Chapter 130 Old Wang's Endorsement, The Core Team

Fusion of martial arts and arcane: The Thirty-Six Paths of the Thunder Lord's Cloak Mace!

When Wang Cheng beheld this consummate technique, though he still longed to run the hypocritical, crocodile-tearing two-faced wolf Mao Haifeng through on the spot, the smile on his face grew genuinely a few shades sincerer.

"My luck is truly not bad; my very first debt collection yielded this peerless technique, renowned as the absolute pinnacle of close-quarters slaughter within the *Guidebook to Fair Winds and Safe Voyages*.

Dear elder brother, following the general principle that whoever reaps the benefits is the culprit, I already had a vague inkling back in Yuegang. Apart from you, I doubt anyone else in this world would wish to spare even a single hair on my head.

Now I have no need for your 'protection'; as long as you let me shear a few more tufts of wool from you before you die, it will more than repay this filthy fraternal bond."

Though this Thirty-Six Paths of the Thunder Lord's Cloak Mace was not one of the three foundational arcane scriptures, it possessed an extraordinary provenance.

Back when the Old Father was still dirt poor, he had accidentally fished a three-thousand abyssal treasure from the sea: a pair of Bright Silver Coiled Dragon Maces (Chapter 3), and from within the maces, he had obtained this technique that fused magic and martial arts.

If ordinary people practiced it, it could at best be considered a moderately superior external physical discipline.

Its advantage was trading self-torturing forms and pain akin to being struck by lightning for concurrent internal and external cultivation, as well as the growth of heart-light.

It was hardly much stronger than the Ascending Dragon Breathing Technique Wang Cheng had always practiced.

However, should the practitioner possess extraordinary natural talent, formidable perseverance, exceptional comprehension, or a special destiny, they might grasp a lethal strike of "the fusion of arcane and martial arts" from it.

In terms of sheer lethality, it yielded to no bizarre technique or consummate skill, and what each person comprehended from it differed entirely.

It was simply easy to learn yet difficult to master; entering the threshold was exceedingly simple, but truly achieving mastery placed extreme demands on innate talent and diligence. If one could not learn it, one simply could not learn it.

The Old Father possessed the innate natal sign *The Arc Bow Enters the Breast* (Chapter 76), so his talent went without saying.

As for his adopted son, Mao Haifeng, his innate bone weight was five taels and nine qian, more than double that of Wang Cheng.

"Carefully deduce this chart, wondrous and pure; surely high in talent and well-versed in ritual and righteousness. Among the top scholars a share should be yours, swinging a whip and riding a horse to display awe and glory."

One with this destiny was naturally hot-tempered, unyielding, unable to suffer a loss in this lifetime, resourceful, capable, and respected by others. Mastering the mace technique was naturally a breeze for him.

Wang Cheng now reclaimed his hope:

"Compared to Mao Haifeng, someone like me—before selling my life for others—would never have mastered this even if I were worked to death.

Now it is different.

Not only have I received this white-eyed wolf's cultivation experience all at once, but as long as I lend out the mace technique using the *Gratitude Loan* of the Five Emperors Golden Coin Sword, I can have countless people help me become a... hardworking genius together!

Just in time, as the Dragon Robe upgrades, my strength grows ever greater, and I find using a saber too light and rather unhandy. Switching to a heavy weapon like a mace is fitting to a T."

This consummate skill happened to match the optimal usage method of the *Gratitude Loan*.

By loaning out knowledge and skill-type "loans," neither he nor the borrower would suffer any losses, and he could borrow others' experiences to rapidly elevate himself.

Wang Cheng should not be struck down by the five heavenly thunders either—it was simply perfect!

Since what was taken away this time was merely experience, not anything unique like spiritual resonance or arcane tallies, Mao Haifeng remained completely oblivious and enthusiastically walked arm-in-arm with Wang Cheng.

"Brother Cheng, it is good that you have returned safely.

The journey by boat and carriage from Yuegang to Pinghu Port must have been exhausting, right? Come, your brother shall host a welcoming banquet for us, and today we brothers shall drink to our heart's content."

Wang Cheng nodded:

"Very well. Having not seen each other for many days, I was just about to share a cup with my eldest brother and all my uncles and brothers."

The port was no place for conversation. Waving away the onlookers among the ordinary members, the large contingent marched imposingly toward the palace.

As they passed the gilded divine statue, however, Wang Cheng suddenly halted his steps.

He saw that besides the already completed colossal statue, there were surrounding ancillary temples, and a large bronze tripod cast with the lifelong achievements of Prince Jing stood firmly at the feet of the statue.

He therefore said to the crowd:

"When you all built the temple and erected the statue for my late father, I was not able to participate. Today upon my return, allow me to offer incense to my late father to fulfill my filial duty."

