Not Good! There's a Master!

A gust of clear wind blew, and Chen Qing suddenly snapped back to attention, not indulging in the feeling of freedom.

"I need to contact the Princess first and understand the situation outside."

His thread-like spiritual sense roamed around the outside of the Treasure Pavilion, and he was shocked to discover quite a few people watching him—

Golden armored warriors guarded the main entrance, while two cultivators, one purple and one gray, loitered in a tea house. Even the flower-selling woman at the street corner scanned passersby with eyes like lightning!

"The Sixth Prince is certainly willing to spend money."

Just as his spiritual sense was about to withdraw, he overheard the two cultivators in the tea house whispering, and he paused.

"It's truly bizarre that Chen Xu, with his spiritual bones completely destroyed, could make such a comeback!" the purple-robed cultivator murmured while sipping tea. "Does His Highness value him quite a bit?"

"What His Highness wants is for the Tenth Princess to not be able to use Chen Xu as a sharp sword. Whether to win him over or suppress him are merely means to an end." The gray-robed cultivator opposite him chuckled. "Let me give you some inside information."

"Oh? I'm eager to hear it."

"Consider that Marrow Cleansing Pill," the gray-robed cultivator lowered his voice. "It was said to be for saving the Chen family daughter, but it was actually made to refine a puppet!"

"Hiss—" The purple-robed Daoist took a breath and immediately understood. "Indeed, all favor and punishment come from above; it can change with a single thought!"

At this, the two looked at each other and smiled.

Chen Qing, however, felt a jolt in his heart.

So that's how it is!

What a Sixth Prince! No sense of contract at all! His kindness is fake, and he's hiding schemes! But why would he refine the Chen family daughter into a puppet? What are his plans behind this?

He felt that things were not simple, but his spiritual sense, carried by the air, had no other means. He decided to keep it in mind for now and extended his spiritual sense towards Qingwu别院.

Chen Qing's consciousness, enveloped by spiritual energy, was as light as a feather, unbound by his physical body. In an instant, it traveled several dozen feet. He couldn't help but sigh, "This method might be even more liberating than the Yin God emerging from the body. I heard that once the Yin God emerges, there are many restrictions, and one has to be timid and cautious, constantly guarding against wind, fire, thunder, and lightning. My method is not harmed by the sun's rays, does not dissipate in a gentle breeze, and can even draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish itself..."

Just as he was thinking, suddenly...

"Boom!"

An invisible, heavy pressure descended abruptly. His spiritual sense seemed to sink into a viscous swamp, making progress increasingly difficult. Even the spiritual energy enveloping his consciousness began to become unstable.

"Is this the pressure of the Jade Capital's city-protecting formation, the 'Circumference Star Dou Forbidden'?" Fragments of memory surged, clarifying the situation for Chen Qing. "We are still on the outskirts of the Jade Capital, and the suppression from the formation is already so obvious. If I were to approach the core, I fear the mere pressure would crush a Yin God!"

Just as he was about to evade, a bone-chilling coldness struck without warning, making his spiritual sense feel like it had fallen into an ice cave!

Chen Qing immediately restrained his thoughts and cautiously investigated. He saw a simple and elegant vermilion small building.

An octagonal bronze mirror hung above the small building, but its surface did not reflect scenery; instead, it flowed with the light of formations!

As his spiritual sense drew closer, the ancient mirror seemed to sense it, turning on its own. The flowing light within the mirror appeared to be condensing!

Memory fragments trembled again, causing Chen Qing to instantly understand. This was the station of the "Heavenly Inspection Department," which was responsible for monitoring formations and spiritual energy fluctuations in the Jade Capital!

He immediately shifted his spiritual sense and quickly moved away.

