Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 151 - 148 Taboo: When the Turbid River suddenly clears, a great disaster is imminent!

Chapter 151: Chapter 148 Taboo: When the Turbid River suddenly clears, a great disaster is imminent!

"Esteemed sage!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuan’s heart immediately stirred.

Others might think Old Xu was exaggerating the danger when hearing his advice.

But as one of the few who knew the divination of the nation’s fate, Wang Yuan deeply understood the formidable nature of this person.

Although far from as precise as the divination made by the Winter Official using the "Literary Ascension to Dragon Technique."

He, one, hadn’t gone to Luoyang City to take the "Cunkou Pulse," two, didn’t have the authority to manage the "Dragon Qi Prohibition," and three, certainly hadn’t risked his life.

Making the judgement that there would be great chaos in the Turbid River Basin based solely on observing the geomantic energy of the mountains and rivers, he already qualified as a remarkable and peculiar person.

Most importantly, by the average moral standards of the cultivation world, he was quite a decent person, truly worth making a good connection with.

Of course, not with a "Rashamon Bone."

While his mind was rapidly turning, Wang Yuan hurriedly clasped his hands in a salute:

"Mr. Xu, I am Wang Qianshan, and I greatly admire someone of your caliber. May I ask for a private meeting with Mr. Xu?"

Seeing Wang Yuan believe his words almost without hesitation, Xu Zhenzhi was also slightly surprised.

He was naturally warm-hearted and thought to save one person if he could, yet he did not expect this young man he happened upon to seem... special.

’Wang Qianshan? That does seem fated.

Practicing the "Mountain and Sea Qi Method" requires me to travel thousands of miles and witness the various states of the human world, and just this name alone has a touch of the feeling ’heading toward the azure sea at dawn and dark forests at dusk.’

It’s a pity this young fellow has already received the talisman for enlightenment and settled his dharma veins; otherwise, there might have been a chance to inherit my teachings of the Earth Department Taoist Skill.

I’ll just have a talk with him today then.’

So he nodded his head.

"That would be fine."

Soon, the two people who had a rather good impression of each other casually found a table to sit down opposite each other.

Over some fruit and fine wine, they chatted leisurely.

Wang Yuan learned that this elderly gentleman was not only extremely skilled in geomancy but had also spent decades traveling through most parts of Red County Shenzhou.

He knew the landscapes, the nobilities, and the customs of each place like the back of his hand.

Wang Yuan’s heart rejoiced.

He promptly lowered his voice and asked his advice about the One-Eyed Stone Man of Chen Family Village.

The divine woman of the village wasn’t clear, but this well-traveled Mr. Xu likely had some hearsay.

"Mr. Xu, you just said there have been changes in the Turbid River Basin.

As far as I know, in this Turbid River Basin, the power of ’White Sun Bodhisattva’ seems to be entrenched deeply and widely. Do you know anything about him?"

Xu Zhenzhi couldn’t help but look deeply at Wang Yuan.

He finally realized that this young man was audaciously plotting to challenge the "No-Life Dao" itself.

He was just about to open his mouth to give a word or two of advice.

"Taoist Fellow Wang, let me tell you..."

Suddenly.

A commotion at the entrance of the courtyard interrupted him.

"It wasn’t on purpose, really not on purpose! Can only blame them for being too fragrant!

Anyone would have been unable to resist! It just slipped down my throat by accident, you can’t blame me."

A plump fish spirit, which resembled a black fish in its original form, was captured in a net by several monks dressed as Three Yang Soldiers and was dragged out by force.

Wang Yuan glanced up, then immediately lowered his head again.

The one shouting grievances happened to be the kind-hearted person who had taken care of preparing the four "Holy Infant Pills" for himself.

Among the four, one was at the "Golden Flower Great Condensation" stage and had already cultivated a "Golden Core," just awaiting fetal transformation into an infant; the remaining three were at the "Golden Flower Blossoms" stage.

If ordinary children were merely coarse grains caught in one’s throat, then these four were akin to sea cucumbers and abalone—both nutritious and delicious.

When one of them eventually underwent fetal transformation to become a genuine "Holy Infant Pill," it would likely possess the miraculous effect of turning decay into something divine.

That such superior goods had been consumed by such a lowly fish spirit was unacceptable.

The monastery’s magicians immediately sought reparation. In particular, the chief cook took action at once and hauled the creature away.

After a short while.

Just as Wang Yuan and Xu Zhenzhi resumed their conversation for a few moments, a hot and steamy feast from the fish spirit was served by the attending little monk.

It was a proper ten-course meal from one fish.

So tempting that it made mouths water in anticipation.

Fish fillet porridge made from the de-skinned dorsal fillet; refreshing and crunchy salad of fish skin left over after deboning; fish ball and arrowroot soup made from minced fish roe;

"Steamed Fish Mouth with Fermented Bean Sauce," made solely from the lips of a fish, the part that sips water, steamed to perfection;

"Fried Gliding Fin" prepared using a huge shark fin, deep-fried and drizzled with sauce;

"Gastrodia-Elata Stewed Fish Brain," derived from the rear of a fish head and condensed from two hours to a mere quarter of an hour using fire-based Daoist skills;

"Radish Cooked Fish Ball," a dish of minced fish that is first fried then stir-fried;

"Winter Melon Dry-Steamed Fish Belly," made from the fattiest and juiciest part of the fish, steamed clear;

"Pine Nut Braised Fish Tail," a grand dish featuring a giant fish tail first pan-fried then braised;

And to top it off, a bowl of the clear and aromatic "Fish Bone Soup," truly a delectable pleasure.

