Return to the Southern Frontier

Before the dilapidated temple, the seated deity paused, then clasped his hands together, his expression unchanged, and said:

"What makes you think that I, this humble monk, know how to advance to the first rank?"

Xu Qi'an paused for a moment, then sighed softly.

As expected, asking a remnant soul for an answer was still too much to ask. He thought for a moment and said:

"I have fulfilled my promise and gathered the rest of the body for you, Master, except for the head. If you wish, Master, I can allow you to reunite with them."

Shen Shu smiled.

"Thank you, benefactor!"

Of all the parts of Shenshu, this one possessed the most Buddha-nature. Xu Qi'an nodded and voluntarily withdrew from Shenshu's world of consciousness.

The fact that the right arm doesn't know something doesn't mean the torso doesn't. Once all the parts except the head are gathered together, perhaps the quantitative change will lead to a qualitative change, allowing Shenshu to remember more things.

Shen Shu is a half-step martial god. The path of a martial monk is very similar to that of a martial artist. If there is anyone in the world who can become Xu Qi'an's teacher, it would be none other than Shen Shu.

In addition, the Queen of Ten Thousand Demons back then was also a first-rank expert, so the Nine-Tailed Fox must know how to advance to the first rank.

So the next goal is clear—go to Southern Frontier!

Lingbao Temple in the capital city.

Luo Yuheng descended from the auspicious clouds in the blue sky and floated into Lingbao Temple.

Upon seeing the Daoist leader return, the disciples immediately came to the secluded courtyard and bowed respectfully:

"Chief, news has come from the palace that Xu Yinluo and Princess Lin'an will be married in a month. You are requested to attend the wedding."

Upon hearing the news, Luo Yuheng instinctively reached out to summon his flying sword.

Suddenly, she remembered that she had left the ancestral divine weapon in Xu Qi'an's mind. That brat's mind was full of nonsense, and he needed the divine sword to clean him up properly.

The wedding was to take place a month later. Luo Yuheng frowned and pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but look towards the palace.

Ha, that woman wants to use me as a pawn to ruin the wedding? You're not worried, why should I be?

She decided to remain patient and not respond.

But after thinking about it, she realized she should be anxious; the Empress and Xu Qi'an were completely innocent to this day.

But she and the man surnamed Xu cultivated together time and time again. No matter how unwilling she was to admit it, she knew in her heart that she had feelings for him.

How could a dignified Daoist leader and his dual dao companion marry another woman?

So Luo Yuheng said:

"Go to the Bureau of Astronomy and find the woman Xu Qi'an left there. Tell her that Xu Qi'an and Princess Lin'an will be married in a month."

Although she couldn't personally intervene, she could have the Flower Goddess do it. The Flower Goddess was both foolish and stupid, making her the easiest target for manipulation.

Most importantly, the Flower Goddess is beautiful, and no man can ignore her unreasonable demands.

The disciples of Lingbao Temple, without suspicion, nodded and said:

"Disciple understands."

The Daoist master gave the order, and the disciple dared not delay, immediately heading to the Bureau of Astronomy, only to find it empty.

On the other side, an ordinary-looking carriage stopped at the Xu Residence. A plain-looking woman lifted her skirt and jumped out of the carriage, walking gracefully to the gate of the residence.

A pair of heavily armed guards stood at the door.

The Xu Residence's status is now vastly different from what it used to be. They have skilled guards both inside and outside the mansion, and there are also Nightwatchers watchmen lurking nearby.

Xu Qi'an and I are old friends.

Mu Nanzhi said to the guard, "He invited me to stay at his residence for a while."

This morning, someone from the palace came to tell me that Xu Qi'an asked the emperor to convey her message, hoping that she would move out of the Bureau of Astronomy and stay at the Xu Residence while.

In Mu Nanzhi's view, the man surnamed Xu was trying to curry favor with her in a roundabout way. No matter how good the Bureau of Astronomy was, it was still someone else's territory.

The Xu Residence was his home.

The two guards exchanged a glance, and the one on the left said:

Please wait a moment.

He hurriedly entered the mansion to report.

He returned shortly after and invited Mu Nanzhi inside.

As the guards passed through the outer courtyard and along the winding corridors, Mu Nanzhi met her aunt, who was dressed in bright and beautiful clothes and had a stunningly beautiful face, in the inner hall.

The aunt also saw the woman the guard brought in. She thought to herself, "Something's not right. How could my nephew possibly be interested in a woman like that?"

When she heard that a woman had come to her house, claiming to be personally invited by her unlucky nephew, her first thought was that her nephew's extramarital affairs had come to their doorstep, and she couldn't very well refuse, so she allowed the woman to enter.

After seeing the woman's face clearly, the aunt felt something was wrong.

