Chapter 19: Spirit Canal Chen Family
Divine Mechanism Palace, top-level rooftop.
When Xu Zhengyang arrived here, Chen Qiang had already unfolded his flying boat and placed it on the rooftop.
This flying boat was seven zhang long, two zhang wide, and three zhang high.
It was entirely refined from a type of spiritual wood that Xu Zhengyang did not recognize.
The wood had a warm, jade-like texture, with faint golden threads flowing through its grain, emitting a faint and lingering wooden fragrance that refreshed the mind upon inhalation.
On the flying boat.
Every detail exuded luxury and sophistication.
Gold inlays, jade decorations, carved railings, painted beams, and dazzling colors...
There was a kind of...
That kind of aesthetic you’d find in a karaoke bar at the urban-rural junction.
“How is it?”
Chen Qiang stood on the flying boat with a proud expression, hands behind his back, his voice carrying a tone of bragging.
He said to the approaching Xu Zhengyang, “This Golden Rosy Cloud-Crossing Boat of mine—doesn’t it look more grand and magnificent than your master’s?”
Xu Zhengyang had lived two lifetimes.
In terms of broad horizons, even Sect Master Xuan Yin might not compare.
That said.
In this situation, Xu Zhengyang could only feign amazement and said, “Uncle-Master Chen, you truly hide your strength well. This disciple is impressed.”
“You have some discernment.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Qiang felt satisfied, waved his hand, and a hanging ladder dropped in front of Xu Zhengyang. “Come aboard.”
“Thank you, Uncle-Master Chen.”
Xu Zhengyang said this as he stepped onto the ladder and entered the flying boat.
Upon stepping into the flying boat.
What attracted Xu Zhengyang was not its luxurious interior decor, but the constantly flowing, flickering golden talismanic runes on the deck!
Although Xu Zhengyang did not know what these runes were for.
That didn’t stop him from recording them into his own database for future analysis.
Just as Xu Zhengyang was recording these unfamiliar runes on the flying boat.
Chen Qiang tossed him a temporary restriction jade token and said, “Though my flying boat can travel ten thousand miles a day—
Qingzhou is vast, and even at full speed, it’ll still take a full day and night to reach the Spirit Canal Chen Family.
It’s a long journey and tiring by boat.
That Room No. 3 in Section A inside the boat, you can rest there for now.”
“Thank you, Uncle-Master Chen.”
Xu Zhengyang received the restriction token from Chen Qiang and said.
...
Chen Qiang had deliberately closed the flying boat’s windows earlier.
He thought Xu Zhengyang would eventually feel stuffy and come out onto the deck for fresh air, at which point he could show him around the flying boat.
He would explain the many marvels of this boat.
In the end...
To Xu Zhengyang, who had ridden high-speed trains, cruise ships, and airplanes, this flying boat wasn’t particularly exciting.
Because of that.
Once inside Room No. 3 in Section A, Xu Zhengyang simply lay down on the bed and continued analyzing the runes from Introduction to Formations, seizing every second.
...
Chen Qiang didn’t know any of this.
He waited on the deck for a long while and still didn’t see Xu Zhengyang come out for air.
Curious.
Chen Qiang used the restrictions on the boat to glance into Xu Zhengyang’s room and found him currently cultivating with the Qi Refining technique inside the room.
In an instant.
Chen Qiang felt that all his previous planning had been like playing a lute to a cow—completely wasted—his chest filled with frustration, and his face turned green with anger!
At that moment.
Yang Hong was running excitedly back and forth across the flying boat several times.
As he passed by Chen Qiang.
Yang Hong pointed at the clouds outside the flying boat and said excitedly, “Master, look! Our flying boat is about to enter the clouds!”
Chen Qiang said nothing upon hearing this.
Then Yang Hong asked, “So being inside the clouds feels the same as being in fog...
Does that mean fog is just clouds that have fallen to the ground?”
