The new emperor of the Deng Kingdom issued an edict, resolving to tour the west, perform the Feng and Shan sacrifices, and offer worship to Heaven.
Although the new emperor came from a military background, he could not disregard the dignity of the state or the decorum of the royal house merely for the sake of convenient travel.
After deliberation among the assembled ministers, it was decided to set out by waterway, traveling upstream.
Once they journeyed west to Danzhou City, they would disembark and proceed by land.
As for the location for the Feng and Shan sacrifices, it naturally had to be chosen from the tallest and most majestic mountain within the realm's borders.
Mount Taixuan!
However, legends said that an immortal sect resided on the mountain, far removed from the mortal world.
The assembled ministers had considerable misgivings about this.
Later, with the empress's strong recommendation and the new emperor's imperial word, the site for the Feng and Shan sacrifices was officially designated as Mount Taixuan.
Outside the capital city, a canal connected the moat with the White Dragon River.
Deng Gang was clad in a white dragon robe and wore a crown. Looking at the massive dragon vessel before him, he fell silent for a moment before saying, "Building such a grand dragon vessel must have taken quite a long time."
Qiao Yuniang's expression was calm as she answered respectfully, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this dragon vessel was built by the previous emperor. This humble woman merely ordered people to refurbish its exterior; it was actually quite simple and took very little time."
"So that is how it is." Hearing this, Deng Gang smiled, nodded slightly, and stepped forward. "Board the ship and depart!"
...
Aboard the dragon vessel.
Deng Gang looked outside through the porthole.
It was now midsummer, and the White Dragon River flowed with abundant waters.
For the dragon vessel to travel upstream was no easy feat.
Thus, the Deng Kingdom's imperial court established a boat-towing corvée, recruiting trackers along the White Dragon River to haul the dragon vessel forward.
Deng Gang was now at late-stage Qi Refining and had awakened the flood dragon bloodline; his body had become nearly inhuman.
From afar, he saw a crowd of ragged, emaciated, and dark-skinned trackers chanting work songs as they pulled the thick towropes, appearing as tiny as a swarm of ants.
Beside them were soldiers on horseback, cracking whips to oversee the work.
Whenever they saw someone slack off, the long whip in their hands would fall mercilessly.
From time to time, trackers collapsed from exhaustion or screamed under the lash.
Yet they were quickly dragged away by officials along the river and replaced with new trackers.
"Your Majesty..." Qiao Yuniang held a jade tray, softly reminding him, "It is time to take your elixir."
Deng Gang withdrew his gaze, glanced at the crimson elixir on the jade tray, and casually picked it up to swallow.
Upon entering his mouth, it first tasted fishy and sweet; then, a surging wave of scorching heat washed through all the meridians of his body. Not only did it spare him the hardship of breathing in spiritual qi and guiding it through cosmic orbits, but it also gave him a sensation of floating euphoria like ascendance to immortality.
Ever since Deng Gang had swallowed qi to enter the Dao, his cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds; this Essence Treasure Elixir deserved immense credit for it.
By now, Deng Gang had grown almost reliant on it, taking the elixir every day.
As the effects of the Essence Treasure Elixir were stimulated, Deng Gang's body once again showed signs of transforming into a flood dragon. His eyes turned grayish-white, and hot air spewed from his nose and mouth, with faint sparks visible.
His original thoughts about the boat-towing corvée being too heavy a burden and too destructive to the common people along the river had long since vanished; only a violent desire welled up within his heart.
Qiao Yuniang naturally was unwilling to offer herself up. With a gentle wave of her hand, a crowd of trembling beauties entered and voluntarily lay down upon the bed.
Deng Gang pounced onto the bed like a ravenous beast choosing prey to devour.
Qiao Yuniang took a single look, stood up, left, and closed the room door, sealing away all manner of hideous acts inside the cabin. Looking at the densely packed trackers on the bank, she could not help but fall into deep thought.
"To emulate the ancient affair of the vicious flood dragon, the people's resentment must naturally reach a boiling point."
"What a pity that this dog, having swallowed so many elixirs, still cannot reach Qi Refining great perfection to attempt 【Foundation Establishment】, so I cannot witness the old method's subtleties of raising waves and flooding both banks."
"I can only use this crude method: tormenting mortals and abusing the populace to seek resentment."
"I wonder if we can accumulate enough malevolent qi before reaching Danzhou."
...
Before long, the dragon vessel arrived at the foot of Mount Yandang.
As a remnant of a former dynasty who had spent his youth hiding and fleeing, Deng Gang naturally had no hometown to speak of; he could only treat Mount Yandang, where he had made his start, as the birthplace of his dragon rise.
