Xu Qi An couldn’t hide his disappointment.

If Xu Pingfeng had seen the Corpse Poison Division’s half-scroll map years ago, then the so-called ancient tomb had likely already been visited him.

No matter who the tomb’s owner was or what was hidden inside, it no longer mattered… Xu Qi An sighed.

Wait, that’s not what Chai Xinger said… He immediately furrowed his brow, summoned the Floating Pagoda, and through the Tower Spirit, transmitted to Chai Xinger:

“Chai Xinger, you once said opening the ancient tomb requires blood from a Chai family descendant.”

After a few seconds, Chai Xinger’s voice came:

“Yes.”

“How much is needed?” Xu Qi An asked.

“This… I don’t know,” Chai Xinger transmitted back.

Then there was no point in digging deeper – getting some Chai family blood would be no difficulty for the inhuman one… Xu Qi An said:

“In a while, I’ll send you to Li Lingsu’s side, to be under his watch.”

Chai Xinger’s value had immediately diminished, and Xu Qi An no longer wanted to keep her confined. As for her past crimes, he would leave those for Li Lingsu to handle.

Li Lingsu had said if Chai Xinger had committed unforgivable crimes, he would take her back to the Heavenly Sect, never to leave again.

“The Holy Son’s been quite jumpy lately, might as well give him some trouble,” Xu Qi An muttered to himself.

Chai Xinger was stunned, then excitedly burst into tears:

“Thank you, Constable Xu, for your mercy in sparing my life, thank you for allowing me and Young Master Li to be together.”

Nothing to thank me for, you won’t be free for the rest of your life… Xu Qi An put away the Earth Book fragment. Just then, through the seagulls circling in the sky, he saw islands in the far distance.

He had been using his heart bug ability to control nearby seabirds to scout the way and maintain their course.

Of course, he had also been controlling fish in the sea to bite Mu Nanzhi’s bait and slap Bai Ji’s face.

Watching Mu Nanzhi standing with hands on hips, proud and self-satisfied, thinking herself a fishing expert. Watching Bai Ji become extremely wary of the fish after being slapped several times, no longer daring to help catch fish when they bit the hook.

These were his amusements, indulging in playing the “chess master.”

At this moment, Mu Nanzhi was leaning over the ship’s rail, washing her handkerchief.

Xu Qi An took out the Universal Mirror from within the Earth Book fragment.

“Not bad, you’ve taken my words to heart and haven’t disturbed me for a long time.”

The mirror spirit’s Maybelline eye appeared on the bronze mirror surface.

No, I was just too busy… Xu Qi An said with emotional intelligence:

“You’re a magical treasure, your status is extraordinary, and you deserve respect.”

The Universal Mirror was very pleased: “You understand well, what’s the matter?”

As it spoke, rippling patterns like water waves appeared on the mirror surface, showing an image of a gently swaying ravine like an abyss, and an alluring expanse of snow-white skin.

Xu Qi An glanced at Mu Nanzhi bending over to wash her handkerchief at the bow, then looked back at the Universal Mirror, seemingly becoming once again the good student who never took his eyes off the blackboard, and said:

“What do you mean by this?”

The Universal Mirror said in a deep voice:

“I thought you would like it. Pity there are no men here, or you would be more satisfied. This is feedback for your good attitude toward me.”

You’re the one who understands, and also, how many times do I have to explain that I don’t like men… Xu Qi An looked at the mirror surface with critical eyes and said:

“Using abilities for despicable acts is not what a true man does. Hmm, don’t let it happen again.”

The Universal Mirror said impatiently:

“If you have a business, speak. If not, let me go back and don’t disturb this lord’s enjoyment.”

“It’s not particularly urgent.” Xu Qi An’s eyes gleamed brightly as he stared at the mirror surface:

“Don’t speak, I want to be quiet alone, hmm, for a while. Oh right, if there’s such behavior again in the future, I’ll have to criticize it.”

…

In a valley, colorful clouds swirled and water flowed gently.

More than ten thatched cottages stood in the valley. The graceful and gentle Daoist White Lotus sat with her disciples by the stream, absorbing the mountain’s spiritual energy.

Four or five orange cats chased and played among the houses and shrubs.

The Earth Sect disciples had moved here half a year ago.

During these six months, the Central Plains had been ravaged by cold disaster, with refugees everywhere – for the merit-cultivating Earth Sect, this was truly a heaven-sent opportunity, speaking purely of a cultivation environment.

Now more than half of the Earth Sect disciples were traveling about doing good deeds and accumulating merit. The disciples’ cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Even White Lotus, who rarely went out, had now reached the peak of Fourth Rank, whereas half a year ago she was only at mid-Fourth Rank.

Finishing the daily required qi absorption, the mature and gentle White Lotus opened her eyes, looked at her twenty-plus disciples, and said with satisfaction:

“Whether two months at most or ten days at least, some of you should go out to accumulate merit.

