Chapter 218 A Dragon Enters the Sea, Blessings Descend from Heaven
It was evening, and we were approaching the coast.
The afterglow of the setting sun spread out, merging the sky and earth into one color.
The sea breeze was salty and damp, and hundreds of believers on the shore stood up. A banquet was set up here, with red carpets on the ground, wooden tables set up, and experts seated.
More than ten black iron boats blocked the river. But two of them had already been overturned and sunk by the dragon's tail.
She rode slowly in on a dragon boat, surrounded by formidable enemies. Yet Wen Caishang remained calm and composed, her demeanor serene and her bearing graceful.
Wen Caishang, Li Xian, and Lao Long, having traveled a great distance, finally arrived here. The followers on both sides of the strait immediately stood up and looked at Sheng Yunfei.
The Black Dragon Cult is renowned and powerful. Its leader, Sheng Tianxiong, is a formidable and ruthless figure. His son, Sheng Yunfei, inherits his father's ambitions and is no ordinary man either.
Sheng Yunfei's expression was distant as he scrutinized Wen Caishang. He couldn't help but drift into a daze. Just moments before, he had been annoyed by her strength, respected her power, and feared her methods. He was also extremely curious about her.
Upon meeting him now, his appearance, demeanor, voice, figure, and bearing far exceeded my expectations.
Sheng Yunfei muttered, "What a beauty, what a beauty! This place is full of my Black Dragon Sect members, yet she can be so composed even when she's alone in this formation!" With an elegant demeanor, he said in a loud voice, "Greetings, young lady, from Yunfei."
“Young lady, you have traveled thousands of miles without complaint. You have overcome many obstacles along the way, and your strength is remarkable. In a one-on-one fight, I, Yunfei, am no match for you. However, I have been preparing for the dragon-slaying matter for many days and am unwilling to give up easily. I hope you will not blame me for the fact that we will be outnumbered later.”
He glanced at the sky; the setting sun was about to disappear, but its afterglow still lingered. He thought, "While not the perfect time, it's close enough." How could he back down? With a wave of his hand, he immediately shouted, "Charge!"
The tremor traveled for miles, demonstrating the immense power of the internal energy.
Hundreds of believers from both sides of the river rushed to the banks, each holding a black iron rod. These rods were unique in shape, with a spherical end but riddled with countless tiny holes.
The iron rod struck the lake; the heavy, round sphere at its end was heavy and splashed water with the impact. Infused with internal energy, the sphere vibrated rapidly, turning the splash into a thick mist.
In an instant, the fog dissipated and surged in.
Hundreds of people beat the river together, their momentum already immense. And from the distant mountains, the sound of drums could be heard.
Wen Caishang said, "I have long heard that Young Master Sheng of the Black Dragon Cult is fond of studying the stars in the sky and has created a great formation based on the stars, which can kill anyone who gets in his way."
Sheng Yunfei was overjoyed: "She's heard of my name and knows my preferences. Has she perhaps studied me?" He was very pleased and respectfully asked, "I already know your name is Caishang. May I ask your surname?"
Wen Caishang said, "My daughter's name is not worth mentioning."
“Miss Caishang is too modest!” Sheng Yunfei said, “I set up this trap for you because of our different positions. This dragon is of great use to me. I had no intention of opposing you. If you don’t mind, I will apologize afterwards.”
"Yunfei truly wishes to know the young lady's name and make friends. I am the young leader of the Black Dragon Sect, and in the martial world, I am somewhat of a name..."
"Let's skip it," Wen Caishang said.
"What a pity, what a pity." Sheng Yunfei was itching to try, his excitement barely contained, and unwilling to give up. He continued, "My grand formation requires the combined efforts of three hundred and sixty martial arts masters to be operational. How about this: if you, young lady, cannot break the formation, please tell me your name?"
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "Is this formation difficult to break?"
Sheng Yunfei laughed, "I know you're incredibly skilled, young lady. But you're absolutely certain you can't handle my 360-Circle Celestial Star Drum Formation..."
Wen Caishang said, "This formation is indeed powerful. Gathering experts and arranging it requires immense strength. Only you, the young sect leader, have such ability. However, all great formations in the world must follow certain principles."
