Return to Qingzhou

As Li Ji'an appeared in the distance, Ning Sujin's already gloomy face grew even more somber.

"Useless!" she spat out the two words coldly, not even bothering to look at him.

Li Ji'an let out a soft sigh inwardly.

Was it that serious?

It's been a whole month, and she's still not over it?

Women in this world... they're all the same.

Did she lose interest in Li Ji'an because Ning Yutan followed the Immortal Master to the cultivation world, leaving her without a rival? Or did she simply stop cherishing him, thinking she no longer had competition?

Or perhaps it was that awkward incident in the attic a while back, and she no longer considered him an outsider.

In the past two years, Ning Sujin had become much more casual with Li Ji'an, no longer holding back on details she used to be reserved about.

A month ago, Duke Dingguo, Ning Haichan, had invited Li Ji'an to the Duke's mansion. Ning Sujin had explicitly warned him beforehand to firmly refuse if the Duke tried to set them up again, as she was determined to go to the Immortal Realm in this life.

Li Ji'an nodded in agreement.

During the banquet, Ning Yutan's birth mother revealed her intention to matchmake him and Ning Sujin. As instructed, Li Ji'an publicly and firmly refused.

However, because of this incident, Ning Sujin hadn't given him a pleasant look for a month.

Her reasoning was: How could I be angry about this? I always thought that way. The main issue is that you didn't refuse decisively enough at the time.

Li Ji'an's mind was currently preoccupied with his Senior Brother, leaving him no energy to argue with her.

"Thank you, Sister Jin. But I'm planning to return to Purple Heaven Temple. Will the fortune still be unfavorable?"

"You're going to Qingzhou? You, of all people, so cautious and meticulous, never even willing to step out of the Immortal Palace... " Hearing this, Ning Sujin, who had been somewhat annoyed, suddenly changed her expression, showing a hint of concern.

Two years ago, the Immortal Master had reprimanded them. The Emperor, desperate not to disappoint the Immortal Master in the next selection of Immortal Seeds, had gone mad, resorting to any means necessary.

While doubling the resources for the officially run Martial Arts Academies across the land, he also increased the conveniences granted to Martial Families. Naturally, this meant the common people had to suffer.

As a result, public resentment boiled over, and complaints were widespread.

Rebel armies had already appeared in many places.

Coupled with the increasingly tense relationship between the Emperor and Prince Yun, the world was no longer peaceful.

However, after gazing at Li Ji'an for a moment, Ning Sujin let out a soft breath: "This trip will be without peril!"

"Thank you!" Li Ji'an cupped his hands, offering no explanation and paying no mind to her teasing, then turned to leave.

"..." Watching Li Ji'an's unusually carefree back, Ning Sujin frowned slightly.

"Did something happen?"

Although she could sense that his journey would be safe, she still felt an instinctive unease.

"Wait! I said it would be without peril if you traveled with me. Otherwise..." Her greatest obsession was achieving success in Organ Refining through the Immortal Canon eight years from now, and she hadn't wasted a single moment in the past two years. Yet, at this moment, she decided to accompany Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an stopped, looked back at her, and smiled faintly before nodding slowly.

That afternoon, after Li Ji'an and Ning Sujin filed their report with the Immortal Palace, they each mounted a fine horse and headed in the direction of Shangyi County.

The Duke Dingguo had personally bestowed upon them swift steeds with the bloodline of precious beasts, capable of traveling eight hundred li by day and eight hundred by night. Previously, the journey from Chong'an Prefecture to the Imperial City would have taken their convoy two months at a leisurely pace, but they reached it in just five days.

"Sister Jin, let's rest here for the night," Li Ji'an said, looking at the foam around the muzzle of the horse beneath him. He decided they would temporarily stop in Chong'an Prefecture.

Ning Sujin, having already reached the Marrow Cleansing stage, possessed a robust Vital Energy and Blood. Coupled with her early mastery of external martial arts, her Vital Energy and Blood were stimulated to the peak of perfection, making her unafraid of the hardships of the road. However, returning to her former residence now, she was also inclined to stay, and readily agreed.

"The dog emperor flatters the Immortal Master, hoping to win their favor, and disregards the people of the world. What a ruler!" No longer rushing to make progress, Ning Sujin vented her indignation over what she had seen and heard along the way.

