Liu Neng kept his eyes shut, holding tightly to the tree while chanting “Amitabha Buddha” under his breath. Seeing this, Old Wu began cursing at him, then snapped off a branch and whipped Liu Neng with it. Liu Neng remained motionless, not even opening his eyes, and instead chanted “Amitabha Buddha” even louder. After a few lashes, Old Wu threw the branch aside and picked up his wood-cutting knife to strike Liu Neng. Liu Neng felt a sharp pain in his shoulder as the blade cut deep. In a panic, he wildly swung his own knife in retaliation and, by chance, sliced through the rope tied around Old Wu. Old Wu plummeted more than ten meters to the ground and lay motionless.
Clutching his shoulder and enduring the pain, Liu Neng felt a chilling, sinister energy swirling around him—like icy snakes slithering across his neck.
But it wasn’t long before two agonized screams rang out one after another from the imperial guards.
Then, a fierce wind roared past Liu Neng’s ears, and soon everything fell silent again.
Only when Mr. Liu’s voice was heard did everyone dare to open their eyes.
Once Liu Neng and the other two climbed down, they found Old Wu dead on the ground. The two imperial guards had stabbed each other through the heart with their swords and died standing up.
Mr. Liu gathered the three of them, distributed silver taels, and warned them that the day’s events were of great importance and must never be spoken of. To show his gratitude, he revealed that the area contained a water dragon vein, with thirty-six dragon nodes encircling it. He told them that if they were buried in these nodes in the future, their descendants would enjoy great wealth and prosperity for generations—as long as the dragon nodes remained undisturbed.
Mr. Liu did not tell them the exact location of the main dragon node.
He only instructed his page to remain on the ridge while he returned to the imperial court to report. If he managed to return, all would be well. If not, the page was to claim the main dragon node for himself. If the page married and had children, his descendants would be blessed. If he remained alone into old age, he would become the local earth deity.
In other words, Mr. Liu had revealed the main dragon node’s location only to the page.
As it turned out, Mr. Liu never returned.
The page cultivated the Dao on the ridge and, decades later, vanished without a trace.
After the page’s disappearance, the feng shui of the Shuilong Ridge changed. Souls of the nearby deceased became extraordinarily powerful. The descendants of Ma Fu, Long Xiang, and Liu Neng enjoyed great wealth and status for several generations, though their fortunes declined after the third generation.
※※※
Third Grandfather leisurely told Shui Miao the story of his grandfather’s grandfather.
Shui Miao found the tale mysterious yet somewhat believable.
After a pause, Shui Miao asked, “Third Grandfather, since you’ve passed on, you must know about that ridge. Is there really an earth deity there?”
“Heh, I can answer that. But you must promise me something in return,” Third Grandfather replied, seemingly prepared. “Of course, if you agree, I won’t shortchange you. You’ll gain something beyond your expectations.”
“I see…”
Shui Miao’s eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly. “Alright then, tell me what it is.”
“It’s simple: keep impersonating Zhang Ling until her parents pass away.” Third Grandfather sighed softly. “I’m not doing this for myself. The Zhang family line has ended, and I promised their ancestors I’d look after them. But I failed to help, so this is the least I can do to make amends.”
“I understand. But what’s in it for me? You don’t even know what I want, do you?” Shui Miao had already deduced that Third Grandfather was a descendant of Liu Neng. The page had become an earth deity, protecting the Ma, Long, and Liu families. Yet Shui Miao wondered—was the earth deity still there? Otherwise, how could Third Grandfather offer him anything worthwhile?
“Of course I know. You’re a Daoist—how could you not be devoted to cultivation?” Third Grandfather smiled faintly and whispered, “I might as well tell you: our earth deity has grown weary of this mortal world and wants to find a successor. I think you’re suitable, so I’d like to recommend you to him.”
“You… don’t seem that influential, do you?”
Shui Miao narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “If you had such standing with the earth deity, you should have spoken up when Fifth Lord Long caused the deaths of several members of the Ma family…”
“You don’t understand. The earth deity said he doesn’t interfere in conflicts among our three families. ‘Survival of the fittest’ is the natural order. He won’t trouble himself with our affairs. Besides, our generation is already beyond the third descent—he pays even less attention.” Third Grandfather had his own difficulties. If he had real influence with the earth deity, he wouldn’t need to ask Shui Miao for such a small favor.
“Fine! I agree.”
