In the bedroom, Xu Xinnian sat by the round table in his white undergarments, silently watching his elder brother.

After a long while, he smiled bitterly and said:

“So, this is your farewell before death, Big Brother?”

“It matters not. If you die, the Nine Provinces will face catastrophe regardless. You’ll just be going ahead of us, and perhaps our family will reunite soon enough.”

Xu Qi’an replied:

“Don’t be so pessimistic. Perhaps I can turn the tide—when have you ever seen your Big Brother lose? Though I admit the chances aren’t great. Against two Transcendent Realm experts, my odds of defeat are ninety-nine percent, and death ninety percent.”

“That’s why I had to come to see Second Brother. Now I’ll have no regrets.”

“You’ve been a good brother, never disappointing me. I’m grateful to have come to this world, to have such an uncle, such an aunt, and sisters like Lingyu and Linyin.”

Xu Xinnian opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

“The situation indeed seems hopeless, but as the eldest son of the Second House, you should know this, and bear the pressure it brings.” Seeing Xu Xinnian’s dim eyes, he smiled encouragingly:

“After I set sail, remember to assist His Majesty and the Inner Cabinet in evacuating civilians toward the capital. It’s an enormous task, but it’s what you can do right now. Your Big Brother is just a rough fighter who only knows combat.”

“When catastrophe comes, what I can do is limited. We need to work together.”

Xu Xinnian nodded.

Xu Qi’an patted his shoulder and said softly:

“I’m going!”

“Big Brother…” Xu Xinnian suddenly stood up, watching his retreating figure, choking out:

“You’ve been a good big brother too.”

Xu Qi’an didn’t turn around, just waved his hand.

The next moment, he appeared in Ye Ji’s room. Since he hadn’t concealed his presence, she immediately sensed him and opened her eyes.

“Lord Xu?”

Ye Ji was both delighted and surprised.

Ever since his marriage, Xu Qi’an had spent his nights in Lin’an’s chambers, only coming to her at dawn or just before daybreak.

“I have matters to discuss with the Nine-Tailed Fox.”

Xu Qi’an sat on the bed, gently stroking Ye Ji’s beautiful hair.

The room was dark, and Ye Ji could only see her lover’s solemn expression in the moonlight filtering through the window. Her heart sank, but she didn’t ask questions:

“Alright!”

She lifted the thin blanket and got out of bed, stepping into her embroidered shoes. Crouching down, she pulled out a box from under the bed and carefully took out a copper fox-shaped incense burner and two black incense sticks.

She pinched the tip of the incense with her fingers, lit it, and inserted it into the burner. Closing her eyes, she chanted devoutly, then took a deep breath, inhaling the blue smoke through her nose and mouth.

Ye Ji’s left eye gradually lit up with a misty, clear light.

She turned her head to look at Xu Qi’an sitting on the bed, smiling coyly:

“Miss me?”

Her voice was sweet and seductive, like a lover’s playful tone.

She swayed her hips as she sat on the bed, hooking her arm around Xu Qi’an’s shoulders, gazing at him flirtatiously.

Xu Qi’an wasn’t in the mood for flirting. He said gravely:

“The Gu God has emerged from the Extreme Abyss. Now there’s good news and bad news.”

The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox said coquettishly:

“Let’s hear the bad news first.”

Xu Qi’an looked at her with pity:

“The bad news is that the Gu God has set sail to find you, which is why I rushed to have Ye Ji notify you.”

“Ye Ji’s” expression changed dramatically. She released her arms from his neck, her voice becoming sharp:

“Don’t joke with me.”

She became cowardly so quickly… Xu Qi’an said irritably:

“You started the joking with your seduction.”

After the Nine-Tailed Fox sat up straight with an unhappy expression, he told her about the future Old Lady Gu had foreseen.

“I cannot protect both the Nine Provinces and the overseas territories. Return immediately to aid your father.”

The Nine-Tailed Fox had nine lives—no, eight lives—and was a First-Realm demon, equivalent to eight First-Realm experts.

This was enough power to change the outcome of a local battle.

With her presence, Great Zhou’s transcendent experts could face the Buddhist sect’s three Bodhisattvas and focus on supporting Shen Shu.

