sect for such an important task, she was naturally quick-witted. She dimly sensed that something was unusual about Deng Gang, but with success so close at hand, she truly could not allow any further complications. Smiling shyly, she said in a low voice, "There is another wonderful piece of news I must report to Your Majesty."

"A senior member of my clan personally examined me the day before yesterday. I... am with child, carrying the imperial heir!"

"Truly?!" Deng Gang was indeed overjoyed. He nodded repeatedly and said, "Good, good, good! That truly is wonderful news!"

Outside Danzhou City.

Deng Gang's river journey had finally come to an end.

The conscripted trackers, scarcely human in appearance, collapsed to the ground one after another, weeping for joy.

Some were so overcome with elation that they let their guard down, could not draw another breath, and fell dead.

A squad of imperial guards, fearful that this would spoil His Majesty's mood, rode in and drove them away with their whips.

Those who fell and could not rise were quietly dragged away, whether they were dead or merely unconscious, and either buried or thrown into the river.

Deng Gang paid no attention to these trifles, carefully helping the pregnant Qiao Yuniang ashore.

The way from the riverbank to the foot of Danzhou City's walls had already been cleared several times over.

Yet a middle-aged man had appeared unexpectedly ahead. A black fishing rod lay at his feet, and a campfire burned before him as he roasted fish. Holding a jug of cloudy wine, he poured himself a drink, though an empty wine cup had also been set out opposite him.

Deng Gang's gaze sharpened. He stopped, wanting to speak but holding back.

Liu Zhijian did not rise. He merely raised his cup to Deng Gang from a distance, then pointed to the place opposite him and said with a smile, "Brother Deng, it's been a long time. Come over and have a good drink with me, and let's renew our old friendship."