Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 509 Whose Home Ground is the Frost Kingdom?
In fact, Lu Xingzhou's injuries had already healed, and Dugu Qingli was only left with a sliver of life.

After that exciting phone call, no one caused any more trouble. Dugu Qingli focused on healing her injuries, while Lu Xingzhou took out a spare alchemy furnace, both for refining pills and for working with his newly acquired Taiyin True Fire.

That celestial furnace is currently being kept by Anuo; who knows what she'll do with it.

This experience left me battered and bruised, with no improvement in my cultivation, but the gains were immense. The Water Escape Technique, the Yin True Fire, and the Heavenly One Divine Water added many practical skills to my repertoire, and the combat experience was also very meaningful.

Sparring with the Dragon Clan's guards is just sparring; they wouldn't dare to use their full strength. The life-or-death races in this Ice City are far more valuable than a hundred sparring sessions.

Unfortunately, Dugu Qingli gained nothing but practical experience and was also at risk of being tainted by demonic influence.

Lu Xingzhou is now refining pills with the aim of suppressing demonic nature and harmonizing the icy coldness, always feeling that he might need them someday.

"Knock knock~" The wooden wall was knocked on, and then a small crack appeared, and Jiang Yuan's head popped out: "Hey."

"how?"

"Give me a water-repelling pill."

"...I didn't bring that thing. The materials we have aren't suitable for refining it either. What do you need that for? If you're worried about corrosion, you can create a magical shield, or do you have a Gundam? Just crouch inside it."

"What is Gundam?"

"It's a huge mechanical robot, the kind you can go inside and drive."

Jiang Yuan: "...We have these puppets, but we don't need to go inside to drive them."

"Yes, there really is."

"That's how puppeteers are supposed to be used, right? Otherwise, did you think they were only used for exploration?"

"Then your grandfather didn't need to interfere with Gu Zhanting during the intense altar battle; all he did was a little wooden figure."

Jiang Yuan snorted: "How can we use something that's been kept under wraps so casually?"

"Then why don't you just tell me straight out like that?"

Jiang Yuan said, "What's wrong with saying a few words? You ultimately don't understand the reality."

Lu Xingzhou thought to himself, "If you say that, I'll probably understand." Of course, he wouldn't say it aloud, but simply said, "Your Jiang family has so many treasures, why don't you have any protective robes? Even if you didn't bring them down from the Ancient Realm, there are places in the capital that specialize in selling these. You've been here for so long, haven't you thought about buying one?"

Jiang Yuan sniffed.

It's not that we didn't bring it down; it was damaged during the smuggling process, and since we haven't had suitable materials to repair it, we've had to leave it for the time being.

There are ready-made ceremonial robes for sale in the capital, but my own robes are too good, so my standards are naturally high and I look down on those in the capital. I didn't buy them for the time being, and heaven knows how many times I've been tricked by this.

In the end, what came out of his mouth was: "There's nothing good to buy in the countryside of the human world."

"Oh ho, you stinking beggar from the ancient world seeking refuge in the human world, you have pretty high standards."

Jiang Yuan was furious: "Who are you calling a stinking beggar?"

Lu Xingzhou looked up from the furnace and glanced at her, then slowly took out a few materials from his ring and tossed them over: "These are some high-end magical artifact materials collected by the Huo family. I brought some as spares. For example, this Cloud and Mist Brocade and Water and Fire Mysterious Gold Thread are very suitable for making magical robes. You can take them for now."

Jiang Yuan immediately forgot what a stinking beggar was, and caught it, stuffing it into her ring.

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Jiang Yuan: "..."

Lu Xingzhou said leisurely, "Exchange these things for that piece of cloth, and don't come asking me for it back."

Jiang Yuan instinctively said, "No! One thing at a time!"

"Then give these back to me, and the rags back to you." Lu Xingzhou stretched out his large hand.

Jiang Yuan's head went back inside, and the wooden wall closed.

…………

A day later, Dugu Qingli recovered from her injuries, and Jiang Yuan also put away the wooden wall. The three of them prepared to leave the secret realm.

Dugu Qingli glanced at Jiang Yuan, then glanced at her again.

Jiang Yuan was still dressed in a red warrior's robe, looking dashing and heroic. But the aura he exuded was different from before. What was once ordinary clothing now resembled a magical artifact, and a very powerful one at that, even stronger than Dugu Qingli's own sword armor.

You already had such powerful robes, why didn't you wear them earlier? So when you came in yesterday, you were deliberately showing off your body, right?
Jiang Yuan knew what the white-haired man's gaze meant, and felt both ashamed and angry, not knowing how to explain it.

This is my original robe from the ancient realm, but it was damaged before. Your lover gave me the materials to repair it just yesterday.

What do you say?
Your lover was exchanging flirtatious glances with me right in front of you while giving me a gift.
If she explained, it would be considered an open affair; if she didn't, it would be seen as malicious prostitution... Jiang Yuan was completely confused and didn't know what to do, so she silently dived into the water and quickly disappeared back out.

Dugu Qingli: "No wonder she and Pei Chuyun are best friends, they're both so flirtatious."

Jiang Yuanren had already left Hanchuan when she stumbled and almost fell.

Lu Xingzhou remained silent, leading the two back to Hanlan City. Si Han, having received Ye Tinglan's notification, didn't wait idly in the middle of Hanchuan and was now directing the post-disaster reconstruction work in Hanlan City.