“But remember one thing – doing good and accumulating merit must come from the heart, not for utility or cultivation.

“Doing good for the sake of doing good will surely bring karmic backlash, understand?”

The disciples responded in clear voices:

“Disciples understand.”

White Lotus nodded, about to continue educating when suddenly there was a “boom,” and a cottage to the south exploded, a gorgeous halo rising.

“Elder Brother Golden Lotus has broken through?!”

White Lotus suddenly turned her head, both shocked and delighted.

“Uncle Golden Lotus has broken through.”

All the disciples were overjoyed.

Looking over, they saw an old Daoist with jet-black hair sitting cross-legged in the void, radiating streams of seven-colored auspicious light, gorgeous and magnificent, giving people a sense of peace and harmony.

The light of merit.

Soon after, the golden light receded, and the old Daoist slowly descended.

White Lotus approached with graceful steps, a smile spreading across her gentle face:

“Elder Brother Golden Lotus, your white hair has turned black – it seems your cultivation has greatly increased.”

What she wanted to say was that he had recovered part of his cultivation, but with many disciples present, she phrased it differently.

Golden Lotus sat cross-legged in silence, not answering.

“Elder Brother Golden Lotus?”

White Lotus called out tentatively.

“Yes, I have achieved Yang Spirit and entered the transcendent realm.”

Suddenly, Golden Lotus’s voice came from behind.

White Lotus turned back in surprise to see an orange cat elegantly licking its paw. Seeing her gaze, the cat suddenly froze and put down its paw.

“Ahem!”

The cat cleared its throat and said in a normal tone:

“The transcendent realm is indeed magical, causing this poor Daoist to temporarily lose control of his primordial spirit and be forced to possess a cat.”

The disciples suddenly understood.

So Uncle Golden Lotus was newly transcendent and couldn’t control his power, causing his primordial spirit to leave his body and possess an orange cat.

Golden Lotus left the cat’s body and returned to his flesh, opening his eyes.

“How long was I in seclusion?” Golden Lotus asked.

“It’s been half a year,” White Lotus answered.

Golden Lotus nodded slowly, with a casual air: “Have any major events occurred in the outside world recently?”

“Constable Xu killed Emperor Yuanjing.”

“Constable Xu alone with a sword held off three hundred thousand troops of the Shamanic God Religion.”

“Constable Xu entered the transcendent realm.”

“Constable Xu killed two Vajra in Sword Province.”

“Wei Yuan died.”

“Cloud Province rebelled.”

“The Buddhist sect tore up their alliance with Great Feng.”

“The Central Plains are ravaged by cold disaster, refugees everywhere, people can barely survive anymore.”

The disciples spoke one after another, endlessly.

“…” Golden Lotus’s expression had frozen as he listened. He woodenly looked at White Lotus and questioned:

“This poor Daoist was only in seclusion for half a year?”

Are you sure it hasn’t been ten years?!

…

At the border between Xiang Province and Sword Province.

A bright young woman in yellow robes walked lightly along the official road.

Chu Caiwei had been traveling away from the capital for over a month. The wind had thinned her waist, hardship had sharpened her chin, but simple fare had settled her temperament.

Compared to her naive vivacity when leaving the capital, Chu Caiwei’s temperament had become steady. Her face had thinned, but her large almond eyes were even brighter.

At first, she would follow the “food guide” Xu Qi An had given her, seeking out local specialties wherever she went.

Then she would happily write letters back to the capital telling Li Na and Xu Lingyin.

Gradually, she wrote fewer and fewer letters, and her smiles became fewer and fewer.

Her travel path changed from following the “food guide” to chasing disaster areas.

“Senior Brother Yang, where are we going this time?”

As an exile from the Bureau of Astronomy, Chu Caiwei could only follow Yang Qianxuan.

“I’ve recently made contact with my sworn brother, I want to go see him.”

Yang Qianxuan walked in front, showing his junior sister the back of his head.

“Since when do you have a sworn brother?” Chu Caiwei blinked her big eyes.

“Li Lingsu, the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect.”

Yang Qianxuan said: “I’ve thought of a wonderful plan to suppress Xu Qi An and let Yang shine alone. Now I’m going to share it with my good brother and see how he’s been lately.”

Chu Caiwei made an “oh” sound but recalled how not long ago, when Senior Brother Yang heard that Xu Qi An had slain Buddhist Vajra in Sword Province, he had beat his chest and stamped his feet in jealousy, wailing loudly.

After careful inquiry, they learned Senior Brother Sun had also participated in this matter, making quite a name for himself.

Senior Brother Yang again beat his chest and stamped his feet, pointing to the sky and cursing, saying that damn stutterer must have fawned and curried favor with Xu Qi An to get the chance to show off in public.

Senior Brother Yang very much despised Senior Brother Sun’s conduct.