All sides

Ji Xuan pondered for a moment, then shook his head:

"We continued to collect the scattered dragon energy, and the great host sent the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations to subdue it."

"Hehe, we can't determine Xu Qi'an's whereabouts right now. It would be bad if we ran into him in Yuzhou. Just as we didn't expect to encounter him in Yongzhou."

"But if it's the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations, with genuine Rank 3 combat power, they will definitely be able to handle it more easily than we are."

Even if I'm no match for Xu Qi'an, escaping shouldn't be a problem.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in silence.

Liu Hongmian and Qi Huandanxiang breathed a sigh of relief, their tense expressions relaxing considerably.

After having breakfast, Ji Xuan and his group returned to their temporary lodging, an abandoned courtyard in a slum. There were many such empty courtyards in the small county town.

Their owners may have sought refuge with relatives due to poverty and famine.

He may have died during a home invasion robbery, and his entire family perished.

Along the way, Ji Xuan and his companions had witnessed desolation and poverty, and seen countless corpses in the wind and snow.

In the simple room, Ji Xuan sat at the table, intently looking at the box in his hand.

The sandalwood box was opened, and the array engraved on it dissipated, revealing a bead inside that shimmered with a scarlet light.

It's as big as a pigeon egg.

It is a concentrated essence of the Qi and Blood of an extraordinary martial artist.

Ji Xuan stared for a few seconds, his gaze somewhat unfocused, his thoughts drifting into the distance.

Knock knock!

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Ji Xuan's pupils contracted, his focus returning from a dazed state. He snapped the box shut, tucked it into his robes, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Come in."

Xu Yuanshuang pushed open the door, glanced at the sparsely furnished room, and said, "Seventh Brother."

Behind her followed Qi Huan Danxiang, Bai Hu, Liu Hongmian, and Xu Yuanhuai.

Ji Xuan glanced at them and smiled, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Xu Yuanshuang nodded:

"I really want to discuss this with Seventh Brother."

"After the battle of Yongzhou, Master Jiaoye died, and Liu Hongmian and the others were terrified by Xu Qi'an. Even Yuan Huai, who was the most Qi Ingestion, lost his confidence."

Liu Hongmian exclaimed "Oh dear!" in a coquettish voice, "I'm just a woman, and Xu Qi'an is so fierce and domineering, it's only natural that I'm afraid."

The proud Xu Yuanhuai pouted, but couldn't refute his sister's words.

He felt utterly powerless towards that older brother.

Ji Xuan remained silent for a moment, then said, "And then?"

The white tiger with the missing arm chuckled.

"During this time, I've thought it over and over, and I've realized that collecting dragon energy isn't actually necessary. Whether we can obtain dragon energy or not isn't important."

"The important thing is to prevent Xu Qi'an from obtaining the dragon energy. As long as the dragon energy doesn't return to its proper place, the Great Feng will become increasingly chaotic, and only then can the city lord and the national advisor's uprising succeed."

Ji Xuan nodded slowly.

For them, as long as the opponent is in a bad situation, the objective is achieved.

Dragon energy can increase their leverage, but it's not indispensable.

Xu Yuanshuang continued:

"If that's the case, why should we fight alone?"

"The Buddhist School is collecting dragon energy. Although the Arhat Duqing has been captured, there are still two Vajras in the Central Plains responsible for collecting dragon energy. These two are of the third rank."

"The Witch God Cult is probably also collecting dragon energy. If the three of us join forces and form a united front, even if Xu Qi'an is strong, he can't possibly defeat us all at once."

"In this way, we can halt his process of collecting dragon energy, buying time for Father and Uncle."

Ji Xuan smiled and said, "A very good idea."

Qi Huan Danxiang chimed in at the opportune moment:

"I can go back to the Southern Frontier and persuade the Gu Clan to lend a hand and join us in the rebellion against Fengtian. Don't underestimate the strength of the Gu Clan; they have several experts whose combat power is comparable to that of the Transcendent Realm."

"If they are willing to take action, the Great Feng will surely perish."

