Feng Shui Chapter 162: The Rising Water Dragon

The water system projection before them appeared divided into two layers: an upper shallow water layer and a deeper confined aquifer below. Chen Xiao understood that the top layer was surface water, while the second layer was the pressurized underground water.

Although Venerable Sanshui didn’t know modern geology, his long years of experience and his specialized earth-and-water elemental magic allowed him to pinpoint the problem clearly. He raised his hand, pointing to two spots, and said, “The soil layer that separates the upper and lower water layers has deformed, blocking the water flow to the reservoir beneath the capital.”

With a change in hand formation, Venerable Sanshui manipulated the projection. The upper layer, representing the surface seepage, flowed downward but bypassed the two blocked points. As a result, the lower water layer wasn’t getting enough replenishment to compensate for what it lost and was gradually thinning.

The magical projection was far more vivid and intuitive than Chen Xiao’s verbal explanation. Shen Yonghe and Shen Yongqing stood nearby, their expressions grave.

Chen Xiao asked Venerable Sanshui, “Your magic can probe this deeply?”

Venerable Sanshui chuckled, stroking his white beard. “With cultivation at the Combining Body stage, moving mountains and filling seas is child’s play. This level of magic is nothing.” The Shen brothers visibly relaxed. “As long as we clear the two blockages, the water layer will naturally restore over time. Of course, with me handling it, there’s no need to wait, filling the water can be done right away.”

Chen Xiao bowed respectfully. “Your power and mastery leave me in awe.” As he bowed, he glanced at Shen Yonghe, who seemed to have suddenly remembered something. He turned to Sanshui with a request, “Master, I have a favor to ask. The Shen royal family wishes to make some minor adjustments to the water veins.”

Sanshui gave him a surprised look. “Lord Shen, you are too polite. This was your original request, so naturally it can be done. But why the changes?”

Shen Yonghe hesitated, and Chen Xiao quickly said, “Please allow me to explain.” Sanshui nodded, and Chen Xiao continued, “I plan to use this opportunity to adjust the water veins so that the canal and the city’s Feng Shui arrangement, the ‘Stars Encircling the Moon’ formation, become a formation within a formation.”

From the Shen royal family’s introduction, Sanshui already had a general understanding of Feng Shui. He knew a formation within a formation meant an intricate nested array, like a smaller formation embedded inside a larger one. Raising it to such complexity required a precise balance of spiritual energy and complementary effects, something only master-level cultivators could achieve.

Chen Xiao, still so young, was already capable of setting up such an advanced nested formation. Sanshui regarded him with new respect. Stroking his beard, he nodded, “Very well. I accept. I’m curious to see what kind of mysteries this formation holds.”

The Shen brothers and Chen Xiao were delighted, bowing deeply to Venerable Sanshui. “Thank you, Venerable.”

With Sanshui’s cooperation, Chen Xiao’s task became much easier. Sanshui pointed to a blue line representing the canal outside the city, “Venerable Sanshui, please draw water from the canal underground, and then guide it along this water vein to the area beneath the northern new district of the city.” Chen Xiao’s indicated endpoint matched perfectly with the newly constructed neighborhood north of the city.

“It won’t be difficult." Sanshui said. “But could you explain the reasoning behind this?”

“Of course." Chen Xiao said, tracing the canal’s curved path in the air. “This is called ‘drawing water to replenish the base.’ It channels the canal’s fortune energy into the city’s ‘Stars Encircling the Moon’ Feng Shui formation. The waterway resembles a graceful woman, so this nested formation is also called the ‘Fairy Running to the Moon’ Originally it was ‘Chang’e Running to the Moon,’ but Chen Xiao worried that might confuse the locals.

“‘Fairy Running to the Moon’!” Shen Yonghe exclaimed, both surprised and pleased. “What a wonderful and auspicious name.” In a world where cultivation and immortal seeking were common, a Feng Shui name that sounded so promising would surely appeal to the cultivators.

Chen Xiao smiled faintly, then bowed to Sanshui. “For this formation within a formation, Venerable Sanshui’s exquisite magic will be needed.”

Now deeply interested in the nested formation, Sanshui closed his eyes and formed hand seals. Though the changes underground were invisible, they could all sense the earth stirring beneath them.

The soil collapse caused earlier by the duel between Shen Yonghe and the previous king was magically cleared, and the underground river water surged with thunderous flow as Sanshui skillfully manipulated it. The underground water layer quickly thickened.

To avoid causing drought or new collapses elsewhere, Venerable Sanshui only used natural rainwater from the shallow underground layers, not drawing moisture from the air to create water magically. Because of this, restoring the underground water layer’s original volume still required time.

One day was obviously not enough. After several hours, as darkness fell, Sanshui paused to rest. He didn’t plan to continue through the night since the water from other areas still needed time to flow naturally. He politely declined Shen Yonghe’s invitation to stay longer and returned to his arranged lodgings.

