Trouble on the Horizon in Jingnan, a Sigh for Strong Branches in the Duke's Hall

Jingnan Prefecture, White Sand County

At this time, Third Master Jiang, who was cultivating in his cave abode, was unaware that while his cultivation had been progressing for a long time, the war between the Star-Picking Pavilion and the Office of the Duke of Qin was already in full swing.

The Ding Prefecture Kuang Household, the Ye Prefecture Yang Household, and the Fearless Tower of Fa Prefecture all suffered heavy losses; even those at the Golden Core stage were either killed or injured.

The Xianyu Household and the Cloud Water Sect, two families that had been quiet for a long time, suddenly became serious, and they were not easily stopped by the aforementioned powerful families in the border states.

The Kuang Household's Spirit Vein cave abode is not so easy to take. It is true that Kuang Liuting is willing to cultivate these families who know loyalty and righteousness, but they really have to rely on the lives of their own disciples and followers to repay it.

As for the Mountain North Circuit of Five Old Mothers Mountain, which has been in operation for thousands of years, it is now even more bustling.

Back when Bai Canhong, the Master of the Star-Picking Pavilion, made a slight appearance, all the families in Mountain North Circuit dared to raise the banner of rebellion. Now, he has repeatedly defeated the True Person forces of Jiangxue and Yueyin, and his power is unstoppable.

Even with the prestige of the Office of the Duke of Qin and the assistance of various factions to suppress them, the high-ranking cultivators of Five Old Mothers Mountain were still exhausted from running around putting out fires everywhere.

After the defeat True Person Moon Hidden did not show his face for a long time. Fortunately, True Person Crimson Snow brought Exalted Cultivator Lanxin, who was comparable to Xiang Tianxing, from Guandong Circuit, which prevented the situation in Mountain North Circuit from deteriorating too much.

However, this also meant that the Duke's mansion had one less capable leader. As a result Sect Leader Kang Da, who had won a great victory in Hui Prefecture and originally wanted to take over the entire territory of Si Prefecture with Fei Donggu, and even recover all the land of Huangpi Circuit, had to turn his attention back to Cloud Horn Prefecture.

Exhausted from their journey, the soldiers were inevitably weary. Kang Dabao had sought a favor for the cultivators under his jurisdiction, allowing them to rest before returning to the battlefield. Thus, when Duan Anle led his troops to stand behind the Ying Mountain Army formation, he looked down and suddenly realized that he was standing on the old site of the Changning Sect.

The name stunned him, leaving his mind blank. To be honest, he hadn't been here for many years and had long expected things to change. But before the memories could even surface, Duan Anle saw a ten-foot-long red sparrow with its beak stained with golden blood rushing towards him from the horizon.

Having known each other for nearly a century, Duan Anle was quite familiar with the red sparrow. Just as he was about to call out to it, he saw the red sparrow nod at him briefly before landing in the rear tent.

As soon as the red sparrow entered the military tent, it shrank to the size of a palm and landed on Fei Shuhe's shoulder, then chirped and chattered in the beautiful woman's ear for a while.

This caused her expression to change, and only after Han Ningyue, who was seated at the head of the table, asked a question did Fei Shuhe respond.

"What did this sparrow see within the territory of the Two Instruments Sect?"

"Aunt, please forgive me. I only killed a newly True Cultivator between two counties and witnessed some unsavory things."

"... unbearable things," Han Ningyue frowned slightly, her tone tinged with sorrow. This messy war between the two families had been going on for over a year, and even she, a noble lady who had always been indifferent to worldly changes, had seen quite a few tragic scenes in the world.

Heaven knows what kind of scene Fei Shuhe, that sparrow, witnessed that made her unable to tell him.

The cultivators of Shannan Circuit were hardly wealthy to begin with, and even the so-called "Three Administrations" within the jurisdiction of the Star-Picking Pavilion were only mediocre in Han Ningyue's eyes.

However, it's not certain that the Star-Picking Pavilion, which has accumulated resources over thousands of years, will allocate any resources to help. The Cloud Water Sect, the Xianyu Household, and the Two Instruments Sect are also reluctant to part with their own resources. Therefore, ordinary people have no ability to restrain the cultivators recruited by the three families to risk their lives.

