Chapter 544: Eat big |
A moment of silence.
The Southern Emperor glanced at Du Ge, then at Xu Jinghui, who was kneeling on the ground, and after a moment, asked, "What wealth do you desire?"
"The elixirs needed for cultivation and the Emperor's support in the future," Xu Jinghui prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "By comprehending this Dao resonance treasure daily, the Emperor's ascension to Golden Immortal is just around the corner. When the Emperor rises in glory, I wish to leave the Celestial Master's Mansion and serve the Emperor."
"Do you know that if I accept this treasure, it means breaking ties with the Celestial Master's Mansion?" the Southern Emperor said.
"Emperor, the Celestial Masters are not aware of this matter," Xu Jinghui replied.
"There are no walls in the world that do not let the wind through," the Southern Emperor said.
After hesitating for a moment, Xu Jinghui raised his head and said, "Emperor, to be honest, I wish to establish my own sect."
"How so?" the Southern Emperor asked.
"Emperor, everyone on Dragon and Tiger Mountain has comprehended the Dao resonance," Xu Jinghui spoke as if reciting a rehearsed script, initially somewhat awkward, but gaining confidence as the conversation progressed, "The five brothers, including the Celestial Masters, who comprehended the Dao resonance, are called the Golden Generation of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.
One day, this generation will ascend, trapped in the Celestial Master's Mansion, increasing its strength.
But if we keep it from Master Xu, Dragon and Tiger Mountain will see a surge of talents, supporting each other, capable of splitting from the Celestial Master's Mansion and forming their own sect, benefiting everyone."
"Your ambition is not small," the Southern Emperor said in astonishment.
"I do not wish to waste away in the celestial court as a True Immortal for millennia," Xu Jinghui said.
"Aren't you afraid Master Xu will find out?" the Southern Emperor asked.
"That's why I came to present this treasure to the Emperor," Xu Jinghui said, "With the Emperor's mediation, everyone on Dragon and Tiger Mountain will surely be grateful for the Emperor's kindness. In the future, in the celestial court, they can also become the Emperor's support."
The Southern Emperor smiled at Xu Jinghui and said, "What a plan, you are treating this Emperor as a stepping stone!"
"I dare not," Xu Jinghui said, trembling with fear, "Any scheme is child's play in the face of absolute power. Once the Emperor becomes a Golden Immortal, even if I have grand plans, they can be crushed by the Emperor. And when the Emperor becomes a Golden Immortal, even if Master Xu harbors resentment, he won't dare to express it."
"..." The Southern Emperor looked at Xu Jinghui prostrating at his feet, falling into a long silence.
After a moment, he opened his palm, and a porcelain bottle appeared in his hand, "This matter, this Emperor agrees to. This is a bottle of Nine Yang Pills; take it to appease everyone on Dragon and Tiger Mountain, ensuring they do not leak the matter of the Dao resonance. In the future, whatever Dragon and Tiger Mountain lacks, let them come to this Emperor."
"Thank you, Emperor." Xu Jinghui breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hands high, and respectfully accepted the pills.
Du Ge had already returned from his water form, curiously watching everything before him, frowning as if pondering something, much like a child filled with curiosity about the world.
"Emperor, if there's nothing else, we will take our leave," Xu Jinghui put the pills into his sleeve and respectfully asked for permission.
Du Ge's script ended at this point, and he was worried that if the Southern Emperor asked any more questions, he might not be able to answer them and inadvertently ruin the Master's important matters.
"Withdraw! Let Qingluan escort you out," the Southern Emperor nodded, shifting his attention to Du Ge, ignoring them.
After Xu Jinghui and the others left.
The Southern Emperor asked Du Ge, "What do you think about what those two said?"
"Human hearts are too complicated," Du Ge shook his head, "The prince of the mortal world, for personal gain, uses his compatriots to forge evil artifacts; the immortals of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, for their own future, betray their sect... I don't understand why you do these things..."
What he did in the mortal world couldn't be hidden from the Southern Emperor, so he might as well reveal part of it to dispel the Southern Emperor's suspicions.
"..." The Southern Emperor was taken aback, looking at Du Ge without speaking.
At this moment.
He understood why Du Ge left those children at Longliu Manor and assassinated Prince Duan in public.
Spirits and monsters in the mountains, upon gaining intelligence, usually observe human behavior in secret to build their understanding of the world.
The complexity of human nature often leads many spirits astray.
His actions of punishing Brother Niu and others, killing and saving people at Longliu Manor, were clearly driven by instinct, and due to his lack of understanding of the world, resulted in incomplete actions...
This is also good.
Teaching him from a young age could make him closer to himself, as the relationship between master and disciple is somewhat like that of father and son.
"The three realms are far more complex than you imagine," the Southern Emperor smiled, "A spirit like you, without protection, wandering the world recklessly, will one day cause great trouble and meet a tragic end."
"..." Du Ge seemed to remember something, pausing for a moment, looking dejected, "I know, Xu Jinghui said the same. He said you could protect and teach me, sending me here for my own good. But I didn't expect he was also acting out of selfishness."
