vstars Chapter 229 Fortune
Chapter 229 Fortune
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After the Imperial Banquet at Qionglin.
The crowd dispersed.
Yang Silang and Zhou Mingxuan were walking out together.
A young eunuch emerged from behind the main gate and bowed to Zhou Mingxuan.
"My lord, Eunuch Chun has something to discuss with you."
This little eunuch stood behind Eunuch Chun the entire time during the Qionglin Banquet, so his identity is definitely not in question.
Zhou Mingxuan and Yang Silang exchanged a glance, somewhat excited.
He's not stupid. From his significant improvement in ranking during the palace examination to the recent allocation of resources in the secret realm, he has received a lot of preferential treatment.
Why should I receive this benefit for no reason?
His own cultivation level was only at the Steel Dirty Grand Martial Master level. In terms of martial arts, there was really nothing to say. He was considered a high-ranking Grand Martial Master among the common people.
But this is the capital city. While it's not uncommon for someone with his level of cultivation, it's certainly not rare. After all, he's a man who couldn't even defeat Fu Hongying.
The only remaining path was that strikingly handsome face, which made everyone else feel ashamed of their own appearance.
He had fantasized about which princess might have taken a liking to him, and he had felt uneasy. However, when the Wang family was in danger last time, no one came to their aid except Yang Silang, so his longing for her faded.
He even collected many sachets from girls on the day the three champions paraded through the streets.
Who would have thought that a senior palace eunuch would want to see him today? This must be good news.
He looked at Yang Silang, as if seeking his opinion.
Yang Silang simply cupped his hands in greeting.
"Brother Zhou, then we shall part ways here. I'll head back to the inn first."
Chun Gonggong's arms were too thick to be moved, not to mention there was a thick leg faintly visible behind him.
Yang Silang didn't think he had any opinions to offer, and Zhou Mingxuan seemed to be enjoying it as well.
He walked away nonchalantly.
Back at the inn.
Fu Hongying came looking for her. She had been confined to her home recently and had come to inquire about the excitement of the Qionglin Banquet.
Yang Silang then instructed her to practice the "Washing Stream Hand" technique twice more.
Wait until you get rid of this girl.
The fox tattoo on his arm was burning hot, and demonic energy gushed out, accumulating on the ground before finally dissipating. Hu Jiaoniang, whom he hadn't seen for over a month, sat in the chair.
"Greetings, Your Majesty..." Yang Silang greeted with a smile.
After the collaboration on the new Journey to the West, the two became even closer, almost like friends.
not to mention.
He still remembered the person who promised to help him find the martial arts manual for the Taizu Changquan Martial Saint Realm, because the Martial Arts Pagoda only had the Taizu Changquan Grandmaster Scroll, and the subsequent manuals were missing.
With such a generous benefactor as a friend, one has to be happy, right?
Seeing his bright smile, Hu Jiaoniang felt relieved and said angrily.
"He was laughing so hard his back teeth were almost showing."
"Are you proud of passing the imperial examination? Well, probably not. You knew you were almost certain to pass."
"I see. You're thinking about the Martial Saint Scroll of the Great Ancestor's Long Fist, aren't you?"
"I'm telling you, it's hopeless."
"Can you even laugh now? Try to control yourself."
Upon hearing this, Yang Silang immediately pursed his lips and frowned.
Well, even Consort Hu has learned to use witty remarks.
Wait, what do you mean the Martial Saint Scroll is out of the question?
"Your Majesty, why is this?" Yang Silang asked, puzzled.
Hu Jiaoniang shrugged.
"Emperor Yongchang said that the techniques for the earlier stages of the Taizu Long Fist are fine, but the Martial Saint Scroll has ancestral instructions that it can only be practiced by the Imperial Guards."
Yang Silang asked in surprise.
"What are royal guards? Aren't they just personal bodyguards?"
Hu Jiaoniang shook her head.
"It's not the same thing."
"The guards came from diverse backgrounds; for example, they might be newly appointed scholars or come from military camps. The imperial guards, on the other hand, were all from the imperial genealogy, meaning they were sons and grandsons of the emperor."
"Without royal blood, it would be extremely difficult to even see the contents of this Martial Saint Scroll."
