Chapter 165: Chaos Upon Chaos

He Chunhua and the others were visibly moved. "Really?"

"Really," He Lingchuan said, flexing his fist proudly. "What can I say? I'm exceptionally gifted."

No one present disagreed. Last night, when the Emperor's Dew descended, everyone received a share, but apart from a very few lucky individuals, most living beings gained pitifully little essence—not even enough to fill a tooth gap.

Even the luckiest among them only increased their cultivation by a few dozen days, yet He Lingchuan successfully laid his foundation with just that small amount of Emperor's Dew. If that's not exceptional talent, what is?

He Chunhua stroked his chin and chuckled, "You're young, so your body has fewer impurities and is easier to cleanse. For someone my age, or Vice-General Wu's, even three or four times as much Emperor's Dew wouldn't be enough to transform our muscles and marrow."

Wu Shaoyi sighed deeply. "Such is fate!"

The Emperor's Dew last appeared sixty years ago. He was luckier than most, having barely caught it, but he was over fifty years old. How could he compare to the He brothers, who were in the prime of their youth?

Youth brought more opportunities.

Youth was everything.

He Yue's envy was evident. "Brother, how much did your cultivation increase?"

"At least three to five years, I'd say?" He Lingchuan turned to urge He Chunhua. "Dad, what about the cultivation technique you promised me?"

His foundation was growing stronger, but without a suitable cultivation technique, he felt he was wasting time. Now that he had found hope in Panlong City, he wanted to try asking his father.

He Chunhua chuckled. "None of them are right for you. We'll collect some after we go to Xiazhou! Who knew you'd suddenly emerge like this?"

He Yue offered a suggestion. "I heard that Cloud-Piercing Pavilion, based in Xiazhou, is very famous. They advocate for disciples to cultivate both mystical arts and martial arts, and many talented individuals have emerged from their sect over the years. Why don't you try going there, Big Brother?"

He Lingchuan grew interested. "Are you suggesting I join a Taoist sect?"

"Why not?" He Yue's eyes gleamed. "General Wu Di, who leveled Woling Pass, was a disciple of the Jianyang Sect, taught by Master Qianyun. There are quite a few Taoist practitioners in the royal courts of various kingdoms."

The teachings of Taoist sects are broadly divided into two paths: mystical arts and martial arts. In chaotic times, martial arts are highly valued, and many famous generals achieve enlightenment through martial arts and cultivate them meticulously. As for mystics, it goes without saying that even noble descendants dabble in them, at least cultivating some divine powers to seek longevity.

In this world, with proper cultivation of divine powers for health, living to 130 or 140 years old is not an issue.

Of course, poor families were not afforded such opportunities.

Mo Zhe Jingxuan, He family's advisor, also clapped his hands. "Second Young Master is right! A Taoist sect like Cloud-Piercing Pavilion has been established in Xiazhou for a long time, with deep roots. If the Eldest Young Master joins their ranks, it would be a great help to the Master!"

He Lingchuan thought to himself, *This fellow eats our family's food, so of course he considers everything from my father's perspective.*

He Chunhua was about to take up his new post in Xiazhou, where he had no connections. All relationships would need to be built from scratch. If he could gain the support of a powerful local Taoist sect, he would certainly establish himself more quickly.

"Furthermore, in the future, the Master might also need to recruit talents from Taoist sects like Cloud-Piercing Pavilion."

He Chunhua listened, his eyelids lowered, noncommittal.

He Yue and the others didn't know their father's attitude, but He Lingchuan lifted an eyebrow. "So joining a Taoist sect would help Dad! Does that mean when I choose a wife in the future, I should also screen her carefully, and as long as she's powerful and influential, even a 200-pound fat lady would do?"

Mo Zhe Jingxuan's expression froze. "Eldest Young Master, such a sacrifice is entirely unnecessary."

He Lingchuan pouted, and He Yue laughed.

Mo Zhe Jingxuan then continued, "Xiazhou has beautiful scenery, and among the local gentry, there are plenty of elegant and beautiful young ladies, nurtured like flowers!"

"No 200-pound fat ladies?"

He Yue couldn't help but interject, "Sir, you don't know, my brother isn't fond of slender and refined women."

He Lingchuan glanced sideways. "Oh, really? I'm not fond of them?"

*Heh, how come I didn't know that?*

He had been here for so long, and let alone having romantic encounters, he hadn't even touched a girl's hand more than a few times!

What a failed transmigration.

"N-no, there aren't," Mo Zhe Jingxuan knew the young master was displeased and apologized. "Eldest Young Master, I misspoke. Please don't take offense!"

They chattered on, but He Chunhua remained silent. Only when everyone quieted down did he slowly begin to speak. "Even if Chuan'er joins a Taoist sect, we must be very cautious. Cloud-Piercing Pavilion only has about two thousand members, and its reputation doesn't reach Yannan. If his future prospects are limitless, then joining only Cloud-Piercing Pavilion would be a waste of his talent."

"Dad always thinks big!" He Lingchuan's eyes lit up. "The capital is where all the big shots clash!"

"Indeed, our He family will return to the capital eventually; we won't be confined to Xiazhou." Xiazhou was by no means their final destination. He Chunhua looked at the distant mountains. "Haste makes waste in this matter. We need to be very selective."

Wu Shaoyi also said, "Martial arts and mystical arts are vastly different. Inner techniques, stances, and combat skills are just the basics; the most important thing is actual combat. Mystical divine powers can be cultivated through gentle nurturing, but martial arts must be refined amidst countless battles, proving one's path through killing! Young Master, look at me, look at Lu Yao—neither of us came from a martial background, yet we've cut down seven military generals of the Yuan Kingdom. Believe it or not, our foundations weren't as solid as theirs."

