“Who are you?” The tall and imposing guard scrutinized Li Lingsu. Seeing his dignified appearance and extraordinary handsomeness, the guard immediately became cautious.

“Tell the president that Li Lingsu wants to see him,” the Holy Son said, standing with his hands behind his back, exuding an impressive air.

One of the guards looked at him a few times, then hurried into the merchant association.

About half a quarter of an hour later, a middle-aged man dressed like a wealthy merchant came running out, scanning the entrance until he locked eyes with Li Lingsu.

“President Yang, it’s been half a year since we last met. How have you been?” Li Lingsu formed a Taiji fish shape with his hands – the standard Daoist greeting.

“Daoist Li, it’s you! I should be asking how you’ve been. Have you managed to escape those two demonesses chasing you?” President Yang was overjoyed and warmly welcomed him.

“The escape has never stopped!” Li Lingsu sighed. Then, looking at Xu Qi’an and Mu Nanzhi, he said, “These are my friends.”

President Yang hurriedly cupped his fists in greeting: “I am Yang Youde. It’s an honor to meet you, great heroes.” He knew Li Lingsu was the Holy Son of the Celestial Sect, part of the jianghu world, so addressing his friends as “great heroes” was a safe bet.

Mu Nanzhi nodded gracefully.

Xu Qi’an returned the greeting with a warm smile. This President Yang had Spirit Refinement realm cultivation, with his aura well-concealed. Though portly and smiling amiably, this was just a facade – his true combat strength was not weak.

In this world, ordinary people couldn’t make big money. To be wealthy, one needed either background or strength.

Under President Yang’s lead, the group entered the association and took seats in the main hall.

After they were seated, President Yang instructed a maid to serve tea, saying, “This is local white tea from Zhang Prefecture. Please, have a taste.”

The three picked up their teacups. Li Lingsu and Xu Qi’an’s eyes lit up as they praised the tea, while Mu Nanzhi took a sip and gently set it down.

President Yang, experienced in social graces and keen on observing details, noticed this but pretended not to see.

“I’ve heard there are two ways to drink aged white tea – one requires awakening, the other doesn’t. I just find this tea delicious, but I’m not sure which type it is,” Li Lingsu said with a smile.

At the same time, he transmitted a message to Xu Qi’an and Mu Nanzhi: “Yang Youde loves tea. Although I have a connection with the young lady of the Lei Province Merchant Association, the Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles are the association’s lifeline. Without a token, it will be difficult to borrow them.”

So this is a “business social engagement,” Xu Qi’an thought. This is my forte, whether from my previous life in the business world or my experiences in official circles in the capital. This is my domain.

Unfortunately, he had to maintain his persona as a lofty expert. If he appeared too down-to-earth or worldly, it would clash too severely with his previously established character, and his persona would crumble.

Little Li, the task of drinking with the leader falls to you…

As expected, President Yang smiled and began introducing white tea to the knowledgeable Li Lingsu.

When they had chatted enough, Li Lingsu coughed and said, “President Yang, I’ve come here with a request.”

President Yang’s smile remained unchanged as he replied, “Whatever Daoist Li needs, as long as it’s within my power, I will do my utmost to fulfill it.”

“I want to borrow three Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles.”

“…”

President Yang stared at him blankly, his expression seeming to say: Can I take back what I just said?

“This… this… Daoist Li, the Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles are the lifeline of our association. Each one was purchased at great cost. Even I would face severe punishment for lending them out privately.”

Li Lingsu smiled and said, “I know, that’s why I’ve come to you, President Yang, to entrust you with transporting a piece of cargo to Rou’er.”

“Cargo?”

“That’s right, and that cargo is me,” Li Lingsu paused, then continued:

“The Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles have limited carrying capacity. Flying with two people is too slow, and they need to rest every hour. I need to borrow three. For supervision, you can send out an additional eagle to accompany us to Lei Province.”

Flying with two people is a different concept from running with two people.

President Yang shook his head with a smile. “Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles are spirit beasts. Only their trainers can ride them. Outsiders can’t ride them alone.”

