Cleaving Through Thorns

It seems my arrival in Chang'an City has caused you quite a bit of trouble!

The Empress Dowager's message was kept secret, Divine Lord Zhenyuan only learned of it later.

When Zhang Xuezhou relayed the message, Divine Lord Zhenyuan's eyes held an indescribable gloom.

"No, not at all," Zhang Xuezhou shook his head. "The Empress Dowager is old and plagued by illness. She probably wants to build a good relationship with you, and there's a high probability she wants to use me as a bridge. I might even be able to gain some advantage!"

"That's only because you think positively that you feel you've gained some advantage," Divine Lord Zhenyuan said. "If I don't go to Anle Palace, she will make things difficult for you. If I go to Anle Palace and don't befriend her, she will definitely devise ways to target me!"

Whether to go or not, whether to befriend others, befriend them, or remain neutral, there seem to be several choices, but to achieve a good outcome, there is only one.

This is even testing the relationship between Divine Lord Zhenyuan and Zhang Xuezhou.

"It might not be bad to owe the Empress Dowager a favor," Zhang Xuezhou said.

You mean to say?

"It should cause less trouble than owing favors to Daojun!"

Zhang Xuezhou's reminder caused Divine Lord Zhenyuan's expression to change repeatedly.

Divine Lord Zhenyuan's visit to Daojun was based entirely on his past experience of studying the Dao in Kunlun, but the two had different years of cultivation and had almost no interaction with each other.

To be polite, Divine Lord Zhenyuan could address Daojun as "Senior Brother," but without such formality, the two would be complete strangers.

But this was indeed the only direction Divine Lord Zhenyuan, who came from the Kunlun Sacred Land, could think of for help at the time.

Now that they've arrived in Chang'an City, things have become quite complicated in just over ten days.

Due to her connection with Zhang Xuezhou, and also due to the current situation of the Great Han Dynasty, the Empress Dowager of Anle Palace had a certain need for Divine Lord Zhenyuan.

"Alright, let's go take a look!"

Divine Lord Zhenyuan nodded.

In just over ten days, Divine Lord Zhenyuan Divine Lord Zhenyuan acquired four array-related items, and the speed at which he collected them greatly satisfied him.

Taking advantage of the environment of the Broken Soul Ridge secret realm, he was even able to construct a small array to serve as protection.

This formation is difficult to use to protect himself, but it's perfectly adequate to protect the Longevity Fruit Tree from wild beasts and ordinary monsters.

Things are always done step by step. Although Divine Lord Zhenyuan was anxious, he knew what was important and understood that many treasures could not appear before him immediately just because he wanted them.

After Zhang Xuezhou made his proposal, Divine Lord Zhenyuan frowned, then nodded.

The Dao Lord is at an extremely high level. If one takes a favor from the Dao Lord, repaying it in the future will inevitably lead to a confrontation at the corresponding level. This situation is even based on the premise that the Dao Lord is benevolent.

The Empress Dowager's involvement involves the Great Han Dynasty, so if an agreement is reached with her, things will likely be simpler.

Of course, Divine Lord Zhenyuan felt that the Empress Dowager's collection was probably inferior to that of Daojun, and it was difficult to know for the time being whether what the other party possessed could meet his needs.

After much deliberation, Divine Lord Zhenyuan finally decided that he could go to Anle Palace to find out what was going on.

"Walk!"

He didn't wait until dawn, or he entered the palace according to the rules by passing through various guard checkpoints.

Since the Empress Dowager had set a precedent by making a hasty visit to the Zhang residence, Divine Lord Zhenyuan naturally did not observe proper etiquette either.

He gestured slightly to Zhang Xuezhou, then grabbed Zhang Xuezhou's clothes.

With a whoosh, the two leaped into the air and disappeared into the vast night.

"Zhenyuan is truly a divine being!"

