I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 353 - 202: Dragon Vein · Nine States Instrument_2

Chapter 353: Chapter 202: Dragon Vein · Nine States Instrument_2

Then, Gu Shanhai turned his gaze toward the Azure Dragon.

"Have you ever thought about temporarily being my compass for a couple of days? After a couple of years, I’ll gather the remaining Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and White Tiger for you guys and let the four of you take turns on duty," Gu Shanhai thought that since the Azure Dragon was already being used as an Alchemy Furnace, building tool, and even dinnerware, using it as a compass wouldn’t be too much of an issue, especially since the Green Knight’s plant armor wasn’t without its auxiliary equipment.

Hearing this, Little White was utterly shocked. It was lucky that it was merely a mount; otherwise, who knew to what extent Gu Shanhai would exploit it.

The Azure Dragon wasn’t very bright, being a man-made accompanying spirit. It could understand commands and some hints from Gu Shanhai, but it didn’t have much self-awareness, so it simply nodded in confused agreement.

As for the Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and White Tiger that Gu Shanhai promised, the Azure Dragon didn’t take it seriously.

In this way, the combination with the yin-yang dual Qi was formed.

"I’m glad you’re willing. It saves you from coiling around me every day. Having a place to stay is good as well," Gu Shanhai knew that riding such a large Qingyuan White Deer was conspicuous enough; carrying a dragon would make it all too easy for others to try and rob him.

Of course, if Gu Shanhai could overpower them, he could act as arrogantly as he wanted.

As Gu Shanhai continuously adjusted the Yin Yang Two Qi Divine Abilities, two jade belts transformed into a blank compass with a huge void in the middle.

"Done, it can be considered the first magical artifact of the Heavenly Mechanism Flow."

The reason the compass was blank was simple; its current ability was to enhance his prophetic and divination powers. Follow-up elements like the heavenly stems and earthly branches, as well as the Nine Palace Bagua, would require further breakthroughs in divine skills to perfect.

The Azure Dragon was to serve as a comprehensive amplifier, weapon, and other auxiliary gear.

"The name ’Yin Yang Dual Qi’ doesn’t suit this divine ability anymore; it needs a new name."

"Let’s call it the Nine States Instrument, incorporating the Nine States of the world into a disk, observing the Unity of Heaven and Earth, perceiving Shanhai." Gu Shanhai hung the compass at his waist.

Once his divine skills were perfected, the Nine States Instrument would display various scales, branches, Five Elements, and so forth.

At present, his Five Elements Great Escape wasn’t just unqualified but also mismatched, hence the need for Gu Shanhai to upgrade and optimize it.

By linking the upgraded Five Elements Great Escape with the Nine States Instrument, and using a Heart Demon substitute, Gu Shanhai would then be able to perform divinations and other activities as one despised by heaven and earth.

Otherwise, why would Gu Shanhai both harm himself and let the Azure Dragon enter the Nine States Instrument to act as a dragon vein? Naturally, it was lucrative.

"Someone’s coming? Seems to be a Cultivator?" In the midst of his activities, Gu Shanhai suddenly felt someone approaching, seemingly from a distance.

His Spiritual Sense and perception were greatly enhanced inside the Nine States Instrument, and being prophetic divination-type divine skills naturally boosted his perception.

"Eh, I wonder which fellow Daoist it is, actually establishing a sect gate here?" came a voice, full of curiosity.

Gu Shanhai slightly sensed it; the individual was not very strong, seemingly in the Purple Mansion Stage, and looked to be a Loose Cultivator from the appearance, which explained the question.

After all, this place belonged to the Chengyun Sect.

"Senior met, I am the Five Elements Sect Leader, bearing the directive of the Chengyun Sect." Gu Shanhai walked out. Although his strength was at the Foundation Establishment Stage and could obliterate the other, it was better to keep a low profile and adhere to etiquette.

The humiliation or anything of that sort was, of course, not felt; giving the other face wasn’t a big deal, why rashly turn what could be verbally resolved into a violent conflict.

The newcomer resembled a young man, obviously possessing techniques to preserve youth, unlike Gu Shanhai, who now looked middle-aged.

"So you are a high disciple of the Chengyun Sect, truly remarkable. At such a young age, you have already received decrees to establish your own sect. Indeed, a young talent," the other party understood Gu Shanhai’s implication—a young man praising a middle-aged man for his youthful achievements had a rather absurd tinge to it.

