Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 3 Mountain and Sea Curse, Buying a Life and Escaping

This half of the Mountain Spirit Flower Coin had been dormant in Wang Cheng's mind for sixteen years, and the two had long since become one.

After sensing the revival of the Cangming water vapor, Wang Cheng instantly understood its capabilities.

Through the lens of money, one can employ a unique skill: "Rare goods can be hoarded and traded worldwide."

[With the help of money, one can glimpse the spiritual information of heaven and earth, discern the information and value of other people or treasures, and know which are rare and valuable items to "live in" and which are just junk.]

The closer the distance and the more intimate the relationship, the more accurate the assessment.

At the same time, it sees through the deepest trading desires of the cargo owner and helps the owner complete the transaction with the "cargo owner" through buying and selling.

The items traded are not only tangible goods; certain intangible things are also included in the scope of the trade, such as fate and destiny.

In short, money can buy anything!

"In short, it's about understanding people's obsessions and completing buying and selling transactions."

Water represents wealth, and the Four Seas Coin, as a general equivalent, is perfectly reasonable as a medium of exchange.

The listed bone weights should come from the bone weight fortune telling method of Jin Dian Fa, which calculates the bone weight based on the four pillars of destiny, with a minimum of two taels and one mace and a maximum of seven taels and two mace.

I now possess only two ounces and eight mace. I have good fortune but no destiny; I am destined for a life of hardship. If nothing unexpected happens, I will perish today.

But after Wang Cheng understood the power of his treasure, his first thought was to escape and even save his father, Prince Jinghai.

There are two key issues now.

First, the ritual of sending the royal ship to fill the sea eye tightly bound the old father, forcing him to comply with the rules set by the government.

Secondly, Wang Cheng himself was suppressed by the [Taishan Thousand-Jin Rock], becoming a burden to the others and hindering them from winning in the game rules, ultimately leading to them all being filled into the sea eye.

As long as Wang Cheng can escape, his father and the others who are determined to protect him will still be unable to escape this ritual, but at least they will have the strength to resist and will not be doomed.

This is everyone's last chance of survival!
"It just so happens that the curse of oppression relies on one's birth date and time. As long as I can change my fate, even just adding one coin would be enough for me to turn the tide."

So now I need a 'cargo owner' to sell their life to me!

Wang Cheng suddenly looked up at the boat full of ghosts and evil spirits.

At this moment, he seemed more like a vicious and evil spirit that tempted people to fall.

The obsession of ghosts and evil spirits is the basis of their existence, far simpler and purer than that of humans.

As he looked through the lens of money, a series of trading offers quickly surfaced in his mind:

"I'm so hungry, I want to eat the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys of a virgin boy."

This guy is a starving wretch, so hungry he only wants to eat Wang Cheng dry, but he can't afford the price.

"I want to be the best of the best, I want to be the richest man in the world!"

This is a poor wretch, but unfortunately Wang Cheng and the Wang family have fallen on hard times and are now even poorer than him, so they still can't afford it.

"I want stunning beauty, give me your looks!"

This was an extremely ugly shrew, but Wang Cheng felt that a face was not something dispensable, and he didn't want to give it to her.

The evil spirits on the ship had bigger and bigger appetites than the last, and after looking at more than a dozen cargo owners, they still couldn't find anyone who could afford the price.

After a slight delay, white mist began to rise around the two royal ships, as if they were not sailing on the sea, but quietly embarking on the path to the underworld.

"Wei~wu~"

A deafening boom resounded as the baton struck with tremendous force.

Suddenly, a golden light appeared in the air ahead, which quickly expanded into a dark, illusory government office.

The gate was wide open, and two rows of tall figures dressed in red official robes with embroidered bird and beast patches could be vaguely seen sitting in the yamen.

The faces were obscured and their features were indistinct; all that could be seen were indifferent golden eyes that looked down, causing Wang Cheng to catch his breath.