After informing the Nine-Tailed Fox, he consoled the grief-stricken Ye Ji, then teleported to Mu Nanzhi’s room.

Great Zhou’s greatest beauty was sleeping sweetly, embracing Bai Ji.

After being startled awake by Xu Qi’an, she said irritably:

“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t disturb my sleep.”

One look told her Xu Qi’an hadn’t come for intimacy—such was their mutual understanding.

“The Gu God has broken free from the seal, and It’s going to kill the Observatory Master…” Xu Qi’an explained the situation, “I must set sail.”

It took Mu Nanzhi a long while to merely grunt an “Mm.”

“Rest well.” Xu Qi’an turned around, mentally counting three, two, and one.

She suddenly threw off her blanket, running barefoot to tightly embrace Xu Qi’an from behind, choking with sobs:

“I won’t let you go.”

Xu Qi’an turned around. In the darkness, her eyes were red-rimmed, tears rolling down her pointed chin.

At that moment, Xu Qi’an nearly nodded in agreement, wanting only to hold and cherish the beautiful woman before him.

He forcefully turned his head away, smiling:

“You should understand me.”

“I don’t understand, I don’t understand, I don’t understand…” Mu Nanzhi buried her face in his chest, shaking her head vigorously.

The room fell silent, broken only by her sobs.

After a long while, she wiped away her tears and pushed hard against Xu Qi’an’s chest, turning away coldly:

“Get out!”

Xu Qi’an smiled, his figure vanishing from the room.

Unfortunately, Luo Yuhen had already departed for Lei Province, so they couldn’t meet one last time.

Chu Caiwei, being the worst student in the Celestial Observatory, was undoubtedly stumped by this question.

She vaguely remembered having done this problem before, but couldn’t recall the answer.

Fortunately, Song Qing was beside her. She quickly tugged at the drowsy Song Qing, saying coquettishly:

“Senior Brother Song, His Majesty is asking you a question.”

Song Qing finally came to his senses, frowning:

“What is it?”

“His Majesty wants to know how to concentrate fortune. Do you have any methods?” Chu Caiwei showed rare cleverness.

Though Song Qing had major personality flaws, he was undeniably an excellent scholar. Among the Observatory Master’s six direct disciples, except for Chu Caiwei, each was a top expert among practitioners.

He didn’t think long before answering:

“For ordinary people to concentrate on fortune, they must be Qi practitioners. For emperors to concentrate fortune, besides what I mentioned earlier, there’s another way.”

“Your Majesty can use the Spirit Dragon to concentrate fortune.”

“Spirit Dragon?” Huai Qing pondered.

Song Qing said:

“The Spirit Dragon feeds on purple qi and cannot exist without mortal emperors, but does Your Majesty know why every dynasty keeps a Spirit Dragon?”

The standard answer is that the Spirit Dragon symbolizes legitimacy… Huai Qing said:

“Please explain.”

“Because the Spirit Dragon can balance national fortune, preventing a dynasty’s fate from declining at its peak, allowing the national fortune to last longer. You must know that extreme prosperity leads to decline—this is a rule of heaven and earth that nothing can escape.” Song Qing explained at length:

“The Spirit Dragon balances national fortune by absorbing excess fortune and releasing it when the dynasty’s fortune weakens. This is its innate divine ability.”

“I once heard Master Observatory say that Yuan Jing, no, Zhen De, used the Spirit Dragon to draw away the fortune within him, reducing his imperial fortune to its lowest point.”

Using the Spirit Dragon to concentrate fortune was something only emperors could do.

Song Qing continued:

“However, the Spirit Dragon isn’t a practitioner. The fortune it can concentrate on is limited—it can’t absorb half the national fortune like Xu Yinluo. Moreover, the Spirit Dragon likely won’t be willing…”

Huai Qing said:

“I understand.”

After dismissing Chu Caiwei and Song Qing, she immediately took out the Earth Book and, following Xu Qi’an’s instructions, informed the Heaven and Earth Society members about Old Lady Gu’s prophecy.

At this time, Li Lingsu was the most idle. When the Saint saw the message, his heart grew cold.

[Seven: It’s over!]

Xu Ningyan was finished, and the Central Plains would be too.