Shui Miao suddenly agreed readily. His reasoning was simple: the earth deity was undoubtedly powerful and might help him break his seal. Even if he couldn’t, shaking the seal would be reward enough.
“Good! I’ll report to the earth deity right away and tell you what to do when I return.”
Thrilled, Third Grandfather waited to ensure Shui Miao wouldn’t change his mind before vanishing.
Shui Miao casually returned to his recliner, closed his eyes, and pondered. The Ma, Long, and Liu families were under the earth deity’s protection, but what about the female spirit Bai Feng possessing Granny Ma? She seemed weak. The earth deity appeared reclusive—why hadn’t he taken in Bai Feng right under his nose, instead letting a millennia-old spirit from far away claim her? What had he been busy with all these years on the ridge?
And that Mr. Liu seemed remarkable—could he have been Liu Bowen, the legendary sage of the Ming Dynasty?
If it was Liu Bowen, then the page was truly extraordinary. He must have been cultivating the path to immortality—meaning all these years, he might have been in deep meditation, now finally reaching perfection and ready to ascend to the immortal realm.
With the Spirit Commander’s jade pendant on him, connecting with such an earth deity shouldn’t be too difficult, right?
As Shui Miao mulled this over, he realized his luck had been exceptionally good—likely due to the purple energy at work. The last few times he’d seen purple energy were in casinos and slot machine halls…
“That’s it!”
Shui Miao’s eyes snapped open, and he stood up excitedly, muttering to himself, “How could I have been so slow to realize it until now? There’s more to the energy between heaven and earth than just the seven energies of yin, yang, and the five elements. There’s also chaotic murky energy and purple luck energy. Purple luck manifests strongest in places like casinos, where human greed and desire are most exposed. I should spend more time in such places!”
Holding his shoulder and enduring the pain, Liu Neng sensed a chilling energy swirling around him, like icy venomous snakes slithering around his neck.
But not long after, two palace martial arts masters screamed in agony one after another!
Then, Liu Neng heard a fierce gust of wind near his ear. Soon after, everything fell silent again.
Mr. Liu’s voice rang out, and only then did everyone dare to open their eyes.
When Liu Neng and the other two reached the foot of the tree, they saw Lao Wutou had died from the fall. Looking at the two palace martial artists, they had stabbed each other’s hearts with their swords and stood dead.
Mr. Liu summoned Liu Neng and the other two, distributed silver coins among them, and reminded everyone that today’s incident was extremely serious and must never be spoken of. As a token of gratitude, Mr. Liu also told them there was actually a water dragon vein here. Around it were thirty-six water dragon nodes. If the three of them were buried in those nodes in the future, their descendants would surely enjoy wealth and honor generation after generation, as long as the water dragon nodes remained undisturbed.
Mr. Liu did not tell the three where the main water dragon node was.
He only asked his student to stay on the ridge while he returned to the imperial court to report. If he could return, that would be best. If not, he instructed the student to occupy the main water dragon node. If the student married and had children, his descendants would enjoy blessings. If he remained single until old age, he would become the local yin deity.
In other words, Mr. Liu had revealed the location of the main water dragon node to his student.
As it turned out, Mr. Liu never returned.
The student remained on the ridge practicing Daoism, but decades later, he vanished without a trace.
Liu Neng kept his eyes shut, hugging the tree tightly while chanting “Amitabha Buddha” under his breath. Seeing this, Old Wu began cursing at him, even snapping off a branch to whip him. Liu Neng remained motionless, not opening his eyes but instead chanting even louder. After a few strikes, Old Wu threw the branch aside and picked up his wood-cutting knife to slash at Liu Neng. Liu Neng felt a sharp pain in his shoulder as the blade struck him squarely. Panicked, he wildly swung his own knife in retaliation and, by chance, cut the rope tied around Old Wu. Old Wu plummeted more than ten meters to the ground and lay still.
Clutching his shoulder and enduring the pain, Liu Neng felt a chilling aura swirling around him, like icy snakes slithering across his neck.
But it wasn’t long before two agonized screams echoed one after another—the imperial guards had met their end.
Soon after, Liu Neng heard the wind howling fiercely around him, and then everything fell silent again.
Mr. Liu’s voice broke the stillness, and only then did everyone dare to open their eyes.
When Liu Neng and the other two climbed down, they found Old Wu dead from the fall. The two imperial guards had stabbed each other through the heart with their swords and died standing upright.
