Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 178 Flying Dragon in the Sky: Seven Nobles of Luoyang
West of Xinye, screams echoed from all directions.

None of the Khitan people from the Bohai Kingdom escaped. Fan Naitang and Meng Degong rounded up the Baihe River and headed towards Huai'an County, capturing several survivors.

The followers of the Great Ming Zunjiao died by chewing poison.

However, the Donghai Alliance and the Bohai Kingdom were not so tough, so Meng Degong sorted out the information he had gathered.

The next day, around 7:00 AM, the cause and effect were revealed to Zhou Yi.

After reading the message from Meng Degong, Zhou Yi handed it to Aruiyina.

She glanced at it casually, then folded it up and put it aside. Apart from Wulege, she didn't care about things like the East Sea Alliance or the Bohai Kingdom.

“I thought the kind mother would come, but I was greatly disappointed.”

Aruina shook her head slightly: "Your reputation has long been known. Shanmu is always cautious. Nanyang is the territory you control, which is extremely dangerous for her. Considering her temperament, it is not worth it for her to take the risk herself to capture me."

Zhou Yi then said, "Then you can go out more often; the county town is very safe."

She smiled and gestured towards the neatly arranged pile of scriptures beside her:
“You said you wanted to organize Taoist classics, which is exactly what I can do to help.”

Aryuina had already read many scriptures, so she was quite adept at this task.

Zhou Yi opened a brand-new Taoist manual. The small characters at the top were written with sharp strokes, clearly the work of a master swordsman.

This is the Daoist book of Peng Meng. He was a man from the state of Qi during the Warring States period, the teacher of Tian Pian, and belonged to the Huang-Lao school of Daoism.

Zhuangzi said, “The ancient Daoist arts are found in this. Peng Meng, Tian Pian, and Shen Dao were delighted by its teachings. They regarded all things as the most important.”

Zhou Yi had already read this book thoroughly and had his own thoughts on it.

However, Zhuangzi believed that these people could not be considered to "understand the Dao," but only had some knowledge of it.

The ancient book left behind by Master Jiao Wuzi had some blurred characters and had been gnawed by bookworms. The original book was set aside for the moment, while this brand-new copy was naturally transcribed by Aruina.

I flipped through several volumes, and they were all in her handwriting.

When she came back yesterday, she wasn't painting; she was tidying up these things.

"You've saved me so much trouble. I wouldn't be this meticulous if I were to do it myself."

Ina walked to his side, her face serious: "Organizing the scriptures is not difficult, but if you want to compile a complete Daoist canon, the books here, though precious, are not enough."

"Yang Guang left quite a few in Jiangdu and Dongdu."

Zhou Yi flipped through the book:
"Since I have spoken to my fellow Daoist friends, I will not go back on my word. However, this is something I can only do my best to do. If there are any omissions, I cannot force them. For example, some people's ancestral homes are still in their graves. I can't just dig up all their graves."

She hummed in agreement: "You also mentioned wanting to compile a Daoist classic that incorporates the essence of martial arts, but I can't help you with that."

"It's still early, it's still early."

Zhou Yi put down the book: "My current martial arts level is not yet at that level."

Hearing him say "it's still early," Aryuina became excited: "Can I watch it when my cousin finishes his work?"

"of course can."

After Zhou Yi finished speaking, the Uyghur girl beside him smiled and hugged his arm.

"I'm going to the Eastern Capital in a few days. Would you like to come with me for some fresh air?"

"really?"

"real."

In a good mood, Ina joked for once: "Aren't you afraid that I'll have a sword fight with Miss Feng?"

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Zhou Yi confidently declared, "You are no match for me. I can easily take on two of you at once."

A smile appeared in her deep blue eyes: "Why do I feel there's not much conviction in your words?"

"No, actually it's that we have a lot of confidence."

The Uyghur girl smiled and pressed her face against his arm: "I want to paint that sketch and organize the Taoist scriptures. More importantly, I've gotten used to this kind of life."

Zhou Yi glanced at her.

Yina didn't force him at all, and quietly looked at him sideways: "Cousin, I'll just wait for you at home."

Zhou Yi could sense that she was enjoying this peace and tranquility.

For the next five days, he spent most of his time in the courtyard.

He taught Xia Shuyanqiu the Kan Shui Gang Fa and Li Huo Jian Fa, guiding them in their cultivation. He also discussed the essence of spiritual magic with his cousin Yina using the Zhi Jing.

