Chapter 29: Emperors Qi Observation, Inner Landscape Divine Art

There are many branches of the Daoist Sects in the current world. From ancient times to the present, countless lineages have evolved.

The “Emperors Qi Observation Technique” originated from the Zaohua Dao Sect, a Daoist branch from the end of the ancient era.

To escape the chaos at the end of the ancient era, the Zaohua Dao Sect retreated overseas and has not been heard from since. Their Legacy was severed, though a few scattered techniques still circulate in the Jianghu.

The two most famous among them are the “Emperors Qi Observation Technique” and the “Inner Landscape Divine Art,” both of which are Heaven-Grade secret arts.

Emperors Qi Observation to see the world, Inner Landscape Divine Art to see oneself.

One focuses on the exterior, observing the phenomena and myriad changes of heaven and earth for one’s own use.

The other focuses on the interior, observing the gods of the inner landscape, developing the mysteries of the Physical Body, and breaking through the profound pass of life and death.

If Chen Yuan could obtain the “Inner Landscape Divine Art” this time, he could use the power of the inner landscape to gain more perfect control over his Physical Body and suppress that out-of-control Blood Fiend Force.

After learning the details of Zuo Xinglie being hunted, Chen Yuan couldn’t help but feel that Zuo Xinglie, that old fox, was indeed a shrewd individual.

A tycoon who could build everything from nothing on the Jiulong River was definitely not a simple character.

No wonder, whether in the original plot or this time, he decisively and readily handed over the “Autumn Water Swift Hong Blade” and the “Surging Waves and Flowing Clouds Technique.”

One reason was to intentionally throw out a target to attract attention, and the other was that with a Heaven-Grade technique, he had already begun to look down on these two techniques that made his name.

But he is already a cripple. Even if he has the “Emperors Qi Observation Technique,” what can he do?

The “Emperors Qi Observation Technique” has strange and wondrous powers, but it has never been heard to reshape Meridians or allow for Rebirth of severed limbs.

Chen Yuan was slightly puzzled, but after a bit of thought, he had some guesses.

It seemed Zuo Xinglie was still somewhat unwilling.

He said he would wash his hands in a golden basin and retire from the Jianghu, but in reality, he still wanted to fight back for revenge.

However, it wasn’t him fighting back, but relying on his granddaughter to do so.

His granddaughter is still young, and Daoist techniques place the most importance on the Foundation.

If he let his granddaughter Cultivate the “Emperors Qi Observation Technique” from childhood, observing the phenomena of heaven and earth to comprehend the Dao, her progress would surely be incredibly fast once she officially began her martial training.

At this moment, the leader of the six men saw Chen Yuan lost in thought for a long while without speaking, and he couldn’t help but plead, “I’ve told you everything I should. It’s truly impossible for me to return to the Profound Whale Gang. Please, just give me a way to live.”

Chen Yuan nodded. “It is indeed unlikely you can return to the Profound Whale Gang. Your subordinates are all dead, and you’ve betrayed the gang’s secrets. Going back would be seeking your own death; the Profound Whale Gang won’t forgive you.”

The man immediately showed a hint of joy upon hearing this.

But in the next moment, Chen Yuan applied force with his hand, and a spray of blood suddenly appeared on the man’s neck.

The leader looked at Chen Yuan in disbelief, his eyes filled with confusion and incomprehension, before finally crashing to the ground.

“But you are so afraid of death. If the Profound Whale Gang caught you, you would definitely betray my information as well. It’s safer if you’re dead.”

Flicking the blood droplets off his blade, Chen Yuan opened the window and left directly.

The people the Profound Whale Gang sent to Youzhou to track Zuo Xinglie had all been killed by him, giving that old fox Zuo Xinglie even more time.

He believed that when he went into hiding this time, he would surely choose a much safer place.

Calculating it this way, he had dismissed him with just two techniques; it seemed he had actually suffered a bit of a loss.

