Snow Has Melted

"Make all the necessary arrangements. Even if I intervene, it will take more than seven days to restore you. Find a suitable place.

I will return after sunrise. Be prepared.

These two juniors of yours may stand guard nearby. It will benefit their future cultivation. Flying Eagle will remain at Duke Fu's Mansion."

Yuan Tiangang had not lied. Ling Feng and Ling Ying were both fairly talented, and observing from the side would indeed benefit their future cultivation.

After saying that, Yuan Tiangang placed a hand on Flying Eagle's head, then vanished without a trace.

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Flying Eagle was extremely excited. He could feel an additional force within his body. Once he refined it completely, he should be able to enter the Manifestation Realm.

"Farewell, Hall Master."

Ling Yan and the others respectfully saw Yuan Tiangang off, only then letting out a breath of relief. Too much had happened that night, and the pressure this man gave off was simply overwhelming.

Only then did they turn to look at Flying Eagle, their expressions complicated.

No wonder you dared to step forward!

Ling Ying clutched his chest as he stood up, grimacing in pain, his face full of relief. Fortunately, they had not fought! He had merely sealed Flying Eagle, yet he had ended up like this.

If they had truly fought, his fate would likely have been far worse!

"From this day onward, Flying Eagle will serve as deputy commander of Duke Fu's Mansion."

With Ling Yan's words, Flying Eagle successfully received a promotion and a raise.

"Flying Eagle thanks the old Duke Protector for his kindness."

Flying Eagle bowed to Ling Yan. Well, they were all eating from the same pot now. This man was also a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert, valued by the Hall Master and of great use to His Highness. He still had to show him some respect.

Even if his own Divine Marquis came, he would have to give him some face on the surface.

A day's plans began in the morning, followed by another round of early-morning exercise.

"Good. There is no need to worry within the Prince's Manor. This is Tiandu City."

After returning the previous night, Yuan Tiangang had not disturbed him. Only after he rose that morning did Yuan Tiangang report to him.

According to him, it would take at least more than seven days this time.

After receiving Chu Xuanao's answer, Yuan Tiangang turned and left.

With one step, Yuan Tiangang arrived in the pavilion of Duke Fu's Mansion. Looking at the people before him, there were two more present today besides Ling Yan and the other four from yesterday: Ling Chen, the heir and son of Duke Protector Ling Feng, and Ling Yun, Ling Feng's younger brother.

Ling Yun and Ling Chen looked at Yuan Tiangang with fear and admiration in their eyes. A living Heavenly Being Realm expert stood before them!

Right here before their eyes.

Even they had only heard that the Imperial Clan possessed Heavenly Being Realm experts. They had never seen one before.

"Greetings, Hall Master."

Ling Chen also bowed, though he lowered his head even further. Even now, he felt as though he were dreaming. This man before him was actually in the Heavenly Being Realm.

A Heavenly Being Realm expert had personally questioned me last night!

His great-grandfather—his grandfather—had been crippled. Duke Fu's Mansion had not truly possessed a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert for decades, and then there was the matter of Flying Eagle.

Even now, Ling Yun and Ling Chen had yet to recover from what had been said last night.

"Ready?"

"Reporting to the Hall Master, everything is prepared. Please follow me." With that, Ling Yan led the way toward the secret chamber.

Ling Feng walked at the rear, looking at Ling Yun, Ling Chen, and Flying Eagle.

"Third Brother, Chen'er, I'll leave things to you for the next few days."

"Rest assured, Second Brother." "Rest assured, Father."

Ling Yun and Ling Chen were extremely confident now. When they had heard last night that Ling Yan had been crippled, they had panicked. They knew very well what it would mean for Duke Fu's Mansion to lack a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert.

Yet in the blink of an eye, they had gained a new backer, and he would even help Ling Yan recover. With a Heavenly Being Realm expert personally standing guard, Duke Fu's Mansion was now no less formidable than the Imperial Clan's Julong Mountain.

Upon reaching the first floor of the pavilion, Ling Feng struck a pillar with his palm. The floor in a corner by the wall opened, revealing a deep underground passage. A spiral staircase led down to an unknown destination.

Looking at the underground passage before him, Yuan Tiangang knew it well. He had already noticed it the last time he came.

With a thought, Ling Yan and the other two felt a force envelop their bodies, lifting them into the air.

The four figures flashed and disappeared, while the floor above slowly closed.

