Foster Daughter

Double Ninth Festival.

Undercurrents are surging.

The massive spaceship had barely entered Chongyang City when it was immediately surrounded by soldiers.

From afar, a sound like that of a whale or a roc could be heard.

The ship's door opened, and Hong Tianbao stepped down expressionlessly. He looked around and his gaze settled on Chen Daoling.

"Second Senior Brother?"

Chen Daoling waved his hand with a grim expression. Standing beside him were Zhao Wenting and nearly half of the high-ranking officials of Chongyang City.

The other half of the officials, however, followed behind a woman.

Cui Qingyi tucked her hands into her sleeves and spoke softly:

Where is Director Zhang?

Hong Tianbao raised an eyebrow:

"Not on board."

"Is that so?"

Cui Qingyi glanced at Chen Daoling, Zhao Wenting, and the others, and smiled:

"It seems someone among us tipped us off."

She reached out and pointed towards the spaceship:

"Detain everyone. I want to see if Director Zhang comes back or not."

Anger flashed in the eyes of Chen Daoling and the others:

"Inspector Cui, Chongyang is under martial law. Without orders signed by me and Governor Zhao, even an inspector doesn't seem to have the authority to do this, do they?"

Cui Qingyi said calmly:

"I have already reported Zhang Fusheng's collusion with the cult and his coercion of Chen Qiusheng into becoming a bandit to Golden City, including Chen Qiusheng's confession and a great deal of evidence."

She turned her head, a smile appearing on her face:

"Lord Ruan personally intervened and issued a supervisory order, demanding a thorough investigation into this matter."

"Which Lord Ruan is it?" Li Guoquan walked over and asked coldly.

Cui Qingyi's smile grew even wider:

"Ruan Yutu, Lord Ruan."

Everyone's expression changed, even the Old Master, whose face had been completely transformed and whom Cui Qingyi didn't recognize, frowned slightly.

Ruan Yutu.

She is the only female Grand Secretary in the Golden Province, and crucially, she enjoys the support of almost everyone in Golden City.

Even the other three elders in the Governor's Office's Internal Deliberation Chamber listened to her without question—not because of her profound cultivation, but simply because of her virtue.

She won everyone over purely with her virtue.

Never biased, always impartial and virtuous.

Li Guoquan's face turned grim.

Cui Qingyi's smile faded, and she said quietly:

"If Councilor Li has any complaints, he can go and question Grand Secretary Ruan. You are Golden Councilor, and in terms of status, you are no less than the Grand Secretary. Why not go and demand an explanation?"

Li Guoquan's lips trembled, but he finally let out a cold snort and said nothing.

Cui Qingyi turned her head and said calmly:

"I am acting on Lord Ruan's orders, so I will naturally act within the rules. After these people have been investigated, if they are found to be unrelated to Chen Qiusheng's forced rebellion, they will be released."

"Take them all back."

The soldiers stepped forward silently. The Old Master remained expressionless and did not reveal his true form. Wei Lingzhu, standing to the side, showed no fear.

Hong Tianbao raised his eyelids:

"Detention and interrogation are none of your business, you little Nuwa."

A Dharma image several thousand meters tall suddenly rose from the ground!

"Innate Realm?!" Chen Daoling's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock. He'd only gone out for a short while, and his third junior brother had gone from Grandmaster to Innate Realm?!

The ultimate leap??

The Dharma image was imposing, Cui Qingyi found it difficult to breathe, but she did not retreat even half a step. She snorted coldly, and two old men stepped out from behind her.

The First Branch and Second Branch of the Cui family.

Behind the two elders, numerous Cave Heaven appeared, each with a colossal Dharma image rising from the ground. Hu Zhongli, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, stood beside Hong Tianbao.

The fourth image of the deity arose.

The four colossal Dharma images confronted each other, their terrifying auras clashing in the void, occasionally erupting into thunderous sounds.

The radiant light emanating from the statue illuminated almost half of the Double Ninth Festival hall!

Many eyes are fixed on this place; the Divine Envoy scattered and hidden throughout the city, silently watching.

Conflict is imminent.

Despite being a grandmaster, Cui Qingyi stood calmly at the center of the vortex, and suddenly smiled:

"I think it's not Chen Qiusheng who's rebelling."

She smiled meaningfully.

"I will report today's events in detail, and we'll see how Lord Ruan responds in Golden City."

After saying this, Cui Qingyi turned and left, and the two Innate Great Realm also restrained their overwhelming heavenly might.

Along with the densely packed soldiers transferred from Golden City, they followed Cui Qingyi away.

"This is troublesome." Li Guoquan and Hu Zhongli exchanged a glance, their expressions extremely grave.