He walked straight up to the tripod, and when he reached into the coin's eye to pull out incense, he almost habitually pulled out the *Cock-Crow Five-Drum Soul-Returning Incense*.

Fortunately, his reflexes after advancing to the sixth grade were swift, and only after repeated confirmation did he ignite three normal sticks of linear incense, bow three times toward the divine statue, and insert the incense into the tripod.

He had originally thought it would be just an ordinary act of worship.

Unexpectedly, just as Wang Cheng was about to turn and leave, that divine statue—already resplendent due to the gilding craft—suddenly burst forth with a halo of seven-colored auspicious light.

The already somewhat dim twilight thereupon grew brilliantly bright.

"Look quickly at the sky, there are flowers!"

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Someone bellowed at the top of their lungs, and the crowd raised their heads one after another.

They beheld illusory golden lotus flowers slowly descending from the sky, blanketing a large portion of Pinghu Port, while the air around everyone was filled with a warm fragrance of incense.

"Prince Jing is manifesting his divine presence!"

"Long life to Prince Jing!"

"Beseech Prince Jing for his protection!"

The maritime merchants, sailors, boat people, and ordinary commoners living within the city, upon seeing this heavenly portent, dropped to their knees one by one, praying silently in their hearts.

As the incense wishes and willpower of all living beings surged upward, they condensed into even more golden flowers.

Whenever a golden flower landed on the body of a commoner, they instantly felt their body grow light; minor ailments such as backaches, leg pain, shoulder pain, and being afflicted by evil spirits vanished into thin air immediately.

The great ship captains gathered before the divine statue were far more knowledgeable, and they all cried out in astonishment:

"Could this be? The old ship master has just established his ancestral temple, transforming Pinghu Port into his domain and arcane boundary!"

"Indeed! In a few years when his aged holiness can manifest his presence among mortals, this place will become his earthly divine kingdom, capable of exerting the most formidable divine might.

Matched with our Five-Peak Flag's invincible fleet of the East Sea, Pinghu Port and the East Sea Kingdom will surely be as secure as an iron fortress from now on."

"The old ship master still remembers us brothers."

"Our worship is of no use; it is still the Heir Apparent who has prestige. The Prince's overflowing paternal affection makes us feel quite ashamed."

Ultimately it was a joyous occasion, and the crowd all cheered and bowed along with it.

Along the coastal regions of Great Zhao, in Yingzhou and Nanyang, there were numerous temples of Prince Jing belonging to the Prince's devotional customs, and shrines and spirit tablets were countless.

From this day forward, however, much like the Tianfei Temple of the Meizhou Ancestral Temple, this place would also become a sacred site for all devotees of Prince Jing!

When the high echelons of the Five Peak Flags looked toward their Heir Apparent, their gazes carried a few more shades of solemnity.

With this divine favor resting upon him, who would dare to treat the lord lightly ever again?

Wang Cheng was not putting on an act this time; his eye rims were genuinely somewhat red.

"Old Wang, you really are all bark and no bite."

Though the Old Father said with his lips that he should just peacefully muddle along and wait for death, when it came to propping him up, he spared absolutely no effort whatsoever.

Once the ancestral temple was established, it meant that this second-grade ghost-god had completely abandoned any thought of falling-back-to-roots and returning to his homeland in the Minzhou administration, and in the future, could only guard this out-of-bounds land to the death.

In truth, for now while the Old Father could not yet manifest his divine presence, the ancestral temple was temporarily of no use at all.

It merely displayed his own sense of presence, causing potential enemies to recall the fear of being dominated by him and refrain from acting rashly.

Of course, aside from being moved to tears, Wang Cheng also felt a mix of laughter and tears.

Simply because:

"The administrative unit above Pinghu Port happens to have a name called... Nagasaki.

It is not a particularly famous place, mind you—it merely created the record for the highest surface temperature on earth.

That day, the world was no longer indifferent; we were all old acquaintances.

This time I am truly screwing over my old man! No, I must plan ahead early and nip this possibility in the bud."

Wang Cheng discovered that the territory he was forced to conquer was growing ever larger even before he had begun fighting.

In stark contrast to his mood, Mao Haifeng beside him was burning with envy within his chest.

Staring at the divine statue whose light was gradually fading, he dared only roar inwardly:

"I am your adopted son, and also your most outstanding disciple. As an arcane descendant, why can I not inherit everything of yours?

Just because that silly brat is your flesh and blood, you must leave everything to him? Even in death you do not forget to escort him and guard him?

In your eyes, the orthodox lineage is not even as important as bloodlines? I refuse to accept this!"

Mao Haifeng had even less of a retreat than Han Wugui, who wore layers upon layers of disguises.

