Clash

This Su Xia is actually a Qi cultivator from the Taoist Sect, and her cultivation is profound. She's the strongest Fang Ming has ever seen. She's even protected by a supreme treasure.

Su Xia seemed to notice Fang Ming's scrutiny, or perhaps she didn't. After a few polite words, she began her performance.

Her voice, like a clear spring from a high mountain, slowly began to sing:

"Where the sage resides in the world, to what is purity akin? Like the white lotus flower, in water yet unstained. True nature understands illusion, conduct is pure, detached from worldly dust. How long have I cultivated the Way? Body and mind have both arrived here. Alas, I am entangled in the world's net, unable to remain forever. Beyond thoughts, like blue clouds, rising morning and evening in autumn."

Her voice seemed to carry a special Daoist charm, drawing everyone's attention involuntarily.

With a "ding-dong," Su Xia gently strummed her qin. It was like high mountains and flowing water, waterfalls returning pearls, or like a crane's long cry, an oriole's response, drawing everyone into an inexplicable artistic conception.

When the song ended, the lingering notes curled and echoed, refusing to dissipate.

"Wonderful!" Wei Zhun was the first to snap out of it, exclaiming, "The strings paused, the fingers faltered, yet a thousand layers of deep emotion remained. I used to think the ancients exaggerated, but I never imagined I was the ignorant one. Truly, this music should only exist in heaven, and is rarely heard on earth!"

The rest of the crowd finally awoke, expressing their admiration. The banquet continued, and Su Xia took her seat as a guest. Singers and other musicians then came forward to perform.

Occasionally, talented scholars would step forward to present poems and couplets, which were then commented on by those in the elegant chamber.

For a time, both hosts and guests were delighted.

Time gradually passed into the deep night. The banquet at Yingke Tower had long since ended, leaving behind a lingering fragrance and the faint sound of music, as if still echoing, recording the grandeur of the occasion.

Inside the County Yamen, however, Su Xia had not yet retired.

She let down her dark hair, and a maidservant began to comb it for her. Though dressed as a maid, she was naturally beautiful and exceptionally attractive.

The maidservant said, "Saintess, it's getting late. Please rest!"

Su Xia smiled and said, "Xiao He'er, I've told you before, our Supreme Dao doesn't adhere to such formalities. It's better to be more relaxed. Our Dao Master, even when meeting the Emperor, can be at ease and exude natural grace! You are also a disciple of our sect, so you mustn't lose your spirit. Besides, we still have a guest to entertain, how can I rest?"

"Guest?" the maidservant, Xiao He'er, exclaimed in surprise, while inwardly sighing bitterly. The closer she got to the Saintess, the more she understood the inner workings, and the more she felt awe, unable to relax.

"Yes, I am ordered to perform throughout the land and inspect the dragon qi of various prefectures. Although I try to conceal it, other Taoist sects have still found out, and they can't help but come to fulfill their duties as hosts!" Su Xia said with a charming smile, casually revealing important matters, which made Xiao He'er break out in a cold sweat. "Saint... Miss, this is a secret, it's not convenient to speak of!" Xiao He'er still couldn't help but remind her.

"Hehe... Xiao He'er, you still lack that inherent grandeur and magnanimity! No wonder your Dao cultivation cannot advance. The Dao Master told me to perform openly throughout the land, so why should I fear obstruction from other Taoist sects? What if I am ordered to inspect the dragon veins of various prefectures? In the past few prefectures, even if they discovered us, didn't they still treat us with courtesy?"

"According to my observations, dragon qi is rising everywhere, it seems the world is not far from chaos. The dragon qi in this Wuzhou is particularly strong, and it originates from the southern end, just waiting for the right time!" Su Xia's face held a playful expression as she teased Xiao He'er, but her eyes seemed to carry a hint of indifference.

"In the south of Wuzhou, Linjiang Prefecture has fierce ghosts causing trouble, and in Wenchang Prefecture, there's an Earth God spreading influence. These are the roots of disaster, paving the way for a King! Only when the local areas are in great chaos can hidden dragons rise!" Su Xia's insight was sharp, seeing through the opportunity.

