Xu Xuan withdrew his stance and stood, steaming heat roiling across his entire body.
Old steward Xu Fu hurried over cradling a sweat towel, dark and unshakable anxiety hidden deep within his eyes.
"Young master, rest for a moment."
Xu Xuan was just about to take the sweat towel when he suddenly heard the rapid sound of hooves.
He saw a single rider coming like a plume of dust.
The youth on the horse's back wore brocaded silk and fine attire, looking around fifteen or sixteen years old, his brow and temples brimming with unbridled flair.
It was precisely Zhao Mang, the only son of the garrison general guarding the Northern Frontier.
"Brother Chen!"
Zhao Mang vaulted off his horse and heavily patted Xu Xuan's shoulder.
"Your fist technique, I'm afraid you've already entered the Meridian Opening Realm, haven't you?"
"I heard that the day before yesterday you fought three Wasteland Wolves all by yourself, you truly won plenty of face for us Northern Frontier lads!"
Xu Xuan smiled indifferently.
"Brother Mang flatters me."
"In a few days I'm going to the border for a patrol, how about coming along?"
Zhao Mang lowered his voice. "Things have been unsettled lately, just the right time to let you witness real blades and real guns."
Before the sound of his words faded, jade pendants jingled.
A girl in purple garments walked over with leisurely steps, looking around fourteen years of age, wearing her hair in double-loop buns, her brows and eyes as picturesque as a painting.
It was precisely Xu Chen's own elder sister Xu Qingwan, a renowned talented woman of the Northern Frontier.
"Brother Mang."
The girl's voice was gentle and soft, yet carried a trace of gentle reproach.
"You're inciting Brother Chen to brave danger again."
Zhao Mang's earlobes immediately turned red, and he rubbed his hands together with a laugh:
"Qingwan younger sister, I'm just taking Brother Chen to see the world..."
Xu Qingwan cast a light, sideways glance at him, turning instead to meticulously straighten her younger brother's lapel:
"Though practicing martial arts is crucial, you should still cherish your body."
"Mother specially simmered ginseng soup, and it's still hot on the stove. Remember to go drink some later."
At this moment, the orderly sound of footsteps came from outside the estate gates.
A guard shouted out:
"His Highness the Second Prince has arrived!"
Everyone was slightly startled.
They saw the youth in fine attire step forward slowly, surrounded by a throng of guards.
He was around twenty years of age, with a face like jade, wearing a four-clawed python robe, his brows and eyes cold and stern.
It was precisely the current Second Prince, Chen Jing.
Everyone straightened their attire to welcome him, offering greetings in unison.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Chen Jing's gaze swept past Xu Xuan.
He paused briefly at the Soaring Serpent Totem behind his back, the corners of his lips curving upward slightly:
"The Marquis of Martial Might's heir is truly as uniquely talented as the legends say."
"This Soaring Serpent Bloodline is indeed rare..."
Xu Qingwan stepped forward with unruffled composure and said:
"Your Highness has had a tiring journey coming from afar, and the elders of the household have already prepared fragrant tea in the main hall."
"Please favor us with your presence."
Chen Jing gave a light laugh, cast another deep glance at Xu Xuan, and only then turned and left.
Once he had walked far away, Zhao Mang could not help spitting out:
"Putting on airs and posing!"
"Instead of enjoying blessings in the capital, he ran to the Northern Frontier to take charge. He's clearly here for the Soaring Serpent Bloodline inside Xu Chen's body."
"Brother Mang, watch your words."
Xu Qingwan said with a frown.
She then spoke to Xu Xuan in a soft voice:
"Brother Chen, pay no mind to what His Highness said."
"Father said that the Soaring Serpent is an ancient exotic beast, not necessarily an ominous omen."
Watching the retreating back of Chen Jing as he went away, Xu Xuan's expression remained as usual.
The other party's malice was not concealed at all.
He genuinely wanted to hammer this fellow to death with one punch!
Evening.
Inside the Tranquil Heart Court, sandalwood curls wreathed upward.
The Marquis of Martial Might's wife, Chen Jingxuan, knelt on a straw meditation mat, her slender fingers delicately holding incense chopsticks as she loaded a piece of agarwood into the censer.
Seeing her son lift the door curtain and enter, her movements paused slightly, and she gently laid the incense chopsticks down on the desk.
"The Second Prince came again today?"
She asked in a soft voice.
Xu Xuan sat down on the wooden stool beside his mother, his gaze sweeping over the swirling blue smoke on the incense desk, and spoke truthfully:
"Yes."
"He watched this child practice martial arts in the training grounds."
Chen Jingxuan sighed softly, drawing a confidential letter from her sleeve.
"A letter that just arrived from your father."
"In the imperial court, the Emperor once again brought up the matter of the Soaring Serpent Totem, and the Grand Preceptor asserted that this is the descent of the 'Army-Breaker', which will bring a calamity that ruins the state."
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she looked at Xu Xuan.
"The Second Prince taking charge of the Northern Frontier this time is ostensibly to oversee the army, but in reality, it is to monitor."
"The more it is this kind of time, the more you must be cautious in your words and deeds."
Xu Xuan's expression remained as usual, though he muttered inwardly:
"If not for Qi Refining Practitioners secretly looking after things, this Chen Jing would already be a corpse."
Though his years of cultivation in this lifetime were short.
Yet under the blessing of comprehension from Luminous Insight, he had already stepped into the Meridian Opening Realm, and moreover had all six meridian wheels open simultaneously.
If not for wanting to polish his foundations, at this moment he would be at least in the Early Spirit Treasury Stage.
A mere Chen Jing posed no threat at all.
However, the Chen Yue Imperial Family behind him, along with the "Demon Suppression Bureau" established by the Grand Preceptor, could not be underestimated.