"Virtue that shines brightly is of utmost importance."

Inside the bamboo grove, as cups of Calming Tea were consumed, Zhang Fusheng felt every pore on his body open wide, emanating Pure Qi.

The quality of this Calming Tea is so high that even his physical body, which is sealed in the furnace and never reveals its true form, cannot withstand its leakage!

He was somewhat tipsy from the tea.

The two drank tea as if it were wine, exchanging toasts and drinks. Zhang Fusheng, slightly drunk, said:

"Brother Su, why are you suddenly talking about morality?"

Su Qiansuan was also drowsy, her breath carrying a calm and Pure Qi.

"When I accept apprentices, I don't look at their aptitude or Root Bone, but only at their character. Over the years, I've traveled all over the country, searching for her a thousand times over."

He downed another cup of Calming Tea, let out a burp, and released a large amount of Pure Qi that churned like a tide in the bamboo forest.

Even the Death Qi of the Nine Netherworlds was suppressed!

This tea seems to be a divine substance.

Su Qiansuan continued smugly:

"In the end, I have found a person who is perfect in every way, whose virtue is comparable to that of sages of the past. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"

Zhang Fusheng was greatly surprised:

"Nine perfections?"

"Indeed!"

Su Qiansuan her hand on the table, shaking her head:

"Great benevolence, great perseverance, great humility, great self-discipline, great courage, great understanding, great fearlessness, great compassion, and great filial piety!"

"This is the Nine Perfections—Brother Zhang, don't think what I'm saying is unremarkable. These are not virtues that are taught later in life; they are all innate."

Zhang Fusheng was curious:

Is there any difference?

"Nature!"

Su Qiansuan said seriously:

"Take cults for example. Confucian Sect has great benevolence and righteousness, which can make one a saint; Buddhist Sect has great compassion, which can make one a Buddha. If a person has one of these qualities, he will receive a share of the favor of heaven and earth."

"A person who is perfect in every way will be favored by Heaven and Earth nine-tenths of the time!"

Zhang Fusheng was astonished. Could there really be such a perfect person in the world?

Su Qiansuan was displeased:

"Brother Zhang, you don't believe me?"

"It's not that I don't believe it," Zhang Fusheng said, his eyes glazed over with drunkenness, but he was perfectly clear-headed.

I was indeed a little dizzy from the Pure Qi of the tea, but could a deity be affected like that?

He didn't believe it.

This old fox, who's thousands of years old, pulled me in to drink tea like wine, and now suddenly brings up this so-called "perfect man"—it's no joke.

Zhang Fusheng, following Su Qiansuan's words, lazily replied:

"Perfect in every way, never heard of before!"

Su Qiansuan slammed his hand on the table again, his eyes widening, his heroic spirit soaring:

"Let Brother Zhang meet you today, and have her acknowledge you as her godfather!"

Zhang Fusheng nearly spat out his tea.

He wanted to decline, but Old Su didn't give him the chance. With a wave of his hand, a brilliant Imperial Decree fell towards the Golden City.

The Imperial Decree was like a blazing sun, illuminating every place it passed through.

Zhang Fusheng looked up.

The Imperial Decree erected a golden bridge, from which a graceful figure emerged from the Golden City. Dressed in plain clothes with her hair tied up, she walked calmly step by step, guided by the golden bridge.

His aura was clearly very weak; at Martial Arts Master, yet he seemed like a Banished Immortal.

Following the golden bridge, we arrived at the bamboo forest.

Ruan Yutu walked familiarly along the path to the depths of the bamboo forest. She first bowed to her master before looking at the young man sitting by the stone table.

She was somewhat surprised; who was this young man?

"My good disciple!"

Su Qiansuan laughed heartily:

"Come, come, this is your Uncle Zhang Fusheng!"

Ruan Yutu performed a meticulous bow:

"Uncle Zhang."

Zhang Fusheng scratched his head, smiling broadly as he responded.

He carefully examined the young woman. She carried a green sword on her back, and her appearance was dignified and elegant, yet she also exuded an ethereal and otherworldly aura.

I can't see anything particularly special about it being perfect or flawless.

However, upon closer inspection,

Zhang Fusheng was surprised to find himself developing a strange fondness for Ruan Yutu and unconsciously wanting to get closer to her.

It wasn't like putting the cause and effect in reverse, unconsciously wanting to take Wei Lingzhu as a disciple.

This sense of closeness seems to come from the heart, more like from one's nature—to be more precise.

It means 'favor' or 'benefit'.

My heart desires to take care of this woman.