"Child, I can indeed protect and teach you. Once you learn more and see more, understanding what this world truly is, you won't have these confusions," the Southern Emperor smiled, reaching out to stroke Du Ge's head, "Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?"
"Aren't you after the Dao resonance on me?" Du Ge raised his head and asked.
"..." The Southern Emperor paused, looking at the Dao resonance on Du Ge, nodding, "Yes, the Dao resonance on you can indeed help me advance. This world has many stronger than me. I must become stronger to better protect you."
"If the Dao resonance on me helps you grow, then why should I acknowledge you as my master, instead of you acknowledging me as yours?" Du Ge asked.
"Because I know more than you, your Dao resonance is innate, and you don't know how to harness its power. I can teach you how to use the Dao resonance to grow faster," the Southern Emperor said with a smile, not getting angry, "If I acknowledge you as my master, what can you teach me?"
"I..." Du Ge hesitated, asking, "Acknowledging you as my master, will it limit my freedom? At Longliu Manor, I saved a group of children, and I promised them a good life."
"Being my disciple means you are my student," the Southern Emperor laughed, "Moreover, saving people is a good deed. As the Emperor who protects the mortal world, I certainly won't limit your freedom."
"Is what you teach me more powerful than the Dao techniques of Dragon and Tiger Mountain?" Du Ge asked again.
"Naturally more powerful than Dragon and Tiger Mountain," the Southern Emperor laughed, "Dragon and Tiger Mountain is just a group of ordinary people. I am a grand Emperor, and even without mentioning cultivation techniques, the resources I have are a hundred times stronger than Dragon and Tiger Mountain. Otherwise, why would Xu Jinghui send you to me?"
"Alright, then I acknowledge you as my master," Du Ge looked at the Southern Emperor, nodding seriously, "But let me say this first, I won't always acknowledge you as my master.
I learn very quickly, and if one day you can't teach me anything more powerful, I will seek out someone stronger to be my master. I heard the Dao Ancestor is the most powerful person in the world, and one day, I will make the Dao Ancestor my master."
The Southern Emperor paused, then nodded with a wry smile, "Alright, if one day you truly acknowledge the Dao Ancestor as your master, I will call you master in return."
"It's a deal," Du Ge's eyes lit up.
"It's a deal," the Southern Emperor agreed.
That day.
After instructing his disciples on various matters, the Southern Emperor couldn't wait to announce his retreat.
Comprehending the Dao resonance should not be delayed.
Although he bore the title of Emperor, he was essentially a grand mountain god in the mortal world, mostly confined to this barren land, unable to ascend to the celestial court.
Having finally seen hope, who wouldn't want to advance further?
...
In the secret chamber.
The Southern Emperor sat cross-legged, looking at Du Ge, who was filled with Dao resonance, and said earnestly, "Qingcheng, the cultivation technique I practice is called 'Xuantian Technique,' different from the 'Hunyuan Technique' you obtained from Dragon and Tiger Mountain.
Now, you are at the Elemental Infant stage, and starting over would be unwise. It would be better to ascend with the 'Hunyuan Technique' and, after obtaining an immortal body, switch to practicing my 'Xuantian Technique.'"
Qingcheng was the name the Southern Emperor gave to Du Ge.
"I will follow Master's guidance," Du Ge nodded, "Master, the people of Dragon and Tiger Mountain said my physique is different from ordinary people, consuming too much spiritual power during cultivation. Can I use Master's elixirs?"
This was the main reason Du Ge came to the Southern Emperor.
The Southern Emperor, being on the same level as Master Xu, resided in the mortal world where the spiritual power was insufficient to support his cultivation level, making elixirs essential. As an Emperor personally appointed by the celestial court, he received regular supplies of elixirs.
"You begin your cultivation first; the spiritual power of Xuan Mountain is several times denser than that of Dragon and Tiger Mountain. If spiritual power is insufficient, I will naturally supply you with elixirs," the Southern Emperor smiled.
He had never seen a combination of Dao resonance and water spiritual power, but Du Ge's cultivation level was only at the Elemental Infant stage.
In his view, how much spiritual power could an Elemental Infant stage cultivator need? The Southern Emperor assumed the cultivators of Dragon and Tiger Mountain were inexperienced and didn't take Du Ge's words seriously.
Du Ge's spiritual power didn't support prolonged external manifestation of Dao resonance, and the Southern Emperor only comprehended it for a short while before Du Ge's Dao resonance retracted into his body.
Therefore.
He was eager for Du Ge's cultivation level to rise higher!
The Southern Emperor never suspected Du Ge of being a demon. He oversaw a vast area and had dealt with many Alien Star warriors, being very familiar with demons. Demons might awaken certain supernatural powers, but none had a water spiritual body and Dao resonance.
"Alright, please guide me, Master," Du Ge sat cross-legged, operating his cultivation technique in front of the Southern Emperor.
As he began circulating energy in a full circle.
The spiritual power of Xuan Mountain seemed to be stirred, rapidly converging into Du Ge's body, forming a vortex above his head, pouring into him.
