Chapter 2: Dragon Qi

There was, indeed, a powerful Taoist scripture on Tai Xuan Summit.

The only problem was that, in his previous life, Li Ye hadn't managed to read it. That was because Li Yao had sent someone to lay a trap on Tai Xuan Summit in advance.

When Li Ye approached the trap, not only did it injure him, but he also lost his jade medallion.

Before his father's last expedition, he’d left Li Ye the jade medallion, which contained the Taoist's Luck left behind from the condensation of Prince An’s lifetime cultivation. His father had wanted to give him a chance to inherit the Prince's title. As long as the jade medallion still existed, Li Yao would suffer a backlash, even if he achieved the title of Prince An. It would affect his cultivation."

In Li Ye’s previous life, Li Yao took advantage of the opportunity to manipulate his anxiety and entrap him. The trip to the mountain had all been a ruse to steal the jade medallion."

Li Ye said, "If that's the case, I'll leave for Tai Xuan Summit soon."

Li Yao's eyes brightened. "Then I'll wish you success, Brother Ye! Once you get your hands on the Taoist's Luck that Heavenly Master Yuan left behind, you'll surely be able to inherit Uncle's mantle!"

Li Ye smiled. "I hope your words come true."

Seeing Li Yao in high spirits, Li Ye laughed inwardly. The current Tang Empire was so weak that it couldn’t serve its own people. The crafty and fawning eunuchs all over the court wielded the true power, while other members of the Imperial Clan toyed with their authority. The Immortal sects mushrooming all over the kingdom illegally taught their Immortal Arts to the common folk, who lapped it up. The imperial court was unable to stamp them out, and a catastrophe was inevitable.

Li Ye looked at Li Yao with a trace of disdain. He thought, “Even now, you don't think of helping the country and only care about power and profit. Don't you know that when a bird's nest is overturned, no egg can remain intact? The Imperial Clan is doomed, no matter how much power you obtain."

Wu You raised her small head and looked at Li Ye anxiously. "Brother Ye, no one has been able to understand the Taoist scripture on Tai Xuan Summit for a hundred years. The road is long and goes deep into the mountains. Are you really going?"

Li Ye touched her head with a gentle smile. "Of course. You want me to be able to cultivate, don’t you?"

Wu You nodded before earnestly shaking her head. She raised a small fist and looked at him, and in a solemn voice, she said, "Even if you can't cultivate, I'll protect you!"

Li Ye couldn't help smiling.

It was true that he must go to Tai Xuan Summit.

How could Li Yao have known that, before his transmigration, Li Ye was a great cultivator in the earth's Age of Dharma Decline, an expert who could cross the Void?

Li Ye was traveling the world at that time and had visited Tai Xuan Summit on the Cloud-engulfed Mountain. He saw the Taoist scripture that Yuan Tiangang left behind and even succeeded in comprehending it. Through the Taoist scripture, he was able to push his cultivation to an even higher level!

This might not be Earth, but many things are the same. I just don't know if the Taoist scripture that Yuan Tianguang left behind is consistent with the one on earth and if it contains the same Taoist's Luck. If he recalled correctly, Li Yao's trap came in the form of the Xiaoxuan Formation, which shouldn’t be a challenge break.

Li Yao had been right about one thing, though — if he gained the ability to cultivate, no one could challenge his right to the throne.

Li Ye couldn't help caressing Wu You's little head again with doting affection.

In his previous life, he lost his position as the Heir and became stranded in the streets. If Wu You hadn't taken care of him, he never would have escaped Li Yao's scheming and lived to be emperor.

However, Wu You wasn't able to escape when Huang Chao's rebels broke into Chang'an and she died like a wilting flower amongst the rebels.

This had been a pain in Li Ye's heart for 20 years.

Now, there was a chance to prevent it.

After leaving Li Yao and Wu You, Li Ye returned to his resident courtyard and sat cross-legged. He took advantage of this time to mull over some things.

The reason Li Yao dared to usurp the title of Prince An was the fact that Li Ye couldn't cultivate, while he was a cultivation genius that the Imperial Clan favored. If Li Ye could cultivate and enter the Qi-refining Stage in the near future, the Court of the Imperial Clan had no reason to deny him the title of Prince An. No matter how many plots Li Yao had up his sleeve, he wouldn't have many opportunities.

It had been several days since he came to this world. Li Ye had never stopped trying to cultivate, but this body had no spiritual root and couldn't sense the Spiritual Qi in the world. Li Ye's attempts and efforts in these few days had all ended in failure.

Li Ye took the jade medallion from his waist.

This was the first time Li Ye took out the jade medallion to look at it since transmigrating. There were many memories that he had just finished digesting.

