A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 153 - 126: My Body, My Spirit; My Temple, My Dwelling (Part 4)

The more I rack my brain, using all I've learned in my life, the more I feel that creating a Divine Soldier is as hard as reaching the heavens.

"Moreover, even if I succeed in crafting it, I can't give it to you, I'd only be bringing trouble to my doorstep.

Who wouldn't be envious of a Divine Soldier? Such a rare treasure is what martial artists of the Jianghu dream of!

Master Ning can strike fear into the hearts of the prominent families of Yihai Prefecture because they've got responsibilities, a family to feed. But the Green Forest Dao's outlaws don't give a damn; at worst, they'd gamble their lives for a chance to make it big.

The name 'Ninghai Zen' might not scare everyone away."

Li Yuan chuckled, taking out a Weapon Manual from the Big Punishment Kiln:

"The Wind-listening Saber, the Black Snake Spear, and various kinds of hammers are all here. If you truly like them, I will personally forge you a Thousand-Forged Treasure Soldier, surpassing a hundred refinements!

Speaking of which, your senior brother Cheng Yuanlong's saber, I crafted it myself."

Bai Qi glanced over casually. Most were standard long sabers and huge spears, along with some formidable and heavy hammers that looked mightily powerful.

Any artisan would have their signature skills.

After leaving the Baisheng ship, Master Li joined the army and gained Grand General Zhao's appreciation from Celestial Water Prefecture.

The weapons he excelled at were naturally well-suited for battle.

"No good bows?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Bai Qi rubbed his hands.

With his archery skills and his gorilla-like arms, he was a born Divine Archer.

"You rascal, getting picky now!"

Bai Qi's straightforward acceptance made Li Yuan feel kindred at heart, appreciating his lack of pretentiousness or scheming.

"I rarely forge large bows, but I once made an 800-jin Black Flood Dragon Bow for a Third-Training Martial Artist from the county.

If you can find good materials, I can try again. The main tendon used for the bowstring is quite rare, but high-quality limbs are ample in the shop.

That Wang fellow got lucky, finding a slain black flood dragon by chance, after it had survived for eight or nine hundred years. He extracted a great tendon from it, detoxified it, and used it as a bowstring."

Bai Qi furrowed his brow; it seemed like he might catch some lucky break intended for Ninghai Zen?

Black River County had been peaceful these past years. Apart from the negligible Demon Fish, nothing major had occurred.

He should truly thank his master.

"It's said that to become dragons, serpents and pythons need to transit through water. To them, the Black Water River must be like a forbidden land; they'd rather detour than take a single step on it."

...

...

Fulong Mountain, Ten Thousand Snakes Cave.

The silence was so complete that even the drop of a pin would've been audible.

The figure in the sky-blue robe appeared exhausted, shoving aside the lifeless body of the Demon Monarch at his feet, and slowly sat down on the smooth, jade-paved steps.

At a glance, only one Little Demon remained, quivering as if bouncing on a spring in place.

"Your ancestor seemed quite vulnerable."

Ninghai Zen said softly.

"Does it have any other blood-related elders?"

The Little Demon's vertical eyes widened, taking in the scene of devastation, the cave trampled as if by elephants, sunken in places, and the miserable appearances of its brethren.

Particularly, its ancestor who had its Demon Pill shattered and two venomous fangs yanked out.

The powerful shock of fear surged like a flood, making it tremble uncontrollably, shuddering in terror.

Finally, with a "crack," like fragile porcelain cracking.

The mere 300-year-old Snake Demon suddenly stiffened, collapsing with a thud.

"How did it die of fright?"

Ninghai Zen was stunned.

"It's become a demon, eating humans, yet so frail; truly remarkable."

He rested briefly, stepping over the mound of long-limbed corpses, striding out of the once-dreaded Ten Thousand Snakes Cave.

With a flick of his sleeve!

Boom!

The gloomy, demon-qi-filled cave rumbled thunderously, soil and stones flew apart, collapsing in an instant, entirely buried within the majestic mountain.

"Since there are no relatives, I should return to Tongwen Hall."

Ninghai Zen stretched, seemingly thoroughly enjoying the movement of his limbs, tossing the over three-thousand-year-old Demon Pill of the Black Belly Monarch into his mouth, crunching it as if eating fried beans, and swallowed it.

"I leave so openly, yet none of you stop me? If word gets out, the many Demon Monarchs of Fulong Mountain will lose face."

This scruffy-bearded man in green took only two steps before stopping again, raising his voice.

The mountains were silent, as if all the beasts were in awe, there wasn't even a bird chirping or an insect buzzing.

"Well, I'm leaving for real?"

Ninghai Zen's voice carried a hint of longing, like a guest at a friendly visit, hoping to be asked to stay.

Still silence.

"Sigh, I'm not like that Plague Deity Qiu Changtian... that Demon Monarch struck first, it's not on me."

Mumbling, Ninghai Zen couldn't think of appropriate words to suit the situation after racking his brains, reluctantly heading down the mountain.

Wherever he passed, plants bowed and cleared the path, rocks rolled and paved the ground, making the rough trail smooth.

Even the vines that tripped people retracted in fear of blocking this fearsome figure, lest he find an excuse.

In the deepest part of Fulong Mountain, a pair of eyes as large as millstones, vivid green, opened as if waking from a deep sleep.

"Ninghai Zen, Qiu Changtian, from the small Yihai Prefecture, how could such two hidden talents emerge! Truly creating great calamities!"