Unexpected Joy from the Past As the voice faded, Xu Yuan and Zhou Chen ceased their conversation.
Zhou Chen drank his wine while focused on driving the carriage.
Xu Yuan turned his attention inside the carriage.
Whether that Mr.
Qin had targeted him for the reason Xu Yuan suspected, he was unclear, but he did have some clues as to why that cheap adoptive father wanted to target the Sects.
The carriage was luxuriously decorated, with a soft couch as smooth as jade, silk cushions woven of fine satin, and a special tea tray for drinking tea, with the faint scent of tea continuously diffusing inside the carriage.
Where Xu Yuan's gaze landed, a woman with an innate allure was kneeling in front of the tea tray, pouring tea.
Her eyes were downcast, a picture of pitiable beauty.
Xu Yuan slightly lifted his finger to activate the sound isolation formation within the carriage and glanced at her,
"Did you hear what was said just now?"
Su Jinxuan slowly lifted her gaze:
"Since the young master didn't avoid the topic, Jinxuan naturally heard it."
Her tone was still somewhat flirtatious, but it no longer had the emotional fluctuations that enticed before.
She became much more reserved, yet not entirely so.
Thinking this, Xu Yuan's eyes held a meaningful look as he glanced at her.
Su Jinxuan had changed into a new outfit.
The contrast of azure and white wrapped around her well-defined figure, a layer of sheer fabric half-revealing her snowy white skin beneath, and a pair of white, semi-transparent silk stockings perfectly clinging to her long, straight jade legs.
This woman understood men very well, and also how to use her physical advantages.
Ever since she boarded the carriage, this woman had been subtly trying to entice and provoke him.
Even now, she still seemed to be trying to turn the tables.
If she had started with this tactic from the get-go, Xu Yuan might have lost all because of a momentary slip.
Unfortunately for her, she did not, choosing instead to try to control him forcefully with those peculiar spore particles.
Her Enchantress Divine Physique was now exposed.
Zhou Chen had also warned him,
that the deeper the physical contact,
the easier it seemed to be controlled by this woman's Enchantress Divine Physique.
To test the law with one's body was out of the question.
However,
there actually exist white silk stockings in this world….
Tsk tsk.
Gathering his thoughts, Xu Yuan casually asked,
"Jinxuan, I heard from Lady Yue that you were brought here personally by Mr.
Qin, I'm curious about how you came to know Mr.
Qin, can you tell me about it?"
It was a question, but his tone left no room for doubt.
Keeping Su Jinxuan was to confuse Mr.
Qin, to mislead him into thinking the plan had already succeeded.
Once the carriage entered the Xu Residence in Jingjiang, this woman would be handed over to Ying'er for interrogation.
Ying'er came from the Prime Minister's Mansion's Black Scale Guards, also known as the Shadow Guard.
Interrogation and extracting confessions were her professional expertise.
Nevertheless, this did not prevent Xu Yuan from trying to understand some things beforehand.
Su Jinxuan's beautiful eyes flickered, and after a moment, she gently said:
"Over a decade ago, Jinxuan's family fell on hard times, hunted down by enemies.
During our escape, Mr.
Qin saved me and has raised me ever since."
Escape?
Adoption?
And possess the rare Enchantress Divine Physique.
This cliché storyline immediately made Xu Yuan think of many things.
After pondering for a moment, Xu Yuan feigned a sigh:
"I apologize…
for bringing up Jinxuan's painful past."
Su Jinxuan looked down, with a soft sigh:
"I'm grateful for the young master's compassion.
I was young at the time, and those matters have long since passed."
Xu Yuan shook his head, asking casually:
"Then does Jinxuan still remember who your enemies were?
If they are still alive, I could help you exact your vengeance."
"The young master is kind, Jinxuan is terrified."
"Not necessary?"
"Jinxuan's vengeance has already been avenged."
"All of it?"
"…Yes."
"….."
Xu Yuan stared into Su Jinxuan's eyes, showing a deliberately enlightened expression, and laughed lightly,
"So Mr.
Qin has already secretly eliminated all of your enemies…
"
"….."
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxuan paused briefly.
Then she quickly realized the implication of his words, and the frailty in her eyes was immediately replaced by a flicker of indignation:
"Third Young Master, please refrain from wild speculation."
Seeing this, Xu Yuan's eyes gleamed with increased amusement.
He was very satisfied with Su Jinxuan's reaction.
He was unclear about the specifics of her situation, even whether Su Jinxuan was lying or acting, but that did not affect his casual fabrication.
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Failing would simply be a waste of a few minutes of his time.
But conversely, if he succeeded, even if he couldn't persuade Su Jinxuan, merely planting a seed of doubt in her mind would be a huge gain.
After a pause, Xu Yuan persisted relentlessly:
"Jin Xuan, just tell me if it is or isn't true,
"That Mr.
Qin didn't let you see any living enemies, right?"
There was silence inside the carriage for a moment,
and Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised.
Huh?
The stuff he made up on the fly based on the pictures couldn't actually be true, could it?
Su Jinxuan stared at Xu Yuan, biting the corner of her lip with one of her canines:
"Jinxuan knows she's at your mercy, but please don't slander Mr.
Qin's character."
"You're not answering directly, so that means I'm right?"
Xu Yuan leaned back on the soft couch, resting his face in one hand, his interest piqued as he continued to provoke:
"Mr.
Qin has raised you until now, I guess it's because your parents also died in that 'disaster,' right?"
Xu Yuan deliberately stressed the word "disaster":
"Have you ever thought about it, Jin Xuan, how after your parents died, you who possess the Enchantress Divine Physique just happened to be rescued by Mr.
Qin, isn't this too coincidental?"
"You should be the most aware of your own body, how tempting this special physique that can control people's minds invisibly is.
If someone knew about it in advance, who wouldn't be tempted?
"Especially for a 'big shot' like Mr.
Qin, wiping out your entire family is just a matter of speaking, and the trade-off…
I was almost controlled by you on his behalf."
"…."
Su Jinxuan's hand, which was pouring tea, trembled slightly, her eyes brimming with anger:
"Not everyone in this world has the same disposition as you.
Mr.
Qin has always treated me like his own sister, and I came here of my own volition to alleviate his worries."
Xu Yuan acted as if he didn't see, chuckling as he spoke:
"You say he sees you as a sister?"
Xu Yuan laughed out loud mockingly, waving his hand:
"Fine, I'll send out a message right now, saying you've been captured by me and are about to be executed.
"Guess what, will your Mr.
Qin go into hiding and run away, or will he come to the Xu Residence to rescue his 'sister'?"
"…."
79 साल की उम्र में भी मर्दाना ताकत 10 गुना कैसे बढ़ाएं?
पुरुष शक्ति दिन में 10 घंटे तक | इस ट्रिक को कम ही लोग जानते हैं
After a long silence, Su Jinxuan took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling beneath the translucent fabric, and continued to pour tea without a word.
Xu Yuan noticed her inner turmoil, seeing that she was trying to calm herself with the act of pouring tea.
He didn't disturb her,
but quietly watched as Su Jinxuan skillfully arranged the tea set.
Rinsing the pot, adding tea, warming the cups….
A beauty preparing tea is a feast for the eyes through each step of the process.