No one else could comfortably respond to that, after all, he was talking about killing generals from their own country.

"The Great Dao is simple: as long as you can win and kill, that's enough," Wu Shaoyi chuckled. "We have primal energy protecting our bodies, which is the bane of ordinary mystical divine powers. If an opponent's primal energy isn't strong, a mystic is a mere weakling before us. Why do we need so many fancy tricks?"

He Chunhua agreed. "Whether it's military treatises or governance essays, there are only a few recurring texts. If simply reading and memorizing them thoroughly were enough, how would people be distinguished? The key lies in one's own comprehension. Chuan'er, don't worry, we'll make a plan."

At this point, everyone agreed, and He Lingchuan secretly smiled.

Next, He Chunhua instructed Zeng Feixiong and the others, "If any Emperor's Dew still lingers, its effects will dissipate by morning, making travel up the Hongchuan River less troublesome. We'll depart after dawn and take a boat from Fengling Ferry." He then sighed, "The Emperor's Dew appears only once every few decades, and it truly came at the wrong time."

"What do you mean?" He Lingchuan didn't understand. "Emperor's Dew is a divine treasure; it's never too late for it to appear."

He pointed at Wu Shaoyi. "Look, even Old Wu can live a few more years now."

As he walked over earlier, he had noticed Wu Shaoyi's complexion was ruddy, and the bluish tint on his glabella had faded considerably. The man had used secret techniques to swap out his severe injuries, but he hadn't escaped death entirely, merely postponing it by three to five years.

However, the arrival of the Emperor's Dew, even in a small amount, had poured fresh life into his depleted essence.

Wu Shaoyi nodded. "Yes, heaven has been merciful. I might even live another two years."

Before, he had been carefree about fighting and killing, but now that the remaining time in his life was counting down, every breath of air he inhaled felt incredibly sweet.

"Among the five types of creatures, only humans uphold rituals and maintain order. Yet, even so, many died in Shuanghe Town last night. With the sudden appearance of the Emperor's Dew, birds, beasts, insects, and fish are all scrambling for it. It won't be long before the Great Yuan Kingdom is plagued by countless demonic disasters. Incidents like the killing of the water spirit in Immortal Lake and new demons taking over will become endless."

Just then, the cook approached with a platter. "Master, there isn't much left in the kitchen. I've only managed to bake a few flatbreads."

Aside from a dozen flatbreads, there was also a dish of bean paste.

He Lingchuan didn't stand on ceremony, picking up a palm-sized flatbread, tearing it open, dipping it in the sauce, and putting it into his mouth.

The cook stared at him intently. He Lingchuan retorted irritably, "What are you looking at? Do you enjoy watching people eat?"

The cook chuckled and ran off.

Although he had said there weren't enough ingredients, the cook had kneaded the dough repeatedly and was generous with the oil. The resulting flatbreads were fragrant and crispy, with four or five layers, and even contained minced meat and diced preserved vegetables.

He Lingchuan took two bites; it was delicious, but he felt something was missing.

He stood up and rummaged through the kitchen.

The smile vanished from his face as he turned.

Ever since he woke up, he had made up his mind to learn inner cultivation techniques from Panlong City. His earlier mention of it was just another test, and sure enough, his father had again made an excuse.

This wasn't the first time. Why did He Chunhua not want his son to deeply learn and master martial arts?

Meanwhile, He Chunhua continued, "The Emperor's Dew has an immediate effect on beasts and demons, faster than on humans. Unenlightened wild animals gain sentience, and cultivated demons enhance their power further, which will undoubtedly cause immense trouble for the local populace."

Wu Shaoyi pondered. "Beings, whether winged or beast, that have just turned into demons are often boisterous and reckless, ignorant of human laws, and sometimes prey on people. When I was young, I lived in Yunpozhou. It wasn't exactly peaceful, but the local mountain spirits kept things in check, and demons and humans coexisted for decades. Then, one day, several villagers in Yunpozhou were killed, and their remains gnawed away. The county sent people to investigate and determined it was the work of fierce beasts with small teeth. So the county organized wolf hunting teams and killed dozens of wolves in the mountains. But soon after, more people were killed."

He Lingchuan, having sorted things out, walked back, holding a vibrant green spring onion.

Flatbread wrapped with spring onion—that's the flavor he wanted.

He took a crunchy bite, unfazed. "The wolves were innocent?"

"It happened a total of four times. Initially, the culprits only appeared at night, attacking in remote areas. Later, as they consumed more people, they grew bolder, even attacking villages in broad daylight. Only when survivors reported it did people realize the man-eater wasn't a wild beast, but a giant salamander that had just cultivated a demonic form in the swamp! No wonder seeking the mountain spirits was useless; it turned out to be a creature living in the water."

"The Emperor's Dew is certainly a good thing, but records show that within half a year of its appearance, there's always unrest—either man-made disaster or demonic calamity. This is what's called fortune and misfortune being intertwined," Mo Zhe Jingxuan said with emotion. "If the Great Yuan Kingdom were still in its prime, its sheer fortune could suppress these things, preventing them from causing trouble. But now..."

His words trailed off, but everyone understood.

He Yue also whispered, "When a nation declines, evil spirits will emerge."

Of those present, only He Lingchuan was eating and drinking, looking carefree. "Stop sighing. How does that directly concern us? Tomorrow, the sun will still rise from the east, and if the sky falls, there will be taller people to hold it up."

This carefree attitude was typical of He Lingchuan. Everyone else was used to it, but He Chunhua shot him a glance. "I'm afraid this time, it might be our turn to hold it up."