txolops Chapter 5 Steward Qin
Chapter 5 Steward Qin
The river water beneath the boat surged violently, with huge waves crashing against the hull with a dull "thump-thump" sound. A swirling eddy even appeared on the surface of the river, the sounds of the rock python and the black tortoise wrestling underwater.
The rock python's scales were as hard as iron, and it could also use earth elemental power to condense a thick layer of rock on its body. The black tortoise's shell was even thicker and heavier, with grooves all over its surface and a dark, demonic glow. When the earth spikes condensed from the rock python's mouth hit them, they only left a white mark and could not be shaken at all.
Clearly, both were heavily defensive. Seeing that their magical attacks were ineffective, the two demons began the purest and most primitive contest, a battle of strength.
The rock python launched the first attack, its body, over ten zhang long, coiling around the black tortoise like a serpent, its sharp fangs biting fiercely at the joint between the tortoise's neck and its head—a vulnerable spot not covered by the shell. But the black tortoise reacted extremely quickly, its limbs retracting sharply, and its head shrinking into its shell, leaving only its hard shell to defend itself.
The rock python simply coiled itself tightly around the black tortoise, its body tightening more and more, its scales standing on end from the force of its rotation, attempting to crush the tortoise's shell with its immense rotational power, but to no avail.
"As expected of the rock python with the strongest defense among low-level demonic beasts, it really has no way to deal with it."
After watching for a while, Luo Ming realized that the Xuan Turtle's defense was indeed amazing, and the Rock Python of the same level could not defeat it in a short time. To avoid any unforeseen complications, he also joined the fight.
After all, he and the Rock Python were from the same family, so how could it be considered a gang fight?
Although the ordinary people on the boat could not see the fierce battle underwater, they could clearly feel the violent shaking of the boat and the strange churning of the river. They were all tense and pale-faced, staring intently at the river, their hands gripping whatever they could hold onto, not daring to breathe.
After Luo Ming captured the Xuan Turtle alive, he put the Rock Python into his spirit beast bag and used his magic weapon to observe the distance from the air.
At this moment, the young lady surnamed Qin stared at Luo Ming, who was standing on his sword, with bright eyes, and murmured, "I always felt that this person had an extraordinary temperament. I didn't expect that he would be a cultivator like the legendary ancestor. I wish I could also learn immortal arts."
Luo Ming was naturally unaware of what the girl was thinking. At this moment, he frowned and looked at the battle in the distance.
"It seems that even Steward Qin is helpless against that azure dragon."
Although Steward Qin's cultivation level was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, the Azure Dragon's home-field advantage was fully utilized in the water, greatly increasing its combat power.
The azure dragon, having been ambushed and injured in the tail by Deacon Qin, had learned its lesson and continued to maneuver beneath the river's surface, occasionally controlling the water flow to create water arrows for attack. Meanwhile, the flying sword in Deacon Qin's hand slowed considerably underwater, allowing the azure dragon to easily dodge its attacks. For the time being, neither side could gain the upper hand.
Although Luo Ming wanted to help, he was powerless to do so. He felt that each water arrow was equivalent to the power of a first-grade high-quality water arrow talisman. If it were just one or two, it wouldn't be a problem, but these water arrows were like rain, and he didn't have any top-grade defensive magic artifacts. He dared not go up and risk his life, so he could only cheer for Deacon Qin from a distance.
Seizing an opening, the azure dragon suddenly swung its massive body towards the river, clearly no longer wanting to play with its opponent. Although Steward Qin desperately wanted to capture it, he dared not engage in combat underwater and could only watch helplessly as it escaped.
Failed to capture the Azure Dragon, Deacon Qin was filled with anger and secretly regretted: "This beast escaped by taking advantage of the water. If I had a powerful water-attribute magic weapon, I would definitely have been able to kill it today! The Azure Dragon's scales could definitely be used to forge a spirit armor. What a pity."
He patrolled the river once, his eyes sharp as lightning, trying to see if there were any other demonic beasts nearby. But at this moment, he was fighting with the Azure Dragon. Although those low-level demonic beasts were not very intelligent, they were not stupid either, and they had long since fled. Only the unlucky Xuan Turtle was defeated by Luo Ming in a one-on-one fight.
"Luo Ming, what are you doing here?" Deacon Qin landed on the bow of the ship and asked in a deep voice. At the same time, he nodded to himself: "Although Luo Ming's talent is average, he is a diligent cultivator, and he has unknowingly cultivated to the perfect stage of Qi Refining."
Luo Ming quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Steward Qin! This junior was on his way to Qinghu Market to purchase some items needed for cultivation, but unexpectedly encountered a disturbance caused by demonic beasts on the way."
"Hmm." Deacon Qin nodded slightly, his tone softening. He stepped forward, patted Luo Ming on the shoulder, and praised, "I didn't expect you to be so close to Foundation Establishment. I see your foundation is very solid. If you can get a Foundation Establishment Pill, you have a good chance of advancing to Foundation Establishment."
Upon seeing Steward Qin flying through the air, the mortals on the ship immediately recognized him as a celestial master. They all dropped what they were carrying, stumbled over, and knelt down, bowing repeatedly.
"We, the humble commoners, pay our respects to the venerable immortal master!"
"Thank you so much, Immortal Master, for exorcising the demon and saving my life!"
"Greetings, Immortal Master!"
A chorus of kowtows and expressions of gratitude rose and fell from the bow of the ship.
Among the crowd, the old man beside the young lady appeared exceptionally excited. He stared intently at Steward Qin, his eyes filled with disbelief and ecstatic joy. He quickly pulled the still somewhat bewildered young lady aside, strode to Steward Qin, and knelt heavily before him, bowing deeply and saying, "This old servant, Xi Shun, pays his respects to the Immortal Master! Does the Immortal Master know the Qin family of Luozhou?"
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Deacon Qin's eyes flashed with surprise, and his heart was stirred. "The Qin family of Luozhou? I have been away from home for nearly seventy years, and I still manage to meet my clansmen here?" He carefully examined the old man and the girl in front of him. He saw that the old man's expression was sincere and did not seem to be fake, while the girl seemed somewhat familiar upon closer inspection.
A thought struck him, and he slowly spoke, "I am indeed from the Qin family of Luozhou. Are you... descendants of our clan?"
Upon hearing Steward Qin's admission, the old man Xishun burst into tears, his voice trembling with emotion: "This old servant had the honor of seeing the Ancestor seventy years ago! I never expected that after seventy years, the Ancestor would still look the same as he did back then."
Luo Ming watched quietly, pondering to himself. Foundation Establishment cultivators can delay the aging of their appearance; the earlier they establish their foundation, the younger they appear. The Elder Qin before him looked to be around forty or fifty years old, so he must have been in his thirties or forties when he established his foundation. Judging from the old man's expression and words, Luo Ming had already guessed that the bewildered young lady was most likely a descendant of Elder Qin.
"Before I reached the Foundation Establishment stage, I thought I would see my clansmen one last time to end my mortal life. I never expected to meet them today. It must have been fate," Steward Qin said with emotion.
When he looked at the girl, he let out a soft "Eh!"
A figure appeared beside the girl in a flash and said gently, "Don't be afraid, doll. Hold out your hand."
The old man beside her seemed to have thought of something and hurriedly urged the girl to extend her hand, his face full of anticipation.
"Could this woman possess spiritual roots?" Luo Ming watched quietly from the side. He wasn't surprised by this, since the probability of a cultivator's offspring developing spiritual roots was not small.