Given my nephew's philandering and lustful nature, the woman he sets his sights on must be a beautiful young woman of sixteen.

The woman before him was plain-looking with ordinary features. Apart from her impressive breasts and large, fertile buttocks, she had no other notable features.

She looks to be about the same age as me.

Dalang would never be interested in a woman like that.

"Huh?"

Her aunt scrutinized her and said, "I remember now, you were one of the people who rode in my family's carriage to the Bureau of Astronomy to watch the Buddhist School duel."

Moreover, the aunt muttered to herself, "She even slandered Lingyin because she's a relative's daughter."

You still remember me!

Mu Nanzhi nodded, somewhat surprised by her aunt's memory. She looked around the inner hall and was quickly drawn to the nine-star orchids displayed on the shelf.

Her aunt looked her over and asked:

"Ningyan send you?"

"Did I come here by myself?"

The princess, used to being proud and arrogant, grumbled, "If he hadn't persistently invited me, I wouldn't have come."

Unexpectedly, her aunt was also a proud and arrogant person, and she was unhappy after hearing this.

"You're not taking good care of this orchid. It's thirsty and needs water. Look how wilted it is." Mu Nanzhi walked to the shelf and fiddled with the nine-star orchid.

"Hey, who told you to touch it!" Auntie's eyebrows shot up immediately.

This pot of Nine Star Orchid is her beloved possession. This flower is extremely cold-resistant and only blooms in winter. It has nine flowers, each of which is a different color, bright and beautiful, hence the name Nine Star Orchid.

This flower is highly ornamental and is a favorite among high-ranking officials and nobles. It is said that it originally came from the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.

In addition, the most precious thing about this flower is that it is very difficult to cultivate, which makes it rare.

The Nine-Star Orchid was a gift from Wang Simu, the daughter of the former Grand Secretary, to her aunt to please her future mother-in-law.

Not to mention Mu Nanzhi, no one in the family is allowed to touch her. Even Xu Lingyin, the youngest daughter whom her aunt dotes on the most, is only allowed to move around freely.

My aunt had been taking good care of it, but for some reason, about two weeks ago, the flowers suddenly withered and it never bloomed again.

It's thirsty.

Mu Nanzhi repeated it again.

"How did you know it was thirsty? Did it tell you?" Auntie snorted.

"Nine-star orchids are cold-hardy and don't need much watering; watering once every five days is sufficient."

"Then why did it wilt?" Mu Nanzhi pointed out incisively.

The aunt paused for a moment, then explained:

"Because it's delicate."

Mu Nanzhi pointed to the beast-head charcoal brazier in the hall and said irritably:

"You burn charcoal every day, making the room hot, of course it's thirsty, but you insist on raising it like an outdoor plant, and you've turned a perfectly good flower into this."

The aunt was furious, feeling humiliated in her professional field, and shouted:

"What do you know about flowers? What do you know about flowers!"

"I know better than you!" Mu Nanzhi retorted sharply.

"I can even make it bloom on the spot."

"Then why don't you let it open?" Auntie said with her hands on her hips and a sneer.

Mu Nanzhi rolled her eyes and said:

"If I make it bloom, you'll call me 'older sister'."

Auntie snorted, "It's a deal!"

Mu Nanzhi gently blew a breath toward the Nine Star Orchid, and a miracle occurred. The Nine Star Orchid quickly formed flower buds, which then slowly bloomed, with nine colorful flowers dotting the emerald green, making it a truly beautiful sight.

The aunt's mouth formed an "O" shape, her expression frozen on her face.

Mu Nanzhi said calmly:

"Call me 'older sister'."

From now on, I will be Xu Ningyan's elder. If he dares to touch me again, he will be committing a heinous crime.

Southern Frontier, Nanfa Temple.

In the plaza outside the Sealed Tower, a flash of light appeared, revealing figures in blue and white robes, as well as a white ape wearing wooden shackles, handcuffs, and leg irons.

Who is it?

The demon soldiers patrolling the square spotted them, brandishing their weapons and shouting as they approached.

Upon approaching and recognizing the newcomer, the demon soldiers bowed deeply, their attitude drastically changing.

"I've met Xu Yinluo."

Xu Qi'an nodded slightly, released his aura, and a few breaths later, the nine-tailed fox arrived on the wind and appeared in the square.

She had silver hair, a pair of fluffy fox ears on her head, and a veil covering her face, concealing her stunning beauty.

The upper body was a bodice that was neither too wide nor too narrow, the lower body was a short skirt made of animal skin, and a fur coat wrapped around the waist that looked like a skirt with a slit in the front.

Behind it, nine fox tails seemed to come alive, sometimes spreading like a peacock's tail, sometimes swaying in different directions, a truly magnificent sight.

