The National Master had arrived?!

Xu Qi’an nearly wept with joy, wanting to cry out, “Auntie, I don’t want to struggle anymore!”

Composing himself, he replied via mental transmission: “Wasn’t it supposed to be three days?”

“Within three days,” Luo Yuheng answered concisely.

Perhaps due to their impending dual cultivation, her voice seemed particularly cold, carrying an air of formality.

“National Master, I’ve encountered some trouble. A Buddhist Vajra is pursuing me. Please come quickly to rescue me. Let’s meet in the mountains thirty li south of Yongzhou City,” Xu Qi’an urgently transmitted.

“A Buddhist Vajra… What conflict arose between you and the Buddhist sect? Is it about the Dragon Qi?” Luo Yuheng inquired.

“He wants to take me back to the Western Regions, to renounce the world and become a monk,” Xu Qi’an replied succinctly.

“I’m on my way,” Luo Yuheng said without further ado.

Xu Qi’an wasted no more words. He turned and walked to the Pagoda Spirit Old Monk’s side, saying, “Master, let’s go to the deep mountains fifty li south of Yongzhou City.”

The Pagoda Spirit Old Monk nodded.

…

In the uninhabited deep mountains south of Yongzhou City.

A sixty-meter-tall dark golden pagoda descended from the sky, crashing into the mountain with a thunderous “boom.” The nearby peaks shook violently, causing rocks to tumble down.

Vajra Du Nan leaped down from the pagoda body, his muscles undulating as he tried to alleviate the bone-deep pain. The Pagoda of Many Treasures had been resisting him, its power eroding his physical form.

Du Nan knew the depths of the Pagoda of Many Treasures’ power. Among Buddhist magical artifacts, sealing techniques were supreme. The Pagoda of Many Treasures was a paragon of this type.

It ranked among the top two Buddhist artifacts in terms of sealing and auxiliary functions. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been used to suppress Shen Shu’s severed arm.

But no artifact in the world was perfect. The Pagoda of Many Treasures’ greatest flaw was its lack of powerful offensive capabilities.

As long as he could keep the Pagoda of Many Treasures occupied until Du Qing and Du Fan arrived, this ambush would still be a complete success… Du Nan let out a long breath, circulating his qi to soothe his aching flesh while keeping a close eye on the Pagoda of Many Treasures.

After the previous discussion with the Fourth-rank Scout from the Palace of Destiny, Du Nan had devised a trap for Xu Qi’an.

He used three Dragon Qi hosts who had “renounced the world” as bait, having them wander around the east, south, and west of the city. Utilizing the Buddha’s Son’s keen ability to sense Dragon Qi, they successfully lured out the Buddha’s Son.

To ensure foolproof success, Du Nan had given each of the three Dragon Qi hosts a teleportation artifact gifted by the Palace of Destiny.

Once they encountered pursuit or ambush, the Dragon Qi hosts were to immediately crush the teleportation artifact, allowing Du Nan to arrive instantly.

However, he had underestimated how troublesome the Buddha’s Son could be.

He had nearly failed, almost letting the target escape.

“Capturing the Buddha’s Son in one fell swoop would resolve the stalemate in Alanda. With the Witch God Cult, Great Feng, and the Barbarian Demons all suffering defeat, it would be the perfect opportunity for the Buddha’s light to shine over the Nine Provinces.”

“Capturing the Buddha’s Son would secure victory.”

Du Nan took a deep breath, mustering his strength. His dark golden fist pounded against the Pagoda of Many Treasures, producing a deafening boom.

The pagoda shook slightly but made no further attempt to escape as if it had given up.

He’s waiting for Sun Xuanji… Du Nan’s eyes flickered as he focused his senses on the surroundings.

It was a simple deduction. Sun Xuanji and the Buddha’s Son had previously worked together to seize the Dragon Vein in Leizhou. Now that the Buddha’s Son was cornered and unable to escape, stopping here must mean he was waiting for reinforcements.

Du Nan remained unconcerned. Although a Third-rank Artificer was formidable, and he had virtually no chance of capturing or killing a Destiny Mathematician, the opponent equally couldn’t snatch away the Pagoda of Many Treasures from under his nose.

He only needed to guard this place and wait for Du Qing and Du Fan to arrive. Then the scales of victory would tip in favor of the Buddhist sect.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Du Nan saw a dazzling golden light streaking across the distant sky, like a golden meteor.

When first spotted, it was still far on the horizon, but within a few blinks of an eye, it was right before him.

