Chapter 30: Chapter 29: Emperor’s Gaze, Inner Vision Divine Observation
The Daoist Sect of the current era has countless branches, having evolved into innumerable different traditions since the Ancient Era.
The *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* originated from the Creation Daoist Sect, a branch of the Daoist Sect from the late Ancient Era.
The Creation Daoist Sect retreated into seclusion Overseas to escape the great chaos of the late Ancient Era. They haven’t been heard from since, and their Sect’s lineage was severed. However, a few of their Cultivation Techniques have been passed down and still circulate in the Jianghu.
The two most famous of these are the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* and the *Inner Vision God Observation Method*, both of which are Celestial Level Secret Techniques.
The Emperor’s Gaze perceives the world; the Inner Vision Divine Observation perceives the self.
One is external, observing the world’s phenomena and turning its myriad changes to one’s advantage.
The other is internal, observing the spirit within, unlocking the body’s mysteries, and breaking through the barrier between life and death.
If Chen Yuan could obtain the *Inner Vision God Observation Method*, he could use its power of Inner Vision Divine Observation to gain more perfect control over his body and suppress his rampant Blood Fiend Power.
After learning the real reason Zuo Xinglie was being hunted, Chen Yuan couldn’t help but marvel. ’That old fox Zuo Xinglie really is a sharp one.’
’A man of his ambition, able to build an empire from nothing on the Jiulong River, was definitely no simple character.’
’No wonder, both in the original story and now, he had so decisively handed over the *Autumn Water Shocking Saber* and the *Surging Waves and Flowing Clouds Technique*.’
’One reason was to create a diversion to draw away his enemies. The other was that, with a Celestial Level Technique in his possession, he no longer cared for the two techniques that had made him famous.’
’But he’s a crippled man now. Even with the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill*, what can he do?’
’The *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* might have strange powers, but I’ve never heard of it being able to reconstruct one’s Meridians or regrow severed limbs.’
Chen Yuan was a bit puzzled, but after a moment of thought, he came to a hypothesis.
’It seems Zuo Xinglie isn’t ready to give up just yet.’
’He claimed he was washing his hands of his past and retiring from the Jianghu, but in reality, he still wants to go back for revenge.’
’But he won’t be the one to do it. He’s relying on his granddaughter.’
’His granddaughter is still young, but Daoist Cultivation Techniques place the utmost importance on one’s foundation.’
’If he has her cultivate the *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* from childhood, observing the world’s phenomena to comprehend Dao Essence, her progress will be astonishingly fast when she officially begins her martial training.’
Seeing Chen Yuan fall silent in thought, the leader of the six men couldn’t help but plead, "I’ve told you everything. There’s no way I can go back to the Profound Whale Gang. Please, just let me live."
Chen Yuan nodded. "You’re right, it’s highly unlikely you can go back to the Profound Whale Gang. All your men are dead, and you’ve betrayed the gang’s secrets. Going back would be suicide. The Profound Whale Gang would never spare you."
A flicker of joy crossed the man’s face at his words.
But in the next instant, Chen Yuan applied pressure, and a spray of blood blossomed on the man’s neck.
The leader stared at Chen Yuan in disbelief, his eyes filled with confusion, before collapsing to the ground.
"But you’re a coward. If the Profound Whale Gang ever caught you, you’d give me up in a heartbeat. It’s safer for me if you’re dead."
Flicking the blood from his saber, Chen Yuan opened the window and departed.
’I’ve taken care of everyone the Profound Whale Gang sent to You Province to hunt Zuo Xinglie. This should buy that old fox more time.’
’I’m sure he’ll find an even safer hiding spot this time.’
’When I think about it, he basically paid me off with two Cultivation Techniques. Seems like I got the short end of the stick.’
Still, Chen Yuan filed the information away. ’Once I’m strong enough to not fear the Murong Family’s pursuit, I’ll have to pay Zuo Xinglie another visit in You Province.’
