The Carriage Journey

It involved the mobilization of 60% of the soldiers under the Grand Commandant's command, as well as the movement of 300,000 troops.

The ambush at Mayi began by imitating the case of Li Mu's military treatise and ended by the constant changes in generals who failed to seize the opportunity.

The large number of troops mobilized were not quickly dispersed after the ambush, but were continuously deployed to various border areas.

For Cheng Bushi and his men, this ambush was not something that could be resolved in a short time; there would be a fierce counterattack to follow, and only those of them stationed on the frontier could barely put up a fight.

"Master's Technique Method abilities have greatly increased!"

"Even in my Celestial Person State, I struggled to deal with one of Zhu Jiuyin's avatars. What use is this kind of strength!"

Zhang Xuezhou didn't get involved in how to deal with the counterattack, nor did he offer any suggestions.

After three days of quiet recuperation, he finally received the carriage that would take him away from Wuzhou Fortress, and also met Dong Zhongshu, who was traveling with him.

The Empress Dowager invited some highly skilled cultivators to provide assistance.

For example, there's the fraudulent Li Shaojun, and Dong Zhongshu, as well as thirty-four masters from various regions within the Great Han Dynasty.

Apart from Dong Zhongshu, some cultivators did not perform particularly well in the ambush, but most cultivators simply could not keep up.

These people usually travel by horse-drawn carriage; how could they possibly ride horses at full gallop on bumpy mountain roads, let alone keep up with the rapid marches of the ever-changing battlefield?

There weren't many people on the battlefield, but during the retreat, many people were gathered together.

Zhang Xuezhou was in poor mental condition and didn't bother with anyone. He only started communicating with Dong Zhongshu's carriage approached.

He gave a thumbs-up, while Dong Zhongshu wore a wry smile.

No matter how exquisite Technique Method, it still needs the assistance of Realm Technique. The Confucian School Realm Technique are a notch below. He even had difficulty cutting off the Zhu Jiuyin Soul Incarnation of Zhu Jiu, let alone cutting Zhu Jiuyin.

To adapt to the Technique Method of various schools and sects, the Confucian School Realm Technique must be moderate. This Realm Technique lacks both the strength and the refinement of Law Power Law Power, resulting in insufficient elements such as the striking power and control of the Technique Method.

The effects are not very noticeable at lower Realm Technique, but once you reach the top, the gap becomes difficult to close.

Dong Zhongshu was not born with divine strength like Sage Kong, nor did he possess the Technique Method of Sage Meng. Even though his current strength surpassed that of great Confucian scholars like Yuan Gu and Shen Pei, and he possessed a very special state of Unity of Celestial Person and Heaven, there was still a significant gap between Dong Zhongshu and Zhu Jiuyin.

"When Master enters into his True Self, it will surely be a different story," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Non-Self failed to realize my True Self self, I wouldn't have had to take on this calamity!"

Dong Zhongshu gave a series of bitter laughs.

Zhang Xuezhou and others had offended Daojun and suffered his swift and decisive revenge, but Dong Zhongshu's revenge was not imminent.

Dong Zhongshu could foresee Zhu Jiuyin's revenge plan, and he would inevitably be put on Zhu Jiuyin's wanted list.

The high reward will not only attract powerful demons and experts from the Fiend Xiong State to infiltrate the Great Han Dynasty and commit atrocities, but will also cause the experts of the Great Han to turn against them.

If it weren't for the Gaoyou Water Mansion where he could escape the disaster, Dong Zhongshu would have been quite apprehensive.

"Congratulations, Master, on gathering the elixir to once again challenge your True Self self," Zhang Xuezhou congratulated him.

"Three high-grade Creation Pills and one top-grade Creation Pill are all we have. We can only gamble with our lives to solve this pill shortage!"

Dong Zhongshu sighed and directly stated the reward for the Empress Dowager's invitation.

The cost of failing to break through to the True Self Realm was very high. Without the Empress Dowager's elixirs, Dong Zhongshu felt he would need to lie in bed for several years to recover.

He is still able to act now thanks to the Empress Dowager's help, which has largely eliminated any potential future problems.

As for breaking through to the True Self Realm, he fell short.