The promotion of officials has its regulations. Even a hidden dragon, once within the system, would be constrained and unable to unleash its full potential. Only during times of great chaos could they seize the opportunity to rise, gain military merit, and be rapidly promoted. Later, when the chaos broke the original rules, they could naturally establish a new system centered around hidden dragons, wielding power and bestowing favors as they pleased.

"Speaking of this Earth God, it's quite interesting! Could it be a special Ancestral Spirit? If it joined our sect, it could also be beneficial to the Immortal Way!" Su Xia, with her profound cultivation, also noticed the strangeness in Anchang, and centered around the Earth God, she became somewhat interested.

"Does Miss mean to recruit this spirit?" Seeing that Miss was no longer discussing world affairs, Xiao He'er couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief and changed the subject, asking.

"Oh! For our Xiao He'er's sake, I'll give it a chance! If it doesn't behave, I'll suppress it and send it back..." Although Su Xia's words were playful, teasing Xiao He'er, they carried an implicit meaning of "my will is heaven's will," and once spoken, they were like thunder, impossible to resist.

"Miss... you're teasing this servant again..." Xiao He'er's face turned a little red.

"Speaking of which, once the southern part of Wuzhou descends into chaos, hidden dragons will emerge to take advantage of the situation. If they occupy Wunan, they can fully control the strategic advantage of Great Green Mountain. Then, by defending the passes, a few thousand people can resist an attack of tens of thousands. With this time, they can stabilize the rear, solidify their foundations, cultivate their essence, and conceal their fortune. It's truly enviable! White Cloud Temple has had a very good start this time! Don't you think so, Daoist Yuheng?"

Su Xia's bright eyes flickered as she spoke to the outside of the window.

"Heh heh... I didn't expect my humble name to reach Saintess's ears. It's truly an honor. Saintess, please come out and have a chat!" A clear voice replied.

"Miss?" A gray shadow flashed, and another person appeared outside the window. He was exceptionally handsome but dressed as a servant, holding a long sword that faintly emanated a cold light. It was the former "Amorous Swordsman" Hou Bai, who had been won over by Su Xia and became her servant.

"It's nothing... I'll go meet this person. You all do your duties." With a lingering echo, a white shadow flashed, and Su Xia had already disappeared.

Two figures, one gray and one white, flickered and in a blink of an eye arrived at a secluded spot. It was a large garden, deep in the night, with no one around.

The gray shadow stopped. It was a young man in Daoist robes.

The young man bowed and said, "Yuheng of White Cloud Temple, greetings to Saintess Su Xia!"

He then carefully observed Su Xia, who had followed him, and couldn't help but sigh, "I heard that Saintess Su is a rare genius of the Supreme Dao, appearing once in a hundred years. She has cultivated for ten years and has already reached the realm of emotion. If she can forget emotions, she will achieve the status of a True Person."

"I didn't expect the rumors to underestimate Saintess's talent. Saintess Su is already half a step into the realm of forgetting emotions, and achieving True Person status is only a matter of years!"

Internally, he was bitterly smiling. He had sent a message back to his sect, which attached great importance to it, telling him to put aside the matter of the Earth God for now and focus all his efforts on gathering information about the Saintess. His sect's reinforcements were on their way. He hadn't expected to be discovered on the very first night, and what's more, to have his intentions revealed.

"I heard that White Cloud Temple has a true disciple who can open a spiritual eye and see people's fortunes. It seems to be you!" Su Xia, however, changed her playful demeanor, her expression solemn, her eyes indifferent.

"Indeed. May I ask why Saintess has come? We at White Cloud Temple can send people to serve you and fulfill our duties as hosts!" This was a blatant lie, but he had to say it to establish his position first.

"I am here to experience the ways of the world and perfect my Zither Skill, performing throughout the land. I did not expect to arrive here without notifying your sect, which is indeed impolite. It's just a small matter, and my subordinates will handle it, so please don't trouble yourself!" Su Xia's eyes flickered, and she returned to her usual self, smiling charmingly. Her peerless grace made Yuheng, who had cultivated since childhood,'s heart flutter slightly.