Throughout their journey, they had witnessed countless horrific scenes of displaced populations and barren lands.

Even at the gates of Chong'an Prefecture city before them, crowds of refugees begged for alms.

Li Ji'an sighed softly, "We can't entirely blame him. In a system of centralized imperial power like this, anyone in that position would be the same. As long as this structure remains unchanged, the common people can only hope generation after generation for a wise ruler to descend from heaven."

This casual remark, a sigh that transcended the era, nearly caused Ning Sujin to freeze.

The Immortal Bestowed Dynasty was very young. Before it, there were warring feudal lords, and before that, tribal conflicts. Even further back, it was a struggle for survival in the wilderness.

In the initial days of survival, facing the might of nature and wild beasts, people could only huddle together for warmth.

After banding together, the group needed strong individuals to stand at the forefront during crises and emergencies to protect everyone. Thus, the group sought out strong individuals by offering mating rights and distribution rights, giving rise to leaders.

As the groups grew larger, they became tribes.

Tribal conflicts intensified. The leaders of these tribes, in addition to power, were increasingly entrusted with the duty and hope of protection. Everyone was willing, eager to choose a leader to protect them and bear the greatest risks.

However, as tribes merged and feudal lords rose, the leaders who gradually grasped the collective power of the group no longer rushed to the front lines to protect their tribesmen. Instead, they realized they could use this power to suppress their own people, maintain their status and privileges, and no longer needed to compete with others.

Until the great unification, when external crises were absent within a certain range, the original leaders fully enjoyed the status and privileges brought by power, and ensured that this power was passed down within a small circle.

At this point, they were only concerned with one thing: maintaining this power and its continuation.

Without major external crises or opportunities, such a structure would only see two things for tens of thousands of years: rebellion and the suppression of rebellion!

However, with the Immortal Master's appearance, the Zhao Imperial Clan gained new opportunities and new crises. They would only measure the world's resources and strive to win the Immortal Master's favor.

In Li Ji'an's view, this was still a relatively good outcome.

It just meant the common people had to endure some hardship.

Otherwise, once the emperor fails to appease the Immortal Master and the Immortal Master prepares to act against him, that will be the most miserable time for the people of the world.

At that time, he will surely instigate the common people of the world to resist the Immortal Master in order to save his own life and position.

The result will naturally be rivers of blood and mountains of corpses.

Having lived four lifetimes, Li Ji'an had seen too much and reconciled with himself. He maintained an attitude of not praising, but accepting, adapting, and striving for transcendence.

"Is it the same for anyone who becomes emperor?"

Li Ji'an chuckled dryly, "Why don't you try it?"

"Are you crazy?" Ning Sujin's eyes widened again. Such shocking words made her see Li Ji'an less and less clearly.

Li Ji'an didn't reply, urging his horse through the long queue of people entering the city.

In the Immortal Bestowed Dynasty, the common people suffered, truly suffered.

Those who had the opportunity to become Immortal Seeds or cultivate Immortal Seeds also truly had privileges.

"Hmph~ You lowly peasants, don't you want to live anymore? Get out of the way for the Immortal Seed!"

"Young master, please..."

Sitting high on his horse and flashing his identity token as a reserve Immortal Seed, the gate guard hurriedly fawned over them.

Amidst the envious gazes of the suffering masses, Li Ji'an and Ning Sujin slowly rode their horses through the city gate.

"You... you... are you Chang'an?" As they were about to pass through the city gate, a guard hesitantly stepped forward to probe.

"Uncle Ma." Recognizing the person on the horse as a former subordinate of Xiao Wu, Li Ji'an responded with a smile.

"Oh my, it really is you! Quick, quick, go save your Uncle Xiao, he's dying!" Uncle Ma said with great surprise.

Li Ji'an frowned, "What happened to Uncle Xiao?"

Uncle Ma looked around, stood on tiptoe, and whispered, "They say he colluded with the rebels and is going to be beheaded!"

"And the reality?"

"The reality... the reality... alas, a beautiful woman brings disaster!" Uncle Ma dared not say more.

"Aunt..." Li Ji'an exhaled, guessing the reason.

Weak position and early intelligence, poor family and beautiful wife, no power but much wealth... the three great... unsolvable original sins of feudal society!