Free Web NovelChapter 259: Chapter 205: Snake, Mang, Jiao, Chi, a Small Test
Within this [Dragonfall Gorge], descendants of the dragon’s bloodline were everywhere, multiplying and thriving, divided into Four Classes: snake, Mang, Jiao, and Chi.
Jiang Yi sifted through the world’s chaotic ambient chatter, gleaning useful information. A look of understanding dawned in his eyes.
’To think that after a True Monarch Level dragon scion was slain, a few scant drops of its remaining essence blood could create such a vast clan... Creatures of the Demon Dao truly are worthy of being called Innate beings, born of creation itself.’
As Jiang Yi was pondering, he suddenly heard a stir. His gaze shifted to a corner of the temple, where he saw a row of goose cages.
Inside each cage woven from bamboo strips sat a rosy-cheeked child. Some were five to seven years old, others three or four, all crying and laughing among themselves.
’The Dragon King Ritual... This place holds year-round sacrifices for the Dragon King of the Lan Yun River, using young boys and girls as offerings.’
Jiang Yi’s brow furrowed. He raised a hand and made a grasping motion. Without setting up an altar or performing any complex rituals, he directly summoned a large mass of Essence Qi.
In an instant, a beautiful, charming woman with eyes as clear as autumn pools materialized in the temple.
Seeing Jiang Yi sitting perfectly still, the woman hurried forward, performed a deep curtsy, and said respectfully:
"This servant pays her respects to the Immortal Master!"
Jiang Yi was somewhat surprised. He had intended to summon a powerful Earth Deity like a Land God or a City God, not expecting a figure like this to manifest.
"Are you the water goddess of the Lan Yun River?"
"My cultivation is shallow. I wouldn’t dare claim the title of ’water goddess,’" the charming woman replied respectfully. "I am merely a water sprite attendant, nurtured by the Lan Yun River’s Water Vein."
"Why do you call me ’Immortal Master’?" Jiang Yi asked.
"Every blade of grass, every tree, every beast and bird in this world—even the Spiritual Energy and Essence Qi—was created by the True Monarch. From the day we gained sentience, we have known that one of our duties is to act as guides for the Immortal Masters of the Upper Sect."
Jiang Yi couldn’t help but marvel at the methods of a True Monarch, who could casually refine an entire minor plane and raise millions of demonic descendants like livestock for their disciples to use for their Refining Technique practice and Qi Collection.
He gestured toward the goose cages and asked, "What’s the story with these children?"
The charming woman answered softly, "This realm was originally a great gorge, sandwiched between two sky-scraping mountains. On the left is ’Dragon Head Mountain,’ and on the right is ’Leopard Transformation Mountain.’ Both are places of extreme peril, perpetually shrouded in baleful, gloomy clouds and impossible to approach.
The waters rushing through the gorge formed three rivers and four seas. The place where you stand now, Immortal Master, is in the basin of the Lan Yun River.
In this river dwells a River Dragon King. Though he calls himself a ’Dragon King,’ he is actually a ’Mang Demon’ with vast Divine Techniques and powerful Magical Power.
This Mang Demon enjoys consuming a medicinal soup made from the hearts and livers of children, so the surrounding villages and counties hold sacrificial rituals of all sizes throughout the year, offering up young boys and girls."
Jiang Yi nodded lightly, unsurprised.
Dragons were a type of Demon by nature. Before attaining enlightenment, their instincts were muddled and primal; they acted purely on instinct, and most couldn’t abstain from consuming flesh and blood.
What’s more, the Fourth Class dragon descendants of this minor plane had inherited the bloodthirsty and savage nature of the slain dragon scion, making them even more cruel and belligerent.
’Dragon Head Mountain and Leopard Transformation Mountain... they must be the ’Herb-Gathering Grounds’ I’m looking for.’
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Yi asked another question: freēwebnovel.com
"Do you know how to get to those two perilous lands?"
The charming woman was slightly taken aback. Ordinary Immortal Masters from the Upper Sect, whether practicing their Refining Techniques or Gathering Herbs, would only operate within the area of the three rivers and four seas.
’This young Immortal Master, dressed in a pale blue Daoist Robe, with his bright eyes and handsome, refined features, wants to explore Dragon Head and Leopard Transformation Mountains?’
’Is he supremely skilled and thus bold, or simply ignorant and thus fearless?’
"Those two perilous lands are guarded by the ’Furious Jiao Manor’ and the ’True Chi Palace,’ respectively. Outsiders are strictly forbidden," the charming woman answered, her head lowered. "Over the years, it’s not that no Immortal Masters from the Upper Sect have tried to ascend the peaks, but most of them ended up as a meal for ’Lord Changjiao.’"
’Lord Changjiao? I suppose he must be at the ’pinnacle’ of this world’s power structure. He’s probably at the Great Perfection of the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer.’ freёwebnoѵel.com
Having learned everything, Jiang Yi mused to himself. ’This minor plane, with its three rivers and four seas, is rich in water qi. It also has all sorts of blood-sucking demons running rampant, making it a perfect place to practice Refining Techniques and Qi Collection.’
’But the ’Water from beneath Kan’ that I need is no ordinary external medicine. It is an internal Great Medicine.’
’When Master Lu opened Dragonfall Gorge for me, he said there was ’danger’ to be found here. The most dangerous place in this world must be those two colossal mountains that tower into the ’world beyond.’’
Jiang Yi’s gaze hardened. He was just about to go and pay a visit to the Lan Yun River’s Dragon King, hoping to bait out a demon from the Furious Jiao Manor or the True Chi Palace, when he heard the sound of disorderly footsteps approaching from outside the temple.
A host of torches scattered the inky darkness, lighting up the night.
Leading the group was a portly old man in a black jacket. He leaned on a cane and looked utterly decrepit, yet his feet moved as if chasing the wind.
He complained nonstop as he hurried to keep up:
"Your Excellency, Lord Dragon King’s appetite has truly grown this year! A minor ritual in the third month, a mid-sized one in the sixth, and now a grand ritual at year’s end! Our county is really struggling to gather this many ’offerings.’"
The "Your Excellency" he was addressing was a nine-foot-tall shrimp soldier with skin the color of indigo.
The shrimp soldier held a steel trident and wore chainmail armor. His beady little eyes darted about as he spoke in a domineering tone:
"Don’t try to fool me! I made sure to investigate before I came. Your Dayu County has far more newborn children this year than in previous years!
Haven’t you heard what happened to Shuiyun Village? They botched their sacrifices, angered the Lord Dragon King, and got hit with a flood! Do you want to end up like them? Just go buy a few more batches, and the problem’s solved!"
The portly elder hastily plastered a smile across his face, nodding and bowing as he said:
"Your Excellency is all-seeing; nothing escapes your notice! The Dragon King Temple is just ahead. The offerings we prepared this time are of the absolute highest quality, I guarantee they’ll be to..."
He didn’t get to finish. Leaning on his cane, he stepped over the temple’s threshold, looked up, and froze on the spot, his face stiff with shock.
The young boys and girls who had been in the bamboo cages had been let out by some unknown person. Several of the rosy-cheeked toddlers were now sitting nonchalantly on the incense altar, happily munching on the offerings.