When everything was done,
Su Jinxuan slowly stood up and brought over a cup of clear tea to Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan took it casually, staring into her eyes, and casually pulled her to sit beside him, asking with a sideways glance:
"I'm very curious about something, can you help me clear up a question?"
By this time, Su Jinxuan had regained her composure, captivating and charming.
Upon hearing this, she responded with a smile to Xu Yuan:
"Whatever the young master asks, Jinxuan will naturally answer."
Xu Yuan gently embraced the woman's delicate body, which seemed boneless, while gently sniffing the tea's aroma, and asked softly:
"Mr.
Qin rose to fame more than a decade ago and his strength is now unfathomable.
Why didn't he teach you any cultivation methods?"
Su Jinxuan covered her mouth and chuckled, the truth of her words indiscernible:
"Heh…
Jinxuan doesn't like all the fighting and killing, so she never cultivated."
Xu Yuan didn't hesitate to ask directly:
"If you don't like fighting and killing, why then did you cultivate the demonic body secret technique?"
"This…
Jinxuan doesn't know; it seems those things came naturally before."
"What a convenient 'came naturally'!"
Xu Yuan laughed.
His Innate Taoist Body required the practice of cultivation techniques and will-spirit to project from the body, and yet you, with the Enchantress Divine Physique, have learned without a teacher, right?
Never mind secret techniques, without basic internal vision, you couldn't even begin.
Without internal vision, how could you manipulate your will-spirit, let alone those numerous spore particles.
Sitting up straight, Xu Yuan pinched Su Jinxuan's fair chin, pulling her closer:
"Jinxuan, it's okay to deceive me, but it's not right to deceive yourself."
"Was it Mr.
Qin who only taught you the Enchantress Divine Physique secret technique?"
"…." Su Jinxuan.
In close gaze,
but Xu Yuan didn't detect any of the emotions he wanted to see in the other's eyes.
Once the confusion faded, she started acting tough again.
Xu Yuan shook his head lightly, letting her go, and asked one last question:
"One last question, I hope you'll answer truthfully."
"Ask your question, young master." Su Jinxuan straightened her dress.
Xu Yuan casually asked:
"Do you…
know someone named Qin Mo?"
////53///
"Qin Mo?"
Upon hearing this name, Su Jinxuan's expression remained unchanged, but a trace of curiosity flickered through her charming peach blossom eyes.
She did not immediately respond.
Xu Yuan did not rush her, but after waiting for a while, he, too, gradually showed a hint of surprise.
The other party was taking too long to think.
Whether a person recognizes someone should be almost instantaneous; if they are not planning to speak, even if they need to consider their wording, it would not take this long.
This basic level of acting, Su Jinxuan would undoubtedly understand clearly.
So,
given her reaction, was she planning to disclose something about Qin Mo?
If that was the case, then things were about to get interesting.
The two had met,
and she did not hesitate to reveal information about Qin Mo.
With these two points alone, Xu Yuan could narrow down the protagonist's path in this world's storyline to within five possibilities.
After a long pause,
Su Jinxuan softly said:
"How did the Third Young Master come to know of my acquaintance with Young Master Qin?
Our meeting happened several months ago, when I…
should not yet have been acquainted with you, right?"
Her voice was gentle, her eyes glancing at Xu Yuan's with a seemingly casual intent.
She did not understand how, at the time of her meeting with that Qin Mo, this Xu Changtian should not have been rescued yet.
Where then did he get his information from?
Xu Yuan perceived the probing in her words, but he was not ready to tell her anything, not a single word.
Even if you know in your heart, it's best not to discuss specific details unless absolutely necessary.
Showing off and acting all knowledgeable in front of others may feel good, but explaining it later could be very troublesome.
It was the same reason Xu Yuan was reluctant to write poetry or copy lyrics.
He could make up anything to someone like Su Jinxuan; they were unaware of the specifics and would just assume he had been concealing his talents.
Like being a spendthrift on the surface but in fact, strategizing from afar, silently building his own intelligence system.
Once the reputation spread, the Prime Minister's Mansion's moniker of "two dragons, a phoenix, and an old rat" might also change to something like "two dragons, a phoenix, and a hidden Kun" or "a hidden Qilin"—a better reputation.
But the problem was,
strangers might not know Xu Changtian, but Xu Changge and that cheap old dad of his were very clear about what kind of wastrel he was.
A personality can change due to a mixture of factors like physique, strength, and status, but intelligence—you can't just conjure it out of thin air, right?
They might not suspect his identity, but he still had to explain himself.
After a pause, Xu Yuan said in a low voice:
"How I found out is not something you need to worry about, Su Jinxuan.
You just need to answer my question now."
"…."
After a quiet moment, Su Jinxuan gave a small bow:
"The Third Young Master is correct.
Just now, Jin Xuan presumed too much."
Xu Yuan waved his hand dismissively:
"No matter, what I am curious about now is the nature of your relationship with that Qin Mo."
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxuan laughed coquettishly, her eyes full of allure:
"Is the young master asking this because he feels jealous of that Qin Mo?"
Xu Yuan shook his head and chuckled softly, uncertain:
"Perhaps that's the case, after all, I am quite envious of the Enchantress Divine Physique."
"I am already yours, young master…" Su Jinxuan's breath was as fragrant as orchids as she gently leaned on his shoulder.
"If you are envious, why not just take me directly?"
With a cold laugh in his heart, Xu Yuan casually wrapped his arm around her shoulder and continued:
"So, Jin Xuan, what exactly is your relationship with that Qin Mo?"
Xu Yuan wanted to understand which storyline the protagonist was following, so he could take the appropriate countermeasures.
Moreover, Xu Yuan did not necessarily have to kill the protagonist of the story.
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After all, some storylines feature protagonists who are even more villainous than the antagonists, more despicable than their original selves.
In situations where goals align, it's possible to reach a cooperation with the other party.
Su Jinxuan pondered for a moment before lightly laughing and saying,
"If Jinxuan were to tell the young master, what's in it for her?"
"Benefit?"
Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow and turned to meet her eyes, which resembled autumn waters.
"Hmm…"
With a smile curving his eyes, Xu Yuan gently brushed the back of his finger against the charming visage of the woman before him, speaking softly and slowly,
"Of course, there are benefits.
Once we are back in the mansion, when I hand you over to Ying'er, I will put in a few good words for you, to make her treat you a bit more gently."
His voice was soft, as if flirting between lovers, but the smile on Su Jinxuan's face momentarily seized up.
A sliver of hope still lingered in her heart.
Xu Changtian brought her back to the mansion in order to keep her imprisoned as a forbidden delicacy.
She was well aware of the great temptation her body posed to these men.
Though unwilling, as long as this Xu Changtian couldn't resist touching her, if the ancient tome given to her by Mr.
Qin was accurate, then she still had a chance to turn the tables.
However, the words Xu Changtian now spoke turned her hope into a joke.
Ying'er was clearly the masked woman she saw upon waking.
Such attire was unmistakably that of a Shadow Guard from the Prime Minister's Mansion.
If she were handed over to Ying'er, her fate…
With this thought, a trace of panic involuntarily flickered through Su Jinxuan's eyes.
