Many Troubles in Yujing City

After they talked for a while, Xu Zhaoying went to prepare to leave. Chen Qing sat cross-legged on the couch, placing the Jade Slip before his knees.

He rested a hand on the Jade Slip and focused his mind within it. In an instant, starlight swirled, and countless stars bloomed in his Sea of Consciousness! Each seemed to contain a profound talisman, while the starlight transformed into swimming fish and flying birds, mountains and rivers, all drifting and turning in the vast sea of stars.

Hum!

His body trembled. The qi within Chen Qing unexpectedly resonated with a star in the night sky outside!

"The cultivation method in this Jade Slip isn't written in words at all—it's the myriad phenomena of the starry sky! It maps directly into the inner consciousness! How profound. And it contains a strange power that lets my mind resonate with a star in the sky. Perhaps it should be called Star Power?"

His pupils contracted slightly, and fine sweat beaded on his forehead as he tried to touch the nearest Star Talisman with his consciousness.

The talisman was shaped like a Qingluan with its wings spread. The moment he touched it, a vast amount of information surged in—

"The Qingluan Void-Escaping Talisman requires the star power of the Eastern Seven Mansions..."

Boom!

A mere instant of contact felt like being struck by lightning!

Chen Qing grunted, his mind feeling drained!

"No wonder Xu Zhaoying said to focus on one discipline. It truly is vast and profound! This Jade Slip might really be the original text of a divine art. I wonder how it ended up in Li Xiao's hands..."

The Cosmic Star Tribulation encompassed everything, but at his current level, he had no way to comprehend it in its entirety. If he forced himself to cultivate it, he might suffer harm before gaining any benefit.

"I can only settle for the next best thing..."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment and came up with a shortcut.

Since he couldn't obtain the profound arts directly from the Jade Slip, why not use it as a medium to draw in Star Power and refine it?

Before his cultivation was crippled, this dream body had cultivated star-based arts. It might be suited to bearing Star Power, and once he refined it, perhaps it could even be passed on to his true self in the real world when he awoke!

With that thought, he immediately circulated his cultivation method.

He had expected it to be difficult, but to his surprise, it went smoothly. At a mere thought, a thread of starlight was drawn out and blended with the Supreme Harmony Qi within him.

"Whoosh—"

Starlight flowed like water through his meridians, eventually gathering in his life talisman. Then the Mountain and Sea Patterns on the talisman began to draw in and release starlight!

"It really works!"

Chen Qing's spirits soared, and he continued guiding it with care.

After repeating the process nine times, the life talisman was veiled in a faint starlight, which swirled within it.

"Though I haven't gained the profound arts, the quality of my life talisman has improved. I should be able to wield my spells with greater ease."

Just as he was about to continue, he suddenly heard Xu Zhaoying's footsteps outside.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, it's time to go."

Xu Zhaoying's voice had barely faded when Chen Qing finished his cultivation and rose. The Jade Slip turned into a streak of light in his palm and slipped into his sleeve. He opened the door and saw a figure dressed in white as pure as snow.

Xu Zhaoying wore travel gear, her hair tied back. The short sword at her waist held its cold gleam in check, and she was like a drawn blade.

Seeing that Chen Qing's complexion had changed, she asked, "How did your study go?"

Chen Qing shook his head. "The mysteries of the stars are too profound. I haven't found a way in."

"That's a good thing," Xu Zhaoying said with a smile. "The more authentic the inheritance, the harder it is to comprehend. Li Xiao was willing to bring out such a legacy, so he must have ulterior motives. Keep it safe. Once we reach the capital, the Princess may be able to help you understand it."

A short while later, the two quietly left the relay station.

Xu Zhaoying formed a sword seal, and the Flowing Water Sword glimmered green.

"Get on." Xu Zhaoying stepped onto the sword. "The city gates are closed at night. We'll have to enter by the Nine Heavens Cloud Path."

The Flowing Water Sword blazed with green light and carried them into the sky.

Amid the clouds of the Nine Heavens, Chen Qing's robes snapped in the wind. He looked down upon the picturesque mountains and rivers and gazed into the distance at Yujing's lights.

Ahead, a golden ribbon of light stretched across the horizon.

"Is that the Nine Heavens Cloud Path?"

Xu Zhaoying nodded. "It's a restriction of the Immortal Dynasty. Only those bearing a token may pass." As she spoke, her jade token flashed, and her sword light shot through like a rainbow!

In an instant, heaven and earth turned upside down!

When the golden light faded from before their eyes, majestic Yujing suddenly appeared before them—

The city's nine tiers of palaces blazed with gold and jade, while celestial towers floated among the clouds. Buildings stood row upon row throughout the city, divided into 108 wards. Spirit plants and flowering trees dotted the dwellings, and spiritual mist shrouded the streets.

"That's Qingwu Villa." Xu Zhaoying pointed to a courtyard below.

Before her words had faded, three streaks of green light came bursting through the clouds!

"Careful!"

Chen Qing had already placed his right hand on the talisman at his waist, but Xu Zhaoying merely turned her sword seal. The Flowing Water Sword carved three green arcs through the air.

At the sight of this, the three streaks of green light immediately changed course, weaving together in the air to form the Qingqiu Fox Shadow.