Although Ina's skills are not as good as his.

However, having practiced the Sabulokhan for a long time and begun to glimpse the essence of the spiritual path, he would analyze Zhou Yi's thinking from the perspective of a respected practitioner.

Therefore, Zhou Yi had an even more wonderful idea.

Besides teaching and practicing martial arts, he would tell them about the affairs of Bashu whenever he had the chance, under Xia Shu and Yan Qiu's persistent questioning.

Only then did they discover that the two children had compiled a notebook related to him.

It records his various deeds.

They also distinguish between what they hear from outsiders and what Zhou Yi tells them personally.

Time flies, and Zhou Yi's footsteps did not stop in Nanyang.

Unfortunately, Yang Zhen and Su Yun did not return.

Zhou Yi had a small meal with Fan Naitang and Meng Degong, and then went to the Jukun Gang branch on the same day he left Nanyang City.

Chen Laomou finally returned from Xiangcheng County in the north.

Seeing Zhou Yi about to leave with his sword, Old Chen quickly turned the lock in his hand, feeling extremely relieved:
"What a sin! I almost missed the Celestial Master!"

Zhou Yi was amused by him: "What's so important that even you, Old Chen, have personally come out?"

"It is precisely about the Celestial Master's trip to the Eastern Capital."

Without keeping everyone in suspense, Chen Laomou continued:
"Since the appearance of the He Shi Bi, all the major powers in the world have gathered in the Eastern Capital. Heroes from all walks of life in the Nine Provinces, the four major clans, the Western Regions and the northern frontier, Bohai and Goryeo—from the information I have received, not only the Tuyuhun prince, but even the Tiele Flying Eagle who has not left the northern desert for a long time has come."

"Oh?"

Zhou Yi was a little puzzled: "How dare Qu Ao?"

Old Master Chen cautiously said, "Master, you may not know this, but Qu Ao has been out of the northern desert for quite some time. His first stop was Xingyang."

"They are really a nest of snakes and rats."

Xingyang is Li Mi's stronghold, and it seems that Qu Ao has also been won over by Li Mi.

"Li Mi recognized the Indian sorcerer Fonanda as his national teacher. Fonanda was the spiritual mentor of the Bohai Kingdom, and he was known to everyone from the northern deserts to the western regions. Therefore, he gathered a large number of foreign forces. Yuwen Huaji was originally at odds with Li Mi. At this time, Li Mi was very powerful, and the Wei army had to avoid his sharp edge."

Old Chen said bitterly, "These people covet the land of the Nine Provinces and regard the Celestial Master as a great enemy."

"The Three Immortals of the South China Sea are already in Xingyang, and there is also the top master of Goguryeo, Five-Sword Overlord Gai Suwen."

Gaesomun was arguably the second best swordsman in Goguryeo, second only to the master of Yi Jian.

With such a large group of people gathered, Zhou Yi had to take it seriously.

"Any more news?"

Chen Laomou's pupils contracted:
"Among all the heroes under heaven today, the Celestial Master is the most prominent. The Eastern Capital is a den of dragons and tigers. With the news of the He Shi Bi jade already out, the Celestial Master's mortal enemies have probably been waiting for a long time. Li Mi has gone to great lengths, and I heard that he asked a demonic monk to use spiritual yoga to free the Tiele Flying Eagle from its shackles."

"There are probably quite a few people like this. Once they enter the Eastern Capital, a fierce battle is inevitable!"

"The Celestial Master needs to weigh the pros and cons: is it worth it for the He Shi Bi? Even if it has the reputation of being ordained by Heaven, it is far less valuable than the Celestial Master's peaceful development for a year."

After learning the truth about Dongdu, Chen Laomou offered a word of advice.

Even a mighty tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves.

Even for a grandmaster of martial arts, getting caught up in such a brutal group battle would be extremely risky.

Not to mention, there are many military formations near the Eastern Capital.

"Don't worry, I'm not that reckless."

Zhou Yi looked to the north: "However, this He Shi Bi was created by a martial arts holy land. They caused me trouble in Bashu, so this time I won't let them have their way."

"Although I have many enemies in the Eastern Capital, people's ambitions and desires are hard to control. If they can unite as one, I really don't need the He Shi Bi jade."

Upon hearing this, Chen Laomou knew that the man understood the situation and, without adding his own judgment, continued to recount what he knew:
"If the Celestial Master sets off now, he can make it to the Rong family's birthday banquet."

