The Tea Bowl

Lin Xiao randomly picked up a Foundation Establishment cultivator who was passing by, asked him where the Azure Lotus Sect's camp was, and then headed in that direction.

Inside the commander-in-chief's tent.

"Has Venerable Xunfang ever heard of the Lingxian Sect?" Venerable Zhiyu, seated in the main seat, took a sip of tea and asked, but his eyes did not look in Venerable Xunfang's direction.

Venerable Xunfang used his jeweled feather fan to lift the lid of his teacup, glanced at the color of the tea inside, and then sighed with regret.

"Xiao Chang's tea brewing is still not good enough. The tea soup is pale and cloudy, neither clear nor bright. I told him a long time ago that he should learn how to brew one type of tea first, but he won't listen to my advice. He hasn't even mastered the tea in front of him yet, but he's already eyeing other teas..."

As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow, his alluring peach blossom eyes turning towards Venerable Zhiyu.

"You agree or disagree?"

Upon hearing this, Venerable Zhiyu's face darkened. He was about to turn around and say something when he saw Venerable Xunfang rise, wave his wide sleeves, and stride away.

"It's noon, and I haven't fed Yingying yet. I'll head back now."

The words had barely left the tent when the figure in bright red had already vanished from the camp.

The teacup on the small table, its lid lifted, was still steaming.

Venerable Zhiyu slammed down his teacup, staring at the tent flap with a gloomy expression, lost in thought.

--

Lin Xiao asked for the location of the Azure Lotus Sect's camp and then went there.

Because the Azure Lotus Sect has a small entrance, the campsite it was assigned was located in a relatively remote area and was also relatively small in size.

Upon arriving here, Lin Xiao easily found Zhao Yunzhong.

At this time, under the care and treatment of the Azure Lotus Sect members, he had recovered a lot and looked quite energetic as he leaned against the bedside.

"Friend Daoist Lin!"

Upon seeing Lin Xiao arrive, Zhao Yunzhong's eyes lit up, and he quickly tried to get up to greet him.

"Your Ruler Zhao, don't be in such a hurry!" Seeing him struggling to get up to greet him, Lin Xiao quickly went over and firmly held him down, preventing him from moving.

Zhao Yunzhong, who was firmly held down and unable to get up, smiled helplessly:

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Fellow Daoist Lin. The matter was sudden and unpredictable. In the end, it was you who rescued Third Brother Yuan. I am very grateful to you for this."

After he woke up, he saw Yuan Jinsheng, who was seriously injured but had survived. He breathed a sigh of relief and then heard a lot about what had happened in the Execution Stone.

This also revealed the role Lin Xiao played in the matter.

However, Lin Xiao did not come here to hear Zhao Yunzhong express his gratitude.

He politely inquired of the two Azure Lotus Sect disciples who were taking care of Zhao Yunzhong:

"I have matters to discuss with the Ruler Zhao. Would you two please step aside for a moment?"

The two Azure Lotus Sect disciples were quite surprised that this Golden Core cultivator was so polite and gentle to them, a Foundation Establishment disciple. They quickly nodded in response.

"Of course, of course, please make yourself at True Person!"

With that, the two respectfully withdrew.

Seeing this, Zhao Yunzhong was somewhat puzzled, wondering what he and this acquaintance with Lin Daoist, who had only a superficial relationship, needed to discuss in private.

But after the two men left, Lin Xiao raised his hand to set up a soundproof barrier, then stared directly at Zhao Yunzhong and asked:

"Ruler Zhao, may I ask why you have come to the Execution Stone Mine?"

Hearing him ask this, Zhao Yunzhong was taken aback for a moment before he came to his senses, sighed, and smiled:

"So that's what you're asking about, fellow Daoist. To be honest, I shouldn't have told you this, but my life and Brother Third Brother Yuan's were saved thanks to your timely help. I suppose you must be a person of utmost purity and kindness, so... there's no harm in telling you."

"Since ancient times, every nation in the Mortal Realm has possessed its own national seal. If the national seal is lost, the nation's fate is in danger. Throughout history, rulers have changed and dynasties have risen and fallen, but the national seal has never been changed, nor can it be changed."

Zhao Yunzhong touched his chest and continued:

"Because the national seal of each country is connected to the lifeblood of the ruler. Now that I am the new monarch and in charge of the government, I can sense the location of the national seal. That is why I sensed the national seal appearing near the Execution Stone mine, and that's why I rushed there."

"After all, if one wants to truly rule the country, one cannot do without the assistance of the Imperial Seal. Our ancestors said that losing the Imperial Seal is tantamount to losing the country. But unexpectedly, I have encountered you, fellow Daoist and Third Brother Yuan."

"You know what happened afterward, fellow Daoist. As for my sudden injury, it was probably related to the Imperial Seal. But for some reason, when I woke up again, I couldn't sense the Imperial Seal at all. At first, I thought there was some turmoil in the court, but Fellow Daoist Jiang told me that there was nothing major happening in the court. Alas, I am now somewhat at a loss."

Seeing his honesty, Lin Xiao felt a little relieved and took out the national seal from his private treasury.

Although he felt that Zhao Yunzhong was a decent person based on their previous interactions, that was only their first meeting.

He had also considered that if Zhao Yunzhong was hiding something from him, he would return the Imperial Seal in a different way and not show himself.

After all, no one knows how secret or important the matter of the State Seal is to these rulers. What if it's so important that the Ruler Zhao would harbor resentment or even murderous intent if he knew about it?

Then there's no need for that.

But thinking about the mission the system had previously issued to establish diplomatic relations with another country, he decided to give it a try.

That's why this question came about.

Unexpectedly, the Ruler Zhao was so honest that he even told him about the relationship between the national seal and the monarch and the country...

Lin Xiao was truly surprised to learn that the national seals of each country were passed down from ancient times, and that the situation was exactly the same as that of the national seal of Huanyou Nation!

Zhao Yunzhong, who was standing to the side, saw Lin Xiao silently pull something out of his pocket, and at first he didn't understand what it meant.

Until the connection he had with the Imperial Seal suddenly resurfaced.

He stared at the piece of green jade in Lin Xiao's hand, his eyes wide with shock.

"This? The Imperial Seal?! Fellow Daoist Lin!"

Seeing his shocked expression, Lin Xiao nodded and handed over the national seal.

"The Huanyou Nation has been returned to its rightful owner. This time, Ruler Zhao, please don't let the Imperial Seal be lost again."

Lin Xiao's words were pointed.

After all, he didn't want to establish diplomatic relations with the Zhao Imperial Clan here in the future, only to have them replaced by someone else.

But Zhao Yunzhong didn't think too much about it. Looking at the national seal in front of him, which he had never seen before but had always felt a connection to, he carefully took it, held it in his hands, and sighed with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Lin is truly... my benefactor!"

"Fellow Daoist, rest assured, the Huanyou Nation has always been ruled by my Zhao Clan clan since ancient times. It was only due to a moment of carelessness hundreds of years ago that a villain gained power, which led to the change of the kingdom. I, Zhao Yunzhong, will certainly not allow this imperial seal to fall into the hands of others again!"

After Zhao Yunzhong finished speaking, he held the national seal to his heart in front of Lin Xiao and quietly closed his eyes.

A bright blue light emanated from the Imperial Seal, which then gradually disappeared into his heart.