Lady Yourong and Zhang Zhong failed to capture the disappearing figures of Zhang Xuezhou and the others, but Rong Tianding saw it clearly.

His face showed envy, feeling that the skill of leaping high and soaring was extremely important.

"Once I attain Divine Ability, my cloud-riding technique should also become formidable!"

Even the most advanced Technique Method require sufficient Law Power to sustain them, especially Technique Method like flying that consume mana continuously.

Rong Tianding longing for it, but he did not forget the true essence of cultivation.

Moreover, he gained an understanding of cloud-riding techniques from Zhang Xuezhou, receiving step-by-step guidance.

Rong Tianding didn't expect to surpass his teacher; he only wanted to keep up with Zhang Xuezhou, even if he was a step or two behind.

"Second Aunt, Second Uncle, my cousin and that Daoist priest have gone to practice their magic. You should all get some rest. I'm going back to the house to tinker with some things too!"

When two people suddenly disappeared from the Zhang residence, Rong Tianding could only offer a few words of explanation.

Lady Yourong and Zhang Zhong agreed in a daze. Just as Rong Tianding was about to return home, he saw someone climbing over the wall and entering the courtyard. The familiar figure made Rong Tianding retract his steps.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" Rong Tianding shouted.

"I've come to see Brother Dongfang!"

The headscarf covering her head was pulled off, revealing Yi Shuo's scarred and haggard face.

But Yi Shuo's eyes held a faint glimmer of hope; she did not succumb to despair despite the physical torment she had suffered.

After months of detention and interrogation, Yi Shuo finally emerged from the ordeal of the gourd case.

She managed to persevere and succeed, but many others don't.

As long as the purple-gold gourd under Zhang Xuezhou's control remains hidden, those involved in the gourd case will continue to be tormented until the Empress Dowager relinquishes the gourd, or until it is buried with her after the Empress Dowager's death.

This is the foreseeable future for those involved, while Yi-seo is finally able to escape.

"I couldn't find a teacher and can't treat my injuries. I'd like to ask Brother Dongfang to help me heal my wounds!"

Rong Tianding's reprimand was perfectly normal.

Rong Tianding was also an insider in the case, and Yi Shuo had to minimize her connection with the Zhang residence as much as possible.

If an investigator follows Yi Shuo and utters even a single word during the visit, it will cause enormous trouble.

"A doctor cannot heal himself. The female doctors at the Imperial Medical Academy are not skilled enough, and the male doctors are not available to take care of me. I couldn't bear it any longer, so I came here!"

"Your cousin isn't here right now. Bear with your pain, eat something first, and then wait for him to come back!"

Yi Shuo offered a weak explanation, which made Rong Tianding sigh deeply.

Independent cultivators like Zhang Xuezhou are rare indeed. Most cultivators are like them, stuck in the middle, unable to rise or fall, and even if they have some skills, they can only drift with the tide.

Yi Shuo, who was once so bold as to directly stab him with needles, did not retaliate in any way, but only explained in a low voice. It was clear that she had suffered a great shock in prison. If she hadn't been holding on with her will, there was a certain probability that Yi Shuo would not have made it this far.

Rong Tianding had no choice but to put down the stove and run a few steps to take Yi Shuo from him.

"You can see bruises on your neck, were you whipped many times?"

When he got close to Yi Shuo, Rong Tianding could tell at a glance from the lifted collar that Yi Shuo had been suffering these past few days. Through the hem of her jacket, rows of needle marks covered with blood scabs on her skin also came into Rong Tianding's view.

Rong Tianding's eyes narrowed slightly, and then he fell silent.

No one's path of cultivation is smooth sailing, and no one can stand out from the crowd simply by living a life of luxury. Only by experiencing trials and tribulations can a sapling grow into a great tree.

Despite being covered in wounds, Yi Rong Tianding could sense the ever-growing strength of her resolve within her.

If they are not defeated by hardship, they will surely overcome all obstacles and reach even greater heights.