"He spoke vaguely, but I remembered hearing him utter a few words before. It seems that when this technique is practiced to the end, it leads to the same goal as the Dao. Although it cannot truly grant immortality, it can maintain vigorous blood and energy, and one's lifespan is far longer than that of an ordinary martial saint."
"Emperor Yongchang could not produce this martial arts technique because it was circulating within the Imperial Guard."
"They don't usually show themselves; they only appear when the dynasty is in danger of collapse or the capital is under attack."
"It seems I've broken my promise."
Yang Silang immediately shook his head after hearing this.
"Your Majesty, it's already quite an achievement that you managed to find out this information for me."
"These things are ultimately a matter of fate."
"Since I can't get it through the regular channels, I can just switch to another cultivation method after I reach the Martial Saint realm."
Since he couldn't have it, Yang Silang wasn't disappointed.
It's nothing more than wasting time relearning a fundamental method; things in this world can never go as planned.
Furthermore, with the inscription system in his possession, he was certain that even if he had to start over with a new cultivation technique, he wouldn't waste too much time.
Seeing his open-mindedness, Hu Jiaoniang nodded in satisfaction.
"You're quite content."
"I have collected several martial arts techniques of martial saints. There was one that I killed after a hard battle. I can pass it on to you after you become a Grandmaster of Golden Marrow."
Yang Silang nodded in agreement.
He figured to himself that he seemed to have a better chance with women than Zhou Mingxuan, as he was always playing high-end games.
Mo Xinlian and Hu Jiaoniang have already promised several martial arts techniques; if word got out, countless people would be envious.
The two chatted about other things.
Yang Silang remembered something and asked curiously.
"Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask a question..."
"As a half-baked Taoist cultivator, I still feel as if my soul is shackled in this capital city, which is very uncomfortable and slows down my cultivation."
"You possess the body of a demon immortal and have resided in the imperial city for a long time. Logically speaking, that should be the place where the formation's power is strongest. Don't you feel uncomfortable?"
Hu Jiaoniang smiled calmly upon hearing this.
You're overthinking it.
"Because I am a concubine officially appointed by Emperor Yongchang. Even though we are not husband and wife, but only fellow practitioners of Taoism, I am still a proper concubine."
"And all the royal children and concubines in the harem are protected by the dragon vein."
"Therefore, not only am I not suppressed by the formation, but I can also absorb the dragon energy from the dragon vein to cultivate, which is very beneficial."
Yang Silang asked in surprise.
"Can dragon veins also aid in cultivation?"
Hu Jiaoniang nodded.
"Indeed."
"The so-called dragon vein surpasses any other blessed land or spiritual vein, which is why there are many hidden masters in the royal family, enabling them to maintain a firm grip on the four great families of the capital."
"The dragon vein not only protects the emperor, but more importantly, after the dragon vein is established, the royal family members cultivate at an astonishing speed."
"As long as the royal descendants don't become too decadent and incompetent, there's actually no shortage of skilled individuals."
"However, in recent years, the amount of dragon energy that can be absorbed from the dragon veins has been decreasing, and the quality has become increasingly mixed."
"The dragon vein is both the source of strength and the source of weakness. If the dragon vein is broken and decays, then the strength of the royal experts who have cultivated within the dragon vein since childhood will also be severely degraded."
"It can be said that we all prosper together, and we all suffer together."
Yang Silang recalled what Mo Xinlian had once said.
Many cultivators speculate that the dragon vein is essentially just a "prayer god" formed from the collective incense offerings and prayers of the people.
This "god" is indeed biased towards his own people, worrying himself sick over the royal family.
"Perhaps in a few years, when I can no longer gain any benefits from the dragon vein, there will be no point in me staying in this imperial city, and I will have to leave."
Yang Silang asked curiously.
"Is there any way to revitalize the dragon vein, restore its vitality, and make it better and better?"
"This way you can continue your spiritual practice through meridians."
Hu Jiaoniang shook her head.
"It's easy to say, but hard to do. To revitalize the dragon vein, all we need is for the people to live in peace and prosperity, and for the world to be at peace."
"But which emperor could do that?"
"The founding emperors of each dynasty generally did the best, but each subsequent generation was worse than the last."
"Until the heavens are angered and the people resentful, and provinces are lost one by one, the dragon vein will collapse and eventually disappear."
"When the dragon vein's backlash kicks in, the deposed king will be tormented by the protective divine power, suffering excruciating pain for days before he dies."