After pondering for a long time, she lightly bit her lip corner and softly said,
"Then Jinxuan would rather not have any benefits.
However, if Jinxuan were to tell the truth, could the Third Young Master grant me a swift end?"
Because of her initial hesitation to take a mutually destructive path, her "Enchanting Elements" had been sealed within her Sea of Consciousness by the powerful individuals beside Xu Changtian, and now she couldn't even end her own life.
79 साल की उम्र में भी मर्दाना ताकत 10 गुना कैसे बढ़ाएं?
पुरुष शक्ति दिन में 10 घंटे तक | इस ट्रिक को कम ही लोग जानते हैं
Xu Yuan stroked his chin, smiling playfully,
"That will depend on your performance, Jinxuan.
We are about an hour away from returning to the mansion.
If you can offer something that interests me, I might consider your proposal."
Su Jinxuan took a deep breath,
"Fine, I'll tell you.
The truth is, my relationship with that Qin Mo is not complicated at all.
We traveled together for some time, and when we parted, we made a bet."
"A bet?
Let's hear it."
"When he and I parted, I told him that if he could obtain the Demon Core of the deer demon within Fengya Forest within the month, I would play a song just for him."
Xu Yuan nodded slightly, lightly laughing as he spoke,
"If that's all the information you have, it's not enough reason for me to grant your wish for a quick end."
Su Jinxuan showed a hint of worry, then gritted her teeth a bit more,
"I approached Qin Mo because Mr.
Qin once said his background might be complicated…"
This statement made Xu Yuan's eyes sharpen suddenly.
Here it came, a shift in the plot.
In his past life, he had always thought the meeting between the protagonist and Su Jinxuan was an accidental encounter within the storyline, but it turned out to be someone's deliberate scheme.
Although the meeting was orchestrated, the love that developed on several storylines should be genuine.
After all, the affection ratings in the game system wouldn't lie.
Reining in his thoughts, Xu Yuan said, "Continue."
Su Jinxuan glanced at him and sighed softly as she spoke,
"Mr.
Qin mentioned that this Qin Mo might be related to a place called 'Burial Village.'"
"Burial Village?"
Xu Yuan murmured to himself, growing more certain that this Mr.
Qin was definitely not as simple as a mere Sect member.
Su Jinxuan shook her head,
"Mr.
Qin didn't say much more, just that Qin Mo might come from Burial Village."
///54///
Investigation Xu Yuan was all too familiar with this burial village.
So familiar that he could still recall the name of every person in the village to this day.
The butcher who liked to sharpen his cleaver in the middle of the night, the beautiful young wife who always had a smile on her face and loved to tease others, the blind man who was not completely blind, and the village elder who was always beaming with laughter…
The burial village was a novice village in the Cang Yuan storyline.
A village deep in the mountains on the border of Dayan, both peaceful and extremely dangerous.
It was said to be peaceful because the various uncles and grandpas in the village were very kind to the protagonist, as if they were ordinary elders of a family.
It was said to be dangerous because these uncles and grandpas were outwardly ordinary, but in reality, they were all big shots retired here, each of whom had once been notorious thieves or demons.
A broken-down little village gathered with all sorts of big shots.
And then…
Then, his father, the Prime Minister, personally led people to slaughter the village clean.
Only one teenager, who accidentally ventured into the mountains to hunt, survived on his own.
Yes, this teenager was the protagonist of the storyline.
That was the fundamental reason why Xu Yuan had been seeking the protagonist of the storyline.
With such blood vengeance laid out, there was basically no room for the protagonist and the Prime Minister's Mansion to turn things around.
Once the other party grew strong enough, no matter what reason his father had for slaughtering the village, the protagonist would never be lenient.
However, with the clues provided by Su Jinxuan, Xu Yuan had now narrowed down the possible routes of the protagonist to three and was roughly certain of what kind of cheat code the other side had.
The first one, the righteous and hot-blooded route.
For a hot-blooded righteous protagonist, the cheat code was naturally as the name suggested, a wounded war god, the more wounded, the more explosive his potential.
The second one, the route with a personal grandpa companion.
The cheat code was also simple, fully AI-controlled, with strength that could soar under special conditions.
The third one, the evil route of cultivating the Great Harmony Yin-Yang Technique.
The cheat code was three doses of Joyful Powder, a substance that could ignore level restrictions.
It was suitable for both men and women.
Thinking of this,
Xu Yuan's mood became somewhat heavy.
The former and the latter were not much of an issue, as he could simply have Zhou Chen go and kill the protagonist.
But according to Murphy's Law,
Xu Yuan had a feeling that the protagonist was most likely taking the grandpa companion route because that protagonist was the hardest to deal with.
Without the game's special conditions to limit him, the other party could deliver him a big blow whenever they were pushed too hard.
Of the people Xu Yuan knew at the moment, probably only his big brother could reliably kill the protagonist, even Big Ice Lump with the surname Ran was dubious.
….
The fragrance filled the carriage.
Most of the time, a quiet environment can calm people's minds, but when one's life is at the mercy of others, such silence becomes an agony.
Looking at Xu Yuan's silent profile, Su Jinxuan took a deep breath.
She clenched her fist.
Then she opened her fist.
Clenching,
Opening.
After doing it several times,
Su Jinxuan's eyes flashed with sadness, and she slowly exhaled the breath she had taken, gently calling out:
"Young Master…"
The answer was actually already in her heart, but people always harbour such unrealistic expectations.
Xu Yuan's eyes swept over, and the ease she had originally shown had disappeared; he saw the unease in her eyes.
He was somewhat taken aback.
It seemed that what she said about Mr.
Qin treating her as a younger sister was likely the truth.
Had she been a thoroughly trained dead soldier, she probably wouldn't have shown such an expression.
For an unmarried young lady to behave this way in the face of death was already quite remarkable.
"You seem very afraid," he asked.
Su Jinxuan bit her lip lightly with her tiger teeth:
"The Shadow Guards of the Prime Minister's Mansion are notorious, and Jinxuan naturally has heard of them."
"If you're so afraid, then why did you dare to come to me?"
"…." She was silent.
Xu Yuan's gaze was smiling, but there was not a trace of pity:
"One last question, if you're willing to answer it, once we enter the residence later, I can choose not to hand you over to Ying'er.
Of course, if you don't answer, I believe Ying'er should also be able to get this information from you."
"Su Jinxuan, what purpose did that Mr.
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Qin have for making you manipulate me?"
"…."
Clutching the corner of her clothes, Su Jinxuan's fingers turned faintly white.
After a long silence, she shook her head:
"I…
I don't know."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan lifted his hand to gently caress her smooth hair, whispering softly:
"I'm sorry, Jin Xuan, but that's not the answer I wanted to hear."
You said earlier that you took the initiative to alleviate Mr.
Qin's worries, and now you claim not to know?
You've practically given yourself away.
How foolish.
Thinking this, Xu Yuan felt a hint of amusement.
But this was the right response.
If everyone could remain cool-headed in the face of such terror and life-threatening fear, then there would be far too many ruthless people in this world….
...
Ying'er led Su Jinxuan away.
Given the information she'd provided, Xu Yuan had indeed spoken a few good words on her behalf in Ying'er's presence.
