General Gong Sun nodded silently and turned to instruct the maid under the eaves:

“Inform the kitchen to prepare medicinal food for the Young Miss. The more nourishing, the better.”

The father and daughter entered the study. Gong Sun Xiang Yang opened a hidden compartment behind the bookcase and took out a wooden box, which he opened in front of Gong Sun Xiu.

Inside the box, lined with yellow silk, lay an unsightly, wrinkled purple ginseng. It was only as long as a middle finger, but its roots were densely packed, resembling intertwined threads. This appearance was extremely rare among ginseng.

“This Purple Jade Ginseng King is one of my most precious treasures,” Gong Sun Xiang Yang explained. “It took sixty years to grow to the size of a radish, and another sixty years… to become like this,” he pointed at the box. “It’s concentrated essence, a top-grade tonic. When I get older, I’ll rely on it entirely.”

Gong Sun Xiu glanced at it and shook her head. “If it’s for Father to prolong your life in old age, I shouldn’t take it. I don’t need to eat such things.”

Gong Sun Xiang Yang chuckled shamelessly, “This thing can’t prolong life. It’s for when I’m older and want to give you some younger siblings. That’s why it’s a great tonic. Even an eighty-year-old man could regain his vigor with this.”

“…”

Gong Sun Xiu retorted irritably, “No matter how many sons you have, none will be as strong as me. The position of Family Head will be mine.”

Gong Sun Xiang Yang smiled, “Still, we must try. We might produce a genius who could pressure you. At worst, they’d be your helpers.”

Gong Sun Xiu rolled her eyes but accepted a few root fibers her father tore off. She chewed and swallowed them.

Family Head Gong Sun Xiang Yang was an interesting character in his youth, excelling in all vices – eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. If not for his exceptional talent, he would never have become Family Head.

After years in the position, his personality remained unchanged. The dignity expected of a leader was hardly visible in him.

The father and daughter discussed the matter of the Family Head’s successor more openly and candidly.

Seeing his daughter’s cheeks flush and her complexion improve, Gong Sun Xiang Yang relaxed inwardly and said:

“Try to refine the medicinal power, don’t waste it… Did you encounter danger in the tomb?”

Gong Sun Xiu sat in the large chair, refining the heat in her lower abdomen while speaking:

“My judgment wasn’t wrong. Those who died in the tomb didn’t perish from the formations but from a powerful Yin creature. Last night, we successfully lured it out and killed it after a fierce battle. If we had encountered it underground, many would have died before we could defeat it.”

She then recounted the details of the battle against the Yin creature to her father.

“Well done,” Gong Sun Xiang Yang nodded slightly after listening.

“Afterwards, we organized eighteen skilled individuals to enter the tomb. There had been a massive collapse inside, destroying most of it. We couldn’t dig out anything valuable until we reached the main chamber…”

At this point, fear and lingering dread flashed in Gong Sun Xiu’s eyes.

Gong Sun Xiang Yang’s heart tightened as he pressed, “What was in the main chamber?”

Gong Sun Xiu took a deep breath: “There was an ancient corpse in the underground tomb, its age unclear. We encountered it when we entered. It was incredibly powerful, creating a vortex with just a single breath…”

She emphasized the terrifying nature of the ancient corpse, which left the eighteen of them completely defenseless.

Gong Sun Xiang Yang jumped up, slamming his hands on the desk with wide eyes:

“How could such a terrifying monster exist in Yong Province? It shouldn’t be possible! If it were so, it couldn’t have remained silent for so many years. From what you’re saying, it desperately craves essence and blood.”

The Family Head was both shocked and frightened. Yong Province was the stronghold of the Gong Sun family. If such a terrifying entity truly existed underground, it would be an absolute disaster for Yong Province.

Gong Sun Xiang Yang’s first reaction was to notify the authorities, have the Yong Province Governor report to the imperial court, and have the court dispatch experts to handle the situation.

That ancient corpse was certainly beyond the Fourth Realm, its malevolence and terror perhaps reaching the Third Realm. The imperial court lacked Third Realm martial artists, but the Celestial Observatory’s Daoist priests could resolve it. In any case, reporting the matter upward was the right move…

Even though the dynasty’s national power had severely weakened, its ability to rule the Central Plains was still incomparable to that of the jianghu factions.

Wait a moment!

As thoughts raced through his mind, Gong Sun Xiang Yang suddenly realized something. He stared at his daughter with wide eyes:

“How… how did you return?”