"They're our people," she murmured. Her sword light abruptly sped up, following the three streaks of green light southeast. Before long, they landed before an old temple in the corner of the city.

Beneath the shadow of ancient cypresses stood a stooped old woman, leaning on a green cane.

"Granny," Xu Zhaoying said softly. Then she turned to Chen Qing. "This is Granny Qing, the head of the Princess's Estate's covert guards."

"Young Master Chen," the old woman rasped. "The Princess ordered me to give you something, and to pass along a message as well."

Chen Qing saluted. "Please, go ahead."

"Once you enter the capital, no matter what news you hear, do not act rashly." As she spoke, the old woman opened her withered palm, revealing a Green Jade Whistle glowing faintly. "If you find yourself in danger, blow this whistle."

Xu Zhaoying suddenly interjected, "Granny, has something changed in Yujing?"

The old woman respectfully nodded in confirmation, then gave Chen Qing a long look. Her figure blurred and vanished like smoke.

Three streaks of green light darted from the corner and followed her away.

"I'll go investigate the situation." Xu Zhaoying put away the Green Jade Whistle, her voice grave. "Follow the road I pointed out and go to Qingwu Villa to meet the Princess." Before Chen Qing could respond, she had already taken flight on her sword, turning into a green streak that shot into the clouds.

Chen Qing sighed softly and started forward, walking alone down the long street.

As he walked along the streets of Yujing, fragments of memory surfaced. Clearly, the Chen Xu from the setting had visited this city before.

Qingwu Villa stood on Qifeng Mountain in the south of Yujing City, surrounded by towering ancient trees and suffused with spiritual energy.

The courtyard walls were built of green jade, faintly patterned with phoenixes. A thousand-year-old parasol tree stood on either side of the gate, their branches intertwining to form a natural archway.

As Chen Qing arrived, the gate opened on its own.

The moment he crossed the threshold, the world changed!

The ordinary courtyard suddenly expanded!

Rock gardens surged into peaks, streams rushed together to form a lake, and winding covered walkways floated among the clouds and mist.

A phantom of an ancient tree rose in the center of the courtyard. Wisps of clear qi trailed from its branches, each containing pure essence of wood.

Chen Qing's breath caught. The Supreme Harmony Qi within him began circulating on its own. The ancient tree seemed to sense something, and a tender branch suddenly dipped down to gently touch his forehead.

Hum—

His thoughts instantly cleared. Several long-baffling passages in the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll suddenly made sense!

"Little Friend Chen, you've finally arrived."

Lord Dingbo's voice came from behind the ancient tree.

Chen Qing came to his senses and found that the strange sights around him had returned to normal. Only a green leaf clinging to his lapel proved that what he had seen was no illusion.

Princess Xiyao was brewing tea beneath a parasol tree. With a graceful lift of her hand, a teacup flew of its own accord to Chen Qing. "Qingwu Villa has the Myriad Phenomena Azure Spirit Array, laid down by our ancestors. The manifestation of Jianmu's phantom just now means you have a connection with it, Minister Chen."

The tea was emerald green, with three golden-patterned leaves floating in it. Its fragrance was intoxicating, and even smelling it cleared the mind.

At a gesture from the Princess, vines gathered together and formed a chair.

Chen Qing held the teacup and was just about to sit down.

Suddenly, a loud call came from outside the courtyard—

"Sixth Highness has arrived—"

Everyone in the courtyard turned pale, but the Princess remained composed.

Whoosh!

The courtyard gate swung open again, and a young man in golden robes entered with his hands clasped behind his back.

He was handsome, though his brows and eyes held a trace of menace. Four purple-robed cultivators followed like shadows, their overwhelming auras making the parasol leaves rustle as they fell.

"Imperial Sister." The Sixth Prince ignored everyone else and looked only at the Princess, smiling warmly. "Father is in seclusion, so I'll handle the rewards in his stead. You must enter the palace at once to pay your respects to the Empress. As for the others who rendered meritorious service..." His gaze swept over Chen Qing. "An imperial decree has specially permitted you to choose one reward from the Treasure Pavilion."

Lord Dingbo frowned. "Your Highness, by custom, one who has rendered meritorious service through a proposal should receive his reward directly from the Holy Emperor..."

"What is it?" The Sixth Prince's smile turned cold. "Does Lord Dingbo think I'm not worthy of handling the rewards in his stead?"

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Princess Xiyao suddenly rose. "Minister Chen, go with His Highness." She looked at Chen Qing, a hint of meaning in her eyes.

"My Imperial Sister understands reason, after all." The Sixth Prince nodded in satisfaction. He said nothing more and turned to leave.

The four purple-robed cultivators split off to either side, subtly surrounding Chen Qing.

Chen Qing wasn't intimidated. He downed his tea, feeling instantly refreshed, then rose to his feet. "Then I'll go take a look."

Once they had left, Lord Dingbo said anxiously, "Princess! The Sixth Prince surely means no good! He's taking Chen Xu away to win him over and drive a wedge between us!"

"It's fine," Lord Zhengshuang suddenly said. "Little Friend Chen is quick-witted and knows his limits. Still, the Sixth Prince arrived as soon as Chen Xu did. I wonder how word got out."

Lord Dingbo's expression changed at once.