Chapter 39: Investing in the Hidden Dragon and Building a Secret Rapport

The Cha family has reached a bottleneck.

This is something known to the high-level members of the Cha family.

Despite the fact that the Cha family is currently the premier clan of East County, with a Purple Mansion ancestor presiding over them, and all the Foundation Establishment clans in East County looking to them for leadership—where even a word from Cha Liangcai could influence the decrees of the Prefectural Office—the Cha family has nonetheless hit a ceiling.

This is because the upper limit for a county-level aristocratic family is the Purple Mansion realm.

The three Great Golden Core sects of Qingzhou will not allow another Golden Core power to emerge within Qingzhou to compete with them for its resources.

Cha Liangcai understood very well that the aristocratic families of East County were not to be relied upon, and the three great sects of Qingzhou would certainly not sell Golden Core resources to him.

They barely had enough for themselves; how could they possibly provide them to an enemy?

If Cha Liangcai wanted to reach the Golden Core stage, he could not cross the hurdle set by the three great sects.

Unless he could travel to other provinces of the Qi Kingdom, or to the lands of the Wei or Lu Kingdoms to seek Golden Core resources, he would be stuck in the Purple Mansion realm within Qingzhou.

Should he attempt to form a Golden Core within Qingzhou, the three great sects would inevitably unite to destroy the Cha family, and the Foundation Establishment clans of East County that currently relied on the Cha family would immediately turn their weapons around to carve up the Cha family's legacy.

This was precisely why Cha Liangcai chose to cooperate with the River God in the Taiping River. It was not that he had been blinded by greed, but rather that he had no choice.

Aside from the River God, who was willing to give him a promise of Golden Core attainment, he could find no one else in all of Qingzhou who could help him—he couldn't even secure a mere promise.

This was not just the predicament of the Cha family, but a dilemma faced by all the Purple Mansion families in Qingzhou.

The ambitious, much like the Xu family of Qing County, would send their geniuses into sects from a young age, effectively severing them from the family to belong to the sect.

If they were fortunate enough to open a Purple Mansion or even reach the Golden Core stage in the future, the family would inevitably welcome a new era of development.

But the Xu family could do this because they already had a Purple Mansion elder in the Moon-Grasping Sect, whereas the Cha family had only him!

Originally, Cha Liangcai had no choice, but the appearance of Jiang Sheng undoubtedly provided him with another option: if one must choose a patron to rely on, why not choose the strongest one?

The River God's origins were unknown and his motives were deep; continuing to cooperate with him would inevitably invite disaster.

But what if he invested early in a True Disciple of Penglai?

It was said that the True Disciples of Penglai through the generations were all geniuses who achieved Heaven-Dao Foundation Establishment before the age of twenty and forged high-grade Golden Cores before the age of sixty.

Cha Liangcai still had over two hundred years of lifespan; he could afford to wait a few mere decades.

Even if it wasn't for himself, for the sake of the Cha family's future, having a True Disciple of Penglai as a patron would ensure the family's development would be limitless.

Cha Liangcai fell into deep thought. He needed to understand Jiang Sheng's abilities and his character; he needed time to judge whether Jiang Sheng was worth the investment.

After much deliberation, Cha Liangcai said to Cha Liangping, "The Lantern Festival is approaching. In a few days, Second Brother, take some gifts to Daoist Jiang. We cannot let people think the Cha family has lost its sense of etiquette."

Cha Liangping nodded. "Rest assured, Brother, I understand."

Once Cha Liangping left, Cha Liangcai continued to stare down at his fishing line. "Golden Core..."

Jiang Sheng was unaware of the Cha family's thoughts, nor did he care.

Having purchased a large amount of spiritual herbs in the county city market, Jiang Sheng did not linger and headed straight back to Qingping Mountain.

Qingping Mountain was surrounded by mountains and connected by rivers, with hidden spiritual energy—it was excellent feng shui, like a hidden dragon in a deep pool.

Jiang Sheng did not need to consider external matters; he only needed to cultivate diligently on Qingping Mountain, and the Purple Mansion would come naturally.

Only by opening a Purple Mansion would he have the right to speak within the territory of East County and even Qingzhou.

After traveling through the night for three days, Jiang Sheng finally arrived back at Qingping Mountain.

"Master, you're back!" Tian Ming'an looked very surprised and delighted to see Jiang Sheng return.

Jiang Sheng nodded, looking somewhat weary. "Mhm. Has anyone disturbed you while I was away?"

Tian Ming'an said, "With your great reputation, the Daoist temple has been very quiet these days. I only heard from Grandfather that the County Magistrate has been arresting many people in Qingshan County lately, many of whom were local gentry."

"The Magistrate said they conspired with demons, which led to the demons flooding Qingshan County. Therefore, he is confiscating their property and beheading them to serve as a warning."

Listening to Tian Ming'an's account of recent events, Jiang Sheng gave a light laugh and waved his hand. "Let Magistrate Zhang do as he pleases. Do not pay him any mind."

"This round trip took six days, and I am a bit tired. I shall rest first. Prepare yourself; when I wake, I will examine your progress."

Tian Ming'an hurriedly complied, his eyes bright with excitement. He had long been looking forward to Jiang Sheng testing him so he could show off his achievements from the past few days.

Entering the temple, Jiang Sheng first offered incense to the portrait of the Ancestor in the front hall, then returned to the rear hall to rest.

Having been highly focused and traveling for six consecutive days, Jiang Sheng was indeed exhausted. After confirming that the formations were functioning correctly, he fell into a deep sleep.

He slept until the following morning.

At the hour of Mao, Jiang Sheng opened his eyes habitually; after a night's rest, his spirit had finally recovered somewhat.

