Chapter Twenty: The Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique

A week had passed since my return from the altar. I had locked myself away in my room, emerging only for meals. I had pored over the Divine Strategy of Luo Xuan countless times, yet found nothing of note. Yue Leiting, though anxious, had never once pressed me for answers. I imagined he believed that if even I could not decipher the book’s secrets, no one else could hope to understand it.

I weighed the golden dragon turtle in my hand repeatedly. While its material was undeniably gold, its weight felt oddly light. Tapping its shell yielded a pure, resonant sound, and I was certain the dragon turtle was hollow.

No matter how I searched, there were no visible mechanisms to open it. Every part was seamlessly joined—nothing suggested it could be unlocked. The dragon’s head, raised high and mouth agape, was hollow and connected with the body. Nine tiny holes pierced the turtle’s shell; they were so small that I could not see inside. Carefully, I inserted a needle and discovered some intricate mechanism within.

Based on my deductions, the key to unlocking the Divine Strategy of Luo Xuan was this golden dragon turtle. The more I studied it, the more I marveled at its ingenious design. A gentle shake revealed the faint sound of liquid inside.

I recalled reading in my mentor’s ancient books that, in olden times, people would conceal codes within sealed objects, linking them to mechanisms. Inside, they would place oil and vinegar—a potent acidic mixture with strong corrosive properties. Once triggered, the mechanism would release the liquid, destroying everything within.

This golden dragon turtle must employ such a device. Its exquisite craftsmanship left me at a loss. Hoping to clear my mind, I stepped out and asked Xiao Lianshan to join me for a walk. Xiao Lianshan, who had refrained from disturbing me these past days and had grown restless at home, beamed with delight at the suggestion.

Yue Leiting’s villa was nestled in the suburbs, surrounded by tranquil greenery—the perfect place to refresh one’s thoughts.

“Brother, you’ve been absorbed day and night studying what you brought back from the altar,” Xiao Lianshan said hesitantly. “There’s something I’m unsure if I should say…”

“Just say it. What’s gotten into you today?” I rarely saw Xiao Lianshan so hesitant.

“Brother, whether it’s the Fourteen Ming Tombs or the Fifteen Ming Tombs, what does all that wealth matter? Life is but a few short decades. Don’t let yourself be consumed by greed. You haven’t slept soundly since returning from the altar—is it really worth it?”

“Lianshan, do you think I’m someone who covets wealth and fame?” I replied with a smile.

“Of course not! With your abilities, making money would be effortless.” Xiao Lianshan answered with conviction. “Then… why are you so invested in the Fourteen Ming Tombs?”

“Lianshan, there’s no one around. Let me tell you—”

Before I could finish, Xiao Lianshan dragged me behind a large tree, pressing himself against its trunk. Somehow, a stone had appeared in his hand, and his expression was stern.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, bewildered.

“We’re being followed!” he whispered.

Sure enough, moments later I heard soft, rustling footsteps approaching from the path. As the sound drew near, Xiao Lianshan sprang out, grabbed the collar of the newcomer with his left hand, and raised the stone in his right, ready to strike.

“Go ahead, then! Why are you just standing there? Let’s see how skilled you are, so quick to hit women!”

Gu Anqi, caught in Xiao Lianshan’s grasp like a chick, maintained her proud stance and spoke with fierce defiance.

For reasons unknown, the moment Xiao Lianshan saw it was Gu Anqi, his face reddened like an apple and he quickly released her.

“An… Anqi? What are you doing here?” I asked, surprised.

Gu Anqi shot Xiao Lianshan a glare, straightened her clothes, and said, “I told you not to go in, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“Oh, you mean the altar? It wasn’t my idea. I promised to help Brother Ting, and he’d already taken their money—there was a deadline,” I explained.

“I heard you found the golden dragon turtle?”

I nodded.

“The Divine Strategy of Luo Xuan and the golden dragon turtle should be together. Where’s the book?”

I was stunned. I hadn’t expected Gu Anqi to know about the Divine Strategy of Luo Xuan. Few were aware of its existence, and I couldn’t fathom how she knew.

“Book… what book… We… we haven’t seen any book,” Xiao Lianshan interjected, noticing my hesitation.

“Well, that makes sense. Other than me, no one should know about that red book,” Gu Anqi said, turning to Xiao Lianshan with a smug grin.

“Red? You’re just making things up! That book is clearly yel—”

I frantically gestured behind Xiao Lianshan, but he seemed to enjoy sparring with Gu Anqi. Hearing her claim the book was red, he instantly retorted, only realizing too late that he had fallen into her trap.

Gu Anqi watched him, lips pursed in silent amusement. Xiao Lianshan blushed even deeper and lowered his head.

“Anqi, how do you know about the Divine Strategy of Luo Xuan?” I asked directly.

“…That’s not your concern. Anyway, I know. Did you find anything in the book?”

