Chapter Six: The Flood Dragon Descends the Water, The Taoist Descends the Mountain
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At dawn, the first light painted the clouds with rosy hues. Xuan Ming had just finished his meditation when a sudden sense of alarm arose within him. Moments later, Mount Floating Clouds trembled violently. Rocks tumbled down the slopes, trees swayed, and the streams surged with restless waves.
Within the Inquiry Daoist Academy, ancient pines shook their branches, pebbles danced, stone benches and tables quivered, and the thatched cottage’s desks and bookshelves seemed on the verge of collapse. A fierce wind howled through the courtyard.
Drawing energy into his dantian, Xuan Ming lightly stomped his left foot. A vast surge of magical power radiated outward from him, stabilizing the surroundings. Instantly, the Scripture Pavilion and the Inquiry Academy fell silent and still, as if the earlier chaos had been but an illusion.
Yet Xuan Ming understood that matters were far from simple.
Rising into the air, he drifted to the eaves of the three-story Scripture Pavilion. Raising his hand, he formed a mudra, and a radiant glow sparked from his fingertips, touching the ground below. Streams of light poured into the pavilion, illuminating the entire building in brilliance. A grand formation, centered on the pavilion, took shape—stabilizing the Floating Path Peak.
This formation was left behind by the Patriarch and refined over three generations of Inquiry Daoists, its power formidable. Positioned atop Floating Path Peak, it guarded the heritage of the sect.
The Scripture Pavilion was both the object of protection and the focal point of the formation. After reaching the third cultivation level, Xuan Ming was taught the art of formation control by his junior fellow disciple, thus serving as guardian of the pavilion.
He welcomed this responsibility. Spending every day in the pavilion and residing nearby, could he really stand by idly if danger arose? Being a quietly capable old Daoist of the Scripture Pavilion was not a bad role at all.
Though the routine might seem mundane, as long as no one disturbed him, the ordinary was the highest elegance.
Having secured Floating Path Peak, Xuan Ming surveyed his surroundings from the high vantage point.
From this height, he gazed broadly around.
On Fire Cloud Peak, a spiritual crane soared anxiously, restless. On True Profound Peak, the shadow of a ten-zhang sword pierced the sky as the heritage sword’s power stabilized the main peak. On Blazing Sun Peak, a great cauldron hovered in midair. On Pure Maiden Peak, a hundred lotus blossoms bloomed.
Other peaks each held their own mysteries, holding the mountain’s ley lines steady.
As for the panicked birds and beasts below, there was little they could do. The Daoists’ collective power was limited—securing the Inquiry Daoist Academy’s small domain was already a significant feat.
—
The tremors ceased after a brief time.
Within the span of a tea’s brewing, the turmoil subsided.
The Daoists set about their tasks—some comforting disciples, others investigating the cause.
Inside the Scripture Pavilion, Xuan Ming brewed tea and perused scriptures.
Being the most senior disciple at Inquiry Daoist Academy and a non-administrative, unassuming elder, he naturally devoted himself to study while his juniors sought the truth.
Few Daoists dwelled on Floating Path Peak.
Zhang Anzi was fully capable of handling matters there.
After a short incense burn, Zhang Chunzi came personally to summon him.
Setting aside his scripture scroll, Xuan Ming stepped out of the pavilion. With a light touch of his toes, he vaulted dozens of zhang, heading straight to True Profound Peak.
His white hair fluttered, his Daoist robe billowed.
In his hand, a whisk; his bearing immortal and austere.
At this moment, he seemed a serene immortal wandering the mountain forests.
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True Profound Peak rose about five hundred zhang high, dense with ancient pines and emerald cypress, with buildings of varying sizes scattered harmoniously, grand and majestic.
Returning here after six years, Xuan Ming’s calm heart stirred with a faint ripple—tinged with the melancholy of change and loss.
Yet that was all.
Six years of nurturing qi and cultivating the mind in the Scripture Pavilion, a full sixty years of experience, he had grown detached from many things.
In this life, apart from the Path of Immortality, what else could trouble him?
Within the Mystic Law Hall, many Daoists gathered.
At the sight of Xuan Ming, they all rose to greet him.
They bowed respectfully to one another before taking their seats in order.
As in the Scripture Pavilion, Xuan Ming sat at the upper right seat—second only to the sect leader.
In the past, he sat there due to his seniority.
Now, his seat reflected both rank and strength.
Aware of the gravity of the situation, the Daoists wasted no words, their gazes fixed sharply on Xuan Xu.
He had personally gone to investigate the cause.
Xuan Xu’s face held both joy and worry as he spoke solemnly:
“Senior Brother, fellow juniors, I have investigated and found that the tremors of Floating Clouds Mountain were caused by a flood dragon moving through the waters.”
“This demon passed through the mountain’s water veins, where water and earth are intertwined, causing the earth to shake.”
“Now, that flood dragon has gone far away. Floating Clouds Mountain has shifted from danger to safety, and our Inquiry Daoist Academy remains unharmed.”
Hearing this, the Daoists breathed a collective sigh of relief.
They caught the subtext of the sect leader’s words and understood why he was anxious—their feelings mirrored his exactly.