Only by seizing the Five Peak Flags—or at least gaining a major controlling stake—could he ascend to the upper-third grade [Ghost-God in the Mortal World] within a short timeframe, withstanding the fiercely predictable future retaliation from the "adoptive father" whose waist he had stabbed.

If he failed to seize it, he would essentially enter a countdown to death.

His well-laid plan had developed a flaw, suddenly plunging him to the brink of life and death. At this moment, even with his deep cunning, it was difficult for him to maintain his usual composure.

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Staring at Wang Cheng's back, a trace of ruthlessness crept into the depths of his eyes.

He touched the universe pouch at his waist; that was his ultimate trump card prepared for this situation—a "national treasure" he had obtained through painstaking and arduous efforts.

"With this treasure accompanying my body, as long as I kill him, I will be the sole Heir Apparent of the Prince of Jinghai in everyone's hearts!"

With the return of the true master, the main hall of the palace—managed by the Grand Steward, the "Dragon Louse Sprite" Lord Longwei—was reopened.

A large number of female attendants drifted over gracefully, flitting back and forth like flower-threading butterflies to arrange the banquet venue for tonight, while the high-ranking members gathered in groups of three or five to drink tea and chat.

Wang Cheng performed the rites of a junior, exchanging formal greetings one by one with the senior ship captains currently present in Pinghu Port.

In conversation, the full names of every single one of them, how many family members they had, their hobbies, and the most boastful peak battle achievements from when they followed the Old Master... he rattled them all off like family treasures.

He could even rely on the [Listen to Thunder] bestowed by the mutated arcane tally to overhear a portion of their inner thoughts, adjusting his rhetoric in a timely manner. The only ones capable of outperforming him were probably those innately gifted social terrorists.

For example: the chubby Huang Yuanzhou!

Wang Cheng perfectly played the role of a major power's successor, not to mention emulating the top-tier succubi of the old Liu family, but at least making everyone feel as comfortable as a spring breeze.

After making nearly a full circle:

"The Young Ship Master has truly grown up."

A dissolute, uninhibited, stubbly-chinned, and rather roguishly handsome literati took the initiative to walk up behind Wang Cheng.

Wang Cheng turned his head, hastily bowed, and addressed him:

"Seventh Uncle."

Distinctly different from how he addressed others, this was one tier closer.

This was one of the Old Father's sworn brothers. Back when a band of youths banded together to go to sea, those who could still walk alive to the present day were exceedingly few.

The man before him, whose primary profession was the fifth-grade Earth-class [Storyteller] Dong Piao, had originally ranked seventh among the band of brothers and was also one of the few survivors today.

Dong Piao reached out and pulled Wang Cheng up, saying with a fully cynical expression:

"Seventh Uncle is only twelve years older than you; why are you being so courteous with me?

Brother Cheng, have you forgotten who it was that took you to your very first brothel when you were eight years old?"

He spun around in place.

"Come, come, come, look at Seventh Uncle's styling today! Is it flamboyant enough?

I had originally agreed with the courtesans in the city to patronize their business, and came out to welcome you without even changing my clothes.

Even a three-year-old child knows that in this world, those who carry swords are called swordsmen, and those who carry sabers are called sabersmen. Come look, what is Seventh Uncle carrying?"

Wang Cheng looked up and saw this flamboyant Seventh Uncle carrying a gourd that was a full half-person tall.

However, the gourd was only halved, so was he actually carrying a... ladle?

Wang Cheng recovered the state of interaction he once had with this Seventh Uncle, smiling and acting as the straight man/foil to this absurd [Storyteller]:

"You happen to be the legendary... ladle-man? My profound respects!"

Dong Piao triumphantly stroked his comical little pair of mustache hairs, wearing an approving smile that suggested the youth was moldable:

"People's prejudices are like Mount Huang.

This character 'piao' originally meant light, agile, valiant, and robust. How majestic was Huo Piaoyao back then?

Over the millennia, it was borrowed by vulgar people full of worldly lust and stolen goods, and gradually changed its flavor.

Seventh Uncle has no other hobbies; aside from ventriloquism and storytelling, it is to vindicate us ladle-men. I am different from them; I never hide it in my belly—I wear it all on my face.

Brother Cheng, another day I will take you along to impart our lifelong learnings to the maidens to our hearts' content."

With a "snap," he opened the fan in his hand, revealing the characters for "Open and Aboveboard."

Though outwardly appearing to engage in clownish banter, it was actually a secret code meaning "blink your eyes if you are being coerced," ensuring that neither side had any problems.

Only then did Dong Piao straighten his expression:

"Come over, Lord Longwei, your Third Uncle, and I have been waiting for you for a long time."

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