Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 116 - 113: Wang Yuan Fishes for Official Energy, First Encounter with Imperial Dragon Guard

Chapter 116: Chapter 113: Wang Yuan Fishes for Official Energy, First Encounter with Imperial Dragon Guard

Two days later, at nightfall.

Luoyang City, having just experienced a flood, was far from the thriving cleanliness seen in the Mysterious Realm of Beimang Mountain.

Yet with its grandiose setting between mountains and water, it boasted an added liveliness from many festive activities.

Especially since the nighttime curfew had been abolished.

The citizens, in order to celebrate the annihilation of Yifan’s clan, starting with the Luoyang King, decorated with lanterns and streamers, voluntarily celebrating for three days, which made Luoyang City appear all the more bustling.

The removal of this oppressive burden that had loomed over them for two hundred years was enough to offset the pain brought by this year’s flooding of Luoshui.

After all, Luoshui’s "devouring" was temporary, but Yifan’s "devouring" spanned generations, affecting every age group continually.

It was hard to find a single commoner in Luoyang City who had not suffered from Yifan’s brutal policies.

"I want to sue and reclaim my family’s ancestral home!"

"Sue whom? They protect one another; let’s just take it back ourselves."

"Right, right, let’s all go tomorrow and raid the Wanfu Gambling House operated by the Luoyang Royal Mansion. Not only can we escape poverty, but we can also get rich! Really rich!"

"Raid the royal mansion, get rich! Get rich!"

"..."

As the drinks flowed, similar conversations were endless.

At some point, a rather abnormal fervor began to pervade the streets and alleys.

As time passed, the intensity grew, seemingly needing only a tiny spark to set it all ablaze.

However, the outskirts of this ancient city of a thousand years remained relatively calm.

Aside from the brothel that even Wang Yuan dared not visit, the most lively place was undoubtedly the century-old "Zuixiao Building."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The door of the elegant "Chunfeng Pavilion" was gently knocked.

"Honored guest, your dishes have arrived."

"Come in."

At these words, the meek and obedient waiter, carrying a plate of braised carp, pushed the door open and placed the dish on the small table in front of the young guest, completing the total of eight dishes, both cold and hot.

However, as the waiter was about to leave, he glanced suspiciously at either side of the youth.

He distinctly recalled hearing the laughter of two young women, like the tinkling of silver bells, before he entered.

Now, there was only this young man dressed in green, barefoot and reclining on the elm couch by the window, enjoying the rolling Luoshui outside in the night.

Yet, unmistakably, there were three sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table...

At this thought, the waiter suddenly felt an unusual chill in the room and, not daring to linger on these thoughts, hurriedly retreated.

After he left, the wine pot on the table suddenly lifted itself, filling the young man’s cup with wine.

"Dharma Master, please have some."

Then, starting with a delicate arm as tender as a young lotus root, an attractive lady in green garments appeared across from Wang Yuan, precisely Peach Fairy Lady, who was kneeling on the couch on her side.

As she looked at the young man, her eyes brimmed with warmth, akin to autumn waters.

At that moment, a pleasant voice like a silver bell rang from under the table:

"Lady Immortal, pour some for me too, I can still drink."

It was Huang Wu, who had barely touched her food and was now lounging on her brother’s lap with a blurry drunken gaze, mumbling vaguely.

Looking at the lovely sleeping face of the girl, Wang Yuan helplessly tapped her perky nose and gently patted her back, soon lulling the little ghost to sleep.

The three had only just started their feast, and not all the dishes had been served when Huang Wu clamored for alcohol, yet due to her very low tolerance, she became intoxicated after just two cups of rice wine.

Wang Yuan could understand, considering she hadn’t consumed anything but yang energy in fifteen years, and naturally, she wishes to compensate for that devoid.

Besides, he truly couldn’t afford to provoke this sister and could only coax her along.

With an incomplete Four Pillars Life Plate, he could only cling to her long legs and frequently call out, "Rich lady, hungry, hungry," to manage a livelihood.

Peach Fairy Lady looked enviously at Huang Wu before returning her gaze to discuss serious matters with Wang Yuan:

"Dharma Master, after I became a Wood Official, the ’Five Senses Altar City Method’ automatically replaced the ’Human-Faced Peach Immortal Skill’ and I can control all yin plants including peach trees capable of commanding ghosts as I please."

"I have selected the three individuals you wanted, but the ’Dragon Qi Prohibition’ is strong in the government offices. How can we securely deliver the items without relying on Daoist Skills? Our Magic is currently unable to approach the proximity of a County Magistrate, and I advise against you risking yourself by using Cui Tong’s identity again."

"The requirements for the ’Earthly Que Golden Book’ at the Red Seal Stage are ’Jishi Energy’ for Heavenly Spirit Qi and ’Yang Energy’ and ’Official Energy’ for Earth Spirit Qi."

"Jishi Energy’ is available as soon as the Heavenly Gate is opened, and ’Yang Energy’ can be self-sustaining. To successfully construct the ’Five Senses Altar,’ a continuous supply of ’Official Energy’ is needed!"

Wang Yuan and his company’s primary goal for coming to Luoyang was not to drink but to ’fish’ for ’Official Energy.’

Their tool was the three Rashamon Bones, stored in gift boxes on the table."

