My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 831 - 513: Fierce Battle at Jade Dragon (Bonus 3-in-1)

Throughout their journey, they had always traveled by water on small fishing boats, which were fast and free, but this time was different. This waterway was a major route for grain transport, undertaken by the Xia Shui Su Family. The grain from Jiangnan entered the Huai River, going through the Bian River to the capital. To prevent smuggling of grain and salt, even the ferry business was monopolized.

The upper level of the luxurious tower ship had a spacious viewing deck, almost as large as half the deck, yet there were not many people there to enjoy the river breeze. Chen Yi leaned on the railing, gazing into the distance, while Yin Tingxue looked down at her book in the sunlight.

The book told a story of a woodcutter encountering an immortal, which Yin Tingxue found quite fascinating.

"Can such a mundane life with firewood, rice, oil, and salt truly lead to encounters with immortals?" Yin Tingxue asked Chen Yi, holding the book.

"You fool, there are countless immortals in the world," Chen Yi paused, tapping her nose, "Haven't you become a Golden Core? What's so strange about it?"

Yin Tingxue scratched her delicate nose. Chen Yi was right; she had become a Golden Core and should not find it unusual. Yet, she never truly felt connected to the concept and still viewed herself as a mortal.

She turned back, flipping through two more pages, and soon immersed herself in the story again, with endless aftertaste after finishing it.

According to the book, a woodcutter named Zhang went up the mountain to cut wood and encountered an immortal. The immortal, seeing Zhang had fate to meet him, gifted him golden silk, asking him to return the next day. Upon his return, seeing his sincerity, the immortal bestowed him with an immortal date, taking him to fly to the mountain peak, inviting him to stay for cultivation and sharing the secret of longevity.

However, despite having the fate to cultivate, Zhang could not become an immortal. Missing his parents, he couldn't cut ties with the mortal world and thus dared not voice his pains. Although the immortal discerned this, he let Zhang leave the mountain.

After descending, although strange phenomena appeared on his body, they gradually vanished with time. He never saw the immortals again and experienced life, aging, sickness, and death as usual because from the day he left the mountain, he became detached from the immortals.

The story was simple yet profound, with a short but exquisite conclusion:

"A fleeting encounter, how could it be grasped?"

Soon, a few drops of rain fell from the sky, and the gray gloom descended, enveloping the entire tower ship. The river's surface became dim and lightless. People on the viewing deck gradually returned to their rooms. Yin Tingxue hurriedly closed her book and walked to the eaves but turned back to see Chen Yi motionless.

The drizzling rain draped the world in fragmented lines, layers of mist arising on the wide surface of the river. Yin Tingxue called Chen Yi twice, but he remained still. Just as she was about to walk over, she widened her eyes, hearing faint footsteps beside her ear, with a shadowy figure appearing amidst the mist, coming closer.

Chen Yi gazed into the distance, a touch of golden light glinting at the corner of his eyes.

Before him stood a man in a scholar's robe and tall crown, coming through the clouds and fog from afar.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit from afar?" Chen Yi asked indifferently.

"Taoist..."

The man's attire floated ethereally, like transforming clouds. Facing Chen Yi's scrutiny, he slowly spoke:

"Do you know what the Heavenly Dao is?"

Chen Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, asking, "How does the Heavenly Dao work?"

"The grand principles, I presume you have read in poetry and books, are but 'Heaven's actions have constancy, not preserved for Yao or perished for Jie'." The scholar-robed man paused momentarily, then continued slowly, "On a smaller scale, it equates to water overflowing when full and the moon waning when full, as the Saint says, 'I have heard of the vessel of accommodation, which inclines when empty, balances when half-full, and overturns when full'."

Chen Yi remained unperturbed, holding his hand out as he replied, "Please, go on."

The scholar-robed man continued: "One should not overdo things, nor exhaust enjoyment. Throughout this journey, I have transformed twice: once into a village child to gift you the Immortal Fruit, yet you took none of it, isn't that exhausting good deeds? Another time, I transformed into a beggar asking you for food, yet you left none, isn't that exhausting the benefits?

Though I'm not as knowledgeable as the Saint, I have heard that the ancients often say, 'Overfilling invites harm while modesty gains benefits'. The affairs of the world require moderation, neither excessive nor deficient, otherwise, disaster is sure to follow, as the key to human prosperity depends on 'excess is as bad as deficiency'."

Having listened to everything, Chen Yi's expression turned grave, and he asked, "Is it not that good is rewarded with good and evil with evil?"

The scholar-robed man raised an eyebrow, laughing gently, "As a cultivator, you seek to comprehend the Heavenly Dao, pursue immortality and become an Immortal. Since this is so, you should understand and return to the greater principle: 'Heaven's actions have constancy, not preserved for Yao nor perished for Jie'. Whether good is rewarded or evil is punished, it is a constant of heaven and irrelevant to humanity."

Chen Yi shook his head slightly, saying, "I don't think so."

The scholar-robed man's calm demeanor finally diminished, furrowing his brow and replying coldly, "Do you not realize that I am the Qingyi River God? Those thirty-seven people on the mountain head, slain by your hand, with only the Su Family's second son left. You gravely injured him, yet you still won't let go, deliberately leaving a breath on him to lure the snake out of its hole, seeking to annihilate the Su Family's guilty kin! Do you not find that excessive?"

The voice rang clearly and loudly, and behind the Qingyi River God, the mighty river surged forth, waves piling in a thousand layers, like a towering mountain emerging from the water!

The Dragon King in wrath, wielding both grace and power!

Who could have anticipated, Chen Yi nonchalantly pulled a chair over and sat down directly,

"So this is what you wish to discuss, then allow me to stretch my legs first."

Yuan Qi's expression turned as dark as water, his eyes seemingly harboring a tempestuous storm. After a pause, he wore an exceedingly sinister cold smile, his demeanor hinting at a dragon's visage.

"Ignorant, unaware of the Heavenly Dao." Chen Yi lamented, "I have hinted to you three times, yet you remain stubbornly deluded, destined not to become an Immortal."

In a flash, a long, sonorous dragon's roar echoed like thunder, as black clouds gathered heavily above, layer upon layer. Yuan Qi soared skyward into the clouds, a colossal dragon's head emerging amidst the boundless clouds and mist!

"I kindly offered a karmic opportunity, advising you to forgive where mercy is due, yet you showed no gratitude!"