Xu Qi’an immediately said, “I can solve that problem.”

You? President Yang stared at him, the middle-aged man falling into hesitation.

Although Daoist Li had an extraordinary relationship with the young lady, that was just a personal connection. What did it have to do with him? If the spirit beasts were lost, he would face punishment from headquarters.

There was no benefit, and it wasn’t worth the risk.

However, this young Daoist with perfect features had an ambiguous relationship with the young lady, who was destined to enter the association’s decision-making circle in the future. Offending him now would be unwise.

At this moment, Mu Nanzhi’s melodious voice said, “If you lend us three spirit beasts, I’ll give you three packets of flower tea.”

Flower tea?

President Yang doubted his ears, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He didn’t know whether to call this woman naive or foolish.

A single Red-Tailed Fierce Eagle cost three thousand taels of silver, and even then, they were priceless. Compared to silver, the resources and effort spent on breeding and training them, as well as their inherent rarity, were things that couldn’t be measured in silver.

Just as he was about to refuse, he saw this woman of ordinary appearance extend her delicate white hand toward the equally ordinary-looking man.

The latter placed a brocade pouch in her palm. It’s worth mentioning that this pouch was taken from Xu Qi’an’s cousin Ji Qian when he was killed, and it still contained more than a dozen magical artifact cannons and crossbows.

Mu Nanzhi opened the pouch, rummaged for a moment, and pulled out three beautifully packaged square paper packets wrapped in parchment paper.

She placed the three packets of flower tea on the tea table next to President Yang.

“Thank you for your kindness, miss, but… oh?”

President Yang looked at the paper packets. He sniffed, catching a whiff of a subtle floral fragrance, sweet and lingering, making his pores open and his heart feel at ease.

President Yang had never smelled such a fragrant scent in his life.

He opened the packets in surprise, and the sweet fragrance became even more intense. Inside were dried flower petals, some dark red, some yellow-white, some deep purple… petals of various colors.

They each had their fragrance, intertwining and blending. President Yang inhaled the floral scent, closing his eyes in enjoyment as if he had been transported to an ocean of flowers.

Li Lingsu flared his nostrils and exclaimed in surprise, “What… what kind of flowers are these?”

President Yang, somewhat excited, asked, “May I taste it?”

Seeing the ordinary-looking woman nod, he immediately called for a maid to brew the flower tea. On second thought, he changed his mind and said, “No, brew it here.”

He was afraid the maid might succumb to temptation and drink it secretly.

The maid obeyed and returned with a steaming copper kettle. She poured the water, and the thin stream swirled and churned along the white porcelain walls of the cup.

Soon, the floral fragrance, carried by the dense steam, filled the entire hall.

President Yang eagerly picked up the teacup, blew on it gently, and took a sip. His eyes lit up, then slowly closed as he savored it in silence.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and murmured, “This is the best tea I’ve ever had, the very best…”

…

In a mountain on the outskirts of the city.

A mounted team galloped along the wide mountain path toward the summit, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Every ten zhang along the mountain, there was a sentry post, with guards standing stern watch. After passing seven or eight checkpoints, they reached the mountaintop, where a cluster of buildings came into view.

President Yang handed the horses to his subordinates and led Xu Qi’an and the others through the open stockade gate. He explained:

“The Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles are enormous and can’t take off from flat ground. They need to utilize flowing air currents or take off from high places. That’s why the association keeps them in the mountains.”

They need to use air currents, hmm, taking off from high places itself utilizes air currents. It seems these eagle friends are low-level spirit beasts… Xu Qi’an thought as he looked into the distance, hearing powerful cries.

After walking for a quarter of an hour, they saw a series of two-zhang-tall independent wooden houses.

The doors of the wooden houses were wide open, clearly showing huge eagles standing inside. They were nearly three meters tall, similar in appearance to ordinary eagles, but with crimson tail feathers.

Each giant eagle’s claws were bound with thick shackles.

