An appointment from the court

Song Qing hurriedly ran out of the secret room, Movement Method lightning speed. A few breaths later, she returned holding a thick blue book and respectfully handed it to Xu Qi'an.

Nowadays, the Warlock of the Bureau of Astronomy are accustomed to using blue books as their personal notes and hope to make it a tradition. They believe that after several generations, blue books will be associated with Alchemy and become synonymous with it.

From then on, when people talked about the Warlock ' Alchemy, they would refer to the Blue Book.

Xu Qi'an, the first-generation founder of the Blue Book, took Song Qing's alchemy notes, opened them, and glanced at them.

It was too long to understand without reading it. He pretended to read it for a long time, sometimes nodding, sometimes shaking his head.

The members of the Heaven and Earth Society, along with Song Qing, all had their eyes fixed on him. As soon as Xu Qi'an closed the book, Song Qing eagerly asked:

"Young Master Xu, is there any oversight?"

Li Miaozhen and the others adopted an attentive listening posture, their eyes fixed intently on him.

"There are still quite a few problems, Senior Brother Song. This path is long and arduous; you must persevere and never slacken your efforts," Xu Qi'an said with a sigh, offering earnest guidance.

So, where exactly does the problem lie?

Before Song Qing could finish speaking, Xu Qi'an interrupted him, saying, "Senior Brother Song, you must know that Alchemy has its limits. I have an idea for your work that I can offer for your reference."

Song Qing's eyes lit up immediately, her attention diverted as expected. She eagerly pressed on, "Young Master Xu, I knew you would have a way. If you had been there when I was nurturing him, things would definitely be better now."

No, all I'll be able to do then is cheer from the sidelines. Xu Qi'an cleared his throat, glanced at everyone, and then looked back at Song Qing, saying:

"As far as I know, there is a heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the world called the Nine-Colored Lotus, which can enlighten all things, even stones, and give them sentience. Your body needs its enlightenment."

"Nine-colored lotus, nine-colored lotus," Song Qing murmured to himself, "Such a wondrous thing exists in the world."

The members of the Heaven and Earth Society suddenly realized that Xu Qi'an's method was feasible.

Yes, the nine-colored lotus can enlighten all things, so it can naturally enlighten this physical body. As long as he Aperture Opening, Su Su can possess him. Li Miaozhen's face lit up with joy, and she suddenly had a goal and was no longer confused.

Su Su wished the nine-colored lotus would mature immediately so she could acquire a brand new physical body.

"No, no, no, I want to be a woman, I want to be a man. But if I'm a man, I won't have to have Xu Ningyan's children. Um, what if he still wants me to be his concubine?"

Su Su's mind conjured up images of herself possessing a man's body, being pinned down on the bed and whipped and taken from by Xu Qi'an, and she shuddered violently.

"The Nine-Colored Lotus is a treasure of the Earth Sect, but in essence, it can also be considered a material for Alchemy, since everything can be used for Alchemy," Xu Qi'an said with a smile.

"Everything can Alchemy," Song Qing exclaimed with genuine admiration.

"Young Master Xu, you are a true Alchemy prodigy whom I admire. I have even felt anger, anger that your second uncle never sent you to the Bureau of Astronomy Observatory to study under a master."

No, my second uncle has already suffered enough, please let him go!

For Su Su, this trip to the Bureau of Astronomy was like opening a new chapter. For the others, the feelings were much more complex, on the one hand, they were shocked by Song Qing's expertise in Alchemy.

On the one hand, they felt physically and mentally uncomfortable with his Alchemy of life.

Before parting, Xu Qi'an pulled Song Qing aside to a quiet, secluded spot and whispered, "Senior Brother Song, I have a favor to ask of you."

"You say."

Song Qing accepted all of Xu Qi'an's requests without hesitation.

"I need you to refine a female body for that demon to possess. I'll find a way to get the nine-colored lotus then," Xu Qi'an said.

"Okay, I will definitely do as you say." Song Qing became excited when he heard that Xu Qi'an could get his hands on the nine-colored lotus.

"However, I have conditions," Xu Qi'an's voice grew even lower. "First, the female body must be beautiful, exceptionally beautiful. Then, this..."

He gestured casually towards his chest and said furtively, "It has to be big here."

Song Qing, uninterested in women, frowned and asked, "What's the definition of 'big'?"

He needs a point of reference.

Xu Qi'an thought for a moment, then answered meticulously, "Caiwei cubed."

For Xu Qi'an, this trip to the Bureau of Astronomy was very necessary, as it fulfilled his promise.

He is a man who values his promises very much, both in this life and the last.

After leaving the Bureau of Astronomy, Chu Yuanzhen and Hengyuan took their leave, while Xu Qi'an led Li Miaozhen, Susu, and Lina towards the Xu Residence.