Han Ningyue sighed softly as she read this, feeling that since the officials of the government had turned a blind eye to the matter, it was not her place to lament.

Being able to risk one's life alongside Fei Shuhe, and to go to the battlefield for the sake of their respective husbands' reputations, even if it meant staying in the rear camp, was enough to become a topic of conversation among the noble ladies of Great Abyss Capital.

Her thoughts shifted, and she turned her gaze to the little sparrow perched on Fei Shuhe's shoulder. Seeing that the ordinary bird, which had only been used as a joke at the latter's wedding banquet, had now become Second Tier spirit beast, she sighed that, unintentionally, she had actually found a good home for Fei Shuhe, her daughter.

Han Ningyue temporarily put aside the lingering sense of compassion that had just arisen and instead began to ponder what kind of husband she should find for her only daughter.

Fei Wanqing, who has just achieved the Golden Core, will not be married off by the Fei Household. Even though she has only achieved the lower grade of the Golden Core stage, Fei Wanqing is still young. Even if her future achievements are far inferior to her father Fei Nanying, she still has some chance of forming Nascent Soul Formation stage.

Just as Ye Shui's condition was deteriorating, the Fei Household's high-ranking cultivators were reluctant to marry her off.

The idea of marrying into the family is something that wealthy and powerful families wouldn't even consider, but Han Ningyue, who comes from a poor background, is afraid of wronging Fei Wanqing, and has recently become quite anxious.

However, she also knew that this matter was not something she, as a daughter-in-law from another family, could interfere with. Even Fei Nanying, the successor to the head of the Fei Household, had to listen carefully to the advice of the elders in the family and study it thoroughly before making a decision.

Fortunately, Fei Wanqing is on the right track to solidifying her core essence. Her ability to Core Formation was entirely due to the resources of her clan, so it was impossible for her to receive a generous reward like Kang Dabao, who had made great contributions.

Even if Fei Wanqing is talented, well-educated, and comes from a distinguished family, it will still take at least several more years to complete this step.

If this is what Han Ningyue thought, once her daughter emerges from seclusion, the farce between the Star-Picking Pavilion and the Office of the Duke of Qin might have already subsided.

After each hero has distinguished themselves, it might be a good time to find a son-in-law.

If it weren't for the close relationship between her husband's family and the imperial clan, Han Ningyue might not have cared much about the outcome of this battle.

After all, since the beginning of the previous dynasty, no matter how many people have changed the throne in the Mystic Firmament Palace, the Yukun Han Household has always stood firm, still has disciples residing in the temple, and can still display their power in the twenty-seven realms of the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty.

But women are different from men. Han Ningyue is now the next matriarch of the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, so she is naturally focused on hoping that her husband's family will become even more prosperous and that she can receive some more imperial titles.

In this respect, she and Fei Shuhe, the wife of the Marquis of Martial Peace and an eighth-rank lady, were in the same situation.

It's a helpless situation for the young woman. The two people in the tent, who should have been as close as mother and daughter, were now exchanging pleasantries, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Han Ningyue immediately returned to her position as the mistress of the She Mountain Hall, her voice even more tender as she spoke:

"When you wrote to your younger sister last time, you said that Lingyi, Changyan, Changzhao, had nothing to do at home, they could go to Ying Prefecture earlier to attend the clan school."

Elder Nanying Ying has recently found some free time and often teaches at the clan school. He was the one who taught your third uncle; if you could receive his guidance, it would certainly be good for your three children."

Fei Shuhe was initially delighted, but then her expression naturally turned troubled. She furrowed her brows and said softly:

"Shuhe has thought about it a thousand times, but the two boys are still serving on the front lines, and my wife knows my husband's temper; it's not something I can decide for him."

Han Ningyue's expression changed slightly, but a faint smile appeared on her face, "Young Master Kang truly possesses the courage and integrity of a hero, which goes without saying. No wonder he enjoys the trust of His Majesty and the Duke."