No corporal punishment was necessary; simply bind her hands and feet, seal her hearing, and toss her into a dark room filled with soft quilts.
Seeing the grateful look in Su Jinxuan's eyes as she was led away, Xu Yuan almost wanted to laugh.
The modern techniques of interrogation may not be as direct as the physical torture of ancient times, but they are a form of mental attack.
Don't ask.
If you ask, it's from personal experience.
Out of sheer curiosity, Xu Yuan, in a past life, had visited a professional experience hall with a group of friends just once.
Lying on a soft bed, limbs wrapped in special cotton pads, then letting the staff fit you with specialized ear muffs and blindfolds….
That feeling,
Was indescribable.
…
Xu Residence was situated in the vast northern expanse of Jingjiang City, covering more than a thousand acres.
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A large wetland lake lay within it, with pavilions, towers, and exquisite buildings stretching as far as the eye could see.
The lakeside was breezy.
Watching Ying'er and Su Jinxuan's fading figures in the distance, Xu Yuan turned to Zhou Chen, who was drinking nearby, and suddenly said:
"Mr.
Zhou, could you do me a favor?"
"Third Young Master, you may simply command," Zhou Chen replied, setting down his wine jug.
Xu Yuan focused on Su Jinxuan's departing figure:
"Help me look into the matter of Su Jinxuan's family being wiped out."
Zhou Chen's eyes carried a hint of surprise: "The young master means…."
Xu Yuan explained:
"Su Jinxuan said she was saved by that Mr.
Qin while fleeing disaster, and that most of her family died.
I suspect there's more to it."
"I see…"
Zhou Chen murmured, seemingly grasping Xu Yuan's intent.
Although he had some doubts, Zhou Chen showed no sign of refusal.
The Third Young Master's recent actions had increasingly justified Zhou Chen's investment in him.
He clasped his fist and said:
"I just don't know where Miss Su's hometown is?"
Xu Yuan's eyes flickered for a moment, then he said:
"Jin City in Jiangnan Province."
In his past life, when Xu Yuan, as the story's protagonist, brought Su Jinxuan into Jin City for the first time, she would say, "I haven't seen Jin City for over a decade.
It has really changed beyond recognition…."
Zhou Chen immediately clasped his fist: "Alright, Third Young Master, rest assured, I will notify the Black Scale Guards in Jiangnan Province right away."
Having said that,
Zhou Chen prepared to turn and leave right away.
"Wait a moment."
Zhou Chen halted his steps.
Xu Yuan unhurriedly took out a stack of five silver notes, each worth a thousand taels, from the Sumeru Ring and sent them to Zhou Chen's hand with Origin Qi.
Zhou Chen's eyes brightened, but he still whispered while holding his wine jug:
"Third Young Master, what is this…?"
Xu Yuan chuckled softly:
"Mr.
Zhou has guarded me well with great effort; consider this some money for wine as a token of appreciation."
//55///
Breakthrough Xu Yuan, in his previous life, had seen many mansions built within wetland parks, but he never saw a wetland park built within a mansion.
It was as if to fulfill the joke from his past life that going to the toilet required driving.
Walking through the garden, Xu Yuan saw many male servants and maids bustling about.
As consistent with the memories of his original body, some of the maids here in the Xu Residence of Jingjiang, who were still quite attractive, did not fear him, the scion with a notorious reputation for debauchery.
As he passed by, a few maids even seemed to subtly convey their willingness to draw closer.
To them, perhaps, regardless of the consequences, making a connection with the Third Young Master from the Prime Minister's Mansion might be their only chance to rise in life.
Walking past the garden, he entered the Xu Residence's reception hall.
The spacious entrance was very quiet with Bright Pattern Lamps hanging on the wall, emitting bursts of light.
He remembered that most of the time, it was leisurely here.
Only on very rare occasions, when important officials from the Jingjiang Prefecture came bearing gifts, would the steward of the mansion personally receive them here.
Even if it's just a Seventh Grade official in front of the Prime Minister's residence, let along a steward—it was their job to accept gifts.
After entering the hall, Xu Yuan did not rush to go to the inner chambers but first took out some silver notes from behind a hanging painting on the wall of the reception hall.
Not much, just two notes with a face value of a thousand silver taels each.
The expansive Xu Residence was full of hidden treasures, all stashed by his original body.
His indulgent father wouldn't care about his extravagant ways, but his two brothers, Xu Changge and Xu Chang'an, would.
And sometimes, that fourth sister of his would also interfere.
The original body could not defeat these three robbers,
and if discovered, the silver that he painstakingly gathered from selling off the family's assets would be snatched away.
Over time, the original body smartly learned to divide and hide his wealth.
This time, Xu Yuan deliberately took a detour in the garden outside the mansion to retrieve the money he hadn't managed to take last time.
Excluding the five thousand taels given to Zhou Chen earlier, he still had nearly twenty thousand taels left.
If his memory served him right, his original body had hidden several tens of thousands of silver notes in the Imperial Capital residence.
Of course, there had been instances when servants cleaning the dust stole the money, but after the steward discovered this and publicly hanged and beat the thief to death, even if some servants knew about the money, very few dared to touch it.
A human life, especially that of a commoner, was truly worth very little in this extraordinary world.
Having collected the money, what remained was cultivation.
The Xu Residence was equipped with a special training room that contained a Spiritual Spring, its Origin Qi sealed within by a Locking Spirit Formation.
The training room was divided into internal and external courts,
with the Origin Qi in the external court being rather sparse, and the Protector servants were free to use it during their leisure time.
The internal court, rich in Origin Qi, required one to pay silver taels for a timed usage, or it could be accessed through rewards earned for contributions to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Naturally, Xu Yuan was not bound by these rules.
Guided respectfully by the doorkeeper, he headed straight to the inmost chamber where the Spiritual Spring was located.
After the doorkeeper left, Xu Yuan took out the Source Crystal given to him by Xu Changge and swallowed some Elixir Medicine.
He then closed his eyes and started circulating his Cultivation Technique to absorb Origin Qi.
Zhou Chen came the next day.
After arranging the matters Xu Yuan had asked him to investigate, he immediately rushed to the room where Xu Yuan was cultivating.
Because he had said that his Cultivation Technique could assist Xu Yuan in his practice.
This point,
he hadn't forgotten.
.....
Cultivation knows not the passing of years.
Xu Yuan discovered that Zhou Chen's Cultivation Technique truly provided a peerless aid to his practice.
After the Will-spirit channeled the Qi into the acupoints and meridians, even a top-notch Cultivation Technique like the Blood Essence Meteoring Art required the Qi to be circulated through the meridians more than a dozen times to transform this natural Qi into his own Origin Qi.
Yet with Zhou Chen's assistance in refining by his side, Xu Yuan's Cultivation Technique needed only to be circulated once or twice for complete refinement, and he didn't have to distract himself by controlling the Will-spirit to gather the Qi.
With a near tenfold increase in speed of cultivation, Xu Yuan's mind was a whirl, but after adapting, he was ecstatic.
To know, the reason an Innate Taoist Body is so called is because, prior to reaching the realm of a Great Grandmaster, there are virtually no bottlenecks.
At this rate, his strength would grow extremely fast.
Cultivate, cultivate, and cultivate some more.
