Chen Ping'an extended a finger to the desk and softly recited a single word. "Refine."
A speck of golden light appeared where his fingertip touched the tabletop. In an instant, it transformed into tens of thousands of tiny threads, like golden serpents entering the water and becoming flood dragons, spreading with a roar to cover every object in the National Teacher's Manor: geomantic maps, walls, tables and chairs, the blue bricks underfoot, corridor beams and pillars, sheets of green glazed tiles, roof ridge beasts, hanging fish ornaments and grass patterns, every file and book... Apart from Xiao Mo, Xie Gou, Song Yunjian, and a scant few others, nobody noticed a thing. The Secretary Officials continued writing, golden light and shadow still rippled across the ground like water through the branches, and Lin Shouyi was still discussing approaches to historiography with Cao Qinglang. Around the National Teacher's Manor, a cloud of gray dust suddenly rose—countless minute living things, nearly invisible to mortal eyes. The strange phenomenon vanished in a flash.
Over at the Flower God Temple, Liu Tui said he would personally see Old Man Liu Cheng off. Did Old Man Liu Cheng not wish to prove the Dao ascension? By the same logic, did he not wish to tell Liu Tui to get lost and cool off somewhere?
Jiang Shangzhen smiled. "Many friendships begin with a fight."
Cui Dongshan said in a sleazy tone, "Beat their brain matter out and drink it as wine."
Liu Tui smiled calmly. "When I was young, I set myself a rule: in each of the Haoran Nine Provinces, I would make the acquaintance of one or two local snakes. Now I am only missing Treasure Bottle Continent and Tongye Continent."
Old Man Liu Cheng said, "I do not rank highly enough in Treasure Bottle