Upon seeing Lu Xingzhou and his entourage return, a group of people in Hanlan City knelt down, saying, "Thank you, Lord Lu! Thank you, Holy Maiden!"

The earthquake stopped as soon as it started, which was obviously not a natural disaster. There must be something fishy going on under Hanchuan. Now everyone knows that Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli went through fire and water to help everyone resolve the situation.

The tremor was so sudden that half of the houses in Hanlan City collapsed; one can only imagine the devastating consequences if the tremors had continued. Surprisingly, there were hardly any casualties, only a few unlucky individuals injured. Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli's contribution was truly a blessing from heaven.

People paid their respects with utmost sincerity and devotion.

Lu Xingzhou waved his hand: "No need to be polite, it's my duty. Also, the situation below is only temporarily stable, and there may be changes in the future. I suggest that the King of Si set up a large formation at the border with Hanchuan, just in case."

Si Han hurriedly said, "We've been thinking about this too. What suggestions do you have, Lord Lu?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "This kind of array requires the strength of the entire nation to solve. I can't offer any ideas. Your Majesty can discuss it with the elders stationed in Tianshuang of the Tianyao Holy Land. This matter is not urgent. Right now, we have some important matters that require Your Majesty's help."

"Lord Lu, please give your orders."

The mighty ruler of the kingdom, Si Han, was extremely humble at this moment.

As a near-super-grade expert, he was a top-tier powerhouse who could hold his own against Ye Tinglan and Long Qinghuang for a while with the help of the Bone Dragon. In fact, he was about to break through to the super-grade level. Even with such strength, he believed he was completely helpless against the changes that had occurred below Hanchuan. Yet, Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli had resolved the situation in just a short time, which chilled Si Han to the bone; he simply couldn't understand it.

Their achievements are definitely not limited to this. Give them some time, and becoming a superstar is just a stepping stone.

Since the entire Tianshuang Kingdom is now under the protection of the Tianyao Holy Land, Si Han's self-positioning is very clear: the ruler of a small country under the authority of the religion. As long as he serves the Holy Land mother above him well, his life will be very comfortable, and even disasters will be handled by someone. There's no need to think about those unnecessary things and make himself uncomfortable.

Lu Xingzhou pulled him to a corner and whispered a few instructions. Si Han nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

Lu Xingzhou went to a corner of the city ruins, gave a signal, and stood waiting.

Jiang Yuan, who had been silently following along, finally spoke up: "Why does this king listen to you so much?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "The Tian Shuang Kingdom is now under the protection of the Tian Yao Holy Land, and many people in the country have become worshippers of the Holy Land."

"The saintess was standing right there, why didn't Si Han bow to her?"

Dugu Qingli: "..."

Jiang Yuan stroked his chin: "With your power, you could actually rebel in the Great Qian Dynasty."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "Haven't we already rebelled once? The emperor was ousted."

Jiang Yuan fell silent; that wasn't what she was thinking about.

Neither the Frost Kingdom nor the Demon Realm participated in the initial rebellion. Yet, Lu Xingzhou clearly wields immense influence over both sides. What would be the outcome if he were to rally the people? And if the Great Qian Dynasty were to rebel again, who would rule the land?
As they were all lost in thought, a gust of cold wind swept by, and an old man wrapped in a black robe appeared, bowing to Lu Xingzhou and saying, "Greetings, Judge."

The newly appointed Western Ghost Emperor of the Yama Palace, the Old Man of Yin Wind from the Yin Corpse Sect.

Lu Xingzhou didn't say anything like "I'm not a judge," but simply asked, "You were originally allied with the Ice Prison Sect, and after all this time, have you noticed anything amiss with them?"

The old man with the cold wind shook his head: "We are just allies and do not interfere in each other's internal affairs. Moreover, given the current situation, there is nothing left for us and the Ice Prison Sect to ally with.

"why?"

"Uh... because the original plan of the Ten Kings of Hell was for a rebellion, and the Ice Prison Sect was naturally colluding to rebel against Si Han. Now that Si Han is your ally, how could the King of Hell possibly ruin your plans?"

Lu Xingzhou asked, "How do you know what King Yama is thinking?"

The old man with the cold wind sighed: "King Yama gave a clear instruction that the matter of Tian Shuang only needs to be observed. In addition, King Yama gave a new instruction early this morning."

"Ok?"

“We informed her of your visit. She said that if you come to us, we will obey your commands.”

Lu Xingzhou: "...Then I won't stand on ceremony?"

"Judge, there's no need for formalities; we're all on the same side."

"Using the pretext of cooperation between the demonic and magical paths, you should go directly to visit Ling Qixuan to discuss the matter of the Ice Demon. Qingli and I will disguise ourselves as attendants and blend into your group. You can then respond by listening to my telepathic messages."

The old man with the cold wind bowed: "Yes."

Jiang Yuan blinked her eyes.

The image I had of Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli getting involved with the Ice Prison Sect was completely different... What's there to get involved with? They could have just wiped out the entire sect!

Lu Xingzhou's power is terrifying. He seems to be traveling alone to Hanchuan with only a little white-haired boy, but in reality, he has people everywhere, making it no different from his home ground.

Traveling around has certainly broadened my horizons. Back in the Great Qian Dynasty, I thought the Huo family was powerful, but now that I'm out here, I realize what the Huo family is really like. The world is so vast; before, not only my own perspective, but even my grandfather's seemed too limited.

The main reason is that the Ancient Realm is just an attic; it's really not that big.

(End of this chapter)