Chapter 20

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“Daoist Master Changsheng, accept the decree.”

Eunuch Li handed the imperial decree to Jiang Changsheng with a smile. Even though Jiang Changsheng was puzzled, he still accepted the decree.

Then, Eunuch Li turned around and left. The disciples of Longqi Temple surrounded him one after another.

“Second Senior Brother, how did you become an abbot?”

“Where’s Master?”

“What’s going on?”

“Congratulations to Second Senior Brother for becoming a Daoist Master!”

The disciples talked at once. Some were puzzled, some were worried, some were excited, and some were envious.

Jiang Changsheng felt helpless. He did not expect that the change of the abbot of Longqi Temple would make such a huge commotion.

Jiang Changsheng noticed his Eldest Senior Sister, Meng Qiushuang, who was not far away. Meng Qiushuang was also stunned and stood rooted on the spot.

He immediately walked over and said, “Senior Sister, may I have a word with you?”

Meng Qiushuang took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

The other disciples did not dare to catch up as they were worried that their senior brothers and sisters would have conflicts. After all, it had been their senior sister who had been in charge of the affairs of the Daoist temple all these years. They did not expect Senior Brother Changsheng, who had never done anything, to become a Daoist Master.

The two of them arrived at an uninhabited courtyard. Jiang Changsheng was the first to speak. “Senior Sister, I didn’t expect Master to suddenly give up his position to me. You watched me grow up and know that I don’t have any management experience. In the future, you will still be in charge of the affairs of Longqi Temple. What do you think?”

Meng Qiushuang frowned and asked, “Where did Master go?”

Jiang Changsheng shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”

Meng Qiushuang stared at him for a while before she finally sighed and said, “Alright.”

Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, “Then thank you, Senior Sister. If you encounter any trouble on normal days, you can look for me. My martial arts skills are passable, and I also have some medical skills. Of course, it would be best if you could manage the internal affairs. My mind is focused on my cultivation.”

Meng Qiushuang could not help but laugh and said angrily, “Alright, I understand.”

The two of them chatted for a while before they left.

At this point, the Longqi Temple had changed owners, and the abbot was Daoist Master Changsheng.

When they returned to the courtyard, Hua Jianxin, who was cultivating the Jade Pure Meridian Cutting Needle, came over and asked curiously, “Daoist Master, why doesn’t Eunuch Li want you to kneel?”

The Emperor declared that not kneeling to receive the decree was a capital crime.

Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, “Perhaps it’s because of Longqi Temple. My master did not kneel in front of His Majesty.”

Hua Jianxin felt that it was reasonable and did not ask further.

In this year, Jiang Changsheng’s greatest change was to become a Daoist Master. Fortunately, with Meng Qiushuang around, his days did not change much. Every day, other than cultivating, he taught Wan Li and Mingyue. As for Hua Jianxin and the Devil Lord, both of them were adults. After learning the pratice method, he no longer cared about them.

Due to their young age, the two young Daoists, Wan Li and Mingyue, had not found Hua Jianxin and the Devil Lord.

Half a year later.

Jiang Changsheng let the Devil Lord go down the mountain. He needed the Devil Lord to control the Devil Sect.

Hua Jianxin stood by Jiang Changsheng’s side and asked, “Do you really trust him?”

Jiang Changsheng said, “You don’t have to worry. He knows what to choose.”

After the incident in the capital, more than 200 civil and military officials were beheaded, and the Great Jing Dynasty set off a crazy search for the Devil Sect. Now, the Devil Sect was living even worse than before. Evidently, the aristocrats had abandoned the Devil Sect. In such a situation, it was impossible for the Devil Lord to rely on them. He would only be hostile to them.

Jiang Changsheng turned around and walked to the center of the courtyard. There was a small tree planted here, a pear tree. On the tree was a white snake. It was White Dragon.

He began to tease White Dragon. White Dragon was rubbed around by him. It enjoyed it very much and did not resist at all.

Seeing this, Hua Jianxin felt goosebumps and immediately walked away.

…

It had been twenty years since the founding of the dynasty, and the country was peaceful. There was no storm, and the construction of the canal was more than halfway done.