However, Chen Yuan noted this information. Once he no longer feared being hunted by the Murong Clan in the future, he would certainly go to Youzhou again to meet Zuo Xinglie.

Early the next morning, Chen Yuan walked out of the inn. People from the neighboring inn were carrying out corpses.

The local officials only took a casual look before having them hauled to the wild woods outside the town to be buried.

Those who died were all outsiders; it was clearly a Jianghu vendetta.

The local officials couldn’t be bothered to manage such things. They directly searched for the silver on the bodies, kept ninety-nine percent for themselves, and gave a tiny bit to the inn—just enough for them to wash the floors—which was already considered having a conscience.

Chen Yuan took one look and left, finding a blacksmith shop in town to have a scabbard made.

The town’s blacksmith was just an ordinary one, usually making kitchen knives, axes, or at most, hunting knives.

Upon seeing Chen Yuan’s Azure Dragon Blood Drink, the old blacksmith immediately perked up.

“A fine blade! Truly a fine blade! Rest assured, guest, I will definitely make you a scabbard worthy of it.

Don’t look at me just making kitchen knives and hoes all day. My Master’s Master’s Master was a Weapon Forger from the capital’s Directorate of Imperial Manufactories, specifically forging weapons for those princes and nobles.”

“It’s just a scabbard, ordinary is fine.”

“How can that be! Just you watch, guest!”

The old blacksmith felt that Chen Yuan didn’t seem to believe in his ability, so he immediately got fired up, swinging his hammer to begin chiseling.

After working for a full half-day, the old blacksmith finally forged the outer shell of the scabbard using high-quality refined iron.

Testing it, the fit was seamless, thin yet tough.

This wasn’t all. To match the dragon head on the hilt, the old blacksmith carved exquisite dragon patterns onto the scabbard.

Then he hauled out a large chest and rummaged through it to find a piece of green shark skin to cover the scabbard.

Inside were also various metal plates and jade pieces shimmering with different lusters, which the old blacksmith also picked out to inlay as decorations.

Now Chen Yuan believed him; his Ancestral Master truly might have been a Weapon Forger from the Directorate of Imperial Manufactories.

These fancy techniques weren’t necessarily known by ordinary Weapon Forgers in the Jianghu.

After inlaying the last piece of jade, the old blacksmith satisfiedly handed the scabbard to Chen Yuan.

“Give it a try, guest.”

Chen Yuan sheathed the blade, which let out a pleasant, soft ring.

The green shark skin dragon-patterned scabbard and the Azure Dragon Blood Drink blade were an extremely good match. One wouldn’t know any better and would think they were originally a set.

“Master, your skill is superb. How much?”

The old blacksmith waved his hand. “No charge. A blade this fine is something I could never forge in my life.

Being able to make a scabbard for such a fine blade in this lifetime is not a disgrace to my ancestors’ craft. Guest, you have also fulfilled a wish of mine.”

Chen Yuan smiled, buckled the long blade, and flipped onto his horse. With a flick of his hand, he threw out a silver ingot, which landed in front of the old blacksmith.

The old blacksmith picked it up and was about to return it, only to find that Chen Yuan was already gone.

“A good man.”

The old blacksmith sighed with emotion.

Little did he know that the murder case everyone in town was discussing just now was the work of this ‘good man.’

Chen Yuan galloped south, and was now nearing the edge of Youzhou.

Once here, he was no longer within the Murong Clan’s sphere of influence. Even if the Murong Clan discovered something, their influence wouldn’t reach this far.

Three days later, Chen Yuan arrived at a place called Beihai Market.

To find the “Inner Landscape Divine Art,” he had to start from here.

Youzhou also had an outlet to the sea, but only one place bordered the coast, which was a few miles north of this Beihai Market.

However, although this place was a sea entrance, it was mostly rugged mountainous terrain, and several small surrounding cities were built on the mountains.

Only Beihai Market was such a flat area, so it became the center of trade and interaction for the several surrounding small cities.

