The key to finding dragon veins lies in understanding their form and energy. The form and energy of dragon veins are distinct: a thousand feet represent the energy, while a hundred feet represent the form. Energy pertains to distant perspectives, while form pertains to close observations. Energy is the pinnacle of form, and form is the accumulation of energy. Energy resides externally, while form resides internally. Energy is like the undulating peaks of a fortress, while form resembles the towers and gates of a building. Recognizing energy is difficult, while observing form is easier.
With the guidance of the dragon vein compass, Qin Yu and He Ping climbed over a steep mountain ridge. Their faces lit up with joy. Qin Yu gazed into the distance and saw a prominent mountain peak ahead. The ridge descended like the back of a nine-segmented dragon, with the peak rising straight up, piercing the clouds. It perfectly matched the saying in Feng Shui: "The true dragon reveals no head."
"This is indeed a dragon vein!"
"Yes, the surrounding mountains encircle the peak like stars protecting it. It must be a dragon vein. No mistake about it!"
Qin Yu closed his eyes and sensed the Qi flowing through his mind. He could feel the spiritual energy emanating from the mountain peak ahead, which exuded a powerful aura. This aura was entirely different from malevolent energy. The latter evoked a cold and uncomfortable feeling, while this aura filled one's heart and mind with an indescribable sense of tranquility and sublimity.
Furthermore, Qin Yu made an astonishing discovery. As he practiced his Qi cultivation technique, the spiritual energy from the dragon vein seeped into his body, replenishing him with vitality and dispelling the fatigue caused by using the dragon vein compass. His entire being gradually regained its vigor.
"The dragon vein nourishes a person. No wonder ancient hermits chose to retreat to places abundant in spiritual energy. The uplifting effect on one's state of mind is truly remarkable," Qin Yu silently marveled.
"He Ping, what's happening with Mr. Qin?" Mo Yongxin, who followed behind, noticed Qin Yu closing his eyes and remaining still, wearing an expression of confusion. She turned to He Ping and asked.
"Qin Brother is truly blessed. He's being nourished by the dragon vein's energy, which explains why he appears so youthful. His profound knowledge of Feng Shui is a testament to his great fortune," He Ping said while staring at Qin Yu, his face filled with envy.
"Nourished by the dragon vein's energy?" Mo Yongxin's lips curled upwards, now catching onto something about Qin Yu. Upon closer observation, she noticed something different about his aura. Qin Yu seemed peaceful, emitting a magnetic pull that made one naturally want to draw near. It was a peculiar sensation, especially when she recalled the soft places on her body that he had touched earlier. A rosy blush colored her cheeks, a moment of irresistible charm.
At this moment, Qin Yu had no attention to spare for those around him. As more and more spiritual energy entered his body, the speed of his Qi cultivation technique increased. After a while, it seemed that the influx of spiritual energy reached the limit his body could contain. With a crisp "click" sound, Qin Yu's spirit shook, as if breaking through a certain restraint, entering a brand new realm.
"This mountain, this water, this aura!" Qin Yu closed his eyes, and the scenery around him automatically appeared in his mind. He could vaguely grasp the flowing energy of the dragon vein and sense the emotions of the plants and trees.
Expanding his perception, Qin Yu extended it towards the mountain peak ahead. He saw the mountain transform into a gigantic golden dragon, coiled on the ground as if in slumber.
When Qin Yu's perception approached to a distance of about three zhang from the golden dragon, a loud and majestic roar echoed out. It seemed that the dragon had detected someone intruding and turned its head, roaring towards Qin Yu.
"Qin Brother, are you alright?"
A dragon's roar jolted Qin Yu out of this extraordinary state. His body swayed twice before returning to clarity. He opened his eyes and heard He Ping's concerned voice. He shook his head, indicating that he was unharmed.
"Qin Brother, this must be your first encounter with a dragon vein site, right? It must be, otherwise, you wouldn't experience the nourishment of the dragon vein's energy!"
Qin Yu nodded. His exposure to the field of Feng Shui had been relatively brief, and his knowledge of dragon veins was limited to some records in the Book of Burial. This was his first firsthand experience.
He was aware of the situation of being nourished by a dragon vein. According to legend, when some Feng Shui masters visited a dragon vein site for the first time, individuals with deep connections to it would often receive the dragon vein's recognition and be blessed with its energy.
He Ping made no attempt to conceal his envy. Feng Shui masters who could be nourished by the energy of a dragon vein were extremely rare. Throughout history, renowned Feng Shui masters had all been nourished by the energy of a dragon vein. The benefits of being nurtured by a dragon vein's energy were enormous, but the specific changes it brought about were unknown. There were no detailed records in history of what changes the nourishment of a dragon vein brought, apart from the individuals involved themselves.
"Qin Brother, after being nourished by the energy of the dragon vein, do you feel any different?"