"The other princes and princesses from the close relatives, and the royal experts who relied on the dragon vein to cultivate, suffered backlash from their skills and had their fortunes reversed, and almost none of them had a good ending."
Hu Jiaoniang's voice turned serious as she stared into Yang Silang's eyes and spoke each word clearly.
"If the Great Shun Dynasty falls, Emperor Yongchang, his princes and princesses, and his concubines will suffer the same fate."
Yang Silang's brow twitched upon hearing this.
This demon immortal is both perceptive and daring.
Without hesitation, he asked in return.
"Your Majesty, if that day truly comes, will you be implicated?"
Hu Jiaoniang felt a warmth in her heart. She had expected to see Yang Silang's shocked and bewildered expression, but she did not expect him to be so calm and to care about her immediately.
She smiled and waved her hand.
"Who am I? I'm a demon immortal who has lived for hundreds of years. I know exactly how to survive and avoid disasters."
"I have only used it to cultivate for a little over ten years, and what I have gained is also limited. In the future, I can simply return this part of my cultivation."
"Don't worry, it won't affect me."
Yang Silang laughed and said that was good, but in his heart he was thinking that Hu Jiaoniang spoke so easily, but she might not be able to get away so easily in the end.
The two chatted for a while longer, their conversation ranging from random thoughts to abstract ideas.
There will be no storytelling tonight.
Yang Silang asked Hu Jiaoniang for advice on cultivation matters, and Hu Jiaoniang patiently guided him. When it was late at night and the sound of a clapper was heard outside, Hu Jiaoniang got up to leave.
"By the way, I know you have a way to contact that silly cat."
"Tell him that the atmosphere in the palace has been quite tense lately, and that he should not enter the palace."
"The line she often escapes into has had its array diagram changed, and a Martial Saint is stationed there. If she is captured, the Mo family will have to go through a lot to save her."
bang...
The demonic aura dissipated, and the beauty was gone.
Yang Silang tapped his forehead.
It seems that Hu Jiaoniang spent the whole night making dumplings just for this dish of vinegar.
She's been keeping me company here, rambling on and on about teachings and sharing her spiritual experiences. I bet it's all for this last sentence.
The complicated love affair between these two demon immortals completely confused him.
Yang Silang tried to call out to Mo Xinlian with the black ring, but received no response. He had no choice but to give up and prepare to practice his skills.
Before the five hearts were even turned upside down, the door was knocked on again, and Zhou Mingxuan's low voice came through.
"Brother Yang... Brother Yang... Have you rested?"
Curious as to why this fellow wasn't asleep, Yang Silang coughed and said, "Please come in."
The door creaked open.
Zhou Mingxuan entered with a radiant face and grabbed Yang Silang's hands.
"Brother Yang, my luck has arrived!"
"Eunuch Chun said that His Majesty has decreed that I must marry a princess!"
Yang Silang gave an "oh," seemingly unsurprised, after all, no one is blind enough to see Zhou Mingxuan's handsome appearance.
"Which princess is she?" He was rather gossipy.
Zhou Mingxuan chuckled, his face full of anticipation.
"Grandpa Chun didn't say."
"However, His Majesty is a handsome man, and his concubines are all beauties. I suppose this princess is also a beauty of unparalleled grace. Even if her looks and figure are a little ordinary, I have no objection."
"This is like rising to the top in one step!"
He looked around suspiciously, like a thief, to make sure no one was whispering in Yang Silang's ear.
"I gave all five thousand taels of silver that I had raised to secure an official position to Eunuch Chun."
"My father-in-law only told me that the princess had skin as smooth as cream, a smile as round as the moon, and graceful curves, with peaks and valleys that seemed to hold the spring in their depths."
"She must be an absolute beauty."
Yang Silang offered his blessings.
"Congratulations, Brother Zhou, you've finally made it through."
"Although he will not hold a powerful official position after marrying the princess, he will certainly be of high rank and noble status."
"In the future, we'll still need to ask you for a helping hand."
"We were assigned to a second-class secret realm today, it must be because of you."
"As expected, those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune. It seems that Brother Zhou being captured by the Wang family was a good thing after all."
Yang Silang thought to himself, "Isn't Zhou Mingxuan always destined to be plagued by women?"
Has he really become more successful?