Chapter 00166: Chaos on Chaos
# Chaos on Chaos
Chapter 166
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 166: Chaos on Chaos
He Chunhua and the others were all moved: "Is it true?"
"True."
He Lingchuan clenched his fist, beaming with pride, "Who told me I have extraordinary talent?"
No one else had any objections.
Last night, the Emperor's Flowing Essence fell from the sky, and everyone shared the benefits.
Except for a few lucky individuals, the essence distributed among the myriad beings was pitifully little, barely enough to fill the gaps between their teeth.
The luckiest ones only increased their cultivation by a few dozen days, yet He Lingchuan managed to lay a solid foundation with just this bit of Emperor's Flowing Essence.
Wasn't that extraordinary talent?
He Chunhua stroked his chin and smiled, "You're young, your body has less filth, making it easier to cleanse; someone like me or Vice General Wu, at our age, even with three or four times the Emperor's Flowing Essence, we wouldn't be able to change our sinews and marrow."
Wu Shaoyi sighed, "Alas, this is just fate!"
The last appearance of the Emperor's Flowing Essence was sixty years ago.
He was already luckier than most; although he barely caught up, being over fifty, he couldn't compare to the He brothers in their prime.
Youth brings more opportunities.
Youth is everything.
He Yue's envy was evident: "Brother, how much cultivation have you gained?"
"At least three to five years, right?" He Lingchuan turned to urge He Chunhua, "Father, what about the cultivation method you promised me?"
His foundation was becoming more solid, yet he lacked a suitable cultivation method and had been wasting time.
Now that he had found hope from Panlong City, he wanted to try his luck with Old Man He.
He Chunhua smiled, "None of them are suitable for you; you'll have to gather more in Xiazhou! Who would have thought you would rise so suddenly?"
He Yue suggested, "I've heard that the Chuan Yun Pavilion, based in Xiazhou, has a great reputation, advocating for disciples to cultivate both techniques and martial arts. In recent years, many talented individuals have emerged from their ranks. Why not give it a try there, big brother?"
He Lingchuan became interested: "You mean, let me join their sect?"
"Why not?" He Yue's eyes sparkled, "General Wu Di, who pacified the Woling Pass, is a disciple of the Jianyang Sect, taught by Qianyun Shangren. There are many members of the Dao Sect in every kingdom's royal court."
The Dao Sect transmits its teachings, broadly divided into techniques and martial arts.
In chaotic times, martial prowess is emphasized, and many renowned generals enter the Dao through martial arts, honing their skills.
As for technique practitioners, there's no need to elaborate; even noble scions must dabble in it, at the very least cultivating some divine abilities for longevity.
In this world, if one cultivates their divine abilities well, living to one hundred and thirty or forty years old is not a problem.
Of course, poor families are not worthy of such opportunities.
He family's advisor, Mo Zhe Jingxuan, clapped his hands and said, "The second young master is right! A Dao Sect like Chuan Yun Pavilion has been entrenched in Xiazhou for a long time, with deep roots. If the eldest young master joins them, it would be a great support for the lord!"
He Lingchuan thought to himself that this fellow eats at his family's table and indeed considers everything from Old Man He’s perspective.
He Chunhua was about to head to Xiazhou for his new appointment, where he had no foundation.
All relationships would need to be built from scratch.
If he could gain the support of a powerful local Dao Sect, he would surely be able to establish himself more quickly.
"And in the future, the talents under the lord's command may also need to be sourced from Dao Sects like Chuan Yun Pavilion."
He Chunhua listened with his head lowered, noncommittal.
He Yue and the others were unaware of their father's attitude, but He Lingchuan raised his eyelids: "So if I join the Dao Sect, I can provide support for Father! Does that mean I should also carefully select a wife in the future? As long as she has power and influence, even if she's a two-hundred-pound fat woman, that would be fine?"
Mo Zhe Jingxuan's expression froze: "Eldest young master, such sacrifices are unnecessary."
He Lingchuan curled his lips, and He Yue laughed.
Then Mo Zhe Jingxuan continued, "Xiazhou has beautiful mountains and rivers, and among the local nobles, there are many young ladies raised to be as beautiful as flowers, gentle and elegant!"
"No two-hundred-pound fat women?"
He Yue couldn't help but interject: "Sir, you may not know, my big brother is not fond of frail and delicate women."
He Lingchuan glanced sideways: "Is that so? I'm not fond?"
Ha, how could he not know?
Having been here for so long, he hadn't even held a girl's hand a few times!
What a failed transmigration.
"N-no, not at all."
Mo Zhe Jingxuan realized this little ancestor was displeased and had to apologize, "Eldest young master, it was my slip of the tongue, please don't take offense!"
While they were joking around, He Chunhua remained silent until everyone had finished speaking, then he slowly opened his mouth: "Even if Chuan'er joins the Dao Sect, it must be done with caution. The Chuan Yun Pavilion has only about two thousand members, and their reputation does not reach Yuan Nan. If he has an unlimited future, just joining Chuan Yun Pavilion would be underestimating his talent."
"Father's vision is indeed broad!" He Lingchuan's eyes lit up, "The capital is where all the immortals clash!"
"Yes, our He family will eventually return to the capital; we won't be confined to Xiazhou."
Xiazhou is definitely not their final destination, He Chunhua looked at the distant mountains, "This matter cannot be rushed; it requires careful selection."
Wu Shaoyi also said, "Martial arts and techniques are vastly different; the heart method, moves, and martial skills are merely the foundation. The most important thing is actual combat. Technique practitioners can cultivate in peace, but martial arts must be refined amidst thousands of troops, proving their path through killing! Eldest young master, you see me and Lu Yao, neither of us come from a martial arts background, yet we have slain seven martial generals of the Yuan Kingdom. Do you believe our foundation is not as solid as theirs?"
