Chapter 155 - The Dragon Veins of the Nine Provinces, the Revived Dragon!
"You people of Miaojiang still allow outsiders to enter?"
Miaojiang was generally very closed off and not welcoming to outsiders. Yet now Xuehua wanted them to come and witness her becoming the Saintess.
This made Renji and the others feel somewhat strange.
"Actually, Miaojiang is not as frightening as you imagine, and we are not unwilling to welcome outsiders."
Miaojiang never forbade outsiders from coming close, but after hearing the tales about Miaojiang, most people preferred to stay away.
Miaojiang was famous for two things—corpse herding and gu insects.
The men usually specialized in controlling corpses, while the women cultivated gu.
How terrifying these two things were in the eyes of common folk needed no explanation.
Moreover, the people of Miaojiang loved and hated fiercely. When they loved, they loved deeply; when they hated, they truly killed. Many men once deceived Miaojiang women's feelings, but in the end, they were all killed by gu.
From then on, in outsiders' eyes, Miaojiang was not only mysterious but also frightening.
"So, will you come?"
Xuehua looked expectantly at them, but Renji pierced through her little thoughts. "I think you want more than for us to witness you becoming Saintess, don't you?"
His teasing smile made Xuehua feel embarrassed, as though her thoughts had been seen through.
"What else?"
"Don't think she's that simple. The little girl has quite a deep mind. She probably wants me to take her back by flying sword."
Others might not see it, but Renji did.
After Xuehua had spoken earlier, her eyes often drifted toward him. Though she invited everyone to attend her ceremony, who said she couldn't have another motive?
After Renji revealed her thoughts, Xuehua's face showed her unease. She thought she had hidden it well, but why did he still notice?
She indeed hoped for that. Flying sword travel would not only be faster, but also incredibly impressive.
"Daoist friend, why don't we go?"
Seeing the situation, Ninth Uncle quickly spoke.
For now, Miaojiang was worth befriending.
If they could win Miaojiang over, it would be greatly helpful for the future.
"That's fine."
"Great!"
Xuehua's eyes lit up. She had not expected Renji to agree so quickly.
She had prepared many conditions to offer, but he had already agreed.
"Awei, rally the people here and reassure them the bandits are dealt with. Later, find time to return to Renjia Town to check the situation."
"Ah?! Master, I'm not going with you?"
Awei's face fell. He had wanted to follow along.
His cousin was going, and he had heard there were many beauties in Miaojiang. If he could find romance there, his life would be complete.
But before he could dream further, Ninth Uncle shattered his hopes.
"What would you go for?"
Ninth Uncle gave Awei a helpless look. He understood Awei's intentions well.
At this time, Awei could not leave. The town needed him, and later he would have to check on Qiusheng and Wencai.
Though Ninth Uncle wanted them to be independent, he was still worried. Awei, though unreliable, could sometimes restrain their nonsense.
"Alright then."
Awei wanted to resist, but after meeting Ninth Uncle's eyes, he gave up.
Clearly, Ninth Uncle would not let him go.
Damn it!
Another missed chance!
"Daoist friend, shall we talk on the sword?"
It was inconvenient here, so they could speak while traveling.
"Agreed."
Under Awei's envious gaze, the group departed on the flying sword.
Watching their figures vanish, Awei silently swore that though he was now just a lackey, one day everyone would acknowledge him!
"Daoist friend, what was that about just now?"
Ninth Uncle grew curious. Could Teng Teng Town still hide secrets he didn't know?
"The matter of Liu Bowen severing the dragon vein back then—you all know of it?"
That incident had caused the cultivation world to wither instantly.
Both righteous and demonic paths had been gravely affected.
In the past, though conflicts existed, they were not as brutal.
Resources were plentiful, and disputes were more about justice versus evil.
But now, with fewer resources, both sides competed fiercely.
Back when the dragon veins still existed, no one tore their faces for resources.
Today, with scarcity everywhere, battles over resources became inevitable.
"Daoist friend, could it be related to the dragon vein?"
After thinking a moment, Ninth Uncle voiced his guess. If it caught Renji's attention, it had to be about the dragon vein.
But the dragon vein had already died, severed long ago. Both righteous and demonic sects had searched, yet none had found it.
"Indeed, it is the dragon vein. Though it became a dead dragon, it is still a dragon vein. Beneath Teng Teng Town lies the dead dragon."
That place brimmed with resentment and yin energy. When people died there, under its influence, the whole town turned into zombies.
"If that is so, then a Zombie King could indeed appear."
Ninth Uncle's furrowed brow finally relaxed.
This secret of Teng Teng Town was now explained.
"Master, are they trying to seize the dragon vein?"
Ren Tingting quickly asked. Anything tied to dragons could not be ordinary.
But if the dragon vein was already dead, why seize it?
"Yes, they seek to seize it."
"Is there even a need to seize a dead dragon?"
Ma Ma Di muttered.
"A dead dragon is of little worth. But what if this dragon still has a trace of life?"
A dead dragon alone was not worth gathering such forces.
Though it could create zombies, it could also easily backfire, so even the demonic path avoided it.
But if even a wisp of life remained, it was different.
"What do you mean?"
Hearing Renji's words, Ninth Uncle shivered.
Could it be? Did Liu Bowen really leave a trace of leeway when he severed the dragon vein?
"According to Wang Po's memory, they discovered the dragon vein was not completely destroyed, but still retained a wisp of aura. To revive it, all parts of the dragon vein must be gathered, and then restored using the Eight Trigrams Formation."
The dragon vein was not dead?! Ninth Uncle felt this was the most shocking news he had heard today.
"Back then, Liu Bowen used the Eight Trigrams Formation to split the dragon vein into nine parts, each suppressing the empire of the Ming, so that it might endure forever. But unfortunately, the dragon vein, having been slain, bore resentment. It was impossible for it to shelter the Ming eternally.
