The One Who Helps Me, Why Must They Save Me?

Having his secret revealed by Princess Xiyao, Chen Qing's heart trembled slightly.

He had only recently mastered this technique of merging Qi with the spirit, and he hadn't displayed it in the Princess's Estate, let alone extended his consciousness here without even showing his face, all while cloaked in the rich aroma of the Drunken Immortal Brew. How could the Princess recognize him at a glance?

Despite his confusion, his method of using spiritual energy to convey his thoughts was still in its early stages and quite rudimentary, far from the rumored capabilities.

As he pondered, he saw the Princess's red lips part, her breath like orchids.

The Chinese parasol trees in the courtyard swayed without wind, and strands of pure energy descended, wrapping his wisp of spiritual sense into a hazy spiritual body.

His consciousness entering the body, Chen Qing felt a novel sensation. "Your Highness, how did you recognize me?" The miraculousness of this spiritual body's transmission left him even more astonished. "To form a body from thin air, truly profound!"

"I merely borrowed the power of the earth's veins." Princess Xiyao's eyes flickered. "You carry my Green Jade Whistle, not to mention Chen Qing's characteristic of being like an abyss, capable of absorbing all things, and possessing a unique scent. I remembered it the first time I saw you. Although it has diminished slightly after your Spiritual Bone was dug out, with such innate talent, how many people in the world could there be?"

The words "body like an abyss" made Chen Qing suddenly recall Venerable Taiyan's assessment and Li Xiao's warning gaze when he cautioned him against investigating the Spiritual Bone.

"Could it be that this dug-out Spiritual Bone truly hides some secret?"

With this thought, he immediately asked, "Your Highness, do you know if there have been precedents for those with an abyss-like constitution?"

Princess Xiyao then said, "When I was young, I heard my father, the Emperor, mention that in ancient times there was the Heaven Swallowing Dao Body, whose constitution was like an abyss, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth like a vast sea. Unfortunately..." She sighed softly, "Such an overbearing physique ultimately could not escape backlash. According to historical records, no one has ever cultivated it to completion."

Chen Qing's gaze deepened upon hearing this, but he did not press further. Instead, he stated the purpose of his visit. "The Sixth Prince has placed me under house arrest under the guise of selecting treasures. Before entering the treasury, he mentioned that Your Highness was summoned to the palace to comprehend the Qingqiu Secret Canon. But now..." His gaze swept over the nine green jade pillars suppressing the demonic energy, "Your Highness is actually locked in your own separate courtyard. What is the reason for this?"

Princess Xiyao looked up, a faint demonic light flickering in her eyes, but her voice remained cold. "The Qingqiu Secret Canon is the supreme art of the Qingqiu lineage, created specifically for pure-blooded Heavenly Foxes. With each layer cultivated, the bloodline becomes more fervent."

She gently caressed the green jade pillars with her fingertips, forcing the demonic energy back into her body. "But I possess human blood, and forcefully cultivating this canon is akin to setting myself on fire. The deeper I cultivate, the stronger the demonic energy becomes, until my demonic form is fully revealed! And this is precisely what they desire."

Chen Qing frowned. "Knowing it is harmful, why do you still cultivate it?"

"The Empress's golden decree is an 'imperial favor'." The Princess shook her head slightly. "Within the decree lies the authority to oversee the nation left by my father before he went into seclusion. As a subject and a daughter, how can I resist?"

Chen Qing's eyes narrowed. "They are so brazen?"

"My father is in seclusion, the Empress holds power, my maternal clan is in decline, and my foundation in court is still shallow." She said calmly. "Eliminating me at this time is an opportune moment."

"Then why have you been imprisoned here?"

"Beneath the Qingwu Courtyard lies a spiritual vein that was forcibly relocated from the ancestral land of Qingqiu." She tapped the ground lightly, demonic energy surging. "In the past, it could help me suppress my demonic nature, but now that the Secret Canon has triggered a mutation in my bloodline, the spiritual vein's power has become a death warrant! With each passing moment, my bloodline grows stronger, bringing me closer to losing control!"

Chen Qing's heart tightened, and he asked, "Is there a way to escape?"

