Even when he saw Hong Shenshang approaching, Su Hongli didn’t get up. His expression was flat, with a hint of distance. “Take a seat.”

Hong Shenshang thought nothing of it. He clasped his fist and subtly inclined his head at the Daoist elder. “Fellow Daoist, long time no see.”

The elder smiled and nodded back. “State Preceptor, your bearing is even more impressive than in the past. Congratulations!”

Hong Shenshang casually found a place to sit, then said, “I came here in the middle of the night to discuss two matters. Once I’ve finished, I’ll leave.”

“Please, tell me directly,” said Su Hongli.

Hong Shenshang’s faint golden eyes turned toward Su Yi. “First, within a few days, Su Yi will arrive in the Jade Capital. His Majesty ordered me to inquire about your attitude toward the situation.” 

“This is Su Family business,” said Su Hongli without so much as pausing to think. “I will naturally resolve it on my own. When the time comes, His Majesty can see for himself.”

Hong Shenshang’s brow furrowed, but a moment later, he nodded. “The second matter is that two diplomatic missions are on their way here; both the Great Qin and the Great Wei have dispatched emissaries to the Great Zhou. It’s estimated that they’ll arrive in the Great Zhou in seven days.”

Su Hongli’s eyebrows shifted upward. “Is there something different about these two diplomatic missions?”

“They are indeed unusual,” said Hong Shenshang. “Or you could say, unprecedented.”

He paused, then continued, “As of now, all we know is that the Great Wei’s diplomatic mission is under the leadership of the Wheel of the Moon Sect’s high elder, Yun Zhongqi.

“The Great Qin’s mission is led by the chief elder of Shanglin Temple’s Arhat Hall, Lonely River.”

Su Hongli’s gaze was now somewhat serious, and he muttered, “This really isn’t simple.”

Both the Wheel of the Moon Sect’s High Elder Yun Zhongqi and Shanglin Temple’s chief elder of the Arhat Hall, Lonely River, were long famous Earthly Immortals!

These were just diplomatic missions, yet each was led by an Earthly Immortal. This was practically unprecedented.

The Daoist elder had been silent throughout this exchange, but now, he suddenly spoke up. “Could they be here on account of Su Yi?”

“It’s highly likely,” said Hong Shenshang. “According to the Imperial Palace’s Shadow Dragon Guards’ informants, Su Yi slew the Wheel of the Moon Sect’s outside sect elder, Liu Hongqi, while he was still in the Imperatorial Provincial Capital. Furthermore, his serving girl, Cha Jin, is one of their legacy disciples.

“And just a few days ago, Su Yi ventured onto Treasure Temple Yao Mountain. It’s suspected that conflict occurred between him and the elder of the Taming Dragon Hall, Sutra Crane, as well as those accompanying him.

“According to the Ten Directions Pavilion’s reports, Sutra Crane and his companions all died on Treasure Temple Yao Mountain. I’m afraid Su Yi was directly involved with this, too.”

Hong Shenshang then glanced at Su Hongli once more. “This means that this time, emissaries from both the Great Qin and the Great Wei have quite likely come here targeting Su Yi.”

Su Hongli met Hong Shenshang’s gaze head-on. “That unworthy child of mine might have caused trouble, but what does that have to do with me? Don’t tell me they’d dare hold me accountable for this?”

Hong Shenshang shook his head. “No, I suspect that the cultivators of the Great Wei and Great Qin believe there’s something fishy about Su Yi. It’s highly likely that they’re targeting whatever good fortune he’s hiding on him.”

“Fortune?” Su Hongli’s face couldn’t hide his mockery. “Now that you mention it, weren’t the various experts that attempted to intercept that unworthy descendant’s journey targeting his so-called ‘good fortune’ too? But who knows what fortune he’s hiding, if any?”

Hong Shenshang’s gaze was deep and profound. “Brother Su, don’t tell me that even with your abilities, you can’t see through the boy’s secrets?”

Su Hongli said calmly, “I know what you suspect, and I know you have ample reason to suspect it. You think that unfilial whelp is the same type of person as you. Let me tell you: he isn’t.”

Hong Shenshang instantly fell silent. 

A while later, he rose. “I’ve already said everything I had to say, so allow me to bid you farewell.”

With that, he turned and left.

Su Hongli remained seated. He had no intention of getting up and seeing the preceptor out.

The Daoist elder, however, got up and saw him to the door.

When they emerged from the grand hall, Hong Shenshang suddenly asked, “Fellow Daoist, what do you think?”

The elder smiled faintly. “State Preceptor, there’s no need for impatience. Today is only the tenth day of the fourth lunar month. Next month, on the fourth, the answer to all these mysteries might well become clear.”

“The fourth day of the fifth month…” Hong Shenshan pondered in silence for a while, then clasped his fist. “Farewell.”

He strode off, while the elder turned and re-entered the hall with a bit of a rueful sigh. “I can see it already: in the days to come, the Jade Capital will be lively indeed.”

Su Hongli said calmly, “Compared to a bit of uproar, I’m more concerned with the impending ‘Radiant Epoch.’ Just when will it arrive?”

“The Radiant Epoch… Is sure to throw the world into chaos…” The elderly Daoist sighed. “Fellow Daoist, do you remember what Ge Changling once said? When the Radiant Epoch arrives, everything shackled in the Azure Continent will sweep across the world once more.”

A few sentences drifted up into Su Hongli’s mental sea:

“The sealed power will one day break free of the earth.

“Everything that is shackled will one day escape its bonds.

“The grand events and bloodshed of days long gone will return even grander than before.

“Before the mists part, consider all unusual occurrences omens!”

Some time passed before Su Hongli finally said, “I’m looking forward to it.”

……

Meanwhile, beneath the same night sky.

The Lanling Xiao Family.

