Cherishing One's Life

He lived in room number one of the "A" section and wore a luxurious robe, indicating a family that was either very wealthy or of high status.

More importantly, Zhang Xuezhou could sense a tremendous power hidden within Han Anguo's body.

The opponent's strength must be either at the Sovereign Sole Self Realm or the True Self Realm to make him, who possesses cultivation levels approaching the Divine Ability Realm, feel pressure.

Zhang Xuezhou never expected to encounter such a powerful cultivator in a mere inn.

Han Anguo has a distinctly Han Chinese appearance. If a cultivator of this level were to operate in Chang'an City, he would undoubtedly be an important official in the imperial court. The fact that he is currently staying in an inn suggests that he is from out of town and has come to Chang'an City seeking a high position.

Considering the chaotic situation in State of Liang mentioned by the Confucian School scholar surnamed Fang, and the fact that he frequently addressed Han Anguo as Lord Anguo, Zhang Xuezhou guessed that Han Anguo was highly likely to have originated from the Suiyang Royal Court.

The Liang King, who possesses the qualifications to replace Emperor Jing, is not without his followers. The number of cultivators in the royal court is not much less than that in the imperial court, and Han Anguo is very likely one of them.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. The problems faced by the descendants who inherited the throne of Liang were more serious than those of the new emperor, and they found it difficult to keep up with the legacy of the Liang king.

Zhang Xuezhou had heard of some of the State of Liang kings who either died or indiscriminately killed their court ministers, which probably caused widespread panic and forced some to leave State of Liang to prove their innocence.

He had approached the wrong person and should have turned around and left, but Han Anguo's status as a great cultivator made Zhang Xuezhou willing to stay.

If the candidate has a clean record, they are very likely to rise through the ranks and become an extremely important member of the court after coming to Chang'an City to seek an official position.

Zhang Xuezhou doesn't form cliques, but that doesn't mean he doesn't need to know people.

In reality, if Zhang Xuezhou wanted to maintain a relatively neutral position, he needed to cultivate good relations with various powerful groups within the imperial court, but he couldn't become a member of any of them.

The requirements for becoming an official are extremely high, and Zhang Xuezhou currently has no experience in this area, so he can only try as he goes.

Zhang Xuezhou naturally needed to get to know any officials who might rise to high positions in the future.

"I have heard of Brother Anguo's great name before at Liang Garden. I am deeply sorry to have troubled you with my visit!"

A multitude of thoughts raced through Zhang Xuezhou's mind.

He guessed Han Anguo's background and used that information to get closer to him.

Having heard of Liang Yuan's great name doesn't necessarily mean one is from State of Liang. Even if he's wrong in saying this, it won't matter much; if he's right, it will undoubtedly make people feel closer to him.

"Brother Dongfang, have you been to Liang Garden?" Han Anguo asked in surprise.

"I lived in Liangyuan for a period of time," Zhang Xuezhou, bowing slightly.

"Those who can enter Liang Garden are all of great talent," Han Anguo said. "I also lived in Liang Garden for a period of time back then. I wonder where Brother Dongfang lived?"

"My skills are meager, so I can only stay in room number 273," Zhang Xuezhou said with a smile.

"Amazing!" Han Anguo exclaimed.

The absence of Prince Liu Wu of Liang makes Liang Garden feel like something is missing, but Liang Garden still exists, and the threshold for entry remains high.

Those who could reside in Liang Garden, whether in the past or present, were all talented individuals.

Zhang Xuezhou still looked young at this time, and he had obviously arrived in Chang'an City much earlier, which proved that Zhang Xuezhou must have moved into Liang Garden at a very young age.

Han Anguo's praise for its excellence stemmed precisely from this.

For the elderly to enter Liangyuan, it requires a lifetime of accumulation, while for the young to enter Liangyuan, it requires outstanding skills.

Han Anguo didn't know what Zhang Xuezhou's special skills were, but he was happy to befriend such a talented person.

"Please!"

Han Anguo took out the drinking utensils, and then took out several hard pieces and dried fruit to brew.

He carefully brewed the tea for 120 breaths before serving it to his guests.