What's with the sword on your head?

The moment the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox saw him, its gaze was fixed on the sword hilt on Xu Qi'an's crown.

"I was a victim of domestic violence."

He waved his hand, indicating that he did not want to talk about it further.

"Are you here to call for reinforcements? I don't have the energy to run all the way to the Central Plains to fight for you."

The nine-tailed celestial fox blinked her beautiful eyes and asked with a smile.

Her voice was soft and magnetic, with a touch of nonchalant charm.

"You're way behind the times. I just got promoted to the second rank and had a fight with Xu Pingfeng," Xu Qi'an said with a laugh.

The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox paused for a moment, scrutinizing Xu Qi'an, and after a long while, chuckled:

"Well done."

"Your expression is too calm. How can I possibly show off in front of others?" Xu Qi'an complained.

"I'm here to deliver Shen Shu's right arm. Are you injured?"

The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox's calm explanation:

"I just fought with Guangxian and Liuli, and I got injured. Fortunately, Liuli was severely injured by Jianzheng, which damaged her core strength, preventing her from using her full power. Otherwise, I would have been injured even more badly."

It seems things aren't peaceful in the Southern Frontier either. Xu Qi'an's gaze fell on the Sealed Tower:

"Is Master Shenshu alright?"

The nine-tailed celestial fox curled her lip and rolled her eyes at him:

"Without a superior weapon, who can truly harm him? You've come at the right time. Shen Shu's malice and the warlike nature ingrained in his bones are simply too difficult to control. His right arm represents his Buddha-nature; after merging with the soul within it, Shen Shu will become more gentle."

Just then, the gate of the Sealing Tower burst open with a "bang," and Shen Shu, wearing only black trousers and shirtless, walked out.

He was entirely black, with bulging muscles, like a sculpture, and his neck was completely bare.

As soon as Shen Shu's body appeared, the right arm inside Xu Qi'an's body immediately began to move. The outline of a right arm bulged out of his chest, gradually rising and separating from the flesh, as if trying to break out of Xu Qi'an's body.

It hurts a little. Xu Qi'an frowned, clearly feeling the pain as if his flesh was being torn apart.

The divine right arm had been dormant in his body for many years and had long been integrated into his flesh and blood. When it was separated now, it felt to Xu Qi'an as if his hands and feet had been forcibly torn off.

A moment later, a jet-black right arm "burst out" and flew toward Shen Shu's body.

"No, I don't want to see this hypocrite."

Suddenly, Shenshu's left hand protested loudly and slapped his right arm away.

With a deafening roar, his right arm flew out into the sky.

Xu Qi'an stood there, stunned, wondering what was going on.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when a streak of light swept in, his right arm flew back, and a powerful shot was fired at his left hand, accompanied by the voice of the remnant soul of his right arm:

"That's not up to you!"

At that moment, Shen Shu's left leg flew up and accurately struck the incoming right arm, kicking it away once again.

"I hate this hypocrite too," Left Leg shouted.

"You two don't know what's good for you."

Shen Shu's torso detached itself from his left arm and legs, his energy condensing into arms and legs, and he said in a deep voice:

"Then let's have a fight."

Like its right arm, its torso is mild-mannered. Its left arm, however, is full of malice, and its legs are unruly and warlike.

Then, the torso, right hand, left hand, and legs began to fight, and the scene was extremely brutal.

The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox pursed her full, bright red lips to prevent them from twitching, took a deep breath, and said in a flat tone:

"Let them fight. They'll be harmonious after they're done fighting. Everyone has different opinions sometimes; we can talk things out."

Everyone has disagreements sometimes, like when I'm in a period of clarity, I hate myself for not taking care of myself when I was in a rush not long ago. Xu Qi'an nodded, roughly understanding Shen Shu's current state.

"I happen to have something to ask Your Majesty."

They left the sealed tower and arrived at a magnificent palace south of the Nanfa Temple.

The hall was brightly lit, covered with exquisitely embroidered carpets, and decorated with potted plants, gold and silver artifacts, and the pillars supporting the dome were covered with gold leaf and jade pieces.

A group of beautiful fox spirits, dressed in revealing clothing, stood in the hall, each with a charming and alluring appearance.

Xu Qi'an also saw Qing Ji, who had a cool and aloof demeanor, like a lady from a noble family. She was sitting at her desk, reviewing memorials and handling the affairs of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons.

Qingji looked up at Xu Qi'an, Sun Xuanji, and Protector Yuan who had entered, hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and continued with her work.

At the end of the scarlet carpet was a large chaise lounge, where a nine-tailed celestial fox lay languidly, its nine fluffy and beautiful tails swaying gently.

"Who removed the last Demon-Sealing Nail from your body?"