Su Yi reclined leisurely in a courtyard. He was sobering up.

Earlier, he’d engaged in a night of drunken revelry with Xiao Tianque, Xiao Hengqiu, and the other Xiao Family higher-ups. He had no idea just how many jars of wine he’d consumed, but even now, he felt a bit intoxicated.

If only Cha Jin were here, Su Yi thought to himself. He thought for a moment, then patted the Soul-Nurturing Gourd. 

The spacy, adorable Qing Wan floated up in her red dress, then batted her big, shiny eyes timidly. “Mystic Master, what are your orders?”

“Rub my shoulders for me,” said Su Yi.

“Oh!” Qing Wan hurriedly got to work. She stretched out her fair, slender hands and pressed down on Su Yi’s shoulders, using just the right amount of force.

Su Yi closed his eyes in contentment, then asked distractedly, “How’s your progress with the Ten Directions Asura Sutra I taught you?”

“Reporting to Mystic Master, I’m only one step away from metamorphosing into a phantasm!” As Qing Wan said this, her eyes sparkled like crystals.

“Don’t rush. The path of a ghost cultivator is far more dangerous than other roads, and it’s full of pitfalls. The firmer your foundations, the greater heights you’ll reach,” said Su casually.

A ghost becoming a phantasm was like a human martial artist becoming an Origin Dao cultivator in a single bound!

When the time came, Qing Wan would be a true cultivator in every sense. The only difference was that she walked the path of the ghost cultivator. 

However, becoming a phantasm required undergoing the tribulation of metamorphosis. This was perilous to the extreme, and ordinary apparitions had no hope of overcoming it.

This was because, compared to ordinary living things, apparitions were the most likely to suffer divine punishment as they pursued immortality and sought the Dao.

Su Yi thought for a moment, then added, “When you undergo your tribulation to become a phantasm, I’ll act as your dharma protector.”

“Many thanks, Mystic Master!” Qing Wan instantly burst into excited laughter, and her eyes closed in contentment, like pretty little crescent moons. She rubbed Su Yi’s shoulders with even greater enthusiasm, and from time to time, she swung her little fists and pounded his back.

“Since you started your cultivation, have you recovered any of your memories?” asked Su Yi.

Qing Wan looked a bit lost. She shook her head. “I haven’t.”

“It seems we’ll have to wait until you step onto the true path of cultivation, but there’s no rush. I already know that the soul jade you once occupied most likely came from another world,” said Su Yi. “The seal deep within Bloodthistle Yao Mountain will fall apart sooner or later, and when it does, numerous otherworld cultivators will swarm in. When the time comes, I’ll just catch a few and ask them.”

“Mm!” grunted Qing Wan. She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Mystic Master, I’m actually quite satisfied with this life of cultivating. I have no fears, worries, or troubles, and I don’t need to think about anything. It’s great….”

Su Yi laughed. “That’s because you’re with me! Had any other cultivator found you, I’m afraid they’d have seen you as a treasure and refined you a long time ago…”

Qing Wan stuck out her tongue, then said timidly, “Mystic Master, I won’t leave you, not unless… Not unless you don’t want me anymore…..”

As she said that last part, her voice trailed off.

Su Yi stretched. “How could I possibly not want you anymore? When I’m ready to step into the Spirit Dao, I’ll need you to engage in dual cultivation with me. We’ll establish our foundations together.”

Dual cultivation….. Qing Wan’s pretty but slightly chubby cheeks instantly turned as red as an apple, and she bashfully lowered her head. The mystic master, he… So, he’s still thinking about that…

“Master Su, there’s a big monk outside. He says he’s here to see you.” Zijin’s voice rang out from beyond the courtyard.

Su Yi patted the soft little hand Qing Wan had placed on his shoulder. “You should go back for now.”

“Ah…! Okay.” Qing Wan reacted as if she’d been struck by lightning. She hurriedly lowered her hand, turned into a puff of smoke, and disappeared into the Soul-Nurturing Gourd. 

I just touched her hand, but she had such a big reaction? Su Yi shook his head, then faced the courtyard gates and said, “Miss Zijin, have him come in.”

Before long, someone pushed the gates open from the outside, and an enormously fat monk waddled in. He practically had to squeeze through the doorway to fit through it.

He wore tattered monk’s robes, with half his chest uncovered. His face was shiny and greasy.

When he saw Su Yi leaning back in his wicker chair, he instantly took several rapid steps forward, smiled, and clasped his fist.

“Monk Hongji greets you, Young Lord Su!”

Su Yi glanced at the monk. The man was so fat that his cheeks jiggled when he smiled. “What have you come for?”

The monk, Hongji, said hurriedly, “I won’t keep it a secret. I’m here as a representative of the Ten Directions Pavilion. First, I’m here to deliver treasure. Second, there’s something I wish to discuss with you.”

As he spoke, he took out a bag of holding and proffered it with both hands. “Young Lord Su, this contains the twenty tier-five spirit stones you’re entitled to as per our agreement. Please, accept them.”

Su Yi exclaimed, “Doesn’t your Ten Directions Pavilion contact people exclusively through Swiftlight Sparrows? Why did you make a personal appearance this time?”

The monk smiled and explained, “Young Lord Su, you’re no ordinary man, and we naturally cannot treat you irreverently. This is a display of the Ten Directions Pavilion’s sincerity. We hope that you won’t pursue what happened earlier or misunderstand our intentions.”

Su Yi was indeed a bit surprised. Who’d have thought that the organization famed for its secretiveness, a faction spread throughout the Great Zhou, Great Wei, and Great Qin, would be so polite?

The monk’s attitude wasn’t just respectful; he was so zealous that it made him seem a bit terrified…

Su Yi thought, then said, “Then what matter brought you here this time?”