That was the moment when the old beggar made his move. I had been keeping my Dharma eyes open and paying close attention to his intention, and finally I caught some of the old beggar's aura.
In fact, strictly speaking, not much can be seen, and even the five elements and colors are just like those of ordinary people, but they are extremely balanced like a bucket of still water. The essence, energy and spirit are also similar to those of ordinary people, and are even hidden in the anger of the person, but this anger is extremely stable without any sense of beating, and is actually covered by a faint brilliance.
It's a pity that this brilliance flows throughout the body, scattered and not gathered and not solid.
This man is indeed very accomplished in Taoism, and can be said to be the second most accomplished person Ji Yuan has ever seen. But regardless of how strong his magic power is, in terms of Taoism alone, he is still inferior to Lao Long.
As for the magic power and killing power, Ji Yuan felt that compared with the real dragon, this old beggar was far inferior to him.
Of course, he is definitely much stronger than Ji Yuan himself. If Ji Yuan is still cultivating the five qi in his body, then this old beggar has already glimpsed the wonders of the three huas.
According to the current situation in the cultivation world where many people who have achieved one of the Five Qi Circles claim to have reached the Chao Yuan realm, if this old beggar were to claim to be a true immortal, I guess there wouldn't be many people who would refute him. After all, if they want to refute him, you have to be able to see the colors above the clouds.
But Ji Yuan's views on this issue are actually very consistent with Lao Long's. Almost there is almost there, one step short is one step short, and the difference between this and one step is a chasm.
Without "truth", there is no "profound understanding".
I believe that if someone reaches the level of the old beggar, he will be more aware of this.
Compared with the slight understanding that Ji Yuan's Dharma Eye could provide, the old beggar's situation was just the opposite. In his eyes, he could not even feel much fluctuation of magic power when Mr. Ji was performing spells. He looked like an ordinary mortal. Although he seemed to be within easy reach, in fact, it felt as if there was a whole mountain and river between him, and he seemed to be visible in the clouds and mist.
However, the old beggar thought that he was also a low-key person, and even when he caught the gray cat, it was without any worldly airs. It was even more as if he was showing off his skills on purpose just because he had seen Mr. Ji's Yuehua Sword Dance to Complete a Book.
"The moonlight dances with the sword and becomes a book, which is indeed as beautiful as a dream. My reaching out and picking up the object is also a natural result. I am using a small thing to achieve a big thing."
The old beggar looked at the Chief Astronomical Observatory standing next to him and discovered that, apart from holding two mooncakes in his hands and glancing at the gray cat on the ground, his main attention was on Ji Yuan who was walking over. The corner of his mouth curled up.
'Superficial, not knowing the value!'
The old beggar looked into the distance again and found that the God of Land had disappeared and didn't seem to have any intention of coming over to say hello.
Looking at Mr. Ji again, he saw that he was holding the Qingteng Sword with his left hand behind his back, and his right hand was swinging with his body. He had already walked close to the side of the stone platform.
"Mr. Lu's moves are as quick as picking up flowers, and he uses very little force to achieve great results. What a brilliant move!"
Hearing Ji Yuan’s praise, the old beggar couldn’t help but smile. After all, some words can only be said by people who have reached a certain level.
"Mr. Ji, what are you going to do with this cat?"
While the old beggar was asking questions, the gray cat, whose head was pinched under his hands and pressed on the stone platform, was still struggling.
"Wow… "
The cat's cry was as shrill as a baby's cry. Yan Chang, who was standing next to him, got goose bumps all over his body and instinctively felt that it was an evil creature.
The grey cat's fur was shining brightly, and it seemed to be swelling up. Its magic power and demonic aura were rising, as if it was trying to break free from the old beggar's grip.
"Hey~ Still not honest?"
The old beggar flicked the black cat's forehead with his left hand.
With a crisp "dong" sound, the light on the gray cat's body dissipated like a popped bubble, and the entire cat's body froze and motionless.
"Five-tailed cat demon."
Ji Yuan stood at the side, staring at the gray cat on the ground. Although it was just a small cat, the demonic aura on it was already shockingly strong.
