So “supplement” meant this? “Path to Immortality” had already existed, and Emperor Hao Li had completed it.

She closed her eyes briefly, then suddenly asked “Expansion”: “Did Emperor Hao Li create any other cultivation works?”

“Yes, besides the one in your hands, there are seven other supreme techniques that he created alone,” the monster answered. “In terms of creation time, none took as long as ‘Mortal’s Path to Immortality’—Emperor Hao Li spent forty-nine years completing it.”

The preciousness of this book was evident. Emperor Hao Li’s willingness to spend nearly fifty years on it showed he truly believed it could guide people to successful cultivation.

This further strengthened her determination to study it well.

When one is fully concentrated, time passes swiftly. For Feng Miao Jun, it seemed like the blink of an eye before another five hours had passed.

Five days went by like this.

On this day, when she returned to Jin Capital, the sky was already dark.

Fortunately, Jin Capital was wealthy and prosperous, known as the “City That Never Sleeps,” with no curfew. Its fourteen city gates continuously admitted carriages and horses from all directions.

Feng Miao Jun quietly entered the Imperial Mentor’s mansion through the back door. However, when she had gazed at the main entrance from afar earlier, she had seen two processions of carriages stopping at the gate, elaborately decorated with engraved emblems. She didn’t recognize them and just glanced before walking away.

Not long after she returned to her courtyard, the steward of the Imperial Mentor’s mansion brought her a list. She curiously accepted it and was startled by what she saw.

It was a gift registry, formatted with entries like “General So-and-so’s Mansion, gift amount such-and-such” and “Commander So-and-so’s Mansion, gift amount such-and-such.” The range of gifts was extensive, from blood coral to exquisite jade, from snow lotus to five-hundred-year-old ginseng, with relatively little gold and silver.

So those people outside had come to deliver gifts?

She briefly scanned the list—there were two pages densely filled. At a glance, at least twenty households had sent gifts. While they might not be considered absolute treasures, they were certainly valuable, presentable, and impressive.

“What is this?”

“The nobility of Jin Capital congratulating the Imperial Mentor on acquiring a beloved disciple—that is, you, young miss.” The steward smiled and said, “More should arrive in the next two days. The Imperial Mentor instructed me to store this batch of gifts in the warehouse for now. Once your residence is prepared in a few days, we will send them over to you.”

Feng Miao Jun beamed with joy: “Thank the Imperial Mentor for me.” She read the gift list twice and carefully put it away.

Yesterday she had thought the King of Jin’s rewards were generous, but compared to today’s mountain of gifts, they seemed insignificant. Of course, she understood that the King of Jin had set an example, prompting the nobles to follow suit. Those who came first to deliver gifts must be the top-tier aristocratic families of Jin Capital, with such prompt information; those coming in the next two days would be of slightly lower status.

Furthermore, the list prepared by the steward was surely arranged according to family rank, allowing her to gain a rudimentary understanding of the power structure in Jin Capital just by holding it.

Now, half of Jin Capital knew that Mo Ti Zhun had taken her as his disciple. Her initial appearance in the royal capital was unavoidably high-profile, likely to cause many ripples later. This ran counter to her original expectation of “departing quietly after the matter, concealing both identity and fame,” but she could only accept it with resigKingdom.

Accept what comes and make peace with it.

Mo Ti Zhun also understood her desire to keep a low profile. He transferred all the gifts he received to Feng Miao Jun—firstly because there was no real master-disciple relationship, and the Imperial Mentor had a certain pride; keeping these things wouldn’t be entirely justified. Secondly, it served as a thank-you gift for her help with the matter at the Li mansion.

However, this meant her original plan would have to be postponed, as there were now too many eyes secretly watching her.

The steward handed her another gold-decorated invitation: “This came with the gifts.”

She opened it and saw the signature “Lady Mian Hua,” which made her furrow her brow slightly. Reading the content, she learned that Lady Mian Hua was hosting the An Luo Literary Gathering in two days and had invited the Imperial Mentor’s new disciple to attend.

A literary gathering was an assembly where scholars and poets discussed learning. She considered herself not particularly well-versed in such matters and had no interest in affecting cultural refinement.

The steward, knowing she was new and unfamiliar with the host, specifically explained: “Lady Mian Hua is the widow of General Lang Tu. She is known for her talent and appreciation of refinement. The An Luo Literary Gathering she organizes each year is a grand event in Jin Capital. General Lang Tu was highly respected during his lifetime but unfortunately sacrificed himself for the country two years ago…”

Mo Ti Zhun happened to walk in from outside and interjected: “Others more or less give Lady Mian Hua face.”

Feng Miao Jun looked up at him: “Will you go?”

Mo Ti Zhun chuckled: “She sent me an invitation half a month ago, as a courtesy, knowing I never attend.”

Feng Miao Jun smiled: “Quite the air of importance.”

Mo Ti Zhun also smiled: “Impossible not to have it.”

These four words were meaningful, and Feng Miao Jun understood them without deep thought. As an Imperial Mentor, his position was high but his power should not be excessive. If he were to be socially adept like Lady Mian Hua, the King of Jin would become uneasy.

She slowly withdrew her smile: “Invitations were sent half a month ago?”

She knew such events wouldn’t be organized in just two hasty days. Lady Mian Hua had distributed invitations fifteen or sixteen days earlier, obviously adding Feng Miao Jun to the guest list only after receiving news of the Imperial Mentor taking a disciple.

The difference between deliberate inclusion and casual invitation was significant.

In Jin Capital, Feng Miao Jun was an obscure figure. Why would Lady Mian Hua deliberately invite her? Was it to curry favor with the Imperial Mentor, or was there another reason?

She looked at the invitation again. Although the wording was impeccable with no flaws to pick at, Feng Miao Jun still hesitated and asked Mo Ti Zhun: “May I go?”

“As you wish.” After all, it was his nominal disciple attending, not himself. Besides, the King of Jin was well aware of Feng Miao Jun’s true identity—what objection could there be to the Princess of An Xia attending a literary gathering hosted by a general’s wife?

“I’ll go,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “But you need to find someone to protect me.”

“A small matter, though it’s easier to dodge hidden arrows than open spears.” Mo Ti Zhun cracked his neck twice and, recalling something, instructed the steward: “Go tell the kitchen to prepare a bowl of rock sugar bird’s nest soup.”

The steward walked out.

Receiving Feng Miao Jun’s complex gaze, he couldn’t help but rub his nose: “What are you looking at? It’s not for me to eat!… By the way, did you find what you wanted to see in the Smoke Sea Tower?”

She shook her head, showing disappointment: “Not yet, but I did find a work by Emperor Hao Li called ‘Mortal’s Path to Immortality.’ I spent most of the day reading it.”

Mo Ti Zhun responded with “Oh”: “That’s a unique copy, different from the version circulating among the common people.”

She asked with surprise: “There’s a circulating version among commoners?”

“Of course. Not just in Jin, throughout the Central Plains, ‘Path to Immortality’ is the most widely practiced technique.”