Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 147 - 144 Efforts in Vain, Golden Core Dao

Chapter 147: Chapter 144 Efforts in Vain, Golden Core Dao

A moment later.

In front of Wang Yuan, over a thousand villagers were kneeling en masse.

It seemed that in their eyes, there was no essential difference between the Court official and the "Dragon Lord" who had just appeared.

One devours flesh and drinks blood, the other "devours flesh and drinks blood."

When Wang Yuan saw the village head place a small box in front of him, filled with an assortment of dull, broken silver coins and copper coins from various eras, he immediately understood this.

With a wave of his hand, he expressed resignation:

"I only have a few questions to ask before I leave; I will neither eat your food nor take your money.

Let only the village head and the Divine Woman come forward to talk; the rest of you may disperse."

Upon hearing this, the others, with heavy hearts, reluctantly scattered on the spot, leaving only the village head and the Divine Woman kneeling respectfully on the ground.

The village head of Chen Family Village appeared to be about sixty years old, his face weathered, his clothing unremarkable—just like the Divine Woman’s.

It was obvious that even with what was called "timely winds and rain," the village had not lived a life of wealth; at most, they did not look severely malnourished.

In such a year of continuous disasters, that was already quite an achievement.

From this perspective, the Demon had more power than the Court!

"Both of you, speak up. What exactly is the origin of this ’Dragon Lord’? And tell me about the ’No-Life Dao’ and the ’Killing Great Master’."

Wang Yuan said this while casually nodding towards the charred pit not too far away.

The eyes of the village head of Chen Family Village shrank slightly, not daring to be evasive. He spoke respectfully:

"Yes, my lord!

This dates back thirty years ago, to when my father was the village head.

At that time, our crops were dwindling year by year, but for some reason, the number of Little Demons and Little Monsters in the river was mysteriously increasing.

The ’Dragon Lord,’ no, the Demon arrived in our Chen Family Manor’s territory during those days."

"It roamed around daily, demanding human sacrifices every few days, causing our village to live in constant turmoil.

Back then, the village still had some savings, so we invited several experts well-versed in Magic hoping to exterminate it, only to be eliminated by it instead.

It wasn’t until a Monk arrived, claiming to serve the ’No-Life Old Buddha’ and the ’Killing Great Master’. Through his mediation, we... we..."

Even he felt that what they did was indefensible. He slowly lowered his head, his expression somewhat abashed.

Wang Yuan was not one of those Fanatics who were harsh on others but lenient on themselves.

Without providing a better alternative, he also had no right to stand on the moral high ground and criticize them; he simply waved his hand.

"I understand."

Even though these country folk did not know what the "Dragon Qi Prohibition" was, they had managed to articulate the situation quite clearly.

Thirty years ago when the "Dragon Qi Prohibition" first experienced a significant decline, Chen Family Village had already been severely affected.

Inadvertently, they had been manipulated into a ploy by the duo of the "No-Life Dao" and the "Dragon Lord."

At a time when the Dynasty had just finished exterminating the Xiangshan Sect with great might, the Catfish Spirit did not dare to directly consume the entire population of Chen Family Village,

for fear that provoking the Daoist Soldiers with a thunderous strike would backfire on it.

"Heh, this Catfish Spirit really is a bred Demon of the ’No-Life Dao’.

No wonder demons and Bodhisattvas are all one family.

Moreover, the dangers mentioned in the divination were not a spur of the moment rebellion by these professional insurgents but have been a long-planned scheme for many years.

Even if they were not to detonate it at this time, it was inevitable that they would at some future point.

Now, it seems to have just coincided and taken its place in this setting.

Had the Winter Official not performed divination on the national fate, the Court might have remained in the dark until the crisis erupted."

Previously, Wang Yuan had followed the tracks of the [White Tiger Elite Soldiers] with the [Little Ghost Carrying the Sedan Chair] technique, and had already left Luoyang City far behind.

Chen Family Village was at least more than two hundred miles away from Beimang Mountain.

Little did he know that the "No-Life Dao" had already infiltrated these rural areas to such an extent.

On the flip side, if the situation in these country lands had not reached the point of no return, the Dynasty might not be ready to give them up entirely.

At this time, the phrase "Leaping Dragon Gate, devouring hearts and livers, the Flood Snake swallowing the Holy Infant Pill!" once again surfaced in Wang Yuan’s mind.

Combining what he now observed with his own speculations, he began to form a rough guess.

Like the Catfish Spirit and other aquatic creatures of its kind, they enjoyed the Blood Meal (Holy Infant Pill) nurtured by this land and controlled the power to direct clouds and rain.

In essence, they were performing the duties of a wild [Earth God].