[Four: Who would have thought the Gu God set sail to kill the Observatory Master?]

In their previous discussions, they had thoroughly analyzed the overseas situation. After Xu Qi’an took away the Light Gate, only Huang and the Observatory Master remained overseas. With the Heaven and Earth Society members’ wisdom, they had considered whether the Gu God might seek these two by setting sail.

But for what purpose?

Neither should have been reason enough for the Gu’s God to go to such lengths.

What did the Gu’s God want with these two?

Even now, Chu Yuanzhen couldn’t understand why the Gu’s God wanted to kill the Observatory Master. Though powerful, he was just a Destiny Master. By now, First Realm experts couldn’t influence the bigger picture.

[Nine: Ningyan is in danger.]

Golden Lotus Daoist’s message was brief.

Going overseas, he would face two Transcendent Realm experts—the pressure was imaginable.

They had all witnessed Shen Shu and Buddha fighting. A half-step Martial God could contend with Transcendent Realm experts, but being able to contend didn’t mean being able to fight to the death—defeat was inevitable.

Let alone against two Transcendent Realm experts.

[One: So, he can’t look after us. Everyone, I’m counting on you.]

The situation in the Central Plains was equally grim, not much safer than Xu Qi’an’s position.

These transcendent experts would face three First-Realm experts from the Buddhist sect and the Transcendent Realm Buddha. Any of them could fall.

And this time, Xu Qi’an wouldn’t descend from the heavens.

In the capital.

Late at night, Li Lingsu put down the Earth Book fragment and gently removed the beauty’s arms from around him, silently dressing and putting on his shoes.

“Lord Li?”

The beauty in bed awoke, holding her chest with one hand while grabbing him with the other, saying coquettishly: “You’re mine tonight, you can’t leave.”

Li Lingsu broke free from her grasp:

“I need to return to my sect.”

“Hasn’t the Heaven Sect sealed its mountain?” She frowned.

Li Lingsu gritted his teeth, “Your young master will break through even if I have to use my head.”

With that, he pushed open the door and flew straight into the clouds on his sword.

Low cultivation meant he couldn’t participate in transcendent battles—even immortals couldn’t change this fact. But he couldn’t bear to lie comfortably with women in the capital while his friends fought for their lives on the front lines.

In Lei Province.

Shen Shu shot arrows repeatedly, causing explosions in the ocean of flesh and blood, sending bits of meat flying and creating deep craters, but this could only barely slow the Buddha’s invasion of Lei Province’s territory.

How could he stop it?

Shen Shu dared not engage in close combat because he was isolated. Once affected by Buddha’s nine great dharma bodies, with three First-Realm experts assisting, his defeat would be certain.

In the past, Shen Shu wouldn’t have feared this. A half-step Martial God was immortal—even a Transcendent Realm expert couldn’t kill him.

But now, Buddha was different from before. If restrained by It and taken to the Western Regions, even a half-step Martial God would die.

Additionally, the three First-Realm Bodhisattvas couldn’t be underestimated. Their dharma bodies weren’t as powerful as Buddha’s, but they could still affect Shen Shu.

More troublesome was that earlier, he had used Confucian magic pages to conceal his killing intent and shot an arrow that destroyed Guangxian’s physical body, which should have temporarily incapacitated him.

But Buddha’s Medicine Master Dharma body’s light wheel turned once, and Guangxian’s injuries were healed.

The three Bodhisattvas effectively gained immortality.

At this moment, in his field of vision, Liuli and the Karura Tree suddenly vanished, appearing dozens of zhang away from Shen Shu. The latter quickly formed hand seals, solidifying this space.

Seizing the brief opportunity when Shen Shu broke through the spatial barrier, Liuli stomped his foot, draining the color from the surrounding scenery as the barrier rapidly spread toward Shen Shu.

On the other side, masses of flesh surged forward frantically, trying to take advantage of the moment to approach Shen Shu.

The Buddhist sect’s two Bodhisattvas and Buddha coordinated perfectly.

Suddenly, a shadow rose from beneath Shen Shu’s feet, enveloping him. The Dark Gu faction leader, who had been hiding in Shen Shu’s shadow all along, carried him away in a leap.