CH 104.2

“That’s right.” Master Mao also agreed, “Although the reasons why it was selected as a restricted area for Metaphysics have not been officially announced, there are a few places that are listed as restricted areas for reasons that are known and unspoken by all Celestial Masters in the Metaphysics community. Those are… where the dragon veins of the state are located.”

Hearing the country’s dragon veins, Chen Yu and Lou Ming’s expressions flickered.

“Of course, Qingmang Mountain is not on top of a Dragon Vein. Otherwise, I would not have submitted the application so easily,” Master Mao added.

“Neither this nor that, but the spiritual artifact is clearly there. What the hell are we going to do?” Is it just a matter of finding something? Why is it so complicated?

“At the very least, we need to know the reason why Qingmang Mountain is classified as a forbidden area for Metaphysics first. That way, we can know what to do next,” said Master Mao.

“I agree.” Lou Ming nodded approvingly, then turned his head and once again admonished Chen Yu, “Shishi, promise me. Don’t sneak in secretly and do anything nonsensical.”

Chen Yu pouted and refused to reply to Lou Ming. Her expression which made it clear that she wanted to slip in secretly made Lou Ming angry and amused at the same time. He didn’t know whether to be pleased with Chen Yu’s honesty and unwillingness to lie to him, or be upset at her disobedient character.

“Little Friend Chen, Qingmang Mountain is not a place where you can just barge into.” Master Mao said, “Every Metaphysics restricted area has people in charge of guarding it. The guardian of Qingmang Mountain is Shen Qingzhu, the top formation master in the Metaphysics world. It is said that he can even set up magical barriers. His cultivation is unfathomable.”

His cultivation base is unfathomable? If worse comes to worst, she could just ask the Old Man.  Anyway, he had always claimed to be the first in the Metaphysics world.

Lou Ming noticed Chen Yu’s inward thoughts, and decided deep down: He Qi must keep a close eye on Chen Yu’s movements later. She isn’t allowed to go to Qingmang Mountain.

Qingmang Mountain.

Four Metaphysics bosses who could shake the Metaphysics world with a single stomp of their feet squatted on a desolate and dry hillside, carefully studying the abnormal spirit qi fluctuations underground.

Shen Qingzhu: “What do you guys think is down here?”

Grand Master Ci Hai: “It should be a magic artifact.”

Yan Chongming: “I also think so, except, why would this magic artifact suddenly make unusual movements?”

The three fell silent for a moment,  and then tacitly turned their heads at the same time and looked at Elder Wu.

“Why are you looking at me?” The moment Elder Wu raised his head, he was confronted with three old faces with wrinkles all over. They only earned his disgust.

These bunch of old fogies, they were already at such an old age yet they didn’t know how to apply facial masks. Look at those long wrinkles. He was still the most handsome.

“We’re asking you.” Yan Chongming rolled his eyes.

“Pardon?”

“Why is the magic artifact suddenly moving strangely?” Yan Chongming repeated patiently.

“You’re asking me?” Elder Wu spread his hands in a vexing manner. “How do I know?”

“You…” Twenty years; it has been a long time since Yan Chongming was so angry. This old bastard, I’d better beat him up for now.

Seeing that the two were going to get into blows again, Shen Qingzhu reached out to stop Yan Chongming who was already rolling up his sleeves. He advised, “The problem now is not the magic artifact. But, if it continues to move like this, will the drought demon sealed inside wake up?”

“My thoughts exactly,” Grand Master Ci Hai echoed. “This drought demon has been sealed here by our ancestors for hundreds of years, and we don’t know how many times it has awakened. A drought demon is a rare creature under the heavens, and can avoid the Heavenly Tribulation three times. That is to say, only when it awakens for the fourth time will the Heavenly Dao send down the Lightning Tribulation to kill it. Until then, we can only seal it.”

“Even if it awakens the fourth time, we can’t let it wake up.” Shen Qingzhu frowned and said, “When the drought demon comes out, severe drought will plague the world.”

“Now that science is so advanced, a drought of one to two years should be fine,” Elder Wu suddenly looked up and commented.

“…” Yan Chongming.

“Merciful Buddha…” Grand Master Ci Hai chanted Buddha’s name.

“Wu Li, the severe drought is just one of the unusual phenomenons that follows the awakening of the drought demon. How do you know that there aren’t any other hazards after it wakes up?” Shen Qingzhu could not help but scold him loudly, “This is a matter affecting the world.”

“Of course I know that.” Elder Wu said after a pause, “I just think that even if we reseal the drought demon this time around, it is still just going to sleep. Sooner or later, it will still wake up.”

The other three fell into silence again. Naturally, they understood this, but the Metaphysics circle had not yet found a way to exterminate a drought demon.

“Let’s seal it for now. We can delay it for a while. Maybe future generations will have a way, no?” Shen Qingzhu said.

“Future generations? With our lineage so broken like now, do you really think our descendants will come up with a solution?” Elder Wu snorted.

“If you’re so capable, then find a way to completely kill the drought demon.” Yan Chongming cursed at him, saying, “If you have a way, my life will be yours.”

Elder Wu swept a glance at Yan Chongming with disgust: “I would like to, but your life is useless.”

“Amitabha, you two masters should stop arguing and think about how we should seal the drought demon again.” Grand Master Ci Hai reminded them, “Benefactor Lu, Qin, Ming, and Yan are now all gone.”

Grand Master Ci Hai’s reminder rendered the hillside silent again.

But wasn’t that right? The Nine Cycle Profound Gate Array that was used to seal a drought demon required nine Metaphysics leaders with high cultivation to work together. However, only four of them, plus Perfected Hua Xie, who has yet to arrive, were the only ones left among the nine people who sealed the drought demon twenty years ago.

“The cultivation of Mao Jinchuan of Sanqing Temple should be fine.” Yan Chongming thought of Master Mao.

“The cultivation of my junior brother, Ku Hai, has made great progress in the past few years, so he should be fine,” Master Ci Hai chimed in.

“The cultivation of the current head of the Liang family, Liang Xiu Yuan, is barely enough,” Shen Qingzhu also recommended one.

Three people recommended and turned their heads again to Elder Wu.

Elder Wu pondered for a while and said, “Then I recommend Chen Yu.”

“Who?”

“My disciple!” Elder Wu answered smugly.

What the…

Where did this old man dig out such a powerful disciple?

The author has something to say: 

The reunion of old friends who have not seen each other for more than 20 years, Elder Wu’s feelings are as follows.

These old geezers weren’t as handsome as I was when we were young; their cultivation base isn’t as high as mine. Now that we’re old, they’re still not as handsome as I am, and their cultivation isn’t as high as mine. Even their disciples can’t compare with mine, hahahaha….