"Ruan Yutu, my disciple," Cui Qiansuan introduced again, "Is nine-tenths perfect, blessed by Upper Heaven, and favored nine-tenths favored."

He chuckled and said:

"Although your Root Bone is ordinary and your cultivation speed is a bit slow, your comprehension is excellent, and you are devoted to the sword. With that, is it possible that you have caught Brother Zhang's eye?"

Ruan Yutu was somewhat confused, as Zhang Fusheng.

She had heard this name not long ago, but it certainly couldn't be the same person. How could that Zhang Fusheng be so close to her master?

Amidst my doubts...

She saw the handsome young man nod and praise him:

"What a Banished Immortal!"

Su Qiansuan laughed heartily, without saying a word:

"Then it's settled. Jade Rabbit, you've been orphaned since childhood. Today, your master has found you a foster father. Why don't you come and pay your respects?"

Ruan Yutu:?

She paused for a moment, then stepped forward and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows.

"The Jade Rabbit greets its godfather."

Zhang Fusheng's eyelids twitched violently. Su Qiansuan, this old fox, really going for it?

What exactly is he planning?

Zhang Fusheng gave the Golden Governor a deep look, then smiled, reached out and helped Ruan Yutu to her feet.

Then he chuckled and shook his head.

"I've never even had a wife, how come I have a daughter? Brother Su, what's going on?"

Su Qiansuan said with a sincere expression:

"In that case, I can also establish a kinship with you, Brother Zhang."

Zhang Fusheng's mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

He finally nodded in agreement.

"In that case, I must give the Jade Rabbit a small gift."

As they spoke,

When Ruan Yutu saw this 'godfather' who had appeared out of nowhere, she tapped the air with her five fingers, and the air suddenly tore open with a tiny crack.

From the crevice, Death Qi cascaded down like a waterfall, accompanied by an unfathomable depth.

Su Qiansuan's pupils contracted.

The next second, under their gazes, Zhang Fusheng reached his hand into the crevice, into that dark and unknown place.

When she took it out again, she had an extra flower in her hand.

The flowers emitted a soft, ethereal glow; merely gazing upon them evoked a sense of belonging.

The Death Qi that had been hanging down and churning in the bamboo forest suddenly surged up and converged on the flower, lingering all around.

"The Other Shore Flower"

Zhang Fusheng forcibly transformed an Immortal Flower into a real one, but it was no longer as effective as before; he was so exhausted that he almost fainted.

He possesses the Mental Accumulation of 4,300 years, and also the Incense and Fire Prayer Power offerings from believers from all over the world.

The believers shared some of the burden of these expenses.

Ruan Yutu carefully examined the delicate red and white flower.

Hearing the peaceful introduction from his 'godfather,' whom he had only met briefly before:

"The flowers of the Nine Netherworlds are a symbol of the cycle of life and death. The place where they are located is the Boundary of Life and Death, and they can guide the dead and cleanse their bodies and minds."

Su Qiansuan's pupils shrank to pinpoints.

This is also why Zhang Fusheng chose to give the Other Shore Flower as a 'meeting gift'.

He gently pushed the Other Shore Flower, and it drifted into Ruan Yutu's palm. The latter held the Immortal Flower and performed a meticulous ceremony.

"I dare not refuse such a gift from an elder."

"Thank you for the treasure, Godfather."

Zhang Fusheng just laughed and, under Ruan Yutu's still surprised gaze, toasted with Su Qiansuan until dusk.

"Brother Su, I should go now."

The two held hands, seemingly reluctant to part.

Su Qiansuan sighed:

"All good things must come to an end. I still need to keep this God of Plague under control, so I won't see you off, Brother Zhang."

After a pause, he casually mentioned:

"That sound just now was like the voice of a whale and a roc."

Su Qiansuan gave a brief introduction to the Whale-Penguin Ship, emphasizing the following:

"They are people from the capital. I heard they came to investigate the Gaotian Association, but there are many others."

"So you've come to investigate your brother!"

Zhang Fusheng nodded emphatically:

"Brother Su, making things difficult for you is making things difficult for me. I wish I could draw my sword right now and kill that man!"

"Brother Zhang, you flatter me. That's an envoy from the capital."

A thousand words, now Silence Below.

Su Qiansuan finally extended her hand in invitation:

"Jade Rabbit, aren't you going to see your godfather off?"

Ruan Yutu softly replied "Yes," then helped Zhang Fusheng onto the golden bridge of the Imperial Decree and walked away step by step.

The drunken Su Qiansuan was left alone in the bamboo forest.

The effects of the alcohol had long since dissipated.

He sat upright, closed his eyes, and sighed softly.

"Nine out of ten gamblers lose. Did I bet right this time?"