Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Meanwhile, far away in the Pingnan Royal Mansion, a middle-aged Taoist was playing chess with a young man.

The young man's appearance was outstanding, and his aura was extraordinary. With every move he made, an imposing air weighed heavily on those around him. In his eyebrows, there lay an indescribable majesty that commanded respect and awe.

"Uncle, my father, the king, has been increasingly satisfied with me lately. I estimate that he will soon confirm my position as the Princely Heir," the young man said, his eyes and brows brimming with smiles.

"That is only natural. After all, you carry the blood of my Bai Family. As long as Xu Hu is not blind, he will naturally see who is the most suitable successor," the Taoist responded confidently.

"After a few days, when I slaughter the Hidden Dragon that I've raised for many years and turn it into your ascension nourishment, there may be hope to compete for the rule of the world," the Taoist said proudly.

The Taoist was very confident in his secret technique. This technique of stealing Dragon Qi was no ordinary obscure practice. Even within the Immortal Sect, it was considered worthy.

However, fate did not comply with his wishes. Shortly after he made this statement, he felt the mark he had left on that giant serpent disappear, and he sensed trouble brewing.

In just a moment, the backlash of Dragon Qi descended upon him. His face turned deathly pale in an instant, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, leaving the young chess opponent staring in shock and disbelief.

"Uncle! What's happened to you?" The young man quickly supported the Taoist. This man was not only his flesh and blood relative but also his strategic advisor, and he played an extremely crucial role for him.

"For some reason, the Hidden Dragon broke through my technique. Now, the Dragon Qi is backlashing. I fear this body of mine is ruined!" The Taoist said weakly, his face as pale as paper, and it took quite a while before he could catch his breath again.

"What should we do now?" The young man was also somewhat at a loss. After all, he was merely an outstanding figure nurtured by the Taoist's techniques and had never experienced setbacks; he did not have a resilient character, and he was somewhat panicked by the unexpected turn of events.

"A ruler should remain composed even if Mount Tai were to collapse in front of him. Have you forgotten everything I've taught you?" the Taoist scolded.

"Now that the Fortune and Destiny are backfiring, I'm afraid my life will not last long. The only plan now is to fight to the death. I will curse the source with my secret technique and use this broken body to take back the Dragon Qi," the Taoist stated.

"Uncle, you should really take care of your health," the young man said, though his eyes betrayed a trace of glee that he could not quite hide.

The Taoist was not angry; he knew that Dragon Qi itself was selfish and ruthless. His only dream was to help his nephew successfully compete for the Dragon Qi, and to obtain an imperial edict for his own family. That was where his obsession lay.

The Taoist took out a bottle of pills from his possession and swallowed one. The effect was immediate, as his complexion soon returned to normal after only a brief moment.

The young man knew that this was the Revival Pill concocted by his uncle using a secret technique. It was named after the idea of "bringing back the light," a desperate medicine to stimulate vitality.

He was also aware that this was his uncle's last stand, and while he felt apprehensive, he was also hopeful.

After taking the pill, the Taoist activated his secret technique and followed the mark he had once left, hoping to reach the side of the Hidden Dragon without incident. If all went well, he would be able to self-sacrifice with his soul to take the Dragon Qi down with him. With no master of the Dragon Qi, his nephew would naturally become the first choice for the Dragon Qi due to their previous connection.

However, when his soul reached the side of the Hidden Dragon, he did not find the Dragon Qi he was looking for. Instead, what appeared before him was a vast and boundless ocean.

The deep blue sea shimmered with a strange, gloomy light, and upon closer look, one could see stars drifting within it. At this moment, the Taoist looked up and saw a huge figure appearing above the sea, gazing at him with a chilling stare.

That figure was naturally Lu Yu; after Lu Zhang had slain the giant python, he had felt this faint connection. His cultivation had borne fruit, and although he wasn't considered a powerful expert in the three realms, within the Great Chen Dynasty, he truly feared no one.

You should know that Lu Yu had attained the grand accomplishment of the Yang Spirit, just waiting for the opportunity to stimulate the Five Qi. He practiced the Celestial Immortal Dao, while the mainstream cultivation in the Great Chen was the Human Immortal Dao. His current realm, corresponding to the Human Immortal Dao, was that of the so-called Primordial Spirit True Man, already capable of ascending to immortality through Yu Hua.

This Taoist actually dared to invade his Primordial Spirit with his soul, which was practically seeking death.

Lu Yu's Primordial Spirit instantly emitted boundless light that illuminated heaven and earth. The Taoist's soul was like it had fallen into a furnace, incinerated to ashes before it had a chance to struggle.

At the same time, the young man watched in horror as his uncle strangely combusted without fire, turning into a pile of ash in less than a quarter of an hour.

Soundless tears streaked down the corners of the young man's eyes as he suddenly felt as if something was leaving his body—fortunes once plundered by the Taoist using secret techniques.

Hence, a piercing cry of "No!" echoed from within the Pingnan Royal Mansion.

Lu Zhang was utterly unaware that at this moment, a cultivator of considerable strength in the world had died so soundlessly.

Lu Yu didn't bother to speak of these matters to him; to Lu Yu, the dead Taoist was like an ant on the ground, dismissed with a mere flick of the hand.

"Don't waste this corpse; it has already accumulated cultivation. Given some time, who knows, it might transform into a Serpent. Its flesh tastes exquisite and is a rare medicinal treasure, replenishing blood and Qi."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhang hurriedly signaled his men to transport the snake's corpse. Since his uncle had spoken so, the creature must be extraordinary.

That very night, the giant python turned into a feast in everyone's belly, making its last contribution to Lu Yu and the others.

Early next morning, Lu Zhang went to pay his respects to Lu Yu and discovered that his uncle had already woken up. He was practicing Qi Cultivation in the courtyard, inhaling a stream of Purple Qi with his breath against the rising sun, as though swallowing the morning glow. Lu Zhang was mesmerized by this magical scene—he had heard of Immortals dining on the morning glow, but now that he witnessed it for himself, he was overwhelmed with awe.

"What, ready to head back?" Lu Yu naturally knew his nephew was planning to leave, as after all, his foundation wasn't here.

"Uncle, why don't you come back with me? My wife and I will take good care of you, and besides, you haven't met my children yet," said Lu Zhang, hoping his uncle would accompany him back to Yuzhou. After all, having such a powerful elder by his side would give him peace of mind.

"Haha, the thought is enough. This is my homeland, and I'm quite content here. Besides, I still need to look after our ancestral graves; we wouldn't want any problems to arise," he chuckled.

Then, taking out an ebony plaque from his bosom, he said, "This is a Dharma Protector Spirit I refined while I roamed the world. Since I've completed my cultivation, it's had no use. You take it."

"After you get back, worship this wooden plaque with incense. If you encounter an Evil Demon, you may call upon the Divine General for help."