Chapter 26: The World of Dragon Qi

Manfeng Mountain…

This was Ning Xuan’s first time entering the mountain, but he was very familiar with the terrain here, so familiar that he had a relaxed feeling of revisiting an old place.

On the other side, Chou Nu had actually received Ning Taiyi’s call, but he deliberately did not respond, because he and his father had long agreed: if there was a call, it meant that someone had come to urge him, and he could act according to the situation and make his own decision.

Ning Taiyi was the head of the Ning family.

And Chou Nu was actually the true young master of the Ning family.

He… naturally had the power to make decisions at critical moments to determine the future of the Ning family.

At this moment, he suddenly slowed down his steps. He had already made a decision.

Originally, he and his father had planned to let his younger brother be a tool to “continue the Ning family’s bloodline,” to let him live under someone else’s roof and eke out a living, as long as he could live a good life.

But now, Ning Xuan’s strength had made him change his mind.

Chou Nu said, “Qingfeng, there are some things that Mr. Taiyi should have told you after you passed the assessment, but things are urgent, so I will tell you now.”

Ning Xuan said, “Please enlighten me, Heavenly Master Chou.”

Chou Nu said, “Our world has extraordinary power, and the source of this power is dragon qi.”

Ning Xuan’s expression became serious, and he pricked up his ears to listen.

The thing he had been longing to understand had finally come.

Chou Nu said, “Dragon qi is not in famous mountains and great rivers, but in the hearts of the people, the hearts of the common people.

The more people there are, the more united their hearts are, and the more dragon qi there is.

Mr. Taiyi’s true identity is the prefect of Wangyue Prefecture. Who in these nine counties and twenty-eight townships doesn’t know that the county magistrates and prefects are like flowing water, but Old Master Ning is as solid as iron? And who doesn’t know that Old Master Ning is a great philanthropist, and that almost all the people who are good to them were arranged by Old Master Ning?

Even when the prefect opened the granaries to distribute grain during a disaster year, it was Old Master Ning who went to argue with him, and only then was the prefect willing to open the granaries. To plead for the people to this extent, the government officials are convinced, because Mr. Taiyi is the real prefect. Very few people know this. Except for one prefect and nine county magistrates, no one else knows. It’s all an act.

Therefore, in this Wangyue Prefecture, the one who has won the hearts of the people is Mr. Taiyi.”

Ning Xuan was suddenly curious, “Then Dad is actually very powerful?”

Chou Nu shook his head and sighed lightly, “Perhaps it’s the rules of heaven and earth. Those who can gather dragon qi cannot cultivate. Not only can they not cultivate, but their qi and blood will also decline faster, and they will even die earlier than ordinary people.”

Ning Xuan was stunned and said, “Then what’s the point of gathering that damn dragon qi?”

Chou Nu said, “Although they cannot cultivate, they can distribute the dragon qi they have gathered, and the people who have obtained his dragon qi will be completely loyal to him. If he wants us to die, then we will go and die. His words have a special magic for us, and we have to obey.

So, if it were you. Would you choose to live in ignorance and fear in an unknown and terrible world, and maybe one day become the food of some demon? Or, seize the opportunity to become the one who can gather dragon qi, and then enjoy a lifetime of glory and a prominent family?”

Ning Xuan said, “Of course it’s the latter, but what about the Son of Heaven? I mean the real Son of Heaven. Why doesn’t he control all the dragon qi, rule the mountains and rivers alone, and control the country? Why does he still let people share it?”

Chou Nu shook his head and said, “I am also very curious about this. I have also made many guesses myself, such as the Son of Heaven cannot bear the dragon qi of a country, or the Son of Heaven cannot accurately control the hearts of the people in a certain place, but these are all my own wild guesses and cannot be counted. But there is no doubt that the power controlled by the Son of Heaven is definitely far beyond that of a prefect.”

After speaking, he smiled faintly and said, “Actually, you can tell from the name. The prefects are all appointed by the Son of Heaven, so how can they surpass the Son of Heaven?

However, wherever a prefect goes, he will surely become a family.

But, the Son of Heaven cannot tolerate the glory of a family for two generations.

Now, Mr. Taiyi’s qi and blood are almost exhausted. At the beginning of this year, he was away for a long time and went to many places. He went to the imperial capital to complete his report, and also went to Hanzhou to ask for a marriage for you.

Next month, the person who will replace him will come.

His official career has come to an end, and his life is also coming to an end.

However, Mr. Taiyi has many worries.

He is worried that the Ning family will perish.”

Ning Xuan said, “So, Dad trained you.”

Chou Nu smiled bitterly, “How can it be that simple? A new monarch brings new courtiers. I am Mr. Taiyi’s man. Even if I change masters, I will not be cultivating the new master’s dragon qi. Even if I do, as long as the proportion does not exceed the previous one, I will still be loyal to Mr. Taiyi. How can he tolerate me?