"Rong Fengxiang?"

"Correct."

Old Chen said:
"Rong Fengxiang has recently taken the top position in the Luoyang Gang, and his influence has greatly increased. Now he has also become the leader of the Baiye Society, the most powerful organization in the north, which is even more powerful. He is going to hold a 50th birthday celebration, which will probably attract all the important figures in the city."

Rong Fengxiang is just an alias for Bichen.

He is a disciple of Laozi Temple in the True Lineage of the Demonic Sect and has a deep connection with Zuo Youxian.

"Do you know the purpose of his sudden birthday banquet?"

Old Chen shook his head helplessly:

"That remains to be seen. He was on good terms with Wang Shichong, who was currently locked in a fierce battle with the Dugu clan. Therefore, this birthday banquet was not a good one for the Celestial Master. Moreover, the situation in the city was complicated, with all seven nobles of Luoyang caught up in the chaos."

Was he on good terms with Wang Shichong?

That's how it appears on the surface, but the reality is quite different.

That evil Taoist, Bichen, is ruthless when it comes to backstabbing.

Seeing that he was thinking, Chen Laomou continued.

Tell them in detail the information you have gathered over the past few days.

The chaos in the Eastern Capital far exceeded Zhou Yi's expectations.
Old Chen wanted to see him off, but Zhou Yi persuaded him to go back. He left one more item for Chen to give to his friend Song Yinzi in Yiyang County.

This item is naturally related to the flow of sword energy.

Zhou Yi has done his best, but knowing the secret technique and mastering it are two different things.

I only hope that Fellow Daoist Song can have his wish fulfilled.

With this thought in mind, Zhou Yi headed north of the city. Not long after leaving the city, he suddenly saw a graceful figure in purple standing on the left side of the road.

Cousin Ina said nothing, but walked forward with a smile on her face.

She insisted on going with him, only asking Zhou Yi to bring her a package of sliced ​​roast duck and a pot of wine.

"Cousin, be careful."

Ina didn't linger; she left after finishing her sentence.

Zhou Yi looked back and saw Xia Shuyan waving in the distance.

He felt a warmth in his heart, smiled, waved, and headed north.
……

Zhou Yi traveled north from Nanyang, taking the entire route along the land post road. He passed through Bowang, Zhang Qian's fiefdom, which was also an important gateway to the northeast of the Nanyang Basin.

Looking out, you can see the Funiu Mountains and the Tongbai Mountains flanking each other, forming a narrow passage.

This is the Nanxiang Pass.

It is a vital passage connecting Nanyang to the heart of the Central Plains.

Beyond this place, one enters the territory of Yingchuan, a land renowned for its talented people and beautiful scenery.

Even while enjoying the autumn scenery and stopping at rustic pavilions, Zhou Yi walked extremely fast.

He quickly left behind the merchant caravans he encountered along the way.

He traveled non-stop, passing through Ye County and heading northwest to Xiangcheng.

Upon arriving in Yangdi, I saw a professional team performing magic in front of a large mansion and watched for a while. The family's surname was Li, and they were actually related to the Li family of Zhao County.

They are also a prominent local family.

Unexpectedly, they encountered a powerful figure from Elingkou, and the old patriarch, barely in his fifties, lost his life.

Elingkou is Xuanyuan Pass. Traveling west from Yangdi towards Luoyang requires crossing the Songshan Mountains. The main passage is Xuanyuan Pass.

It is an important pass southeast of Luoyang, connecting the Yingchuan Basin and the Luoyang Basin.

As dusk fell, all the inns in the city were full.

Zhou Yi knocked on several doors. An elderly couple opened the door and, seeing that he was handsome, refined, kind, and gentle, and did not seem like a bad person, let him stay at their home for the night.

The following day, a small piece of Changshu Mou's broken gold shield was left in the room.

Before they left, the elderly couple warned them that there were notorious thieves lurking at Elingkou who would rob and kill, and that they should travel in formation, not alone.

Zhou Yi thanked them for their kindness, but transformed into a lone goose, carrying a pot of wine and a roast goose, and broke through the morning mist, heading straight for Mount Song.

As we traveled along the road, we saw layer upon layer of mountains, all covered in ochre armor.

The autumn wind whistled past Zhou Yi's ears, making quite a racket. It was like a blacksmith's hammer forging rocks.

Looking out at the mountain scenery, the towering cliffs stand like broken halberds and tattered spears, piercing the sky, with gnarled pines and cypresses on them, adding to the scene of iron and blood.