He Ping knew his question was abrupt. Their friendship was not deep, but his curiosity got the better of him. It was rare to encounter a Feng Shui master who could receive the nourishment of a dragon vein. It might take a century or more to come across one, and if he hadn't encountered Qin Yu, he might have missed the chance. Since he did encounter it, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable without understanding more about it.
"Feelings? It seems that my sensitivity to the energy field of this world has become more acute," Qin Yu replied.
Qin Yu didn't hide anything and answered directly. He didn't see any reason to conceal it. However, he chose not to mention the ability to see the dragon vein's manifestation. Some things are better left unsaid when the relationship is shallow.
"Mr. Qin, if you're okay, can we continue forward?"
Mo Yongxin interrupted their conversation. For some reason, she seemed to have a peculiar feeling towards Qin Yu, which made her uncomfortable, even bordering on dislike. So, in order to resist this feeling within herself, she abruptly interjected.
"We can continue forward. According to the records in the old Feng Shui master's notes, the cave is located at the dragon's head, which should be in that specific area."
Qin Yu pointed towards a spot on the mountain peak ahead. During his previous meditation, he had clearly sensed the location of the dragon's head. He led the group straight towards the target area.
"This is the dragon's head position. Let's search carefully in this area, everyone!"
The son of the old Feng Shui master had sealed the cave entrance with a stone many decades ago. Now, over sixty years had passed, and the area was overgrown with shrubs and towering trees. It would take some time to locate the entrance.
However, with the large group brought by the Mo family, progress was not slow. Within a short time, the search area had been narrowed down to within one li. While Qin Yu continued searching, he heard Mo Yongxing's voice not far from his side. It turned out that she had discovered a stone in the undergrowth.
"Look at the size of this stone, it's similar to the description in the notes. The cave should be right beneath it." Qin Yu quickly walked over to Mo Yongxing. She gave him a triumphant look, proud to have found it amidst the efforts of so many people. The young master of the Mo family was brimming with pride.
Several black-clad bodyguards worked together to clear the area. The stone was revealed in front of everyone. After enduring years of exposure to the sun and rain, its surface was covered in moss. It was about a meter in length and width, just the right size for a person to push.
The black-clad bodyguards formed a circle around the stone, while the Mo siblings, Qin Yu, and He Ping stood outside the circle. The bodyguards carefully pushed the stone because the notes of the old Feng Shui master's eldest son suggested that there might be some unknown dangers within the cave. After so many years, no one knew what lay inside, so no one dared to take it lightly.
Although the progress was slow, the stone was not large, and it was soon moved to a different position. A dark cave appeared in front of everyone. Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the cave. His mission was considered accomplished.
"Mr. Qin, this is your reward for this time. Please accept it first!" Mo Yongxin saw the cave and her excitement was evident. But then she remembered the agreement she had with Qin Yu and took out a pre-filled check with the appropriate amount and handed it to him.
Taking the check handed over by Mo Yongxin, Qin Yu didn't pretend to be polite. It was a prearranged agreement between them. However, Qin Yu didn't immediately leave after receiving the check. His current location was deep in the Copper Drum Mountain area, and it wouldn't be safe for him to travel alone. He might encounter ferocious wild beasts or even venomous snakes along the way.
Therefore, Qin Yu decided to wait here for the main group to return together. Besides, it was impossible for him not to be curious about what was inside this cave. Dragon Crystal Liquid, a spiritual substance nurtured by the essence of heaven and earth, was something that no one could resist.
"Mr. Qin, it's not safe for you to go back alone right now. Why don't you wait here until we all return together?" Mo Yongxin suggested thoughtfully. Qin Yu naturally nodded and accepted the suggestion.
Meanwhile, during the time Qin Yu and Mo Yongxin were talking, the black-clad bodyguards had set up a pulley-like contraption at the cave entrance. It resembled an ancient well's pulley system, with a sturdy steel wire wound around it. One end of the wire was tied to an iron frame that could fit into the cave.
A black-clad bodyguard placed a device resembling a thermometer into the iron frame, which was then inserted into the cave. They started rotating the wire, and the iron frame slowly descended towards the bottom of the cave.
"This is an environmental measuring device. It combines measurements of air humidity, gas composition, and temperature into one instrument," He Ping explained when he noticed Qin Yu's confusion.
"An environmental measuring device? High technology is impressive!" Qin Yu exclaimed, a bit nonsensically. In fact, he was reminded of some tomb-raiding books he had read before. If those tomb raiders had such advanced equipment, they wouldn't need to put a chicken into the tomb to determine the air circulation. They could easily understand the situation inside the tomb through the data provided by the instrument.
Just like in the famous novel "Ghost Blows Out the Light," where it is mentioned that if a lamp goes out when placed in the corner of the southern wall, it means that people must immediately leave. In reality, the true reason for the lamp going out is the lack of oxygen, warning the tomb raiders that they should leave. However, over generations, it turned into a rule and was imbued with a mysterious aura.