"You do not need to risk danger for me." The Princess's tone was calm, yet unquestionable. "The Qingwu Villa has been sealed by the God-Locking Array, isolating it from the outside. Furthermore, it is guarded by a Snow Soul Sable. Ordinary means are difficult to break through. You are in the Treasure Pavilion, which is safer. When the dust settles and you escape, do not look for me. Go to Jiaowei Qin Street in Tingyu Lane on the west side of the city and find a blind zither player named Lu Feng. He will help you leave Jade Capital."

She gazed at Chen Qing, her voice growing softer. "Chen Xu, with your talent, you should not perish here. As for me... fate has its own course, there is no need to worry."

Chen Qing was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Your Highness, I have a pill recipe. If I can gather the ingredients, I can help you suppress your bloodline mutation and wait for the Immortal Emperor to emerge from seclusion..."

The moment he was about to speak--

"Boom!"

The ancient Chinese parasol tree in the corner of the courtyard suddenly trembled, its branches and leaves shaking violently!

"How dare you!"

A cold shout exploded. The black-robed Daoist guarding outside stepped in, his black claws emerging from his sleeve like ghosts, aiming directly for the spiritual body Chen Qing had projected!

"I cannot afford to offend that mighty projection, yet you, a lone wandering soul, dare to be presumptuous here?"

"Screech--"

The black claws tore through the air, and the temporarily constructed spiritual body instantly disintegrated!

At the critical moment--

"Whoosh--"

Princess Xiyao's cherry lips parted, and a wisp of pale green energy, like a gentle breeze, precisely enveloped Chen Qing's consciousness and gently sent him away!

"Buzz!"

Chen Qing felt the world spin. The sharpness of the ghost claw narrowly grazed the tip of his spiritual sense. The violent wind tore at his spiritual threads, and a corrosive black energy, like a persistent leech, coiled around him!

The next instant!

"Swish!"

His spiritual sense shot back like a meteor, instantly returning to its original body!

"Ugh!"

In the treasure vault, Chen Qing's face suddenly turned ashen, and he let out a muffled groan.

Although he wasn't directly hit, the residual energy from the claw strike swept over him. His spiritual sense felt like it had been struck by a heavy hammer, the pain piercing directly into his mind!

"What a formidable claw technique! It can directly damage the essence of spiritual sense! If not for the Princess's intervention, this claw would have likely injured my soul and caused my cultivation to regress!"

His eyes turned cold, and he raised a fingertip. A wisp of black energy coiled upwards like a venomous snake.

It was precisely the corrosive energy left by the Daoist's claw technique!

Inside the Qingwu Courtyard, the black-robed Daoist's claw missed, and his expression changed drastically. He closed his eyes and concentrated, activating his unique tracking technique, only to discover that the wisp of spiritual energy had vanished like a clay ox entering the sea, leaving no trace.

"It can be completely shielded?" The Daoist's eyes suddenly snapped open, his gaze shooting coldly at Princess Xiyao. "What does Your Highness mean by this? That wandering soul just now..."

"I am cultivating the Qingqiu Secret Canon, and occasionally some energy leaks out." Princess Xiyao's expression was indifferent. "On the other hand, Yin Kui Shangren, you trespassed into a forbidden area without prior notification. What crime do you deserve?" As she spoke, her demonic energy suddenly boiled, the fox tattoo on her forehead pulsed with blood-red light, and the nine green jade pillars trembled violently, emitting a groaning sound as if unable to bear the strain!

The Daoist's pupils contracted, and he subconsciously took half a step back.

Even though the person before me is trapped in the formation, if they truly disregard everything and trigger a bloodline backlash, everyone related will be in trouble!

"Hmph!" He suppressed his fear and said sternly, "I hope the Princess will take care of herself! With this humble Taoist here, your lackeys will never be able to stir up trouble!"

After the figure in the black robe disappeared outside the formation, Princess Xiyao's body swayed slightly, and a smear of crimson slid from the corner of her lips.

The price of forcibly activating her bloodline was that the demonic energy within her grew more violent, but she couldn't bother to regulate her breathing. She only gazed in the direction of the Treasure Pavilion, her eyes filled with deep worry.

Inside the Treasure Pavilion, Chen Qing sat cross-legged.

The Samadhi True Fire Talisman circulated slowly in his Sea of Consciousness, repairing his damaged spiritual senses.

He suddenly opened his eyes and then sighed.

