Dragon's Origin

Wang Sheng didn't even need to ask if the old Taoist knew what rewards the Emperor had bestowed. The old Taoist must have heard everything clearly in the room. He just needed to ask for his opinion.

“The royal family has been dormant for years and is now eager to make a move. However, this time they're clever. By creating this enfeoffment of vassals, the royal family instantly transformed into the Emperor, greatly boosting their reputation and increasing their influence.” Although the old Taoist didn't participate much in politics, he had lived for so long and seen all sorts of tricks. He directly pointed out the essence in one sentence.

“But no matter what, the power of the vassals has also greatly increased. If the royal family still wants to stir up trouble at this time, they must be careful of a counterattack from the vassals.” Since he had started talking, the old Taoist didn't hold back. He was in the Lao Jun Temple, not involved in the situation, so as an observer, he could see things most clearly: “Anyway, it’s just a new round of games, seeing who has the better means. The royal family has gained the upper hand at the beginning, but what happens in the future depends on the response of the various vassal states. What follows will definitely be great chaos, seeing who is strong and lucky, that’s all.”

Wang Sheng nodded, agreeing with the old Taoist's view. This was also the purpose of his strategy, to create a chaotic situation so that he could obtain what he wanted in the chaos.

“Enfeoffing vassals, it seems that the Emperor’s status has improved, but in fact, it has regressed. The royal family only saw the superficial benefits, but didn’t think about what would happen if one family dominates among the vassals.” The old Taoist pointed out the drawbacks of this system with one sharp remark, causing Wang Sheng to look at him with new eyes.

On Earth, unified imperial power existed after the enfeoffment system. Now, it’s reversed, which is indeed a kind of regression. Only the old Taoist could see the problem here at a glance. Including the royal family and those ministers, they either didn't see it, or they saw it, but no one said a word to the Emperor.

“Speaking of which, why did the royal family give you such a high reward?” The old Taoist was puzzled by this. He knew that Wang Sheng had a deal with the royal family once. Could it be that the royal family got something good from that trip to the Thousand Absolutes Land?

Being made a Marquis! There are only eight Marquises in the world, and with Wang Sheng’s Ever-Victorious Marquis, that makes the ninth. They even gave Wang Sheng the Thousand Absolutes Land as his fief. Compared to these two, what Marquis residence or royal manor are just extras, not worth mentioning.

“The Emperor's enfeoffment of vassals, this idea was told to the old monster in the royal family by me, and he relayed it to the royal family.” Wang Sheng didn't hide anything from the old Taoist, and said the reason with a smile.

The old Taoist's eyes widened, looking at Wang Sheng in disbelief, as if he was looking at a monster that had run out from somewhere. After a long while, he let out a long breath. Then he stretched out his hand and grabbed Wang Sheng's arm like lightning, and a stream of spiritual Qi was transmitted from the old Taoist's hand into Wang Sheng's body.

Wang Sheng was caught off guard and didn't have time to react before the old Taoist succeeded. Of course, he couldn't have defended against it anyway, so he just watched helplessly as the old Taoist's extremely vigorous spiritual Qi circled in his body and returned to the old Taoist's hand.

“If I couldn’t really determine that you are a young man inside and out, I would definitely think you are an old monster from somewhere.” The old Taoist’s gaze was filled with indescribable horror, and the words he spoke made Wang Sheng feel ashamed: “Tell me, is there anything you can’t do? The Emperor's enfeoffment of vassals, regular script, the Nine-Character Mantra, the *Tao Te Ching*, any one of them is enough to shake the world. Who exactly are you?”

Wang Sheng was indeed very ashamed. None of these things that the old Taoist said that could shake the world were his original creations. They were all history from Earth. If he had to use accurate words to describe it, it would be that Wang Sheng possessed the wisdom of a planet. He had only taken out a few? This was just the beginning! Even the big business of white sugar and refined salt hadn't been counted in yet.

Wang Sheng was too lazy to answer the old Taoist's question. Who else could I be? I am who I am. Now the old Taoist was in a rare moment of emotional turmoil, so Wang Sheng might as well take the opportunity to appreciate it. He would have something to laugh at the old Taoist about in the future.

“I lost my composure!” The old Taoist recovered quickly. When he discovered that Wang Sheng was looking at him meaningfully, the old Taoist just took two deep breaths and became calm and composed, no different from usual.

“You’ve made such a big commotion, what are you plotting?” After recovering, the old Taoist asked again. The old Taoist was quite curious about this question.

“The core of the Thousand Absolutes Land.” Wang Sheng still didn't hide anything and directly answered his goal.

“The martial will of the core?” The old Taoist frowned: “You wouldn’t want to enter it to comprehend the ‘Line’ word formula because you comprehended the Nine-Character Mantra on the mountain wall, would you?”

“Is that not allowed?” Wang Sheng asked in confusion. Even without mentioning the girl in his dreams, this reason was justifiable enough, right? Was there still a problem?

“With your cultivation, you can only play around on the mountain wall on the periphery.” Facing Wang Sheng's question, the old Taoist despised Wang Sheng with disdain: “That martial will, you should increase your cultivation to the eighth stage before talking about it! With your current state, it would be a great fluke if you can get within ten miles without being injured. Any further, and the aura alone can crush you to death.”

The old Taoist's judgment would never be wrong. He definitely had the right to speak on this point. Having felt that martial will at the edge of the core area at close range, the old Taoist was clearer than anyone outside about the power of that martial will.

“I just want to go in and take a look.” Wang Sheng’s gaze suddenly became distant. The beautiful eyes of the girl in his dreams seemed to reappear before his eyes, carrying a ethereal aura, and still saying that sentence “Kill me!”

“Whatever you want.” The old Taoist knew that Wang Sheng was determined and couldn't be persuaded at all, so he didn't plan to persuade him. In order to enter the core of the Thousand Absolutes Land, Wang Sheng had even brought about the Emperor's enfeoffment of vassals, ignoring the chaos it would cause in the world. How could the old Taoist dissuade him with words? Unless the old Taoist took action to imprison Wang Sheng, there was no way to stop Wang Sheng.

“Are you tempted by the proposal from Baoqing Yu Tang?” Wang Sheng asked again. He had agreed with the old Taoist that the old Taoist would only accompany him to build a camp in the Thousand Absolutes Land. The old Taoist not only accompanied him to build the camp, but also cultivated with him for more than four months, which had exceeded what was agreed.

If the old Taoist could help with Baoqing Yu Tang's search for the remains this time, it would definitely be much simpler and easier. From the bottom of his heart, Wang Sheng still hoped that the old Taoist would join him.

“Alas!” The old Taoist sighed and shook his head: “I won’t go this time. I have to go back and leave the Nine-Character Mantra and the first part of the *Tao Te Ching* at the Lao Jun Temple. Baoqing Yu Tang is just a business, you can solve it alone, so I won’t get involved.”