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With the buffs of top-tier Elixir Medicines, Source Crystals, Locking Spirit Formation, and Zhou Chen's refining assistance, the cultivation speed of an Innate Taoist Body could only be described as advancing ten thousand miles in a single day….
Time had passed unknown how long,
In the chamber lit by a Bright Pattern Lamp, there was utter silence.
The brocade-clad young master seated at the center was still serenely closing his eyes, quietly breathing in and out, while the stubble-faced burly man beside him had already begun to secrete beads of sweat on his forehead.
Zhou Chen watched Xu Yuan, who was cultivating with his eyes closed in front of him, with an expression that spoke of utter frustration.
Several times he wanted to speak, but in the end, he swallowed his words back down.
For the past ten days, the Third Young Master hadn't moved at all.
Whenever he was hungry, he would take out a cup from the Sumeru Ring and have a small sip of Spiritual Spring water, and as soon as the power of the Elixir Medicine was exhausted, he would immediately take out several small jade bottles and pop a few pills into his mouth to swallow.
As a Great Grandmaster,
Zhou Chen naturally recognized what kind of Elixir Medicine was contained in those jade bottles.
Dammit.
The raw materials for refining those elixirs could have been used to refine spirits that would enhance his own cultivation level, but now those top-grade medicinal ingredients were all being made into Elixir Medicines to assist low-level cultivators.
More importantly, Zhou Chen realized he was starting to struggle to keep up.
The Third Young Master's breathing rate was too fast.
Refining Origin Qi outside the body and refining it within the acupuncture points and meridians inside the body were entirely two different concepts.
The difference between the two was at least a hundredfold more difficult.
But no matter what, he, Zhou Chen, was still a Great Grandmaster.
The Third Young Master, a mere Ninth Grade Body Cultivator, shouldn't be able to breathe in and out so fast, even with the aid of Elixir Medicine and Source Crystals.
It seems…
The Third Young Master not only possesses an Innate Taoist Body,
but the Cultivation Technique he practices must also be one of the most unexcelled techniques in the world!
In the blink of a thought, Zhou Chen calmed his mind and concentrated on running his Cultivation Technique to aid Xu Yuan in his practice.
Perhaps,
the Third Young Master truly was worth his heavy investment now.
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पुरुष शक्ति दिन में 10 घंटे तक | इस ट्रिक को कम ही लोग जानते हैं
In the silently dedicated cultivation room, Origin Qi silently surged and circulated.
Cycling through his Cultivation Technique over and over again, Xu Yuan was like a greedy sponge, constantly soaking up the endlessly pure Origin Qi from his surroundings.
Time seemed to lose its measure within the cramped confines of the cultivation room.
Until,
a soft "pop" sound came from within his body.
Just like the previous two times, Xu Yuan felt as if something inside him had been broken without any sign.
He had broken through, again?
Feeling the fluctuation of Origin Qi inside his body, Xu Yuan slowly stopped the running Cultivation Technique and lifted his gaze towards Zhou Chen opposite him.
Before he could speak, Zhou Chen already took the lead with a smile:
"Congratulations, young master, on breaking through to the Eighth Grade Vessel Tempering."
His voice was soft, but it was clearly audible in the silent cultivation room.
Hearing this, Xu Yuan finally confirmed that he truly had broken through to the Eighth Grade.
Since he encountered no difficulties, naturally he couldn't talk much about joy.
However, breaking through and becoming stronger was ultimately a good thing.
After a pause, Xu Yuan nodded slightly:
"Mr.
Zhou has worked hard."
"It's nothing, just a bit tired," Zhou Chen said, shaking his head and smiling, though his complexion was faintly pale.
Of course, that was an act.
Aiding a Ninth Grade wasn't enough to damage a Great Grandmaster like him internally, it was just tiring.
But thinking about it, after this experience, the Third Young Master would inevitably ask him to assist in future cultivation sessions.
For such exhausting work, he had to get something out of it.
Seeing this, Xu Yuan understood, but he didn't pay it much mind.
If a subordinate truly had no desires or wants, that would be a concern.
Moreover, assisting someone in refining Origin Qi was bound to have many restrictions, and the fact that Zhou Chen's Cultivation Technique could break through these limits was already quite rare.
However, apart from silver, he couldn't afford to give Zhou Chen what he really wanted for the time being.
After pondering for a moment, Xu Yuan gave a slight bow and said aloud:
"I will report this matter to my father truthfully, and thank Mr.
Zhou for his assistance this time."
//56///
Has it only been a little over ten days?"
Xu Yuan, who had been immersed in cultivation, asked and found that only a little over ten days had passed.
To progress from Entry Level to Eighth Grade Channel Refining took him less than two months.
Even with some mental preparation, Xu Yuan couldn't help but be astonished by the speed of his cultivation.
Leaving the secret chamber where the Spiritual Spring was located, he walked out along the long corridor of the inner courtyard.
Xu Yuan chose not to continue cultivating.
That was because the Elixir Medicines that Xu Changge had left him were almost exhausted.
Without the effects of those elixirs to protect his channels and nourish his soul, prolonged cultivation would damage his foundation.
As he walked out, Xu Yuan saw many Protectors and instructors who came to the "Wuxuan Institute" for cultivation.
Those who could cultivate in the inner courtyard were mostly between Seventh and Sixth Grade, with only a few talented Eighth Graders.
There were both men and women.
Cultivation depends on one's talent, not gender.
The men were all muscular and toned.
The women, though still maintaining feminine curves, had solid muscles beneath their clothing.
Indeed, it was not about being fit, but about muscles, a build of muscular dominance.
Several of the women, who were quite attractive, were even bigger than Zhou Chen standing next to them.
As his gaze swept over them, Xu Yuan's eyelids twitched uncontrollably when their eyes inadvertently met.
Zhou Chen noticed Xu Yuan's gaze and chuckled oddly:
"Young Master, these people all follow the path of a martial disciple, training their bodies just like mortals do, so they tend to be very robust."
"Martial disciple?"
The new term surprised Xu Yuan, and he asked in a low voice, "What is a martial disciple?"
After the attack by Su Jinxuan, Xu Yuan realized that his understanding of the extraordinary powers of this world was still entirely insufficient, and he needed to learn some relevant information.
Zhou Chen chuckled again:
"Of course, our current cultivation of Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Grade was named after the Three Realms of the martial disciples defined by the Jiatiange in the past: Body Tempering, Channel Refining, and Bone Training…."
"Wait…"
Xu Yuan suddenly interrupted.
He had never heard the name before, including in Cang Yuan, and asked softly, "Is Jiatiange a Sect?"
Zhou Chen replied casually and without concern:
"Yes, but it has been destroyed for over ten thousand years.
Now most of the cultivation realms are divided according to their system."
"Divided the realms of cultivation in the world?" Xu Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.
Zhou Chen took another swig of wine:
"Of course, otherwise, do you think the current cultivation realms just popped out of thin air?
"Qi Path, Martial Path, Soul Path, Formation Path, many, many were defined by Jiatiange.
"However, since it's been ten thousand years, practices like that of the martial disciple are completely outdated by today's standards.
It's just that people have gotten used to the names, and since no one can unify and redefine them, the old names continue to be used."
"…."