If the ancient corpse was truly as evil and terrifying as she described, the one standing before him should be his daughter’s ghost – no, perhaps not even a ghost would remain.

“Because we encountered a great expert.”

“A great expert?”

Gong Sun Xiu nodded: “It goes back to yesterday at noon. I was hosting a banquet for several martial artists at Yang Bai Lake when I happened to see a child fall into the water from the ‘Wang Ji Fish House boat… Daoist Qing Gu said it was the work of the Dark Insect Sect.

“So I wanted to invite him to explore the tomb with us. Someone with such mystical skills could be more useful than martial artists in a tomb. He didn’t agree, but before leaving, he left us two sentences.”

Gong Sun Xiang Yang couldn’t help but narrow his eyes, seemingly shocked, but he held back and didn’t interrupt, letting his daughter continue.

“One was that if we encountered a crisis in the tomb, we could say: ‘Have you forgotten your agreement with that person?’ The other was: ‘There will be heavy rain tonight, remember to bring rain gear.'”

Gong Sun Xiang Yang immediately looked out the window at the drizzle. This autumn rain proved the expert’s ability to predict weather.

“What does the first sentence mean?” His expression was serious, yet curious.

Gong Sun Xiu didn’t answer directly, continuing instead:

“Last night, after entering the tomb, we encountered the ancient corpse in the main chamber. We were certain to die, so I thought there was no harm in trying that sentence. So I shouted it out. And then…”

“And then what?” Gong Sun Xiang Yang leaned forward slightly.

“The ancient corpse indeed stopped and didn’t kill us.”

“…”

Gong Sun Xiang Yang’s pupils contracted imperceptibly as he analyzed, “That expert has a connection with the ancient corpse? The agreement… Is it because of that expert’s presence that the ancient corpse has remained in the tomb without causing havoc?”

Gong Sun Xiu nodded, confirming:

“The ancient corpse was sealed by that expert. The collapse in the tomb was caused by their battle. All this happened less than a year ago. Afterward, that expert appeared in the tomb and seemed to have a deep conversation with the ancient corpse. I could sense that the ancient corpse greatly feared him.”

Greatly feared him, a malevolent and terrifying ancient corpse greatly feared him… Gong Sun Xiang Yang stared into his daughter’s eyes and said:

“Then what? Did that expert appear again? Do you know his background?”

Gong Sun Xiu showed a look of reverence and said, “I probed about his identity. He didn’t say directly but left a poem.”

“What poem?”

Gong Sun Xiang Yang’s tone suddenly rose.

“Eight hundred autumns since attaining the Dao,

Never have I drawn my sword to take a life.

The Jade Emperor has yet to issue a heavenly decree,

So I trade black gold to mingle with the mortal world.”

Eight hundred autumns since attaining the Dao… Gong Sun Xiang Yang clenched his fists, trembling slightly:

“Xiu’er, you’ve encountered a hidden expert, no, an expert playing in the mortal world. This is a great opportunity, a truly great opportunity!

“Third Realm experts are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in this world, but those who have reached this realm have long lifespans. Over thousands of years, some accumulate. These experts either remain hidden or play in the mortal world. Even if you see them, you wouldn’t recognize them.

“To meet such an expert is an incredible stroke of fortune. Father knew you were a child of great fortune. Choosing you as the Family Head was the most correct decision.”

His face was full of excitement and agitation.

“Father, before leaving, that expert instructed us not to enter the great tomb again. He also told us to guard the tomb well and not let anyone enter, especially jianghu wanderers.”

Gong Sun Xiang Yang composed himself and nodded, “That’s appropriate. If the ancient corpse emerges, Yong Province won’t know peace, and neither will we.”

Jianghu factions had a strong sense of territorial awareness. While enjoying their benefits, they would also try to maintain local stability, as it was in their interests.

The imperial court tolerated the jianghu factions. Whether it was Wang Zhen Wen or Wei Yuan, they didn’t deliberately suppress them for this reason.

A law-abiding jianghu faction had a positive effect on public security. What were the real factors of instability? It was those wandering loners.

Those who could kill a man in ten steps, then leave without a trace and still conceal their abilities and fame.

Using martial prowess to violate prohibitions mostly referred to these people.

“But we can’t bear this burden alone. I’ll visit Dragon God Fort later and inform Fort Master Lei about the situation of the great tomb. No matter what, we need to drag them into this as well.”