Yet, if all nine parts of the dragon vein were gathered and restored through the Eight Trigrams Formation, though it would never be as it once was, it would still be far, far stronger than now."
What was national fate? The dragon vein itself was the very anchor of a nation's fate.
When Liu Bowen severed the dragon vein, it was to ensure it would forever suppress the Ming dynasty's fate, preventing future chosen ones from arising.
But he had not foreseen that his act would also lead to the Ming being overthrown by foreign invaders.
"So you mean the goal of the demonic path is to gather the dragon vein?"
Ninth Uncle took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling heavily.
This was the dragon vein!
If it could be restored, then Lin Jiu might truly have the chance to attain immortality.
"Yes. Their goal in gathering the dragon vein is not merely to restore fate. In any case, the dragon vein is the first issue."
Wang Po only knew they intended to gather it, but not the exact purpose.
From her contact with them, however, she sensed it was not as simple as restoring national fate.
"What about the rest?"
Ma Ma Di quickly asked.
"The second matter is related to Miaojiang. It seems Wang Po also had dealings with people from Miaojiang. Just as I was about to probe her soul for deeper memories, her soul suddenly disintegrated—those memories about Miaojiang were erased."
Renji turned his head toward Xuehua as he spoke. Clearly, someone powerful was behind Wang Po.
Just as he was about to uncover the memory, her soul was instantly destroyed. Whoever acted was no ordinary figure.
Renji had also sensed two seals deep within her soul.
"Our Miaojiang?"
Xuehua, who had been curiously watching, suddenly realized the matter concerned her homeland.
"Indeed. Someone from Miaojiang is colluding with this demonic faction, or perhaps hiding a secret connection with Wang Po."
It was a pity the seal had acted so quickly, instantly erasing Wang Po's soul. Otherwise, Renji could have learned more.
The seal seemed meant to kill Wang Po the moment her memories were probed or revealed, leaving not even her soul behind.
"There are also matters regarding what they plan to do next. But Wang Po spent her years among the bandits, so her knowledge was limited. Still, their ultimate aim is this dragon vein."
To Renji, there was no need to worry about the demonic path's lesser schemes.
If their final goal was the dragon vein, then so long as he could assemble all nine parts, victory would be his.
"You're right. I will return and consult our ancestral patriarchs about this dragon vein."
Ninth Uncle resolved that once he returned, he would investigate thoroughly.
Who would have thought the demonic path knew more than he himself did?
"What about me?"
Xuehua pointed to herself, feeling troubled. Why was her Miaojiang involved in this?
"I don't know. Since you are to become the Saintess, you will have the chance to learn certain matters. Perhaps later you will understand."
This was Miaojiang's internal affair, and Renji had no reason to interfere.
"I understand."
Xuehua told herself she must grow stronger, and then investigate step by step.
How could there be people within Miaojiang colluding with Wang Po?
The group followed Xuehua's lead into a village within Miaojiang.
Around its borders was a formation, and upon entering, the world within stood in stark contrast to the outside.
"How is it? This is our Miaojiang. I'll take you to see my grandmother first!"
Xuehua greeted the villagers warmly, while the men and women in traditional Miaojiang clothing looked curiously at the strangers following behind her.
Since sealing themselves off, Miaojiang had not seen outsiders in a long time.
"Grandmother, I've brought my friends back!"
Xuehua pushed open a door. Inside, a frail old woman dozed with eyes closed. At the sound of Xuehua's voice, she opened them, a faint gleam flashing in her clouded gaze.
"Xuehua, your friends? Which sect are they from?"
Unlike Xuehua, the old woman could tell these guests possessed profound power, especially the young man—her gu insects themselves felt fear.
Her gu were among the most formidable in all Miaojiang.
Yet Xuehua had returned with such friends, and Taoist ones at that. Secretly, she worried if it was only because of Xuehua's identity.
Xuehua was innocent, raised and sheltered by her since childhood, untempered by the harshness of the world. As a grandmother, she could not bear to see her hurt.
"I am Lin Jiu of the Maoshan Sect."
"Ma Ma Di, also of the Maoshan Sect."
"Renji of the Shenxiao Sect."
Orthodox sects?
The old woman's vigilance eased somewhat, though her expression darkened as if recalling something. She then asked, "You have come for the battle between righteousness and evil, haven't you?"
"What?"
Ninth Uncle had prepared countless words, but he had not expected her to pierce through it so directly.
Could it be that even Miaojiang knew of the struggle between the righteous and demonic?
"You know everything already?"
"Grandmother! They're my friends, not prisoners to be interrogated!"
Xuehua rushed forward, hugging her arm and acting spoiled. This was her first time bringing friends home, so why was her grandmother making things so tense?
"We do not know everything, or perhaps we know some things. But we cannot say if what you know is the same as what we know."
"Since you are Xuehua's friends, sit for a while."
Listening to Renji's exchange with her grandmother, Xuehua looked back and forth between them in confusion.
She understood every word, yet when they spoke, she couldn't understand a thing.
"Is the task complete?"
"Ah?" Xuehua was startled. She hadn't expected such a question, but quickly nodded. "It's done. Wang Po is dead!"
"Then proceed with the Saintess ceremony."
The old woman nodded, not asking for details. Since the task was done, the ceremony should begin.
Her attitude, however, left Xuehua uneasy. She had imagined her grandmother would be happier, especially since she brought friends back.
Instead, she felt colder than before.
Even Ninth Uncle and the others found this reaction puzzling.
Was Miaojiang deliberately distancing themselves from this struggle, hoping to drive them away with such coldness?
(End of Chapter)
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/anish_44