Above Garden

"Shangyuan, I'm back." The Sovereign of Lingxiao Kingdom stood at the entrance of Shangyuan, his gaze fixed intently on the magnificent garden.

The flower goddesses gather here, not for business or anything, but mainly in a place similar to a dormitory.

In the past, the flower goddesses also lived in their own cave abode, but that resulted in a lot of turmoil and caused a lot of trouble from time to time.

There was even a time when talented scholars challenged each other to a duel over the Flower Goddess, and half of Chang'an watched the spectacle.

The goddesses of flowers are indispensable, so it's impossible to kill them directly.

The goddess of flowers controls all flowers, but these flowers are not merely for display.

Seasonal changes, the alternation of the four seasons, and even various rituals, medicines, and cultivation Cultivation Method all require the cooperation of flowers, making the existence of the Flower Goddess very important.

The goddess of flowers is the one who maintains the natural growth of all flowers and ensures their timely blooming. Like many other gods of plants, the goddesses of flowers are... more sensational.

After all, flowers have been a symbol of beauty and attracting bees and butterflies since ancient times.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the emperor, with a stroke of his pen, granted the Shangyuan Garden to the flower goddesses.

It is an honor to let Baihua live in the Shangyuan Garden. No matter where they live, it can never be better or more prestigious than the Shangyuan Garden, after all, it was once the Emperor's palace.

Here, the flower goddesses and their followers can be made to behave themselves, and all the flowers can feel that they have gained a higher status, since they all have their own roles in the world.

Recalling the many glories and humiliations she had experienced here, the Sovereign of Lingxiao Kingdom... no, at this moment she should be called the Trumpet Flower God.

The Trumpet Flower God had shed her Baiyue attire and donned the magnificent robes worn by other Flower Goddesses before slowly entering the hall.

The Upper Garden is a place of unparalleled beauty, but the flower goddesses do not live directly here. Instead, they live in various grottoes within the Upper Garden. Theoretically speaking, the outer area is simply a garden.

The Trumpet Flower God entered the room, which was not quiet and cold, but rather very lively.

Everywhere you look, there are talented men and women, Daoist priests and monks, students and the elderly, families of all ages, and even couples wandering around and enjoying the scenery.

The Imperial Garden was once the emperor's palace many, many years ago, when the emperor still held supreme privileges. However, in this day and age, it has long been opened to the general public and has become a tourist attraction.

The flower goddesses reside in the grotto within, which has become one of the attractions of the scenic area, but that's not all.

The goddess of flowers is also the manager here, and she often holds various events here.

It was actually quite lively.

Walking in this familiar place, the Trumpet Flower God surveyed the surrounding scenery.

The buildings are towering, but not overly ornate; instead, they feature gardens filled with Lingzhi mushroom herbs, flowers, and trees.

It seems to be a garden of Kunlun and a garden of Langfeng.

The Qionghua Palace stands tall, and the radiant hall opens wide.

The nine-story secret chamber was quiet, and the purple and green Alchemy Chamber was filled with fragrance.

To the left, Jade Pool teems with spring; to the right, emerald waters teem with leaping fish

Look at the trees around you:

Three or five branches of osmanthus bloom, and two or eight clusters of auspicious flowers open, their blossoms resembling phoenixes dancing and their buds like dragons roaring towards the bamboo.

Auspicious clouds rise above the green pavilion, mist hangs over the verdant hills, jade hangs down on the crimson thorns, and pearls gleam in the green lotus leaves.

As vibrant as ever.

The Trumpet Flower God Creeper kept her eyes straight ahead; these scenes, which were extremely magnificent to first-time visitors, were already commonplace to her.

However, as they passed a high platform, they saw a young flower goddess of only the ninth rank performing a dance for a large audience.

But look at that dance, it's like the waves of brocade on the riverbank, the flowers blooming on the moonlit shore, the rosy robes turning on the mat, the flowers shining brightly before the snow.

The Trumpet Flower God stopped to watch; the figure on the platform was likely a sunflower.

Sunflowers, the flowers that face the sun, are but because their branches are messy and their position is low, they cannot be served at the table.

However, she is, after all, the goddess of flowers, and has many admirers, so there were a great many viewers, and many people cheered, including some of the most distinguished.

Some people prefer these delicate flower goddesses to those lofty and unapproachable peonies and the like.

Of course, peonies are still the most popular, and can be seen everywhere.

After pausing to watch for a while, the Trumpet Flower God suddenly heard someone call her from behind.

"Ling Xiao, what are you doing here?"

The voice sounded extremely surprised, as if incredulous.

The Trumpet Flower God raised her head and turned to look at the source of the sound behind her.

"Iron Begonia ..." she frowned in disgust.