Xu Yuan's eyes flickered for a moment, and he subconsciously wanted to inquire more information, but in the end, he restrained himself.
When it comes to the intricate details of cultivation routes, it would be better to go to the library and read through the ancient texts later.
Nodding slightly, composing his mind, Xu Yuan glanced at those martial disciples:
"Mr.
Zhou, please continue talking about them."
Zhou Chen smiled slightly:
"Naturally, those who walk the path of a martial disciple, only when they reach the peak of Seventh Grade Bone Training, will the Prime Minister's Mansion bestow upon them cultivation techniques for their training."
As he spoke,
Zhou Chen shook his head slightly as if with emotion:
"Don't be misled by their size now.
Once they enter Sixth Grade Iron Body and begin smelting their own sinews, bones, and flesh, they will naturally return to a normal state."
After listening closely, Xu Yuan asked with a trace of confusion:
"Mr.
Zhou, are you saying that they currently do not have cultivation techniques?
But without cultivation techniques, how can they draw Origin Qi into their bodies?"
Zhou Chen glanced at Xu Yuan and fell silent for a moment:
"Without cultivation techniques, they can only rely on the slow and steady body training methods of martial disciples."
Xu Yuan's mind stirred slightly:
"Can these body-training methods also draw Qi into the body?"
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Zhou Chen nodded and sighed:
"This method is indeed outdated, but the process of drawing Qi into the body is not slow, and it doesn't require the will-spirit.
However, it is very easy to incur lifelong debilitating issues."
"Hidden afflictions?"
Xu Yuan murmured with a frown, his thoughts racing as he figured out the key point, and he sighed softly.
They did not choose not to choose, they had no choice.
Zhou Chen shook his head, sighed, and chuckled softly:
"Young Master, for people like us, there is simply no other way to cultivate besides this.
We are already very grateful to have the cultivation methods of martial disciples.
"After all, cultivation techniques are just too far out of reach for ordinary people…"
Xu Yuan fell silent for a long while, then suddenly looked at those practicing martial arts in the courtyard and asked in a low voice:
"Mr.
Zhou, can you tell me about it?"
"…."
Zhou Chen also glanced at those "big guys," picked up the wine gourd from his waist, took a silent swig, his eyes revealing a trace of reminiscence as he started to ramble about some of the past to Xu Yuan….
…..
The fact that the old way of martial disciple cultivation still exists actually boils down to five words:
Techniques must not be passed on lightly.
Almost all the cultivation methods and secret manuals are monopolized by the Sects and noble families, but there are too many in this world who wish to change their fate through cultivation.
So many that the number of people who die for it each day is innumerable.
Zhou Chen, who had never come in contact with cultivation and wandered the streets, had seen countless people die without a place to bury them in struggles over scraps of incomplete techniques.
To obtain cultivation techniques, to access cultivation, ordinary people have only two options besides the rare fortuitous encounters: joining the military or becoming servants in noble families to receive rewards.
Don't even ask about the Sects; the way Sects recruit disciples is even less reliable.
Every few years, indeed, the Sects open their mountains on specific days to take in disciples, but those who are admitted at least need superior aptitude, and those with average talent are turned away.
The reason is simple.
Most Sects have existed for a thousand years by now, and those original disciples have long established noble families affiliated with the Sects.
These families continuously send their qualified offspring to the Sects for cultivation.
A Sect can only support so many people; if you, a person without any background, squeeze in, you're taking cultivation resources from the Sects' noble offspring.
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With the same cultivation aptitude, why should they choose you, an ordinary person without any background?
And under such circumstances,
Tian'an Commerce Assembly gradually established a martial hall named Tian'an several decades ago.
Back then, there were countless martial halls, but few have survived after so many years.
Because,
Tian'an Martial Hall teaches real kung fu, that is, the cultivation method for martial disciples.
And because of this,
Even with the protection of Dayan's Prime Minister, the vast Tian'an Commerce Assembly has been on the brink of destruction several times.
But as time passed, noble families, Sects, and their affiliated families eventually compromised and settled.
They too set up their own martial halls in the markets, but sadly, those that came after could not compare to the scale of the Tian'an Martial Hall under the Prime Minister's Mansion.
No matter what the ulterior motives and outcomes of the upper-level struggles were, after this, ordinary people finally gained a path to cultivation.
Even though the cultivation of martial disciples is fraught with difficulties,
Even though this method could damage one's foundation,
It was still the only chance for a group of people without any way to cultivate.
Zhou Chen was one of them back then.
Having scraped together silver by cheating and swindling from a young age in the streets, Zhou Chen became one of the first to enter the Tian'an Martial Hall for cultivation.
But inside the martial hall, things were very different from his expectations.
A hundred patterned silver exchanged for a life risked only bought him a book on body tempering fist techniques, a relatively tidy single room, and thousands of fellow students living outside the city.
No one-on-one teaching, no medicinal baths he had imagined, and not even a proper talent assessment.
This made him feel deceived.
But later, he gradually realized that the money was well spent.
At least, it was worth it for the geniuses.
Although Tian'an Martial Hall had just been established, its internal structure was already quite complete.
Various assessments, various leaderboards, and various competitions.
Simply put,
Those who can stay, those who can't must go.
Of course, you can stay without going, just continue to pay.
Cultivation resources are distributed according to ranking, the higher you are on the leaderboards, the more resources you get.
Everyone in the martial hall fights tooth and nail for that slight chance of ascent.
Countless are eliminated during this period…
Countless are injured or killed…
And Zhou Chen,
In such an environment,
Risked his life and fought his way up to become a Third Grade Great Grandmaster.
////57////
The Prime Minister is looking for you Zhou Chen's experience was indeed rare,
The challenges that these low-level martial disciples faced in cultivation stirred a feeling of lament,
but Xu Yuan's attention at the moment was more focused on the Tian'an Martial Hall.
With a Black Scale Guard like Ying'er, who was akin to a death-defying soldier, Xu Yuan had realized earlier than his so-called father must have his own private troop training system.
However, the cultivation of the Black Scale Guards was done in private, much like how the great families and clans raised servants, but the establishment of the Tian'an Martial Hall was a public matter.
Openly recruiting disciples from all over the world.
For ordinary people, this was a pathway to cultivation,
but for the Prime Minister's Mansion, it was also a form of public conscription.
Realizing this, Xu Yuan collected his thoughts and ceased to ponder further.
Pondering any more at the moment was useless; it was better to wait until he gained enough strength to directly ask his old man.
After leaving the Wuxuan Institute, Xu Yuan took Zhou Chen with him and headed straight for the library.
Devoid of Elixir Medicine to nurture his body, his meridians and will-spirit needed rest, but time could not be wasted.
Xu Yuan planned to spend this time reviewing some ancient books.
Although this place was not the Prime Minister's Mansion in the Imperial Capital, being the ancestral home of the current Chancellor, the library here also held many extremely rare and unique secrets.
How did Xu Yuan know this?
The tens of thousands of silver in the Sumeru Ring right now came from this knowledge—how could he not know?
.....
The Xuanwu Institute was located in the southwest corner of the servants' residence, while the library was at the north end, in the master's living area known as Anxiu Garden.
Having a vast estate was not always a good thing, but since Zhou Chen was quite talkative, the journey didn't feel dull.