Putting everything else aside, Dong Zhongshu was also hoping to get some Eight-Step Ascension Pills from Zhang Xuezhou, so that he could complete his own ascension elixir.

"Gongsun Hong said you've already entered the Only Me,' that's why I need to congratulate you!"

Dong Zhongshu was not bothered by Zhang Xuezhou's high level of cultivation. It was not the first or second time that someone had caught up with him in cultivation realm, but Zhang Xuezhou's strength was far from the focused Realm Technique described by Gongsun Hong; he was truly a formidable fighter.

While the new emperor's ability to slay the Zhu Jiuyin was indeed extraordinary, Zhang Xuezhou, who carried the new emperor to complete the high-difficulty killing technique, was no pushover either; such a coordinated attack would not have been possible without skill.

This also means that Zhang Xuezhou and the new emperor are so deeply bound together that they are difficult to separate, and their cultivation techniques are extremely harmonious.

Dong Zhongshu was genuinely envious of Zhang Xuezhou's ability to balance cultivation and martial arts practice.

He stared at Zhang Xuezhou and felt that Zhang Xuezhou was in excellent condition. He was not sickly like the Empress Dowager, nor was he in a condition that fluctuated like Tian Fen. He even had the ability to make fun of him.

"I've heard there's a child prodigy in your household..."

Having confirmed that Zhang Xuezhou remained rational and not in a daze, Dong Zhongshu inquired about the message sent by Gongsun Hong via carrier pigeon.

"Little Huo was beaten a couple of days ago and just woke up. He shouldn't have run off to other places. The Master will definitely see him when he goes to Chang'an City!"

Zhang Xuezhou was very interested in Dong Zhongshu's cultivation. The other party's desire to transform his Qi Refining Technique into an infant form was not just a joke, but a genuine test using himself.

Dong Zhongshu's knowledge system is very complete. If Huo Qubing's cultivation was analyzed, Dong Zhongshu should be able to explain it, so that others may be able to understand it by analogy.

"I am stationed in Jiangdu and cannot enter Chang'an City without special permission, lest the Jiangdu royal court question my legitimacy. This is one of the few opportunities I have had to enter the city in recent years, and I will have to trouble you again!"

"Of course, I will still need your guidance after you have thoroughly understood and mastered the knowledge!"

"Let's make progress together!"

Dong Zhongshu nodded.

That's the good thing about working with Zhang Xuezhou. He doesn't need to waste his breath or pay any price. Zhang Xuezhou understands Dong Zhongshu's meaning perfectly well and will even offer concessions in advance.

Although Zhang Xuezhou also needed to rely on Dong Zhongshu, it is easy to add flowers to brocade, but it is rare to receive continuous investment and timely help before things have been accomplished.

Dong Zhongshu asked a few questions and soon received the gift.

He even knew that Li Shaojun had already refined the Eight-Step Ascension Pill, which had no side effects.

"Master Li is truly a divine being! Not only is his skill remarkable, but he also possesses such high-level alchemy techniques!"

Zhang Xuezhou only seemed somewhat uncomfortable when Dong Zhongshu praised Li Shaojun. When he heard that Dong Zhongshu wanted to visit Li Shaojun and even discuss cultivation techniques, Zhang Xuezhou even offered a few words of advice.

Dong Zhongshu didn't heed Zhang Xuezhou's warning, after all, the Confucian School school contained Daoist School elements.

It was a rare treat that Li Shaojun was also in the carriage convoy heading to Chang'an City. After visiting Zhang Xuezhou, he learned the location of Li Shaojun's carriage and excitedly spurred his horse forward.

"Discussing spiritual cultivation and seeking enlightenment with Li Shaojun?"

When he saw Dong Zhongshu include Li Shaojun among the ranks of the highly accomplished, and then ask Li Shaojun for guidance, his expression couldn't help but look somewhat strange.

Learning from Huo Qubing was already unreliable, but adding the unreliable Li Shaojun, coupled with Dong Zhongshu's failure to break through to the True Self Realm, which would inevitably increase the difficulty of his second attempt, all these unfavorable factors accumulated, making Zhang Xuezhou feel that the probability of Dong Zhongshu successfully breaking through to the True Self Realm for the second time seemed even less optimistic.