Chapter 517: Blinded by Greed
Emperor Yanfeng rose in anger, his gaze flickering. "Give me back the wine jar!"
Xing Han remained seated, holding the jar by its rim with his hand inverted, offering it to him. Yanfeng slowly extended his palm, the movement seeming incredibly difficult, taking half a stick of incense's time to cover such a short distance.
By the campfire, Qin Mu, Xu Shenghua, and the others watched in silence, their eyes fixed on the two men's hands.
Xing Han's hand was extremely steady, his arm gripping the wine jar completely motionless, while Yanfeng's outstretched arm trembled slightly. Not only his arm, but his fingers also quivered continuously, each tremor delivering an unparalleled impact to Qin Mu and the others.
Every time his arm shook and his fingers vibrated, it was equivalent to executing a divine ability. Faintly visible, his primordial qi was highly concentrated, transforming into countless tiny flood dragons within the texture of his arm and palm's skin!
Beneath his skin, it seemed as if true dragons coiled, gathering strength. However, this power was not constantly in a formidable state but rather alternated between tension and relaxation.
He cultivated the Nine Dragons Emperor Technique, which he had once taught to Qin Mu. Qin Mu had then passed another version of the Nine Dragons Emperor Technique, derived from insights gained in the True Dragon Nest, to Ling Yuxiu, who in turn taught it to him.
Yanfeng was originally a peerless genius. His Nine Dragons Emperor Technique was initially nothing outstanding, but he continuously improved the technique, pushing its power to the extreme, eventually achieving remarkable results that could stand alongside the three great sacred lands.
After obtaining the technique from the True Dragon Nest, he completely cured the hidden ailments in his body. His divine repositories became stronger than ever, their solidity earning Xing Han's recognition, who deemed his divine repositories to have reached the divine realm!
Having now crossed the Divine Bridge and stepped into the realm of deities, his cultivation was even more profound than before.
Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu saw the dragon-like power beneath Yanfeng's skin alternating between tension and relaxation, their hearts pounding as they gained many insights and realizations.
The Nine Dragons Emperor Technique Qin Mu had taught Ling Yuxiu was not a complete true dragon technique. He had been unable to fully decipher the dragon script on it. Later, with the help of the siblings from Baiqing Mansion, Qin Mu deciphered more dragon script, advancing the technique further. However, after returning to Yancheng, he hadn't yet had the chance to teach Ling Yuxiu the more complete version.
For Yanfeng to reach this level with just fragments, refining the Nine Dragons Emperor Technique as if it were approaching the Dao, was truly incredible!
Yet, even with Yanfeng's true dragon abilities nearing the Dao, advancing before Xing Han was still difficult.
Every inch his hand moved forward was arduous. Though his various divine ability transformations were well-hidden, they paled in comparison to Xing Han's rock-steady hand.
Finally, Yanfeng's hand grasped the rim of the jar. Suddenly, Xing Han flicked his index finger, aiming it at Yanfeng's hand. Yanfeng flicked his finger in response, and their fingers collided. A faint sound of wind came from within the wine jar, as if stirred by the force of their fingers.
At the jar's rim, their fingers moved like shadows, rapidly exchanging countless attacks.
"Crack."
Yanfeng's expression shifted slightly. The knuckle of his middle finger in his fist was broken.
Suppressing the pain, Yanfeng maintained a smile, released his grip, and slowly stepped back, laughing, "Since Senior Brother loves wine so much, I'll gift this jar to you."
Xing Han set down the wine jar, saying nonchalantly, "My tolerance is shallow; I've had enough."
As the jar was set down, Hu Ling'er, her craving for alcohol aroused by the scent, walked over, laughing, "If you're not drinking, I'll have a taste."
Suddenly, she heard a faint wind sound from within the jar. Peering inside, she saw the wine spinning, and within the swirling liquid, something seemed to be swimming around, locked in battle.
She leaned her little head toward the jar's mouth to get a closer look, but suddenly her collar was grabbed, and she was lifted up.
Qin Mu carried her back and set her down by the campfire, shaking his head. "Don't look. It's dangerous. If you want to drink, have Yuxiu get you some jars."
Hu Ling'er probed, "Young master, inside that jar..."
"Terrifying."
Qin Mu glanced around furtively and lowered his voice, "There are too many people here. I'll show you later—it'll be spectacular."
Hu Ling'er was excited and restless, constantly glancing at the wine jar.
The wind sound from the jar grew louder, inevitably stirring her curiosity. She kept looking up from time to time, unable to sit still.
The aroma of the wine also seemed to grow stronger.
Yanfeng returned to the banquet. The Heavenly Strategy General immediately approached, saying calmly, "Your Majesty, should we make a move?"
Yanfeng raised an eyebrow slightly. "You sensed it?"
The Heavenly Strategy General nodded. "A very powerful person. Did Your Majesty engage him? I'll go summon the Duke of Wei."
As he spoke, the Duke of Wei had already appeared behind him, lowering his voice, "When Your Majesty made his move earlier, this old minister felt an unusual fluctuation from underground. Your divine abilities shook the earth's veins. The newcomer is strong, Your Majesty..."
Yanfeng shook his head. "No need to mind him. The newcomer is Xing Han. No danger for now. However..."
He hesitated. "It might be hard on Minister Qin. Minister Qin is truly a loyal subject. To hold back Xing Han, he willingly keeps him by his side. Who would have thought that a Demon Sect Leader could be so chivalrous and righteous..."
He sighed with emotion.
"Sect Leader mentioned a big business earlier?"
Si Yunxiang blinked, asking, "Can we make money?"
