What Kind of Hobby Is This!

"Little lady, what's so hard about fusing it into a top-grade method?"

Liu Chengfeng blurted it out. Empress of Qiuchi swept him with an icy gaze.

The cold seeped into his bones. Liu Chengfeng shuddered, his scalp going numb.

But Liu Chengfeng wasn't one to back down. He took a deep breath, bolstered his courage. He'd teased her, so what? It was no big deal.

He met Empress of Qiuchi's gaze, which remained cold as ice.

The two stared at each other. Empress of Qiuchi's gaze was like a blade, as if she meant to cut Liu Chengfeng down.

Back at the God Tomb, Liu Chengfeng had dared to flirt with her, and she still hadn't settled the score.

"Fine. You have my permission."

Empress of Qiuchi didn't get angry. As cold as frost, she agreed at once.

There was hope.

Empress of Qiuchi had agreed so readily that Liu Chengfeng felt a surge of delight. The Sage Scroll method was as good as his.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Say it a few more times."

What kind of hobby was this?

Liu Chengfeng was taken aback.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is wise and mighty."

Once you'd eaten someone's food, it was hard to speak ill of them; once you'd taken their money, it was hard to refuse them. Liu Chengfeng was happy to shout a few more times. He was starting to look like a corrupt official.

Whether or not Empress of Qiuchi was satisfied, the frost on her face had thawed considerably. The blade-like look in her eyes softened, and a smile appeared.

"The Demon Slaying Division isn't a place to stay for long. You'll live in the palace."

Empress of Qiuchi dismissed Liu Chengfeng and gave the order.

Liu Chengfeng was surprised, but agreed at once.

"How did it go?"

When Liu Chengfeng came out, Su Youqian, waiting outside the door, asked in a low voice.

"Su Youqian—"

Empress of Qiuchi's stern voice made Su Youqian shudder.

"Get back to Tiger Mound and practice the Fierce Beast Heart Method properly."

"Aunt, I..."

"Get out!"

Even from across the great hall, Empress of Qiuchi's imperial majesty bore down on him. Su Youqian shuddered and obediently left.

Su Youqian said goodbye to Liu Chengfeng, not daring to linger, then left the Imperial Capital.

Liu Chengfeng settled into the palace. It was incomparably more comfortable than staying at the Demon Slaying Division. He had a whole palace hall to himself, luxurious furnishings, fine clothes and food, and attendants to wait on him.

The imperial family soon sent Liu Chengfeng the Green Phoenix Heart Method.

Liu Chengfeng studied it carefully. The Green Phoenix Heart Method was a method for the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury, an upper-grade Sage Scroll method.

Sage Scroll methods were more powerful and profound than Human Scroll methods.

He used the Celestial Body to smash and refine the Green Phoenix Heart Method into a top-grade method, then tried fusing it with the Golden Dragon Heart Method.

The Golden Dragon Heart Method was a Human Scroll Innate method. Most importantly, it possessed an innate bone.

Under the Celestial Body's refinement, a boom shook Liu Chengfeng's mind. The two methods fused perfectly.

A brand-new method was born: Sage Scroll Innate.

The new method appeared in his mind, displaying greater power and deeper mysteries.

Liu Chengfeng named the new method the Dragon Phoenix Green Gold Heart Method.

Once the fusion succeeded, the Celestial Body unceremoniously drained half of Liu Chengfeng's blood and energy, nearly making him collapse to the ground.

Liu Chengfeng hurriedly took Blood Medicine and circulated his method.

Now the Sage Scroll Innate method revealed its power. It drew in more spiritual energy and tempered his body faster.

The water-attributed Spirit Pool in the underground Spirit Vein Dojo had been imbued with the Green Phoenix Heart Method.

Liu Chengfeng could now openly absorb the spiritual energy in the Spirit Pool.

As he circulated his method, spiritual energy surged from the water-attributed Spirit Pool like a tide.

Because he had practiced an imperial method, Liu Chengfeng had become more sensitive to the Dragon Vein Dojo.

In particular, when the water-attributed Spirit Pool's spiritual energy surged toward him like a tide, Liu Chengfeng discovered that the poison in the Marsh Qi was flowing in with it.

The poison was fine as silk, invisible to the naked eye. It came with the Marsh Qi and could slip into the body without a sound, seeping into the muscles, bones, and organs.

"Something's wrong. Could this be aimed at the imperial family?"

Liu Chengfeng's heart lurched. Fortunately, he was still at the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury stage and couldn't absorb Marsh Qi.

Only after reaching the Reception Divine Treasury could one absorb and cultivate the natural power of heaven and earth.