As the saying goes, returning home in wealth and glory is like walking in silk robes at night if no one sees it.
The fleet took a brief rest at the foot of Mount Yandang, allowing Deng Gang to step ashore and experience the feeling of returning home in glory.
The area beneath Mount Yandang was already much more prosperous and bustling than before.
Deng Gang had no relatives. Aside from the officers and soldiers who had fought alongside him to win the realm, he also singled out a few acquaintances from Mount Yandang whom he remembered to bestow titles and rewards upon.
Mount Yandang was also exempted from the boat-towing corvée that had shaken the Deng Kingdom and terrified its common people.
Thus, upon seeing Deng Gang's arrival, the gratitude and awe of the Mount Yandang commoners were genuine and unfeigned.
Yet Deng Gang found it utterly dull and meaningless.
After offering some perfunctory responses, he headed to the thatched hut on the mountainside.
Back then, Mount Yandang had three leaders—Deng Gang, Liu Zhijian, and Elder Luo—and there were three thatched huts.
Now, Elder Luo had long since passed away, and Deng Gang had fulfilled his wish, succeeding in restoring the nation and ascending the imperial throne.
As for Liu Zhijian... he had probably succeeded in gathering qi and returned to Mount Taixuan.
Because this was the new emperor's former residence, carrying the significant symbol of the new emperor rising from humble origins and taking up arms for the people, the three thatched huts had been extremely well preserved.
Every brick, tile, plant, and tree remained exactly as it had been.
Deng Gang examined it all closely, his expression deep and solemn. Suddenly, he spoke: "Wife, do you think with my current cultivation, I can truly crusade against Mount Taixuan?!"
Qiao Yuniang maintained a composed composure. She neither belittled Mount Taixuan's foundation nor flattered Deng Gang's realm, saying only, "When Your Majesty completes the river tour and steps ashore, your momentum should reach great perfection."
"This humble woman requested a 【Foundation Establishment Pill】 from my family. When the time comes, if Your Majesty swallows it, you should be able to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."
"So long as Qixia Mountain does not intervene, wiping out Mount Taixuan should be effortless!"
"【Foundation Establishment Pill】... effortless..." Deng Gang's thoughts drifted as he muttered to himself. He turned back, smiled, and asked, "I cultivate the Old Method. Is an elixir of the Qingyun Sect's New Method truly useful for me?!"
"Naturally." Qiao Yuniang did not argue the similarities and differences between the New Method and the Old Method, offering only facts as evidence: "The Essence Treasure Elixir that Your Majesty takes daily is also a New Method elixir. Whether it is effective, Your Majesty should be well aware."
"Wife, you speak with reason; I was overthinking it," Deng Gang said with a laugh.
Having been chosen by the Qingyun Sect to take on this grand responsibility, Qiao Yuniang was naturally a person of quick wits. She faintly sensed that Deng Gang was acting somewhat abnormal, but with success right around the corner, she could not afford any more variables. Smiling bashfully, she whispered, "There is one more grand joyful event to report to Your Majesty."
"The day before yesterday, an elder of my clan examined me in person... This humble woman is pregnant with the imperial seed!"
"Is that true?!" Deng Gang was indeed overjoyed, nodding repeatedly. "Good, good, good! Indeed a grand joyful event!"
...
Outside Danzhou City.
Deng Gang's river-tour journey finally came to an end.
Those corvée trackers, reduced almost to human wrecks, collapsed onto the ground one by one, weeping tears of joy.
Some, in their wild ecstasy, let their tension snap completely; unable to catch their breath, they dropped dead on the spot.
A squad of imperial guards, terrified of ruining His Majesty's mood, galloped on horseback and cracked their whips to drive them off.
Those lying motionless on the ground—regardless of whether they were corpses or unconscious—were quietly dragged away by sent men, either to be buried or dumped into the river.
Deng Gang ignored these minor details, carefully escorting the pregnant Qiao Yuniang ashore.
The path from the riverbank to the base of Danzhou City had long been cleared and swept several times over.
Yet up ahead, a middle-aged man abruptly appeared. A black fishing rod lay at his feet, and a bonfire burned before him where fish were roasting. Holding a pot of unrefined wine, he was pouring and drinking by himself, while an empty wine cup was set across from him.
Deng Gang's eyes narrowed. He halted his steps, stopping himself just as he was about to speak.
Liu Zhijian did not stand up either. He merely raised his wine cup to toast from afar, then pointed across from him, smiling as he said, "Brother Deng, long time no see. Why not come over for a hearty drink and renew our old bond?"
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