From his memories, he learned that the octagonal mirror was a magical artifact called the "Myriad Manifestations Mirror," specifically designed to break concealment, lock divine senses, and trace spiritual origins! As long as it touched him even slightly, his mental state would be eroded, no matter how hidden he was. Furthermore, the Jade Capital's Sky Patrol Guard would lock onto his location and arrive instantly to apprehend and punish him!

"The Sky Patrol Guards in Chen Xu's memories are mostly cultivators of the Fourth Realm, with their commanders even approaching the Fifth Realm! As expected of the Immortal Dynasty's capital, gathering the essence of the world, the realm inflation is severe! I misjudged the Yin God..."

After this ordeal, Chen Qing realized that this "spiritual energy as a boat" method was a double-edged sword!

Yin God cultivators could at least cast spells and techniques, but his wisp of consciousness was as fragile as glass. If he had been careless and approached a few dangerous spots just now, this wisp of consciousness would have likely dissipated on the spot. Moreover, someone could have traced his origin based on the evidence!

"This method actually has quite a few limitations, but for now, as long as I'm careful, it's still relatively hidden."

Given this, Chen Qing became even more cautious. While summarizing his experience, he let his spiritual sense probe cautiously like tentacles. After a few breaths, he found a circuitous path, moving stealthily along the underground spiritual veins, which, though winding, allowed him to avoid most formation detections.

A few breaths later, he finally arrived at Qingwu Villa, but the scene he "saw" made Chen Qing's heart sink—

The Princess's separate courtyard from his memories was now surrounded by twelve vermilion banners!

The banners' energies were in harmony, forming a large formation that sealed off the entire courtyard!

"Qingwu Villa is locked down?"

Just as Chen Qing was about to approach and investigate, the twelve banners suddenly moved without wind, rustling loudly!

Then, a black-robed Daoist stepped out, formed a hand seal, and a vermilion chain shot out from the banners, lunging straight for Chen Qing's wisp of consciousness!

Chen Qing made a decisive move and withdrew his spiritual sense!

The Daoist frowned, looking into the void, his eyes filled with surprise!

"The Spirit Locking Banner actually reacted, yet it caught nothing! This... this means the intruder's intent and will moved with their thoughts... This is bad! Could it be a technique like a projection of will?"

A look of surprise appeared on his face. Then, his hand seals changed rapidly, and the twelve banners lit up with vermilion light simultaneously, weaving into a net in the void. However, after searching for a long time, he found nothing.

But he became even more fearful. He then clasped his hands together and said to the surroundings, "May I ask which True Lord it is? This humble one is here under the Sixth Prince's orders to guard Princess Xiyao as she comprehends profound methods. If I have offended you, I beg for your forgiveness..."

If there's a problem, please go find the Sixth Prince, and don't make things difficult for me, please...

In the treasure vault, Chen Qing's eyes suddenly snapped open, and his Sea of Consciousness stung slightly.

"What a powerful technique! The separate courtyard is trapped by those twelve vermilion banners, the Princess is likely in trouble! The security within the courtyard is extremely strict; there must have been an accident! I need to find a way to contact them inside! But with that banner formation blocking the way, my spiritual sense can't get in. Were the Dao Marks wasted? Or is there something I haven't understood yet?"

Thus, he recalled his first experience of divine sense traveling and buried himself in the newly learned method, exploring its variations.

In the shadows, the gray-robed elder saw everything. He suddenly flicked his sleeve, and a bronze ancient mirror appeared out of thin air.

The mirror's surface rippled like water, revealing the figure of the black-robed Daoist searching the surroundings.

"This 'using qi as a boat' technique was recently comprehended by this child. If it can be further refined, it will not only bypass the Spirit Locking Banner but also allow for a counterattack. After all, this is an exquisite technique that, with continuous improvement, will be enough to support an entire sect!"

He lightly tapped the mirror, and the scene changed, revealing the deepest part of Qingwu Villa--

Princess Xiyao sat in the courtyard, surrounded by nine green jade pillars. Inscriptions flickered on the pillars, clearly indicating an attempt to forcefully suppress something.