In spring, the flowers and trees on Longqi Mountain welcomed vitality, but no guests went up the mountain that day.

In the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes and gave Hua Jianxin a look. Hua Jianxin immediately hid in the house.

After a year of cultivating, his spiritual force had doubled, and he was getting closer and closer to the fifth level.

If he faced the Devil Lord again, he would not even have to personally take action. He could kill him with the Imperial Sword Technique.

Jiang Changsheng had only faced one Heaven Arrival realm expert. By using the Devil Lord, the weakest Heaven Arrival realm expert, as base for his estimation, he guessed that the Head of Punishment and that Heaven Arrival realm expert in the palace should be 100 times stronger than the Devil Lord.

Hmm?

It was safer to compete like this.

Even though he was a hundred times stronger than the Devil Lord, he still did not pay any attention to him. However, he still wanted to break through to the fifth level of the Dao Technique.

After a while, footsteps sounded. It was Qing Ku.

Qing Ku excitedly said, “Senior Brother Changsheng, the Emperor is here and wants to see you. Hurry up and go. He is about to arrive at the Clear Heart Palace Hall. Eldest Senior Sister is currently receiving him.”

Emperor?

The day had finally come.

Jiang Changsheng did not hesitate and immediately walked away.

He and Qing Ku went to the front of the Clear Heart Palace Hall first. Qing Ku stood on one side. There were no other disciples in the courtyard.

Very soon, Jiang Yuan came in with Meng Qiushuang. The royal guards behind him quickly surrounded the courtyard and guarded it.

Jiang Yuan raised his hand, and Meng Qiushuang immediately stopped and no longer entered the hall. She shot a look at Qing Ku, and he immediately left. When he passed by Jiang Yuan, he even knelt and kowtowed.

Jiang Yuan ignored Qing Ku and looked at Jiang Changsheng.

The young Daoist Master wore a clean Daoist robe with a famous sword on his waist and a horsetail whisk in his hand. He had the aura of an expert.

Jiang Yuan revealed a satisfied smile and walked to Jiang Changsheng.

Jiang Changsheng bowed and said, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Jiang Yuan chuckled and said, “Since it’s a greeting, why don’t you kneel?”

Jiang Changsheng hesitated. Just as he was hesitating about how to answer, Jiang Yuan grabbed his hand and smiled. “Forget it. There’s no need to kneel. Let’s enter the hall and have a chat.”

Just like that, he pulled Jiang Changsheng into the Clear Heart Palace Hall. This action left Jiang Changsheng in a trance.

This was his biological father in this life.

Jiang Yuan must know that he was his son, but he did not know that Jiang Changsheng knew about it.

After entering the hall, Jiang Yuan burned incense with a devout expression and muttered something.

After Jiang Yuan finished reciting, the two of them sat on the futon and Jiang Yuan began to tell the story of his time with Daoist Master Qingxu.

Jiang Changsheng listened attentively and felt bored.

As one got older, they would be nostalgic and hope that they would not be like this in the future.

After chatting for a long time, Jiang Yuan stared at Jiang Changsheng again. He sized him up carefully and praised, “Changsheng, before Daoist Master Qingxu left, he specially instructed me to take good care of you. It’s rare for me to come here, so if you have anything you want, I will try my best to satisfy you.”

The eagerness in Jiang Yuan’s eyes made Jiang Changsheng uncomfortable.

However, Jiang Yuan had mistreated him. Plus, if there were benefits to be had, it would be a waste if he did not want it. If he did not want it, no matter how guilty Jiang Yuan felt, he would not return the position of crown prince to him.

Jiang Changsheng said, “I have done some research on alchemy, and I hope to obtain all kinds of medicinal ingredients, preferably seeds, as I can plant them on the mountain, the more the better.”

Alchemy?

Jiang Yuan’s eyes lit up and he asked, “Can you let me take a look at your medicinal pill?”

This Emperor was obsessed with the Immortal Dao, and he had been looking for pills all over the world. Naturally, he was tempted when he heard the word ‘pill’.

Jiang Changsheng took out a Beauty Pill and said, “This is a Beauty Pill that can allow one’s youth to last forever.”

