A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 177 - 47: Beneath the Turbid Tide, 1,000-Gold Bounty_2

The first two Black-armed Apes you slaughtered probably gained intelligence around ten years ago, yet they had the air of three to four centuries."

Bai Qi was slightly startled, no wonder the spiritual creatures and monsters along the five hundred mile mountain path are killed endlessly, just like leeks, cut one batch and another grows.

"Why is this so?"

He was a bit puzzled.

"The disaster of the Dao's collapse is due to the Turbid Tide, as it manifests to everyone in various heavenly phenomena, such as earth dragons turning over, mountain floods collapsing, three years of drought, lands of thousands of miles turning barren, black rain falling from the sky... and the like. The explanation from the Dragon Court Daoist Official is that this is caused by spiritual chaos and requires the Court's Central Hub to harmonize the yin and yang fluctuations."

Ninghai Zen spoke disdainfully, evidently unwilling to believe in such explanations.

"The spiritual energy has been captured by the Dragon Court, solely supplied to the Spirit Vein Blessed Land of the Fourteen Prefectures, what's left outside? Where's the chaos in that.

There are also those who say, due to a thousand years of Dao collapse, the corruption of rites and music, the disorder of legal systems has angered the Celestial Lord, hence disasters were sent down to the world.

I feel that's mostly unreliable too, only one point makes sense: the Turbid Tide has the demonic power of corruption, attracting living beings to eagerly enter and fall into it.

Ten years ago after that catastrophic tilt, there was a massive Turbid Tide anomaly in the entire Celestial Water Prefecture, with a bloody sun hanging in the sky for about a week, causing several Big Flood Dragons in the Nu Yun River to transform into dragons, stirring up quite a storm, and several Demon Monarchs emerged on Fulong Mountain... I exerted every effort to ensure Yihai Prefecture was free from the calamity of monsters, it really took a lot of effort."

Bai Qi managed his expression well, showing solemn respect:

"Master kills one demon every ten steps, travels thousands of miles without stopping, finishes and leaves gracefully, deeply concealing achievements and fame! Truly his heart holds all beings, with boundless love!"

Ninghai Zen felt thoroughly satisfied, determined to slay a Flood Dragon with two thousand years of air to properly reward such a good disciple who understands his master's intentions so well.

"Well said! Finishes and leaves gracefully, deeply concealing achievements and fame... aptly described!"

The master and disciple cherished each other, feeling as though they were meeting each other too late in life, and after some idle chatter, Ninghai Zen cleared his throat, revealing a serious expression:

"Ah Qi, you have undergone six blood changes already, and in Black River County, there are hardly any rivals, it is about time to make a stand."

Make a stand?

Bai Qi was taken aback, then seemed to understand his master's meaning:

"Fishing for the lone souls and wild ghosts of the Four Families?"

Ninghai Zen nodded slightly:

"Correct. Back then, I was too neglectful towards your senior brother, which allowed petty threats to repeatedly attempt assassination, nearly succeeding several times.

This time, we learn from that lesson and sweep away all those remaining threats to prevent future troubles."

Bai Qi readily agreed, still recalling the words, with Ninghai Zen covering and holding the fort, it was enough to ensure he would be unharmed.

One must know, even the Great Demon King that has transformed seven times was equivalent to the Four Cultivation Grandmasters, yet was similarly slain.

If this time, they could expose all the old conspirators hiding in Black River County.

In future dealings within the Jianghu, adventuring in Yihai, would be even more steady and reassuring.

...

...

In the heart of Nu Yun River, the long wind blew violently, a large ship broke through the surging tides.

He Jingfeng sat alone on the deck, feeling a bit dull and bored.

He wore a fox fur cloak, underneath a brocade gown with arrow sleeves, his hair bound with a jade crown.

Still exuding an air of wealth and splendor.

Uncle Yang appeared behind him at some point, concernedly saying:

"Seventh Young Master, the wind is strong here, causing a headache, perhaps you should return to your room to rest."

He Jingfeng rubbed his temples and shook his head, saying:

"I am really unwilling to cope with the few people from the Zheng Family and Feng Family, no conversation. If it's not discussing gossip from the Daoist School, it's the random trivia of Celestial Water Prefecture's Meridian Sword Sect, overly boring."

Uncle Yang laughed:

"High-born disciples from Yihai Prefecture, what they most like to talk about over tea and after meals are often these things, just consider it as gaining new perspectives and knowledge."

He Jingfeng snorted:

"Knowing the names of some Prefecture City geniuses, as if holding oneself higher, can you even claim to know them personally? If it's just idle chat, so be it, but just because you can call out 'Silver Hammer Grand Protector Pei Yuanqing', 'One Sword Traceless Luo Fushui', after telling a few well-known old stories from Simurgh Platform, they become complacent, it's really unnecessary."

Uncle Yang sighed, knowing that Seventh Young Master's arrogance had emerged once again.

Facing the long-room disciples of the Zheng and Feng families he's unwilling to bother, yet seeing Bai Qi, who's from Black River County and a fisherman's background, he's instead eager to build some relationship.

"He Qilang, why did you run to the deck alone, just now I was saying to Old Feng, planning to join the Daoist School next year as a student."

Zheng Heng laughed heartily, patting He Jingfeng on the shoulder who was sitting in a recliner:

"I heard you've made connections with Master Li on the Ming Hong, introduce me soon, my Zheng Family and the Baisheng are long-time acquaintances, but starting a business cannot just favor one side.

Ming Hong's Wind-listening Saber and Black Snake Spear, are favored by the nobles of Celestial Water Prefecture, and have been designated for military procurement for several consecutive years."

He Jingfeng frowned slightly, this Samchong seventh young master most disliked those who lack boundaries, thus he discreetly shifted his position:

"Not familiar, just a few casual meetings, Master Li is eccentric and usually avoids interaction with us hedonists, hasn't the Zhu Family received a cold reception too?"

Zheng Heng chuckled twice:

"Zhu Shou Rang actually died in Black River County... really unexpected. They say he was harmed by remnants of the Red Eyebrow Bandits ten years ago?"

He Jingfeng raised his eyebrows but did not speak, another voice provided clarification:

"It was simply a statement for the public made by Zhu Family's patriarch. Zhu Shou Rang clearly fell at the hands of Ninghai Zen's disciple, Brother Zheng, lately you've been absorbed in song and dance at the Celestial Fragrance Tower, not quite informed, unaware that Ninghai Zen, that calamity star, has accepted a disciple again, who is indeed a fisherman from Black River County."

He Jingfeng furrowed his brows deeper, for he primarily fled to the deck to avoid dealing with this particular individual.