It's a pity that Hou Xibai isn't by his side.

Otherwise, if I were to take up a brush and ink, given my current state of mind, I would surely be able to create a fine painting.

I imagine that when the wealthy young master saw this painting, he would laugh heartily and generously hand over a large sum of money.

The sky was bright and clear, and Zhou Yi gazed at the valley opposite the narrow path.

If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of weapons clashing.

On the mountain path in front of Xuanyuan Pass, pine needles rustled and fell amidst the flashing swords, while below, some laughed loudly, and others wept and cursed.

Not long after.

"what--!"

A loud scream rang out as a burly, shirtless man was kicked off a cliff, his groans echoing through the valley.

"You thief, you're asking for death!"

The person shouting wore a silver headband, and his right arm was bare with a wolf's head tattooed on it. As he shouted, he exerted his strength, and the muscles in his arm bulged, causing the spear in his hand to immediately scatter spear flowers.

Behind this man in his forties were dozens of others, each exuding a fierce and murderous aura, their knives and axes stained with blood.

At this moment, the leader was enraged and did not call for help; they lined up and watched.

There were more than twenty corpses on the ground opposite, and about ten people were gathered together.

The person whose lips turned purple while shouting was clearly poisoned.

A young Taoist priest, about thirteen or fourteen years old, was treating the person's poison. The young priest's brows were deeply furrowed, indicating that his abilities were limited.

The one who fought the bandit leader was a Taoist priest in his thirties with an upright appearance.

His swordsmanship is full of righteousness.

But the opponent was very strong, and they couldn't defeat him for a while.

"Brother Pan, this Brother Guo is about to die!"

The young Taoist priest's voice carried a hint of urgency.

Upon hearing this, Master Pan channeled all his inner energy into the sword, making the powerful sword even more righteous. The sword energy spread out, and he suddenly changed his sword technique, forcing the bandit leader back ten steps.

The thief stumbled.

He thrust his sword forward, intending to pierce the heart, but the opponent, quick-witted, braced himself against the ground with the shaft of his spear, saving his life with a wound and narrowly avoiding the attack.

"No wonder you dared to ruin my good deed, you really are capable."

The bandit leader jumped back, reached up to wipe his chest, stuck out his tongue and licked the blood, his face showing a bloodthirsty look.

Upon seeing this, his men let out a series of sinister laughs.

Master Pan stepped back, channeled his inner energy, and pressed around the heart meridian of the poisoned youth seven or eight times before letting out a long breath.

After expending this vital energy, the poisoned youth's breathing gradually stabilized.

But everyone around them changed their expressions.

A manager in his fifties raised his knife, and everyone around him did the same.

Nearly forty fierce and ruthless bandits were suppressed at once.

Pan Shizheng stared at the silver headband on the other man's head and asked sharply, "Are you Abao Cuo?"

The thief leader was taken aback: "You know me?"

"Notorious, how could anyone not recognize him?"

The Khitan chieftain Abaojia had an elite hawk army, and the silver hoop indicated that the leader was a first-class hawk general.

He remembered this Khitan chieftain; the thief in front of him looked like Abaojia, and he knew that he had a younger brother named Abaocuo.

The two had a falling out over the division of the looted goods.

After his defeat, Abaocuo followed the bandit Shenmohuan and his wife.

Pan Shizheng then thought of what he had heard: the two notorious bandits, Shen Mohuan and Mu Ling, who had roamed the northern deserts, had died at the Pegasus Ranch, and the one who killed them was none other than his own martial uncle.

Since the death of the notorious thief couple, the notorious thief Abaocuo has disappeared without a trace.

Unexpectedly, it appeared here.

Upon hearing the words "infamous," Abao felt not ashamed, but rather proud.

He smiled cruelly: "You do have some knowledge, but treating this kid's injuries in front of me not only fails to cure my poison but also greatly depletes your true energy. Isn't that too stupid?"

Pan Shizheng frowned and asked, "Why did you attack the Guo family?"

Abaocuo raised his spear and said, "What Guo family? I'll slaughter whichever sheep is fattest."

He glanced sideways at Pan Shizheng, waiting for him to make a mistake so he could entangle him with a single shot and prevent these people from escaping.

On the ridge, his men had already cut off his retreat.

The manager, Guo Congyang, who was in his fifties, was quite tough and fearless at this moment: "Nonsense! You didn't stop the caravan from passing through, but you chose to fight and kill us. We won't get any gold or silver, and we'll suffer casualties."

