Never Go to Chang'an City

"Let's go, let's go!"

"It's pitch black; there's no point in going there!"

"I can locate sounds!"

When Wen Weng described the effects of the gall of the Bashe snake, Dong Zhongshu immediately became agitated.

Within the Han Dynasty, there were thousands of renowned cultivators at the Divine Ability Realm, but the number of those who had reached the Sole Self Realm was less than a hundred.

The Sole Self Realm is a threshold that separates the outstanding from the top level.

Even if Dong Zhongshu could defeat some Sole Self Realm, the world's prejudices were as high as mountains, and the requirements of this realm would not change because of Dong Zhongshu's strength.

While the imperial court did not explicitly require a certain level of attainment to hold a particular position, it implicitly accepted this situation.

For example, the governor who maintains the order of a region, or the prefect, or the positions in the imperial court such as Grand Master of Ceremonies, Grand Master of the Palace, Commandant of the Guards, Grand Master of the Imperial Stud, Minister of Justice, Grand Herald, Minister of the Imperial Clan, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of the Imperial Treasury, these positions are at least held by cultivators of the Sole Self Realm.

The positions of Chancellor, Imperial Censor, and Grand Commandant, which involve the Three Dukes, must be selected from among cultivators at the True Self Realm.

Even if these people are old and their actual combat strength is not as formidable as their cultivation level suggests, this is still true.

For example, Wen Weng, the governor of Shu, was at the early stage of the Sole Self Realm, but Wen Weng's actual combat strength was inferior to Dong Zhongshu's.

However, Wen Weng's official rank clearly surpassed that of Dong Zhongshu.

This news made Dong Zhongshu impatient; he wanted to kill the Bashe snake immediately, extract its gall, and swallow it.

"That Bashe has likely become Demon Beast, its strength, granted by its copper tendons and iron bones, is no less than yours or mine," Wen Weng cautioned. "If Zhongshu can display his divine power, I'm willing to lead the way in the dark!"

"It's become a demon? This snake gall..."

Any rare and precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures that has reached a high level is a rare item, and even if it cannot be used, it can be exchanged for other things.

Only after Wen Weng explained again did Dong Zhongshu fully understand the reason why the other party had yielded.

This is clearly a powerful medicine that leaves room for future problems.

Normal cultivators at the Divine Ability Realm would find it difficult to withstand such an effect, and even powerful cultivators at the Divine Ability Realm with deep foundations would not choose something with slightly weaker medicinal effects.

Only a powerful but impoverished cultivator like Dong Zhongshu would choose the gall of the Bashe serpent.

"These snake gallbladders are a bit difficult to handle," Dong Zhongshu said, frowning.

Killing the demon is difficult, but the consequences of swallowing snake gallbladders are even more troublesome.

But the opportunity to achieve the state of "Sole Self Realm" was right before him, Dong Zhongshu felt he couldn't miss it.

Even though this is a flawed item that impacts one's spiritual realm, it is still one of the few things that Dong Zhongshu has been able to come into contact with in the past ten years.

He suddenly remembered the spirit jade that Zhang Xuezhou once possessed, and felt the pain in his heart intensify.

If he had Zhang Xuezhou's good fortune, he would have forcefully pushed forward the day he got the spirit jade.

Some people have average skills but are incredibly lucky, while he is the opposite.

Looking back on his life, Dong Zhongshu felt that if he had even half the luck of others, he wouldn't still be stuck in the Divine Ability Realm.

"Brother Zhongshu?"

"Go! We must go!"

When Wen Weng's voice asked again, Dong Zhongshu did not hesitate for a moment.

But he didn't seem as anxious as before, and his whole demeanor returned to normal.

Do you still have the fan I gave you as compensation?

Upon recalling Wen Weng's mention of the Bashe becoming a demon, Dong Zhongshu couldn't help but become more cautious and questioned Zhang Xuezhou.

"It's still there, but why are you asking?" Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Can I borrow your treasure?"

Dong Zhongshu sighed as he looked at his hard-won precious fan, and then thought about how it had been lost. He felt a sharp pain in his liver.

"You also have a storage bag?"

When Zhang Xuezhou used magic to retrieve the fan, Dong Zhongshu was somewhat taken aback.

He lacked this and that, and even his most useful Law Treasure had to be borrowed, but Zhang Xuezhou, whom he hadn't seen for two years, was already using a storage bag.

He had initially thought Zhang Xuezhou had suffered greatly these past two years, but now it seemed that he was probably the only one who had suffered.