Chu Caiwei, a cute girl with big eyes, accompanied him for a long distance, eventually arriving at the Xu Residence Xu Residence. So they decided to have dinner there.

After dinner, Chu Caiwei decided to stay at the Xu Residence and share a bed with Lina, a move that seemed very promising.

After the banquet, Xu Qi'an went into Erlang's study and saw his younger brother reading by lamplight at his desk. He jokingly said with a smile:

"Did you have a good time with Miss Wang today?"

Xu Erlang's expression immediately turned strange, and he said in a deep voice, "Brother, I think Miss Wang is lusting after my good looks."

The wording was off, but that's the gist of it. Xu Qi'an was somewhat surprised; Xu Erlang had actually figured it out?

Xu Erlang wasn't stupid, and his emotional intelligence was quite high. He just lacked experience in dealing with women. The first two times, he didn't quite understand what was going on and was still immersed in his battle of wits with Chief Minister Wang (who was just an empty shell).

"She often compliments my looks, and her behavior also shows that she wants to get close to me." Xu Xinnian frowned.

"So what do you mean?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"Chief Minister Wang and Wei Yuan are political enemies, and my elder brother is Wei Yuan's confidant. How could I possibly have any entanglement with Miss Wang?" Xu Xinnian stated his position.

I've always wanted Erlang to be branded as a member of the "eunuch faction," and I'm troubled by his lack of powerful backing in the court. If he could align himself with Grand Secretary Wang, that would be a good thing. But this is no trivial matter; who knows if my idea might push Erlang into a trap?

Xu Qi'an pondered for a long time before saying, "You decide for yourself. You have to walk your own path in the future. In the court, there are no permanent enemies. Aren't Duke Wei and Chief Minister Wang now working together to rectify the corruption of the clerks?"

"Furthermore, even if you and Miss Wang get married in the future, it will be her marrying into the Xu Household, not you becoming part of the family. There is a fundamental difference here; you will still be a free person."

Xu Xinnian was somewhat embarrassed, his face slightly flushed. "Brother, what you're saying makes it sound like Miss Wang and I have some kind of illicit affair."

He then frowned and said, "Besides, she only likes me because she thinks I'm good-looking. If I were scary-looking, would she still like me?"

Xu Qi'an replied, "That depends on how you pronounce the word 'long'."

He didn't think there was anything wrong with Miss Wang coveting Xu Erlang's good looks. Shouldn't liking someone start with their appearance?

He liked Lin'an, Huaiqing, Caiwei, Li Miaozhen, Susu, Lina, and even the Imperial Advisor, because they were all very beautiful.

He also really liked ponies like mare, and missed them terribly if he didn't ride them for a day.

As for Zhong Li, with her hair disheveled and her true face hidden, Xu Qi'an reserved the right to like her.

Back in his room, he practiced slow boxing according to the method described in "Treatise on Pulse Movement," sensing the flow of his own Qi, feeling the blood flow, and the expansion and contraction of his muscles as he exerted force.

Half an hour later, the meeting ended. Xu Qi'an sat at the table, took the warm tea handed to him by Zhong Li, and muttered to himself:

"It's too slow. The theory of meridian circulation is at most an auxiliary tool. Whether I can reach the level of mastery depends on me personally. At this rate, it will be difficult to even reach the fifth rank by the end of the year, let alone the fourth rank."

"I must find a way to improve my strength. My luck is gradually awakening, and the mastermind behind the scenes will not sit idly by. Even with the protection of the Supervisor and the Divine Protector, I am not absolutely safe. The other party is at least a third-rank Warlock, and there may be even more powerful forces behind them."

"Haste makes waste. Although mastering internal energy is difficult, at least one can improve slowly. The promotion in rank and the increase in power are the most difficult things for me."

He used to choose to stay in the capital because it was prosperous and materially abundant, but he also had the arrogance of "at worst, I'll just roam the world."

Now, he wants to seize greater power in the court. His own strength and the power he holds complement each other, so that he can be a match for his "creditors" in the future.

Therefore, he lacks opportunities now, opportunities to make contributions.

"It's a pity that the year of the Capital Evaluation has passed, and the capital is now peaceful. I don't have many opportunities to make meritorious contributions." Xu Qi'an sighed, then turned to think about how to improve his cultivation.

An idea just flashed through his mind:

"The 'Heaven and Earth One-Slash Slash' concentrates the body's energy into a single move, while 'Transforming Energy' also concentrates energy into a single force, wasting no energy and unleashing maximum power at minimal cost. The two are essentially the same."

This idea delighted him and he couldn't wait to test it.

Xu Qi'an stood still in the room, took a deep breath, calmed all his emotions, and his aura collapsed and became restrained.

"No, no, I'm not using the Heaven and Earth Slash."

