Fundamental Grand Law

Li Qingxian was far more astonished than he had been upon obtaining the Flood Dragon Transformation Pill.

Of the Three Aspects, gaining one was enough—so long as one's Destiny Mold was not poor, one's Fortune could advance from Cap and Belt to Taking Office.

With all three aspects at Cap and Belt, it could no longer be described as merely flourishing or favorable. It was certain to transition from Cap and Belt to Taking Office.

Cap and Belt was like coming of age, while Taking Office was like receiving rank and title.

Cap and Belt merely meant one's wings were growing full; Taking Office meant the great tide had already taken shape.

Li Qingxian inwardly sighed. This person's Destiny Mansion likely possessed an extremely noble Destiny Mold, perhaps even that fabled Mandate's Child.

The Cap and Belt Fortune even formed an inexplicable pressure, making Li Qingxian vaguely feel that Ye Han was good at everything, and that following him would surely lead to great achievement.

As Li Qingxian stood there in a daze, images emerged one after another above the Imperial Crown.

At a banquet held by the Marquis of Pacifying the North, Ye Han was humiliated by his eldest branch brothers. He abruptly smashed his wine cup, left behind the words, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river," and stormed out of the Marquis Manor.

Inside a mysterious ancient residence, Ye Han took three treasures from beside a skeleton: a red cloth box, a ring, and a rust-covered flying sword.

At a tavern at night, a man in splendid robes stood by the window with his back to Ye Han. Ye Han stood behind him with his head lowered. The man said, "Get Li Qingxian drunk, and my people will make their move. Even if it is traced back, it will have nothing to do with you." Ye Han smiled. "Rest assured, it is a trifling matter."

Outside the Ye Family cemetery, a group of black-clad men charged at Ye Han. His subordinates fought desperately to hold them back, while he escaped alone.

At dusk, Ye Han fled into a forest. He suddenly raised his head to the sky, and a streak of white light descended, like a meteor slashing across the heavens, landing in the woods ahead. Ye Han walked over curiously and saw a purple crystal wrapped in lightning smash into the earth. The surrounding ground was charred black, wisps of white smoke rising from it.

At dawn, countless bolts of lightning flashed blue and white. A slender woman lay on her side on the ground, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth as she stared at Ye Han in shock. Ye Han smiled faintly and tossed out the purple crystal. Cloud vortices churned overhead, heavenly lightning flashing wildly as experts dressed in Demon Sect attire screamed and were reduced to ash. Yet the lightning that struck Ye Han was docile as water. Not only did it fail to harm him, it seemed to temper his body instead. At that moment, Ye Han was like a heavenly being.

Suddenly, green qi shot into the sky above Ye Han's head. A colossal palace of golden tiles, red walls, and crimson pillars rose from within it, erupting with brilliant divine radiance. Bands of light flowed forth, dispelling the Qi-Gazing Technique.

Li Qingxian's vision went black, and everything returned to normal.

Under the afternoon sun, Ye Han walked down a pebble path lined with green trees, turned through an arched gate, and vanished from sight.

Li Qingxian examined his body. Unlike the last time he had used the Qi-Gazing Technique, he felt nothing this time. It appeared this was due to the consumption of Fortune.

Recalling those images, Li Qingxian's face darkened.

This Ye Han had actually pretended to befriend him while joining hands with that unknown person to harm him.

No wonder Uncle Zhou had warned him. No wonder Ye Han had sent such a lavish gift. Uncle Zhou must have sensed something but found it inconvenient to touch him, forcing him to offer a precious treasure as compensation.

This could not be allowed to end like this!

Still, Ye Han's luck truly was extraordinary. He had actually discovered an ancient residence and obtained that mysterious purple crystal.

Wait...

The Marquis Manor family banquet, the mysterious residence, and the tavern plot had all occurred in the past. Ye Han's pursuit and the Thunder Crystal Core falling from the sky would happen tomorrow.

As for when Ye Han threw out the Thunder Crystal Core, that would be the day after tomorrow. The woman lying on the ground was Jiang Youfei.

Li Qingxian stood dumbfounded for a long while before quickly piecing together the chain of events.

"If you refuse to let me live in peace, how can I let you soar to glory! I was already thinking of a way to deal with my enemies..."

Li Qingxian narrowed his eyes.

Scene after scene from the past few days flashed through his mind.

Courtesy demands reciprocity!