If he'd just been cultivating a Reception Divine Treasury method and absorbed Marsh Qi, the poison would certainly have seeped into his body.

Liu Chengfeng circulated the Dragon Phoenix Green Gold Heart Method. Spiritual energy surged as he carefully examined the poison in the Marsh Qi.

The poison hadn't tainted all the water spiritual energy, nor had it seeped into the water-attributed Spirit Pool.

It was hidden in the Marsh Qi that spilled out, deeply concealed, fine as silk and thread, forming an invisible net.

"This invisible net has quietly enveloped the entire palace."

Liu Chengfeng had figured out the poison in the Marsh Qi.

Such a method, hidden from sight, was likely aimed at the imperial family.

"Who could have poisoned it?"

Liu Chengfeng's mind raced. Hiding poison in spiritual energy, unseen and unheard, without leaving a trace...

This wasn't something cultivators at the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury or Reception Divine Treasury stages could do.

"I know."

The Stone Lion's voice sounded in his mind.

"You know who poisoned it, Senior?"

The Stone Lion had only said that much to show off, then fell silent.

Liu Chengfeng didn't bother with him and continued cultivating. He circulated his method, drew spiritual energy into his body, set his blood and energy surging, and tempered his body.

He cultivated until he lost himself in it. Radiant light rose as his blood and energy roared through his body like a river, tempering his muscles, bones, and organs over and over.

A series of ringing sounds came from within him. His divine treasuries resonated together.

The Blood Sea Divine Treasury resonated with the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury. The Blood Sea Divine Treasury poured out more blood and energy, while the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury supplied more vigorous vitality.

The two complemented each other. The Dragon Phoenix Green Gold Heart Method and the Mad Kui Heart Method circulated faster and faster, their cycles unbroken.

After dozens of cycles, Liu Chengfeng quickly broke through the third stage and entered the fourth.

At the fourth stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury, Liu Chengfeng was finally on the path to complete mastery.

At this level, he needed to fuse Origin Mud to reach true perfection. Only then could he open the Reception Divine Treasury.

His blood and energy were like a sea; his body, like a mountain.

After entering the fourth stage, Liu Chengfeng not only felt his defenses grow stronger and his vitality become boundless, but also sensed his muscles regenerating.

That was the wonder of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury's fourth stage: severed limbs could regrow.

At the fourth stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury, a severed finger would grow back in six months, while a severed arm would take a year...

Once one reached this level, as long as the head remained and the body wasn't too badly damaged, there was some chance of regrowth.

Liu Chengfeng circulated his method. Dragon roars and phoenix cries rang through his body, while his muscles took on the texture of dragon and phoenix forms. Radiant light shimmered, and even dragon and phoenix auras appeared.

Most astonishing of all, dragon scales and phoenix feathers appeared across his body.

The Golden Dragon Heart Method had only produced the dragon-scale phenomenon. Now there was a phoenix-feather phenomenon as well.

The two phenomena overlapped and fused, greatly enhancing his defense.

Sage Scroll Innate methods were rare in Ancient Kingdoms, except for those of the Divine Dynasty.

As Liu Chengfeng absorbed spiritual energy from the underground Spirit Pool, Empress of Qiuchi in the palace sensed it too.

Feeling spiritual energy surge toward Liu Chengfeng like a tide, Empress of Qiuchi was astonished.

"Did he really fuse it into a top-grade method?"

Empress of Qiuchi had heard about Liu Chengfeng's talent, but for him to fuse the Green Phoenix Heart Method into a top-grade method in just a few days...

Even Empress of Qiuchi was deeply shaken by such talent.

With Liu Chengfeng staying in the palace, neither the Grandmaster Mansion nor the Ascending Dragon Sect dared to touch him. Even Wu Yuanqing, the Royal Court envoy, wouldn't dare.

Safe and secure, Liu Chengfeng became absorbed in cultivation.

One day, Nangong Renshe hurried over to find Liu Chengfeng.

"Our backer has arrived."

"What backer?"

Liu Chengfeng was startled. When Ma Xian had threatened the Cloud Rising Sect, Nangong Renshe had rushed off, saying he was going to find a backer.

"The ancestor of the Nangong Clan is here. Let's go welcome him."

"The ancestor of the Nangong Clan?"

Liu Chengfeng vaguely remembered that when they'd gone to cause trouble for the Ascending Wu Clan, Nangong Renshe had also planned to seek out the Nangong Clan's ancestor.

Nangong Renshe was a member of the Nangong Clan himself.

"Our ancestor carries enormous weight. Even the Ancient Kingdoms give him face, and he has access to the Divine Dynasty. Come on, let's go see him. If he protects you, you'll be safe."