"You need to tell me about that matter," Zhang Xuezhou said, holding his precious fan. "I was planning to go to Chang'an City to find His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"If you trust me, don't rush this matter; it'll be better to wait patiently!"

Dong Zhongshu could not reveal his suspicions.

But if his guess is correct, major changes in the court may occur within the next year or two.

The trip to Lingnan involved some issues. To prevent the spread of misinformation, if Zhang Xuezhou were to run to Chang'an City, Zhang Xuezhou best fate would be to be imprisoned.

"Never go to Chang'an City," Dong Zhongshu warned.

"I'm a bit confused; I haven't figured out the problem!"

"It's better to be a little confused!"

Dong Zhongshu waved his hand.

This is the limit of what he can describe; this is the extent to which he can go.

If Dong Zhongshu were allowed to speak nonsense or even reveal his own guesses, Dong Zhongshu felt he could accept being asked to catch a snake empty-handed.

He adhered to the rules and didn't respond even after Zhang Xuezhou muttered a few times.

"Speaking only half the story and hiding the other half is the worst thing you can do!"

Zhang Xuezhou kept muttering, but the fan was finally returned to Dong Zhongshu's hands.

"What have you used this fan to fan yourself with? It feels like it's been poisoned."

The familiar control arose from the Law Power, and when a wave of wind was unleashed, Dong Zhongshu only noticed a faint strange smell in the wind and waves.

"The fire's lit!"

As the wind and waves surged, Dong Zhongshu had not yet discerned the poisonous gas mixed in with them, but Wen Weng successfully started a fire by striking a flint and burning cotton wool.

The torches quickly lit up, casting a bright light, and Wen Weng's face became flushed.

"Zhang Shu, Zhao Liang!"

Wen Weng shouted, and two burly men dressed in coarse cloth quickly ran out from a wooden shed on one side.

"Grown ups!"

The two exclaimed in unison, their bronze faces filled with solemnity.

The conversation between Wen Weng and Dong Zhongshu was partially obscured by the sound of the heavy rain, but their listening skills as martial artists were not weak, and they were able to hear part of it.

"Go and prepare fishing nets, bows and arrows, mounts, raincoats, and pig's blood!"

As expected, the order came, and the two had no choice but to comply.

Wen Weng had wanted to get rid of Bashe more than once, but he never dared to take action until Dong Zhongshu came to Chang'an City.

The two exchanged a glance, then looked at Dong Zhongshu, who was waving his fan, and had no choice but to quickly return to the prefect's residence to make arrangements.

"Brother Zhongshu, please!"

Wen Weng held a torch and pointed it in the direction of his mount.

"Would you like to come with me and take a look?"

A surge of Law Power energy flowed across his body, and compared to two years ago, Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation level had clearly improved significantly, achieving two consecutive leaps.

Even though the blessings of the spiritual jade resided within Zhang Xuezhou, his breakthrough speed was still astonishing, comparable to that of a top genius.

Having survived the battle between the Emperor and Emperor Jing, and even thriving after leaving Chang'an City, Dong Zhongshu believed that Zhang Xuezhou was indeed a promising talent.

The other party might even have the potential to assist them.

Dong Zhongshu observed Zhang Xuezhou Zhang Xuezhou, believing him to be at least superior to Zhang Shu and Zhao Liang, who were under Wen Weng's command.

"I'm not going with you!"

When Zhang Xuezhou refused, Dong Zhongshu smiled.

"Following me will save you from many detours," Dong Zhongshu said.

You've gone down the wrong path yourself!

"Don't talk about such sad things!"

When Zhang Xuezhou's sharp tongue rang out, Dong Zhongshu shook his head repeatedly.

He was unlucky, but he could indeed guide Zhang Xuezhou to avoid detours.

Whether it was Zhang Xuezhou to the capital or Zhang Xuezhou's spiritual practice, he was qualified to offer guidance.

"Your cultivation level is imbalanced in Yin and Yang, possessing the realm but lacking the power to kill. If you could come with us, you might be able to hear some good advice," Dong Zhongshu said.

"My spiritual practice is going very well!"

Aren't you afraid I won't return the fan to you after I get it back?!

When Dong Zhongshu realized he was having trouble persuading Zhang Xuezhou, he made a casual joke.

But to his surprise, Zhang Xuezhou actually got up and followed.

This made him feel that not only was his reputation as a teacher poor, but his credibility was even lower.