Mr. Liu assembled the three of them, handed out silver taels, and sternly cautioned that the day’s events were of utmost significance and must never be disclosed. In appreciation, he disclosed that the area harbored a water dragon vein, with thirty-six dragon acupoints encircling it. He informed them that if they were to be buried in these locations in the future, their descendants would prosper with immense wealth and honor for generations—provided the dragon acupoints remained untouched.
Mr. Liu did not reveal the precise location of the primary dragon’s lair.
Instead, he instructed his page boy to remain on the ridge while he returned to the imperial court to deliver his report. If he failed to return, the page boy was to claim the primary dragon’s lair. Should the page boy marry and have children, the blessing would be passed on to his descendants. If he remained alone into old age, he would become the local earth deity.
In other words, Mr. Liu had entrusted the location of the primary dragon’s lair to the young scholar.
As it turned out, Mr. Liu never returned.
The book boy cultivated himself on the ridge, and decades later, he vanished without a trace.
After his disappearance, the feng shui of the Shuilong Ridge changed. The souls of nearby residents who passed away became exceptionally powerful. The descendants of Ma Fu, Long Xiang, and Liu Neng enjoyed prosperity and wealth for several generations, though their fortunes declined after the third generation.
※※※
Third Grandfather unhurriedly told Shui Miao the story of his grandfather’s grandfather.
After hearing it, Shui Miao found it mystical yet somewhat believable.
After a pause, he asked, “Third Grandfather, since you’ve passed away, you must know about that ridge. Is there really an earth deity there?”
“Hehe, I can answer that, but you must promise me something in return,” Third Grandfather replied, seemingly prepared. “Of course, if you agree, I won’t shortchange you. You’ll gain something beyond your expectations.”
“I see…”
Shui Miao’s eyes sparkled as he smiled. “Alright then, tell me what it is.”
“It’s simple: keep impersonating Zhang Ling until his parents pass away,” Third Grandfather said with a light sigh. “I’m doing this for no other reason than to fulfill a promise to his ancestors. I was entrusted to look after his family line, but I failed to help. This is my last effort to make amends.”
“So that’s it. And what’s your offer? You don’t seem to know what I want, do you?” Shui Miao had already deduced that Third Grandfather was surnamed Liu, a descendant of that Liu Neng. The book boy had become an earth deity, protecting the Ma, Long, and Liu families. But Shui Miao wondered: was the earth deity still there? Otherwise, how could Third Grandfather offer him anything worthwhile?
“Of course I know. You’re a Taoist practitioner—how could you not be devoted to cultivation?” Third Grandfather smiled faintly and whispered, “I might as well tell you: our earth deity has grown weary of this mortal world and wants to find a successor. I think you’re suitable, so I’d like to recommend you to him.”
“You… don’t seem that influential, do you?”
Shui Miao narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “If you held such sway with the earth deity, you should have spoken up when Fifth Master Long harmed several members of the Ma family…”
“You don’t understand. The earth deity has said he doesn’t interfere in the disputes among our three families. ‘Survival of the fittest’ is the natural order. He won’t trouble himself with our affairs. Besides, our generation is already beyond the third descent—he pays even less attention.” Third Grandfather had his own difficulties. If he had real influence with the earth deity, he wouldn’t need to ask Shui Miao for such a small favor.
“Deal! I agree.”
Shui Miao suddenly agreed readily. His reason was simple: the earth deity must be incredibly powerful and could likely help him break his seal. Even if he couldn’t, it was worth a try—any progress would be enough.
“Great! I’ll report to the earth deity right away and come back to tell you what to do.”
Third Grandfather was thrilled. Seeing that Shui Miao showed no intention of going back on his word, he vanished.
Shui Miao nonchalantly returned to his recliner, closed his eyes, and pondered. The Ma, Long, and Liu families were under the earth deity’s protection, but what about the female spirit Bai Feng possessing Grandma Ma? She seemed weak. The earth deity appeared reclusive—why hadn’t he taken Bai Feng as a disciple instead of letting a millennia-old spirit from far away claim her? What had he been doing all these years on the ridge?
And that Mr. Liu seemed remarkable—could he have been Liu Bowen, the legendary strategist of the Ming Dynasty?
If it were Liu Bowen, then the book boy was extraordinary—he must have been cultivating immortality. All these years, he might have been in deep meditation, and now, with his cultivation complete, he was ready to ascend to the immortal realm.
With the Spirit Commander’s jade pendant on him, Shui Miao figured it shouldn’t be too hard to connect with such an earth deity.
