Chapter 328 - 184: Jiao and Luan Complement Each Other, Yin-Yang Union
Inside the secret chamber, the faint light of an Everlasting Lamp flickered.
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on the Cold Jade Meditation Mat, his aura as deep and still as an abyss. He stared at the message that had appeared several days ago on the page of the [Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil] Celestial Book deep within his consciousness.
"My name is Chen Sheng. By the time you read this, I... After obtaining the Profound Mastery Pill, Sun Yuzhi was determined to lend me a hand. And, thanks to her frankness, I finally learned what fortuitous opportunity she possessed that would benefit me.
It turns out that several years ago, Sun Yuzhi accidentally obtained a portion of the Red Simurgh Yin Source and refined it into her body, preparing in advance for her future breakthrough to the Pill Realm.
Although this item is not a heavenly treasure, it is extremely rare and aids in breaking through realms.
With its help, my Qi Transformation and Essence Condensation and breakthrough to Profound Mastery would have proceeded without a hitch. I might even have gained some unexpected benefits.
But Sun Yuzhi would have damaged her own source, making it difficult to recover in the short term. Yet for my sake, she was willing to pay that price.
However, what I didn’t know was that if I could slay the Flood Dragon in the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool, consume its Inner Core, and then, with Sun Yuzhi, bring about a state where Jiao and Luan Complement Each Other in a Yin-Yang Union...
Not only would I be able to smoothly break through to the Profound Mastery Realm, but Sun Yuzhi herself would also benefit immensely. It’s just a shame... I learned of this far too late. Afterward, whenever I thought of it, I was filled with endless regret."
His gaze slowly swept over every word on the Celestial Book, the contemplative look deep in Chen Sheng’s eyes growing even heavier.
For the past six months, he had been meticulous in his approach, guiding and scheming. Coupled with the fact that Sun Yuzhi was already in an emotionally vulnerable state, he had essentially captured her heart.
She had acted on his behalf several times, even going so far as to damage her own Cultivation to refine protective Spirit Talismans for him. She had even gone to the Danxia Sect in a personal capacity to borrow a Dreadful God Talisman, incurring a personal debt.
Chen Sheng was not unaware of this deepening affection, and he took it to heart.
But he had never expected Sun Yuzhi to become so deeply infatuated that she would be willing to damage her own Dao Foundation and harm the very source essential for her future Core Formation, just to share that priceless Red Simurgh Yin Source with him.
This act was tantamount to sacrificing a part of her future, yet she did it without hesitation.
To be honest, if their positions were reversed, Chen Sheng knew he would never be able to go to such lengths.
And now, an indescribable feeling stirred in Chen Sheng’s heart.
Although he was indifferent by nature and always prioritized his own interests, receiving such a favor truly moved him.
’Thankfully, the Celestial Book always provides a turning point at critical moments, revealing a win-win path.’
’Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool, the Flood Dragon’s Inner Core, Jiao and Luan Complement Each Other, Yin-Yang Union... The cost is clear, and the path is clear as well.’
A glint flashed in Chen Sheng’s eyes as he calmly weighed his options.
’With my current abilities and Sun Yuzhi as an ally, plotting against the Poisonous Flood Dragon wouldn’t be too difficult.’
’After all, from what he had observed before, that Poisonous Flood Dragon had not yet fully transformed into a Flood Dragon.’
’Its strength was at most at the early stage of the Profound Mastery Realm.’
’I am confident I could eliminate it myself, let alone with Sun Yuzhi’s help.’
’The only cost is the Yin-Yang Union.’
’After his experiences with Madam Yang and Wang Zilan, he naturally understood what that entailed and was confident he could persuade Sun Yuzhi.’
’After all, he wouldn’t be the only one benefiting.’
’Sun Yuzhi would experience pleasure as well.’
’He could guess as much from the subsequent reactions of Wang Zilan and Madam Yang.’
His mind made up, Chen Sheng slowly rose to his feet. He straightened his slightly wrinkled Jingwu Bureau official robes, then pushed open the heavy stone door and stepped into the dim light of the corridor.
---
After coming out of seclusion, Chen Sheng did not rush to find Sun Yuzhi or handle other matters. Instead, he first returned to the G Camp headquarters.
He had been in seclusion for over ten days, and the world outside had changed dramatically. The aftershocks from the three major battles at Wushan Mountain, the Danxia Sect, and the Jingwu Bureau would not settle easily. He needed to grasp the overall situation before he could make his next move.
Xu Shenzhi held nothing back, immediately giving a clear and detailed report on all the major and minor affairs within and outside Ning’an Prefecture.
The first matter was, naturally, the Government Office’s all-out campaign to suppress the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance.
At first, it was like a thunderous strike. The Prefecture Reserve Army and the Jingwu Guard joined forces and, under the command of General Ning’an, Li Qianzhou, and Governor Nie Xuanfeng, they successively destroyed several water bandit dens.
They eliminated hundreds of bandits, clearing the waters around the Prefecture City and earning the praise of the common people.
However, an organization like the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, which had run rampant in Ning’an’s waterways for years, was no easy foe.
They quickly counterattacked, not only inciting water bandits to cause chaos but also launching a sneak attack on a battalion of the Jingwu Guard in an outlying town.
The entire battalion of over a hundred men, from the Deputy Captain of Jing’an down to the ordinary Jingwu Guards, was wiped out!
This act was undoubtedly a provocation and a declaration of war against the government, thoroughly enraging the Prefecture Government Office and the Jingwu Bureau.
Subsequently, a larger-scale campaign of suppression and counter-suppression unfolded across the vast waterways, with constant fighting and the smoke of battle rising everywhere.
Even G Camp was dispatched twice for defensive support and patrol missions, suffering considerable losses.
The situation in the prefecture’s waterways was now tense, and trade had come to a near standstill.
Second was the attitude and movements of the various powers within Ning’an Prefecture.
The Government Office ruled the world alongside the Noble Sects. By convention, if there was turmoil, these Jianghu influences would also lend a hand.
Qingfeng Temple and the Ning’an Wang Clan, having benefited from the battle at Wushan Mountain and already having decent relations with the Government Office, made their stance clear. They either sent disciples to help or provided supplies and intelligence.
The Danxia Sect, on the other hand, had its Primordial Qi greatly depleted by the Blood River Sect’s prior attack. The sect was in disarray and in urgent need of rebuilding, its experts were mostly wounded, and it truly had no spare capacity to help. They could only seal their mountain gates to rest and recover.
As for Golden Spring Temple and Luoyun Manor, not only did they coldly observe the Government Office’s suppression campaign from the sidelines, but according to investigations, they also seemed to be secretly hindering it.