Initially, Beihai Market was indeed just a market, but after so many years of development, its size was now roughly that of a small town.

Many sailors going out to sea would replenish their supplies here, and merchant caravans heading overseas would also recruit some Jianghu People here as guards.

Similarly, if returning Jianghu People discovered some good items, many would sell them directly at Beihai Market, which made it exceptionally prosperous.

Upon entering Beihai Market, a damp, salty, and fishy smell immediately rushed at him.

Many fishermen set up stalls selling all sorts of strangely shaped seafood, and some Jianghu People were also manning stalls, selling various rare treasures allegedly scavenged from overseas ruins.

Of course, ninety-nine percent of them were fake.

At the end of the ancient era, gods and demons vanished, and the world fell into chaos.

Countless clans, Sects, and cults in the Central Plains fought in a mess, and it was during that period that the Martial Dao saw tremendous changes and development.

At that time, some Sects and clans didn’t have such great ambitions and were unwilling to participate in the Central Plains’ wars, so they fled overseas to live in seclusion.

Therefore, the overseas regions had many legacies and inheritances not found in the Central Plains, and one could truly find many ruins of Sects from the end of the ancient era.

The “Emperors Qi Observation Technique” in Zuo Xinglie’s hands was something he had found overseas.

However, after so many years of searching almost, the islands in the near seas had been almost completely scoured, and there were no longer any good things left.

Only by going to some distant islands with high winds and heavy waves could one make any discoveries.

“This young hero, take a look. This is a Dragon Pattern Black Gold Tripod left behind by an ancient Daoist Sect. It has Daoist scriptures inscribed inside. You look like one of those young talents with outstanding natural talent; perhaps you can comprehend some peerless Cultivation Technique from it.”

In the bustling Beihai Market, a middle-aged man dressed in rags with a mouth full of rotten teeth stopped Chen Yuan, promoting a crudely made small tripod in his hand.

“From an ancient Daoist Sect?”

The middle-aged man patted his chest and guaranteed, “Absolutely ancient!”

Chen Yuan pointed at the inscriptions in the tripod with a half-smile. “I’d say it looks more like it’s from last week. At least be a bit more serious when faking it. Even scribbling some characters from a small ancient clan would do, but an ancient tripod with the official script of the Great Xia? Your fake is a bit too direct.”

“Young hero, you’re an expert.”

The middle-aged man chuckled, showing no shame at being exposed.

“I have the real deal here too, let me show you.”

Chen Yuan waved his hand. “I won’t look at the goods. Where is the Wantong Inn?”

As he spoke, Chen Yuan tossed out a small piece of broken silver.

The middle-aged man immediately beamed with smiles. “Go straight ahead, turn right when you see the long street, and head straight for the center of Beihai Market. Are you going to the Wantong Inn to hire people to go to sea?”

“No, I’m a Blade-for-Hire, I’m going there to pick up missions.”

Watching Chen Yuan’s departing back, the middle-aged man curled his lip. “Who are you trying to fool? Just making fun of me.”

He had noticed just now that this young man’s scabbard was exceptionally exquisite, with dragon patterns and shark skin, and even inlaid with jade decorations.

He used silver just to ask for directions instead of copper coins; he clearly looked like a Young Master from some family.

How could such a person be one of those impoverished Blade-for-Hires?

In fact, Chen Yuan giving silver wasn’t really because he was generous, but because he only had silver and no copper coins in his possession.

Before leaving the Heaven Wolf Gang, he had looted a lot of wealth from Jiang Kaitai.

All sorts of silver notes, gold bars, and silver ingots added up to over ten thousand taels.

This silver was enough for Chen Yuan to live a very comfortable life, but it wasn’t quite enough for use in martial Cultivation.

Items like the Medicinal Pills produced by the Medicine King Valley, similar to the Nine Revolutions Vitality Pill, were simply priceless but unavailable, requiring various rare treasures to be traded for them.