He quickly stopped gathering his strength and dissipated his energy. He then used the Heaven and Earth One Slash Method Formula again, but this time he did not coordinate with his energy and instead used pure physical strength to perform it.

"Smack!"

A punch was thrown, and the air crackled with a crisp sound.

Because it did not involve any gas, it did not cause widespread damage.

"My arm was still trembling, but at the moment of throwing the punch, my strength was indeed bursting forth in one direction, although much of it was lost in the process."

This result overjoyed Xu Qi'an. He had chosen the right path; as long as he practiced in this way, the time it would take him to advance to the fifth rank would be greatly reduced.

"It's much, much better than 'The Theory of Pulse Circulation,' hehe, I'm truly a genius, finding a completely different path." The joy that had just appeared on his face suddenly froze again.

Because "The Heaven and Earth One Blade Slash" was a skill given to the Nightwatchers by the Bureau of Astronomy, a secret gift from the Director of the Observatory.

Was all of this within your expectations, JOJO?

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

Just after dawn, the officials were summoned to the Imperial Study by eunuchs dispatched by the emperor.

After all the officials had gathered, Emperor Yuanjing, dressed in a Daoist robe and with clean sleeves, walked lightly to the back of the main table and sat on his throne.

"My esteemed ministers have submitted memorials for days, requesting a thorough investigation into the 'massacre of three thousand miles,' and I deeply agree." Emperor Yuanjing looked down at the officials below, his tone unhurried and deliberate.

"I intend to send a mission to the border to thoroughly investigate this matter. Do any of you ministers have suitable candidates?"

Chief Minister Wang stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this case is of great importance and should naturally be handled by the Three Departments in conjunction with the Nightwatchers."

This was a tacit understanding that had developed within the imperial court over the years. Whenever a major case occurred, it was usually handled jointly by the Three Judicial Offices and the Nightwatchers's Office, which was both a collaboration and a form of mutual supervision.

Emperor Yuanjing waited a moment, and seeing that no official stepped forward to object or add to the discussion, he then asked, "Where is the official in charge? Do any of you ministers have a suitable candidate?"

When multiple parties collaborate on a case, they either work independently or form a team. A team naturally needs a leader. Otherwise, it will just be a disorganized mess.

Generally speaking, cases that require travel to other places are usually handled by teams rather than by individuals.

Upon hearing the words "organizer," the officials almost instinctively and habitually conjured up an image of an arrogant young man in a silver-plated official uniform.

This is both a recognition of Xu Qi'an's abilities and a testament to the fact that over the past six months, Xu Qi'an has solved a series of major and important cases, leaving a deep impression on people.

The Grand Secretary Wang pondered for a moment and then said, "We can appoint Xu Qi'an, the night Nightwatchers and silver gong player, as the chief official in charge."

He didn't praise Xu Qi'an, because it wasn't necessary.

Emperor Yuanjing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and asked, "What do you all think?"

"Good!"

The officials all spoke in unison.

Haoqi Tower, tea room.

"What?! A case involving a massacre spanning three thousand miles, and I'm to be the presiding judge?"

Upon hearing the news, Xu Qi'an's eyes widened in surprise, his face filled with astonishment.

This is different from the previous Yunzhou case, in which Governor Zhang was the presiding official and he was one of the accompanying personnel. This time, however, he is theoretically the top leader.

The advantages and disadvantages are both obvious. If this case is solved, he will be the one to deserve the greatest credit. If the case of the massacre that killed three thousand miles of people is true, and he is the one who finds out the truth, the merit he will gain will be unimaginable.

I was just worried about not having a chance to make a contribution. And now someone's offering me a pillow when I'm feeling sleepy? Xu Qi'an was both happy and worried, because if he couldn't solve the case, he would be punished.

This is still good. If the massacre of a thousand miles was indeed the fault of the Prince of Zhenbei, and that the Prince of Zhenbei lied about military intelligence, then he would be in danger.

"Duke Wei, I suspect the gentlemen have ulterior motives in recommending me as the chief organizer. Why did His Majesty not appoint a governor, but instead agree to appoint a mere silver-ranking official as chief organizer?"

Xu Qi'an looked at the man in blue opposite him and continued, "You'll need to send a Golden Gong (a type of guard) to protect me."

Wei Yuan stroked his teacup, his tone gentle, "Not bad, you're more perceptive than before. Before, you wouldn't have bothered to fathom the intentions of the officials in court, or His Majesty's thoughts."

No, I just feel that with a political strategist like you by my side, I'm too lazy to use my brain. Xu Qi'an said humbly, "Please teach me, Duke Wei."

PS: Thank you to the guild leader "Liangcheng Yibei Shi Tianhuang" for the donation. Thank you to the guild leader "Silent Rice Cooker" for the donation.