Chapter 114: 105. Late Innate Stage, Desire to Slash the Heavenly Dragon! (4K Big Chapter, Asking for Monthly Tickets)_2
The final step of adjusting the dragon and tiger Yin and Yang isn’t so easy. It’s common to retreat for more than ten years; how could it be accomplished in just two or three days... If it could be accomplished in just a day or two, Song Knife would not have lowered his status to let Xu Xing protect his Song Family’s Dragon Pulse for three years.
"Junior Deng..." Song Knife did his best to suppress his anger, speaking in a gentle tone. "Tell me the details of your mission to Fengxi Country again."
He reckoned Deng An wouldn’t dare deceive him. There must be some small detail he had overlooked in all this.
"I was on a mission to Fengxi Country. I entered Shenjing and proclaimed the imperial decree..."
"Then, I returned to the Sect to request a congratulatory gift from the True Man. On my way, I witnessed the Fengxi River churn with massive waves, and the illusory image of a five-colored phoenix appeared..."
Deng An recounted everything he had seen and heard to Song Knife. He certainly didn’t want Song Knife to place the blame for the failure of his Pill Condensation on him.
A five-colored phoenix, a qilin descending upon the world... This is an extraordinary phenomenon produced by the condensation of an even higher-grade Human King physique... He hasn’t even conquered the entire realm, merely the lands of four Daos, and on top of that, the orthodox lineage of the National Dynasty has been severed. Yet, he can condense a Human King physique? Could it be... he is the Human King chosen by the Dragon Luck of Fengxi Country?
Upon hearing Deng An’s words, a myriad of thoughts flashed through Song Knife’s mind.
He didn’t believe this was some petty trick orchestrated by Xu Xing. Even with the backing of Lingyin Peak, Xu Xing wouldn’t dare plot against a Dao Pill Cultivator like himself; that would be courting death. Besides, from start to finish, he had maintained a conciliatory stance towards Xu Xing. Xu Xing, in turn, had honored his commitment. Even before he, Song Knife, entered seclusion, his subordinates had reported that Xu Xing, as Emperor Tiande, had issued twelve gold edicts to his generals in the field, ordering them to sound the retreat and cease all hostilities. Even if Xu Xing genuinely harbored ill intentions and tried some petty trick, as a mere Innate Martial Artist, what could he possibly do to him?
After a True Dragon emerges from shallow waters... has the Dragon Luck been completely consumed by the birth of him as the Human King? Song Knife mused.
"Sigh..." Having thought everything through, he heaved a deep sigh. "It seems my Heavenly Order has brought me misfortune. This cannot be blamed on Junior Deng or Xu Xing. So be it. Although I failed to create a First-Rate Dao Pill, a Second Grade one isn’t bad either..."
Now, his efforts were on the verge of success, only to end in failure. If he were to openly target Xu Xing...
Firstly, it would violate the Immortal Sect’s previous decree. Xu Xing wouldn’t dare directly challenge the ruling authority of the illustrious Flying Feather Immortal Palace, and neither would he. The rules both aided and constrained him.
Secondly, it would easily lead others to believe that he, Song Knife, was repaying kindness with enmity. Once his reputation was damaged, he would find it difficult to maintain his standing within the Sect.
Thirdly, to openly declare to the world his intention to kill Xu Xing... to publicize a clandestine plot? Could there be such a foolish person in the world?
True Man Song... his magnanimity is truly beyond compare... Deng An observed Song Knife’s expression of broad-mindedness and was filled with silent admiration. Emperor Tiande killed True Man Song’s descendants, yet True Man Song not only refrained from anger but even sent a congratulatory gift. Now, his Condensing Pill attempt has failed. Although it wasn’t due to Emperor Tiande’s deliberate obstruction, True Man Song’s ability to not redirect his anger towards Emperor Tiande further highlighted the rarity and value of his moral character...
"My failure to condense a First-Rate Dao Pill is due to my own shortcomings."
"If Junior Brother Xu learns of this... he will surely be alarmed and unsure of what to do. This is a bottle of Nine Fragrance Jade Pill. Junior Deng, please deliver it to Junior Brother Xu on my behalf to set his mind at ease."
Song Knife pondered for a moment, then retrieved a three-inch gold bottle from his sleeve and placed it in Deng An’s palm.
When planning great endeavors, how could one be stingy with minor trifles? Xu Xing, with the backing of Lingyin Peak, certainly wouldn’t lack ordinary heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Once he enters the Sect, he will also be cultivated as an Immortal Genius, and his Cultivation Resources will not be scarce...
Currently, the Nine Fragrance Jade Pill offers no benefit to his own Cultivation growth. He could use it as bait to make Xu Xing lower his guard. Simultaneously, he could leverage this to further build his reputation.
Even if Xu Xing is slain by him in the future, and suspicion falls upon him, as long as no concrete evidence is found and his good reputation supports him, any doubts... will eventually dissipate.
Even if Xu Xing could guess his malicious intent, as long as the dust hasn’t settled, if Xu Xing acts overly cautious towards him in public... while it’s understandable for someone of lower strength to be wary, such behavior would also lead the world to look down on him...