「Early the next morning」
As Chen Yuan stepped out of his inn, he saw people from the inn next door carrying out corpses.
The local Officials gave the bodies a cursory glance before ordering them to be dragged to the barren woods outside of town for burial.
The dead were all outsiders, obviously victims of a Jianghu feud.
The local Officials couldn’t be bothered with such things. They simply stripped the bodies of their silver, kept ninety-nine percent for themselves, and tossed the innkeeper just enough to cover cleaning costs. That alone was considered a kindness.
Chen Yuan took one look and walked away, seeking out a blacksmith in town to have a scabbard made for his saber.
The town blacksmith was an ordinary craftsman who usually forged kitchen knives and axes. The most he ever made was the occasional hunting knife.
But when he saw Chen Yuan’s Cyan Dragon Blood Drink, the old blacksmith’s eyes lit up.
"A fine saber! Truly a fine saber! Don’t you worry, sir, I’ll forge a scabbard that is worthy of it.
You might only see me hammering out kitchen knives and hoes, but my master’s master’s master was once a Weapon Master from the Ministry of Construction in the Capital City! He forged Weapons exclusively for princes and nobles."
"It’s just a scabbard. Something ordinary will be fine."
"That would never do! Just you watch, sir!"
Sensing Chen Yuan’s doubt in his abilities, the old blacksmith was fired up. He immediately lifted his hammer and set to work.
After working for the better part of a day, the old blacksmith finally forged the scabbard’s shell from high-quality refined iron.
He tested the fit—it was perfect, seamless, light, and durable.
But he wasn’t done. To match the dragon’s head on the hilt, the old blacksmith engraved the scabbard with an exquisite dragon pattern.
Next, he brought out a large chest and rummaged inside, pulling out a piece of cyan sharkskin to cover the scabbard.
The chest also contained various shimmering metal plates and shards of Jade, some of which the old blacksmith selected and inlaid as decorations.
Now Chen Yuan was convinced. ’His forebear really might have been a Weapon Master from the Ministry of Construction.’
’An ordinary Weapon Master in the Jianghu wouldn’t know such flamboyant and intricate techniques.’
After setting the final piece of Jade, the old blacksmith handed the scabbard to Chen Yuan with a satisfied smile.
"Give it a try, sir."
Chen Yuan sheathed his saber, and it slid into place with a pleasant, soft ring.
The cyan, dragon-patterned sharkskin scabbard was a perfect match for the Cyan Dragon Blood-Drinking Saber. Anyone who didn’t know better would have assumed it was the original.
"Master, your skill is incredible. How much is it?"
The old blacksmith waved his hand. "No payment needed. A saber of this quality... I could never hope to forge its equal in my lifetime.
To have been able to craft a scabbard for such a magnificent Weapon means I have not shamed my ancestor’s legacy. In doing so, sir, you have fulfilled a lifelong wish of mine."
Chen Yuan smiled, slung the long saber across his back, and vaulted onto his horse. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a silver ingot that landed at the old blacksmith’s feet.
The old blacksmith picked it up, but when he looked up to return it, Chen Yuan had already vanished.
"What a good man."
The old blacksmith sighed wistfully.
Little did he know that the very ’good man’ he was praising was the perpetrator of the murders the whole town had been discussing.
Chen Yuan rode south, nearing the border of You Province.
He was now outside the Murong Family’s sphere of influence. Even if the family were to discover something, their power did not extend this far.
「Three days later」
Chen Yuan arrived at a place called Beihai Collection.
If he was to find the *Inner Vision God Observation Method*, this was the place to begin his search.
You Province had access to the sea, but its only coastline was a stretch of land a few miles north of Beihai Collection.
However, while it was an access point to the sea, the area was mostly rugged, mountainous terrain, and the surrounding towns were all built into the mountainsides.
Beihai Collection was the only settlement on flat land, so it had become the central hub for trade among the neighboring towns.
Beihai Collection had started as a simple marketplace, but over many years of development, it had grown to the size of a small town.