Layers upon layers of golden light surged, enveloping a radiant figure as it descended onto the top of the Pagoda of Many Treasures.

This was a woman whose beauty defied description. Her features were flawless, her skin as white as snow, with a striking vermilion mark between her brows.

She wore an intricate and magnificent Daoist robe, with a lotus crown binding her full head of black hair. In her left hand, she held a horsetail whisk, and in her right, a blue sword.

Her clear eyes, seeming to contain stars, coldly surveyed Du Nan below the pagoda.

“Luo Yuheng…”

Du Nan was shocked to his core. He hadn’t expected that the one to arrive would be Luo Yuheng, the Head of the Human Sect.

The Human Sect was renowned for its sword techniques, with offensive skills unmatched among the Three Daoist Sects.

“Luo Yuheng, does your Human Sect also want to interfere in Buddhist affairs?” Du Nan asked in a deep voice.

Luo Yuheng’s red lips moved slightly: “Leave, or die.”

Du Nan snorted coldly, “I’d like to experience the sword techniques of the Human Sect. Let’s see how many strikes it takes to break my Golden Body.”

If I can hold out for a quarter of an hour, Du Qing and Du Fan will surely arrive within that time… Since attaining the Third Rank, Du Nan’s Golden Body had never been broken, hence his confidence.

Although he was no match for Luo Yuheng, he believed it wouldn’t be so simple for her to break through a Buddhist Dharma-Protecting Vajra’s physique.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw Luo Yuheng draw her three-foot blue sword. The moment the sword left its scabbard, the world was filled with sword qi. Countless sword shadows, both real and illusory, filled the entire sky.

A mere step away, everything became a potential weapon.

Luo Yuheng’s hand gripping the iron sword rotated slightly at the wrist, tracing a circle with the blade. The myriad sword shadows in the sky followed, also tracing a circle.

As the iron sword completed its circle and returned to its original position, the thousands upon thousands of sword shadows converged into one.

“Go!”

The female National Master threw the iron sword in her hand, letting it transform into a rainbow shooting towards Du Nan.

In that instant, Du Nan felt as if a tsunami of sword qi was crashing toward him, carrying an unstoppable force that made him feel, for the first time, how insignificant his power was.

He let out a deep roar, the muscles beneath his dark golden skin rippling, blue veins bulging. His nine-foot frame seemed to expand even further.

Amidst his roar, Du Nan clasped his hands together, catching the iron sword between them.

His feet plowed deep furrows in the ground as he was pushed back relentlessly by this single sword strike, finally crashing into the mountainside with a “boom.”

The sword’s force didn’t diminish. Continuous rumbling echoed as this not-so-tall mountain began to collapse and crack violently. Rocks, soil, and trees fell in large chunks.

How powerful… Xu Qi’an stood by the window, watching this scene, his mind reeling.

Even though he was now at the Third Rank himself, witnessing Luo Yuheng’s attack left him deeply shaken.

With just a casual sword strike, she had reduced a Third-rank Vajra to such a sorry state, only able to endure without any chance of counterattack.

“The National Master’s cultivation… she’s just one Thunder Tribulation away from the First Rank…”

As he marveled inwardly, a shadow suddenly fell across the window. Luo Yuheng stood in mid-air by the window, blocking the light, her cold gaze examining him:

“Why haven’t you left yet?”

Xu Qi’an immediately snapped back to reality. If they didn’t leave now, the other two Arhat Vajras would arrive soon.

Without further hesitation, he turned and called out to the Pagoda Spirit, “Master, let’s retreat quickly.”

The Pagoda of Many Treasures rose into the air, transforming into a streak of light and swiftly departing.

Luo Yuheng stood atop the pagoda, her clothes fluttering, her celestial bearing unparalleled.

After flying for half an hour, the Pagoda of Many Treasures descended into a wilderness area. A door on the first level opened, and Luo Yuheng gracefully stepped down from the Pagoda Spirit, entering the pagoda.

“National Master!”

Xu Qi’an was already waiting on the first floor.

Luo Yuheng nodded slightly and said, “The Pagoda of Many Treasures from Leizhou? How did it become your magical artifact?”

“It’s a long story, but to put it simply, I obtained Dharma Relief Bodhisattva’s token, gaining the pagoda’s recognition. It’s temporarily following me,” Xu Qi’an explained.

It’s a pity I don’t practice Buddhist methods, making it difficult to unleash this artifact’s true power… he thought regretfully.