“They have one hour of free time each day. Their riders take them out flying, rain or shine. If they don’t soar for a day, they become very agitated,” President Yang explained as they walked, like an enthusiastic host:

“Zhang Prefecture is one of Great Yong’s granaries, with fertile land. Headquarters keeps ten Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles here. Feeding them is a huge expense; these spirit beasts eat so much. So the one-hour free time helps alleviate their loneliness and allows them to hunt on their own.”

You sound just like a large-scale breeder on TV… Xu Qi’an sighed softly. Zhang Prefecture, ah, this is Minister Zheng’s hometown. After returning from Lei Province, I should pay respects to Minister Zheng.

Soon, President Yang selected four Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles, accompanied by their trainers.

Some of the Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles held their heads high, disdainful of Xu Qi’an and the others; some gazed at the sky at a 45-degree angle, as if contemplating their bird lives; some spread their enormous wings threateningly; while others gently patted their trainers with their wings to show friendship, but ignored Xu Qi’an and his companions.

President Yang said helplessly:

“They’re just like this. They only recognize their trainers. In their eyes, the trainers are their servants, attendants who serve them.”

Xu Qi’an looked at the giant eagle that kept patting its trainer with its wings, maintaining a haughty posture like a big brother looking after his little brother, and nodded:

“I can see that.”

So how do you plan to ride them? President Yang wore a smile, curiously watching the young man in blue.

Xu Qi’an raised his hand, bent his index finger, pressed it to his lips, and blew a loud whistle.

All four giant eagles simultaneously turned their gaze, their bird heads trembling, their golden eagle eyes staring intently at Xu Qi’an.

The next moment, a scene that left everyone present dumbfounded unfolded.

The giant eagles abandoned their trainers, striding towards Xu Qi’an. As they moved, they spread their wings, pushing aside their companions, as if afraid the others would compete for Xu Qi’an’s affection.

“This…”

President Yang couldn’t hide the shock in his eyes. He had seen high-grade cultivators use violence to subdue the Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles before.

But he had never seen such an easy feat – with just a whistle, four spirit beasts simultaneously knelt and fawned over someone.

The four trainers looked utterly dejected, feeling the sadness of a wife cheating on her husband, their heads seeming to turn green with envy.

“Sir, is this… a technique of the Insect Tribe?” President Yang had a sudden realization. As the president of the merchant association, his caravans traveled far and wide, giving him rich experience. Zhang Prefecture was in the southwest, and the Southern Borderland’s Insect Tribe was also within the association’s trade map.

Xu Qi’an didn’t answer but solemnly entrusted him: “President Yang, I’ll leave my beloved horse in your care for now. Please feed it with premium fodder and don’t let anyone ride it. I’ll settle the costs for renting the spirit beasts and caring for the horse together.”

“Certainly!” President Yang immediately agreed.

…

In the capital city.

Ice Sprite Sovereign, wearing a dark Daoist robe and a lotus crown, with exquisite features devoid of emotion, rode her flying sword and stopped outside the capital.

She gazed down from the clouds, seeing laborers, militiamen, and stonemasons swarming below, busy repairing the city walls.

More than a month had passed since the incident of Xu the Eighth Silver Medallist’s regicide. Except for the ongoing repairs to the city walls, traces of battle were no longer visible elsewhere.

The Sovereign with glass-like eyes withdrew her gaze and looked towards the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Without receiving any warning, she rode her flying sword, streaking across the sky, and landed on the Eight Trigrams Platform.

On the Eight Trigrams Platform sat two figures at a table – one in white robes, the other in a yellow skirt.

The girl in the yellow skirt was crunching on nuts, occasionally lifting a wine cup to sip fruit wine, letting out contented “Aha”s.

The Chief Astrologer in white sat silently beside her.

“Greetings, Chief Astrologer,” Ice Sprite Sovereign performed a Daoist salute.

The girl in the yellow skirt was startled, as if just noticing this unexpected guest, and hurriedly turned to look.

The Chief Astrologer’s aged voice said, “Why have you come to the capital?”

“This humble Daoist is looking for my disciple, Li Miaozhen.”