Many sailors heading to sea would restock their provisions here, and merchant caravans traveling Overseas often recruited Jianghu People as guards.
Similarly, returning Jianghu People who had found valuable items would often sell them directly in Beihai Collection, making the place exceptionally prosperous.
Upon entering Beihai Collection, the damp, salty air, heavy with the smell of fish, washed over him.
Many fishermen were hawking all sorts of bizarre sea creatures from their stalls. Some Jianghu People had also set up shop, selling various rare and Exotic Treasures they claimed to have recovered from ruins Overseas.
Of course, ninety-nine percent of it was fake.
In the late Ancient Era, the Divine Demons vanished, and the world was plunged into chaos.
The Central Plains descended into a maelstrom of conflict between countless Clans, Sects, and other powers. It was also during this period that the Martial Dao underwent immense transformation and development.
Some Sects and Noble Families at the time, lacking grand ambitions and unwilling to get involved in the turmoil of the Central Plains, fled Overseas to live in seclusion.
Thus, the lands Overseas hold many lineages that no longer exist in the Central Plains, and one can indeed find ruins of Sects from the late Ancient Era there.
The *Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill* that Zuo Xinglie possessed was one such treasure he had found Overseas.
However, after so many years of searching, the islands of the nearby seas had been thoroughly picked over, and there was nothing of value left to find.
Only on the distant islands, where the winds howled and the waves raged, could one still hope to make a find.
In the bustling Beihai Collection, a middle-aged man in tattered clothes and a mouthful of rotten teeth stopped Chen Yuan, hawking a crudely made small cauldron.
"Young Hero, take a look! This here is a Dragon Patterned Black Gold Cauldron from an Ancient Daoist Sect, with a Taoist Scripture inscribed within! I can tell you’re a gifted young talent; maybe you’ll be the one to comprehend a Supreme Technique from it!"
"From an Ancient Daoist Sect?"
The middle-aged man thumped his chest. "Absolutely from the Ancient Era!"
Chen Yuan pointed at the inscription with a wry smile. "Looks more like it was made last week. If you’re going to forge an antique, at least put in some effort. You could have scrawled some random script from some minor ancient Clan. But an ancient cauldron with the official script of the Great Xia? Your forgery is a bit too blatant."
"Ah, the Young Hero is an expert."
The middle-aged man gave a sly chuckle, not the least bit ashamed at being exposed.
"I’ve got the real deal, too. Let me show you."
Chen Yuan waved him off. "Never mind that. Where’s the Wan Tong Restaurant?"
As he spoke, Chen Yuan tossed the man a small piece of broken silver.
The man’s face broke into a wide grin. "Just head straight, turn right onto the long street, and go straight to the center of Beihai Collection. Are you heading to the Wan Tong Restaurant to hire men for a voyage?"
"No. I’m an Assassin, going there to pick up a contract."
Watching Chen Yuan walk away, the man curled his lip. ’Who’s he trying to kid? Just messing with me for his own amusement.’
’I saw it just now. The young man’s scabbard was exquisite—dragon patterns, sharkskin, even inlaid with Jade.’
’He uses silver instead of a copper plate just to ask for directions. He’s obviously the young master of some rich family.’
’How could someone like him possibly be one of those wretched, hard-up Assassins?’
In truth, Chen Yuan hadn’t given the man silver out of generosity, but simply because he had no copper plates on him, only silver.
Before leaving the Celestial Wolf Gang, he had plundered a considerable amount of wealth from Jiang Kaitai.
The various silver notes, gold bars, and silver ingots added up to more than ten thousand taels.
This silver was more than enough for Chen Yuan to live comfortably, but it was far from sufficient for the expenses of his Martial Dao cultivation.
For example, Elixirs from the Medicine King Valley, such as the Nine-Turns Nourishing Essence Pill, were priceless and couldn’t be bought with money. They could only be obtained by trading other rare and Exotic Treasures.
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