“Dharma Relief?” Luo Yuheng’s fine eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“I’ve heard Dharma Relief Bodhisattva disappeared over three hundred years ago. The monks of Alanda couldn’t find him,” Xu Qi’an casually explained, then transmitted mentally:

“I got that token from Marquis Zhenbei’s deputy general, Chu Xianglong. I concealed this fact from the Pagoda Spirit.”

As they spoke, they ascended to the third floor. Luo Yuheng and the Pagoda Spirit Old Monk exchanged nods.

“The little girl from the Human Sect…”

Shen Shu’s severed arm remarked, “Not bad cultivation, peak of the Second Rank. Pity she’s not far from death.”

Since ancient times, almost no Head of the Human Sect had reached the First Rank. At the peak of the Second Rank, they suppressed the karmic fire until they could no longer do so, dying in the Heavenly Tribulation.

Shen Shu’s arm tempted, “Release my seal, and I’ll tell you how to survive the Heavenly Tribulation.”

Xu Qi’an saw through it instantly: “Dual cultivate with someone who has strong luck?”

Shen Shu was caught off guard. After a moment, he chuckled to cover his embarrassment: “Kid, you know quite a bit.”

Master, times have changed… Xu Qi’an mocked: “You’ve been suppressed for five hundred years. Your information is outdated.”

Shen Shu’s demeanor changed, snarling viciously: “Kid, are you seeking death?”

…

A quarter of an hour after the Pagoda of Many Treasures left, a streak of rosy light flashed across the sky. It was a nine-petaled lotus platform, upon which stood a Vajra with dark golden skin and a fiery halo burning behind his head.

This Vajra’s appearance was incredibly ugly, with fierce eyes. His mere outward appearance could make ordinary people weak in the knees with fear.

It made one wonder if something had gone wrong during his embryonic stage, resulting in such an appearance that was a disservice to the world’s populace.

However, those from the Western Regions would recognize him at a glance as an Asura, a race known for their ugliness and belligerence.

Beside the Asura Vajra was an emaciated old man, his hands in a flower-holding mudra, sitting cross-legged with his head bowed. His white eyebrows hung down to his cheeks, with a mole between his brows.

His eyes were closed, as if in meditation.

The lotus platform halted above the mess of scattered rocks. Asura Vajra Du Fan looked down for a moment and called out in a deep voice:

“Junior Brother Du Nan!”

A few seconds later, there was a movement among the scattered rocks. Stones rolled away as Du Nan Vajra crawled out.

He looked disheveled, his red and yellow kasaya in tatters, his dark golden skin dull and lusterless, with traces of golden blood at the corners of his mouth.

“You’re injured. Who is Great Feng could have beaten you so badly?” Asura Vajra Du Fan frowned.

“Luo Yuheng, the Head of the Human Sect,” Du Nan Vajra answered.

Arhat Du Qing, sitting cross-legged on the lotus platform, opened his eyes and said slowly: “Du Nan, you’ve alerted them prematurely. Why didn’t you wait for Du Fan and me to arrive before setting the ambush?”

Du Nan Vajra put his palms together: “That Second Rank Artificer was also plotting against the Buddha’s Son. I had hoped to act first and capture the Buddha’s Son before him. I underestimated the Buddha’s Son’s strength.”

The Palace of Destiny had requested cooperation, and Du Nan had agreed, but that was just a feint.

He had intended to capture the Buddha’s Son before the Artificer could act, which was why he didn’t wait for his fellow disciples Du Fan and Du Qing.

“But we’ve also tested the Buddha’s Son’s trump cards,” Du Nan Vajra added:

“He has Luo Yuheng’s assistance, as well as Sun Xuanji from the Bureau of Astronomy. We need to consider how to deal with them next. As for alerting them prematurely, using the Dragon Qi hosts is an open strategy. As long as he still wants to collect Dragon Qi, he’ll inevitably have to face us.”

“This isn’t the only opportunity. There will be many more.”

Arhat Du Qing made a flower-holding gesture, his voice resonant and calm: “Only an Artificer can deal with an Artificer. We might as well cooperate with the Palace of Destiny.”

Du Nan Vajra raised his non-existent eyebrows (he had none) and asked: “Has the agreement between the Buddhist sect and that Artificer been reached?”

Arhat Du Qing nodded.

…

Inside the inn.

Li Lingsu forcefully pushed open Mu Nanzhi’s door and said anxiously:

“I’ve just returned from gathering information. As expected, the expert Mr. Xu encountered was likely Vajra Du Nan.”

Mu Nanzhi’s face paled, and she unconsciously hugged the white fox in her arms tighter: “A Third Rank Vajra?”