"Judging by this setup, her bloodline power was forcibly awakened by the Qingqiu Canon," the old man narrowed his eyes. "How long has Tai Chu been in seclusion? Su Huan couldn't wait to make a move. It seems she's determined to extract the Heavenly Fox Qi from this daughter of Qingqiu to achieve her ambitions."

Meanwhile.

"Got it!"

Chen Qing's eyes suddenly flashed with brilliance!

"If I had a personal item containing the Princess's aura, I could use that aura to carry my spiritual sense and create a resonance. Perhaps that would allow me to bypass the formations outside the separate residence and reach the Princess directly..."

With that thought, he reached into his robes and took out a Green Jade Whistle, the token gifted by Granny Qing when he entered the city. Chen Qing closed his eyes and sensed a familiar, cool aura within it!

"It really is the Princess's spiritual power!"

Energized, Chen Qing placed the Green Jade Whistle in his palm and slowly infused it with Supreme Harmony Qi. The whistle immediately emitted a soft green glow.

A faint connection, like a silken thread, extended through the void.

His spiritual sense immediately followed this thread, darting away like a swimming fish!

The old man in the grey robe raised an eyebrow upon seeing this. "Using an object as a guide? Quite clever!"

The Princess's aura contained within the Green Jade Whistle resonated with the separate courtyard, drawing Chen Qing's spiritual sense as if it were being summoned. It bypassed the obstacles and arrived in an instant!

"Almost there..."

His spiritual sense passed through layers of restrictions. As soon as it entered the separate courtyard's perimeter, Chen Qing felt the pressure greatly reduce, and the scenery within the courtyard became clearly visible!

"It's going to work!"

But just as his spiritual sense was about to cross the final barrier, something unexpected happened!

"Whoosh--"

A white shadow flashed by like lightning. Chen Qing felt a sharp pain in his spiritual sense as a snow-white spirit mink bit down on it!

The small beast was only palm-sized, but its eyes glowed with a faint blue light, and its sharp teeth clamped down tightly on the thread of spiritual energy.

"Snow Soul Sable!"

A corresponding record emerged from his fragmented memories, and Chen Qing's heart jolted. He decisively severed the connection.

After biting through the thread, the small beast's expression turned serious.

"A powerful being's projection?"

Then, it smacked its lips.

"Oh no! While I must obey my master's orders, angering a powerful cultivator could also bring disaster!"

"You wretched beast!"

In the treasure vault, Chen Qing's eyes snapped open.

Although he had withdrawn his spiritual sense in time, a significant portion had been torn away, causing him to see black from the pain. After the abnormality subsided, he was naturally filled with anger.

"So close!"

The Samadhi True Fire Talisman flickered in his Sea of Consciousness, sweeping away distracting thoughts and steadying his mind. He then examined his own body, checking the changes in his spiritual sense.

Twice already, his mind had shown signs of exhaustion. If there was another setback, he feared it would damage his foundation.

But if he gave up now...

"Setting aside the fact that the Princess treated me well, just considering Li Xiao's words and the Sixth Prince's schemes, it means that if the Princess falls, I will be in grave danger. For both emotional and logical reasons, I cannot ignore this! However, this newly comprehended technique seems to be restrained by that beast. Have I not understood the system's rules thoroughly enough?"

While pondering, Chen Qing subconsciously raised the Bronze Wine Goblet and took a swig.

"Gulp--"

The amber liquid flowed down his throat, but it was unlike anything he had experienced before!

The liquid transformed into a scorching torrent and exploded within his body.

Chen Qing's mind snapped back, and before he could react, his entire body trembled violently. Brilliant starlight erupted from his seven orifices!

Simultaneously, the words "Never Drunk" on the wine goblet suddenly blazed with light, transforming into golden runes that hovered in mid-air!

The second update will be here soon. To all passing readers, please bookmark this story and remember to check back daily for updates