"That palace that appeared at the end was likely the legendary Destiny Mansion where a Destiny Star dwells. His Destiny Mansion could even contend against the Heaven's Mandate Instrument; it is anything but ordinary. If I forcibly snatch it, I fear I will be affected by his Destiny Mansion and may very well fail. According to the Book of Fate, even if I obtain that purple crystal, a life must be repaid with a life. This is the Fundamental Grand Law of Fate Arts, and it cannot be violated. I need to devise a foolproof plan!"

With that in mind, Li Qingxian rushed into the Night Guard library and searched through Books of Fate concerning "a life for a life" or the Fundamental Grand Law.

After a long while, Li Qingxian put down the book and headed straight for Chunfeng Residence.

It was early summer afternoon, the flowers blooming in full splendor and their fragrance assailing his nostrils.

Zhou Hen, standing guard at the entrance, gave a nod.

Li Qingxian took a deep breath and called loudly, "Uncle Zhou, your most righteous nephew, Li Qingxian, has arrived."

"You have thought it through?" The gates opened of their own accord without a breath of wind.

Li Qingxian stepped inside and said solemnly, "Whenever I think of my late father's teachings and Uncle Zhou's help, I cannot bear it in my heart. I do not care about Jiang Youfei, the Enchanting City Fairy, or the Heavenly Venerable Token, but if it can make Uncle Zhou happy, I will brave boiling water and tread through fire without hesitation!"

Zhou Hen could not help rolling his eyes at Li Qingxian.

Zhou Chunfeng, seated behind the desk, could not even be bothered to raise his head. As he reviewed official documents, he said, "Go on. What are your terms?"

"Is Sister You Fei not here?" Li Qingxian looked around.

"She is at Azure Firmament Abbey, caring for Lü Ren with her sister-in-law," Zhou Chunfeng said.

"Have you heard about Captain Zheng?" The smile vanished from Li Qingxian's face.

Zhou Chunfeng said, "The one who forcibly seized Fengxiang Silk Shop was the nephew of Old Kang, an assistant vice minister of the Ministry of Justice. The one who injured Zheng Hui also has quite the background—a direct disciple of Demon-Transforming Mountain. That direct disciple does not know Old Kang's nephew, but he has met Old Kang several times. This seems to be an unfortunate coincidence."

Only then did Li Qingxian recall that Qi Kingdom had many officials. Besides the left and right vice ministers, each ministry also had several assistant vice ministers.

"Once he pays Crime-Expiation Silver, there is nothing we can do to him?" Li Qingxian asked.

"Crime-Expiation Silver is a rule set by His Majesty. What can we do? He also knows where to draw the line, injuring but not killing. If the Night Guard pursues the matter, we will instead be led into a trap." Zhou Chunfeng set down his brush, his expression gradually darkening.

Li Qingxian suppressed the thoughts in his heart. If he pressed any further, he would only be making things difficult for Zhou Chunfeng.

"I have a Flood Dragon Transformation Pill. Can it heal Captain Zheng's dantian?" Li Qingxian asked.

Zhou Hen turned to stare at Li Qingxian in astonishment. He had not expected him to be so willing to part with it.

Zhou Chunfeng glanced at the red cloth box and shook his head. "This Flood Dragon Transformation Pill is a sacred medicine for cultivation; it cannot repair a dantian. In all the world, there are no more than three divine medicines capable of restoring a dantian, and each is worth a fortune. You should take this medicine after reaching Entry Rank. Have Zhou Hen help you refine its medicinal power."

"Oh? From the sound of it, Uncle Zhou, you knew Ye Han gave me the Flood Dragon Transformation Pill?"

Zhou Chunfeng said nothing.

Li Qingxian smiled and did not press further. "Little Uncle Zhou, help me see whether this medicine is genuine."

But Zhou Chunfeng said, "What I made Ye Han compensate you with cannot be fake."

Li Qingxian looked at Zhou Chunfeng. A trace of helplessness surfaced on his handsome face.

"If you do not say it, I will pretend not to know," Li Qingxian said.

Zhou Chunfeng said, "Since you have guessed it, there is no harm in telling you. Ye Han's Fortune is flourishing; he is no ordinary person. This year, he has already faintly shown the signs of transforming into a dragon. I have made an enemy of him, and we can never be on good terms again. The same goes for you. You must not befriend him, but neither should you become his enemy. He is extremely skilled at enduring in silence. Once he finds an opportunity, he will surely bite you and me back. By accepting the Flood Dragon Transformation Pill, you signify that the account is settled. Unless you have a ten-out-of-ten chance of victory, you must never act rashly. Do you understand?"

Li Qingxian smiled. "Rest assured, Uncle Zhou. Having scraped and clawed my way through the streets since childhood, I know better than anyone what sort of people cannot be provoked. Right now, I only want peace and survival."