Some of it was Zhou Chen's personal experiences, some were gossips about the Hook Bar, and some were internal news from the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Such as the emergence of a secret cultivation technique in a certain place, which led to hordes of martial disciples fighting over it, scores dying, only for the spoils to end up in the hands of the children from noble families.
And such as how in the Imperial Capital, there were courtesans listed on the Imperial Court's newsletter demanding obscenely high prices; just to have them in one's room for an evening, to listen to their music and poetry discussions, one would need to pay hundreds of taels of silver.
Or how, despite the high entry fees of Tian'an Martial Hall, it actually operated at a loss each year, requiring astronomical figures to be covered by the Tian'an Commerce Assembly.
Because of his status, Zhou Chen spoke of these things without any concern.
Idly chatting along the way, Xu Yuan's knowledge expanded a bit more.
Upon reaching the library's courtyard entrance, two Protectors on duty saluted Xu Yuan and immediately let him through.
The library was a four-story pavilion surrounded by bridges, pavilions, and trickling streams, the environment was quite antique and elegant.
Pushing the door open and entering, a small room came into view.
In the room, there was a quaint wooden table where sat an old man with white hair and beard, holding a book in his hands.
Xu Changtian used to steal books from here without this man being present.
Glancing sideways at Zhou Chen and seeing his unchanged expression, Xu Yuan guessed that this man was probably a caretaker dedicated to the library.
Xu Yuan and Zhou Chen walked straight past; the old man did not even bother to lift his eyes, still immersed in his book.
Seeing this, a hint of respect arose in Xu Yuan's heart.
Walking into the library, they didn't stop on the first floor, instead, they took the wooden stairs and headed straight to the top floor.
While walking, Xu Yuan asked curiously:
"Mr.
Zhou, was that old man very strong?"
Zhou Chen lifted his eyebrows slightly and said indifferently:
"A mere Soul Condensation, a Grade Fifth at the twilight of his life, there's not much to say about that."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan felt a bit disappointed.
He thought that the man's demeanour indicated that he might be an expert like the legendary sweeper monks, but it turned out he couldn't even sense Zhou Chen's level of cultivation.
At this moment, Zhou Chen chuckled and said:
"Young Master, the library here in Jingjiang Prefecture's estate doesn't hold anything particularly unusual; having a Grade Fifth protecting it is already somewhat excessive.
However, there's indeed a master living in the library over at the Imperial Capital, whom you might have encountered before."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan recalled briefly:
"That maid who was cleaning the books?"
Previously, when he went to the library in the Imperial Capital to steal books, he often encountered a maid cleaning the dust off bookshelves with a ladder in the attic.
A quite young woman, out of place amidst the weighty atmosphere of the library, who always looked at him with tender eyes as if seeing a junior, leaving a deep impression on him.
"It seems you really have seen her."
Zhou Chen nodded his head slightly and quietly said, "Don't be fooled by her youth, in reality, she's only a few years younger than me.
Originally, she was always by madam's side…"
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Zhou Chen abruptly fell silent.
The library was instantly enveloped in silence.
After several seconds of silence, Zhou Chen slowly continued with a gentle tone:
"Well…
in any case, she later went to serve in the mansion's library."
Xu Yuan did not speak further.
He knew why Zhou Chen had suddenly fallen silent.
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Because in his memories, he had almost no information about his mother.
Even if there was any, it was mostly frozen in his very early childhood.
With a father but no mother,
This was also one of the reasons why the original had become reclusive and turned wicked.
However, based on the timeline of the establishment of Tian'an Martial Hall that Zhou Chen mentioned, Xu Yuan could vaguely guess that his mother's death might be related to the setting up of the Martial Hall.
The two of them silently made their way to the fourth floor,
where Zhou Chen directly climbed out of the window to sit on the rooftop and drink sullenly, while Xu Yuan quietly browsed through various books on the top floor...
…
…
Time slowly passed, approaching noon.
"Third Young Master."
In the silent top floor of the library, a somewhat hoarse female voice rang out.
The sudden voice without any warning made Xu Yuan, who was fully engrossed in reading, tremble slightly in the hand that held the book.
Looking up, he saw it was Ying'er, clad in tight black clothes.
Xu Yuan frowned and asked,
"Is there something?"
"Yes."
"Speak."
"The Prime Minister is looking for you."
"…." Xu Yuan.
Brevity carried a punch, and Xu Yuan was taken aback in his heart.
Pondering for a moment, he realized that his old dad was unlikely to have traveled thousands of miles to Jingjiang City.
This "looking for him" must mean he was sending a message.
"Let's go."
Without further ado, Xu Yuan placed the book back on the shelf and headed downstairs.
Ying'er followed.
On their way down,
Xu Yuan seemed to remember something and suddenly asked,
"By the way, did that woman Su Jinxuan say anything?"Having handed Su Jinxuan over to Ying'er ten days ago, he figured she must have spilled everything by now.
Ying'er replied,
"She said some things, but not much."
Surprised, Xu Yuan thought,
"Su Jinxuan only said some?"
This was quite unexpected to him.
The cunning Su Jinxuan, although meticulous in her usual scheming, tended to become not-so-smart under pressure.
She could only be described as a very astute young lady.
Yet now, after staying under Ying'er's watch for more than ten days, she had only disclosed some things.
Her backbone was indeed quite firm.
Ying'er nodded,
"Yes, she only said some.
"I went out to take care of some business ten days ago and questioned her once, she revealed some things, and just today, upon my return to the mansion, I was planning to go and interrogate her again."
"….." Xu Yuan.
"….." Ying'er.
"Did you use the torture method I mentioned?"
"Yes."
"….."
There was quiet for a moment,
ten days,
Xu Yuan slightly imagined the mental state of that cunning woman…..
His body shuddered slightly.
He coughed lightly and, without further inquiry about Su Jinxuan, changed the subject,
"You said you stepped out earlier?
Why?"
"Investigating Qin Weijiu." Ying'er.
Xu Yuan paused, turning back to look,
"That Qin Weijiu is the same Mr.
Qin?
Any progress?"
"…." Ying'er kept her gaze down at her toes without speaking.
Xu Yuan was silent for a moment, then snorted lightly and walked out without saying a word.
If it had been Zhou Chen, he probably would have spoken frankly about the matter.
It seems,
Ying'er still requires some training.
////58///
Conversation Ying'er led Xu Yuan to a location in the northwest of the estate, a group of courtyards that were guarded very strictly.
Xu Yuan was familiar with this place.
Because in the vast Xu Residence of Jingjiang, this was the only area he, as the master, did not have permission to enter.
Of course,
this might also be related to his habit of always liking to "borrow" things from his own family to sell.
Xu Yuan guessed that somewhere in this area there must be something like a treasure vault, which was why they guarded against him, the Third Young Master, as if against a thief.
However, in his memory, he did have the experience of entering it.
Because his old dad and Xu Changge would occasionally call him, and that "phone" was located underground in this area.
But calling it a phone call, what could a father and son talk about?
Communicating with Xu Changge, driven to irritation at least one could curse at each other a few times, but talking with the Prime Minister father there was absolutely no common language.
Every conversation was almost like following a template—
"Father, you were looking for me."
