The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 184 - 106: Yellow Millet Rice and the Second Demon God Visualization Map

Chapter 184: Chapter 106: Yellow Millet Rice and the Second Demon God Visualization Map

County Government, Punishment Room.

"Master, we’ve got the information. These monks say that the Great Zen Temple grows a special kind of Spirit Rice called Yellow Millet Rice that’s exclusively for the temple’s high-ranking figures. What should we do next?"

"Just keep them detained for now, and there’s no need for torture or interrogation. Let’s see if there are any reactions from the outside."

"Yes."

...

...

Heavenly Fragrance Courtyard.

Guard Wang and Guard Ma, the brother guards, had arranged a banquet to invite Xu Qing over.

Guard Wang raised his glass and said, "Gongming, given our relationship, let’s spare the empty courtesies. Someone from our sect has asked us to come to you. Can you give this big brother a straight answer – can the person be released? What’s the price?"

Xu Qing lifted his glass to toast Guard Wang and said, "Big Brother Wang, you know the situation. Not long ago, there was trouble at Golden Ray Monastery, and now Great Zen Temple is demanding the Shariputra relic from them. I’m aware that these two incidents aren’t the same thing, but they happened one after another. Wouldn’t outsiders think there’s a problem with my management here?"

Guard Wang drank three consecutive cups, pondered, and said, "Gongming, tell me how you want to handle this. The two of us brothers will not put you in a tough spot."

Xu Qing smiled freely, "I heard that Great Zen Temple specifically grows a kind of grain for Martial Artists to eat, called Yellow Millet Rice. I want to pay to get some for myself."

Guard Wang: "Is that all?"

Xu Qing said, "Besides that, I want to buy the old grain that Great Zen Temple has stockpiled over the years, as much as possible."

Despite the court’s suppression, Great Zen Temple still retained a great deal of land and was one of the largest landlords in North Zhili.

The state policy of "converting rice fields to mulberry plantations," successful or not, required a large supply of food as a solid backing. As long as there is enough food, even if it fails, it won’t cause chaos.

Although Xu Qing had the option of sea transportation of grain from King Lin, having only one channel was too risky.

Guard Wang: "The temple actually has a lot of stored grain, and since North Zhili is mostly plains where it’s easy to grow grain, the grain doesn’t fetch a high price. To transport it elsewhere, there’s also a lack of routes. Gongming, your move is actually helping Great Zen Temple solve a difficult problem."

In fact, Great Zen Temple certainly had its own outlets, but Guard Wang’s statement also served to give both sides a way out.

And he slightly sensed that Xu Qing fundamentally did not want to be at odds with Great Zen Temple.

This move was to advance by retreating.

"People in official circles have considerable concerns when it comes to associating with Great Zen Temple." Guard Wang, with his meticulous thinking, guessed Xu Qing’s concerns.

Fortunately, with Guard Wang as the intermediary, Xu Qing and Great Zen Temple came to a mutual agreement on the grain trade.

He even made a guarantee, promising to obtain at least three bushels of Yellow Millet Rice for Xu Qing. Although it was only three bushels, if converted to ordinary white rice, it could be worth a thousand bushels.

The fields where Yellow Millet Rice was grown were improved by the Great Zen Temple over generations using Buddhist Law and the blood and flesh of demon beasts.

Only a few high-status monks in the temple, such as the head seat and the abbot, could enjoy it daily.

The rest of the monks had to establish no small merit for the temple to be rewarded and allowed to have a small bowl during special days such as the Yulan Festival.

...

...

"Brother Wang, what did they say on the other side?" The speaker was Head of Escort Huang Tianhu from Dragon Gate Escort Agency of Yingtian Prefecture, a lay disciple of the Eighteen Arhats under Xiong Chan, and a peer of Guard Wang in terms of generation, but with a far higher status in the monastery.

His Dragon Gate Escort Agency, with the support of Great Zen Temple, had now become the largest Escort Agency in South Zhili.

This was also a strategy of Xiong Chan since his ascension, focusing on extensive arrangements within worldly society, and all those dispatched were lay disciples, infiltrating various aspects of the lower tiers of government and society.

Xiong Chan learned from the past experiences of Great Zen Temple that rooting in the upper class meant rapid growth, but also sudden decline. It was better to focus on the grassroots and middle class, to avoid suspicion from those in higher positions.

This time, Great Zen Temple had failed to grasp the real situation of Jiangning Prefecture and had underestimated Yan Kong’s strength, resulting in a significant setback.

Huang Tianhu was from the Escort Agency, well-informed. As soon as he knew that Great Zen Temple had sent people for the relic, he realized things were going awry and rushed over overnight, but it was too late. He could only try to make amends.

Therefore, he immediately sought out Guard Wang to negotiate.

Being a direct lineage of Xiong Chan, Huang Tianhu had already dictated a number of conditions to inform Guard Wang.

The influence of Great Zen Temple was far greater than Xu Qing could compare to. But Great Zen Temple was not willing to become hostile with Xu Qing at this time.

Xiong Chan had laid out his plans for years, always with forbearance and a low profile, waiting for the right moment.

Once they exposed the real strength of Great Zen Temple, all previous efforts might be in vain.

Guard Wang relayed Xu Qing’s terms, and Huang Tianhu breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought Xu Qing would take the opportunity to make an exorbitant demand, but instead, it was based on cooperation.

"Xu Sanyuan truly deserves to be Jiangning’s timely rain, possessing the spirit of the noble Lord Xinling."