After speaking, Gong Sun Xiang Yang thought for a few seconds and added:

“Send someone to ask the people at ‘Wang Ji Fish House’ if they remember that expert. Also, send people to quietly inquire around the city. If we can find him, I’ll personally pay a visit. If not, we’ll let it be.”

…

Clouds and mist swirled, ethereal mountains appearing and disappearing. White cranes called, and monkeys climbed the rocks.

Ice Sprite Sovereign rode a celestial crane, her robes fluttering. Below her were mountains shrouded in clouds and mist. The crane flapped its wings, carrying her towards the main peak.

Soon, a majestic celestial palace appeared, hidden among the evergreen forests, standing proudly at the peak.

A red light flashed in Ice Sprite Sovereign’s crystal-clear beautiful eyes. From the opposite direction, a red silk ribbon flew towards her, carrying a middle-aged Daoist priest with an immortal bearing.

“Senior Brother Xuan Cheng,” Ice Sprite Sovereign’s red lips parted, her voice as clear and crisp as ice crystals colliding.

“Junior Sister Ice Sprite,” Daoist Xuan Cheng nodded, his expression equally as cold as frost.

Without further words, they rode their respective mounts and magical tools toward the celestial palace, landing on the vast square outside.

The palace was majestic, with eighteen giant pillars supporting the high dome. A red carpet led to the end of the hall.

At the end of the red carpet, on a two-zhang high platform, sat an old man in a dark Daoist robe. His beard and hair were snow-white, and a lotus crown adorned his head. He sat cross-legged on a pure white lotus.

Behind his head was a halo of four rotating colors, symbolizing earth, wind, water, and fire.

On both sides of the red carpet stood seven Daoist priests, some wearing Kun crowns, others Qian crowns. Each had eyes like glazed glass, appearing cold and emotionless.

The equally cold and emotionless Ice Sprite Sovereign and Daoist Xuan Cheng flew into the great hall, coldly bowed, and coldly spoke:

“Celestial Venerable!”

The old man in the dark Daoist robe, sitting cross-legged on the lotus platform, kept his eyes lowered and closed, seemingly unaware.

But his voice echoed in the hall:

“A disciple has reported that Li Miao Zhen has been in the mortal world for two years and has become the renowned Flying Swallow Heroine, famous throughout the Central Plains.”

Ice Sprite Sovereign said calmly, “First entering the world, then leaving it. Very good.”

Li Miao Zhen was her disciple.

The Celestial Venerable still kept his eyes lowered and closed, as if asleep, his voice ethereal and echoing:

“She first acted as a chivalrous hero, robbing the rich to aid the poor, gaining fame throughout the Central Plains. Later, in Yun Province, she organized troops to eliminate bandits, earning praise from both the Great Shang Dynasty’s court and the common people. Not long ago, when the Great Shang Emperor was assassinated, she was also involved.

“Ice Sprite, are you teaching a great hero of the jianghu or a disciple of the Celestial Sect?

“When Celestial Sect disciples enter the mortal world for cultivation, they need to maintain balance. They can enter the world but must not become mired in it. Li Miao Zhen has already strayed from the path. She is the Holy Maiden of the Celestial Sect, an exemplar for the sect’s disciples.”

Ice Sprite Sovereign said coldly, “What does the Celestial Venerable wish me to do?”

“Capture Li Miao Zhen and bring her back to the sect to re-study the Celestial Sect’s sacred texts.”

“I obey the decree!”

Daoist Xuan Cheng looked at the Celestial Venerable and asked coldly, “Why has the Celestial Venerable summoned this disciple?”

“The Holy Son disappeared a year ago.”

Daoist Xuan Cheng glanced at Ice Sprite Sovereign and said, “This disciple will descend the mountain to search for him immediately.”

“Capture the Holy Son and bring him back to the sect to re-study the Celestial Sect’s sacred texts.”

A hint of confusion appeared on Daoist Xuan Cheng’s cold face. “What does this mean?”

“After entering the jianghu, in one year, he formed romantic entanglements with over a hundred women.”

Daoist Xuan Cheng’s ice-cold face twitched slightly.

A female Daoist priest said coldly, “Celestial Venerable, why not strip the Holy Son and Holy Maiden of their titles and appoint new ones? These two disgraces to our sect should be expelled from the Celestial Sect.”

The Celestial Venerable remained silent, his eyes lowered and closed, as if asleep.