Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 214 - 204: True and False, Obtaining a Fang of Ten Thousand Heavy Water
Eight Power Swallow Worms lightly flapped their wings and effortlessly flew over the high walls of the City Lord’s Mansion.
Below the clouds, under Hong Yuan’s mental command, each took charge of a different direction to gather intelligence.
Some went to the Xiao Family, the Long Family, and the Lin Family—the three major clans—while others visited places like the Mysterious Sparrow Auction House, where information was readily available.
Of course, Hong Yuan also had one Power Swallow Worm remain at the City Lord’s Mansion.
After all, when fellow countrymen meet, backstabbing is an all too common occurrence.
"For this job, I want ten million Energy Stones. The Lin family’s Ninth isn’t someone easy to deal with," a burly man with a deep scar on his face said to a handsome young man in a white, dragon-patterned robe.
"Lord Xiao, please accept this modest token of respect. Concerning the White Glue Forest north of the city, I truly have a complete strategy," a shrewd businessman said with a smile as he handed a monetary gift to an official in a white crane uniform.
"Candied hawthorns, no charge if they’re not sweet..."
"You damned brat! How dare you steal money to go to the gambling den! You’re driving me mad!"
"..."
The myriad facets of life in Maple Leaf City were all observed by Hong Yuan, with the exception of the forbidden grounds of the Lin, Long, and Xiao families.
If Hong Yuan’s guess was correct, those forbidden grounds were where the ancestors of the three major families resided.
These three individuals were all early fifth-order Martial Artists.
During the Welcoming Wind Banquet, Hong Yuan picked up a piece of spicy and sour cabbage, a feeling washing over him as if he had lived two lives.
The Sword Tao Incarnation slaughters fourth and fifth-order Martial Artists as easily as killing chickens and dogs; it has even crippled several Martial Saints.
Yet, in reality, fourth and fifth-order Martial Artists are already beings capable of establishing sects and becoming ancestors.
This venture out had pulled Hong Yuan’s perspective back to the mundane world. The existence of Martial Saints already transcended traditional secular notions.
Suddenly, while dining, Hong Yuan’s brow twitched slightly, and the chopsticks in his hand paused for an instant.
Hong Yuan’s consciousness connected with the Jia Three Power Swallow Worm, and his perspective shifted:
The Mysterious Sparrow Auction House was located in the southern district of Maple Leaf City. It was a bustling area, with numerous shops and an endless stream of street vendors.
Inside the Stoner’s Workshop, run by the Mysterious Sparrow Auction House, someone had cut out a piece of Ten Thousand Heavy Water. The auction house then purchased it for a staggering ten million Energy Stones.
Ten Thousand Heavy Water... It seems the opportunity predicted by the Life Lamp Worm is most likely this, Hong Yuan confirmed inwardly.
Ten Thousand Heavy Water was an extremely precious water-attribute cultivation treasure. It was refined from a vast quantity of pure water essence, each drop weighing as much as ten thousand jun.
The Ice Armor Python Avatar possessed the Divine Power of Ten Thousand Heavy Water, so Hong Yuan was particularly familiar with it.
Hong Yuan understood that if he could use Ten Thousand Heavy Water to temper the Myriad Silence Origin Body, his Original Body’s cultivation would see significant improvement.
Most importantly, if my Original Body obtains Ten Thousand Heavy Water, I can then replicate the Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Power from the Ice Armor Python Avatar, Hong Yuan sighed softly.
* * *
The Stoner’s Workshop of the Mysterious Sparrow Auction House.
A Stoner’s Workshop typically occupied a vast area, surrounded by high ground, with Energy Stones of various sizes placed within.
Stone gambling has always been known by the saying: "One cut to heaven, one cut to hell."
This was because the value of items hidden within the Energy Stones varied immensely.
With a burst of luck, one might cut out an incomplete Holy Artifact, a Divine Origin, or a Stone Spirit.
With bad luck, one could end up with nothing. Even if something was cut out, it could be ancient toxic miasma, which could cost one their life.
At that moment, the crowd was abuzz with discussion, all admiring the lucky individual.
"Liu Shu’s Luck Tao is incredible, to actually cut out a piece of Ten Thousand Heavy Water!"
"Yeah, he’s always been so unlucky, but now he’s hit the jackpot, turning his fortunes around and making a huge profit in one go."
"No way! I refuse to believe my luck’s worse than Liu Shu’s. I’ll choose this Energy Stone! Hurry and help me cut it!"
Under everyone’s gaze, Liu Shu responded with a smile, but inwardly, he despised these greedy fools who were so easily stirred up.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards, a derisive smirk on his lips.
A bunch of fools, Liu Shu thought. These Energy Stones were opened by us long ago. The various ancient and precious items inside were removed, and then the stones were resealed using secret techniques.
Greedy fools, hand over all the Energy Stones you possess! They don’t belong to you anyway. Heh heh heh.
Watching the bloodshot-eyed gamblers before him, Liu Shu felt an immense, secret joy. He reveled in the sensation of having the situation under his control.
This sense of control, so far beyond his actual status, was intoxicating.
The gamblers present were either members of the three major families or local kingpins who controlled their own territories.
And he was merely a novice Energy Stone craftsman, one who had just started, at that.
Their statuses were worlds apart.
