"Dragon Lord, I've released you, so I don't intend to take you back..."
"You...you can return to Jambudvipa?"
"My path is not here, this place is too small!" Jiang Liu pointed to the sky. Although what Ao Yang said was indeed very tempting, it would be extremely difficult to achieve, and the time required would be calculated in tens of thousands of years. It would take hundreds or thousands of reincarnations and possessions to have any chance of success.
Jiang Liu possesses the "Escape One," which allows him to traverse time and space, but he is also limited by it; his path is confined to the Journey to the West world. Moreover, this "Dou Qi Continent" is merely a small world; the Great Thousand Worlds beyond are the vast worlds comparable to Journey to the West.
"You've devoured the Bone Nether, so you should know something about the Soul Palace, the Soul Clan, the Eight Ancient Clans, and the Three Demonic Beast Clans. Those with exceptional strength are called Battle Saints. I'm leaving, and I don't know when I'll return. Therefore, I need a powerful figure to protect this foundation for me!"
Ao Yang pondered for a moment and said, "I dare not disobey your kindness in saving me, but... my current soul body may not be strong enough!"
"In this world, no one cultivates the primordial spirit. With the Dragon Lord's strength, possessing another's body is not difficult!"
Ao Yang's mind raced with hundreds of thoughts before he sighed and said, "Everything is up to my benefactor!"
...
Jiang Liu was determined to obtain the "Nine Dragons Thunderfire" of Burning Flame Valley, as it was the only exotic fire he could acquire in a short period of time. However, he knew that the seemingly ordinary Burning Flame Valley harbored an old monster, the Fire Cloud Ancestor, who had reached the Dou Sheng level.
Originally, he wanted to take action himself, but since he had awakened the Dragon King's soul, it was natural for Ao Yang to do it. Jiang Liu also wanted to see what kind of skills he had.
Ao Yang returned to Qianlong Mountain seven days after leaving the mountain.
At this moment, however, he was no longer in a soul state, but had possessed a body. As soon as he appeared, a scorching wind blew, followed by a crimson light that appeared above the main hall of Qianlong Temple. When the light dissipated, a group of people were revealed.
Medusa, Yunyun, Green Robe, and others were all among those who went to attack Burning Flame Valley. The old man leading them had red hair and exuded a terrifying aura, like a towering tidal wave.
The red-haired old man cupped his hands towards Jiang Liu and said, "Master, I have not failed you! Moreover, I have gained a physical body for free. This person is not weak, but he does not cultivate his primordial spirit, so I have taken over his body!"
As he spoke, he stretched out his palm, and a silver flame rose from it. Within the flame, nine silver fire dragons could be faintly seen weaving through it. The strange fire contained a condensed dragon's might, thus possessing a soul-shaking effect. The silver flame burned gently, with the nine slender fire dragons darting about within, seemingly possessing intelligence. Moreover, a faint dragon's might emanated from them, causing one's soul power to feel somewhat suppressed.
"Nine Dragons Thunderfire!"
Jiang Liu's eyes lit up. With a wave of his hand, the silver flame landed in front of him. He then gently inhaled and swallowed it, circulating the "Feather Cauldron Cloud Essence" to absorb and fuse it.
The red-haired old man, whose body had been possessed by Ao Yang, the Dragon King of the Yangtze River, was startled and looked at Jiang Liu with even greater respect.
Jiang Liu devoured the "Nine Dragons Thunderfire" and pointed at the red-haired old man, saying, "This is Dragon Lord Ao Yang, the Grand Elder of the Hidden Dragon Temple."
"Greetings, Grand Elder!"
They had witnessed Ao Yang's strength in the Burning Flame Valley and were naturally convinced of his abilities.
Jiang Liu waved his hand, and some people consciously withdrew from the main hall. Looking at Medusa, Yun Yun, Green Robe, and Gu He in front of him, Jiang Liu said, "I have to leave temporarily. I can't be sure when I'll return, or even if I can return at all... With the Dragon Lord here, you can be protected, but you must also seize the time to improve your strength. After the Soul Palace, there is the Soul Clan, and Dou Sheng powerhouses are emerging one after another. Whether you can protect this Hidden Dragon Temple depends entirely on your fate!"
"Master! You're leaving? Where are you going? We're willing to follow you!" The group exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions changing drastically when they realized Jiang Liu wasn't joking.
"You can't go!" Jiang Liu gritted his teeth, helpless. If he had another year in the world, he would surely sweep across the entire Central Continent and establish a vast empire. But time waits for no one. He had already spent three whole years in the "Battle Through the Heavens" world, and his time was running out.
"Yun Yun, you decide what to do with that person! If he's an enemy, kill him before he grows up; if he's a friend, help him become a Dou Di..."
"..." Having said everything he could, Jiang Liu looked at the people in front of him and said, "If we are destined to meet again, I will lead you into that vast and boundless world!"
After saying that, Jiang Liu returned to the belly of the volcano and quietly waited for the final moment to arrive.