When Ling Yan and the other two came back to their senses, they had already arrived in a secret chamber deep underground.

"Thank you, Hall Master. We..."

The excitement on Ling Yan's face was impossible to hide. He no longer had his previous calm and detached demeanor.

With a sweep of Yuan Tiangang's right hand, Ling Yan's body floated in the air. Yuan Tiangang pressed a finger to the Baihui acupoint atop Ling Yan's head, and a stream of golden true qi continuously poured from his fingertip into Ling Yan's body.

Ling Feng and Ling Ying retreated to the edge of the secret chamber, watching the two men at its center with concern.

Another sunset fell, and another sunrise came.

Though one guest was absent, heaven and earth continued on.

But I really can't go on without my Grand Marshal.

Chu Xuanao rose early that morning, bathed, burned incense, and dressed neatly. It was already November, and the new lottery draw had arrived.

Everyone, give me some face.

System, draw.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully drawing a prize: one bottle of Spirit Beast Pills."

[Spirit Beast Pill: Suitable for beasts. It can increase the cultivation of spirit beasts below the Transcendent Realm, making them stronger.]

Bang! The table suddenly shook.

No more draws, no more draws. This lottery was seriously cursed.

Other than the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus, not a single thing had been useful. That damn earthworm—did he even need to draw for one?

With a single order, he could have as many as he wanted.

It would have been better to get Three Slashes That Take Your Life. At least he could figure out where it felt best to chop someone.

He did not even want those so-called spirit beasts or Exotic Beasts.

Inside the secret chamber, after a full day, Yuan Tiangang had completely expelled the sinister yin energy from Ling Yan's body.

It had not actually taken a full day. Expelling the sinister yin energy alone would not have required even three hours. Yuan Tiangang had spent the remaining time using his own power to sort through Ling Yan's bodily meridians. He did not merely want Ling Yan to recover.

He wanted Ling Yan to advance further as well. Since he had already made this decision, he had to maximize the benefits. Using the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus merely to restore him would be a waste of His Highness's treasure.

Ling Yan's path of fire cultivation had something in common with Yuan Tiangang's supreme yang power. With the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus added in, Ling Yan might truly have a chance of reaching the late stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

Therefore, Yuan Tiangang did not immediately use the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus to restore him. Instead, he used his own power to sort through and repair Ling Yan's body. It could be said that Yuan Tiangang had restored everything in Ling Yan's body that could be restored. As for the remaining injuries, they could only be healed by the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus.

He had to ensure that not a trace of the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus's power was wasted. Any surplus power could help raise Ling Yan's cultivation, and with Yuan Tiangang's supreme yang power added afterward, it should help him break through.

As Ling Yan sat down cross-legged, Yuan Tiangang sent the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus into Ling Yan's body, then moved behind him and struck the crown of his head with a palm.

He used true qi to protect Ling Yan's meridians throughout his body while helping him refine the Earth Fire Condensed Lotus.

This healing and restoration officially began.

Heavy snow drifted through the air, blanketing the land in white. The earth lay beneath a thick layer of snow, clad in silver, and all of Tiandu City seemed to have become a kingdom of ice and snow.

Chu Xuanao sat in the courtyard, watching snowflakes flutter beyond the pavilion as he looked at the first snowfall of the year.

He murmured:

"The eighth day."

Today was already the eighth day since Yuan Tiangang had left.

Shuangxue, who was kneading his shoulders behind him, lowered her head upon hearing this and playfully leaned close to his ear.

"Your Highness, what do you mean, the eighth day?"

Hearing her sweet voice by his ear, Chu Xuanao only felt a little... a little... hot?

And it was getting a little too hot.

It was not just Chu Xuanao. Countless people in Tiandu City felt the same way.

"Your Highness, the snow has melted!" Qiuyue cried out.

The snow that had blanketed the courtyard rapidly melted into water. The first snowfall of winter had barely covered the ground before vanishing without a trace.

Snow became water, and the water dried into the earth, as though they had returned to the scorching heat of July.

Even the snow in the sky turned to water, then vaporized before it could reach the ground, disappearing without a trace.

Ghost Servant descended from the top of the pavilion, his voice grave.

"Your Highness, the might of heaven and earth. The Celestial Phenomenon Realm."

Hearing Ghost Servant's words, Chu Xuanao revealed a faint smile.

It worked.