"The Princess asked me to take refuge here, but she doesn't know that I'm already a thorn in someone's side."

He appreciated Princess Xiyao's good intentions, but if he waited for the great tree to fall, he would be fish on a chopping block—

The Sixth Prince outwardly showed respect, but secretly harbored malicious intentions; the forces behind Li Xiao were even more covetous, waiting to pounce and tear at the Princess as soon as she lost power.

"Waiting for death is definitely not a good strategy! Once someone as untrustworthy as the Sixth Prince gains power, this Immortal Dynasty might not even be able to endure! It's just a dream avatar anyway, why be so hesitant! At worst, I'll lose an avatar, and I can just create another one with the same name and start all over again!"

He suddenly stood up, his eyes sharp and fierce!

"No matter what, I have to get out first!"

He flicked his finger, and the wine goblet vibrated, its amber liquor transforming into a river in mid-air!

"Boom—"

The river of wine surged, exuding an overwhelming sense of intoxication, and crashed heavily against the pavilion door.

Golden light erupted, and ancient runes flowed endlessly. Despite the impact of the wine waves, it remained motionless.

"What a sturdy restriction!" Chen Qing narrowed his eyes.

In the shadows, Elder Jiang secretly shook his head, "Based on the Town Mountain Bronze, with the Zhou Tian Xing Dou as the restriction, let alone a mere Second Realm cultivator, even a True Person would find it difficult to break this door."

But there was no trace of defeat in Chen Qing's eyes. He remembered what his two junior nephews had discussed when their ancestor broke free.

"Brute force won't work, so I'll use strategy!"

He sat down cross-legged, his spiritual senses like threads. He no longer attacked the restriction head-on but instead quietly infiltrated through the gaps in the door and the spaces where the runes flowed.

The scene outside the door gradually became clear—

Two golden-armored warriors stood guard on either side like iron towers, their great axes exuding a restrained cold light, their aura integrated with the restriction of the great door.

"Strategist Chen, save your energy!" The warrior on the left suddenly turned his head, his voice like a muffled thunder. "This Town Mountain Bronze door, even a True Person wouldn't be able to forcefully break it! Stop being so overconfident! Stay put honestly, and there will be a time for you to leave! Don't think about useless things!"

Chen Qing ignored the words from outside and pondered a countermeasure.

"Since it can't be opened from the inside, and the outside is guarded like an iron bucket, unless... someone who doesn't fear the warriors' blades opens it from the outside!"

His gaze swept over the Bronze Wine Goblet and the Ninth-grade Green Lotus Platform, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind!

"The one who can open the door, the one who can help me, might not necessarily be coming to save me. As long as they can open the door, that's enough! According to Senior Jiang's words, with my cultivation, activating the Drunken Immortal Brew of the Bronze Wine Goblet could even briefly interfere with cultivators in the Fifth Realm. The commander of the Sky Patrol Guard is at the peak of the Fourth Realm, close to the Fifth Realm..."

As he thought, he flicked his fingertip, and another wisp of corrosive energy wrapped around it.

His previous thoughts became clearer, but he didn't act hastily. Instead, he gradually calmed down and began to identify and fill in gaps, calculating the changes.

"Although Jade Capital has many powerful cultivators, since they are observing even the Princess's affairs due to the Immortal Emperor's enlightenment matter, it means there is an opportunity. Some minor matters should not attract any major players. Even in the worst-case scenario, it would just be losing this body. Compared to the outcome of the Sixth Prince gaining power, it might not be much worse!"

With his mind made up, Chen Qing no longer hesitated!

His spiritual senses left his body again, but this time, instead of being cautious, they shot out like an arrow from a bow. After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, they sped directly towards the imposing vermilion building—

The Heavenly Inspection Department's stronghold!

"Buzz!"

As Chen Qing's spiritual senses approached the vicinity of the building, the octagonal bronze mirror hanging high under the eaves instantly shone brightly!

The mirror surface churned like boiling mercury, and dazzling crimson light exploded like ink dropped into clear water!

A cold, murderous intent, carrying the authority of surveillance, instantly spanned space and locked onto the source of the spiritual senses—

The Treasure Pavilion!

Chen Qing's main body in the Treasure Pavilion suddenly trembled, but a smile appeared on his face.

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