Chapter 174 The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss
The first line of the first hexagram of the Book of Changes reads: "Hidden dragon, do not act." The fourth line reads: "Perhaps leaping in the abyss, no blame."
The dragon lies dormant in the abyss, waiting for its time to strike!
Qianlong Temple has been rebuilt, twice the size of the original, but still simple and unadorned.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a celestial being resides within this newly built Taoist temple.
Jiang Liu sat cross-legged under an ancient pine tree, quietly watching the blue sky, the ever-changing clouds.
What should we do?
Having avenged his master and entered the realm of Earth Immortals, the remaining task is to revive the Hidden Dragon Temple. This is no easy task, and Jiang Liu has no intention of sitting idly on Hidden Dragon Mountain as a farming-style transmigrator.
After pondering for a long time, a white egret appeared in the sky, piercing through the mountain mists and transforming into a white shadow that shot towards them. Upon landing, it transformed into a woman in white, standing gracefully and heroically: "Master, the invasion of the East Sea has been quelled, and Li Jian is preparing to return to the capital! This is his letter to you..."
As he spoke, he took out a letter from his pocket.
Jiang Liu opened it, read it, and then a flame shot out, burning it to ashes.
"The Jiangnan region is in dire need of reconstruction, and now is the time to divide up the spoils. Such a large piece of cake is coveted by all the sects! Bailu, have you found that brat you were asked to find?"
Bai Lu smiled and said, "We have found him, and A Niu is bringing him here. However... Abbot, you'll have to put in some effort if you want to take him as your disciple!"
"Then you all keep him company while I go to Jizhou. I'll be back in a day or ten days to half a month!"
With that, he flew away on his sword.
Watching the sword light disappear into the blue sky in the blink of an eye, the egret scratched its head and looked around. This place was not particularly beautiful, but it was a place where mountains and water complemented each other. There were lakes at the foot of the mountains and Taoist temples in the mountains. It was not a fairyland, but it had a sense of returning to nature.
"That little guy isn't easy to fool! If he finds that Qianlong Mountain doesn't match what I said, don't make a scene! If it weren't for General Li's personal guarantee, I really wouldn't have been able to trick him! It's a headache..."
On the official road leading to Qianlong Mountain, an elite army was marching swiftly. Behind the army, a small boy sat atop a large water buffalo, playing a short flute. Although the water buffalo appeared to be moving slowly, its speed was in no way slower than that of the rapidly advancing army.
At this moment, Jiang Liu was heading towards Jizhou on his sword.
Jizhou, known as Hedong Circuit in the Tang Dynasty, was Jiang Liu's destination: Longmen County in Jiangzhou, Hedong Circuit. This was the place name Li Jian had given him, and Jiang Liu wasn't sure if he could find him.
Looking down at the great river, one sees its surging, rapid currents resembling a roaring yellow dragon. The saying "Three turbulent waves at the Dragon Gate, a thunderclap on flat ground" vividly depicts the immense power and treacherous, untamed torrents created by the Yellow River's turbulent flow here. The phrase "Roaring for thousands of miles, surging at the Dragon Gate" aptly captures the turbulent and magnificent spectacle of the three turbulent waves at the Dragon Gate.
The river flowed down to the shore, heading towards the Yellow River bank. There, an old fisherman was seen rowing his small boat to the bank, holding a Yellow River carp that was more than a foot long in his hand.
"Old man, do you know if the Xue family of Hedong is here?"
The old man removed his straw hat, revealing a wrinkled face. He looked at Jiang Liu, who was dressed in a Taoist robe, and bowed, saying, "Little immortal, are you referring to the Xue family of Xue Andu, the famous general of the Northern Dynasty?"
"Probably!"
"If so, there is a small mountain thirty miles to the east. Just cross the mountain!"
"Thank you, old man!" Jiang Liu said, looking towards the Yellow River Dragon Gate. Amidst the churning waves, he saw several ferocious-looking water demons sizing up the river, their appearances resembling those of shrimp soldiers and crab generals.
"Old man, you shouldn't go fishing in the river lately, the waters are dangerous." Jiang Liu pointed in that direction, and the old man turned around, but he couldn't see any water monsters.
Jiang Liu casually drew a "Zhang Tianshi's Talisman for Suppressing All Evil Spirits" and handed it to the old man, saying, "Keep it safe, it will be of some use!"
With that, he flew away on his sword.
"A deity!" Upon seeing this, the old man immediately prostrated himself on the ground. Only after Jiang Liu disappeared did he carefully place the talisman back into his bosom.
Jiang Liu arrived at the Xue family's land as the old man had mentioned in no time. Although it was just an ordinary farm village, he could faintly hear the sound of reading aloud and see some teenagers exercising and stretching their muscles. Some were drawing bows and shooting arrows, while others were practicing martial arts.
While the arrows weren't quite capable of hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces, they could still rival regular troops if used in the army. The fist technique was a form of imitative boxing, mimicking animals like bears, tigers, and oxen; it was a method for exercising muscles and building strength.