If Xu Qing heard Huang Tianhu’s comment, he wouldn’t know whether to cry or laugh. Lord Xinling was highly regarded in history, but his ending was not good. After establishing great achievements, he was quickly done in by the Monarch’s suspicion and soon died in depression.

But the wandering heroes of the worldly society genuinely admired someone like Lord Xinling.

Born noble, yet able to bend down for the lower class, making friends with heroes, supporting thousands of scholars. With casual conversation, he could change the tide of the world – so imposing.

Huang Tianhu, now relieved with the promises he got, quickly dispatched someone with the Escort Agency’s own express delivery system to send the message back at speed.

The messengers were all Martial Artists with strong bodies, changing horses but not people. They say eight hundred li, but in reality, once across the big river, it was all flatland to Great Zen Temple, and they could travel a thousand li in a day.

Within a few days, the message could be delivered back.

...

...

On the sea, a deserted island where pirates gathered.

"How audacious! This area is under the dominion of Duke Wei Mansion. Where did you scoundrels come from?" Facing unexpected invaders who suddenly attacked the island, the gathered pirates immediately declared their affiliation.

After all, against such a group of unknown and ferocious men, if they did not reveal their alliance points, and the opponents inflicted heavy damage or annihilated them, it would be a laughing matter.

Even pirates, when operating in the world, would make known their origin and background.

"Your father may fear the Officials on land, but in the vast sea, you think you nobles can bully me?" King Lin, leading his brothers, laughed heartily and strode forward.

Without waiting for the pirates to make a move, King Lin waved his hand.

The bandits behind him spread out their wings, revealing glistening crossbows.

"Crossbow arrows!"

The pirates were greatly shocked.

This was only their temporary foothold, with rudimentary camps.

Their weapons were far inferior to those of King Lin.

In the end, they were merely peripheral forces of the Duke Wei Mansion, and things like crossbows would never be distributed to them.

Among the pirates was a Taoist who came from the Qingyun Temple. Seeing the situation dire, he made a last stand by biting his tongue, stirring his divine soul with his blood essence, conjuring a gust of yin wind.

King Lin sneered disdainfully. The old man who achieved Great Success in Exorcism had been killed by him with a single punch; such minor tricks dared to be used before him.

Bull Demon Strong Fist strike!

Without any tricks, the yin wind before him was dispersed by the surge of bloody energy, vanishing like smoke.

Subsequently, the gang of bandits charged in and wiped out the group of pirates, seizing the island for themselves.

King Lin ordered, "Niu Peng, take some men and search them thoroughly. Check their sea charts."

Turns out, in claiming dominion overseas, sea charts are essential supplies.

Although King Lin possessed sea charts, they were not very detailed.

He had come to this sea area to plant his flag after hearing that the nearby pirates were weak, wiping them out to secure a foothold.

As for the mention of Duke Wei Mansion by the opponents, King Lin was not afraid at all, but all the more delighted.

These pirates with backgrounds certainly had sea charts on them.

After a thorough sweep, Niu Peng found not only the sea charts but also their nearby contact points.

King Lin was overjoyed, "Well done, let us rest a bit and then wipe out all the strongholds around them."

King Lin swept through three or four strongholds in one go, even obtaining a large stock of grain and fresh water. After tallying the gains, he was ecstatic.

"I should have taken to the sea long ago. Jiangning Prefecture is prosperous, but we can’t conquer it. Outside, there is a vast world to be taken. The sea is open and the sky is high—there’s much to be done," King Lin’s spirits soared.

The gain from this voyage at sea was not in vain; he had meticulously prepared for it for a long time.

Indeed, at sea, the rule is simple: he who has the strongest fist prevails.

Feeling exhilarated, his Fist Intent began to coalesce, nurturing a realm of boundless freedom.

"On land, the Officials, nobles, worldly society, and various forces are complex, like shackles binding one’s hands and feet. On the boundless sea, when you encounter an enemy, there’s no such hassle—just kill them. Afterwards, dump the bodies and evidence into the ocean. No one can trace it. And even if they do, it’s hard to find our tracks in the great sea."

King Lin felt even more carefree and sensed that his Martial Arts realm was merging with the boundless sea, experiencing a feeling of breaking free from constraints.

"However, I must thank Xu Gongming on land. Without his support on shore, replenishing supplies and weaponry would have been quite troublesome. Not taking him down turned out to be a blessing," King Lin mused to himself.

Not long after, he went ashore to resupply and met with Guo Li.

There are waterways in Jiangning Prefecture that lead directly to the sea, but the harbors are unsuitable for large ships and require many small boats to transfer materials.

Just to resupply King Lin, it was sufficient.

"Do you need grain? That’s simple," King Lin responded readily to Xu Qing’s request, and took the opportunity to hand over a Visualization Image.

"This is the Rashamon Map. I found it in a chest while clearing out enemies. This painting and the one I gave your young master last time are by the same artist; your young master will surely find it useful," King Lin unexpectedly found this item when wiping out the peripheral forces of the Duke Wei Mansion.

Since he did not cultivate the divine soul, he presented it to Xu Qing as a favor.

"Thank you, Heavenly King."

...

...

Xu Qing did not expect to send Guo Li to deal with King Lin for grain trade and end up with an unexpected gain.

"Rashamon Visualization Map." He spread out the painting and saw its content.

This was the second image of the Five Great Demon Gods Visualization Method. The Rashamon King depicted within was bristling with a murderous aura that seemed to leap off the paper, sending shivers down one’s spine.

Guo Li didn’t dare to open it during the journey.

But Xu Qing was not afraid and instructed Guo Li to leave and prepared to begin visualizing this second image.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.