According to Xu Xuan's understanding from his previous life.
Both factions possessed several Foundation Establishment powerhouses internally, and even the existence of the Purple Mansion Realm...
The imperial court of Great Yue had immortal-cultivation forces intertwining in a complex web.
The military maintained the "Demon Suppression Bureau", composed of cultivators who specialized in dealing with baleful specters.
Officials in various regions also largely had entanglements with immortal-cultivation sects, colluding with one another and mutually forming factions.
The Marquis of Martial Might's Estate guarded the Northern Frontier, and there were also many cultivators within the estate.
Yet overall, placed within the cultivation world, they were merely a third-rate force.
Xu Xuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his head:
"Mother, this child wishes to travel south."
Chen Jingxuan's fingertips trembled: "You are still young..."
"There are no small number of Northern Frontier lads who travel alone at twelve years old."
Xu Xuan's tone was resolute: "This child wants to see the rivers and mountains of Great Yue with his own eyes."
"Clang--"
The Yue kiln tea cup in Chen Jingxuan's hand lurched violently, the tea water spilling to wet the hem of her skirt.
Unable to care about wiping it, she spoke in an urgent voice:
"No!"
"Not to mention that you are only twelve years old."
"Right now the Second Prince is eyeing you like a tiger eyeing its prey, and your father has yet to return either; this matter requires deliberate discussion."
"But..." Xu Xuan had something else he wanted to say.
"There are no 'buts'."
Chen Jingxuan's tone turned stern, a trace of panic flashing within her gaze.
"Why do you think those cultivators always come knocking on the door and even want to take you as a disciple."
"It is entirely because you were born carrying the Soaring Serpent Bloodline."
"If you were to leave the protection of the Marquis's Estate's immortal masters and seniors..."
Chen Jingxuan's voice immediately stopped.
Xu Xuan lowered his head in silence, his fingertips tightening slightly within his sleeves.
The agarwood in the censer flickered brightly and dimly, casting a dim and indistinct shadow over his profile.
Seeing him look thus, Chen Jingxuan's tone softened slightly:
"We will discuss this once your father returns."
"During these days, you will peacefully cultivate within the estate."
She gently stroked her son's shoulder: "Mother knows what you have in mind, but right now... it is not yet time."
Outside the window, the autumn wind wailed, whipping up fallen leaves all over the ground.
Xu Chen gazed at the rising blue smoke within the censer, as if seeing the distant mountain ranges of the south.
Late at night, the practice room.
Candle flames flickered, illuminating the resolute profile of the youth.
Xu Xuan sat cross-legged with his five centers facing the heavens.
The Evergreen Technique circulated slowly, gold and earth spiritual qi converging from all four directions.
Like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, it poured endlessly into his dantian.
Within his sea of consciousness, the incantation light of Luminous Insight flowed, making the profound meanings of the technique clearly visible.
Key points that ordinary cultivators required over a month to comprehend were thoroughly understood by him in merely three days.
The more he cultivated, the clearer his memories of his past life became.
Within his memories, the self of his previous life had left extremely important things behind for this lifetime, waiting to be unlocked.
Therefore.
He had to head south.
To make a trip to Spiritual Expanse Mountain, which he had seen in his dreams.
"Rustle..."
An unusual sound suddenly traveled from outside the window.
Xu Xuan's gaze instantly turned cold.
The phantom of a Soaring Serpent flashed behind his back and vanished, the temperature inside the room plunging abruptly.
"Who is it?"
A dark shadow dropped to its knees in response, its voice pressed extremely low:
"Forgive me, Young Master."
"The Second Prince's personal guards added three more men today, specifically watching the Young Master's courtyard."
"Just moments ago, someone attempted to sneak into the study, but was beaten back by your subordinates."
"Withdraw."
Xu Xuan dismissed the guard.
The Soaring Serpent Bloodline was both a stroke of good fortune and something that beckoned countless covetous eyes toward him.
The Grand Preceptor's faction, the Demon Suppression Bureau, and even the imperial clan relatives...
Everyone regarded him as an anomaly.
This Marquis's Estate seemed like copper walls and iron ironclad walls guarding him.
In reality, however, it was a prison.
He understood that if he acted rashly at this moment, it would inevitably invite a catastrophic disaster.
Three days later.
The Marquis of Martial Might, "Xu Yue", returned to the estate on a fast horse.
Inside the study, the candlelight blazed brightly.
Xu Yue removed his dust-stained cloak, his expression as solemn as iron.
"The Emperor listened to the Grand Preceptor's words, believing that the Soaring Serpent is the descent of the 'Army-Breaker', and has already ordered the Demon Suppression Bureau to investigate in secret."
The tea cup in Chen Jingxuan's hand trembled slightly.
"Then Chen'er..."
"He's safe for now."
Xu Yue looked at his son, who stood in attendance with his head bowed, his gaze complicated.
"The grand elder of the Purple Sun Gate took our old ties into account and has suppressed the matter for now."
"But you must not leave the residence for the time being. We will discuss your journey south later."
Xu Xuan bowed his head and assented, his expression deferential.
Night lay deep.
Xu Xuan stood alone before the window, gazing toward the starry sky in the south.
With a fingertip, he traced the word "grain" on the windowsill.
Outside, the wind sobbed, as though metal weapons were clashing.
He slowly clenched both fists, blood and qi surging through his body, vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger.
Some roads were destined to be walked alone.
Turning to fetch paper and brush, he swept the brush across the page, writing several lines of small characters in dripping ink.
"Grain prices in the Northern Frontier will rise. Buy some and stockpile it."
He blew a silver whistle, and a hidden guard entered at its sound.
"Send this to the Cloud Arrival Trading House."
"Once this deal is done, take me to Spiritual Expanse Mountain."
--
Don't rush; there's an explanation later.