Without waiting for a reply, Nangong Renshe grabbed Liu Chengfeng and hurried off.

Nangong Renshe was right. The ancestor of the Nangong Clan had arrived.

He hadn't even reached the Imperial Capital before notifying the Qiuchi Kingdom.

He hadn't yet entered the Imperial Capital, but the might of the Great Dao was already flooding in like a tide, startling the cultivators.

"Another mighty figure from the Great Dao Divine Treasury."

Many cultivators hurried outside to see who had come.

There were only three mighty figures from the Great Dao Divine Treasury in the entire Qiuchi Kingdom.

It was precisely because of these three that the Qiuchi Kingdom could rank among the Grandmaster-level forces and safeguard the Bayu Spirit Vein.

Mighty figures from the Great Dao Divine Treasury rarely left seclusion, and were exceedingly difficult to meet.

The arrival of a mighty figure from the Great Dao Divine Treasury drew every cultivator in the Imperial Capital out to watch.

The might of the Great Dao swept in like a tide. A procession appeared beyond the Imperial Capital, crossing the sky toward them.

In the procession, an ancestor reclined on a soft palanquin, carried by eight experts from the Reception Divine Treasury. The might of the Great Dao radiated from him.

Eight experts from the Reception Divine Treasury carried his palanquin. Even the Ancient Li Royal Court's envoy didn't have such a show of grandeur.

"The Nangong Clan's ancestor, a third-refinement, upper-grade alchemist."

Even cultivators who had never seen the Nangong Clan's ancestor had heard of his fame.

Mighty figures from the Great Dao Divine Treasury were hard to meet, but Nangong Renshe was a member of the Nangong Clan and had enough standing to meet his ancestor.

Nangong Renshe took Liu Chengfeng to pay his respects to the ancestor.

"Renshe, a thousand years have passed, and you've barely improved. You might as well come home."

The Nangong Clan's ancestor looked at Nangong Renshe, displeasure in his eyes.

The Nangong Clan's ancestor didn't look old at all. He was a middle-aged man.

The ancestor of the Nangong Clan wore feathered robes, a precious gourd hanging at his waist, and a jade-green thumb ring. He reclined on a soft palanquin, exhaling clouds of smoke.

His cold gaze swept over them, carrying an air of superiority.

"I got used to roaming outside when I was young. I can't get used to life in the clan."

Nangong Renshe smiled awkwardly.

The ancestor, Nangong Zheng, gave a soft snort to show his displeasure.

The Nangong Clan's members had spread far and wide, making their name across Qing Continent through alchemy.

Nangong Renshe was a member of the Nangong Clan, but in his youth he had joined the Cloud Rising Sect and eventually become its sect master.

The sect master held a high position in the Cloud Rising Sect, but in the Nangong Clan, that meant little.

Nangong Renshe hurriedly pulled Liu Chengfeng forward to introduce him to the ancestor.

"I know. A sinner of the Divine Dynasty, whom Zhao Tian named as a living sacrifice."

Nangong Zheng's gaze was cold. He still didn't say he would protect Liu Chengfeng.

"Come with me to the Grandmaster Mansion. Let's meet them."

Nangong Zheng's procession headed straight for the Grandmaster Mansion, grand and imposing.

Outside the Grandmaster Mansion, not only had a crowd of powerful figures gathered to welcome him, but Grand Marshal Ye Ziyang and Wu Yuanqing, the Royal Court envoy, had also come in person.

Two mighty figures from the Great Dao Divine Treasury had come to welcome him. Nangong Zheng had quite a reception.

Even Wu Yuanqing, who had come to arrest Liu Chengfeng, acted as though he hadn't seen him.

The procession advanced in great splendor. Ye Ziyang and the others ushered Nangong Zheng into the Grandmaster Mansion.

"This good-for-nothing brat is one of my Nangong Clan. Wu Yuanqing, I hear you've been making things difficult for his Cloud Rising Sect?"

Though Nangong Zheng's gaze was cold and his manner arrogant, he was fiercely protective of his own. As soon as he sat down, he demanded an explanation.

"It was a misunderstanding."

Wu Yuanqing, the Royal Court envoy, looked a little awkward.

"How much of a misunderstanding?"

Nangong Zheng pressed him relentlessly.

"Brother Nangong, I came here under the Divine Dynasty's decree."

"A decree from a Divine Dynasty disciple isn't a decree from a god."

Everyone feared the name Zhao Tian, but Nangong Zheng wasn't impressed.

"Brother Nangong, this disciple has met a god and received the god's approval."

Nangong Zheng's expression tightened, and the atmosphere grew tense.