"Once you understand the underlying principles, you can easily break through them."
"Your formation was developed through astronomical observation and must follow the principles of the celestial sphere. Once it is fully formed, it is as if your opponent is trapped in the sky thousands of miles away, surrounded by darkness. It traps them until they are exhausted and defeated. Is this what it is?"
Sheng Yunfei's expression changed. He had studied this formation extensively and rarely used it. The formation's extraordinary effects had never been revealed to outsiders.
This formation is complex. It requires 360 experts, distributed in 360 different locations. These locations are subtly aligned with the positions of the stars, and the formation resonates with each other through drumming, chest-pounding, and the execution of martial arts techniques.
Layer upon layer of resonance, interconnected formations, revealing miraculous effects. Suppressing internal energy, strange phenomena... bewitching the mind, disorienting people.
However, this formation has a major drawback.
The terrain must be surveyed in advance. Each position is carefully chosen, arranged according to the celestial constellations. However, the celestial and terrestrial landscapes are ever-changing, so advance surveying is essential before any action can be taken.
"How do you know all this..." Sheng Yunfei's expression changed.
Wen Caishang smiled faintly and said, "Is it difficult? I can also do a little bit of stargazing and divination."
"I also know that your formation will be even more powerful at night when the stars are revealed in the sky and reflected in the starlight."
"Excellent! Excellent!" Sheng Yunfei said admiringly, "Miss Caishang, you are so knowledgeable and learned, I admire you greatly. In my entire life, I have never been impressed by anyone. Today, I truly admire you!"
Li Xian thought to himself, "Lady Zhejian, Lady Zhejian... Her strength can subdue heroes, her beauty can subdue heroes, and her knowledge can also subdue heroes. We martial artists should have knowledge as vast as the sea!" He was also extremely impressed.
“You’re already trapped in the formation. Even if you know the principles, what can you do?” Sheng Yunfei asked.
Wen Caishang said, "It will be broken."
Sheng Yunfei said confidently, "I already know your strength, young lady. My many brothers will definitely not fight you head-on. I would not want to hurt you, young lady, nor would I want to lose my brothers. You are skilled in swordsmanship, but it is highly unlikely that you can break my formation."
turn out to be…
This week's Heavenly Star Drum Formation. The key is the sound of the "beating drum." However, the beating drum is set up in a distant high mountain, and although Wen Caishang's swordsmanship is divine, she cannot reach the beating drum.
The river was shrouded in mist, obscuring sight and sound. Even with throwing and striking martial arts skills, it would be impossible to touch the drum.
Sheng Yunfei said, "Since you already know the key to this formation, I'll be frank with you. This Zhou Tian Xing Gu Formation has seven drums, located several miles away on a high mountain. Even if you are a master archer, you will have a very hard time hitting the drums."
Wen Caishang said, "Not necessarily. But I know someone who can do this with just his archery skills."
Sheng Yunfei asked warily, "Could the girl Caishang be referring to Shangguan Xunya, the 'Ten Thousand Mile Divine Arrow'? Could he also be on the ship?"
Wen Caishang said, "It's not some kind of divine arrow that can travel ten thousand miles. Little fairy, let's shoot the drum!"
Li Xian stepped forward, focusing his Qi in his dantian, his eyes gleaming. He immediately drew back the bowstring, listened to the drumbeat to pinpoint the location, and fired an arrow. The yellow jade trembled slightly, the arrow shaft coated with a yellow light, and its speed increased even further.
With a whoosh, they approached a drum. The drummer was no weakling and immediately raised his hand to grab it. Suddenly, the arrow split into three, dodging the grab and piercing through the drum.
Sheng Yunfei's expression changed.
Wen Caishang laughed and said, "Shoot again."
Upon hearing the drumbeat, Li Xian suddenly twisted his body and shot to the other side. He held the Zodiac Bow, and the more he used it, the more comfortable he became with it.
The arrow was shot. The yellow jade pendant vibrated five times in succession, leaving a trail of yellow rainbows where the arrow passed, its momentum unmatched. When shooting the arrow, Li Xian applied the essence of "Gentle Breeze Leg," making the arrow as elusive as a gentle breeze, impossible to grasp.