"You evil beast, you must have harmed many sentient beings during your practice, right?"
"Yes, in my opinion, the evil spirit and resentment entangled in this monster are not few, and it will be a disaster if it stays in the world."
"Well, what do you think, Mr. Lu?"
Ji Yuan and the old beggar seemed to be in unison.
"Don't think I'm holding it lightly now, but I'm just using the Mountain Suppression Method to suppress it. If I let go, the cat will immediately burst into flames and fight to the death."
The old beggar squinted his eyes and looked at the cat demon. In fact, he could now clearly feel that the powerful demonic energy and magic power contained in the cat demon was constantly trying to break out of the "cage".
"Among those gathered at this Dharma Assembly, this monster won't be too low in rank. How about we take it to Tongtian River right now and use the Black Water Technique to lead the river to drown it?"
This time the old beggar's tone didn't sound like a joke at all, he really wanted to kill the monster. Hearing this, the cat monster's hair stood up and it struggled even more violently.
"Meow... Meow... "
"Look, even now it still shows its ferocious side, Mr. Ji. It's a five-tailed cat demon. Even we can't deal with it with just a breeze."
A moment ago, Ji Yuan was staring very seriously at the flickering evil spirit and murderous aura rising from the gray cat, but when he heard the old beggar's words, he couldn't help but think of his own Samadhi True Fire, and the expression on his face became a strange one, half smiling.
"If I were to use this fire to attack you, it wouldn't be such a pleasant experience!"
Naturally, the subtle change in Ji Yuan's expression could not escape the old beggar's eyes, but he was not a worm in Ji Yuan's stomach, so he didn't understand why Mr. Ji's expression was so amusing.
"There's no need to drown!"
A slightly stern voice sounded faintly from afar, and another man walked out from outside the altar. It turned out to be the old man Long Yinghong with long beard and moustache.
The old dragon walked towards them step by step. Even though he did not reveal any power or divine light, he did not conceal his aura, which made the old beggar frown. He looked at the visitor and then at Ji Yuan, unable to figure out who the visitor was.
Old Long naturally also noticed the old beggar and Yan Chang. The former had a serious look on his face, while the latter was pretending to be calm with an inexplicable look of surprise and excitement.
"Mr. Ji, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"
Although dragons and Jiao people are not into this, Lao Long knows that his friend still cares a lot about these folk festivals. It seems that this guy really likes to join in the fun.
"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Oh, by the way, I still have two mooncakes. I'll give one to you."
Ji Yuan casually handed one over. After Lao Long took the mooncake, he naturally looked at the old beggar's pocket and Yan Chang's hand, and then looked at Ji Yuan.
Although he didn't say anything, Ji Yuan knew what he meant.
"Don't look at me. I didn't know you were coming. It's good enough that you came."
"Deal with this evildoer first!"
When the old dragon said this, his head suddenly turned into a shadow. At this moment, the old beggar felt a sudden palpitation in his heart and couldn't help but loosen his hands that were holding the cat demon, thinking to himself that something was wrong.
"Anghou~~~"
A faint dragon roar was heard.
"Click..."
The old dragon's stretched shadow has returned to normal, as if the moment just now was just an illusion, and the cat demon has also disappeared.
"Uh...Mr. Ying, did you eat it?"
Ji Yuan looked at the old dragon blankly. He hadn’t figured out what was going on with the cat demon yet. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate to just eat him
"Hahahaha... Mr. Ji was finally wrong for once. I swallowed it, but it's different whether I swallowed it or not."
Okay, Ji Yuan understood what you said. The old dragon still knows his limits. It’s just that the feeling in the dragon’s stomach must be unpleasant.
The old beggar's expression looked a little strange when facing Lao Long, and he couldn't help but blurt out a word in shock.
"You, you... are you the Tongtian River Dragon Lord!?"
"Humph, who are you to stir up trouble for Dazhen?"
Old Long narrowed his eyes and looked directly at the old beggar, making the latter feel a great deal of pressure, but when he caught a glimpse of Ji Yuan beside him, he showed no fear.
Ji Yuan hurriedly stepped forward.
"Tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moon is full. It is fate that we meet. Mr. Lu Niansheng is not like an ordinary immortal cultivator, so he definitely has no intention of offending Mr. Ying."
The old beggar came back to his senses then. Why was he being so stupid as to fight against a real dragon
He also bowed to Lao Long.
"I have met Lord Long."
Lao Long didn't say anything, but at least he returned a symbolic salute. Ji Yuan smiled and looked at Yan Chang on the side.
"This is the Chief Astronomical Observatory Supervisor of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Lord Yan Changyan."
"Oh, you are the Imperial Observatory?"
Lao Long saw that Yan Chang did not put any pressure on him, but the latter did not dare to be negligent and bowed respectfully.
"My name is Yan Chang, nice to meet you, Lord Long!"
Yan Chang is also a smart man. Although he doesn't understand, he can infer an astonishing piece of information from these few sentences: the new old man in front of him might be a dragon.
This night was like a dream to the Taichang Envoy, and the things he observed were also exhausting, especially Ji Yuan's sword dance...
. . .
"My dear Yan, my dear Yan... my dear Yan!"
A majestic voice sounded three times in succession from above. An official on good terms with Yan Chang nearby became very anxious and could not help but reach out and poke Yan Chang who was in a daze.
"ah?"
Yan Chang seemed to have just woken up from a dream. He looked around and found that he was in the court. When he looked up, Emperor Yuande had a gloomy face.
"His Majesty!"
All of a sudden, Yan Chang hurriedly held the jade tablet and kowtowed, cold sweat breaking out on his body. Just now, because of listening to the discussion at the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, he had unknowingly "returned" to the Mid-Autumn Night in his mind.
The key point is that he didn't even know what the emperor had asked before.
"My dear Lord Yan, it seems that you have been working hard for the Dharma Assembly. Do you want to take a rest for a while?"
Hearing Emperor Yuande's seemingly caring words, Yan Chang felt a burning sensation on his spine. The emperor's thoughts have been changing over the past few years, and he couldn't tell whether this was genuine concern or false.
In a panic, Yan Chang quickly took out a silk bag from his arms.
"Your Majesty! I couldn't sleep yesterday, so I went to the Dharma Platform to enjoy the moon. I was fortunate to see an immortal dancing with a sword and splashing the moonlight. The immortal gave me a mooncake and flew away. When I came to my senses, it was already dawn. I could only rush to attend the morning court. I was awake all night and my spirit was weak. I was in a trance just now. I dare not keep this mooncake for myself, so I specially present it to Your Majesty!"
Emperor Yuande narrowed his eyes and looked at Yan Chang below. He had some idea of this man's character, and he was curious about the brocade bag.
"Show it up."
"yes!"
The eunuch next to him went down to get the silk bag, and when he came back, he carefully opened it for the emperor. The small but not exquisite mooncake appeared in the old emperor's hands.
Looking at this ordinary and even slightly rough mooncake, a trace of anger appeared on the old emperor's face.
"Is this a gift from an immortal?"
"That's right, I'm not lying! By the way, if you take a basin of water and leave it alone, and hang a mooncake over it, the reflection in the water will not be the mooncake, but the bright moon!"
Yan Chang said all this in one breath, not even daring to wipe the sweat off his face in between. He was very glad that he had made the accidental discovery when he was eating another mooncake last night.
"Oh? Is there such a thing?"
Emperor Yuande suddenly became interested and immediately ordered someone to bring a copper basin.
When he stretched out his hand to hang the mooncake over the basin, he saw a bright moon reflected in the basin. The eunuchs who were watching on the side were all dumbfounded.
Many of the ministers below were also looking forward to it, wanting to gather around and take a look.
"It's actually true! Is it really a gift from an immortal? Ah..."
Emperor Yuande was so excited that his fingers were shaking and he couldn't hold the mooncake tightly. He reached out in panic but just brushed past the mooncake.
"Plop..."
As soon as the mooncake entered the water, the reflection of the bright moon in the water was shattered, and the entire mooncake melted instantly like sugar in boiling water.
"This...I...this..."
This scene caused the hall to fall silent. Yan Chang also stared blankly, not knowing what to say.