"Its fragrance is unique, invigorating, and calming. If used during spellcasting, it will undoubtedly allow one to consistently utilize all their skills!"

Zhang Xuezhou took the cup, took a sip, and praised it highly.

Aside from the tea he tasted at the East Heavenly Gate from the Golden Cloud Goddess, the tea served to guests by Han Anguo was the most high-class.

This was merely what Han Anguo had prepared for his guests. Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but marvel at how not only was the other party wealthy, but he was also likely extremely rich in cultivation materials.

"I didn't expect Brother Dongfang to understand its flavor with just a sip. This tea has found the right drinker," Han Anguo said with a smile.

I hope Brother Anguo can explain in detail!

Zhang Xuezhou put down the tea set.

He had made many guesses, but he hadn't expected there to still be shortcomings.

"This tea contains angelica seeds, ginseng slices, one-eyed fish, thousand-year-old fish glue, and ambergris," Han Anguo said. "This substance not only refreshes the mind, but also nourishes yin and kidneys, boosts yang energy, strengthens the body, and increases strength. It is a superior beverage for cultivators; regular consumption can grant us strength comparable to that of ordinary martial artists!"

This item is valuable!

Looking at the extremely muscular Han Anguo, Zhang Xuezhou was completely surprised to find that the man was skilled in Technique Method rather than martial arts.

Han Anguo was far from the strongest cultivator Zhang Xuezhou had ever seen, but very few people skilled in magic possessed the strong physique of a martial artist; only a handful, such as Dong Zhongshu, could achieve this.

Dong Zhongshu achieved this by attracting thousands of fellow practitioners through Confucian School, while Han Anguo achieved a similar effect through tonics and nourishing the body.

The former is rare, and the latter is equally uncommon.

"The items used by cultivators are all valuable," Han Anguo laughed, "But compared to losing one's life, their value is the least worthwhile flaw!"

"That makes sense!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded.

Han Anguo, a highly accomplished cultivator, shared a very similar philosophy with Zhang Xuezhou.

Zhang Xuezhou has spent a great deal of precious resources on cultivation over the years, but no matter how valuable these items are, nothing is more important than life.

Fighting against such cultivators is the most troublesome, as they have endless ways to protect themselves, and a slight mistake could result in being killed or escaped by them.

However, such monks will also make a more cautious assessment when facing high risks, and their temperament will tend to value peace.

For Zhang Xuezhou, who is well-versed in pseudo-psychology, a short, authentic conversation is all it takes to make a judgment about a person from their words, thus gaining a more favorable chance to continue the exchange.

"Brother An Guo has such good conditions, why don't you practice martial arts?" Zhang Xuezhou asked doubtfully, "It will be easier to practice martial arts with your conditions!"

"Practicing martial arts is certainly convenient, but direct combat leads to a quick death," Han Anguo laughed. "I value my life more, so I chose to cultivate Technique Method!"

"I see!"

Zhang Xuezhou finally understood the special nature of cultivators like Han Anguo, and also understood why Han Anguo abandoned State of Liang and came to Chang'an City to develop.

Given the other party's fear of death, it was a wise thing for Han Anguo to stay away from State of Liang, a place rife with trouble.

Han Anguo also chose a good time to come to Chang'an City.

At this time, the new emperor had already obtained the most legitimate position of the Great Han Dynasty through the Chixiao Sword. Although the Empress Dowager was still involved in politics, the new emperor's position was secure.

With the imperial family in Chang'an City no longer in turmoil, seeking to take over the court at this time would undoubtedly be extremely safe.

In Chang'an City, officials in the imperial court needed powerful backers to secure their positions. However, for someone like Han Anguo, the fact that the other party was wealthy and powerful was itself a form of backing. He no longer needed to rely on anyone; if recommended, he would have a chance to rise to power smoothly.

Although it may be difficult for them to achieve the highest rank of ministers, they will certainly enjoy a relatively important position.

As long as they operate steadily, the other party will inevitably rise rapidly in rank. If they can make some great contributions, it would not be surprising if such a person were to become one of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers in the imperial court in the future.

To achieve great merit, one must examine the other party's true Technique Method.