Hu Ling'er, who had been watching the wine jar and sniffing its aroma, her cravings aroused, immediately perked up at the words "make money." Without turning her head, she twisted her neck, slowly rotating her little head. "Big business? Make money? Young master, what business?"
"This time, I went to Fengdu with Senior Brother Xing Han and obtained a treasure there called the 'Between Life and Death,' which can connect Fengdu with the mortal world."
Qin Mu glanced at Xing Han, who had been calm as always but now changed expression drastically, clearly recalling his unpleasant experiences in Fengdu. Qin Mu smiled slightly. "The business I want to do is mortal-world business. In Fengdu, there are many spirits of gods and demons. Though they are dead, they live quite well in Fengdu. Some gods and demons have unfulfilled wishes from their lifetimes but cannot leave Fengdu, so they are willing to pay a high price for mortals to do things for them. I have many affairs and little time, so I want to use this treasure to open a path, allowing Yancheng cultivators to take on tasks from them. It's both training and cultivation, and they can reap great wealth."
He smiled leisurely. "The gods and demons of Fengdu can even teach the cultivators who fulfill their wishes the techniques and divine abilities they practiced in life. They can also earn Fengdu gold coins to enter Fengdu. As for me, I plan to charge some cultivators who enter the Between Life and Death a toll to supplement my household expenses."
"Techniques and divine abilities of gods and demons?" The group by the campfire changed expression, greatly tempted.
They didn't know what Fengdu gold coins were, but the techniques and divine abilities of gods and demons were definitely treasures that moved their hearts!
It was well known that the Great Cultivation Demon Scripture was considered a technique capable of becoming a god or demon, and it was the foundational code of the Demon Sect!
The Dao Sect's Dao Sword and the Great Thunderclap Monastery's Tathagata Great Vehicle Sutra were also techniques that could lead to becoming a god or Buddha, thus making them great sacred lands.
Even if the techniques and divine abilities of Fengdu's gods and demons weren't as good as those of the three great sacred lands, they were still extraordinary!
"Since Sect Leader Qin established the mathematical model of the Divine Bridge space and spread the three techniques—Magpie Bridge Art, Guiding Art, and Divine Crossing Art—the Divine Bridge is no longer the greatest obstacle to becoming a deity."
Long Yu said, "The real obstacle is the lack of techniques at the god and demon level! To be honest, these days, many old seniors have come to Little Jade Capital seeking techniques, but the highest level in Little Jade Capital only reaches the Divine Bridge realm. Beyond that, there is nothing."
Lin Xuan Daozhu nodded, saying, "My Dao Sect also lacks the divine-level technique of the Primordial Supreme Mystery Technique. Sect Leader Qin's words have moved me as well."
Now, the biggest problem for the strong in Yancheng was that the path ahead had been cut off. Now that the path was open, they lacked techniques to cultivate and didn't know how to proceed.
If Qin Mu could truly use the Between Life and Death to connect the two realms of yin and yang and obtain techniques for the later realms, it would be an immeasurable merit, worth spending any amount of money!
Even Xing Han was somewhat tempted, but thinking of how Fengdu suppressed him, he had to abandon the idea.
"If these juniors truly obtain techniques beyond the divine realm, by then, will I be taking their limbs, or will they beat me until my soul scatters? Hard to say."
His gaze flickered, and at this moment, he indeed felt a murderous intent, but being a grandmaster, he suppressed it.
Si Yunxiang and Hu Ling'er's breathing grew heavy. Their eyes shone brightly, both harboring the same thought: "We're going to be rich! Wealthy enough to rival a nation!"
"Once the Between Life and Death is set up, even the Emperor will likely be unable to resist a trip to Fengdu!"
Hu Ling'er perked up her furry ears, fluttering them, and said excitedly, "Young master, how much should we charge the Emperor?"
Si Yunxiang eagerly added, "The old immortals of Little Jade Capital, the monks of Great Thunderclap Monastery, and the old Daoists of the Dao Sect—all are fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered!"
Mingxin Monk, Lin Xuan Daozhu, Wang Muran, and Ling Yuxiu's faces turned somewhat green. Before they could speak, Si Yunxiang and Hu Ling'er glanced at each other and simultaneously remembered something, speaking in unison, "Young master (Sect Leader), you're charging on the mortal side! What about the underworld side? You can charge there too!"
"Blinded by greed! You two are unscrupulous—at least leave some scraps."
Qin Mu shook his head. "I've handed over the underworld charging to the successive Human Sovereigns of the Human Sovereign Hall. The scraps are theirs. Don't think about it."
Si Yunxiang and Hu Ling'er were both disappointed. Hu Ling'er's tail, which had just perked up, drooped, but then, thinking of the impending wealth, she straightened each of her tails again.
The sky was turning pale, and the banquet dispersed.
Qin Mu waited until everyone on the mountain had gone to rest, then pulled Hu Ling'er and scurried far away from the wine jar. He flicked his finger, and a small pebble flew into the jar.
The pebble fell into the jar without a sound.
Hu Ling'er was suspicious. "Young master, did you misjudge?"
Qin Mu shook his head, turned to look at Xing Han beside him, and said, "Senior Brother Xing Han, this jar..."
"I've suppressed it."
Xing Han said calmly, "If you want to release the power in the jar, I can grant your wish. How many jade mountains does your Imperial Academy have?"
"Don't release it yet!"
Just as Qin Mu said this, Xing Han had already released his magical power, showing him a sinister smile. "Great Divine Doctor, I also hold grudges."
A chill ran down Qin Mu's spine. He grabbed Hu Ling'er and ran. "I can't stay in the capital anymore! The Emperor will definitely have my head! Let's go!"