Chapter 119: Chapter 118: Guardian Star Official: The Golden Dog of Bond

"There are only about forty demons in all of Three Extremes Mountain. Most are just little demons and monsters, some of whom haven’t even achieved Transformation. The rest are all mortals who were captured and brought up the mountain."

"The most powerful one on the mountain right now is the big brother’s son. He’s also a Black Bear Spirit, with nearly two hundred years of Dao Practice."

"Changping Prefecture comprises one prefecture and eight counties. The Golden Wind Sect is within Changping Prefecture, Three Extremes Mountain is outside it, Bian Palace is at the bottom of the Chang River, and Stone King Cave is on a mountain west of Changye County."

"Beyond that, each county has some demons and ghosts wandering around, either in small groups or alone. But they’re nothing to worry about. The strongest among them have only two or three hundred years of Dao Practice, so they’re no match for you."

"The Corpse King is in seclusion year-round. If you don’t provoke him, he won’t emerge."

"If you can trap the Golden Wind Divine King in an array, you might just be able to take his life. And if you kill him, as long as you don’t head west into Pingjiang Prefecture, Daluo Palace will be the supreme power in Changping Prefecture."

Seeing Daluo Palace build a temple in Changping Prefecture to gather Incense, the Yellow Dog King had already deduced that they planned to challenge the Golden Wind Sect. He recognized their ambition and held nothing back, laying out all the major powers within the prefecture.

Taoist Yan Song exchanged a look with Gu Zhao and asked, "What powers are over in Pingjiang Prefecture?"

"Did you come from Yongzhou’s Shide Prefecture or Yazhou’s Celestial Spring Prefecture?"

The Yellow Dog King gave them a puzzled look before continuing, "Among the Jiangzhou Five Prefectures south of the Wanling River, Mo Lake in Pingjiang Prefecture is supreme. The Ink Flood Dragon in the lake has acknowledged the Dragon King of Wanling River as his godfather and possesses three thousand years of Dao Practice."

The three of them, Gu Zhao included, stared blankly. ’Did we just leave the starter zone and stumble right next to a final boss’s lair?’

"However, he mostly stays in Mo Lake to cultivate and rarely emerges," the Yellow Dog King added. "Besides, he doesn’t need Incense, which is why he tolerates the Golden Wind Sect’s expansion in Changping Prefecture."

"Does the Ink Flood Dragon also kill people?" Taoist Yi Hong asked.

"No boat has ever sailed on Mo Lake," the Yellow Dog King said ominously.

The three exchanged a glance. ’Great. We haven’t even taken care of the Golden Wind Divine King, and now there’s a new target. Is that good news or bad news?’

On the one hand, it was good. They could continue Eradicating Evil and Accumulating Merit, condense more Thunder Seeds, strengthen the Taoist Sect of Daluo Palace, and spread the majesty of the Jade Emperor and the glory of The Three Pristine Ones.

On the other hand, it was bad. The gap in Dao Practice between them and this new target was immense. This wasn’t a game; one wrong move and it would be game over for real.

Moreover, while the Yellow Dog King’s point was the "Mo Lake Ink Flood Dragon," what Gu Zhao and the others heard was "south of the Wanling River" and "Dragon King of Wanling River."

The Mo Lake Ink Flood Dragon was the godson of the Dragon King of Wanling River. This meant the Dragon King was even more powerful than the Ink Flood Dragon, and also that he was likely at odds with the Court.

The Yellow Dog King hadn’t explained many of these details clearly, obviously assuming Gu Zhao and the others already knew the backstory.

Gu Zhao and the others exchanged a look. This wasn’t an urgent matter and could be planned out over time, so they didn’t press for more information.

For now, there were two important matters.

First, the Yellow Dog King. Second, Three Extremes Mountain.

Gu Zhao began thoughtfully, "Yellow Dog King..."

"I will no longer be called the Yellow Dog King. I ask the Sect Leader to bestow a name upon me," the Yellow Dog King said, cupping his hands.

"Yellow Dog King is just your title, isn’t it? Don’t you have a name?" Gu Zhao asked curiously, then pointed at Bai Ke. "Even she has a name."

Bai Ke: (▼ヘ▼#)

But the Yellow Dog King shook his head. "I do not have a name."

Hearing this, Gu Zhao gave the Yellow Dog King a deep look. After a moment’s thought, he said, "Although you aren’t a disciple of Daluo Palace, I plan to make you a Guardian of Daluo Palace."

