Chapter 76: “Xuantian Finger” and “Fish Dragon Transformation” (Additional Chapter for the Alliance Leader Regardless of Consequences)

Chapter 77: “Xuantian Finger” and “Fish Dragon Transformation” (Additional Chapter for the Alliance Leader Regardless of Consequences)

“Sir, these people from Qingyang Palace truly deserve to die!”

Lu Wenxing approached holding an account book, his voice grave: “They’ve even been involved in smuggling goods to the grasslands, with many prohibited items among them.”

Ning Province borders the grasslands to the west. The northwestern grasslands are vast and primarily tribal.

The only truly powerful entity is the Hacha and Lin Khanate, which frequently clashes with the Daxia Dynasty.

Therefore, the Daxia Dynasty has a policy of prohibiting the transport of items such as medicinal herbs, minerals, Medicinal Pills, cloth, and so on.

But precisely because Daxia prohibits transport, there are numerous forces secretly smuggling these prohibited goods.

The grasslands bordering Ning Province are not within the territory of the Hacha and Lin Khanate, but once goods reach the grasslands, who knows where they end up?

The main reason the Daxia Dynasty chose to pacify the Tianwu Alliance rather than completely eradicate it was that Ning Province needed order.

If Ning Province is unstable, and the Tianwu Alliance falls, who knows how many others would rise to claim power? The order in Ning Province would become even more chaotic, and the court wouldn’t be able to manage it.

So it was better to pacify the Tianwu Alliance and establish it as the Town Martial Hall, ceding authority to it for stable development in Ning Province. However, the court also demanded that the Town Martial Hall strictly investigate smuggling of prohibited goods by various Jianghu forces.

Therefore, the Daoists of Qingyang Palace engaging in Dual Cultivation or fertility rituals didn’t actually violate the Town Martial Hall’s rules; it was just considered immoral.

The Town Martial Hall isn’t the court and has always been reluctant to deal with such matters.

But using the temple to smuggle prohibited goods to the grasslands is a capital offense.

Chen Yuan casually waved his hand: “Gather all the evidence.”

Lu Wenxing was surprised, but Chen Yuan didn’t take it seriously.

There are many forces in Ning Province involved in such activities. Over the years, the Town Martial Hall’s discipline has slackened, and it’s become difficult to manage.

Moreover, it’s not just the Town Martial Hall; some high-ranking officials within the Daxia Dynasty are also involved in smuggling.

Ning Province isn’t the only region bordering the grasslands. Some Daxia military nobles and imperial relatives even hold shares specifically for such smuggling businesses.

The court’s decision to pacify the Town Martial Hall was a clever move, saving military resources while strictly controlling smuggling.

But it can’t stop insiders from undermining their own Foundation. If Ning Province doesn’t work, they’ll use other prefectures.

So, in Chen Yuan’s view, the Daxia Dynasty is essentially rotten to the core.

Although there are still capable people and strong individuals, they can no longer turn the tide.

After searching for a while longer, Lu Wenxing handed over a key: “Sir, we’ve found Qingyang Palace’s treasury. Please inspect it.”

He was an old-timer who had joined since the Tianwu Alliance days and naturally understood the rules.

Chen Yuan took the key, opened the door to Qingyang Palace’s underground treasury, and was momentarily dazzled.

The treasury was lit by Eternal Lamps, with gold, silver, and jewels scattered everywhere, a brilliant mix of gold and silver.

Chen Yuan carefully searched the treasury, surprised that such a small Sect like Qingyang Palace had so many valuable items.

The grasslands need some specialties from the Central Plains, and the Central Plains need some specialties from the grasslands.

Qingyang Palace had some Spirit Medicines abundant in the grasslands, rich in Spiritual Qi, which could be consumed and refined directly without alchemical preparation.

Of course, if an Alchemist could develop a Pill Formula for refinement, the effects would be even better.

Besides these Spirit Medicines, Chen Yuan also found the yunling jade from Xuantian Temple.

There were three pieces of yunling jade, but one was damaged.

Chen Yuan examined them. Among the three pieces, one contained the “Xuantian Finger,” previously used by Qingyang the True Person, which was ranked as Heaven-Grade Low Grade but was evidently difficult to even begin mastering.

Another contained a secret technique that could also be used as a movement skill. Qingyang the True Person had used this to dodge his Startling Swan Slash.

This secret technique was called “Fish Dragon Transformation,” ranked as Earth-Grade High Grade.

The most precious was naturally Xuantian Temple’s core Internal Skill, the “Xuan Tian Dao Scripture,” ranked as Earth-Grade High Grade.

Cultivation Techniques are more valuable than Martial Skills. An Earth-Grade High Grade Cultivation Technique is actually more precious than a Heaven-Grade Low Grade Martial Skill.

However, because the yunling jade was damaged, part of the technique was missing.

But Qingyang the True Person’s failure to master Xuantian Temple’s techniques had nothing to do with the missing parts.

“Xuantian Finger” and “Fish Dragon Transformation” were complete, yet he still practiced them haphazardly, barely scratching the surface.

He was simply incompetent.

After storing the techniques, Chen Yuan searched more carefully.

Apart from these two items, the other treasures weren’t of much value to him.

Chen Yuan called over Lu Wenxing and the other three, along with the other White Tiger Guards present, and said: “Count up these gold, silver, and jewels. Twenty percent goes to the brothers, distributed according to Rank. You four captains take the larger share. The remaining eighty percent should be packed up and sent, along with Bright and Valiant’s body, to Master Feng.”

Upon hearing this, the White Tiger Guards present became excited, bowing in unison and loudly saying: “Thank you, sir!”

