Lanke Chess Edge

Chapter 399: Planting Barriers Around Yun Mountain

“Master?”Qi Wen repeated. He couldn’t help but recall those chattering calligraphy spirits from before. That night, when the “Sword Intent Inscription” had been unfurled, Cloud Mountain Temple had been more lively than ever. Thinking about it now still made him feel quite amused.

“Yes, just call him Master. That’s all. There’s no need to go into the details.”

Taoist Qingsong was quite satisfied with his idea, and judging from Qi Wen’s expression, his disciple seemed to agree. However, after glancing up at the star chart in the main hall, he solemnly addressed Qi Wen.

“Cloud Mountain Temple is now a Taoist sect, and we are now considered important figures within the temple. In the future, if we want to carry forward the Taoist tradition of Cloud Mountain Temple, we need to have solid cultivation. Therefore, we must practice diligently from now on!”

“Of course! By the way, Master, will you still be setting up your fortune-telling stall in the future?”

“Uh…”

Taoist Qingsong was speechless for a moment. He realized that as his cultivation level increased in the future, he would no longer be afraid of ordinary punches and kicks, or perhaps even the punches and kicks of warriors from the martial arts world.

“Well, cultivation is cultivation, and hobbies are hobbies. Mr. Ji has so many hobbies, and they don’t interfere with his cultivation.”

Seeing his master like this, Qi Wen knew that his master probably would never change in this lifetime.

The two little martens had finished their cultivation and got off the futon. They looked up at the star banner, squeaked twice at Qi Xuan and Qi Wen, and then darted out of the main hall and out of the temple, disappearing into the mountains.

…

At Cloud Mountain Temple, the master, disciple, and the two little martens were all engaged in cultivation, or chatting idly. Meanwhile, Ji Yuan, the Old Dragon, and Qin Zizhou naturally also had their own matters to attend to.

The three of them hadn’t actually gone far, merely flying around the Yun Mountain Range. Compared to Ji Yuan and the Old Dragon’s ability to ride the wind and tread the clouds, Qin Zizhou didn’t know such supernatural techniques yet. However, he was still a potential Wandering God, so he could use the power of the celestial heavens to travel through the sky. However, his speed was still slower than normal flight, so Ji Yuan and the Old Dragon carried him.

Nevertheless, neither the Old Dragon nor Ji Yuan ever looked down on Qin Zizhou. Even the Old Dragon considered him an equal. Previously, he had admired Qin Zizhou more for his character, but now he looked forward to his future abilities.

With Cloud Mountain Temple as his support, Qin Zizhou, who originally possessed a pure Yang body, had already cemented his destiny. If there had been a 30% chance of achieving his goals when he had first been brought here, it had now soared to 60%.

As they flew over Maoqian Town, the Old Dragon pointed to a certain spot below.

“Is that where the Personal God1 resides?”

Ji Yuan glanced at the Old Dragon and corrected him.

“That man’s name is Huang Xingye. To be precise, his human body and the personal god in his spirit are one.”

“Hehe, it’s all the same. How many years does a mortal live? Huang Xingye was already quite old back then, and he didn’t have many years left to live. Sooner or later, he would become a Personal God in a human body. Such a god is extremely rare. If the Personal God could escape into the world to find its own opportunities after Huang Xingye’s death, that would be better. But if he were to scatter along with Huang Xingye’s spirit after death, that would be a great pity!”

The Old Dragon was clearly implying something, and he believed that Ji Yuan must have already made plans. Ji Yuan would not deny this assumption in front of his two companion. The more hidden cards he had, the better.

“Indeed, that would be too much of a pity. Back then, I left an Edict for the local Land God of Maoqian Town, and asked him to take care of Huang Xingye. In addition, I also used spiritual techniques to conceal the faint supernatural phenomena on Huang Xingye’s body. Taoist Qingsong calculated that this person would die peacefully of old age.”

Even the Old Dragon had to admire Qi Xuan’s fortune-telling skills. Although he was a mortal, and his divinations were subject to many constraints and prerequisites, his predictions were truly accurate. He remembered that Ji Yuan had come to Qi Xuan to tray his hand at finding those calligraphy spirits, and sure enough, Qi Xuan did so with ease.

“Let’s go!”

As soon as Ji Yuan finished speaking, the three of them rode the clouds toward Maoqian Town, and soon landed not far from the Land God Temple.

It was still early in the day, but almost everyone in Maoqian Town was a farmer, so they got up very early. There were already quite a few people coming and going along the roads in town, but few people stopped by the Land God Temple.

Ji Yuan and his two companions would stand out in a crowd individually, let alone grouped together. One was elegant and refined in a white robe, another had white eyebrows, a trailing white beard, and a long robe, while the third dressed in luxurious clothing and radiated an aura of nobility.

The three walked together toward the local temple. They should have attracted considerable attention from those around them, but at this moment it seemed that no one paid them any mind.

A peasant woman, carrying a three- or four-year-old child, had just emerged from the local temple after offering incense. She didn’t pay much attention to Ji Yuan and his two companions, who were now almost next to her. However, the child in her arms was immediately drawn to the three men, especially Qin Zizhou’s white beard that reached his chest.

The three men possessed a calm and refreshing aura. the child, unfazed by these strangers, even reached out to grab Qin Zizhou’s beard.

“Grandpa, may I touch your beard?”

“Oh no, no, that won’t do! If you pluck my beard, it will hurt!”