"Hmm... there's a little mouse here too! I'll leave it to you to deal with, fellow Daoist. I have to continue my journey tomorrow. Performing throughout the land is very tiring due to the constant travel! I'll take my leave now!" Su Xia smiled again, as if acting spoiled, but her hand moved, a flash of light seemed to pass, and her figure flickered. When she reappeared, she had been replaced.

"What a masterful technique of 'transferring flowers and grafting trees,' and even able to switch people! I am no match for you!" Yuheng exclaimed with admiration.

He then looked at the person who had appeared. The newcomer had an ordinary face and was dressed as a farmer. Yuheng knew something was amiss. He activated his spiritual eye, and instantly the farmer's appearance changed. He became a handsome young man dressed as an official, with red qi swirling around him, only white qi at the bottom, emitting various fluctuations that were quite intimidating.

Yuheng couldn't help but ask, "Who are you? Why are you following me?"...

"Heh heh... Aren't you the one looking for me? Why do you say I'm following you?" Fang Ming retorted with a smile, but inwardly he was greatly alarmed. After the banquet dispersed, he had unconsciously followed Su Xia back to the County Yamen. At this moment, the County Yamen, except for the County Magistrate's residence, could no longer stop him.

So he heard many secrets, and gained an unexpected bonus in Yuheng. Now it seems Su Xia had discovered him long ago, but didn't say anything along the way. Were those words deliberately spoken to him?

"So you are the Earth God!" Yuheng exclaimed in realization, then sternly asked, "What exactly are you? If you are an Ancestral Spirit, why can you leave the Altar? And why do you want to kill people?"

"I am just a slightly peculiar Ancestral Spirit. Heaven bestowed divine abilities upon me, allowing me to move within the range of sacrifice. It's just normal."

"Regarding the Zhang Family's affairs, all I can say is, humans have no intention to harm tigers, but tigers have the will to harm humans!"

"What sophistry!" Yuheng did not believe him. His eyes darted around, showing an intent to attack.

Fang Ming, however, smiled slightly and said, "In the end, in this world, it all comes down to strength! Coincidentally, you are a core true disciple of a major sect. Good, very good..." Seeing that the other party's fortune was only pure red, and much weaker than his own, Fang Ming felt much more at ease.

With a flip of his hand, the Golden Seal appeared, emitting ripples that rushed towards Yuheng.

Yuheng was startled. He formed a hand seal, and the runes on his Taoist robe flashed, blocking the ripples. However, the surrounding trees suddenly trembled, and many leaves fell.

He formed another hand seal and chanted a few incantations. Four golden-armored Divine Generals, dressed as warriors, fierce and powerful, suddenly appeared around him and lunged at Fang Ming, exuding a killing aura.

This... seems to be some kind of spiritual body. Fang Ming's eyes flashed with interest. The Golden Seal emitted a crimson light, forming a barrier. No matter how the four generals slashed and chopped with their sabers and swords, it remained unshaken.

Fang Ming observed leisurely and carefully, gaining some insight. These Divine Generals seemed to be made from Vengeful Ghosts as raw material, no wonder they possessed such ferocity. However, the Taoist Sect could not use human lives to supplement Divine Generals; they could only be nourished by their own magical power, which seemed to consume a great deal of it. After a moment, Yuheng's face had already turned pale, and sweat appeared on his forehead.

Fang Ming smiled and activated his magical power again. A powerful force descended, shattering the four Divine Generals into pieces. The fragments turned into golden light and returned to Yuheng's sleeve. Yuheng's face changed drastically, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, his shock beyond words.

"To actually break my mountain gate's protectors..." Yuheng murmured. This was made by his master by capturing Vengeful Ghosts, erasing their consciousness, and adding various precious materials to refine them. Even the White Cloud Temple didn't have many of them. This time, he was bestowed four to protect himself, which could delay even Fierce Ghosts for a considerable time. He never expected them to be broken today. Although they could be restored as long as they were nourished by magical power, they couldn't help him in his current predicament.

"Alright, this venerable one will spare you for now. If you wish to argue further, have your sect elders come!" Fang Ming saw that his deterrent purpose had been achieved and decided to stop while he was ahead. He turned and left leisurely.

Thanks for the evaluation from Qing Yun True Man, and the rewards from fellow book friends.