"Are you sure you arranged to meet Bai Xinghe at this time?"
Ao Jiangyue glanced at the door, and asked Ao Haiping, who was sitting opposite her, with a face full of confusion.
Ao Haiping's face was ashen, and he tapped the table with his fingers, but the rhythm was rapid, reflecting his anxious mood.
He wasn't worried about Bai Xinghe deceiving him, after all, there was still a blood oath contract to bind both parties. However, he was worried that something might happen to Bai Xinghe, and he would end up with nothing.
Ao Haiping looked at the back of his hand, contemplating whether to activate the blood oath. Just then, someone walked in hastily from the door.
Seeing the person, Ao Haiping couldn't help but feel relieved. He didn't want to activate the blood oath unless it was absolutely necessary.
Once the blood oath was activated, the abnormal egg on his hand would be triggered, giving birth to a ferocious snake monster. The snake monster would punish the other party according to the terms of the contract. In the most severe cases, it could directly devour the divine soul.
The snake monster itself was not powerful, but to the contractor, it was like a persistent curse, never giving up until its goal was achieved.
"I'm sorry, I was delayed by something." Bai Xinghe apologized repeatedly as soon as he arrived, appearing very humble and polite.
Ao Jiangyue, sitting beside him, couldn't help but wrinkle her nose again. She smelled that scent again, which was a bit like the smell in a hospital.
"How is it? Any news about the Dragon Gate?" Ao Haiping asked impatiently.
Bai Xinghe cut to the chase and said, "There are theories about the three major earth veins in the Central Plains. You should know about them, right?"
Ao Haiping and Ao Jiangyue both nodded. They knew too well, because earth veins were also called dragon veins.
The three major earth veins, divided into North, South, and Central, all originated from the Kunlun Mountains.
The South branch dragon vein passed through the mountain ranges of Lingnan and finally merged into the South China Sea.
The North branch dragon vein passed through the mountain ranges of Monan and finally merged into the Yellow Sea.
The Central branch dragon vein passed through the mountain ranges of Huainan and finally merged into the East China Sea.
Throughout the dynasties, outstanding talents emerged from the people living on these three major dragon veins, but the talents produced differed due to the different dragon veins.
For example, talents from the South branch dragon vein made significant contributions in culture and thought, such as philosophy, Zen Buddhism, and Buddhist teachings, with scholars being the majority.
Talents from the North branch dragon vein included sages like Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, King Wen, and Confucius.
Talents from the Central branch dragon vein were mostly emperors or generals. There were more than two hundred generals from the Hubei region in modern times, such as Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of Han), Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu of Han), Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu of Song), and Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Taizu of Ming).
"And the Dragon Gate is located at the place where the Central branch dragon vein meets the sea, suppressed by the earth vein for many years," Bai Xinghe said.
The Central branch dragon vein merged into the East China Sea, and its location was roughly between Shandong and Jiangsu.
The specific location needed to be found by themselves, because dragon veins were not static. With the changes in mountains and rivers, earth veins would also shift.
However, knowing the general location made it much simpler for the dragon race.
Earth veins were also called dragon veins. The word "dragon" meant that they were inseparable from the dragon race. They had special methods to find the detailed direction of the earth veins.
"Since that's the case, we won't delay any further. We'll come to thank you after we find the Dragon Gate," Ao Haiping said, standing up directly after hearing this.
"There's no need for that. It was a transaction, mutually agreed upon. Why say such things? Besides, an item as precious as the Heavenly Star Disk is more significant to me than any thanks," Bai Xinghe said with a smile.
"Let's put this aside for now. My sister and I will take our leave." Ao Haiping said.
After speaking, he and Ao Jiangyue left in a hurry.
Bai Xinghe remained seated, watching them leave. He then sighed and turned to look at the bustling street outside the shop, a hint of wistfulness in his eyes.
As for Ao Haiping and his sister, they returned directly to Shencheng, and Ao Jiangyue also accompanied them back this time.
"Xiaoyue..."
Seeing Ao Jiangyue, her elder sister-in-law Lu Caiwei greeted her with a face full of joy.
"Sister-in-law."
Ao Jiangyue called out, a flicker of joy also flashing in her eyes, but her face remained as calm as a still pool.
However, Lu Caiwei knew her well and didn't mind. She reached out and gave her a gentle hug.
"You're back." Ao Xingyun came downstairs upon hearing the voices.
Seeing her father, Ao Jiangyue nodded slightly, but said nothing.