The mountain was safe.
Inquiry Daoist Academy was secure.
But what of the foot of the mountain?
What of the common folk?
They lacked magical power and had no master to protect them.
A flood dragon moving through the waters portended unpredictable fortunes.
If the dragon were virtuous, it would control water flow with its power, protecting the water veins. Even if water levels rose and overflowed banks, no harm would come to the people.
But if the dragon lacked virtue, floods would rage, disasters would befall the people, causing displacement, homelessness, even death in great numbers—floating corpses and starving remnants, the very tragedy of human suffering.
Since ancient times, virtuous flood dragons were rare, and vicious ones many—otherwise, the infamy of evil flood dragons would not exist.
Upon this dragon, the Daoists sensed no virtue, only malice. Otherwise, Floating Clouds Mountain would not have shaken so violently, and they would not have had to intervene to stabilize Inquiry Daoist Academy.
An evil flood dragon brings evil waters and evil waves.
The people below the mountain face grave peril.
—
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed inside the Mystic Law Hall.
Xuan Yang, fiery-tempered, slammed his fist on the table, standing up abruptly.
“That flood dragon is detestable!”
“If I were strong enough, I would descend the mountain myself, slay the dragon, eliminate the evil, and protect the people!”
The Daoists nodded in agreement but with resignation.
They simply could not defeat it.
A flood dragon was not a mere serpent; such beings reached the Qi Refinement realm. A flood dragon able to move waters and transform into a true dragon stood at the pinnacle of this stage. Even a perfected Real Person could not match it in single combat.
“Enough,”
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“An expert will come to slay this evil flood dragon.”
“Whether from our Daoist elders or the current imperial court, none will stand idly by.”
“What matters now is how to relieve the suffering of the people.”
Xuan Ming spoke.
Xuan Xu nodded: “Senior Brother speaks wisely.”
As the Daoists agreed, their gazes shifted toward Xuan Xu and Xuan Tong.
They were known for handling mundane affairs.
Xuan Xu’s eyelid twitched; Xuan Tong’s heart stirred uneasily.
Though reluctant to shoulder such troublesome matters, how could they abandon the people?
In this time of crisis, no matter how unwilling, they must face the challenge boldly, or their Daoist hearts would not find peace.
In times of peace, one ascends the mountain to cultivate.
In times of turmoil, one descends to save.
This was the iron law and spirit of the Daoist path.
When the people suffer, it is the Daoist’s duty to aid the weak and rescue the distressed.
Xuan Xu asked, “Junior Brother Xuan Tong, what do you think?”
When the sect leader turned the question to him, Xuan Tong lowered his head and rolled his eyes, silently contemplating. When he looked up, his expression softened, kind and compassionate despite the pain in his heart.
He replied, “Reporting to the sect leader: For ten years, Floating Clouds County beneath the mountain has had no disasters. From the benevolent and long-lived, we have accumulated ten thousand taels from incense offerings. Our Inquiry Daoist Academy farms and raises poultry, self-sufficient, with only modest annual ritual expenses, leaving eight thousand taels remaining.”
“Taking from the people and giving back to them, I believe these incense offerings can be used to aid the common folk.”
Xuan Xu nodded: “Excellent! Junior Brother Xuan Tong shows great compassion.”
After Xuan Tong sat, silence fell among the Daoists. No one disturbed Xuan Xu’s thoughts. After a moment, he finally spoke, issuing orders:
“Floating Clouds County has long supported our Inquiry Daoist Academy. Now, with this demon causing chaos, their suffering is undeserved. Our academy must not stand by.”
“Junior Brother Xuan Kong, check our grain and oil reserves. After ensuring the daily needs of our disciples, allocate the remainder to be sent down the mountain to establish porridge kitchens.”
“Junior Brother will obey.”
“Junior Sister Xuan Su, the Pure Maiden Peak’s juniors are talented and virtuous, skilled in medicine. Please lead them down to treat the people.”
“Senior Brother, rest assured, I will do my utmost.”
“Junior Brother Xuan Yin, handle the supply of medicinal herbs and other materials.”
“The sect leader is too kind; it is my duty.”
“Junior Brother Xuan Yu, accompany me down the mountain to perform water control spells to prevent floodwaters from becoming uncontrollable. Junior Brother Xuan Yang, you are responsible for vigilance, guarding against other demons seeking to exploit this chaos.”
“Yes!”
“Senior Brother!”
When finally it was his turn, Xuan Ming stepped forward.
“Thank you for remaining at the academy to prevent miscreants from taking advantage of the situation.”
The other Daoists nodded.
They had sparred with Senior Brother Xuan Ming over the past six months.
Though he was only at the third cultivation level, his profound magical power, robust Daoist physique, and strength made him difficult to overcome.
Even the sect leader, without using the heritage sword, could only draw even with him.
If not for Xuan Ming’s shorter time on the path and less deep mastery of spells compared to them, he might well dominate.
All sincerely admired this late-blooming, increasingly vigorous senior brother.
Of course, witnessing their own formidable foundational spells, they privately spent more time studying the Yin-Yang foundational chapter, each gaining insights.