"Even if I die here today, I'll take a few people down with me."

"Master Pan, Master Li, please take my young master with you."

"I will stop them."

Guo Congyang thought to himself that he was going to die today, so he might as well send a few others away instead, so as not to be ungrateful.

So he wielded a large sword, and with a fierce thrust and twist, he cut down a large pine tree by the roadside and used it to block the way. The sword wind stirred up a powerful force, and he used the Five Tigers Severing Gate Sword Technique.

"Master Pan, let's go!"

As he called out, the young Taoist priest surnamed Li had already picked up the young master of the Guo family.

"Trying to leave now? Ha, ha, too late!" Abao Cuo smiled smugly: "Do you think I have the time to chat with you? Look behind you."

A series of footsteps came up the mountain path.

This gang of thieves had been entrenched for a long time, and they even took a detour to cut off their retreat!

"Jump down."

The thirteen or fourteen-year-old Taoist priest suddenly pointed down the cliff: "One hit and you're dead, but if you jump down, you might survive."

Guo Congyang gazed at the bottomless cliff where clouds swirled:
"Master Li, jumping down will only lead to death, and a miserable one at that. You might as well kill a thief and have a good time."

Li Chunfeng shook his head: "This place is also called Dragon Roar Ridge. When we face foreign bandits, we may be protected by the dragon energy of the mountains and rivers. I cast a divination this morning before I went out, and it showed the formation of a flying dragon in the sky. The divination was very auspicious."

"Although my divination is sometimes accurate and sometimes not, and I am far from being as good as Senior Yuan Tiangang, there is still a glimmer of hope."

Upon hearing this, the Khitan bandits burst into laughter.

"A dragon soaring in the sky? Ha, ha, ha!"

Abaocuo's spear tip trembled with laughter, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "Good divination, good divination, everyone act according to the divination, jump quickly, jump quickly."

“I’ll beat your mother to death!” Guo Congyang yelled at him.

He brandished his sword, not wanting to be humiliated, and was about to charge back.

suddenly
"Ah~~~!!"

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the mountain path. One of the most notorious thieves, who had been blocking the way below, coughed up blood in mid-air and plummeted to the bottom of the cliff like a flying dragon.

Before anyone could turn around, a second scream rang out.

One sound after another, fourteen in a row, all resembling a dragon soaring in the sky.

The bandits who had cut off their escape route all fell off the cliff in a very short time.

The Guo family members and Li Chunfeng all stared wide-eyed.

Even Pan Shizheng showed a look of surprise.

On the mountain path, a young man in white was drinking and climbing. He clearly kicked more than ten times, but it was as if the wind had passed by, and even his movements were not visible.

Abaocuo's smile froze as he looked at the cliff and then at the young man.

A tremendous sense of crisis suddenly struck.

"Retreat! Retreat!"

He was quite perceptive; at this moment, he didn't dare utter a single harsh word and hurriedly ran back.

However.
The white shadow suddenly flickered on the mountain path, as if because people have left and right eyes, the left eye saw a white shadow and the right eye also saw a white shadow.

The two moved in opposite directions, one in front and one behind, and the mountain road quickly fell behind him.

Abao suddenly realized what was happening, and his eyelids twitched wildly.

I know it was a visual illusion caused by the person approaching too fast.

But he had never seen such an extremely strange lightness skill before.

"Block the narrow passage, kill!"

He picked up his spear, knowing he couldn't escape.

Seven or eight men rushed over immediately, brandishing their spears and guarding the mountain path tightly.

Just then, the pine tree that had fallen on the mountain path suddenly shook, and its dense pine needles fell off, revealing bare branches.

The man in white raised his hand, and pine needles flew into the air, swirling and buzzing like the wind, making a wonderfully strange sound, as if they had come to life.

In the next instant, he pushed his hand and clenched his palm, unleashing a terrifying force like a raging river, its buzzing sound stopping the clouds in their tracks, and instantly a thousand needles were released!
In a state of great terror, Abao frantically swung his spear to defend against the pine needles.

Those with slightly weaker skills were immediately pierced into their bodies by these hidden weapons-like pine needles.

Screams sounded one after another.

Abao suddenly felt the spear become heavy, as if someone had kicked the tip of the spear into the ground. His right hand was forcefully pulled from the spear, and blood spurted from his tiger's mouth.

At this moment, only afterimages could be seen rushing towards my face.

