Jiao Fei looked closely and saw a tall, bearded old man in a gray Taoist robe standing at the entrance of the cave.
This old Taoist priest was nine feet tall, with a fierce and valiant air about him. He looked more like a peerless warrior on the battlefield, who could slay enemy generals, capture flags, and crush thousands of troops, than a monk.
The bearded old man had already sensed someone in the cave. Upon seeing Jiao Fei holding the Hun Tian Banner, he immediately asked, "So you're a junior from the He Shan Dao. Who is your master?"
Jiao Fei's mind raced. He found a copy in the Five Yin Bag, a cultivation notebook belonging to Wang Daoyuan, a disciple of the Heshan Sect. It contained the words "Master Yao Kaishan". He immediately asked boldly, "My master is Yao Kaishan. May I ask how you address him, senior?"
Upon hearing this, the bearded old man chuckled and said, "So you are the grand-disciple of that scoundrel Feng Jiu. I am Ma Jiulong, and I have some connection with your founder of the Heshan Dao Sect. This time, I was injured by a powerful enemy and was forced to flee into the Huai River. I am temporarily staying in your cave."
Jiao Fei was unaware that the Heshan Dao sect had been established for over four hundred years, and that its founder had passed away more than three hundred years ago.
This Ma Jiulong, who knows the founder of the Heshan Sect, must be at least three hundred years old. To live for over three hundred years, even without achieving immortality, is still a remarkable feat.
"I'm only staying here temporarily for a few days. If you like it, I'll give it to you," Jiao Fei said very respectfully.
"What's so great about your shabby hole? How could this old Taoist priest take advantage of you?" Ma Jiulong laughed and scolded.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Ma Jiulong, with his bold and forthright personality, and Jiao Fei, with his clever and quick wit, quickly became inseparable.
Seeing this scene from the shadows, Lin Yi truly felt a sense of the unpredictability of fate and the inevitability of defying destiny.
Following his original route, Jiao Fei fled Chang'an City and arrived at the banks of the Huai River, where he encountered Ma Jiulong, who was fleeing a formidable enemy. He then obtained half of the "Gourd Sword Manual" from Ma Jiulong and helped him successfully defeat the enemy, thus forging a friendship between the two.
Now, this matter has come full circle.
As expected, the half of the "Gourd Sword Manual" in Ma Jiulong's hands still couldn't escape Jiao Fei's clutches.
After recuperating for more than half a month, Ma Jiulong took his leave.
………………
Time flies, and the days pass like an arrow.
More than three months passed quickly.
On this day, Jiao Fei emerged from the cave and stood quietly on the banks of the Huai River. Gazing at the ceaselessly flowing water beneath his feet, he saw figures flashing past his eyes.
There was the Taoist Master Lan Li, who guided him into Taoism and taught him Taoist methods; there was Meng Tianzhu, who treated him kindly and gave him medical books; there was Ma Jiulong, who was bold, unrestrained and magnanimous...
These people come and go in a hurry, constantly pursuing longevity and immortality.
The world is like a tide, and people are like water; it's just a pity that only a few can attain immortality.
The mighty river surged on, and Jiao Fei seemed to be washed clean by the water, giving him a purer, clearer, and more natural appearance.
Suddenly, Jiao Fei took a step forward. The icy river water submerged his feet, then his knees, waist, and neck, and finally swallowed him completely.
"The true water essence in my body has long been saturated, but it has never been able to condense into Xuanming True Water until today when I finally figured out the secret."
"As the saying goes, even the best swimmers can drown. But how can one master the water without getting in the water? And how can one condense the Xuanming True Water, which is known as the 'Commander of All Waters' and can command all the waters in the world, without mastering the water?"
With unwavering resolve, Jiao Fei walked step by step toward the center of the Huai River. Influenced by the external environment, the true water essence within his body surged and churned, like a black dragon trying to break free of its shackles and soar into the heavens.
Just then, a powerful undercurrent surged in, sweeping Jiao Fei into an underwater whirlpool. The immense true water energy flowed into his body, stirring up endless waves.
Jiao Fei was neither worried, confused, nor afraid, and held fast to the clarity in his mind.
It seemed like a fleeting moment, yet also like a thousand years had passed. Jiao Fei could only hear the rushing sound of water within his body, as if a river was surging through his flesh.
With a thought, a layer of jet-black, yet profoundly deep, true water flowed freely across his skin.
Jiao Fei finally mastered the first level of the Black Water True Method, the true teaching of the Northern Sect of the Demonic Path. He mastered the Xuanming True Water, known as the "Commander of All Waters," among the seven innate true waters, and naturally gained the supernatural power of water control.
From then on, traveling on rivers, lakes, and seas was as easy as walking on flat ground.
It was a success! Jiao Fei wasn't the only one overjoyed; Lin Yi, who was hiding nearby, was also delighted. In his sea of consciousness, the "Star River True Scripture" began to deduce a new level of change. The cultivation of the fourth stage of Jade Liquid would begin soon.
Meanwhile, Jiao Fei, being a young man at heart, played in the water to his heart's content after mastering the Xuanming True Water. On a whim, relying on his water control abilities, he dived into the whirlpool at the bottom of the Huai River.
Unexpectedly, beneath the vortex lay an extremely spacious area. One direction seemed particularly deep, with the vague outline of a doorway.
Jiao Fei was very curious, so he parted the water and groped his way across. After swimming about half a mile, he finally arrived at the gate.
There was no water in front of the gate, and only two large doors were tightly closed.
Jiao Fei casually pushed the two large doors open to the left and right. He stepped inside and looked around. He saw that the water mansion was fully furnished, with stone beds, stone tables, stone benches, stone chairs, and even pots and pans, just like a family home.
There were six or seven courtyards in total, which was very spacious and more impressive than the mansions of wealthy families, but it was empty and deserted.
This water palace in the middle of the river was more than ten times better than the cave on the riverbank. Jiao Fei liked it very much, so he stayed there and continued to cultivate diligently.
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Chapter Forty-Nine: Choosing an Auspicious Day for Relocation, the True Talisman of Heavenly Abundance
Inside a cave on the banks of the Huai River, Lin Yi was silently cultivating. A continuous stream of true water essence flowed from the Huai River outside the cave, which he quickly absorbed and refined.
Time flies in spiritual practice; a blink of an eye and more than half a month has passed.
During the past two weeks, Jiao Fei, while cultivating the Black Water True Method in the River Heart Water Palace, also studied the "Gourd Sword Manual" and subdued two water demons, a red-scaled fish and a gray-white dragon, to guard his home.
They were living a wonderful life.
On this day, Jiao Fei defeated a minor demon, Eel Commander, who came to compete for the Water Palace, and obtained a set of fish scale armor with the supernatural power to urge waves.
Having heard that the eel-like Grand Commandant claimed to be a subordinate of the Grand Administrator of the Huai River, the yellow-faced youth was focused on cultivation and had no attachment to the Water Palace in the heart of the river. He then decided to head upstream on the Huai River to find another quiet place to settle down.
With the help of the newly acquired fish-scale armor, Jiao Fei rode the waves on the river, the strong wind blowing in his face, making him feel refreshed.