A senior official in the hall shouted:

"You scoundrel Wang Zeng! You are nothing but a band of thieves who travel around collecting and trading, yet you have the audacity to violate the sea ban, declare yourself king, establish your own system, call yourself the King of Pacifying the Sea, and gather forces in the East China Sea!"

How dare they presume to ask the imperial court for amnesty and the lifting of the maritime ban?
Our Great Zhao is vast and rich in resources, and we are self-sufficient. Why do we need to trade with foreign countries?

The fact that the imperial court did not implement the thirty-mile coastal relocation policy is already a great act of imperial grace. You despicable water collectors dare to take advantage of us time and time again. You are truly ignorant of your place and your crimes are unforgivable!

Since you, the bandit leader, claim to "share the benefits with the people and defend the borders for the country," then I will grant your wish and let you die a worthy death.

"Left and right, come on! Open the Mountain and Sea Curse!"

Without giving Wang Zeng another chance to defend himself, a warrant was thrown from the courtroom, and the government office in mid-air disappeared in a flash, like a mirage.

Despite their fierce words, they are well aware that the sea god worshippers, known as "Princes," are sending off the royal ship on behalf of Heaven to patrol the land.

The children along the riverbank were not allowed to go out all night, for fear that their souls would be taken away by the "Prince".

These officials valued their lives most, and even when they were under surveillance, they dared not approach within ten miles of the royal ship. After the verdict was announced, they immediately made their escape.

When Wang Cheng looked up, he witnessed a breathtaking scene that ordinary mortals would never see.

A golden ray of light leaped out from the boundary between the sky and the sea in the vast ocean opposite.

It was a winding golden Great Wall stretching from north to south across the eastern sea of ​​the Great Zhao Dynasty, like mountains and forests, like dragons and serpents.

Countless incense bricks, yellow cloth banners, shrines, altars, and temples were piled up densely on the city wall.

The phantoms of ghosts, gods, officials, children, guardians, ascetics, princes, emperors, and dragon kings each sat solemnly in their shrines, suppressing this mountain and sea curse.

They were either making hand seals or holding steel whips, divine maces, or scepters, each one exuding awe-inspiring power.

At the foot of this illusory, cursed Great Wall, another bloody and filthy underwater world is reflected, where numerous ghosts and gods are also suppressed.

Wang Cheng also saw Xu Hai, the "Great General of Heavenly Seas", the four Xu brothers, the "Shuangyu Ship Kings", Jin Zhi Lao, the "Tiger Dragon", Li Guangtou, the "Sea Yaksha", and others, who were once famous pirate leaders in the East China Sea.

This proves that many of the ghosts, gods, and princes here were once "rebels" suppressed by the imperial court, and were eventually used to fill the sea eye.

Even those powerful spirits who could suppress evil spirits in an entire state and were not filled in by the sea's eye were forced to divert most of their power to suppress them here, becoming part of the "Mountain and Sea Curses".

It's like drawing a line in the sand and imprisoning yourself, not much different from being a brick in a city wall; you're both a jailer and a prisoner.

call--!
A west wind blew by, and two royal ships, laden with evil spirits from the entire state, stumbled and crashed toward the sea eye suppressed beneath the Great Wall of Curses.

Wang Cheng couldn't help but feel anxious.

Fortunately, after a few more breaths, he finally found a suitable "customer".

"I want to make a name for myself and be the center of attention."

When Wang Cheng saw a young scholar wearing a blue long gown, his eyes lit up.

Found you!
He immediately signaled to Wang Duo:

"Third Uncle, let him in."

Upon hearing this, the fierce general guarding his nephew immediately turned his sword around and rammed the scholar, who looked like he had just died but still maintained a respectable appearance, into the room.

A demon has possessed me!

The three flames of fortune, prosperity, and longevity on Wang Cheng's shoulders and head flickered wildly. One eye remained normal, while the other had turned a ghostly, oily green. Yet, his face showed no panic; instead, he breathed a sigh of relief and then shouted again:
"Third Uncle, you go help my father. I can get out of here on my own. Trust me!"