"My husband didn't develop any 'heroic spirit' out of nowhere; he only gained it from being around my uncle all the time."

After a self-deprecating smile, Fei Shuhe was about to chat with Han Ningyue for a while longer when she saw the latter's gaze suddenly sharpen. Without thinking, she touched the jade pendant at her waist, her face becoming solemn.

The maids around them suddenly tensed up, but the white-haired old woman with a silver crown remained calm and said softly, "It's nothing more than one or two Golden Core cultivators from the Two Instruments Sect leading troops to test the waters. Don't worry, Ancestor Tianqin is still ahead. Unless Nascent Soul True Person arrives in person, he can protect you, Madam."

This white-haired old woman was a genuine fake alchemist. Having served as a servant in the Yu Kun Han family for so many years, she was quite knowledgeable. Therefore, she was indeed quite skilled at speaking, and could be described as speaking with certainty and clarity.

Even though no one here knew whether the old woman's words were true or false, at least after hearing her speak, the already tense atmosphere became a little more relaxed.

However, this ease did not last long. The noise outside grew louder and louder, until the brocade tent in the rear camp was shaking precariously.

No sooner had the white-haired old woman finished speaking than a muffled rumble suddenly came from outside the military tent, as if a huge boulder had rolled over the earth.

The maids inside the tent, who had just relaxed, tensed up again. Fei Shuhe's fingertips, gripping the jade Fei Shuhe, were already damp with sweat. Even she, who rarely left the house, knew that this commotion was no ordinary cultivator charging into battle, but rather resembled the spiritual energy shock caused by the movement of a large battle formation.

The white-haired old woman who had misjudged the situation did not panic, because what she had said earlier was indeed true. As long as Fei Tianqin had not been defeated, then no one could threaten Han Ningyue's life for the time being.

Recently, the battle results of most families under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Duke of Qin have been poor, except for the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, who not only sent troops to aid the Double Brightness Alliance but also nearly recovered the entire Huangpi Circuit;

Even with Fei Tianqin's old tricks, the Liangyi Sect could still keep its Two Instruments Sect in check. Despite mobilizing a large army and urging them to fight fiercely, they could only remain stationary in front of Fei Household's Ying Mountain Army. Even after sacrificing several Fei Tianqin a favor, they still made little progress.

It was truly unprecedented for such a commotion to occur recently. The little sparrow on Fei Shuhe's shoulder grew to ten feet long and rushed off to investigate.

In about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the red sparrow, its wings wrapped in a pale red aura, darted back to the rear camp. When it returned, its beak was covered in fresh blood. As soon as it landed on Fei Shuhe's shoulder, it began to chirp urgently, its wings flapping against the tent flap, pointing towards the east side of the Ying Mountain Army formation.

That was the spot where the disciples of the Double Brightness Alliance, who had just been assigned to the battlefield, were standing, which startled Fei Shuhe so much that her beautiful eyes widened.

---- Phoenix Cry Prefecture, Office of the Duke of Qin

Office of the Duke of Qin, a black cloud-patterned banner fluttered gently in the salty wind, and the white jade dragon pillars in front of the steps were illuminated by the pale blue flames of the mermaid oil lamps.

Kuang Liuting deliberately dismissed everyone around him, not even leaving behind the guards. He stood alone under the palace gate, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the black jade pendant that Kuang Chexiao had given him years ago, his expression indescribable.

Before long, a pale purple light, shrouded in water ripples, landed, True Person Jiuzhen appeared with several patrol officers.

His pale white Daoist robe accentuated his slender features, and his jade-hilted longsword was sheathed behind him, yet the sharp aura he exuded still made the Duke of Qin glance at him sideways.

However, Kuang Liuting nodded slightly, his voice calm and even. "Junior Kuang Liuting respectfully welcomes True Person Jiuzhen." His attitude was neither overly enthusiastic nor lacking in politeness.

True Person Jiuzhen returned the greeting with clasped hands. "Jiuzhen of the Billowing Dream Palace, sent to provide assistance on the orders of the Palace Master. I apologize for disturbing the Duke's mansion."

