Chapter 578 — Meeting an Old Acquaintance in a Faraway Place

In that tiny dragon village, after seeing Shen Mu off and wrapping the true dragon's lair in vital essence to send it a thousand li away to Shen Mu's side, Qingya said to Old Man Qinghuang, "Patriarch, why send Brother Shen away so soon? Is he not a descendant of Kaihuang? " The other villagers were curious as well and crowded around, asking, "We heard the patriarch say that you and Kaihuang were friends in life and death. Driving Brother Shen off like this seems a bit heartless. " Old Man Qinghuang glared at them.

"We aren't even human. What 'heart' is there to speak of? Besides, I was indeed sworn to Kaihuang in life and death, but I always got the worse end of it and rarely came out ahead! That bastard Kaihuang took his wife, children, and elders off to some Carefree Land to live it up, dumped his mess behind him, and never gave it another thought.

And I'm supposed to wipe his ass for him? In his dreams! " Qingya and the others exchanged glances. The more Old Man Qinghuang spoke, the angrier he became, and he sneered, "Never seen me curse before? Back in the day I was the most famous foul-mouthed expert in Kaihuang's heavenly court — I cursed a ox god to death! Kaihuang left behind a heap of mess, and how many fellow cultivators were waiting for him to rise again, waiting for him to make his comeback — and what happened? " He shouldered his fishing net and walked out of the village, his voice thick with wrath.

"He hasn't shown his face to this day.

How many old brothers' hearts has that chilled? This Shen Mu is his one hundred and seventh generation descendant. A plucked phoenix is worse than a crested fire pheasant; the title of one hundred and seventh generation descendant is good for nothing but talk. What emperor's one hundred and seventh generation descendant is still a prince? A true dragon's one hundred and seventh generation descendant isn't even as good as a little snake! If he wants me to come out of retirement, he can come out of the Carefree Land and ask me himself.

Otherwise, even if the crown prince came, I wouldn't give him the time of day! " The crowd followed him to a cold pool. Old Man Qinghuang cast his net from the bank but did not pull it in for a long while. After a moment, he said thoughtfully, "This Shen Mu actually has some ability, but it's not enough — far from enough. . . His purpose in coming was to retrieve the military tally and learn the Ancestral Dragon's Grand Mystery Art. I gave him both. Our Azure Dragon lineage owes him nothing, owes the Shen family nothing. .

.

" Qingya and the others said nothing. A middle-aged man coughed and said, "Patriarch, if you don't pull in the net soon, the fish will all get away. " Old Man Qinghuang muttered to himself, "This Shen Mu is a little fellow who's used to stirring up trouble. I'm a good judge of character — I'm never wrong. His temperament is somewhat like Kaihuang's back then. Neither of them can sit still; both love to tinker and meddle. What worries me is that if you follow him, your lives may be put at risk.

We've lived in this village for twenty thousand years. It's been plain, but we've been happy together.

. . " "Patriarch, the fish really are getting away! " Qingya said anxiously. Old Man Qinghuang said, "That bastard Kaihuang is detestable, and being with him always had my heart in my throat, never knowing when I might drop dead. But for some reason I always miss those days. Whenever I think back on them, I feel a warmth in my chest, and my eyes grow hot. .

.

" Qingya plunged into the cold pool with a splash and after a moment came up holding a big red fish. Old Man Qinghuang murmured, "Why do I miss those days? Am I getting old. . . No, I can't let you leave the village.

This Shen Mu has shifty eyes and rat-like brows — one look and you can tell he's full of wicked schemes! " The dragon village villagers were already breathing fire to roast the fish, having left Old Man Qinghuang by the pool.

Qingya said quietly, "I actually think Brother Shen looks quite refined — big, clear eyes. He doesn't seem like a bad person. . .

" The middle-aged man said in a low voice, "Say less. The patriarch is at war with himself. Besides, the patriarch was born a genius at cursing. What good could come out of his mouth?

" "Uncle Yan, did the patriarch really curse an ox god to death? " the youngsters asked curiously. The middle-aged man, Qing Yan, hesitated, then nodded and said softly, "It was a true god.

He was cursed for three days and two nights. The patriarch's foul words never repeated once.

That ox god couldn't talk back and couldn't win a fight. He died of pure rage — they say he vomited blood enough to form a river and lingered three days before he finally breathed his last. . . " Everyone shuddered and looked back. Old Man Qinghuang was still standing by the cold pool, staring blankly, muttering to himself, "That wicked boy still has demonic nature in him — deep demonic nature.

Even Tubo wants to suppress him. Tubo only ever suppresses the most vicious criminals, so you can see he's really no good. . . But the boy does learn fast, and he has his own ideas. He's a different kind of genius. But being so fond of stirring things up, he could easily stir himself to death. . .

" The youngsters of the dragon village ate their roasted fish. Qingya said with suspicion, "Is the patriarch praising Brother Shen or cursing him?

" Old Man Qinghuang was still at war with himself, murmuring, "I can't let the young ones waste away here with an old bag of bones like me. Maybe letting them out of the village isn't such a bad thing. .

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" The crowd finished the fish and left a pile of bones on the ground. Old Man Qinghuang finally emerged from his inner struggle, shook the water from his fishing net, and prepared to pull it in, smiling. "Qing Yan, we'll have roast fish today. After we eat, I'll allow you to go out beyond the wasteland and look around.

" Qingya and the others cheered and scattered.

Old Man Qinghuang stood dazed for a moment, then shook his head.

Jiang Miao transformed into human form, becoming a youth who somewhat resembled Shen Yu. He followed Shen Mu while cultivating the Ancestral Dragon's Grand Mystery Art, unleashing various techniques and divine abilities, constantly tempering himself — very diligent. As Shen Mu walked, he circulated his Mystic Body Three Elixirs Art. With each complete cycle, the Ancestral Dragon's Eight Tones sounded once, dragon roars unending, ceaselessly refining his body.

The two headed for the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, yet their pace was not slow. Shen Mu refined several batches of Water Element Divine Essence Pills for Jiang Miao, so he could replenish his strength when tired from cultivation. Jiang Miao was not picky.

The Water Element Divine Essence Pills actually tasted bad, but they harmonized with his vital essence, so he ate them with relish and praised Shen Mu's skill.

Shen Mu thought of the Dragon Qilin and sighed inwardly. Just then, he suddenly stopped and glanced around. Jiang Miao hurriedly halted and asked curiously, "Sect Master, what is it? " Shen Mu wore a thoughtful look. "I just sensed something approaching, but when I looked closely, I saw nothing.

Strange. Did I misjudge. .

. " He continued forward. After they had gone far, a peony flower suddenly drifted like blue smoke and transformed into the appearance of Banggong Cuo — except with a deer's leg growing from his body. "That brat actually noticed me.

My cultivation and strength have clearly improved greatly, yet he still detected me. The little bastard's cultivation is rising fast. He even has a little ghost with him, seemingly of the dragon race.

That brat has dog-shit luck to get a true dragon's aid. . . More likely he kidnapped a true dragon! Someone's coming! " No sooner had Banggong Cuo thought this than his ears twitched.