Jiang Yuan took it and carefully appreciated it. The more he looked at it, the happier he was. He smiled and said, “I agree. I will accept this pill and give it to my empress.”

Jiang Changsheng could not refuse. In any case, it was for his mother.

Jiang Yuan played with the Beauty Pill and suppressed his excitement. “This pill contains a faint trace of true qi. No, it is more profound than ordinary true qi. It is absolutely not an ordinary pill. It is more outstanding than all the medicinal pills I have ever seen. Who taught you this?”

Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, “It was taught to me by an immortal in my dream.”

Jiang Yuan widened his eyes and asked, “Could it be that your martial arts were also taught by that immortal in your dream?”

Since ancient times, how many famous people had carried the color of myths? There were countless stories in their dreams.

Jiang Changsheng nodded. Jiang Yuan was completely ignited and pulled him to ask about the immortals. Jiang Changsheng was ambiguous. He said that he could not remember the immortal in his dream and only remembered what the immortal had taught him. This made Jiang Yuan believe it even more.

Jiang Changsheng pretended to hesitate and said, “Your Majesty, we hit it off at first sight. Even my master do not know about this. My master thought that an expert was silently guiding me, but that’s not the case. I hope Your Majesty can hide it for me.”

Jiang Yuan’s expression became gratified and he said, “Good, good, good. I will never mention this to anyone, but I…”

Jiang Changsheng immediately understood and said, “I’ve heard of Your Majesty’s pursuit. I haven’t obtained the art of longevity for the time being, so I don’t dare to deceive Your Majesty. However, I can concoct some longevity pills. When I have all the medicinal ingredients, I will concoct them for Your Majesty.”

“Good, good, good…”

Jiang Yuan smiled from ear to ear and patted the back of Jiang Changsheng’s hand. The two of them became closer.

After that, Jiang Yuan asked about Jiang Changsheng’s life when he was young and chatted for an hour before he left.

In front of the mountain gate, Jiang Changsheng looked at Jiang Yuan who would turn back and wave at him every three steps. He revealed a smile, but his heart was rather complicated.

The Emperor’s thoughts were hard to guess!

He even suspected if his previous guess was true. Perhaps Jiang Yuan had no choice.

However, Jiang Changsheng did not waver. His goal would not change!

He wanted to take revenge on everyone who had harmed him. The assassinations over the years were not an act!

As for the throne, only I can decide it!

The Emperor’s attitude also allowed the Longqi Temple disciples to breathe a sigh of relief. Even Meng Qiushuang was full of smiles. After Daoist Master Qingxu left, they had been worried that His Majesty would neglect Longqi Temple. It seemed like they had worried too much.

As long as His Majesty’s favor was still there, the Longqi Temple would not fall!

At noon the next day, a group of imperial guards carried a few large chests up the mountain. Other than ripe medicinal ingredients, there were also many seeds. Jiang Changsheng asked Meng Qiushuang to lead the disciples to plant these medicinal ingredients and specially reminded them of the preciousness of the medicinal ingredients. This made Meng Qiushuang nervous and personally took care of the planting.

He did not only want these medicinal ingredients to help Jiang Yuan make a Longevity Pill, but he also wanted to produce a pill that could increase his cultivation level.

How could one rely only just on their efforts for cultivation? The stimulation of external objects was also very important.

Other than cultivating, Jiang Changsheng began to study alchemy. Alchemy was only a skill and did not come with a pill formula. What’s more, there was also no formula for cultivation pills in the Spring and Autumn Medical Book, so he could only figure it out himself.

White Dragon had become his test subject. If anything went wrong, he could use Rejuvenation to treat it.

In the first month, White Dragon consumed three types of medicinal pills. The third time, the snake’s body swelled and it almost exploded. Fortunately, Jiang Changsheng used his spiritual energy to deflate it in time.

In the second month, White Dragon consumed two types of medicinal pills. Even though there were no abnormalities, its body had become thicker and was about to turn into a python.

In the next two months, the White Dragon consumed four types of medicinal pills. The fourth medicinal pill finally allowed the spiritual force in its body to increase.

It worked!