The Iron Begonia, also known as the tiger thorn, has beautiful flowers, but they are covered with thorns, not the thorns of a rose, but small, sharp, and conspicuous thorns.

This flower is very beautiful, but its personality and temperament can easily hurt people. Although its beauty is enviable, it is sharp-tongued, sarcastic, and self-centered.

That mouth and that personality of hers hurt quite a few people back then.

However, she has many admirers, mainly because, in addition to her beauty, her personality is also surprisingly likable. Her sharp tongue has become a point of attraction for many people. Moreover, she is lucky because there is a saying that the Kirin Thorn is a flower that can bring good fortune.

As we all know, anything associated with bringing good luck is always popular.

Iron Begonia stepped forward and looked at the Trumpet Flower God: "Oh, I thought you would never come back in this lifetime. I heard you were quite happy being a chieftain in the southern tribes. Is it because you can't get used to the bloody food there, or do you prefer the food in Chang'an?"

The Trumpet Flower God held her head high, ignoring her, and tried to leave.

She knew that Iron Begonia had a sharp tongue and was annoying, but she wasn't a bad person; she was just a lucky idiot who could live well even without a brain.

That's why so many people like her.

No one likes a truly venomous woman, but a person who is sharp-tongued but not malicious is often a favorite of many.

It's just that the Trumpet Flower God doesn't like it.

Seeing that the Trumpet Flower God ignored her and walked away, Iron Begonia pouted and turned to leave as well.

At this moment, the maid beside her said to Iron Begonia, "Miss, that Trumpet Flower is so arrogant, treating us like a screen and ignoring us. Should we just let her pass by like this?"

She asked the question with no ill intent, but rather out of pure curiosity.

After all, as her maid, she knew Iron Begonia's personality best. Although she wasn't a bad person, she couldn't hold back her words.

Upon hearing this, Iron Begonia shook her head and chuckled, "You, do you really want to argue with her in the street? You may not care about the embarrassment, but I do care about my reputation."

"Ling Xiao just came back from that desolate wilderness. Maybe he's figured things out and is willing to back down. Sigh, to be honest, which of us who show our faces in public doesn't have people gossiping behind our backs? Which of us doesn't have some kind of smear on us? A word, a glance, and we'll be arrested and discussed."

"Ling Xiao couldn't bring himself to lower his head back then, which is why he was ousted and sent to that poor, remote place to live a miserable life. It's a good thing that he's learned to humble himself now. I'll write this down in a letter later and send it to the other sisters to tell them that Ling Xiao is back."

The maid stared at Iron Begonia in astonishment, stunned.

"What are you doing standing there? Haven't you eaten?" Iron Begonia frowned.

"No, it's just... Miss's sudden remarks are a bit out of character, doesn't quite fit with my usual impression of her?" the maid said, carefully choosing her words.

Iron Begonia's eyes widened immediately. "You heartless bastard, do you really think your young lady is stupid?! Get your ass off and write the letter right now!"

She pretended to kick the maid away, then stood still and took a serious look at the back of the Trumpet Flower God.

Hopefully, Ling Xiao has truly learned to humble himself.

Otherwise, there'll be some fun.

On the other side, Li Qi finally visited the Liu family late at night.

As he walked, he reflected on the lesson he had learned.

Leaving aside the matter of the Imperial Academy... the matter of the demon blood was truly inappropriate. At the time, I was really arrogant, thinking that I had been purified and therefore had nothing to fear.

Reflecting on his mistakes, he went to the Liu family.

The Liu family remained peaceful as always. Liu's father passed down the family tradition of poetry and books. Although Liu Shenzhi seemed a bit eccentric, the family atmosphere was still quite good.

The Liu family has no servants; they all open the doors themselves. However, this time, it was Liu Junyi who opened the door for Li Qi.

"Ah? Brother Li, you're back?" Liu Junyi looked at Li Qi with some surprise after opening the door.

He didn't know the situation at the time, but Liu Junyi knew that Li Qi was doing well in class, but suddenly one day he said he needed to ask for leave to go back to Wushen Mountain because he had something very important to do.

But now it seems the matter is settled?

However, Li Qi seems a bit off; there's a peculiar aura about him.

In just over ten days, Li Qi's cultivation has improved again? Didn't he just break through to the seventh rank? How can he progress so quickly? And what is that strange area surrounding his body?

It was as if a mysterious halo surrounded him, separating him from the world and making it difficult for outsiders to notice him.

Liu Junyi scrutinized Li Qi, his eyes filled with curiosity. How could there be such a big change in just over half a month?

Li Qi waved his hand, dispelling the spell of Body Merged with Nature and returning to a form that could be detected by others. He then cupped his hands and said to Liu Junyi, "I apologize for disturbing you so late at night and for any rudeness. Please forgive me, Brother Liu."

