Chapter Two: Yin and Yang and the Five Elements
Along the road in Yuyang Village, Xiaoyao Lang, carrying a large rooster, happily hummed a little tune as he headed home. Upon reaching his thatched hut, he exclaimed with gratitude, "Thank goodness my house is still here! Otherwise, I don't know where I would find a place to call home!"
Then, he deftly removed the chicken feathers, and in no time, the chicken was roasting on the wooden rack. As he roasted, he said, "A chicken every day, life is so carefree! Hehehe!!"
Just as he was secretly pleased, a blue object flew towards the fire from afar, hovering in front of him. Xiaoyao Lang grew impatient and reached out to grab it, but he immediately regretted it; the object was incredibly cold in his hand, so cold that he threw it away right away. Strangely, it flew back! And then it flew around the fire again.
Although Xiaoyao Lang was curious, he ignored it and continued roasting the chicken. After a short while, he exclaimed, "Mmm! It smells so good! Finally, we can eat!" Once the chicken was roasted, the firewood went out. He took the roasted chicken, climbed onto the haystack, crossed his legs, and lay down to gnaw on the large roasted chicken. After the fire went out, the blue thing circled twice and then flew towards him again. Seeing this, he tried to hit it with the chicken skewers, but he couldn't hit it.
He felt helpless, put away the roast chicken, and ignored it. Just as he opened his mouth, the blue thing flew into it. He immediately felt like he had ice in his mouth, and he tried to vomit, but nothing came out. He started to get anxious.
A moment later, the icy sensation spread throughout his body, making him shiver uncontrollably. Soon after, his body began to freeze, and he lost all feeling, becoming completely numb, before finally passing out.
In the Heavenly Palace, Yu Linglong, who was meditating in the Transcendent Realm, suddenly awoke. She not only knew everything that had happened in Yuyang Village, Nanyang Prefecture, but also glimpsed more secrets of heaven.
Yu Linglong sat on the lotus platform and said to Chunxiang and Qiuxia, "An ancient dragon soul has actually appeared in Longyang City of Nanyang Shenzhou. Moreover, the green, red, and blue souls have already recognized their masters. Currently, there are four other souls, namely red, orange, cyan, and purple, whose whereabouts are unknown. Therefore, all the sects in the martial arts world will definitely gather in Longyang City to seize the dragon soul, which will lead to another bloody storm."
Chunxiang: "Palace Master, from what you've said, this Dragon Soul is just something that various martial arts sects are fighting over. It doesn't seem to have any direct impact on the common people. If we don't get involved, we can let them wear each other down and bring peace to the martial arts world!"
Yu Linglong shook her head: "You don't understand the attributes of the Dragon Soul. If used well, it is a unique treasure in the world; if used poorly, it is a butcher's knife that kills living beings."
Upon hearing this, Chunxiang and Qiuxia said in unison, "We are ignorant and humbly request Your Highness's guidance!"
Yu Linglong immediately said, "With my current cultivation level, I cannot ascertain the past and origin of the Dragon Soul. All I know so far is its attributes and functions." Yu Linglong continued, "This Dragon Soul is an invisible spiritual energy, formed by the convergence of seven souls, with Yin and Yang and the Five Elements complementing each other. These seven souls include red, orange, crimson, green, cyan, blue, and purple. Red represents fire, crimson metal, green wood, cyan earth, and blue water; orange represents Yin, and purple represents Yang. When the seven souls converge, their attributes are relatively stable." It can nourish all living beings; once the seven souls are separated, their respective attributes become unbalanced, and therefore they will actively choose to attach themselves to the material attribute they prefer. For example, red represents fire and prefers cold; green represents wood and prefers poisonous miasma; cyan represents earth and prefers desire; blue represents water and prefers heat; and crimson represents metal and prefers cruelty. Once attached to one of these attributes, one either controls it or is controlled by it. As for its ability to bring the dead back to life, this can only happen if the attributes allow it; not all the dead have this opportunity.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Xia exclaimed in surprise, "I never imagined that the Dragon Soul could be so miraculous! It must be of great help to the Palace Master's cultivation! Perhaps with the Dragon Soul, the Palace Master can break through to the Transcendent Realm and even reach the Saint Realm!"