The Yellow Dog King bowed to accept his new post, only to hear Gu Zhao’s hesitant voice. "As for a name... Gate Guardian... Yellow Dog King... Great King Yellow Dog... Huang Da... Big Yellow?"

Everyone: Õ_Õ

"AHEM!" Gu Zhao coughed dryly. Of course, he couldn’t actually call him Big Yellow. Even though this was a different world from the modern one, many cultural norms were the same.

Gu Zhao was terrible at naming things and instinctively glanced at Taoist Yan Song.

Taoist Yi Hong, standing nearby, interjected, "You are the Sect Leader of Daluo Palace. Many things cannot be delegated; you must handle them personally."

Taoist Yan Song chuckled and shot a meaningful glance toward Daluo Palace, which was halfway up the mountain behind them.

A flash of understanding crossed Gu Zhao’s eyes.

"Daluo Palace is guarded in the four cardinal directions by the Four Symbols. Each Symbol, in turn, is assisted by Seven Mansions. Your original form is a dog, which aligns perfectly with the second mansion of the West. Therefore, I now bestow upon you the name Huang Yuan and the title of The Golden Dog of Bond, to serve as a Guardian Star Official of our Daluo Palace. Are you willing?" Gu Zhao asked with a solemn expression.

The former Yellow Dog King was completely shaken, feeling his Divine Soul being cleansed. He couldn’t stop himself from falling to his knees once more, kowtowing as he prostrated himself. "Huang Yuan thanks the Sect Leader for bestowing this name!"

And so, Daluo Palace had its first Guardian Star Official: The Golden Dog of Bond.

Then, it was time for the second matter.

"We need to make a trip to Three Extremes Mountain. Are you willing to lead the way?" Gu Zhao asked.

Huang Yuan cupped his hands. "I am willing!"

Taoist Yan Song stepped forward and stopped Gu Zhao. "Taoist Yi Hong and I can go by ourselves. You are the master of Daluo Palace; you shouldn’t act rashly."

Taoist Yi Hong also nodded in solemn agreement. "Indeed, indeed."

Gu Zhao found it a little amusing, but he understood their reasoning.

The threat of the Golden Wind Divine King was imminent, and beyond him loomed the Mo Lake Ink Flood Dragon and the Dragon King of Wanling River. The two old Taoists were desperate to increase their power.

If the two of them served as the main force in clearing out Three Extremes Mountain, the share of Evil Qi they’d receive for the Thunder Seed would be far greater than if he went along. This would allow them to rapidly increase their strength to face the coming crises. In terms of efficiency, it was a better strategy than having him participate.

So Gu Zhao didn’t object. "Then I’ll have to trouble you two."

"It’s no trouble."

"We’ll set out tomorrow!"

...

「The next morning」

Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Yi Hong left with Huang Yuan. Gu Zhao mentioned it to Elder He, and the matter of the two burly men’s disappearance was dropped at the construction site.

Gu Zhao spent most of his time there, continuing his research on arrays with Zhuo Qingyan. He also took breaks to return to the modern world to rest and relax.

He let his parents know he was safe, shot the breeze with Zhang Hang, and flirted and joked with Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi.

Jiang Shishi: @Gu Zhao, I could just die, I love you so much!

Gu Zhao: What’s up?

Xiao Ya: (smirking.jpg) There was an issue with the hotel the organizers provided. While our tour group was still trying to figure things out, people from the Hengta Group contacted us, booked us a new hotel, and arranged everything. They said it was all for me and Shishi.

Jiang Shishi: You have no idea! The way everyone in the group looked at us totally changed. That little bitch who was always so passive-aggressive with me now avoids me like the plague!

Xiao Ya: You’re amazing (worship.jpg)

Jiang Shishi: (hanfu_selfie.jpg)

Jiang Shishi: If Young Master Gu doesn’t mind my humble origins in a Music Workshop, I would gladly offer myself to serve you (lewd.jpg)

Xiao Ya: (hanfu_selfie.jpg)

Gu Zhao admired the photos for a long while, pondering which "consort’s plaque" to flip for the night. Just then, the Five Thunders Order in his Sea of Consciousness began to harvest wisps of Evil Qi. After a series of rhythmic pulses, it filled the progress bar—which was already more than halfway full from the Black Bear King’s death—and condensed another Thunder Seed.

Three Extremes Mountain was annihilated!

Gu Zhao put aside his romantic thoughts and called Yunyang. "Are you free? How about a trip to Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain? Introduce me to the old Taoists up there. I’ll pay you a finder’s fee. A very, very generous one!"