Li Qi's eyes were also filled with surprise.

After comprehending the 'boundary', he tentatively applied the formula he had come up with to many Technique Method, giving these Technique Method many additional effects.

For example, by Body Merged with Nature, he can now clearly blur the boundaries between himself and nature, making him harder for others to notice. At the same time, his own inner world is also more orderly.

He can now distinguish the boundaries of mountains and rivers, the boundaries of heaven and earth, and the boundaries of various different energies within the microcosm of the human body, allowing for a clearer and more distinct classification during assembly.

However, rebuilding one's personal inner world is not something that can be done in a day or two; it requires seclusion and spending more than ten years slowly adjusting and gradually changing.

That's why Li Qi was surprised.

The microcosm of the human body cannot be changed for the time being, but... the Body Merged with Nature can be changed on the spot. I am a seventh-rank, and I have optimized Technique Method. I did not expect Liu Junyi to see through it at a glance and cross a rank. Does Liu Junyi also have an ability similar to the Buddhist Heavenly Eye?

As expected of a top student in the Imperial Academy, he has many Trump Cards.

Both were surprised, but neither lost their manners. Liu Junyi made way for them, saying, "You must have something important to discuss with me so late at night. Brother Li, please come in quickly. If you need any help, I will not refuse."

"Thank you, Brother Liu," Li Qi said, then came in.

Upon entering, his first question was, "May I ask where Canzhi is now?"

"It's past midnight now, so Shenzhi shouldn't be asleep yet. If Brother Li wants to go find him, I'll take you there," Liu Junyi said.

"Thank you very much then. How is Shenzhi doing lately?" Li Qi asked again.

As they exchanged questions and answers, the two walked into the courtyard.

The courtyard remained the same. Although it was made of ordinary materials, the clever arrangement created the feeling of a large-scale formation. However, Li Qi and Liu Junyi were already familiar with the layout, so they didn't get lost.

Liu Junyi said with a sigh, "Thanks to Brother Li, my cultivation has improved by leaps and bounds recently, and I feel like I am about to touch the seventh rank. It is all thanks to Brother Li's guidance. In the past, there was Mencius' mother who moved three times to choose a good friend to cultivate her character. Brother Li is my good friend."

"Since I met Brother Li, he has stopped fooling around outside and has focused on cultivation every day. Although he studies the art of insect gu, I think there are mysteries in it. Now his cultivation has improved by leaps and bounds. I really have to thank Brother Li."

"It's just mutual help. We're good friends, and that's how friends should act," Li Qi said with a smile.

Liu Junyi also said gently, "The sage said: 'Living with virtuous people is like entering Chamber of Orchid and Iris, where one can be imbued with their fragrance; associating with virtuous people is like walking in the mist, where one is not wet but is subtly nourished.' It is my good fortune to befriend a virtuous person like Brother Li. Now he is already imbued with the fragrance of orchids without even realizing it, and he has distanced himself from those bad friends he used to hang out with. This is truly a good thing."

"Fair-weather friends? Although I've heard that Canzhi is usually a bit eccentric, I haven't asked what's going on. What did he like to do before?" Li Qi asked curiously.

He was genuinely curious about what Liu Shenzhi was doing before he became obsessed with the Witchcraft Silkworm. He hadn't asked before, but now he suddenly said that Liu Shenzhi used to be a bunch of scoundrels, which was quite strange.

However, it's not hard to imagine. He used to wear flowers in his hair and dress in a flashy way, but... he couldn't possibly go to brothels every day, could he? He would probably be beaten to death in his house by Liu Donghe if he did.

Besides, although Liu Shenzhi is frivolous, he wouldn't be so indiscriminate in his pursuit of women.

Liu Junyi explained, "He was previously obsessed with the 'Hundred Flowers Ranking' and liked to wander around the Imperial Garden with a group of idle people, boosting the reputation of those flower goddesses. He used his status as a student of the Imperial Academy to be a guest of honor for those little flower goddesses, connecting them with each other and accumulating influence. Although he never got involved in matters of the brothel, it wasn't exactly his proper job. My uncle was quite helpless about it several times."

Li Qi was stunned.

Uh, this young master Liu... he even runs a fan club to chase after celebrities?

Judging from this, he's really become a fan leader. He probably has private connections with the Flower Goddess, attends private banquets, and even got her contact information. No wonder he wears flowers in his hair; it turns out he's connected with the Flower Goddess.

However, after his initial shock, Li Qi suddenly realized something.

Oh no, isn't this backstory a bit too coincidental?

Will Liu Donghe develop a prejudice against the Flower Goddess because of this?

(The double monthly pass bonus is ending soon, bro, give it a try!)