This cycle repeated for three days. Gradually, the thin blue mist representing the water layer in the projection grew thicker and denser. Chen Xiao was amazed, magic easily outclassed any technology in this regard. To fill such a vast underground lake by ordinary means would take at least ten to fifteen days.

Venerable Sanshui had deliberately saved Chen Xiao’s request for last so he could focus fully. Not only did he follow Chen Xiao’s instructions to draw water, but he even widened the small tributary beneath the canal.

One day, villagers fishing on the canal suddenly heard the rush of water. Ripples appeared on the surface, quickly growing into a swirling vortex.

Venerable Sanshui guided the water through the widened underground channel toward the area beneath the northern city district. At first, Venerable Sanshui’s expression was relaxed, such a small flow was easy to control. But as the water moved forward, it gradually grew larger and faster, and to Sanshui’s surprise, it seemed to gain a will of its own, as if alive. The water struggled against his control, surging wildly and trying to break free.

If this current escaped, Venerable Sanshui would lose all face. Sweat broke out on his back. Gritting his teeth, he poured more true energy into restraining the rebellious flow.

The water pushed down but immediately struggled back up again, repeatedly clashing with Venerable Sanshui’s control. Having never encountered such a bizarre phenomenon, Sanshui thought, “This is truly unnatural.”

His expression shifted subtly, from easy confidence to full alertness. Chen Xiao watched with concern, worried something unexpected might happen. Fortunately, Sanshui’s deep mastery at the Combining Body stage and refined magic subdued the water, successfully forcing it into the underground lake.

Like a dragon plunging into the sea, the water sent a deep, vibrating roar echoing through the earth. The city above felt the tremors clearly.

“Roar, ” It sounded like a monstrous howl or the crashing of rushing water. Residents of the new district followed the noise to find that a well, previously nearly dry, was now violently surging upward, water chains breaking free and splashing out.

Spray hit their faces, and as they licked the droplets from their lips, they were amazed by the well water’s refreshing sweetness.

This strange spectacle lasted only a moment. After the vibrations ceased, the well returned to calm. But the water level, having risen, did not fall back. Bold villagers lowered buckets to draw water, tasting the well’s contents, not as sweet as the spray, but much better than before.

While the city’s common folk were amazed, those atop the nearby mountain also felt the tremors, even more distinctly from their vantage point.

“What is happening?” Shen Yonghe couldn’t help but ask Chen Xiao. Venerable Sanshui did not take offense; he also looked toward the young man.

Chen Xiao smiled and said, “The Feng Shui arrangement has succeeded. The canal is now integrated with the city’s Feng Shui formation. From now on, the canal’s fortunes rise and fall with the city’s. The canal’s water veins initially resisted being redirected, but once they sensed perfect harmony with the city, natural phenomena appeared.”

Ke Jiusu, standing nearby, couldn’t help but comment, “You speak as if the canal is alive.”

Chen Xiao explained, “Mountains, rivers, plains, and forests may not have life, but each has its own temperament. Their climates and environments show these ‘personalities’ as if they were moods.”

Sanshui nodded in agreement. “Like how a fiery land is harsh, and an icy land is bitterly cold, while hilly water towns have mild climates and gentle rains.”

Shen Yonghe considered this, then said, “That makes sense.”

With the city’s land subsidence crisis fully resolved, Chen Xiao’s Feng Shui arrangement was complete. Shen Yonghe’s face glowed with happiness, and Shen Yongqing began organizing the troops to break camp. He then invited everyone present to attend a celebration banquet at the palace.

This banquet was not just for nobles, but also city lords and officials from all over. No one wanted to miss the chance to meet great powers, so the event promised to be grand.

Chen Xiao and his group were invited too. But Chen Xiao declined, knowing that his upcoming promotion was far more important than attending a banquet.

Though Chen Xiao stayed behind, he didn’t want Tong Nuonuo and Tang Ru to miss out. He asked Shen Yanxing to take them to the palace. Xi Yunqing, however, said calmly, “I won’t go, too many strangers would swarm me.”

After Xi Yunqing’s identity was exposed, many eager to network with him had been unable to meet him. If he went, he would be surrounded. Chen Xiao agreed and didn’t force the issue.

The five split into two groups: Shen Yanxing with the two went to the palace, while Chen Xiao walked toward the canal bank. Any villagers still on the water would notice Chen Xiao standing near where the vortex had appeared.

Chen Xiao turned to Xi Yunqing seriously. “Big Brother, please guard me. I need to sit here and meditate for a while.”

Without question, Xi Yunqing stayed close, silently protecting him like a steadfast guardian. “Don’t worry, Brother Xiao. I’ll keep you safe from disturbance.”