Yu Linglong smiled and said, "I don't know about that, but the dragon soul itself is ancient spiritual energy. If one obtains it and attaches to it, it is possible that one's power will increase many times over!"
Qiu Xia asked doubtfully, "Palace Master, what if the dragon soul doesn't actively recognize a master but is forcibly possessed by someone else?!"
Yu Linglong smiled and said, "It is very difficult for ordinary people to forcibly possess a dragon soul, unless someone can absorb qi into stone or condense qi into ice to shape and control the dragon soul."
Qiu Xia said excitedly, "Gathering Qi to form stone and condensing Qi to form ice! As far as we know, besides you, Palace Master, only the people of the Murong family in Dongyue know these two unique skills!"
Yu Linglong said calmly, "Gathering Qi to Form Stone is the entry-level martial art of the Heavenly Pole Palace's Xuanhuang Qi Extinction, so the people of the Murong family should not know it. As for Condensing Qi to Form Ice, it was originally one of the three great arts of the Murong family. I know this skill because my master practiced Condensing Qi to Form Ice based on Gathering Qi to Form Stone after fighting with Murong Xuanxiao. However, it is still just a superficial imitation and is far from the Murong family's Condensing Qi to Form Ice. But even if you have a dragon soul, if you don't know how to use it, you can only use the inherent attributes of the dragon soul."
At this moment, Chunxiang kowtowed and proclaimed, "Please allow me to descend the mountain, Your Majesty, and I will surely obtain the Dragon Soul for you!"
Yu Linglong looked at Chunxiang and smiled, "My grandmaster once said, 'Human desires are the source of misfortune; if desires are extinguished, there is nothing one cannot do.' My true desire is not to be highly skilled in martial arts, but to forget worldly desires and let go of worldly attachments." Yu Linglong continued, "You have followed your master for many years, yet your cultivation remains at a finite stage, without any breakthrough. Now it seems that this is only because you cannot forget worldly desires and cannot let go of worldly attachments. If you remain unable to detach yourselves from worldly desires, your cultivation will ultimately be difficult to advance to the next level." Chunxiang and Qiuxia exchanged a glance but remained silent.
After Yu Linglong finished speaking, she closed her eyes and said calmly, "If you want to go down the mountain, then go! This journey is not for any struggle; Heaven's will is clear. Just follow your heart and do not become enamored with the mortal world." After speaking, Yu Linglong began to practice her skills. Her true energy surged, and she clasped her thumbs tightly around her middle fingers, moving her hands up and down in unison. Her body was already on the lotus platform, spinning around her. Instantly, a powerful energy surrounded her, forming an indestructible wall of energy.
"As you say, Palace Master, we take our leave." Seeing that Yu Linglong had finished speaking, Chunxiang and Qiuxia left Tianji Palace and stood on the rooftop outside, chatting happily.
Chunxiang: "Junior sister, do you want to go down the mountain?"
Qiu Xia shook her head and said, "I once went down the mountain with my master. The martial world was chaotic and people's hearts were unpredictable. They would do anything to become the best in the world! I just want to learn martial arts well so that I can create peace for the martial world and reduce bloodshed in the future!"
Chunxiang nodded and said with a smile, "Don't worry! I believe you can do it! But this time, I'm going to go down the mountain. I feel like I need to go through something before I can calm down and focus on my cultivation."
Qiu Xia said, "Then go with peace of mind! Having distracting thoughts is a major taboo in cultivation! Be careful that you don't get too caught up in worldly affairs, or you'll never become an immortal!" After saying that, Qiu Xia laughed.
Chunxiang glanced at her and said leisurely, "Qiuxia, do you think there really are gods in this world?"
Qiuxia replied, "What! Don't you believe it exists?"