As he mused, Shui Miao realized his luck had been exceptionally good lately, likely due to the purple aura. He’d seen this aura before in casinos and slot machine parlors…
“That’s it!”
Shui Miao’s eyes flew open as he sprang up excitedly, muttering to himself, “How could I have been so slow to realize it until now? Beyond the seven energies of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements, there must also be chaotic murkiness and purple luck. Purple luck manifests strongest in places like casinos, where human greed and desire are most exposed. I should frequent such places more often!”
※※※
San Ta Ye calmly told Shui Miao the story of his great-grandfather.
Shui Miao found the tale mysterious but somewhat believable.
After a pause, he asked, “San Ta Ye, since you’ve already died, you must know about the ridge. Is there really a yin deity there?”
“Haha, I can answer that for you. But you must promise me one thing in return,” San Ta Ye seemed prepared. “Of course, I won’t let you down. I promise you’ll gain something unexpected.”
“Hmm…”
Shui Miao’s eyes twinkled as he smiled slightly. “Alright then, tell me what it is.”
“It’s simple. Keep pretending to be Zhang Ling until his parents pass away naturally,” San Ta Ye sighed softly. “I’m not doing this for any other reason. The Zhang family line is about to end, and I was entrusted by their ancestors to protect them, but I failed to help at all. So I want to do this one last thing to make amends.”
“I see. But what’s in it for me? You don’t even know what I want, do you?” Shui Miao caught on. This San Ta Ye surnamed Liu, a descendant of Liu Neng. The student had become a yin deity protecting the Ma, Long, and Liu families. But Shui Miao also had doubts—could it be that the student-turned-yin deity no longer existed? Otherwise, how dare Liu San Ta Ye offer such a deal?
“Of course I know. You’re a Daoist practitioner, how could you not be passionate about cultivation?” San Ta Ye smiled faintly. “I can tell you this much—it’s because our yin deity is tired of the mortal world and wants a successor. I think you’re suitable, so I’d like to recommend you to him.”
“You… don’t seem that influential, do you?”
Shui Miao narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “If you had real influence with the yin deity, you should’ve stepped in when Long Wu killed several members of the Ma family…”
“Well… you wouldn’t understand. The yin deity said he wouldn’t interfere in disputes among our three families. The strong prevail, the fittest survive—that’s the natural way. He won’t spend all his time worrying about our affairs. Besides, our generation is already beyond the third generation. He definitely won’t care anymore.” San Ta Ye had his own difficulties. If he had real influence with the yin deity, he wouldn’t need to beg Shui Miao for such a small favor.
“Fine! I agree.”
Shui Miao suddenly agreed readily. His reasoning was simple—the yin deity must be powerful. He might be able to help lift his seal. Even if not, it wouldn’t hurt. At the very least, it might weaken the seal, which would already be worth it.
“Great! I’ll go report to the yin deity right away and come back to tell you exactly what to do.”
San Ta Ye was excited. Seeing no hesitation from Shui Miao, he vanished quickly.
Shui Miao casually returned to his reclining chair, closed his eyes, and pondered. Here were the Ma, Long, and Liu families protected by the yin deity. But who was the female ghost Bai Feng attached to Ma Po? She seemed very weak. The yin deity must be a loner—ignoring Bai Feng right under his nose while having a thousand-year-old female ghost from afar take her as a disciple. What had he been up to all these years on the ridge?
Also, that Mr. Liu seemed extremely powerful. Could he possibly be Liu Bowen, the semi-immortal from the Ming Dynasty?
If it was indeed the semi-immortal Liu Bowen, then that student must be extraordinary. He must have practiced immortal cultivation. Meaning all these years, he might have been in continuous meditation. Now wanting to ascend to the immortal realm, his cultivation must be at ultimate perfection.
Shui Miao had the Ling Shuai jade pendant. Establishing contact with such a yin deity shouldn’t be too difficult.
As Shui Miao contemplated, he realized how lucky he had been. The purple energy must be playing a role. Previously, wherever he saw the purple energy was either a casino or a slot machine parlor…
“That’s right!”
Shui Miao suddenly opened his eyes, stood up excitedly, and murmured to himself: “How could I be so stupid? Only now did I realize that there must be more than just the seven types of spiritual energy—yin, yang, and the five elements. There’s also chaotic bad luck and purple fortune. And the places where purple fortune manifests are casinos. Casinos are where human greed and desires are most exposed. I should visit such places more often!”
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