But in the end, these individuals of high status were all being led by the nose by him.
The Mysterious Sparrow Stoner’s Workshop was filled with clamor. Exotic trees in the courtyard were planted according to a specific pattern, and stone materials were scattered about in a seemingly random yet artful arrangement.
Just as Liu Shu was reveling in his sense of intellectual superiority, a sudden series of tremors came from outside.
BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
A group of black-armored cavalry arrived, escorting a huge carriage pulled by four Dragon Tooth Tigers. The black-armored cavalrymen had fierce, imposing auras; a single glance revealed them to be elite soldiers.
"People from the City Lord’s Mansion! What are they doing here?"
"Such a grand display... Could it be City Lord Huang himself has come?"
"I don’t know, I really don’t know."
The gamblers watched as the black-armored cavalry protected their distinguished guest, continuing onward, even advancing into areas of the gambling den where entry was forbidden.
Inside the carriage, Le Congsheng clicked his tongue in amazement as he watched the gamblers who had clearly lost all composure.
Le Congsheng turned to Hong Yuan and said, "Yuan, is this the Stoner’s Workshop? It seems quite—AH!"
He suddenly cried out; Tang Baiwei was pinching the soft flesh at his waist.
"No gambling!!!" Tang Baiwei declared emphatically, her shapely brows sharply arched in anger.
Hong Yuan paid no attention to the young couple; his gaze was fixed on the courtyard ahead.
The courtyard ahead was more tranquil, with a small, clear, bright lake at its center. Old vines climbed in an orderly fashion along the shore, creating a beautiful scene.
By the lakeside stood a pavilion, shrouded in mist, giving it an ethereal appearance.
Four strong, early fifth-rank presences... It seems the ancestral patriarchs of the three great families and the owner behind the auction house have all arrived, Hong Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He observed for a moment. Feeling the amethyst True Essence within him, representing a mid-fifth rank, and several semi-materialized Divine Skill Talismans, he smiled. Good thing I’m no slouch myself; I could finish off these so-called ’ancestral patriarchs’ in minutes.
Hong Yuan lightly patted the blue robe he wore—the attire of a cultivating disciple of the Phoenix Creek Sect.
Then, under the gaze of Le Congsheng and the others, Hong Yuan stepped down from the carriage and headed straight for the pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, four old nemeses, still in the midst of a heated argument, suddenly sensed danger. They stopped their bickering and looked towards the pavilion’s main entrance.
CREAK.
The door swung open on its own, and Hong Yuan stepped inside.
The four ’ancestral patriarchs’ were astounded, unable to believe that this disciple from the Phoenix Creek Sect could evoke such a faint premonition of death in them.
They exchanged glances, communicating without words.
Ancestor of Long Family: "This person is so young. Could he be a True Disciple wearing a cultivating disciple’s robes?"
Elder of Xiao Family: "Not necessarily. He might just be a cultivating disciple, but he could be carrying some special means from the Phoenix Creek Sect."
Lin Family Ancestral Patriarch: "Could it be a fifth-rank Spirit Talisman, like the ’Decreasing Wood Thunder’ Spirit Talisman or something similar? This person is likely another scion of a great family, sent down to the sect for training."
Mysterious Sparrow Auction House Owner: "Hiss... Very possible. Everyone, be cautious later."
Hong Yuan noticed their doubtful and wary expressions. He nonchalantly took a Talisman from his sleeve and held it tightly.
Holding the Talisman, Hong Yuan visibly straightened, his head held high with confidence.
The other four exchanged looks, an ’as expected’ expression on their faces.
"Greetings, Seniors," Hong Yuan said with a warm smile. The four elders returned amiable smiles.
Only then did Hong Yuan calmly state his request, "I heard from Brother Huang that there is a quantity of Ten Thousand Heavy Water here, and I have come specifically to acquire it."
"This..." The four looked at each other.
Silence. A long silence ensued.
After a long moment, the auction house owner reluctantly handed over a container of Ten Thousand Heavy Water to Hong Yuan.
Even after Hong Yuan had left, the owner hadn’t quite recovered.
"Alright, Old Wu, it’s clear he came prepared. It seems we’ll need to tell the younger generation to keep a low profile for a while," the Lin Family Ancestral Patriarch said with a hint of helplessness.
"Another fierce dragon crossing the river," the Ancestor of Long Family praised, a note of admiration in his voice. "Such audacity, daring to barge in here with just a few fifth-rank Talismans."
"Heh, why bother flattering a junior like that?" the Elder of Xiao Family scoffed at the Long Family Ancestor. "After all that talk, you don’t even know his name or background. Do you? Ha!"
Outside the pavilion.
Hong Yuan calmly stowed away the first-rank ’Thorn Skill’ Talisman.
He didn’t possess any fifth-rank Talismans. It was all just a show of force thanks to the Sub-Divine Power of the Green Dragon, as his Talisman Tao cultivation was only at an average level.
With the Ten Thousand Heavy Water acquired, this trip out was worthwhile.
What’s left is to help Brother Cong Sheng sort out his marriage affairs. Best to resolve that quickly.
With a smile on his face, Hong Yuan stepped into the carriage.
Meeting the inquisitive gazes of Le Congsheng and the others, he nodded lightly, indicating that the matter was settled.
