Chapter 125: The Debate on Governing the Six Qi

Hidden Dragon Abode.

The door to the training chamber remained tightly shut, blanketed in dust. Lu Qian had spent nearly the entire past year in seclusion. He had requested leave from the Lingbo Tower for this purpose, and Fu Bo had granted it, albeit with the condition that after the others departed for the Water Eye, Lu Qian and several other deacons would remain behind to look after the business.

A figure emerged from the dust. His long hair cascaded to his waist, purple-hued with golden pupils, his body tall and adorned with yellow scales. The dark, tawny markings that had once covered his skin were gone, replaced by these dark yellow fish scales, etched with jet-black, spiderweb-like veins. Scales covered nearly every inch of his skin; from a distance, he looked like a dragon standing in human form. He stood nine feet tall, possessing a majestic, mountain-like presence with a physique that was both powerfully built and elegantly contoured—a figure full of contradictions.

"Not bad," Lu Qian remarked, surveying his new physical form with satisfaction.

Looking inward, he saw that the Fish-Dragon Moon-Chasing Blood Seed in his lower dantian had vanished, having fully taken root and sprouted. It had formed a network of meridians that spanned his entire body, capable of absorbing and circulating vital energy just like the natural meridians.

With this thought, Lu Qian spread his palms, and a sphere of emerald vital energy coalesced in his hands. A surge of potent life force radiated outward, causing the surrounding weeds to grow wildly, transforming into stalks taller than a man in the blink of an eye.

"Wood Vitality."

Once body cultivation reached the stage of blood manifesting throughout the body, the next step was to absorb energy to continuously refine one's bloodline. The Fish-Dragon was, in essence, a manifestation of plant evolution, making it perfectly attuned to Wood Vitality. Wood vitality thrives in spring like peach blossoms, in summer like grain, in autumn like cassia, and in winter like rare flowers. Wood vitality loves water, which gave Lu Qian the ability to dwell underwater. Furthermore, his flesh was so rich with life force that he could regenerate severed limbs, though not as rapidly as "flesh of vision."

Nine Heavens Moon Essence Blood Refining Method: Wood Vitality (1/50,000)
Fish-Dragon Body (Entry: 1/500)
Wood Divine Thunder (Entry: 2/500)
Taiyin Golden Pupils (Great Success: 25/1,500)

Lu Qian glanced at his status panel. His core cultivation method had changed, evolving into Wood Vitality. His spirit thunder had transformed into the more powerful Divine Thunder. In addition, he had gained the abilities of the Fish-Dragon Body: a physique as tough as a magic artifact, water evasion, wood manipulation, and more.

"Congratulations to the Master on achieving such a divine skill."
"Congratulations, Master."
The two handmaidens, Xiyue and Mochou, stepped forward to offer their respects.

"No need for formalities," Lu Qian said with a faint smile, his face glowing with the pride and boldness of one who had mastered a powerful art. This seclusion had consumed resources worth at least a hundred thousand.

*Whoosh!*

A ghostly green Yin Spirit emerged from the top of Lu Qian’s head. Its body was covered in jet-black veins, wreathed in green smoke. A biting chill swept across the area; within a ten-foot radius, the flowers, grass, and trees froze into ghostly green ice sculptures. Ice crystals formed on the stone rockeries. Even the flames in the furnace behind him ceased to emit heat, and upon closer inspection, they, too, had been frozen solid.

The Yin Spirit flew freely and unhindered through the sky. Those below could only see a three-foot-tall cloud of blue mist trailing behind the Daoist—a swirling, chilling, and peerless mist. This was the Profound Frost Silt Energy. As the wind whistled, the landscape blurred in retreat.

"How marvelous!" Lu Qian laughed heartily. This was the exhilarating sensation of transcending constraints—free from the body, unburdened and unrestricted. He was riding the true essence of heaven and earth, commanding the six breaths.

He had officially stepped into the middle stage of the Spirit Nourishing realm: the Silt Condensation stage. Combined with his sharp magic artifacts and spells, he no longer feared even the experts of the late Spirit Nourishing stage. Above, the Yin Spirit shifted between human form and that of a dragon or tiger, roaming at will.

After a while, the Yin Spirit returned to his physical body, which resumed its human appearance.

"Once the silt energy is more abundant, the next step will be to find a method for refining the Gang energy and begin the process," Lu Qian thought to himself.

He no longer needed to worry about the blood curse planted by the Lingbo Tower. If he weren't afraid of attracting Fu Bo's attention, he could have the Flood Dragon Subduing Yellow Spring Map consume the curse right now.

After tidying up, Lu Qian headed to the Lingbo Tower. On the fifth floor, the senior members of the tower were gathered, with Fu Bo seated in the center.

As Lu Qian entered, his scaled appearance caught Fu Bo’s eye. He smiled, "You’ve broken through to the stage of blood manifesting throughout the body? Not bad, not bad at all."

"Dragon-type body cultivation has always been the most difficult. Deacon Fish-Dragon’s strength far exceeds that of others at the same level," Liu Ding remarked with a laugh. "It seems this seclusion was well worth it. Congratulations, Tower Master, on gaining another great general."

People in the cultivation world often flattered one another; since the Fish-Dragon had been so polite to Liu Ding, Liu Ding returned the favor.