Wang Yuan was fully aware that this fish brother had taken the hit for him.

Moved beyond words, in order not to waste its sacrifice, he could only reluctantly gulp down three bowls of white rice with tears on his lips, complementing the fragrant feast of fish spirits.

Xu Zhenzhi’s appetite was not much better than his, as he ate and praised,

"The flavor of this fish spirit is indeed delicious, today’s ’Dragon Gate Meeting’ was truly worth it!"

While eating heartily, Old Xu also took the opportunity to share various legends he knew with Wang Yuan.

"This ’One-Eyed Stone Man’ is actually an avatar under the ’No-Life Old Buddha,’ a ’Weird Immortal’ of the Earth Department,

wearing inside titles like ’Killing Great Master’ and ’White Sun Bodhisattva’ within the No-Life Dao, and in the Mortal World, he is known by nicknames such as the ’Turbid River King’..."

It is said that the "One-Eyed Stone Man" is an embodiment of the "Disaster Face" that has defied restraint, overflowing and changing its course over thousands of years in the Turbid River.

By nature, a powerful "Weird" that rivals natural disasters and is almost impossible to kill.

Having consumed too many people over thousands of years, it already completed the "Killing Banquet" and stole a high-quality "Killing Dao Fruit," awakening its spiritual wisdom.

It then took refuge under the "No-Life Old Buddha."

Xu Zhenzhi also explained to Wang Yuan why the stone man had one eye instead of the three commonly seen in myths.

According to the No-Life Dao, this was because the two worldly eyes had gone blind, leaving only the heavenly eye.

This signifies that the secular world is full of darkness, unable to see any light anymore, and the loss of both worldly eyes represents complete despair about the real world.

Yet, the remaining single eye can penetrate the darkness and fog of the mortal world, seeing the supreme and bright world of the White Sun!

The "One-Eyed Stone Man," from the beginning, was born to break rules and regulations, to rebel.

Therefore,

Those who are purely rebellious call it "One-Eyed Stone Man," cultivators with no vested interest often call it "Killing Great Master," and believers of the No-Life Dao mostly revere it as the "White Sun Bodhisattva."

These three titles escalate in prestige.

It should be precisely the path that this "Weird Immortal" has followed, growing from a "Weird" to its present stage.

From Wang Yuan’s understanding,

If the "Owl God Tomb" at its peak possessed the full abilities of a "Yellow Seal Mage,"

then this "One-Eyed Stone Man," whose influence radiates throughout the Turbid River Basin, must at least have the terrifying power of a "Green Seal Sage."

Definitely not an existence he could afford to provoke.

After patting his full belly and letting out a satisfied burp, Xu Zhenzhi solemnly cautioned Wang Yuan:

"This ’One-Eyed Stone Man,’ even though he’s achieved ’Weird Immortal’ status and now has his own consciousness, is still deeply embedded somewhere at the bottom of the Turbid River and cannot move at will.

It’s not something we’re capable of dealing with.

But for mortals, as long as you don’t violate any of his ’Precept Taboos,’ it’s still possible to live peacefully by the Turbid River."

Every trade along the Turbid River has its taboos.

For example, a taboo for Turbid River helmsmen: the river is divided by three Dragon Gates, and ferrying should not cross these boundaries. Once crossed, the boat capsizes and people die!"

"Then there are the three great taboos of Turbid River corpse recovery men:

First, on thunderstorm days, remember not to sail out for corpses; second, if the same body fails to be retrieved onto the boat three times, do not attempt the fourth;

Third, each time before sailing out for corpses, one must worship the Turbid River King (Stone Man) with a big red rooster."

After hearing all this, the unsophisticated Wang Yuan finally realized the terrifying influence of the "One-Eyed Stone Man" in the Turbid River Basin.

Not only is he powerful, but he also affects the livelihoods of countless people, having more clout than those "Heavenly Officials" high above in the Outer Heaven.

But when calamity looms, it doesn’t matter who you want your adversary to be.

He hastily continued to inquire:

"Does the ’One-Eyed Stone Man’ have any ’Precept Taboos’ that apply to everyone?"

Xu Zhenzhi lifted his cup, drained the wine in one gulp, and with a chuckle said to Wang Yuan:

"The taboo: should the Turbid River suddenly clear, disaster will surely strike!"

"Didn’t I just tell you? It’s best to stay as far away from the Turbid River Basin as possible, the farther the better.

According to my observations, that day shouldn’t be too far off.

If the river becomes obstructed over time due to the growth of vegetation on both banks, that is a natural phenomenon, deserving of praise for its contribution, and it’s harmless."

"But if the Turbid River suddenly clears, it means the Stone Man is breathing, releasing and swallowing silt!

I, Old Xu, dare proclaim that within months, or at most half a year, a great disaster will befall not just the Turbid River Basin but perhaps half of the northern region of Great Yan!"

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