Chunxiang sighed, "The old palace master's martial arts were incredibly profound back then. In his later years, he was almost invincible. Although he ranked low in the martial arts world, that was because he was an old man and didn't compete with them! But he didn't even live to be two hundred years old; he still died." Chunxiang finished speaking with a sense of despondency.
Qiu Xia sighed, "Yes! Back then, Master had already reached the Saint level in cultivating the Six-Finger Knocking Technique and the Xuanhuang Qi Extinction, but he still couldn't comprehend the Emperor's Sin Heart Method left by the Ancestral Master, and ultimately died with regret."
Chunxiang suddenly perked up and said, "But I believe in the Palace Master! When the old Palace Master reached the Transcendent Realm, he was already over 160 years old, but the Palace Master is only 24 years old now! Moreover, he has already comprehended the Emperor's Heart Sutra. I think the Palace Master will reach the Saint Realm in no time!"
Qiuxia looked at Chunxiang and smiled, saying, "It's good that you still have confidence!" After saying that, the two looked up at the distant sky together and said nothing more.
Meanwhile, Yi Yunke, pursuing Chi Hun, arrived at a small lake near Yuyang Village. Chi Hun flew to the lakeside and surprisingly stopped. Seeing this opportunity, Yi Yunke used his lightness skill to grab Chi Hun, but even though he had a firm grip, it inexplicably slipped away! He tried to grab it several times, but to no avail. Yi Yunke began to understand that fate cannot be forced, and he could only watch helplessly as Chi Hun slowly entered the lake.
In the bamboo forest of Yuyang Village, Zui Mochou was already quite drunk, but his stomach was growling loudly with hunger! He smelled the aroma of roast chicken: "Hmm? Delicious! It's...it's...it's the smell of roast chicken! Yes! The smell of roast chicken!" At that moment, as if sobering up, he leaped into the bamboo forest and rushed towards the fragrance! After a short while, he flew onto a thatched hut and saw a roast chicken on a haystack. Although half of it had already been eaten, he was overjoyed!
Zui Mochou landed on the haystack, picked up the half-eaten chicken, and cursed, "Who's so heartless! Such good chicken, wasted like this, what a pity! Luckily, I have a good nose! Otherwise, such a delicious meal would have been wasted!" He then began to eat heartily, taking bites of chicken and sips of wine, enjoying his meal immensely. Just then, he glanced back and saw a person lying on the lower left side of the haystack! He quickly jumped down from the haystack to check on the person and found that they were still breathing. He helped the person up, half-lying down, and checked their pulse. Finding it normal and their internal energy stable, he was relieved. He looked at the young man more closely. This man, around twenty years old, wore the same cloth clothes as himself, with a slicked-back hairstyle. He had a fresh and handsome face, smooth and fair skin, thick, well-proportioned eyebrows, full cheeks, a delicate and high nose, and sensual, rosy lips of moderate size.
After reading it, Zui Mochou exclaimed happily, "Wow! It's comparable to my youthful style! So dashing and unparalleled! I just don't know what kind of character and understanding this kid has. If he has good character and understanding, then I, the Immortal of Wine, will have a successor!"
Just as Zui Mochou was enjoying himself, the young man suddenly made a move!
As soon as Xiaoyao Lang opened his eyes, he saw a silly old man staring at him and smiling, holding his roast chicken in his hand, eating with an arrogant expression!
Xiaoyao Lang yelled, "Hey, who are you?! Why are you stealing my roast chicken?!"
Zui Mochou: "Hey hey hey! What do you mean by stealing~ your roast chicken!? I clearly picked this roast chicken up! Picked it up!" After saying that, he pretended to eat it for Xiaoyao Lang to see.
Xiaoyao Lang was speechless. How could someone be so shameless! He cursed inwardly, "How shameless!"
Xiaoyao Lang laughed and said, "Hmm! Okay! You picked it up! Then I'll ask you to leave now! You're not welcome here! Humph!" After Xiaoyao Lang finished speaking, he glanced at Zui Mochou, flicked his dark hair with his right hand, made what he thought was a very cool gesture, then put his hands behind his back, raised his head and walked towards the door of the thatched hut.