Wang Duo hesitated for a moment, and only after confirming that Wang Cheng was not lying did he lead the Five Peaks Selection, which had already lost nearly a third of its men, into the ship, where a large gust of cold wind swept in and rushed into the prince's banner.

Using its connection to the Great Banner, it returned to the side of the Prince of Jinghai at the front.

With his wings returned, Prince Jinghai was no longer alone, and his royal ship finally regained its stability and stopped sinking.

In contrast, the deck of the ship where Wang Cheng was located was rapidly approaching the sea surface, and it was in danger of capsizing and sinking at any moment.

Without hesitation, he immediately used the Four Seas Coin to shout at the evil spirit attacking his body:

"I'll grant you the spotlight, in exchange for your looks and your fate."

"A deal is a deal, and there's no going back!"

At that moment, the scholar felt as if he had returned to his previous life, to the moment when he solemnly prayed for a marriage with the God of Wealth in the temple. The person in the hall was just as dignified and imposing, making it impossible for anyone to disobey him.

He nodded repeatedly, eager to agree.

As soon as the Mountain Spirit Coin gleamed with gold, Wang Cheng donned a scholar's blue robe, his appearance changed drastically, and he suddenly possessed two completely different destinies.

A rough outline of another person's life flashes through my mind like a revolving lantern, and my "weight" subtly changes.

Without bothering to examine it closely, he immediately shrank back and crawled out of the python robe. The [Taishan Thousand-Jin Anchor] on the incense table remained motionless, unaware of anything unusual.

Only the scholar-evil spirit, clad in a python robe and beaming with unbridled joy, remained on the spot.

Since his obsession was to be the center of attention, Wang Cheng left the stage for him to perform the "Imperial Inspection Tour".

Faced with countless evil spirits and demons, the literal meaning is more than enough to satisfy the public's attention.

Wang Cheng essentially got something for nothing, without paying a cent.

At the same time, with quick eyes and hands, he pulled out the small yellow hemp paper figure from under the paperweight. Covered in the fate of evil spirits and concealing the aura of a living person, it slipped out from the tide of evil spirits and leaped into the sea.

When you feel the powerful pull of the Wang Ship on the evil spirits, switch back to your own living life and fly away quickly.

Then he turned around and stared intently at the royal ship where his father was.

Just as the two royal ships, laden with countless evil spirits and malevolent entities, rushed toward the sea eye one after the other.

Snapped!
A blast of the horn sounded.

Command flags, a clearing banner, a white talisman flag, drums, and halberds—the complete ceremonial guard of the "Prince" cleared the way, and a jade carriage carried by twenty-eight men and a large contingent of ghost soldiers took flight.

Wang Cheng clenched his fist excitedly.

"They've stunned us!"

Without him as a hostage, the others finally managed to escape at the last moment.

Then came a figure with prominent features, half dragon and half human, sitting on a jade carriage. He was wearing a silver armor with dragon scales and a white robe with a python dragon on top. He held two bright silver dragon maces in his hands. His whole body was adorned with the manifestations of the Earth Deity.

This is none other than the world's strongest water collector, the newly promoted "Prince" Jinghai Prince Wang Zeng!

Behind them, the surviving members of the Five Peaks Selection were all dressed in armor and wielding weapons, their demeanor completely transformed, and the brilliance in their eyes returned to that of their former selves.

Clearly, this [divine ritual of sending off the royal ship] is not all bad.

If they successfully cross the river, it will be equivalent to completing the last duty of the water brigade official, who has devoted himself to the cause until his dying breath.

—Those who die but do not perish, who unite with the Dao, become true spirits and deities!

The royal procession, with its banners obscuring the sky, finally landed on the Great Wall, which was manifested by the Mountain and Sea Curse, and disappeared into a boat-shaped temple that rose out of thin air.