Kuang Liuting stepped aside to make way, raising his fingertips slightly. "True Person, you have come a long way and must be tired. Spiritual tea has been prepared inside. Please come in and we can discuss this further."

His tone remained restrained, without any deliberate attempt to flatter.

As they entered the main hall, the Third Tier camel-hair carpet silenced their footsteps. On the long spirit wood table, spirit tea brewed with Nine-Leaf Evening Primrose emitted wisps of steam, while the South Sea Water Fruit shone brightly.

Kuang Liuting gestured for True Person Jiuzhen to sit down, and when he beckoned Su Chen to come and pour tea, he did so with composure. The latter was clearly trained to have some skill, and he stopped pouring the tea into the cup when it was only one-third full, his movements perfectly measured.

Seated in the main seat, Kuang Liuting spoke calmly and unhurriedly, "When I was cultivating under your tutelage in the past, although I never saw True Person true face, I had heard of your True Person reputation in the outer seas. It is truly an honor to finally meet you today."

Seeing such a cold attitude from a junior Golden Core cultivator was something Jiuzhen considered rare, especially since he had already formed his Nascent Soul.

As one of the three great rogue cultivators within the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty, and having repeatedly refused Emperor Wei's attempts to win him over, True Person Jiuzhen could hardly be warm towards Kuang Liuting, a member of the royal family.

However, having only recently been forced to join Billowing Dream Palace due to pressure from his enemies, he found it difficult to refuse the first assignment given to him by Kuang Chexiao.

However, when he spoke this time, he was hardly polite. "The Duke of Qin has been stationed in the Southern Kingdom for a long time, which must be hard. The Palace Master has heard that Bai Canhong is unruly and difficult to control here, causing wailing and millions of corpses to be found all over the Three Southwest Circuits."

"Five Old Mothers Mountain and the Hehuan Sect, whether due to insufficient strength or feigned compliance, were unable to control the situation even when combined, leading to the deterioration of the situation in the southwest. Under these circumstances, the Palace Master is unable to sleep at night and has specially dispatched us to provide assistance."

Before True Person Jiuzhen finished speaking, Kuang Liuting remained silent with a smile, only letting out a soft laugh when the last word was uttered:

"So that's how it is. I originally thought that the old master wanted the True Person and fellow Daoists to come here for sightseeing and to enjoy some leisure. I didn't expect that it was the erroneous words outside that caused the old master such anxiety. It is my fault."

Bai Canhong is indeed arrogant, and his actions are not as exaggerated as the outside world claims. The people of the Southwest are ultimately loyal to the Immortal Dynasty, and those with ulterior motives will surely retaliate. Even if he is arrogant for a while, there is no need to panic.

Before Kuang Liuting could finish speaking, True Person Jiuzhen sneered.

This Nascent Soul True Person neither argued nor cared to listen to Kuang Liuting's arguments. He simply exchanged a glance with the cultivators behind him, then rose to take his leave.

"Although the Palace Master has lived in the outer sea for a long time, his information is accurate. However, with storms brewing in the outer sea, the Palace Envoys and Deputy Envoys are not free to do anything, which is why they sent Jiuzhen, this useless person."

Since the Duke of Qin has no intention of accepting the Palace Master's kindness, then Jiuzhen will find a place nearby for himself. If he needs Jiuzhen's assistance in the future, the Duke of Qin should not hesitate to use the talisman to summon him.

Jiuzhen threw the purple talisman onto the jade table in front of Kuang Liuting, then left without bowing, leading a group of patrol officers. Su Chen, who had come specifically to pour tea, was shocked and lost his composure.

Kuang Liuting, who was always proud and self-assured, showed no change in expression. He didn't even glance at the purple talisman on the jade table, but turned his head to hold the black jade pendant hanging at his waist, examining it closely.

Suddenly, his expression became extremely complicated, as if he was about to make up his mind to say something, but the words were on the tip of his tongue, and he hesitated for a long time before speaking.

Finally, all that reached Su Chen's ears as he was clearing away the cups and goblets was a soft sigh echoing throughout the hall.

"Strong branches and weak trunk lead to endless troubles."