Liu Hongmian smiled and said:

"The Gu Clan and the Great Feng have a feud. If it really comes to the point of uprising, they might become allies. But for now, we can't expect them to send experts to deal with Xu Qi'an."

The alluring beauty scoffed, "Don't forget what his Gu techniques are all about. If you say they have nothing to do with your Gu clan, I won't believe you."

Qi Huan Danxiang frowned, unable to refute.

Ji Xuandao:

"This is feasible. As for the Gu Clan, there's no need to contact them for now. We know how the two Vajra Kings contact each other, but the Witch God Cult..."

Xu Yuanhuai said, "Let's leave it to the Tianji Palace to handle."

Ji Xuan nodded, ending the meeting. As he dismissed everyone, he said:

"Yuan Shuang, please stay here for a moment."

Xu Yuanshuang closed the door, sat back down at the table, and silently watched him.

"What do you think of Xu Qi'an?" Ji Xuan asked with a smile.

"Very strong, terrifyingly strong," Xu Yuanshuang gave a fair reply.

"Yes, very strong."

Ji Xuan sighed:

Before the battle in Yongzhou, I, along with my brothers and sisters in Qianlong City, believed that Xu Qi'an's achievements today were entirely due to luck.

That might not be wrong, but it's not entirely correct.

"It wasn't until after Yongzhou that I truly realized how terrifying he was. We were both fourth-rank officials, but his 'will' sent shivers down my spine, and this had nothing to do with luck."

Xu Yuanshuang couldn't help but recall the scene outside Yongzhou City when he annihilated the Zen Master's formation with a single strike.

That powerful and sharp strike revealed the madness of someone in dire straits with no way to retreat.

"I know that you are influenced by your aunt and feel sorry for him, thinking that the Imperial Preceptor is heartless and cruel, harming his own flesh and blood. Yuan Huai, on the other hand, is more influenced by the Imperial Preceptor."

"He's determined to surpass Xu Qi'an and prove to the Imperial Advisor that he's no less capable than that big brother in the capital, but it's not to say that Yuan Huai harbors any deep hatred for Xu Qi'an."

Xu Yuanshuang coldly interrupted, "Are you trying to tell me not to hold back?"

Ji Xuan shook his head and smiled, "Seventh Brother wants a promise from you."

"You say."

"Now is not the time. When the time comes, I will tell you," Ji Xuan said with a smile.

Xu Yuanshuang gave him a deep look, said nothing, and silently left the room.

The capital city, the Southern Sacrificial Hall of the Imperial City.

The Great Feng holds two ancestral sacrifices a year: the spring sacrifice at the beginning of the year and the ancestral sacrifice at the end of the year.

Ancestor worship was held at Sangbo, where ancestral tablets were enshrined, while Heaven worship was held at the Grand Sacrifice Hall south of the Imperial City.

In special circumstances, there may be a second, third, or even more sacrifices.

For example, when Emperor Yongxing ascended the throne, he held both ancestral worship and heaven worship ceremonies. For example, when a national war was launched, the emperor would lead civil and military officials to worship heaven and ancestors.

After winter set in, a cold disaster Great Feng. Emperor Yongxing had always had the idea of offering sacrifices to Heaven to pray for blessings, and now was the perfect opportunity to hold a grand ceremony to offer sacrifices to Heaven while calling for donations.

After the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven concluded, the imperial court allocated funds for disaster relief, and the people's situation improved. Wasn't this a testament to the remarkable and effective results of the emperor's prayers?

At noon, Xu Erlang rode his horse to the outside of the Grand Sacrifice Hall in the south of the Imperial City.

At this time, there was still some time before the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, and the officials arrived one after another.

"Lord Xu!"

Xu Erlang handed the horse over to the clerk, and then a group of civil officials walked over.

They, who should have been glaring at Xu Erlang, were unusually enthusiastic today.

Xu Xinnian bowed and greeted the guests without changing his expression.

"Lord Xu, I have a good friend who recently planned to take on a student. Hearing that your younger sister is exceptionally intelligent, he has decided to accept her as a student and has asked me to inquire on his behalf. Lord Xu, would you be so kind as to grant me this request?"