The professor, who was part of a group of teenagers, was actually a young man in his early twenties. He had a slender waist, broad shoulders, and eyes like twin stars. His strength had already reached the peak of the Acquired Realm, and he was only one step away from the Innate Realm.
"Xue Rengui!"
Jiang Liu suddenly called out to the young man.
The man looked around, his eyes gleaming like those of a tiger or eagle, and a strong, resonant voice came from his mouth: "Who called me?"
"This humble Taoist priest is Jiang Liu from Qianlong Temple in Jiangnan!" Jiang Liu descended from the sky, his hands behind his back. If he had white beard and white hair, he would be no different from an immortal.
Even though Jiang Liu had a youthful face, the young man still asked respectfully, "What brings a celestial being to visit?"
"I see you have the makings of a Daoist. Would you be willing to follow me in cultivation?" Jiang Liu got straight to the point and said directly. When talking to this future famous general of the Tang Dynasty, one should be straightforward. He knew he couldn't fool him by beating around the bush or using tricks.
"Cultivation?" The young man was surprised. Although he only practiced his family's martial arts, he knew that cultivators in this world could fly and escape into the earth, abilities that only immortals possessed.
"I... could the immortal allow me to return and discuss this with my wife?" Xue Rengui was still very young, not yet the future general who could remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. Upon meeting Jiang Liu today, he immediately knew that he had received a divine favor, and he was already flustered.
"Okay!" Jiang Liu smiled, it seemed he was interested.
"Please, immortal!" Xue Rengui told the boys to cultivate on their own, then led Jiang Liu toward his home.
Before I even got home, I saw a woman washing clothes by a stream.
"Liu'er, I..." But when he stood before his wife, he couldn't utter a single word.
"My lord, what troubles you?" she said, looking at Jiang Liu. Her brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed, and she smiled, "My lord, since you have important business, you should take the Daoist priest home first. I'll pack up and head back."
Jiang Liu followed Xue Rengui and clearly sensed his hesitation and anxiety. They passed a large banyan tree, its canopy spreading wide, and behind it was a small courtyard. The fence was slightly askew, and the thatched roof was withering, giving it a somewhat dilapidated appearance. However, the courtyard and the house were kept very clean, just like the feeling one gets from a woman washing clothes.
After listening briefly to what Xue Rengui had to say, the woman surnamed Liu bowed to Jiang Liu and said, "Please forgive me, Immortal. I wonder where you are cultivating on that immortal mountain? If I ever miss my husband in the future, I can go and find you!"
Jiang Liu naturally understood her implied meaning and smiled, "I cultivate at Qianlong Mountain in Jiangnan Province. Li Jing, the son of Duke Wei, recently quelled an invasion in Jiangnan Province. I have a connection with him... If you don't believe me, I can send him a message!"
The woman bowed to the river again and said, "I am overjoyed that Ren Gui has such a divine destiny. I will pack his bags now!"
"Madam, I... you only entered the Xue family before the New Year, how can I leave you!"
Madam Liu immediately shouted, "A gentle embrace is a hero's grave! This is your destiny, how can you give it up because of me..."
"Ahem!" Jiang Liu cleared his throat and said, "Well... I didn't say I was only taking him with me!"
Chapter 175 The tree desires stillness, but the wind never ceases.
In five days, the river flowed across two vast distances between Yangzhou and Jizhou, finally reaching Qianlong Mountain.
Xue Rengui held his wife, who was slightly dizzy. Although he had long since passed the initial shock, he felt an even greater awe for Jiang Liu. The methods of a celestial immortal were indeed awe-inspiring.
"Master, you're back?" A white egret spoke in a human voice, startling Xue Rengui once again.
"This is Xue Li, Xue Rengui, and his wife, Lady Liu. This is Bailu..."
After Jiang Liu finished speaking, Bai Lu transformed into human form and bowed to Xue Rengui. Knowing that this person was Jiang Liu's disciple, she dared not be presumptuous.
"monster?"
"Hehe!" Bailu chuckled and pointed at Liu Shi, saying, "How long has the abbot been flying with you? You're so tired. Let me take her to rest!"
As he spoke, he took out a small bottle, poured out a pill, and gave it to her. Then, he helped her walk into the house.
As the sun set and a magnificent sunset painted the western sky, Jiang Liu looked down at the mountains and laughed, "Ren Gui, your junior brother has arrived!"
"Junior Brother?" Xue Rengui looked into the distance and saw a black dot rapidly approaching from the foot of the mountain.
In the distance, a blue ox slowly trotted along on four legs, yet each step covered a hundred zhang (approximately 300 meters), with a shepherd boy riding on its back playing a flute. The flute's melody was melodious, like a clear spring flowing through the desert, gentle and refreshing.
Before Jiang Liu could speak, the boy put away his flute, jumped off the ox's back, bowed to Jiang Liu, and said, "Disciple Luo Binwang greets Master!"
"I heard you were against it at home and it took a lot of effort to get you to agree. Why did you suddenly change your mind today?"