"Mhm."
A silent pause for two sentences.
"How have things been recently?"
"Not bad."
"Mhm."
"Mhm."
Then silence continued.
The other side would ask something, this side would answer something, and after that, everyone would be silent together.
The silence lasted until both sides were completely awkward, then the Imperial Capital end would cut off the communication without a sound.
For that father, looking for him wasn't necessarily because there was something to discuss; most of the time, he just wanted to hear his voice.
The underground space was spacious and quiet.
In the large room, there was only a crystal sphere suspended in mid-air.
However, as soon as one's will-spirit probed out, one could sense the countless formation patterns engraved underneath the sphere.
This was the real-time communication device of this world.
Xu Yuan stood silently in front of the crystal sphere.
He had been here for two minutes.
After a brief round of questions, both sides had already been standing there for nearly thirty seconds.
Sure enough, it was awkward again.
After a good while,
Xu Yuan's lips moved slightly, and he took the initiative to speak:
"That…
I've reached the Eighth Grade."
There was silence for two seconds,
the crystal sphere flickered with light.
Then,
a steady middle-aged male voice came through, very calm, so calm as if there were no fluctuations of emotion:
"Mhm."
However, after his words fell, the other side seemed to realize his tone was too even, paused for a moment, and then added another sentence:
"Very good."
"…"
Perhaps influenced by memory, Xu Yuan couldn't help but let out a light laugh upon hearing this, but he immediately stopped himself once he realized.
But this light laugh must have still carried over, the crystal flickered, and the voice came through:
"I heard from Changge that you are now in good constitution?"
Upon hearing that, Xu Yuan's heart relaxed and he answered:
"Ordinary, just a little stronger than him, just an Innate Taoist Body."
"…." Xu Father.
After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan heard a faint sigh.
The other side seemed to want to laugh, but held back.
The voice that came through again was still even-tempered, with a hint of advice:
"Being able to cultivate is a good thing; improve your strength as soon as possible.
If you finish the Elixir Medicine that Changge gave you, you can go to the steward of the residence to ask for more."
This father, like Xu Changge, did not inquire how Xu Yuan's constitution came about.
Xu Yinhè had gone from a mere commoner to wielding great power in Dayan, and naturally, he had encountered countless opportunities along his path.
The child has grown up.
If he wishes to speak out, Xu Yinhè would support him; if not, he would let him be.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan's eyes brightened, but after pondering for a second, he still said:
"Ahem…
Father, the reason for my fast cultivation speed is actually due to Mr.
Zhou's merit as well; his cultivation technique can aid me in my cultivation."
He hadn't forgotten the promise to Zhou Chen.
Although it was just a word from him, for Zhou Chen, it might represent a bottle of medicine that could enhance his cultivation.
Such things are best not forgotten.
The other side fell silent for a moment, then the voice came again:
"Zhou Chen?
The cultivation technique he practices indeed has that effect."
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"Mhm," Xu Yuan responded.
"Very good."
A word of praise.
But it was unclear whether it was directed at Zhou Chen, or at Xu Yuan for being able to get Zhou Chen to actively assist him.
He paused for a moment before finally speaking:
"I will arrange for someone to handle Zhou Chen's matter."
After saying that,
the familiar silence returned.
However, this time it lasted for less than ten seconds.
Xu Yuan hesitated slightly, but still decided to speak:
"Father, what is Qin Weijiu's background?"
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this question, the voice on the other end responded with a light note of surprise, slowly replying, "Are you interested?"
When speaking of this matter, the normally stern and composed voice clearly displayed a hint of mirth.
Sizi Yu and Ying'er had organized and reported their actions and behaviors over these days to Xu Yinhè.
He was very satisfied with the way the other party had handled the Enchantress Divine Physique.
Compared to his son's level of cultivation, he was truly relieved that he was willing to apply his mind to proper pursuits.
Xu Yuan naturally replied, "Of course I'm interested.
If it weren't for my Innate Soul Body's will-spirit being naturally condensed, I would have already been controlled by that seductive fox.
I naturally need to be concerned about this matter."
That Qin Weijiu was so notorious that even the villagers knew of him, so his background couldn't possibly be simple.
Since he as the son couldn't investigate it thoroughly, their father must have ways to do so.
After hearing his words, the other end fell silent for a moment before suddenly speaking:
"Alright, Changge, you tell your brother about Qin Weijiu."
"…" Xu Yuan.
So that's why the old man started with a laugh.
Turns out Xu Changge had been eavesdropping the whole time.
That's not martial decency.
In the Imperial Capital, within the Prime Minister's Mansion, the study room.
The Imperial Family's special supply of Tianyuan sandalwood wafted throughout the study, while a slight breeze, coming through the open windows, carried the fragrance to every corner.
The room was very still.
A crystal sphere, several times smaller than the one beneath Jingjiang Prefecture, floated quietly in mid-air.
An elder and a youth were kneeling in front of a table intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes, savoring tea and engaging in slow conversation.
The two had similar features,
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The younger man's face was handsome, and he wore a flowing robe of aquamarine.
The older man had temples graying at the sides; his attire was a black dragon robe, his demeanor grave and dignified, especially his eyes that could send a shiver down anyone's spine with just one glance.
However, at this moment, the middle-aged man's eyes carried a rare hint of gentleness and amusement.
Xu Changge helplessly looked up at his father, then softly spoke to his brother, who boasted a higher talent, on the other end of the line:
"Qin Weijiu is a rather complicated person.
More than ten years ago, I traveled with him in Jiangnan Prefecture, and upon first meeting…"
"I am aware of that," the crystal sphere suddenly interrupted.
Xu Changge continued in his light and clear voice:
"At the Tianyuan Convention thirteen years ago, I and he…"
"I am also aware of that," the crystal sphere in mid-air interrupted again.
Xu Changge glanced silently at his father across from him, who appeared unperturbed, and held back:
"Sigh…
Qin Weijiu is someone from the Sects, born in a millennium-old Sect family…"
"Ah…" the crystal sphere sighed.
"….," Xu Changge's fist clenched slightly.
The crystal sphere spoke solemnly:
"…Xu Changge, can't you get straight to the point?"
"….."
Xu Changge did not continue, but instead softly called out the name of the other:
"Xu Changtian."
"Hmm?"
"Shut your mouth."
"Heh, did I say something wrong?
Aren't these matters common knowledge to the world….."
"I have something to do in Jiuyuan City in a while," Xu Changge unexpectedly said.
"….."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan was stunned, then immediately muted himself.
Jiuyuan City,
Forty li in a straight line from Jingjiang Prefecture.
"Hmmph!"
Seeing Xu Yuan had stopped talking, Xu Changge let out a cold snort and began to recount in a soft and slow voice the matters concerning Qin Weijiu to his brother.
The information was detailed and exhaustive, covering most of the man's life experiences from birth to the present.
And he emphasized a few key points of suspicion.
After listening carefully, Xu Yuan felt a certain stirring in his heart.
Clearly,
While he was engrossed in his cultivation, Xu Changge, his older brother, had clearly put in a great deal of effort to investigate the details of this Qin Weijiu.
After a long silence,
Xu Yuan finally asked softly:
"Father, do you know of a place called the Burial Village?"