Qin Zizhou pretended to grab his beard to avoid it, but he still “accidentally” let the child’s chubby little hand brush against his beard as they passed each other, the little hand stroking his beard as they passed.

“Hmm? Child, who are you talking to?”

The farmer’s wife paused, straightened her child, and looked back, but didn’t notice the “grandpa.”

The child pointed in that direction and spoke vaguely.

“There, there, the beard, that long beard, that long-bearded grandpa!”

“A grandpa with a long beard?”

The woman looked behind her, wondered if her child had seen the local Land God.

The farmers in Maoqian Town, like those in other parts of Dazhen, were generally a superstitious bunch. They also believed that children could see things that ordinary people could not, so the child’s claims seemed plausible. She quickly picked up her child and bowed in the direction of the Land God Temple.

There weren’t many worshippers in the local temple to begin with, and now only the temple steward was present, resting on a bamboo chair. Although he was called the temple steward, in this kind of small temple, he was actually just a knowledgeable elderly neighbor who knew a thing or two about managing the place.

As Ji Yuan, the Old Dragon, and Qin Zizhou stepped into the courtyard of the Land God Temple, the temple steward grew drowsy and fell asleep in his chair within moments.

Upon reaching the statue of the Land God, they noticed a considerable number of offerings on the altar, along with an ever-burning lamp designed to withstand the wind, and two jars of sesame oil beside it.

“Please, Land God of Maoqian Town, I seek an audience.”

It wasn’t a critical moment, so there was no need to use a brutal method like Spirit Binding. Ji Yuan calmly imbued Taoist spiritual energy into his calm voice which penetrated the statue, reaching the ears of the local Land God.

After waiting for about ten breaths, the Land God emerged from the ground with a wisp of smoke. He looked up and saw Ji Yuan and his two companions. Startled, he quickly bowed and paid his respects.

“The local Land God of Maoqian Town greets the three venerable immortals!”

The local Land God recognized Ji Yuan. The undisguised dragon aura emanating from the Old Dragon, coupled with the events that had previously occurred in this region, suggested that he might be the Dragon Lord of the Tongtian River. The white-haired, bearded man standing side by side with the two was definitely no ordinary man, either. He was likely also at the level where his being would be qualified with the “True” rank.

“No need for formalities, Land God. Although looking after Huang Xingye is not a difficult task, it still requires decades of careful management and is far from simple. Today, I’ve come to bestow upon you a great fortune!”

Ji Yuan’s direct approach only stirred up the already unsettled emotions of the Land God of Maoqian Town.

“You’ve only been the local Land God of Maoqian Town for a few years, and you were originally an earth spirit. You likely have not yet been recognized by the City God of this region, correct?”

The Land God dared not lie and spoke frankly.

“Because of what happened at the Huang residence last time, the City God of Le County and the City God of Changchuan Prefecture have already acknowledged my position as the Land God, and both have endorsed me in the underworld.”

“Haha, that’s quite fast!”

The Old Dragon chuckled, not looking at the Land God or Ji Yuan, but rather at Qin Zizhou, who simply stroked his beard and smiled, before speaking leisurely.

“Then, Land God, if you were given a choice, to choose between continuing your cultivation in Changchuan Prefecture, under the protection of the prefectural and county city gods, and the other were to come under my jurisdiction in the future, what would you choose?”

The Land God spoke without even thinking, without needing to consider anything.

“This humble deity wishes to submit to the immortal’s jurisdiction!”

What a joke! When the immortal arrived, he said he was bestowing upon him a great opportunity. Wasn’t he obviously instructing him on how to choose?

After speaking, he cautiously glanced at Qin Zizhou.

“May I ask who this venerable immortal is?”

“I am Qin Zizhou. I have no great reputation or high status. You may call me Lord Qin for now.”

“Oh, Lord Qin!”

The Land God quickly bowed again.

Ji Yuan thought for a moment, then took out a small stack of glittering gold coins from his sleeve and handed them directly to the Earth God.

“Take it, they will be useful. With your spiritual power, that edict might not work smoothly at times, but these coins will make it much easier to manage.”

The Land God’s eyes widened when he saw the spiritual coins. He carefully held them in both hands, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. He knew a little about spiritual coins, but these were simply treasures. He could feel the spiritual energy contained within as soon as he held them, and his heart was filled with a surge of excitement.

“Hey! When did Mr. Ji come up with this again? Can I have one to play with?”

The Old Dragon’s childlike spirit rekindled, and Ji Yuan simply tossed him five coins to play with.

“By the way, Immortal, now that I am under your command, is there any ceremony or ritual required?”

Qin Zizhou smiled.

“Just remember your decision. There’s no need for all that now. As for the underworld, there’s no need to inform them. Just do what you need to do, and you’ll find out when the time comes.”

“Yes! This humble deity shall obey the decree!”

In fact, rather than saying that the Land God was now under Qin Zizhou’s control, it would be more accurate to say that he would merely be asked to help look after the gates of Cloud Mountain Temple in the future. However, his future prospects were definitely brighter now than they had been when he had been the Land God.

After bidding farewell to the local deity and leaving the temple, the three went to the Huang residence to visit Huang Xingye. They then circled Yun Mountain once before landing in a suitable spot. The Old Dragon gathered the water all around them, Ji Yuan picked up his brush to write some barrier techniques, and Qin Zizhou guided the power of stars downwards.

The three worked together to plant barriers throughout Cloud Mountain.

Refer to chapter 161-167