The drummer was already on guard, wielding his drumstick and striking at the arrow. He knocked the arrow down, but a second arrow followed immediately. He swung his drumstick, fiercely defending his drum, displaying considerable skill.
However, this results in a concentration on dealing with the flying arrows, weakening the drumbeats. The resonance and engagement are inadequate, naturally diminishing the power of the Zhou Tian Xing Drum Formation.
Li Xian's archery skills were natural. After reaching the pinnacle of "Four Directions Fist," he could reverse the force line, change his posture, and change direction with remarkable ease.
One moment he shoots an arrow to the left, the next he shoots it to the right, with unparalleled accuracy and immense power. His strength alone is enough to rival that of several archers.
Each arrow shot carried extraordinary momentum and meaning. Although the drummer was strong, he dared not underestimate his opponent and had to concentrate on responding, as the rhythm of his drumming had already been disrupted.
The drummers at all seven locations were harassed by flying arrows. They felt constantly threatened, as if a thorn was in their side. They were extremely frustrated, being in the open yet vulnerable to hidden attacks.
No, they are the ones who are in the shadows, yet their arrows are hard to defend against. Wen Caishang thought to herself, "I underestimated Li Xian's archery skills. I didn't expect him to be able to break this great formation by himself with the Yellow Path Bow."
The drumbeats became disordered, and the formation naturally broke apart. The python-dragon emerged from the river and inhaled sharply, drawing in the water mist, which then stirred up waves that swept over the powerful figures on both banks.
Sheng Yunfei had initially assumed there were seven or eight skilled archers on the ship, and was quite surprised that Wen Caishang had found so many experts. When the mist cleared, he was astonished to see that there was only one young man holding the bow.
Seizing the opportunity, the python swung its tail and sped towards the estuary.
Sheng Yunfei was taken aback and shouted, "Set up the net! Set up the net!"
Two powerful men, each over ten feet tall and resembling giants, stood guard at the river mouth, wielding a large, dark net, and fiercely splashed it at the giant dragon.
This net is made of tough material and soaked in the urine of eighteen kinds of exotic beasts. It is imbued with foul odors and is most deadly to half-dragons about to enter the sea. Once covered, they immediately become weak and powerless.
Wen Caishang lightly touched the ground with her toes and gracefully leaped up, standing on the dragon's head, saying, "Senior Dragon, just charge forward."
The python nodded and charged into the sea. Wen Caishang unleashed three sword strikes, shattering the iron net. The python, unstoppable, leaped out of the river and soared towards the sea.
Sheng Yunfei sighed softly, knowing he had missed his chance. His gaze fixed on the sea. The python had completed its final transformation, its scales gleaming with gold, its horns majestic and imposing.
The python-dragon shook off its dejected state. Wind and clouds gathered, thunder and rain raged. The dragon roamed the sky, traveling 49,000 li across the river, finally achieving enlightenment.
Sheng Yunfei was in a daze. But what he saw was not a galloping dragon, but Wen Caishang at the dragon's end.
The dragon entered the sea. After swimming for a while, it returned to the shore. Sheng Yunfei said, "Senior Dragon, your transformation into a dragon is truly a cause for celebration!"
The dragon snorted coldly but did not respond. Lowering its head, Wen Caishang dismounted. The dragon roared at Sheng Yunfei, revealing its sharp teeth and displaying its ferocity.
Sheng Yunfei wanted to speak with Wen Caishang, ask her name, and befriend her. Hearing that she was also knowledgeable in astrology, he wished to discuss its mysteries with her. However, seeing the unfavorable situation, he feared it would be difficult to maintain a peaceful relationship, and also reasoned that such a woman was surely not without a name or trace. Now that he knew her name was "Caishang," he could simply have someone investigate further; there would surely be an opportunity to meet her in the future.
He then said, "Senior Flood Dragon, since you do not welcome us, we will leave now."
"Get out!" The dragon's voice was like muffled thunder.
The waterway descent is over.
Suddenly, the light of heaven gathered, and a divine gift descended!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