If they could also manage the Earth Qi and waterways over the years, perhaps they really could become a legitimate [Earth God]!

Just like Granny Longhuai on Beimang Mountain, known as the [Earth God].

Because the essence of the "Dragon Qi Prohibition" is human willpower.

In this process, they would slowly strip the [Dragon Energy] generated by these rural people from the Dynasty’s Qi Fortune and incorporate it into their own domain.

Then, they would accumulate enough sustenance to leap over the [Dragon Gate] of the Turbid River and transform into a true "Dragon King," privatizing what was public and further tearing the Dynasty’s Dragon Qi.

This must be the main thrust of the "No-Life Dao" plan.

But Wang Yuan didn’t believe that they would kindly act as protectors for these demons without compensation, willing to make wedding dresses for others.

Therefore, he turned his gaze to the divine woman.

"What do you know about ’No-Life Dao’ and that ’Killing Great Master’? Have they never preached in the village?"

Wang Yuan could tell that this divine woman should know a bit of divination skill, barely considered a half-practitioner of magic.

She was likely to have come across some cultivators.

"My lord, how could we people from such a rural area know such secrets?

For many years, the people from ’No-Life Dao’ have indeed never preached here, except for helping us to persuade the ’Dragon Lord.’

However..."

The divine woman covertly glanced at the large pit before continuing:

"That monster told the old woman.

After dawn, in the Turbid River Area, at the Stone Buddha Temple in Hejin County where the first Dragon Gate is located, there is going to be a ’Dragon Gate Meeting’ held for the local cultivators to dine and gather.

Perhaps a good number of cultivators will appear at that time. Your Excellency, with your powerful abilities, why not inquire about the details at that ’Dragon Gate Meeting’?"

Wang Yuan pondered for a moment and did not say whether he would go or not, merely responding noncommittally:

"I see."

He then gave the two a deep look, leaving behind a piece of advice:

"You have seen it yourselves, none of these monsters or sects are reliable.

The county city is still relatively safe for now. When you can no longer hold out, consider relocating the entire village to the county city."

Having said that, he turned and jumped into the Yin Road, vanishing without a trace.

Slaying demons and exorcising ghosts is easy, but dealing with the aftermath is hard, and slaying a Bodhisattva is even harder!

He was truly helpless with what followed and could only suggest that the villagers flee.

Watching Wang Yuan disappear, both of them couldn’t help but frown with worry.

"Alas, the fields are about to be flooded, and without the Dragon Lord, what should we do?"

With no idea what to do, each returned home to sleep.

However, before dawn.

They were both seized by a large hand and dragged into the Dragon King Temple.

Thud! Thud!

They were thrown to the ground, dizzy and seeing stars. Lifting their heads, they saw an unfamiliar demon sitting grandly on the throne.

It had red fleshy warts on its head like a goldfish, eyes like copper bells, a mouth like a bloody basin, and a mouth full of sharp teeth like steel knives.

They heard it say to them in a deep voice:

"Your King has received the Bodhisattva’s Talisman Order to become the new Dragon King of the waterway in Chen Family Village. All offerings will remain as usual!"

The divine woman and the village chief kneeling on the ground were not annoyed but rather overjoyed, asking:

"Dragon King, is it still a pair of children every year?

We shall provide them! Our Chen Family Village will offer them right away!"

The new "Dragon Lord" cracked a smile and said coldly:

"Do you think I... have no right to become a dragon?! Huh?!"

That sentence was like a cold wind blowing through their bones.

Since this new Dragon King also sought to become a dragon, naturally, he would need... a meal every ten days!

...

Downstream, Hejin County.

The Stone Buddha Temple, not far from the first Dragon Gate in the Turbid River Area on Dragon Gate Mountain, stood quietly, grand and imposing.

"Master, I have begun to understand the Golden Core Dao!"

"Come, my good disciple, let’s see if you’ve got it right."

In a meditation chamber, the cross-legged Zhu Bo’an, hearing the noise outside, only felt a wave of coldness.

In the days from Luoshui in Luoyang City to the Turbid River Area, orphans who had lost their parents were brought here by the disciples of the ’No-Life Dao.’

Then, these orphans were taught a Cultivation Technique called "Golden Core Dao" by the monks in this temple.

It was said to be a divine technique, with success leading to ascension to the immortals.

Others were elated, thinking that although they had become orphans, they had also fortuitously gained an opportunity with immortality, all diligently cultivating.

Only Zhu Bo’an, who had heard the Inverted Taoist’s monologue, faintly understood that this was definitely not a good path.

Even amidst the successive changes, with a resilience far surpassing that of other boys his age, he still felt waves of despair.

"To cultivate is to die, not to cultivate is also to die, what should I do?"