Looking at the medallion, Li Ye couldn't help thinking of Prince An, Li Xian. Suddenly, there was a change in the jade as it emitted a refreshing coldness into his palms. The coldness entered his meridians, forming streams of pale golden Spiritual Qi that flowed into his Elixir Field.

The pale golden Qi continued to evolve in his Elixir Field, just like the flicking of brush strokes and the splashing of ink. It appeared they were trying form an object.

Soon, the pale golden Qi finished changing to reveal a dragon with the head of an ox, the body of a snake, the claws of a tiger, and antlers!

Dragon Qi!

After the pale golden Qi turned into Dragon Qi, it floated serenely without movement.

Li Ye was bursting with vitality, inexhaustible energy running through his whole body. His vision had also gotten clearer.

Li Ye stared in shock. "This is... the Grand Master Realm! Has my Grand Master Realm cultivation been restored?"

Entering the Grand Master realm was an unavoidable step in entering the Qi-refining Stage.

Even if the jade medallion contained the Inspiration to Enlighten Taoism left by his father, it would be impossible for him to generate Dragon Qi out of thin air. Those with Dragon Qi in their bodies were called Hidden Dragons.

The so-called cultivation to be a real dragon meant to reign over the world as a monarch and proclaim oneself the emperor in the south.

The Dragon Qi must have been reborn at the same time as Li Ye’s rebirth. It must have been lurking in his body, choosing now to reveal itself through the Spiritual Qi in the jade medallion."

But what was the meaning behind this sudden birth of Dragon Qi? What was its use? Li Ye tried sensing and linking with the Dragon Qi but to no avail.

Cultivators on Earth wishing to become Immortals must help put a Hidden Dragon on the throne and borrow the True Dragon Qi that a Hidden Dragon would emit after transforming into a True Dragon. From then on, they would be undead. However, the Heavenly Secrets were muddled during the Age of Dharma Decline on earth and no Hidden Dragons existed to be enthroned.

No matter how great his cultivation had been, he couldn’t avoid death...

Li Ye gathered his thoughts and soon realized the crux of the problem. He had Dragon Qi in his body, making him a Hidden Dragon. He’d have to become an Emperor in this lifetime to become an Immortal.

Li Ye's mind became clear and bright. His transmigration to this world provided a great opportunity, and he was overjoyed with the prospect of becoming a True Dragon.

A voice came from outside the door.

"Reporting to the Heir Apparent — the gathering of the armored soldiers is complete!"

Li Ye put his thoughts aside. The most urgent thing to do now was entering the Qi-refining Stage.

In any case, he now possessed a Grand Master Realm cultivation. His hope of ascending the Tai Xuan Summit had just gotten a lot better.

When Li Ye got up and opened the door, he saw a young soldier dressed in armor made of fine scales. Saying nothing, he left the yard with the soldier following close behind.

It took three days to travel from Chang'an City to Tai Xuan Summit on the Cloud-engulfed Mountain. There was chaos everywhere these days, even in the capital, and a considerable number of bandits had gathered in the woods to create trouble. While there was little over bandits, they still had to watch out for fierce beasts.

Prince An, whose real name was Li Xian, had unparalleled talent in literary and martial arts in the Imperial Clan. He’d commanded the respect of all court officials and presided over all matters regarding the soldiers of the six armies. He’d had complete control over all military and political power.

As such, there were 800 armored soldiers guarding his manor.

When Li Ye came to the military drill ground in the manor, the guards had assembled, armed with lotus armors and sabers. He glanced around the formation of 100 guards and was satisfied.

"Let's go."

He took a group of his armored guards to Tai Xuan Summit. Most of the nobility thought this was a fool’s errand.

When Li Ye led his men through the street, most of the nobles who attended the ceremony earlier were present, bursts of derision sounding from their independent discussions.

These children of the Imperial Clan looked down on a useless person who couldn't cultivate or inherit a noble rank and didn’t bother to conceal their criticisms.

"A good-for-nothing who can't even cultivate wishes to comprehend the Taoist scripture that Celestial Master Yuan left behind? He must be dreaming!" Grand Prince Guo said.

"Countless eminent members of the Imperial Clan have attempted to read the Taoist scripture, but not a single one managed to comprehend the text. This trip will end in humiliation!" Grand Prince Chen said.

"Hmph! Prince An was so famous in his lifetime. How did he give birth to such a good-for-nothing? He’s humiliated the Imperial Clan!" Prince Yue, said contemptuously. "A person like him should be evicted from Chang'an!"

"It's a joke for a good-for-nothing like him to live!" someone else shouted.

Their voices were particularly ear-piercing. Before Li Ye could speak, the guard following him failed to contain herself. She ground her teeth and said, "Heir Apparent, these people are so disrespectful to you. Please allow me to teach them a lesson!"