Xiao Lianshan was about to speak, but I stopped him, smiling calmly.

“Of course. The Divine Strategy of Luo Xuan contains the location of the Fourteen Ming Tombs, and I’ve told Brother Ting that the true treasure hidden within is actually…”

“Ah! You even know about the Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique—”

Gu Anqi cut herself off as she saw the peculiar smile forming on my face, realizing she’d let slip too much.

“How could you trick me like that!” she exclaimed, thoroughly flustered.

“Haha, weren’t you just doing the same to Lianshan? We’re even,” I laughed, but soon grew serious, scanning the surroundings to ensure we were alone.

“Anqi, when I saw you at Wangguya, I was suspicious. You warned me against entering the altar, which means you knew from the start it was Yuan Chonghuan’s altar, and that the Divine Strategy of Luo Xuan and the golden dragon turtle were inside.”

Gu Anqi pouted, reluctantly nodding.

“I came to the mainland for this. My father said someone was after the Fourteen Ming Tombs, worried they might find that book…”

“Afraid they’d find the Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique, right?” I asked steadily.

“Yan Hui, you… you know about the Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique?” Gu Anqi asked, astonished.

“Brother, what are you two talking about?” Xiao Lianshan asked, confused. “Weren’t we talking about the Fourteen Ming Tombs? How did it turn into the Hidden… the Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique?!”

“You just asked why I’m so eager to unravel the secrets of the Divine Strategy of Luo Xuan and the golden dragon turtle. The truth is, the real treasure concealed in the Fourteen Ming Tombs isn’t unimaginable wealth, but a legendary book reputed as the greatest of all—The Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique!”

“What… what is that? Is it more valuable than the Fourteen Ming Tombs?” Xiao Lianshan asked, amazed.

“The Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique, also known as the Art of Seizing Heaven’s Creation, is the supreme treasure of Daoist Five Arts, hailed as the Emperor’s Book. It contains forty-nine chapters, recording the essence of Daoist rituals, geomancy, physiognomy, medicine, and more. The book includes methods for immortality and predicting the future. Mastering it grants understanding of heaven and earth, eternal life, and foresight,” Gu Anqi explained cautiously.

“Eternal life?! Foresight?!” Xiao Lianshan gaped, speechless. “Isn’t that too fantastical? Sounds made up!”

“It’s a Daoist secret, known by very few. Throughout history, emperors have coveted it. Yet, a woman once obtained this book by accident,” I said calmly.

“So she became immortal?”

“No.”

“Well, there you go. It’s nonsense.”

“But she became emperor!” Gu Anqi said with a mischievous smile.

“…You mean… Wu… Wu Zetian?!” Xiao Lianshan exclaimed.

I nodded solemnly.

“A woman relied on this book to become emperor in an age when men ruled. That alone shows its power. There’s another item that proves the Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique existed.”

“What is it, brother?”

“The Back-Pushing Diagram,” Gu Anqi replied confidently.

“I know about that! The village elders used to talk about it, saying it predicts the future.”

“The Back-Pushing Diagram is also a legendary book, though it’s been mythologized and exaggerated. Wu Zetian had Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng derive it based on the Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique, but what they produced was only superficial. Even so, the Back-Pushing Diagram accurately predicted everything that happened in the Tang Dynasty for over two hundred years. That’s why Wu Zetian eventually returned the throne to the Tang family—she knew she could not change fate,” I explained.

“Just mastering a bit was enough to become emperor!” Xiao Lianshan now believed wholeheartedly. “If someone mastered the whole thing, they’d live forever and rule eternally! No wonder it’s called the Emperor’s Book.”

“Greed is universal. Fate is ordained by heaven, and those who defy it bring disaster. If this book reappeared and fell into the hands of someone ambitious, it would plunge the world into chaos and suffering,” I sighed, troubled.

“My father said the same, that the Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique is an ominous book and shouldn’t exist,” Gu Anqi agreed.

“Haha, your father again. Anqi, after all this, you still haven’t told me—who is your father?” I asked, curious.

Gu Anqi pouted and shook her head. “I really can’t say. Yan Hui, I know you’re not ambitious. Since you understand the dangers of the Nine Heavens Hidden Dragon Technique, you mustn’t let it surface!”

“Anqi, my urgency in finding the Fourteen Ming Tombs is to locate the book first. Rest assured, I won’t let anyone else have it!”

“Yan Hui, I know something about the golden dragon turtle…”

“Qin, Xiao, the boss wants you back immediately—urgent matter!” Yue Leiting’s subordinate shouted from not far away.

“Anqi, what do you know about the golden dragon turtle?” I asked.

Gu Anqi nodded.

“I can’t say more now. By the way, where are you staying?” I asked.

“Jinjiang Hotel, Room 302.”

“We’ll come find you in three days.”