The nine-tailed celestial fox finally asked the question she had been curious about for a long time, one she had refrained from asking earlier.

"Your brother!" Xu Qi'an said with a smile.

The nine-tailed fox, Wuxia Xianyan, was stunned for a moment, then asked in astonishment:

"Asuro?"

She was a clever fox; after a quick calculation, she immediately connected it to Asuluo's earlier act of letting the water go.

But she didn't understand Asuro's purpose in doing so.

"Because Asuluo is number eight of the Heaven and Earth Society." Xu Qi'an took out the fragment of the Earth Book and waved it.

The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox had heard of this secret organization, knowing that it was formed by Daoist priests of the Earth Sect and used the Earth Book as a token.

Xu Qi'an briefly explained the reason, and after the nine-tailed fox nodded slightly to indicate that she understood, he asked directly:

"I've come here today not only to fulfill my promise and return Master Shenshu's right arm, but also for another purpose!"

"How do I advance to the first rank?" The nine celestial foxes raised an eyebrow.

"Your Majesty is indeed clever," Xu Qi'an complimented with a smile.

"It's not hard to guess. If you want to turn the tide and save the Great Feng, your second-grade cultivation is indeed not enough. The Gara Tree is one of the best among the first-grade cultivators, and the White Emperor has demonstrated the strength of a first-grade cultivator. These two alone are enough to give you a headache."

"Moreover, the true form of the White Emperor is the descendant of ancient Gods and Devils —the Great Wilderness!"

"What it's secretly plotting is unknown to us. In short, your current second-rank strength is no match for Yunzhou; advancing to first rank is your only way out."

The nine-tailed fox sighed:

But I can't offer any advice.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qi'an frowned and asked in confusion:

What does Your Majesty mean by this?

He didn't believe that the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox didn't know how to advance to the first rank, not to mention that the former ruler of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons was a first rank ruler.

The nine-tailed fox before me is at the mid-stage or peak of the second rank, and its next step is to advance to the first rank.

Seeking advancement is an instinct for all living beings, and the nine-tailed fox certainly knows the correct way to advance to the first rank.

"The Demon Race and the martial arts system are very similar, except that one cultivates innate supernatural Divine Ability while the other cultivates 'intention.' Apart from that, there is almost no difference. However, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox is not a pure Demon Race."

The silver-haired enchantress sighed:

"We are descendants of gods and Gods and Devils. Gods and Gods and Devils are different from the major systems of today. To put it this way, spiritual essence is the foundation of the descendants of Gods and Devils and demons. For me, as long as the spiritual essence is fully revived and integrated into my physical body and Primordial Spirit, I will be able to step into the first rank."

"So, if you insist on asking me how to reach the first rank, then I can only tell you that all you need is Gods and Devils essence."

This is just like Mu Nanzhi. She doesn't need to cultivate. As long as her spiritual energy recovers, she can naturally return to her peak. Xu Qi'an was disappointed.

"Then, does Master Shenshu know how to advance to the first rank?"

Xu Qi'an asked unwillingly.

"I might know, I might not," the nine-tailed celestial fox said with a smile.

"Wait until they're done fighting, then you can ask them."

Silence immediately fell over the hall.

Protector Yuan glanced at Xu Qi'an, then at the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, his face filled with disappointment.

Because they deliberately restrained their thoughts, Protector Yuan's innate supernatural Divine Ability were not yet able to forcibly probe into the thoughts of the extraordinary.

It seems it will be difficult to glimpse Xu Yinluo's inner thoughts again, Yuan Hufa thought with mixed feelings.

The silver-haired enchantress scrutinized the white ape and asked in surprise:

"Hey, this monkey's still alive? You humans are pretty forgiving."

Xu Qi'an said calmly:

He's not far from death.

Protector Yuan symbolically lifted the wooden yoke around his neck.

Half an hour later, the violent fluctuations of energy outside ceased, and everything became calm.

The group left the main hall together and arrived outside the Sealed Tower.

In the square, the headless deities stood proudly, complete with limbs. It seemed that after some adjustment, they had chosen to compromise with themselves.

Xu Qi'an quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting:

"Senior, I have a question to ask you."

Shen Shu remained silent for a moment, then sighed:

"How long has it been since the Nine Provinces had a first-rank martial artist? I know what you want to ask, but before I answer, please think about this question."

What distinguishes me from other warriors?

P. S.: I'm currently working on a detailed outline. Next, I'll write about other characters in the war, such as members of the Heaven and Earth Society and Xu Erlang. However, considering that the main character's role will be slightly reduced, I'm worried that this might cause a drop in subscriptions, so I'm thinking about how to perfectly connect the plot.

This book is in its later stages; I've cast too many lines and have a lot to think about, so slower updates are inevitable.