Jiang Changsheng carefully made a nest for the snake egg. It was placed on his bed, surrounded by bedding. Ever since he started cultivating, he had hardly slept. Late at night, he would sit quietly and absorb Qi, replacing sleep. After dawn, he would be in high spirits.
He began to look forward to the hatching of the snake egg. Every day, he would inject spiritual force into the egg to nourish the snake fetus.
The peaceful days were broken half a month later.
"I am Liu Luoyin. I heard that Daoist Master Changsheng killed the evil ghost, the Ghost-Eyed Evil King, and I am here to pay you a visit."
A cold voice sounded from outside the house. Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes. He had already sensed that the other party was coming towards his house, but since the other party could not threaten him, he did not care.
Jiang Changsheng's voice floated out, "May I know why Miss Liu is looking for me?"
In the courtyard, there was a woman standing on the snow-covered ground. She wore a beautiful purple robe and looked like a swordsman. She held a sword in her hand. Even though she had a beautiful face, there was an ice-cold killing intent between her brows that kept people a thousand miles away.
Liu Luoyin said, "When I was young, the Evil King massacred my entire family. I wandered around since I was young and learned martial arts. I originally wanted to take revenge on the Evil King, but I heard that he was killed by Daoist Master Changsheng. I would like to request for Daoist Master Changsheng to enlighten me. Regardless of victory or defeat, this grudge will be resolved from now on. In the future, if Daoist Master requires my help, I will definitely help."
Jiang Changsheng was stunned and suspected that he had misheard.
What the heck?
I helped you take revenge, and you came to me to compare notes?
Jiang Changsheng replied, "I'm sorry, but I don't like to compare notes with others. I am a cultivator, and practicing martial arts is just my hobby. Please leave. As for favors, you don't have to thank me."
Fortunately, he had killed the Ghost-Eyed Evil King. Otherwise, this silly girl would definitely die if she were to find him.
After all, there was still a gap between their true energy levels. Even though the gap was not huge, there was still an age gap between them, which meant a gap in experience.
Thump!
Liu Luoyin suddenly knelt on the snow and said expressionlessly, "If Daoist Master does not agree, I will kneel here until I starve to death and die in your temple."
As soon as she finished speaking, the courtyard fell into silence. Even the sound of the wind and snow had disappeared.
Not far behind them, Qing Ku frowned when he saw this scene. Just as he was about to step forward to stop them, the door opened and Jiang Changsheng in a blue Daoist robe walked out.
Jiang Changsheng, who was almost seventeen years old, had grown up. He had a tall figure and a handsome face. He had the Taihang Sword on his waist and the Qilin Horsetail Whisk in his hand. Liu Luoyin subconsciously looked up and her gaze landed on Jiang Changsheng. When she saw him, she could not help but be stunned.
Their eyes met, and the snowstorm on the mountain seemed to have stopped.
Jiang Changsheng frowned and asked, "Miss, why are you being unreasonable? It could be considered that I have helped you."
Liu Luoyin retracted his gaze and blushed. She stood up and said, "I know. It's not that I'm ungrateful. I'm definitely not your opponent. This matter has just bothered me. Even if Daoist Master hurt me, I won't have any complaints and I will repay you in the future."
Jiang Changsheng's frown deepened.
Liu Luoyin drew his sword and waited for Jiang Changsheng to take action.
Jiang Changsheng sighed and said, "Then attack. Give it your all so that you won't be dissatisfied in the future."
When Liu Luoyin heard that, the corners of her mouth curled up. She immediately leaped up and quickly waved her sword with her right hand. Streaks of sword qi that were visible to the naked eye rushed towards Jiang Changsheng and tore through the wind and snow.
At that moment, Liu Luoyin suddenly felt everything slow down. She looked at Jiang Changsheng as he lifted his leg. His movements were not fast, but it gave her an unstoppable momentum.
Jiang Changsheng raised his left leg and kicked. Dozens of leg shadows dispersed the sword qi in mid-air and hit Liu Luoyin.
"Pfft—"
Liu Luoyin vomited blood and flew backward before she fell heavily into a pile of snow.