The moment the spiritual power was stirred, many of the Southern Emperor's disciples almost simultaneously stopped their cultivation, stepping out of their caves to look towards the direction of the Emperor's Hall, each showing a puzzled expression.
This was the commotion of an immortal cultivating in the mortal world; which disciple of the Emperor was cultivating in this manner? Was the Emperor short of elixirs?
Even the True Immortals guarding the Emperor were puzzled, looking towards the place where the Emperor was in retreat, wondering why the Emperor was using Xuan Mountain's spiritual power for cultivation.
Facing Du Ge.
The Southern Emperor watched the spiritual power being drawn by Du Ge, dumbfounded. At this moment, he seemed to understand why Xu Jinghui sent this treasure to him.
This rate of spiritual power absorption was already comparable to a True Immortal. Allowing him to cultivate on Dragon and Tiger Mountain meant others wouldn't need to do anything.
In simple terms, Dragon and Tiger Mountain couldn't afford to support this ancestor...
Wanting to take advantage of the Dao resonance, unwilling to send him to Master Xu, yet unable to support him, naturally sending him to himself was the most suitable.
The Southern Emperor found it amusing, not taking Xu Jinghui and others' little schemes to heart, instead feeling completely at ease.
He was even a bit delighted, lacking elixirs but in need of Dao resonance!
There was basically nothing in the mortal world that required him to act, consuming immortal spiritual power, only during cultivation would he consume elixirs, so he had a surplus of elixirs.
Du Ge's rapid cultivation speed was a good thing for him.
By using elixirs to boost his cultivation level, he could observe the Dao resonance for longer, complementing each other, this was his opportunity!
"Qingcheng, stop! I understand your cultivation ability now; absorbing spiritual power is indeed unsuitable for you. From now on, use elixirs directly for cultivation!"
The Southern Emperor beamed, waving his hand to present five bottles of elixirs before Du Ge, "These five bottles are Nine Yang Pills, take one at a time, enough for your five years of cultivation. After taking the Nine Yang Pills, cultivate here on your own, I will see you again tomorrow."
After speaking.
He swiftly left the secret chamber, returning to the Emperor's Hall to handle affairs.
Having witnessed Du Ge's cultivation speed, he was increasingly hopeful for the future. One day, when he becomes a Golden Immortal, he would no longer need to worry about mundane matters.
Although he only observed the Dao resonance for a short while, the Southern Emperor already felt a deeper understanding of cultivation, believing that it wouldn't be long before he could break through the Heavenly Immortal barrier without divine objects.
...
Five years?
What a joke!
Five days would be more like it...
Du Ge smiled slightly, manipulating the water spiritual power to extract a pill from the bottle, placing it in his mouth to begin a new round of cultivation.
Having tasted Elder Daoming's elixirs, he naturally knew how quickly his divine body absorbed elixirs. The few bottles of elixirs left by the Southern Emperor wouldn't last him a few days.
Du Ge aimed for rapid strength improvement; hiding his abilities was out of the question...
He was originally called Iron Head, had previously used the title Free and Unfettered Master, and later went by Nameless Master, all for the sake of identity ambiguity.
But upon arriving at Xuan Mountain, becoming the Southern Emperor's disciple, and being given the name Qingcheng, when the rankings were announced at the end of the month, it would pinpoint him precisely to the Southern Emperor, impossible to hide.
Although the Southern Emperor repeatedly promised to protect him, with his Heavenly Immortal cultivation level, he might not be able to protect him when the time comes, and Du Ge would have to rely on himself.
However.
The Southern Emperor provided him with so many elixirs, he was a good person, and when Du Ge became stronger, he might have to lend him a helping hand!
...
Elder Daoming was at the peak of the Dao Integration stage, and the elixirs given by Master Xu naturally wouldn't be very potent.
The Southern Emperor was a Heavenly Immortal, and the Nine Yang Pills were used for his cultivation, far more effective than Elder Daoming's Returning to Origin Pills or Peiyuan Pills.
As a pill entered his stomach.
The surging spiritual power rapidly expanded within Du Ge's body, which he then guided into his meridians, flowing through the three Elemental Infants, providing them with nourishment bit by bit.
The three Elemental Infants absorbed the spiritual power of the elixir ravenously, strengthening themselves while converting the spiritual power into divine power, nourishing Du Ge's divine body...
On Du Ge's personal interface, the mental power number rapidly jumped upward, and by the time the elixir's spiritual power was exhausted, it had increased by over two million.
It took Du Ge only a quarter of an hour to consume one Nine Yang Pill, and he unhesitatingly sent another pill into his mouth, beginning a new round of circulation.
The higher the cultivation level, the faster the absorption of elixirs. At this rate, in less than a night, he would have consumed an entire bottle of elixirs.
However.
Du Ge was still dissatisfied with this speed; when Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the celestial palace, he ate the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord's elixirs like candy.
That was the physical prowess he aspired to!
With his divine body transformed by three types of divine power, although extraordinarily versatile, he didn't dare to consume an entire bottle of elixirs at once.
In this world filled with powerful beings, he was still far behind!
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