“Leave the capital before dusk.”

After speaking, the Chief Astrologer paid her no more attention.

Ice Sprite Sovereign saluted again and departed on her flying sword.

She rode her sword, ignoring the scrutiny of various “gazes” in the capital. Soon, Ice Sprite Sovereign locked onto a large courtyard with three sections and unhesitatingly descended on her flying sword.

In the inner courtyard.

She saw a six or seven-year-old girl, tiny as a bean, lifting a stone table several times her size, slowly pacing around the courtyard, seemingly training her strength.

The little girl’s face was flushed red, her thin eyebrows furrowed, her bent short legs trembling constantly.

Beside her, a Southern Borderland girl with tanned skin and azure eyes was eating nuts and applauding.

Another beautiful mature woman watched anxiously, constantly muttering, “Be careful, be careful…”

Ice Sprite Sovereign’s arrival in the courtyard attracted the attention of the two women and the child.

“Who are you?” Aunt scrutinized this beautiful Daoist nun whose age was indiscernible, feeling that she resembled an emotionless sculpture.

“This humble Daoist is Ice Sprite Sovereign of the Celestial Sect.” The emotionless sculpture performed a Daoist salute. “Is this the home of Xu the Eighth Silver Medallist?”

Aunt nodded, thinking to herself that her unfortunate nephew had attracted yet another beautiful girl.

Suddenly remembering something, she blurted out, “Are you a fellow disciple of Daoist Li Miaozhen?”

Ice Sprite Sovereign nodded, “Indeed, she is my junior disciple.”

Aunt immediately became enthusiastic, inviting her, “Daoist, please come inside.”

They entered the inner hall, and Aunt had her maid Lü’e serve tea.

Ice Sprite Sovereign looked at Aunt, her glass-like eyes calm as still water, her voice soft but emotionless:

“My junior disciple is not at the residence.”

Aunt, sipping her tea, said, “Daoist Li left the capital many days ago.”

“Where did she go?”

“I don’t know. She only said she was going to wander the jianghu.”

Ice Sprite Sovereign nodded slowly, saying gently, “Would the lady be willing to tell this humble Daoist about my unworthy disciple’s actions in the capital?”

Aunt immediately began praising Li Miaozhen, just as she would brag about someone else’s child when chatting with neighbors.

“Daoist Li is charitable and chivalrous, the most upright and enthusiastic female hero I’ve ever met. Ah, the Celestial Sect truly lives up to its reputation as a righteous sect, producing disciples of impeccable character.

“In small ways, she distributed porridge to help the poor; in big ways, she assisted my nephew in slaying the tyrannical emperor. Good, truly good!”

Ice Sprite Sovereign’s cold face became even more expressionless. She stood up to take her leave: “This humble Daoist has urgent matters to attend to and cannot stay long.”

“Let me see you out…”

Aunt escorted her out of the inner hall, watching as she stepped onto her flying sword and disappeared into the sky.

“She seemed a bit unhappy?” Aunt muttered to herself.

…

Ice Sprite Sovereign didn’t immediately leave the capital but instead flew her sword to Lingbao Temple.

As soon as she flew into the imperial city, approaching Lingbao Temple, a dazzling sword light suddenly slashed toward her from deep within the temple.

Ice Sprite Sovereign’s glass-like eyes froze slightly. She made the sword light betray its flight path. The next moment, that sword light deviated on its own, slashing toward the sky and quickly disappearing.

Ice Sprite Sovereign landed in a small courtyard deep within Lingbao Temple.

The courtyard was full of withered flowers and plants, with a lonely rock garden standing. In the calm small pool sat a woman of unparalleled beauty, wearing a lotus crown and Daoist robes, with a cinnabar mark between her eyebrows, resembling a celestial maiden from the highest heavens.

Cold and beautiful, untainted by the mortal world.

Both were beautiful Daoist nuns, each with their distinct charm, complementing each other.