They had seen superiors who ate the meat while their subordinates drank the soup.

But how many superiors tear off a large piece of meat for their subordinates to eat?

Previously, they didn’t know Chen Yuan well and felt uneasy.

But after this battle, in just one day, they had completely pledged their loyalty.

They knew Bright and Valiant well, and precisely because they knew him, they understood he wouldn’t be generous to them.

Chen Yuan suddenly looked at Lu Wenxing, smiling faintly: “Your son Lu Li is steady and reliable. Let him escort these gold, silver, and jewels to Master Feng’s residence in Lujiang Prefecture. What do you think?”

Lu Wenxing glanced at his eager son, sighed, and cupped his hands: “Thank you for valuing my son, sir.”

Lu Li excitedly said: “Sir, rest assured, I will definitely complete the task!”

“When you see Master Feng, just tell him that Bright and Valiant was executed by me for insubordination, and these are the spoils from destroying Qingyang Palace. Ask Master Feng to handle them.”

Feng Wushang is insatiably greedy, but precisely because he’s greedy, he’s easiest to deal with.

What are rules? Merely the words of those in power.

As long as those above are satisfied, most rules can be ignored.

After destroying Qingyang Palace, Chen Yuan left the cleanup work entirely to Lu Wenxing and the others.

Lu Li, along with several White Tiger Guards under his command, loaded large quantities of jewels onto carriages and transported them to Lujiang Prefecture.

Upon returning to Linyuan City, Lu Wenxing immediately busied himself arranging accommodations for Chen Yuan.

His son, not knowing his limits, had caught Chen Yuan’s attention, so now he had no choice but to stand on Chen Yuan’s side.

Since the previous Garrison Commander had died violently, his residence was considered unlucky. Lu Wenxing arranged a new room for Chen Yuan.

Back in his room, Chen Yuan directly instructed Lu Wenxing that he would be in seclusion and to notify him only after Lu Li returned.

Qingyang the True Person struggled with Xuantian Temple’s techniques because he was truly incompetent.

But for Chen Yuan, the difficulty wasn’t that great.

Among the three techniques, the yunling jade for the “Xuan Tian Dao Scripture” was damaged. It could still be practiced, but only as an Incomplete Manual.

For example, it recorded some Dual Cultivation secret techniques. Qingyang the True Person had gleaned some absorption techniques from these, but they weren’t even superficial—purely a misguided path.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Yuan decided not to practice the “Xuan Tian Dao Scripture.”

If it were a complete technique, it might be worth practicing, but an Incomplete Manual wasn’t worth Chen Yuan’s effort.

He already had the “Inner Landscape Divine Art,” and his cultivation was essentially a blend of Daoist, Buddhist, and demonic practices.

Of the remaining two Martial Skills, the “Xuantian Finger” was Xuantian Temple’s signature skill.

Xuan Tian refers to the northern sky, one of the Nine Heavens.

To unleash the true power of the Xuantian Finger, one must mobilize extremely powerful Internal Energy and True Qi for a sudden burst. With a single finger strike, it contains the power of the Nine Heavens.

This is an exceptionally grand and majestic finger technique. Qingyang the True Person lacked sufficient Foundation and didn’t even grasp the basics.

The “Fish Dragon Transformation” isn’t a Cultivation Technique or a Martial Skill; more accurately, it’s a secret technique for transforming True Qi’s form and enhancing explosive power.

A fish leaping over the Dragon Gate undergoes a divine transformation.

Practicing the Fish Dragon Transformation requires extreme control over one’s Physical Body, Meridians, and Internal Energy.

Using the Fish Dragon Transformation secret technique, one compresses their True Qi intensely, then releases it in an instant.

Only then can one leap over the Dragon Gate, transforming True Qi of the same quality into a more formidable, explosive force.

This secret technique can directly enhance power in combat and also be used as a movement skill.

By releasing True Qi, compressing it with Fish Dragon Transformation, and suddenly bursting it out, the speed is astonishing, rivaling movement skills of the same Rank.

The only drawback is that it’s unsuitable for long-distance travel. Using Fish Dragon Transformation to compress True Qi doesn’t consume the True Qi itself but drains one’s vitality and energy.

Even if True Qi can withstand it, Physical endurance can’t handle long-distance travel.

After carefully studying these three techniques, Chen Yuan finally understood why Xuantian Temple had so few Disciples.

These three techniques are each more difficult to practice than the last.

Daoist techniques inherently emphasize Comprehension Ability and Foundation. The “Xuan Tian Dao Scripture” is exceptionally complex. Individual sections can be barely practiced, but combined, the difficulty multiplies.

Although the “Xuantian Finger” is grand and majestic, the cost of its grandeur is an extremely profound Foundation.

Without Foundation, using it ends up like Qingyang the True Person—neither here nor there.

The “Fish Dragon Transformation” goes without saying—it requires extreme control over one’s Physical Body to achieve such intense compression of True Qi.

Chen Yuan could only do this after practicing the “Inner Landscape Divine Art.” Most Martial Artists of the same Rank would struggle to meet the requirements for practicing the “Fish Dragon Transformation.”

Currently, all top Sects in the Jianghu pursue progression from simplicity to complexity.

They have powerful techniques, but they must be simplified enough for even Quti Realm Martial Artists to practice to be considered a Major Achievement.

For example, at Vajra Prajna Temple, one of the three major Buddhist temples, novice monks practice the Jingang Fist, and Grandmaster-level figures who have reached the Yuan Dan Realm also practice the Jingang Fist.

A single fist technique Through one’s entire cultivation—this is how a Sect thrives and expands.”