Ao Xingyun carefully observed Ao Jiangyue and then turned to ask Ao Haiping directly, "Where is it?"
He knew that since Ao Jiangyue had returned, it meant that there was news about the Dragon Gate.
"The estuary of the Central branch dragon vein."
"Earth vein?" Ao Xingyun was a little surprised at this, and then found it natural.
"It seems that Feng Zhirun had some conscience. The Dragon Gate is hidden within the earth vein and nurtured by it. Even without our dragon race's refinement, its function will not decrease after the Dragon Gate is restarted."
"Of course, he is my friend of many years, and there is still some friendship between us."
Ao Haiping's tone carried a sense of shared honor.
Ao Jiangyue, from behind, stared at him with the look of an idiot. He had clearly snatched it away, so what made him feel honored?
"Since that's the case, you and Xiaoyue should go together and retrieve the Dragon Gate as soon as possible," Ao Xingyun said, suppressing his excitement.
"Okay."
Ao Haiping and Ao Jiangyue nodded in unison.
"Where is Big Brother?" Ao Haiping suddenly asked.
His younger sister had returned, and it was unreasonable for their eldest brother, Ao Haichao, not to come out to welcome her.
Ao Jiangyue also looked at Ao Xingyun doubtfully.
"Your elder brother is busy and cannot get away. We will have a good family reunion after you retrieve the Dragon Gate," Ao Xingyun said.
"Yes, I haven't seen your elder brother for several days either," Lu Caiwei said.
But her eyes were looking at Ao Xingyun, because she knew that Ao Haichao had always been upstairs, yet he hadn't stepped out of his room.
When she tried to enter, she was also stopped by Ao Xingyun.
Seeing that Ao Xingyun still hadn't said anything, Lu Caiwei said, "How about I go with you?"
Before Ao Haiping and his sister could speak, Ao Xingyun nodded and said, "That would be fine too. It's good to have someone to look out for each other."
Since Ao Xingyun had said so, Ao Haiping and his sister couldn't refuse.
Seeing the three of them leave, Ao Xingyun finally turned and went upstairs.
Then he came to a room door, pushed it open, and walked in.
He saw Ao Haichao sitting cross-legged in the center of the room. In front of him was a giant tortoise shell.
He formed seals with his hands, his eyes radiating divine light, which shone upon the tortoise shell. The tortoise shell was like the firmament, with scattered stars on it, very similar to the Heavenly Star Disk.
As the stars gathered and dispersed, their rotation speed increased, and the divine light shone brightly. Ao Xingyun couldn't help but show a look of excitement.
At this moment, Ao Haichao suddenly stopped his hand, and all anomalies subsided.
He let out a long sigh and asked Ao Xingyun, who was standing at the door, "Father, has Little Sister returned?"
Ao Xingyun nodded and said, "Don't worry about her. What's in front of us is more important."
Ao Haichao nodded to show he understood, but there was a trace of worry between his brows.
"What's wrong?" Ao Xingyun asked with some confusion.
"That Bai Xinghe is too strange and unfathomable. I don't know who is behind him. In my observation, hundreds of people have died, and each of them was Bai Xinghe," Ao Haichao said with a worried expression.
"Haha, so what? In the face of strength, nothing is a problem, unless someone like Feng Zhirun appears again," Ao Xingyun said with immense confidence.
Of course, he had the confidence to back it up. As the king of the sea, in this era when the heavenly palaces were not evident and Taoism was in decline, his strength was at the pinnacle of the world.
Even when facing the twelve presidents of the Nine Bureaus, he was not afraid.
Although he said this, Ao Haichao still had a worried look on his face.
Ao Xingyun saw this and didn't say anything more. Of his two sons, one was too cautious and therefore lost his heroic spirit and desire for progress, while the other was too reckless, acting without considering the consequences, and couldn't achieve great things.
Instead, Ao Jiangyue, as a daughter, possessed both courage and strategy, and acted decisively. When she truly grew up, her achievements might surpass those of her two brothers.
It turned out that the Heavenly Star Disk had been in the dragon race's possession for many years, and the dragon race had thoroughly researched it during that time.
During this period, it had devoured the divine souls of many dragons, which turned into nutrients for the star disk.
However, it also allowed the dragon race to develop a technique for tracing spiritual energy. By utilizing the spiritual energy of their own kind and blood sacrifices, they could locate the position of the star disk regardless of the distance, observe the anomalies of the stars on the disk, and read the situation of the controller.