"Lord Xu!" another civil official interrupted.

"I am fond of teaching and would like to take on students. Your younger sister is a rare scholar, one in a hundred years, and I am willing to enlighten her."

Lord Xu

Lord Xu

Those who came to strike up conversations were all officials of ordinary rank; the real big shots, of course, remained reserved, but they all seemed quite interested, glancing in this direction.

Xu Xinnian bowed repeatedly to deflect the question and managed to squeeze out of the encirclement.

What kind of mess is this?

Bureau of Astronomy.

Yang Qianhuan sat cross-legged in the room, quiet and motionless, but his heart was filled with anxiety.

Finally, footsteps echoed from the silent corridor.

A short while later, a cute girl with big eyes in a yellow dress appeared outside the door, looking in through the small ventilation window. Her voice was as clear and melodious as a silver bell.

"Senior Brother Yang, I went to the Eight Trigrams Platform and saw that Master Jianzheng 'Primordial Spirit has left his body."

Yang Qianhuan's breathing suddenly quickened, but she managed to suppress her excitement and pressed on with the question:

Did you call him?

"I called out, but Teacher Jianzheng ignored me. I don't know where he was daydreaming," Chu Caiwei said.

"Good, very good!"

Yang Qianhuan burst into laughter.

Chu Caiwei reached into her bosom, pulled out a slip of paper, and tossed it through the door or window:

"The deal is done. You must get me the things mentioned above within three days."

The note was a "menu," Chu Caiwei, through Xu Qi'an's reply, listed the delicacies and wines mentioned on it.

She treasured it like a secret manual, intending to travel the world according to the list of delicacies when she was promoted to the fourth rank.

It wasn't until Yang Qianhuan found her and asked her to secretly monitor the teacher that this happened.

The quick-witted Chu Caiwei immediately proposed a deal: Yang Qianhuan had to gather all the delicious food and wine for her within three days.

Win-win!

Chu Caiwei was secretly delighted, a bright smile spreading across her oval face. Then, with a hint of worry, she said:

"Senior Brother Yang, what kind of trouble are you going to cause now? Can't you give the Inspector a break?"

Yang Qianhuan retorted:

"What right do you have to talk to me, you guy who spyes on his own teacher just because he has a stutter?"

After saying that, the two disciples wisely backed down and didn't argue about the topic any further.

Of course, Yang Qianhuan wouldn't tell Chu Caiwei that he planned to cause a scene at the sacrificial ceremony.

It wasn't about disrupting the ceremony, but rather about using it to gain fame and recognition throughout the world.

He wanted to donate all the money of the Bureau of Astronomy.

"The people are poor, suffering from hunger and cold. How can we live a life of luxury while the rich feast on meat and wine? I am doing this not for fame, but to do something for the suffering people."

Yang Qianhuan told herself this with righteous indignation.

A clear light shone down beneath him, engulfing him.

Chu Caiwei skipped away.

In the room at the other end of the corridor, Zhong Li quietly took out a sound-transmitting conch shell and whispered:

"Senior Brother Song, Senior Brother Yang is still up to his old tricks. He wants to donate the funds of the Bureau of Astronomy just like last time."

He even asked his junior sister Caiwei to help keep an eye on the supervising teacher.

Song Qing's voice came from the conch shell:

"Master Jianzheng was right. I understand. I'll take out the Celestial Disc to suppress him. That fool! He donated all the funds of the Bureau of Astronomy. What am I going to use for my alchemical experiments?"

"Junior Sister Caiwei is also aiding and abetting evil. It seems I have no choice but to suppress her."

"Professor Jianzheng promised that if I kept an eye on Yang Qianhuan for him, he would allow me to conduct one human alchemy experiment. Now that I have Junior Sister Caiwei, I have to try to get him to grant me another experiment."

After a pause, Song Qing smiled and asked, "Junior Sister Zhong, what did the Supervisor promise you?"