"Good!" Fu Bo laughed. "There are only six Golden Plates for the Water Piercing. Fish-Dragon, you just arrived, so I won't give you a spot this time. Our sea vessel deacon, Wu Hu, is nearing the Gang-refining stage and needs to refine his energy at the Water Eye, so I’ll give him a spot. Liu Ding, Cui Shan..."

The Water Eye contained not only countless treasures but also several veins of Earth Silt Yin energy, and one or two veins of Gang energy above it. This was why so many experts flocked to it.

"Many thanks, Tower Master." The named individuals were ecstatic, especially Deacon Wu Hu. Once he completed his Gang-refining, his status would ascend to a new level.

"Gang energy?" Lu Qian heard of this for the first time.

"The Water Eye will open in about three days. Everyone, remember to prepare accordingly." After arranging the tasks, Fu Bo vanished. In his heart, he remained unwilling to let go; he had failed to capture Lu Qian before the Water Eye opened. Though he didn't know the full extent of the Underworld River Secret Map, knowing the terrain in advance would surely be advantageous.

After the meeting, Lu Qian returned to his abode. His Yin Spirit left his body and flew toward the Curious Goods Agency.

At the Curious Goods Agency, with the help of the illicit funds he had plundered, the agency had grown to over five hundred people. Behind the constant movement of cargo, shipments of beast bones, demon cores, and rare metals were being transported to the Hidden Dragon Abode.

A handsome, bewitching man sat in the main seat, listening to the reports of his subordinates.

"Didn't I tell you that these materials must be acquired at all costs? And do not challenge the limits of my patience. If you dare to play tricks on this..." Before he could finish, a cold, murderous aura surged forth.

"Yes, my subordinate understands." The underling trembled, cold sweat soaking his clothes. This new manager, Demon Eagle, was far more ruthless and vicious than the last. Recently, he had already sent several dishonest managers back to their 'hometowns.'

"Get out!"
"This subordinate will leave at once!" The underling scrambled away, relieved to have escaped.

Once everyone had left, Demon Eagle transformed into a stunning, bewitching woman.

"Manager Demon Eagle is certainly impressive." A figure emerged from the shadows, wrapping his arms around Yaoyue’s slender waist.

"Master, you’ve finally come out of seclusion?" Yaoyue’s body stiffened, but upon seeing who it was, her cold face immediately blossomed into a smile.

"Yes, the Curious Goods Agency is developing well," Lu Qian said with a smile.

"Thanks to your blessing, Master. Last time, Xiyue helped me train twenty Daoist soldiers; it took a major purge of talent to stabilize the agency. Tao Zhu was a complete waste—he didn't even notice when others were planting spies."

Yaoyue spoke lightly, though the words were backed by the weight of bloody lives. She believed that those who achieve great things must not be constrained by minor details and must be ruthless. She would rather kill the innocent than let a traitor slip through. Of course, the compensation she provided was generous; playing tricks after that was simply seeking death.

In one year, the headcount had reached five hundred, with eighty Daoist soldiers. It was considered a respectable branch on Wuxiang Island. Recently, even some Qi-refining practitioners had come to defect, but they had all been turned away. Yaoyue did not trust their loyalty.

After speaking, Yaoyue looked up at Lu Qian and said earnestly, "If you wish to take on more handmaidens, Master, I still have some resources here—mothers and daughters, masters and apprentices, sisters..."

"We shall discuss that later. Where is the information I asked you to investigate regarding the Gang-refining method and the Water Eye?"

At this, Yaoyue looked ashamed. "I am incompetent, Master. The Gang-refining methods are mostly held by major factions; I could not obtain them. But here is the information on the Water Eye." She handed Lu Qian a booklet.

It contained records of the factions present during previous openings and the items acquired by various experts. Below the Water Eye appeared to be an underwater world, permanently shrouded in mist, of unknown size. It included the information Lu Qian wanted on Gang energy.

"Innate Profound Water True Gang, Profound Underworld True Vapor Gang, Molten Core Geomagnetic Divine Light..."

These were the three types of Gang energy currently known. The first two were quite suitable for Lu Qian. It was no surprise that the Water Eye of the Ten Thousand Mile Tongtian River, which had gathered the essence of the sun and moon for millions of years, would condense such Earth Silt Gang energies.

"Since I cannot find a Gang-refining method, I shall have to try my luck at the Water Eye," Lu Qian said, putting the booklet away.

Before heading to the Water Eye, he would first go to the cave where he had condensed the Profound Frost Yin Silt to absorb more energy. After all, the amount he had collected last time was only just enough to succeed in the initial condensation. To truly master the Silt Energy—where every drop of true water was rich with Yin Silt cold energy—he needed to absorb more. However, this stage was relatively simple; since he had already succeeded in the initial condensation, it was merely a matter of quantitative change.

Over the next few days, Wuxiang Island was unusually quiet. Rumors circulated everywhere about who had been killed and whose Golden Plates had been stolen. The price of pills for healing and restoring Qi on the market had multiplied several times over, allowing Lu Qian to earn a significant profit.

*BOOM!*

Three days later, the winds and clouds shifted violently, and thunderstorms rolled in. All sea vessels remained in port as a massive vortex of clouds and energy appeared in the sky.