After this series of calculations, Song Knife felt a hint of self-satisfaction. The gloom from his failure in Condensing the Pill had lessened considerably.
* * *
「In Fengxi Country, Shenjing, within a side hall of Ziwei Palace.」
"True Man Song is so magnanimous..." Xu Xing’s face streamed with tears as he took the three-inch gold bottle and tightly gripped Deng An’s large hand, exclaiming with emotion, "Not only did he not blame me, his Junior Brother, for killing his descendants, but he instead gifted me ninety-five drops of Thousand-Year Stone Dew. And now, when I, his Junior Brother, inadvertently caused his failure in Condensing the First-Rate Dao Pill, True Man Song not only doesn’t blame me but has sent me this bottle of Nine Fragrance Jade Pill..."
Last time, his display of tearful gratitude had seemed too artificial. But this time, he was genuinely moved by Song Knife... What a good man! These incidents, one after another, were major enough to make him and Song Knife mortal enemies! Yet, Song Knife bore no grudges, even sending him a gift to ease his mind, so he wouldn’t have to live in constant trepidation.
"This..." Deng An’s mouth twitched. Although what Xu Xing said was all true, couldn’t he at least try to preserve some dignity for True Man Song? The way he put it made True Man Song sound like he had suffered a double loss, losing face completely.
"Ahem..." Deng An coughed lightly, subtly hinting for Xu Xing to be more considerate with his words. "Junior Brother, there’s no need to put it that way. True Man Song’s character is widely acclaimed within the Sect."
"I was just overcome by emotion for a moment..." Xu Xing chuckled, brushing the matter aside. "I couldn’t help myself and ended up making Senior Brother Deng laugh."
"Oh, by the way, Senior Brother Deng..." Xu Xing shifted to serious matters after a few pleasantries. "Now that True Man Song has completed his Pill Condensation and can no longer absorb Dragon Luck... Fengxi Country is in turmoil, and the common people are suffering. As the Emperor, it is my duty, as your Junior Brother, to govern effectively and bring peace to their hearts."
"Shouldn’t the campaigns against the various Daos be put on the agenda now?"
"Furthermore, the imperial clan of the former dynasty has been insatiably greedy in the regions, preying upon the common people. For the sake of the state and its populace, I, your Junior Brother, had no choice but to eliminate them. This could also be considered as preserving True Man Song’s pristine reputation..."
The Jade Decree from the Immortal Sect was still in effect, and he dared not risk such a transgression.
"Regarding this matter..." Deng An nodded. "I, your Senior Brother, will petition the Sect. Allowing the common people to enter an era of good governance is also part of the Sect’s philosophy..."
Once he finished speaking, Deng An did not linger and departed on his Imperial Sword.
* * *
After Deng An departed, Xu Xing opened the three-inch gold bottle. He glanced at the Nine Fragrance Jade Pill inside, then shook his head, resealed the bottle, and placed it high up on a shelf.
He was fairly certain the pill wasn’t poisoned; Song Knife probably wouldn’t stoop to leaving such a blatant trap... But— he was inherently suspicious. If he didn’t have to use it, he wouldn’t.
It’s about time to enter the Instance World... Thirteen years have passed... Xu Xing thought to himself.
* * *
With a blink, the world transformed in an instant.
「Flame Dynasty, Cliff State.」
Spring passed and autumn came; time flew like a weaver’s shuttle.
The time ratio between Reality and the Instance World was one to thirty-six. Since Xu Xing had activated the Heavenly Dragon Transforming Buddha World, four or five months had passed in Reality—from his departure from Guanxi Road to Song Knife’s failure in Condensing his Pill. This equated to roughly thirteen years in the Instance World.
The former Emperor Jingyuan had passed away as early as five years ago. Master Fa Hui, who had been appointed National Teacher, conspired with Empress Dowager Liu to install her other young son, Dan, as the new emperor. After ascending the throne, Emperor Dan changed the era name to Tian Shou. It was now the eighth year of Tian Shou.
Cliff State, a coastal prefecture, was situated on the shores of the East Sea within the Flame Dynasty. At this moment, on a nameless island in Cliff State, tumultuous waves crashed against the shore, and countless plumes of spray surged, submerging the rocky reefs...
"PHEW!" Xu Xing exclaimed internally. "I’ve finally reached the Late Innate Stage."
In a simple Thatched Cottage by the shore, Xu Xing sat cross-legged on a wooden couch. He wore an azure robe in the style of a Scholar, his topknot secured with a slanted Jade Hairpin. His features were refined, bearing no resemblance to the Zhi Xing Monk of over a decade prior.
As he finished his thought, he opened his eyes, and a stream of bright yellow Sword Qi shot from his mouth. This Sword Qi flashed out, instantly gouging a deep trench seven or eight zhang long into the ground.
It’s best to prioritize stability... I’ll consolidate my Cultivation for a while longer. Once I reach the Immortal Foundation Realm, then I’ll seek revenge on that Old Monk.
Xu Xing withdrew his practice, internally observing the abundant True Yuan within his Dantian, and solidified his resolve.