Zhong Li said in a harmless whisper:

"I didn't agree to anything. I'm just feeling a bit bored lately and wanted someone to keep me company."

Jiangzhou City.

Xu Qi'an held half of a small bronze mirror in his hand, sensing his surroundings as he gave instructions:

I want to have a bird's-eye view of Jiangzhou.

The mirror of the Heavenly Mirror reflects a scene:

In a room at an inn, Miao Youfang was soaking naked in a medicinal bath, his face contorted in pain, his skin as smooth as a boiled shrimp.

Xu Qi'an's expression froze for a moment. "Why are you showing me this?"

The spirit of the Celestial Mirror replied, "Isn't this exactly what you wanted to see?"

Xu Qi'an's lips twitched. "I've said it many times, I don't want to watch men bathe."

Hun Tian Shen Jing: "Understood, I'll get another one."

The scene changes, and a strange man appears in the mirror taking a bath; he is much more handsome than Miao Youfang.

Is there something wrong with your reading comprehension? Xu Qi'an expressed his attitude through silence.

"Understood, you want to see the female and male bathing while mating."

Seeing that he remained silent, the Hun Tian Divine Mirror took it upon itself to change the images.

This time, the scene shows a young couple soaking in a large bathtub, naked and pressed together amidst the steaming heat, water splashing as they engage in vigorous activity.

Xu Qi'an let out a breath. "I think we need to have a talk."

The image shattered, revealing the "one eye" of the Celestial Mirror, scrutinizing Xu Qi'an:

"Can."

"No need to be so serious and formal. You can continue with the scene you were watching. I think it'll be easier to talk about this way."

Once the Hun Tian Divine Mirror resumed its live broadcast, Xu Qi'an slowly said:

"I've put up with you for so long, why do you always act on your own initiative?"

"Don't you want to pry into other people's privacy?"

The Celestial Mirror spoke in a matter-of-fact tone:

"My greatest ability is to allow you to pry into other people's most private matters without restraint, and you will gain godlike confidence and a sense of superiority as a result."

"So, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox used you for this kind of thing back then? Does she also enjoy watching two men bathe Xu Qi'an seemed to understand.

The Celestial Mirror continued:

"You didn't use me to spy on females bathing, so you enjoy watching males bathing. I'm so considerate; you should be grateful."

No, only I can see the bathing scenes from Huaiqing and Lin'an. Even if you're a genderless spirit, it's still not allowed. Xu Qi'an exhaled again.

"I'm too lazy to say more to you. My request is very simple: from now on, do whatever I tell you to do, and don't act on your own initiative anymore."

"Otherwise, you can forget about receiving the nourishment of dragon energy again."

"Alright," the Celestial Mirror conceded.

"I need to get a bird's-eye view of Jiangzhou City; don't delay my collection of dragon energy."

Xu Qi'an recently developed a new use for the Hun Tian Divine Mirror. He can use the Hun Tian Divine Mirror as a medium to observe the situation of a city, and then find the host of the dragon energy hidden in the vast sea of people by sensing the connection between the fragments of the Earth Book and the dragon energy.

The limitation is that he needs to see the dragon energy host clearly and accurately in the Hun Tian Divine Mirror in order to sense him; he cannot directly locate the dragon energy host by looking down at Jiangzhou City.

Xu Qi'an used the Heavenly Mirror to observe the north of the city, looking at each street one by one.

He himself was in the south of the city, sensing the possible hosts of dragon energy nearby.

This method worked very well; he found a dragon energy host in just one morning.

That guy was a pancake vendor. Ever since he received the dragon's energy, his birthday celebrations have been incredibly successful, making him the envy of other stall owners in the neighborhood.

Xu Qi'an bought two sesame cakes from him and casually took away the dragon energy.

Yuzhou.

Xu Yuanshuang returned from outside and said to Ji Xuan and the others in the courtyard:

"The Azure Dragon Seven Constellations have captured the host of the dragon energy."

"Furthermore, our spies in Xiangzhou have sent word that the two masters of the East Sea Dragon Palace are searching for a host for their dragon energy."