Gu Shanhai’s implication was that he had the backing of the Chengyun Sect, and he wasn’t some background-less Loose Cultivator. The land was also allotted to him by the Chengyun Sect, implying that if anyone had a problem with it, they should take it up with the Chengyun Sect.

When faced with a major sect, even a Purple Mansion Stage practitioner hesitated; if it had been an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, the other would have already made a move and seized Gu Shanhai’s Five Elements Sect base for themselves by now.

Now, there was certainly no daring; the land belonged to the Chengyun Sect. Killing someone and seizing the land would likely bring revenge from the Chengyun Sect within minutes, ending with their soul scattered.

"Why not, Elder, please come down for some tea and rest your feet, and let me offer you some hospitality," Gu Shanhai invited.

He also needed to use the other’s voice to spread the word that this place now belonged to the Five Elements Sect, otherwise having people eyeing and probing every other day would be rather troublesome.

Upon seeing Gu Shanhai’s invitation, the other also accepted.

Preparation of tea and serving of dried fruits and pastries were all handled by Little White. Azure Dragon had now entered the Nine States Instrument as the Dragon Vein Compass, and unless Gu Shanhai needed to use it, this accompanying spiritual tool dragon was primarily left to enhance his own powers, leaving only Little White to handle these tasks.

"My young friend, this deer of yours is truly magnificent," the other finally complimented after a brief pause, as the deer appeared stronger than him.

At this moment, he was slightly relieved that he hadn’t made a move; otherwise, he really would have met his end.

No wonder someone at the Early-stage Foundation Establishment dared to start his own sect. Turned out he was a major disciple in the art of beast-taming, with a nearly Spirit Origin Stage beast, which truly qualified him.

"Not bad, it’s just well-fed. Back then, Little White wasn’t this robust," Gu Shanhai sighed, remembering how cute Little White was during his childhood—now clearly not a benevolent deer.

After exchanging a few words, Gu Shanhai learned that this Loose Cultivator was named Zhu Xiang. He certainly had no title; after all, he wasn’t from a major sect, and whether Zhu had an alias, Gu Shanhai wasn’t aware.

Zhu Xiang’s cave dwelling wasn’t far from Gu Shanhai’s Five Elements Sect, only a thousand li away, but it wasn’t within these mountains, instead closer to a small market town where he served as the town’s master, regularly dealing with northbound and southbound cultivators, most of whom were Loose Cultivators earning a commission.

His connections were quite extensive, yet he couldn’t reach any highly placed individuals; at least for him, those in the Spirit Origin Stage were significant figures.

Breaking through to the Spirit Origin Stage seemed an unimaginably distant goal, as advancing required a Spirit Vein. Although the Chengyun Sect allowed them to live and even flourish here, the Spirit Veins weren’t ownerless; they all belonged to the Chengyun Sect.

To have one was certainly no problem, but you’d have to purchase it from the Chengyun Sect, not to mention the qualifications needed to buy in the first place.

Unless one was among those sects, which had purchasing rights every hundred years, someone like Zhu certainly didn’t have them.

As for Gu Shanhai and his Five Elements Sect, naturally, there was no need to worry about these matters. Being a disciple of the Chengyun Sect, he was entitled to an allotted share, and if a disciple met the requisite qualifications, upon being accepted into the sect, the allotment was guaranteed.

If the qualifications were lacking, progression was limited to the Lower Three Realms; by then, managing a human city would be about right.

Thus, in their conversation with Gu Shanhai, Zhu showed somewhat of a flattering intent.

’It seems the Spiritual Vein Technique is indeed circulating at higher levels.’

Spirit Veins could naturally be manufactured; otherwise, how could the Chengyun Sect have so many Spirit Veins to supply its disciples; the Feather Transformation Sect and Juxia Sect likely had corresponding techniques as well.

However, this technique was expensive to implement. Even if it became public, let alone the Loose Cultivators, even those sects not under the banner of the three sects couldn’t afford it; thus, they also had to purchase from the three sects.

Gu Shanhai, considering the other’s tone and attitude, presumed he might seek to obtain a Spirit Vein through him.

If he asked, Gu Shanhai could indeed get one, but why would he request such for a stranger, needlessly damaging his own reputation and standing within the Chengyun Sect?