Originally, you went to Hanzhou to marry the illegitimate daughter of General Qin’s family, and I was also prepared to be a dog.”

Ning Xuan was a little confused.

Chou Nu continued to explain, “Once dragon qi appears, it will not dissipate. If I fall, my dragon qi will naturally sink into this place, and then others can absorb it. Why do you think he wouldn’t kill the donkey after it’s done its work?”

He raised his head and said, “Perhaps, the new prefect needs to consider whether anyone has the ability to receive my dragon qi; he needs to consider whether I will fight back desperately. After all, I am a Heavenly Master, and he is just an ordinary person.

I can only find a balance between being a dog and a military threat. In addition, with the accumulation of feelings over time, and truly becoming his direct subordinate, only then can I be considered to have truly integrated into the new prefect’s system.”

Ning Xuan looked at his big brother with a sympathetic gaze.

Big Brother’s life was truly miserable.

Even if he was really married off to the Hanzhou Ranch, at least he could still have a woman’s belly to lie on, and at least he could still have fine clothes and rich food, right?

What about Big Brother?

He had lost his name, lost his face, and besides the truth and power, he had nothing.

And he could completely imagine that Big Brother also shouldered the mission of “secretly protecting the Ning family and revitalizing the Ning family.”

Was this a life for a human?

Big Brother’s life was destined to be full of fear, as if he were on the verge of a deep abyss, as if he were walking on thin ice.

Could Big Brother reach the other side?

“Then, Heavenly Master Chou, what does Dad’s assessment of me mean?” Ning Xuan asked.

Chou Nu said seriously, “Your power is unusual, and it has even reached the level of those demonic plague martial artists.”

Ning Xuan was curious, “Demonic plague martial artists?”

Chou Nu said, “Most people who are infected by the qi and blood of demons will die, but a small number of martial artists with strong wills can resist a little, and thus coexist with the qi and blood of demons, and gradually master the power of demons through cultivation, swallowing blood, and other methods.

But these demonic plague martial artists usually have strange personalities and short lives…

However, you can have the power comparable to a demonic plague martial artist without being infected.

You know, those who cultivate dragon qi are Heavenly Masters. If they are approached by a demon, even a thousand or ten thousand Heavenly Masters would not be enough for the demon to kill. Not only that, but Heavenly Masters need to close their eyes and travel in their minds when they cast spells.

Therefore, Heavenly Masters need powerful Taoist boys.

We not only need Taoist boys to help resist the demons, but also need Taoist boys to kill the trapped demons.

Demonic plague martial artists are therefore extremely important.

Like those Fangshi, they are not qualified to have demonic plague martial artists, and can only choose slightly stronger martial artists from the martial world.”

Ning Xuan suddenly understood, “So, I am not a demonic plague martial artist, but I have the power of a demonic plague martial artist. This will give our Ning family some advantages?”

“Yes.” Chou Nu replied, and then said, “A few days ago, Mr. Taiyi found me and told me about your special nature. Then he told me that the Son of Heaven had once promised that if someone had the power of a demonic plague martial artist but was not infected, they could be appointed… a general.

The reason for this is that demonic plague martial artists have short lives, but generals do not. Not only do they not have short lives, but they may also be able to break through their limits through cultivation, extend their lifespan, and forever guard the mountains and rivers.”

Ning Xuan said, “So you brought me to this Manfeng Mountain to see what level my power has reached. But last night, you unintentionally heard the sound of my saber practice, and in addition to some other things, you made a decision.”

“Right.” Chou Nu said, “I made a decision.”

“Since I have confirmed that you have the qualifications to become a general, then there is no need to specially leave this Manfeng Mountain for the next prefect.

I have to help Mr. Taiyi clean up.

If the demons in a place are eradicated, the prefect of that place will receive an additional gift of dragon qi from heaven and earth.

The stronger the demon, the more the gift.

Although this gift is not as continuous as the hearts of the people, and is a one-time thing, it is really a lot.

With this dragon qi, I can go a step further and also better deal with variables.

We have already touched the interests of some people by coming to this Manfeng Mountain, and they have already come to our door.

And we… can also make a move.

Qingfeng, you just need to be responsible for delivering the slashes. I will deal with those demons.”

Ning Xuan was stunned for a moment.

There was really a lot of information in Big Brother’s words.

It sounded like… it wasn’t that the demons in Manfeng Mountain couldn’t be dealt with, but that they were deliberately left unresolved for the next prefect.

Then Big Brother must be very strong.

This dynasty was also very strong.

As for being a general…

Being a general was better than being a son-in-law who lived with his wife’s family.

What’s more, the strength he had shown was not even half of his true strength.

And as time went on, the gap between his superficial and true strength would only grow larger and larger.