“A Third Rank Vajra?”

The little white fox repeated in its crisp voice.

Li Lingsu nodded.

After returning to Yongzhou City, he learned of the fierce battle that had taken place not long ago. Several civilians had died in the battle’s shockwaves, and over a dozen were injured.

According to feedback from martial artists who had observed the battle from afar, one of the combatants was a monk wearing a kasaya, notable for being tall with dark golden skin and lacking eyebrows, beard, and hair.

The other had an ordinary appearance with no distinguishing features but could command animals to do his bidding.

Combining this with the information Mu Nanzhi had provided before he went to gather news, it was easy to deduce that Xu Qian had encountered a Third Rank Vajra.

“Do you know the current situation?” Mu Nanzhi asked anxiously.

Li Lingsu shook his head regretfully.

Mu Nanzhi paced back and forth in the room, her brows tightly knitted.

This was the first time Li Lingsu had seen her so anxious. Previously, Mrs. Xu had always been carefree, speaking and acting with a lazy air, as if she were a fairy unconcerned with mundane affairs, except for possibly harboring some fondness for him.

Phew, it’s good that Mrs. Xu seems to care deeply for Xu Qian after all. This is for the best. If she kept thinking about me, Xu Qian would eventually kill me. Ah, my cursed charm…

As the two humans and one fox were caught up in their anxiety, there came a fluttering sound from the window.

A black wild bird perched on the windowsill and spoke in human language: “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Li Lingsu and Mu Nanzhi turned abruptly, their faces lighting up with joy.

The little white fox was equally delighted.

“How are you now? Are you injured? Have you escaped the pursuit? Is that bald puppet with you?”

Mu Nanzhi fired off a series of questions.

The wild bird pecked at its head: “I’m fine. Stay at the inn and don’t worry. There won’t be any problems. Just wait for me to return.”

Then it turned its head to “glare” at Li Lingsu: “You come with me out of the city.”

…

North of Yongzhou City, at the Green Apricot Garden.

This was where Gong Sun Xiangyang would bring friends for group activities during his leisure time, quite famous in certain circles of Yongzhou.

Whenever there was a banquet, the carriages of officials and nobles would arrive in an endless stream. The most famous courtesans from Yongzhou’s various brothels would happily accept invitations, arriving with excitement and leaving satisfied, covered in frost.

On ordinary days, the Green Apricot Garden was particularly quiet and peaceful. Apart from servants and maids, usually, no members of the Gong Sun family would come to stay.

The Green Apricot Garden was elegant, planted with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. Winding paths led to secluded spots, and there was even a hot spring in the back garden, the true reason why Gong Sun Xiangyang and other nobles were so fond of the place.

In a tea room adorned with paintings by famous artists, Xu Qi’an and the National Master sat facing each other, drinking tea and discussing the various experiences and sights since leaving the capital.

Luo Yuheng held her teacup, her face bare of makeup, listening with a calm expression.

Elegant and cool, the vermilion mark between her brows made her seem like a noble and aloof immortal. When considering her status as the Great Feng National Master and Second Rank Head of the Daoist Sect, that immortal aura gained an inviolable majesty.

It’s hard to imagine that such a woman would dual cultivate with me… the experienced Xu Qi’an felt a bit nervous.

Among the women he had seen, Luo Yuheng ranked second in beauty and temperament. There was no helping it; the reincarnation of the Flower Goddess was simply overpowered.

As for her figure, due to the limitations of the era, Xu Qi’an couldn’t see Biaobiao in hot pants, couldn’t see Huai Qing in tight jeans, couldn’t see the Princess Consort with big wavy hair, and of course, couldn’t see Luo Yuheng’s alluring figure beneath her Daoist robe.

He could only estimate from her prominently raised chest that this woman was well-endowed.

“By the way, I’ve asked Li Lingsu to come over. I’d trouble the National Master to help remove his seal,” Xu Qi’an said.

“So that he can protect Mu Nanzhi for the next seven days?” Luo Yuheng said flatly.

Damn, it’s going to be seven days? Auntie, we can talk this over… Xu Qi’an’s heart sank.

Luo Yuheng seemed to realize she had misspoken and fell silent as well.

In the slightly awkward atmosphere, the sound of footsteps came from outside.

Li Lingsu, led by a maid of the Green Apricot Garden, walked in:

“Senior, it was dangerous today. To think you encountered Vajra Du Nan…”

His voice trailed off abruptly. Li Lingsu stood outside the tea room, his body rigid, staring blankly at Luo Yuheng.