She covered her chest in pain and wanted to stand up, but she spat out another mouthful of blood and fainted.
Qing Ku was so frightened that he immediately ran over and asked in a trembling voice, "Senior Brother, she…"
Jiang Changsheng slowly retracted his leg and shook his head with a smile. "She's not dead. Take her away."
Killing people in the capital was illegal unless the other party was a death row prisoner like the Ghost-Eyed Evil King or in self-defense.
Qing Ku breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he crouched down, he stood up and said, "This won't do. I'll call Senior Sister."
With that said, he ran out.
Jiang Changsheng turned around and returned to his room, leaving Liu Luoyin in the snow.
Not long after, Eldest Senior Sister Meng Qiushuang and Qing Ku came with several disciples to take Liu Luoyin away. The news quickly spread and the disciples had a deeper understanding of Jiang Changsheng.
This senior brother had become fierce after living alone!
Jiang Changsheng did not severely injure Liu Luoyin. He merely shook her true energy and did not injure her internal organs. She would recover in a few days. The reason why he did this was because he was afraid that Liu Luoyin would pester him, so he just broke her stubborneess in one go.
Three days later, Liu Luoyin left the mountain and did not look for Jiang Changsheng again.
"In the seventeenth year after the founding of the dynasty, a woman from the martial arts world, Liu Luoyin, came to you for a spar due to hatred. You crushed her thoughts and passed through a causal event. You received a survival reward—the martial arts, Xuan Nei Overlord Body."
Hmm?
Was this considered an ordeal?
It seemed like if he had not been so ruthless, wouldn't I have more to do with her?
Jiang Changsheng imagined many possibilities, but he did not regret it at all. There were many women in the world, and he could not be distracted on the path of cultivation. A hundred years later, the other party would be nothing but dirt, so there was no need to worry.
"This life is destined to be lonely."
Jiang Changsheng sighed and happily inherited the Overlord Body.
The Xuan Nei Overlord Body was considered an internal martial art. It used true qi to temper the body, making it as tough as iron. Once successful, his body would be hard to pierce through with a sword and would be immune to poison. It sounded very awesome. Jiang Changsheng intended to spend four hours a day cultivating it.
After he broke through to the fourth level of the Dao Technique, he entered a period of slow growth. He was far from breaking through to the fifth level. However, he was still young and could take his time.
His spiritual force could be described as boundless. Compared to him, Daoist Master Qingxu's true energy was like a small stream compared to an ocean. The light of a grain of rice competed with the bright moon.
However, she did not know if she was stronger or weaker than that Heaven Arrival realm expert in the palace.
...
The winter snow melted and the spring of the 17th year of the founding era arrived. Jiang Changsheng quietly celebrated his seventeenth birthday.
A seventeen-year-old was already considered an adult in the Jing Dynasty. Twenty years ago, there were many sixteen to seventeen-year-old teenagers on the battlefield.
In the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng sat on the water vat. Looking carefully, his legs and buttocks were three to four centimeters away from the water. He was floating in the air, but looking from afar, he looked to be sitting on the water.
His Daoist robe fluttered incessantly, and visible heat overflowed from his pores, revealing skin that jumped like fried beans. It was rather horrifying.
He suddenly stood up and landed beside the water vat. His skin quickly recovered and his Daoist robe was dried up.
After dozens of breaths, the wooden door in the courtyard was pushed open and Qing Ku walked in with an excited expression.
After so many years, Qing Ku had put aside his experience of roaming the martial arts world. He was no longer as reticent as before, and he had regained the liveliness of his youth. Ever since he learned the Nine-seeking Heavenly Dragon Steps, his martial arts skills had improved by leaps and bounds. Even if he was not outstanding among his fellow disciples, it was not a problem for him to be ranked in the top ten.
Of course, the martial arts of the entire Longqi Temple were poor. Most of them only knew basic martial arts. Daoist Master Qingxu's true energy was equivalent to the True Energy realm expert, but he might be able to display the strength of the Spiritual Sense realm expert. As for Senior Sister Meng Qiushuang, she was just a First-rate expert.