It happened the instant they returned to their positions.

Wang Cheng also saw his identity change as he looked at money.

He is now definitively defined as the first direct descendant of the Sea God's religious "Prince," favored by the Water Gods and protected by the vast ocean, never to drown!

His body felt lighter, and an invisible force lifted him up. Without having to swim, his body floated naturally on the sea like a plank.

Before he could fully appreciate this sudden and miraculous ability, the Cursed Great Wall at the horizon disappeared after the mission was completed.

The last thing he heard was a familiar voice filled with remorse:

“Cheng’er, if any of our former subordinates from the Five Peaks Banner come looking for you, don’t believe a single one. Hide away and make sure you survive.”

Then a wave crashed over him and shoved him into the sea.

When Wang Cheng resurfaced from the sea, the sea was already empty. The middle of the night had quietly passed, and a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon.

He stared blankly at the deep blue ocean for a while before turning and swimming toward the shore.

Now that the father and son are separated by life and death, he cannot even communicate with spirits until he has achieved success in his cultivation. There is no point in continuing to worry about gains and losses.

He just secretly vowed to himself:
"After the ritual of sending the royal ship is over, the government may send people back to check at any time. My sudden disappearance as the crown prince cannot be hidden from others. I am not completely out of danger yet."

Now we must return to land and find a safe place to practice our magic, striving to be ordained and listed among the ranks as quickly as possible. Only with skill can we survive and avenge ourselves!

In addition, Wang Cheng also understood the unspoken meaning in his father's words.

"Eighty percent of the old subordinates are government traitors; going back would be like walking into a trap."

Even if they hadn't fallen into the hands of traitors, the Five Peaks Banner still had the father's adopted son, nephew, twenty-four generals, and thirty-six fierce warriors, all of whom were highly skilled captains. The three thousand elite direct subordinates of the Five Peaks Selection should not be underestimated.

Once I'm used and my facade is shattered, I might suddenly go from 'never drowning' to 'easily soluble in water' and die silently.

Needless to say, the government officials would be hunted down and killed if they showed any signs of activity.

"The Mountain and Sea Curse has been cast! Neither the righteous nor the underworld has a place for me, the 'Crown Prince of Jinghai', to hide."

In the past, Wang Zeng dreamed of having Wang Cheng take the imperial examination and obtain an official position, so that he could be ranked among the promising high-ranking officials like those in red robes.

But now, Wang Cheng has no chance and no plans to take the exam again.

"The government said that we, the water collectors who were born at the bottom of society and struggled to survive, were all bandits."

But in our eyes, those officials, nobles, members of the royal family, and high-ranking officials who plunder the lives of countless people by clinging to their fields are the most vicious bandits in this world!
Moreover, they were arrogant and conceited, unaware that disaster was imminent.

Three years ago, one group of Francois had already occupied the Haojing region south of Da Zhao, while another group of Francois advanced into Luzon.

Their firearms, warships, and cannons far surpassed those of the Great Zhao Dynasty, yet those powerful figures were still dreaming of a Celestial Empire and stubbornly clinging to the maritime ban.

Now that Father has passed away, great chaos is destined to ensue in the East Sea.

"I don't know why those lords in the city have to go to such lengths, at the cost of ruining the southeastern coast, to kill my entire Caishui Wang family."

No one knows what exactly is hidden in the depths of this vast ocean, which has made dynasties fear it like a tiger.

But I know that when it comes to flood control, simply blocking the water won't work.

In any case, in order to prevent the country from perishing and the race from being wiped out, and for the sake of the father who was the foundation of the nation, this sea ban must be lifted!

Perhaps I am destined to never pass the imperial examinations in Yujing City, or even in the capital of Minzhou, but…

He raised his head high from the water, looking towards the northern capital, and spoke slowly and deliberately:
"I want to try and see if I can get it in?"

(End of this chapter)