“Clang, clang, clang…”

In the alchemy room on the seventh floor of the Celestial Observatory, Song Qing rolled up his sleeves, gripping a purple-gold hammer and tongs of the same color as he stood before an anvil, forging steel.

His white robes were covered in black soot, his forehead dripping with sweat, and with his dark eye circles, he looked like he might collapse at any moment.

After hammering out the impurities, Song Qing took out a dark gold nail, aimed it at the iron blank, and struck the nail’s head forcefully with the hammer.

Amid the piercing sound, the dark gold nail penetrated the iron blank.

“No comparison, absolutely no comparison…”

Song Qing shook his head in disappointment: “What material is the Demon-Sealing Nail made from? Does such metal truly exist in this world?”

The Demon-Sealing Nail in his hand had been brought back by Sun Xuanji, entrusted to Song Qing by Xu Ningyan, the alchemy prodigy.

Master Xu truly lived up to his reputation as a genius willing to sacrifice everything for alchemy. As Song Qing’s kindred spirit, he had contributed such an important divine artifact for the Celestial Observatory’s research.

Master Xu had only one requirement for contributing the Demon-Sealing Nail: he hoped the alchemists could replicate it.

The alchemists were deeply moved.

Master Xu not only contributed a divine artifact but also entrusted them with an important task.

At this moment, a white-robed artificer hurried into the alchemy room, calling out:

“Senior Brother Song, the Observatory Master asked you to take this box to the bottom floor and give it to Senior Sister Zhong.”

Observatory Master… Song Qing took the wooden box with slight confusion and asked:

“What is it?”

The white-robed artificer shook his head: “The Observatory Master said only Senior Sister Zhong can open it.”

Song Qing had always been a disciple with strong opinions (rebellious), and hearing this, he immediately tried to open the box but failed.

“Fine then!”

Song Qing nodded, carrying the wooden box that was half a chi wide and one chi long, left the alchemy room, descended the stairs to the first-floor hall, and then passed through the iron door behind the hall into the underground.

Footsteps echoed in the quiet underground, where oil lamps cast everything in a warm, gentle orange glow.

Song Qing lightly sniffed the faint musty air – most of the Observatory’s white-robed artificers were away, either serving in the army or traveling to help people, leaving fewer opportunities to open doors and ventilate for Zhong Li.

Passing through the dark, long corridor, Song Qing stopped at the door of a restricted room and peered inside through the air window.

Zhong Li sat cross-legged in the corner, still and silent.

“Junior Sister Zhong!”

Song Qing opened the door, walked to her front, and sat cross-legged: “This is from the Observatory Master.”

Zhong Li opened her eyes and took the wooden box. The moment it touched her hands, the lock automatically released.

Opening the lid, inside the box lined with yellow silk lay a wooden hammer about half an arm’s length.

The hammer was light brown, its handle polished to a shine, with dense formation patterns carved on both the head and handle.

Zhong Li paused, looking up at Song Qing.

Song Qing happened to look down, and as the siblings’ gazes met, they exclaimed in unison:

“The Fate-Scrambling Hammer!”

Song Qing suddenly understood: “No wonder the Observatory Master said you had to open the box. No one else can use this cursed thing except you.”

The Fate-Scrambling Hammer, according to the Observatory Master, was something he casually created in his youth.

Striking someone’s head with this hammer could change their fate pattern, but the changes were uncontrollable, and both the wielder and the struck person would have their fate patterns altered.

People were divided into different ranks and professions, each with their fate.

Once the fate pattern was changed, they would suffer heaven’s punishment, with their lifespan halved.

In other words, this cursed hammer would not only cause unpredictable changes to someone’s fate pattern but would start by halving their lifespan.

However, Zhong Li was an exception because her current fate pattern was already “heaven’s punishment” – the Fate-Scrambling Hammer couldn’t make such a terrible fate pattern worse, so she could avoid the side effects.

“What did the Observatory Master give you this for?”

Song Qing looked completely puzzled: “Although you’re now a prophet who must suffer various tribulations, and the Fate-Scrambling Hammer can’t help with that. But if you randomly change others’ fate patterns, won’t your tribulations become even heavier?”

Zhong Li shook her head, silently putting away the hammer.

“Ah, since Caiwei left the Observatory, the whole Star-Watching Tower feels quieter. Junior Sister Zhong, your senior brother needs to return to forging. I’ll take my leave.” Song Qing stood up and pushed open the door to leave.

…

Far overseas.

The White Emperor, covered in white scales like jade, with an ox nose, crocodile lips, and a lion’s mane, galloped across the sea surface on four hooves.

Waves stretched endlessly and looking up, there was only sky – besides the sky, there was only the boundless ocean.

On this vast sea where the direction was indiscernible, the White Emperor accurately found its destination.

It lowered its head, staring at the sea surface beneath its hooves, its azure eyes lighting up with deep, dark light like a vortex.

A whirlpool appeared on the sea surface, rapidly expanding into a huge vortex tens of meters in diameter, white foam churning.

The White Emperor plunged into the vortex, and shortly after emerged holding a curved spear that seemed to be made of bone and stone, gold and jade, in its mouth.

It galloped on four hooves like a fine steed, disappearing into the horizon.

The vortex slowly settled, and the ocean returned to normal.

…

East Ling City.

The barbican was built on top of the city wall, and Xu Pingfeng stood atop it, his white robes fluttering, his bearing like that of a banished immortal.

He held a jug of wine, gazing northward.

…

Yunzhou Central Army Camp.

Supply carts moved in and out of the military camp, while lower-ranking soldiers repeated their duties of guarding and patrolling, ready to march at any time.