It was not too strong, but fortunately, the temple was located in the capital where there was not much competition in the martial arts world.
"Senior Brother, good news. Senior Brother Qiuhe has become the top scholar in the martial arts examination and is in-laws with a third-ranked official in the royal court. He is extremely glorious. Eldest Senior Sister is preparing to bring several disciples to pay him a visit. Are you coming?"
Qing Ku said excitedly. He still respected Meng Qiuhe. Even though Meng Qiuhe had betrayed Longqi Temple, he had always stayed in the capital. Every time a disciple came down the mountain and met him, he would treat them to a meal as if they were still fellow disciples.
Jiang Changsheng shook his head and smiled. "I won't be going. You ho ahead."
Qing Ku said, "If we go, we can eat delicious food. There will also meat dishes."
Even though Longqi Temple did not abstain from eating meat, there were only vegetables and fruits on the mountain. Moreover, they did not have any money, so it was hard for them to eat meat when they went down the mountain. Therefore, when they heard that they were going to visit Meng Qiuhe, they were very excited and fought to go.
Jiang Changsheng still refused, so Qing Ku could only give up. He was also afraid of wasting time and not being able to freeload on delicacies.
"How did he become the top martial arts scholar?"
Jiang Changsheng looked at Qing Ku's back and thought to himself.
He knew Meng Qiuh's skills in martial arts. In his eyes, Meng Qiuhe was only average. How long had it been since he left the mountain?
Chen Li had mentioned that almost all the martial arts top scholars were contested by experts in the martial arts world. There had even been a peerless expert who had obtained the title of martial arts top scholar before and directly joined the army to become a general. His achievements had attracted more martial arts experts to participate in the martial arts examination.
Something was amiss.
Jiang Changsheng shook his head and continued to cultivate, striving to perfect the Overlord Body as soon as possible.
Night fell.
Jiang Changsheng returned to the house. He was observing the snake egg. When would this little guy come out?
"In the seventeenth year of the founding of the dynasty, your former senior brother, Meng Qiuhe, set up a trap to scheme against you. However, you did not go and avoided a calamity. You received a survival reward—the magic spell, 'Rejuvenation'."
Hmm?
When Jiang Changsheng saw this line of words, he could not help but frown. Meng Qiuhe had defected?
No wonder he could become the martial arts top scholar.
Even though he was indignant, he was more excited.
Another spell!
This was more like it. How could an immortal cultivator continue to train in martial arts?
In fact, it was good to have more tribulations like this. It could make him stronger.
Jiang Changsheng immediately accepted the Rejuvenation spell and memories surged into his mind.
Rejuvenation was a healing spell. If a person had just died, it could help them keep their breath and live for a period of time. Normally, Rejuvenation could only heal wounds and speed up the coagulation of blood.
Keep one's breath?
This was a divine technique!
Jiang Changsheng felt that he could solve the case.
That night, Jiang Changsheng was cultivating the Art of Rejuvenation. Qing Ku did not come to him again. Meng Qiuhe only wanted to scheme against him, so he naturally did not make things difficult for his biological sister and other disciples.
A month later, Jiang Changsheng had completely mastered the Rejuvenation spell, but his Overlord Body had yet to be completed. He still needed time.
The snake egg had yet to hatch. If not for the fact that he could sense the vitality inside, Jiang Changsheng would have thrown it away or fried an egg to eat.
On this day, Jiang Changsheng was cultivating when Qing Ku came to visit with an angry expression.
"Senior Brother Changsheng, someone provoked Longqi Temple, and none of the disciples were his opponent. The other party said that Longqi Temple is not worthy of being the only martial arts sect in the capital and that they wanted to replace us!"
Qing Ku was furious. He clenched his fist and his veins bulged.
Jiang Changsheng frowned and asked, "There's someone in the capital who dares to provoke Longqi Temple?"
Qing Ku gritted his teeth and said, "The other party is the Demonic Priest, who is highly regarded by His Majesty. He wants to open a Daoist temple in the capital, but there is only one mountain in the city, Longqi Mountain."