Zui Mochou was dumbfounded and stunned. He never expected that Xiaoyao Lang could be even more witty than him!
Zui Mochou immediately said, "Hey! Hey! You little beggar, how dare you speak like that?! Don't you know how to respect the elderly and care for the young, and how to be filial to your elders?! Your appearance is the exact opposite of your behavior!!"
Xiaoyao Lang turned around and roared at Zui Mochou, "What?! A beggar! A little beggar?! Hey, you crazy old man, who told you I'm a beggar?!"
Zui Mochou glanced at him and said, "Look, I'm wearing plain clothes, and you're wearing plain clothes too. People call me an old beggar, but aren't you just a little beggar?" As Zui Mochou spoke, he pointed at him and then at himself. After speaking, he took another sip of wine and chewed on the last chicken bone!
Xiaoyao Lang: "No way!? I say, old man, what kind of logic is that?! It makes so much sense! But don't you know the saying, 'Don't judge a book by its cover'? I am a big shot in Longyang City!! Even the city lord of Longyang City has to treat me to roast chicken when he sees me!"
Zui Mochou had just taken a sip of wine when he burst out laughing at that remark!
Zui Mochou: "The City Lord of Longyang City! Yi Yunke?! He would invite you to eat roast chicken?! You're really exaggerating!" Zui Mochou looked incredulous.
Xiaoyao Lang: "Hey old man! Why do you always judge people by their appearance and never trust me?! Fine! I'm in a good mood today, so I'll take you to broaden your horizons! Am I bragging or not? What do you think?"
Zui Mochou: "Oh! That's great! That's wonderful! My wine gourd is almost empty! I'll take this opportunity to get Yi Yunke to treat me to a drink, how about it!?"
Xiaoyao Lang declared confidently, "No problem! Drinking is nothing! You can drink as much as you want!"
Only then did Xiaoyao Lang realize that his body seemed to be frozen solid! He patted his body in surprise, then looked at Zui Mochou with a blank expression.
Zui Mochou: "What are you doing?! No money? You should have said so earlier! It's not too late to regret it now, you can still brag without losing face!"
Xiaoyao Lang: "Don't play dumb with me!? Was it you!?" Xiaoyao Lang asked, pointing at him.
Zui Mochou: "No way!? You actually suspect me of stealing your valuables!? Who am I, the Immortal of Wine! How could I do such a thing! I've only eaten half a roast chicken since I got here! I haven't done anything else!" After saying that, he looked at Xiaoyao Lang with disdain.
Xiaoyao Lang: "Oh dear! What? What is this roast chicken? I mean, did you save me?" Xiaoyao Lang waited for his answer with a serious expression.
Zui Mochou looked puzzled and said, "Save you? What do you mean, save you? When I arrived, you were lying on the ground, and I just helped you up! Shouldn't you thank me?!" He then put on a big smile.
Xiaoyao Lang: "It's that simple?"
Zui Mochou: "It's that simple!"
Xiaoyao Lang: "You didn't do anything?"
Zui Mochou: "I didn't do anything!" Zui Mochou spread his hands and said indifferently.
Xiaoyao Lang shook his head, somewhat incredulous. He remembered feeling incredibly cold inside, practically frozen solid, yet now, upon waking, he felt perfectly fine. Just as Xiaoyao Lang was pondering this, his body began to feel cold again.
He thought to himself: No way, my body gets cold and freezes just by thinking about it?! He tried it and it really was true.
So he kept repeating, "Don't think about it! Don't think about it! Please don't think about it!"
Zui Mochou, bewildered, exclaimed, "What do you mean, 'Don't think about it'?! What are you thinking about?!"
Xiaoyao Lang said happily, "Nothing! Let's eat chicken and drink!"
Zui Mochou: "Then let's go! What are you dawdling about?!"
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