“Junior Sister Luo, the Celestial Venerable asked me to relay a message to you. Can you advance to the first grade within three years?” Ice Sprite Sovereign’s expressionless face and cold tone continued: “If you cannot reach the first grade within three years, you will only die in the heavenly tribulation. Rather than dying in the tribulation, it would be better to die by the Celestial Venerable’s hand.”

If she didn’t know the nature of Celestial Sect Daoists, Luo Yuheng would have thought Ice Sprite Sovereign was provoking her.

Luo Yuheng said calmly, “At the shortest, three months; at the longest, a year. I will visit the Celestial Sect.”

Ice Sprite Sovereign still showed no expression, asking, “Are you confident in passing the tribulation?”

Luo Yuheng didn’t conceal: “I have found my Dao partner. Soon, we will practice dual cultivation. Seven days of dual cultivation each month, and within half a year, I can pass the heavenly tribulation.”

“Excellent!”

Ice Sprite Sovereign nodded: “Do you know where my disciple has gone?”

“I don’t know. That disciple of yours has an extremely strong sense of justice and can’t tolerate any injustice. Trying to make her achieve Supreme Forgetting of Emotions is extremely difficult.”

Luo Yuheng said with a hint of mockery: “The world knows of the Flying Swallow Heroine, but not the Holy Daughter of the Celestial Sect. Rather than hoping for her to inherit the Celestial Sect’s leadership, you might as well pin your hopes on the Holy Son.”

Ice Sprite Sovereign slowly shook her head: “Miaozhen has indeed strayed from the path, but the Holy Son has taken an evil path.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Ice Sprite Sovereign didn’t answer.

While Ice Sprite Sovereign was in the capital looking for her unworthy disciple Li Miaozhen, Daoist Xuancheng was also visiting those girls who had been seduced by his unworthy disciple Li Lingsu over the years.

…

Lei Province was in the west, bordering the Western Regions, and was the westernmost province of Great Yong.

Lei Province covered a vast area, about twice the size of Yong Province, but due to extensive saline-alkali land and being a semi-arid region, the soil was not fertile.

As a result, the population was not as dense as in other provinces. Furthermore, since Lei Province was the hub of trade between Great Yong and the Western Regions, it created a situation where wealthy areas were extremely rich, while poor areas had people gnawing on coarse flatbread.

The wealth gap was enormous.

The headquarters of the Lei Province Merchant Association was in the main city of Lei Province, with a population of 800,000.

Xu Qi’an and Mu Nanzhi sat on soft cushions, the latter wearing a fox fur cloak, snuggling close to Xu Qi’an, looking down at Lei City below with little interest.

She was wearing a magical robe that protected against cold and was water and fire-resistant, one of the magical artifacts Xu Qi’an had taken from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s inventory when he left the capital.

After ten days of travel, they had finally reached Lei Province. At first, Mu Nanzhi would excitedly exclaim “Wow!” when looking down at cities, but later, familiarity bred indifference, and by the seventh time, they were like an old married couple, showing no reaction.

The four Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles swept over Lei City, flying towards a mountain outside the city. They seemed to know the way, requiring no guidance from their riders.

That mountain was where the Lei Province Merchant Association raised their Red-Tailed Fierce Eagles.

After landing steadily, Li Lingsu found the person in charge of the merchant association’s “breeding farm” and said:

“This humble Daoist is Li Lingsu, an intimate friend of Wenren Qianrou. Please notify her that I am waiting for her here.”

The person in charge, after getting confirmation from the accompanying rider from the branch association, immediately sent someone to Lei City to notify the young lady.

“What did you say the young lady’s name was?” Xu Qi’an called Li Lingsu over and asked.

“Wenren Qianrou.”

The Holy Son saw his strange expression and asked, “Is there a problem?”

Xu Qi’an frowned deeply, not answering Li Lingsu, and fell into deep thought.

He felt that this name was very familiar as if he had heard it somewhere before, but no matter how he tried to recall, he couldn’t remember.

“I should have heard this name before, but I certainly don’t know this young lady of the Lei Province Merchant Association. However, I can’t shake the feeling that I do know her…” he muttered to himself.