Looking at Xu Zhengyang’s diligent and self-disciplined appearance, and then at Yang Hong’s silly demeanor, Chen Qiang was instantly filled with anger again.
So Chen Qiang gave Yang Hong a hard kick and scolded him, “Get back to your room and start circulating your blood and qi!”
“...”
Yang Hong looked at Chen Qiang with grievance in his eyes—he couldn’t understand why his master was being so harsh today.
With a hint of sobbing in his voice, Yang Hong replied, “Yes, Master...”
Chen Qiang actually began to regret it right after kicking him.
But since he had already done it, there was no way he could apologize.
So he put on a stern face and threw Yang Hong a bottle of specially made fasting pills. “This is the chicken-flavored Fasting Pill you said you wanted before. Take one before you start cultivating.”
Yang Hong still had a childish temperament—his grievances came quickly but also vanished just as fast.
The moment he received the chicken-flavored Fasting Pill, the storm cleared and his face brightened. He smiled and said, “Thanks, Master! I’ll go cultivate now!”
“Go on then.”
Chen Qiang nodded, turned around, and sat at the bow of the flying boat, focusing on piloting.
...
The next day.
While Xu Zhengyang was still analyzing runes, the flying boat suddenly shook, and then Chen Qiang’s voice sounded in the cabin:
“We’ve arrived at Lingqu. You two come out.”
“So fast?”
Xu Zhengyang paused his work, stretched, and jumped off the bed.
Then he cast a Cleansing Technique on himself, tidied up, and stepped out of the cabin.
A moment later.
Chen Qiang piloted the flying boat to land outside a cluster of meticulously constructed buildings.
As Chen Qiang led Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong out of the flying boat, the head of the Spirit Canal Chen Family had already arrived with several core family disciples to greet them.
Seeing the three descend from the flying boat.
The family head, Chen Yongqing, stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute, saying, “Chen Yongqing of the Spirit Canal Chen Clan, along with all family disciples, humbly welcomes the Immortal Envoys from the upper sect!”
As soon as Chen Yongqing finished speaking.
All the core family disciples behind him echoed in unison, “The Spirit Canal Chen Clan welcomes the Immortal Envoys from the upper sect!”
Those who could stand behind Chen Yongqing were all pillars of the Chen family.
Though they couldn’t compare to monstrous talents like Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong.
The collective momentum of dozens of them was still not something to be taken lightly!
“Mm.”
Chen Qiang nodded slightly and said, “I am Chen Qiang, Head of Mysterious Mechanism Peak of the True Essence Sect. I come under sect orders to assist in subduing your demon.”
Though Chen Qiang’s voice wasn’t loud, it was exceptionally deep and powerful.
Like a great bell or drum, it directly suppressed the chanting voices of the dozens of core disciples.
Seeing this, Chen Yongqing’s heart trembled with awe.
He was at late Foundation Establishment stage and had some perception.
Because of that.
When Chen Yongqing confirmed that Chen Qiang hadn’t used any spiritual power, but had achieved such suppression purely with unintentional martial cultivation aura—
He immediately stepped forward and said, “By rights, with a Immortal Envoy’s visit, I should first host a banquet to welcome and honor the Envoy, then talk business.”
Saying this.
Chen Yongqing suddenly knelt down and said with a trembling voice, “But the matter of the Absolute Spiritual Rhinoceros is of utmost urgency—it concerns the survival of the Chen Clan! I beg the Immortal Envoy to proceed first to the family’s forbidden grounds and destroy that demonic creature. If the Immortal Envoy can safeguard our clan— Starting this year— The Spirit Canal Chen Clan will offer double the usual tribute of Absolute Spiritual Rhinoceros horns to the True Essence Sect! Additionally— There is a secret pill-concocting method that complements the Absolute Spiritual Rhinoceros horn. When the time comes, I shall offer it to the Immortal Envoy with both hands!”