Compared to the Yunzhou army fighting on three fronts, the thirty thousand central troops remained the most intact, with the elite forces constantly resting and preparing for battle.

In a month, the camp had barely deployed any troops.

Now, as winter gradually came to an end, the lower-ranking soldiers were fine with their limited knowledge, but the middle and high-ranking officers were becoming restless.

They realized that as spring approached, the advantages and disadvantages between their side and Great Feng would gradually begin to reverse.

Thus, voices calling for deployment grew more numerous and louder.

By today, over a dozen middle and high-ranking officers knelt outside the commander’s tent, “pressuring” Qi Guangbo to deploy troops.

Among them was Zhuo Haoran, who had been demoted from Left Army Colonel to Vice Captain of the Assault Corps.

“General, we can’t delay any longer. If we don’t take Qingzhou this winter, it will be as difficult as ascending to heaven for our army to reach the capital after the Spring Sacrifice.”

Zhuo Haoran, his left eye gray-white and sightless, roared:

“This subordinate asks only for death, but please let this subordinate die on the battlefield. Please deploy the troops, General.”

The surrounding officers all echoed his sentiments. Although they looked down on Zhuo Haoran as a defeated commander, their position at this moment was the same.

After the commotion had gone on for a while, just as the officers thought they would return empty-handed, the military tent opened.

Qi Guangbo wore full military attire, one hand resting on his sword hilt. His gaze was calm, his expression indifferent as he swept his eyes over the officers. Not only did he not show anger, but he smiled and said:

“To have endured until now shows some patience.”

The one-eyed Zhuo Haoran asked in surprise:

“General?”

Qi Guangbo said solemnly:

“Zhuo Haoran, you lost six thousand elite troops in Songshan County and should have been dealt with by military law. This general values talent and spared your life. Now I ask you, do you want to atone for your crimes with merit?”

Zhuo Haoran shouted:

“If I can wash away this shame, I’ll die without regrets.”

Qi Guangbo threw out an order sealed with the commander’s stamp and said indifferently:

“Lead eight thousand elite troops from the Left Army to support the Dragon Elephant, White Rhino, and Formation-Breaking armies at Songshan County.”

Zhuo Haoran’s face lit up with wild joy:

“This subordinate accepts the command!”

Qi Guangbo no longer looked at him but turned to an officer on the right:

“Wenxuan led six hundred artillery troops from the Artillery Corps and three thousand infantry from the Breakthrough Corps to support the Black Armor and Green Python armies at East Ling. Also, take this general’s letter to Ji Xuan.”

He threw out another order sealed with the commander’s stamp.

“Zhao Bing, you lead three thousand light cavalry to cut off Songshan County’s supply lines. You must march day and night without rest.”

“…”

As orders were issued one after another, soon half the officers outside the tent had been dispatched. Qi Guangbo swept his gaze over the remaining crowd and said unhurriedly:

“Break camp. Follow this commander to swallow Wan County.”

…

Songshan County.

From the barbican atop the city wall came Miao Youfang’s angry voice:

“No taking back moves! Mo Sang, I taught you Go, a game that only Central Plains scholars can learn, and this is how you repay me?

“Hmph, barbarians will always be barbarians.”

Then came Mo Sang’s voice:

“This is the popular game in the Central Plains? It’s not that difficult. Could I be a legendary scholarly prodigy?”

Miao Youfang sneered:

“What do you know? This is called ‘the great way is simple.’ The simpler something is, the more profound its learning.

“Look, these five stones can be arranged horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. We can also place them on both sides first, then in the middle. The variations are endless, the moves mysterious and unpredictable.”

Mo Sang, now wearing light armor, scratched his head:

“Although what you say makes sense, I still think it’s simple. I must be a scholarly prodigy. After the war, I’ll stay in your Central Plains to take the imperial examination and become a top graduate before returning home. My father will be overjoyed.”

“What are you talking about?” Xu Cijiu, munching on a steamed bun, had just finished inspecting the city’s defenses and stepped into the barbican threshold when he heard this conversation.

Miao Youfang, while guarding against Mo Sang switching stones, said:

“We’re playing Go, the Way of the Gentleman.”

Second Young Master Xu thought to himself how could this crude warrior know Go? Looking closely, he saw black and white stones arranged in lines of one, two, or three, with the longest being four stones. Whether black or white stones, any line of four would be cut off.

“You… you call this Go?”

Second Young Master Xu looked at him with a strange expression.

“Isn’t it?” Miao Youfang asked, and before Xu Cijiu could speak, he gave a proud “heh”:

“Don’t think playing Go is the privilege of you scholars. What’s so difficult about it? With my intelligence, I figured out the trick in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

“I didn’t know how to play before simply because I was intimidated by you scholars.”

Mo Sang agreed from the side:

“I also think it’s simple. Master Xu, do you think I could become a top graduate like you? Our Southern Borderlands hasn’t produced a top graduate yet.”

I think your Central Plains speech has become more standard… Xu Xinnian chewed his steamed bun:

“Brother Miao, who taught you this way of playing?”

Miao Youfang placed stones rapidly as he answered:

“Your eldest sister-in-law.”

Xu Xinnian paused: “Which one?”

Which one? Miao Youfang also paused, thought carefully, and said:

“The ugliest one.”

Xu Xinnian carefully recalled but couldn’t guess who he meant by the ugliest.

“Just say the name directly.”

“Mu Nanzhi!”

Who is Mu Nanzhi? Never mind, when there’s a chance to meet her in the future, remember to tell her that Miao Youfang called her ugly… Xu Xinnian made a mental note, then cupped his hands to his two talented comrades-in-arms and went to the side to read military treatises.

Scholars had minds as intricate as an eight-sided bell – this was the basic operating procedure.