No one else dared to respond to this, after all, this fellow had killed generals of their own country.
"The so-called great path is simple; being able to win and kill is enough."
Wu Shaoyi chuckled, "We have Yuan power protecting us, which is a natural nemesis to ordinary technique practitioners. If the opponent's Yuan power is not strong, technique practitioners are just weaklings in front of us. Why bother with so many tricks?"
He Chunhua also agreed: "Whether military strategy or governance, there are only a few key texts. If merely memorizing them were useful, how would one distinguish between high and low? The key still lies in one's own comprehension. Chuan'er, don't be anxious; we will have our plans."
At this point, everyone had no objections, while He Lingchuan secretly smiled.
Next, He Chunhua reminded Zeng Feixiong and the others: "If the Emperor's Flowing Essence still exists in the world, its effects will end by morning, and there will be less trouble for the boats on the Hongchuan. We will set off after dawn to take a boat at Fengling Crossing."
After saying this, he sighed, "The Emperor's Flowing Essence appears once in decades; it really couldn't have come at a worse time."
"What do you mean?" He Lingchuan didn't understand, "The Emperor's Flowing Essence is a heavenly material and earthly treasure; it’s never too late for it to arrive."
He pointed at Wu Shaoyi: "Look, even Old Wu can live a few more years."
When he walked over earlier, he had noticed that Wu Shaoyi's complexion was rosy, and the green aura on his forehead had faded significantly.
This person had used secret techniques to replace his severe injuries but had not escaped the death calamity; he had merely extended his life by three to five years.
But with the arrival of the Emperor's Flowing Essence, even if the amount was small, it would provide a fresh source of vitality to his exhausted essence.
Wu Shaoyi nodded: "Yes, heaven has shown mercy; perhaps I can live another two years."
In the past, he had been indifferent to fighting and killing, but suddenly, with the countdown of his remaining time, he felt that every breath of air he inhaled was sweet.
"Among the five insects, only humans observe etiquette and maintain order, yet even so, many people died in Shuanghe Town last night. With the sudden appearance of the Emperor's Flowing Essence, birds, beasts, insects, and fish are all scrambling for food. It won't be long before great disasters arise in Da Yuan. Incidents like the Spirit of the Fairy Lake being killed and new demons taking over will occur one after another."
At this moment, the cook came over with a plate: "My lord, there aren't many leftovers in the kitchen; I've only made a few pancakes."
Aside from a dozen pancakes, there was also a plate of bean paste.
He Lingchuan was not polite, tearing off a palm-sized pancake, dipping it in the sauce, and sending it to his mouth.
The cook stared at him without blinking, and He Lingchuan said irritably, "What are you looking at? Do you enjoy watching people eat?"
The cook chuckled and ran away.
He had said there wasn't enough food, but the pancakes were kneaded several times and generously oiled, resulting in pancakes that were fragrant and crispy, with four or five layers, and filled with minced meat and pickled vegetables.
He Lingchuan took a couple of bites; it was delicious, but he always felt something was missing.
He stood up and went to rummage in the kitchen.
As he turned around, the smile on his face disappeared.
He had woken up with the determination to learn the heart method from Panlong City.
He had only mentioned it earlier as a test, and sure enough, Old Man He had pushed it aside again.
This was not the first time.
Why did He Chunhua not want his son to enter the hall and diligently study martial arts?
Over there, He Chunhua continued, "The effects of the Emperor's Flowing Essence on beasts and demons are immediate, faster than on humans. Ignorant beasts gain intelligence, and demons with Dao cultivation further enhance their abilities, not knowing how much trouble they will bring to the locals."
Wu Shaoyi thought for a moment: "When feathered beasts and animals first transform into demons, they are lively and reckless, unaware of human laws, sometimes even preying on humans. When I was young, I lived on Yun Po Island, which was not particularly peaceful, but the local mountains and marshes were well-regulated, allowing demons and humans to coexist peacefully for decades. But one day, several villagers were killed, and their remains were devoured. The county sent people to investigate and determined it was the work of a fierce beast with sharp teeth. The county organized a wolf-hunting team and killed dozens of wolves in the mountains. But not long after, more people were killed."
He Lingchuan adjusted himself and returned, holding a green onion.
Pancakes with green onions were just the right flavor.
He took a bite, crunching away, as if nothing was wrong: "Are the wolves innocent?"
"There were a total of four incidents. Initially, the culprit only appeared at night, attacking in remote areas. Later, as the number of victims increased, their courage grew, and they brazenly attacked villages in broad daylight. Survivors reported back, and people realized that the man-eater was not a wild beast, but a giant salamander that had just transformed into a demon in the marsh! No wonder searching the mountains and marshes was useless; it turned out to be a monster lurking in the water."
"Of course, the Emperor's Flowing Essence is a good thing, but according to past records, within six months of its appearance, chaos is bound to ensue, whether it be human calamities or demon disasters; this is called fortune and misfortune intertwined."
Mo Zhe Jingxuan sighed, "If Da Yuan were still at its peak, relying solely on luck could suppress these things, preventing them from causing chaos. But now..."
There was no need to say more; everyone understood.
He Yue also said softly, "If the nation does not prosper, demons will surely arise."
Among those present, only He Lingchuan could eat and drink without a care: "Stop sighing; what does that have to do with us? Tomorrow the sun will still rise in the east, and even if the sky falls, there will be tall people to hold it up."
This carefree attitude was very much like He Lingchuan; others found it unremarkable, but only He Chunhua glanced at him: "I'm afraid this time it will be us who have to hold it up."
(End of Chapter)