He now had enough ’Rashamon Bones’ in his possession ready for wholesale: ’Deceit Bone No. 1’ came from Wild Dog Daoist’s ’Human Face Painting’; ’Deceit Bone No. 2’ was from the ’Talisman – Fire Dragon Coiled Sword’ that Peach Fairy Lady had "loaned" him; ’Deceit Bone No. 3’ was from Strategist Bei Lang Qi’s ’Divination Bone’; ’Deceit Bone No. 4’ was from Zhou Jingxiang and Guo Caixu’s transformed ’Yin Yang Heart Bell’; and ’Deceit Bone No. 5’ was from Zhou Wenye’s ’Life Trading Coin.’

Although ’Deceit Bone No. 1’ had perished along with Old Taoist Ge, and ’Deceit Bone No. 4, originating from ’Deceit Immortal,’ was the most potent and needed cautious handling."

The other three are already here.

In the "Earthly Que Golden Book," there are two methods to collect Official Energy:

First, become an official yourself. As long as you hold an official position, Official Energy will naturally flow incessantly.

This is also why the "Earth Que Yin Officials" can harmonize with Dragon Energy.

Second, is to forcibly seize someone else’s Official Energy.

Conveniently, the "Rashamon Bone" when "consuming humans," absorbs not only Primordial Qi but also the three fires of fortune, rank, and longevity within the human body.

While draining these three fires, the Official Energy is absorbed along with the "Lu Fire" without any extra effort.

"Are all three choices seventh-rank officials?"

"Yes, each of these three is infamous, not slightly inferior to those pampered scions of Yifan.

I had tested previously, and the seventh rank is just right. The Official Energy and the Deceit Object reach a perfect balance, and their names and official positions have been affixed to the boxes as you instructed."

Wang Yuan nodded in satisfaction, not even bothering to ask about the names of those three unlucky fates.

Previously, he merely issued an order, and Lady Peach Fairy listed a series of unlucky ones for him to harvest.

It can be said that this demoness is troublesome when she’s an enemy, but quite comforting when she’s a teammate.

Moreover, Lady Peach Fairy always put herself first in the past, but now she had put Wang Yuan, the Dharma Master, first, anticipating his needs and urgencies, which was even more comforting.

Because Official Energy is also an extension of the Dynasty Dragon Qi.

The highest echelons of the dynasty, protected by Dragon Qi, and ordinary officials are also shielded by the Official Energy brought by their official positions.

This Red Dust Qi is most restraining to Daoist Skills, ensuring that the officials of Great Yan are not harmed by evil and malicious forces, stabilizing the ruling order.

Therefore, Wang Yuan had never considered offering a Rashamon Bone to the Luoyang King to try, as it would be utterly useless.

Thus, choosing the right candidates is very important.

The seventh rank is just right.

Too high an official rank, and the Official Energy would be too concentrated for the Rashamon Bone to bite through; too low, and it wouldn’t provide much Official Energy, not much different from consuming an ordinary evil person.

"These corrupt officials exploit the mass, let’s exploit them. Fortunately, governance is corrupted now, and blatant corrupt officials are everywhere.

If it were a peaceful and prosperous time, it would be difficult for me to act."

Having said that, Wang Yuan gestured with his hand.

Whoosh—!

With the gust of a cold wind, three boxes were suddenly swept up and vanished abruptly by the "Five Ghosts Moving Mountains."

Meanwhile, a ferry was slowly passing by outside the window, a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance, looking around, suddenly felt a weight in his arms.

Seeing the box, he showed no surprise and immediately dove into the cabin with it.

"Heh, Wind Officer Zhu, do your job well, don’t disappoint me."

Wang Yuan lifted his wine cup and drank it all at once, and a copper coin hanging at his waist suddenly shone brightly.

He had had his suspicions long before.

Zhou Wenye, relying on the "Life Trading Coin" and other means, probably controlled many key figures in Luoyang City in secret.

But after he got his hands on the treasure, he realized this suspicion was somewhat inaccurate.

Of the three long-term enslavement slots, Wei Anning and the Ghost Matchmaker took up two.

Including Wang Family members and other Mystic Armor Guards, all were controlled over life and death just before the final action.

Otherwise, the first Daoist Soldier, Zheng Yong, whom Wang Yuan killed, would not have been so disrespectful to Zhou Wenye.

And the last slot was this Imperial Prison Inspection Department’s "Wind Official," Zhu Jian’an.

"Maintain peace, suppress tyranny, rectify injustice, relieve grievances, firm up governance, and purify the bureaucracy."

His rank was not high, only a ninth-grade, but his position was humble yet powerful.

In his hands, he held the dark secrets of many high-ranking officials in Luoyang City.

It was this official power, combined with the power of the Luoyang Royal Mansion and its gray forces, that enabled them to act with ease in remotely controlling the "Killing Banquet" and "Tomb Raiding."

Delivering the Rashamon Bone reasonably to the target’s hands was a piece of cake for him.

The only regret Wang Yuan felt was that this Wind Officer Zhu was a rare good man who was honest and clean as an official.

Wang Yuan had already promised him that as long as he helped in accomplishing this task, he would grant him his freedom after a year.

Just as they were watching the ferry slowly depart,

The two suddenly heard a rumbling noise coming from the distance in the darkness; flames shot up into the sky, awakening Huang Wu, who had been sound asleep.

"What’s going on?"

Lady Peach Fairy immediately used the city’s Yin plants to listen and sense the situation.

She soon exclaimed:

"There’s trouble in Luoyang City, an Imperial Dragon Guard Captain is taking action! He’s using the ’Divine Machine Gun and Cannon Technique’!

The leader is General Wu Yi, from the ’Taiyin Xuanbing Dao’!"

Moments later, they could directly hear shouts from afar like a mountainous tidal wave.

They were shouting:

Get rich! Get rich! Get rich!...