After his routine of absorbing the morning glow, Jiang Sheng summoned Tian Ming'an. "I said I would examine your progress. It is currently early morning, a perfect time. Perform your routines and let me see."

Upon hearing this, Tian Ming'an immediately took a stance and performed a full set of punches and kicks with disciplined precision.

Standing before the hall, Jiang Sheng watched Tian Ming'an's movements and nodded with satisfaction. "You have made some progress."

Tian Ming'an grinned. "It is all thanks to your excellent teaching, Master."

Having said that, Tian Ming'an took three green talismans from his robe and presented them to Jiang Sheng with both hands. "Master was tired yesterday, so your disciple did not dare disturb your rest. These are the spiritual talismans you gave me; I have not used them, so I am returning them to you."

"They are just three talismans; if I give them to you, they are yours." Jiang Sheng waved his hand. Those talismans were protective items he had given to Tian Ming'an; there was no reason to take them back once given.

As he spoke, Jiang Sheng calculated the days. "In the coming days, I will be opening my furnace to refine pills. You have good comprehension; study hard."

"If you can perceive clear True Qi by the onset of spring, I will help you guide the Qi into your body."

At these words, Tian Ming'an was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master! Your disciple will not fail your expectations!"

"Go and study."

After dismissing Tian Ming'an, Jiang Sheng inspected the rear hall and then brought out the alchemy furnace.

This second-grade alchemy furnace was as tall as a person and bronze in color. Jiang Sheng was quite satisfied with it; at least it was suitable for his current needs.

After taking out the various materials required for alchemy, Jiang Sheng first sat cross-legged before the furnace to quietly regulate his breathing, ensuring his divine sense and magical power were in a perfect state.

After regulating his breath until noon, Jiang Sheng opened his eyes. With a point of his index finger, the Foundation Establishment True Fire began to burn fiercely beneath the furnace, turning the base red within moments.

Then, with a wave of his left hand, three types of spiritual herbs—Snake Saliva Fruit, Seven-Star Grass, and Red Silk Flower—flew into the furnace.

Under the heat of the Foundation Establishment True Fire, the three herbs quickly transformed into clumps of spiritual liquid under the influence of spiritual power.

Next, Jiang Sheng placed a segment of demon tiger bone into the furnace. Under the roasting, the bone gradually turned into a mass of white liquid.

Jiang Sheng controlled the four clumps of liquid to merge gradually, constantly varying the intensity of the Foundation Establishment True Fire. Once the four liquids were completely fused, he added the Hundred Herb Dew into the furnace.

As the Hundred Herb Dew poured into the mass of medicinal liquid, the large mass fused completely, and then, under Jiang Sheng's control of his spiritual power, it divided into ten small clumps.

Now at the final stage, Jiang Sheng controlled the size of the Foundation Establishment True Fire, gradually solidifying the ten clumps of liquid into individual pills with uneven surfaces.

These were the embryonic forms of the pills.

Next, Jiang Sheng continuously controlled the roasting of the True Fire and used his spiritual power to gradually compress the pills.

When the surfaces of these pills became smooth and they finally became perfectly round, it signified that this batch of alchemy was complete.

With a wave of his hand, he sent a burst of spiritual power to open the furnace lid, and the ten pills were drawn into Jiang Sheng's hand.

After sniffing the medicinal fragrance and confirming that the color, shape, and scent were correct, Jiang Sheng stored the pills in a jade bottle.

"The Tiger Bone Vitality Pill is not difficult to refine. I will refine five batches first, then move on to the Qi Gathering Pill."

Having made up his mind, Jiang Sheng continued to refine the Tiger Bone Vitality Pills.

Refining one batch of Tiger Bone Vitality Pills took two hours. Jiang Sheng spent a total of ten hours refining them; by the time the five batches were finished, more than half of his spiritual power had been consumed.

Without forcing himself to refine other pills, Jiang Sheng sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing and recover his spiritual power. He waited until the next day, having fully restored his essence and spirit, before beginning to refine the Qi Gathering Pills.

The Qi Gathering Pill also required five types of spiritual herbs.

Black Lingzhi, Bellflower, Light Spirit Grass, and Seven-Star Grass were sent into the furnace one by one.

As the herbs turned into liquid, Jiang Sheng directly added the Hundred Herb Dew to begin the fusion.

Once the medicinal liquid had condensed and was divided into ten small clumps that gradually solidified with a hint of green, the Qi Gathering Pill had taken its preliminary shape.

Continuing to control the Foundation Establishment True Fire, Jiang Sheng skillfully compressed the pills until they became perfectly round and entirely green.

A second-grade pill, the Qi Gathering Pill, was complete!

Once this batch was finished, Jiang Sheng followed the same process of checking color, shape, and scent. After confirming there were no errors, he stored the batch in a jade bottle and opened the furnace again.

For several consecutive days, Jiang Sheng remained focused on alchemy.

Meanwhile, in Qingshan County, Zhang Qingyun had been using his prestige from slaying demons to purge the local gentry who refused to cooperate, leaving many merchants and elites in a state of panic.

The gentry and wealthy families in the various towns had only two choices: obey or die. There was no third option.

When the Huang family was the first to be raided—with the famous Master Huang Shiren and his kin being beheaded one by one at the marketplace—the gentry of the entire Qingshan County realized they were out of options.

If there was any exception, it was only Qingping Town.

Qingping Town seemed as if it had been forgotten by Zhang Qingyun; it remained exactly as it had been before, with no changes occurring.

The decrees from the County Office never reached Qingping Town, as if Qingshan County did not even contain such a place. It remained extremely peaceful and tranquil.

Everyone knew why: the grandson of the Qingping Town Mayor, Tian Guofu, was a disciple of the one on Qingping Mountain.