He couldn't dodge in time, and tried to block with his hands to his head, but a leg flashed and he was still kicked. His abdomen churned with excruciating pain, and he curled up like a shrimp as he flew off the cliff.

“Swish~~!!”

A whistling sound followed closely behind, even faster than the speed at which he flew out.

It was the very silver spear he was using.

The crowd was stunned as they watched as Abao was pierced through by the silver spear mid-air.

With a trail of blood in an arc, it plummeted down the cliff.

The previous sneer turned into a series of terrified screams. Wherever the white figure passed, except for those who were killed by pine needles or those who were already on the ground, everyone else became flying figures.

The Guo family members were dumbfounded.

Although Guo Congyang didn't know who the newcomer was, he had been saved and hurriedly shouted:

"We, the Guo family, will never forget your life-saving grace!"

Guo Congyang noticed that the other party only glanced at him before turning to leave. He desperately wanted to ask this senior to save his young master.

However, since the other party has already shown kindness, how could one possibly ask for more?
In the midst of this agonizing moment, Master Pan suddenly bowed deeply and exclaimed:
"Uncle-Master Zhou."

Uncle-Master?
Guo Congyang was both surprised and delighted.

The young Taoist priest Li Chunfeng, who was standing to the side, was stunned. Was Brother Pan making up a relationship? Where did he get a senior uncle?

But then the young man in white stopped in his tracks.

Turning back to look around, a clear voice reached everyone's ears, so distinct: "You are Pan Shizheng?"

“Uncle-Master Zhou, this is indeed your disciple.”

Pan Shizheng was older, but he addressed him as "Uncle-Master" with crispness and clarity.

When he first learned that Daoist Ya had recognized him as a very young senior uncle, he was reluctant and even felt that his master had misjudged him and had been deceived.

At this moment, one can't help but admire the master's foresight.

He rushed forward to meet him.

Although he often hung out with Ning Sanren and had come into contact with many important figures.

But at this moment, he was already treating the person in front of him as Ning Sanren.

"Hey, hey."

Li Chunfeng, who was standing to the side, nudged him and pointed to himself.

That means, how should I address you?

He was intelligent and studious from a young age, and read extensively. He was especially proficient in astronomy, calendar systems, and mathematics, and had a particular fondness for Taoist teachings.

Don't let his young age fool you, he's got a lot of nerve.

After meeting Pan Shizheng, I learned that he was a virtuous man, so I left Qizhou and came all the way here.

At this moment, they had clearly encountered a senior from the Taoist sect, but they did not know which one it was.

Pan Shizheng said, "This is the Taoist Celestial Master of Wuzhuang Temple in Nanyang."

Li Chunfeng's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a surge of excitement.

He bowed deeply and respectfully, calling out, "Celestial Master."

Upon hearing the words "Celestial Master," the Guo family members exchanged glances, confirmed each other's suspicions, and were all deeply shocked.

The Taoist Celestial Master is already famous throughout the world; he is one of the four great masters.

Guo Congyang hurriedly clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, catching his breath as he said, "I was blind and did not know that it was the Celestial Master's entourage."

Zhou Yi smiled at him, then turned to Pan Shizheng: "Is Ning Sanren in Luoyang?"

"Not at this time."

Pan Shizheng said, "The hermit has gone to Mount Taibai to find the Medicine King. If all goes well, he will be back within half a month."

"Oh? Why are you suddenly going to find the Medicine King?"

"The hermit obtained several rare herbs from the Shennong Materia Medica and gave them to the Medicine King to help him complete the Thousand Gold Prescriptions."

Zhou Yi still believed this reason.

Although Ning Sanren was close to Buddhism, he was still a person of great character and his conduct was beyond reproach.

Seeing the anxious look on Guo Congyang's face, Zhou Yi glanced at the unconscious young man with purple lips and asked, "What happened to him?"

Pan Shizheng replied, "Uncle-Master, Young Master Guo is severely poisoned."

Zhou Yi said to Guo Congyang, "Help your young master over here."

“Yes~!!”

Guo Congyang was overjoyed and hurriedly helped another member of the Guo family to carry Guo Xinhan forward.

Pan Shizheng's internal energy blocked the poison from Guo Xinhan's heart meridian, but it could not eliminate the poison.

Zhou Yi placed a finger on the Youmen acupoint on his chest, drawing in the remaining poison from the nearby meridians. With a burst of true energy, the poison melted away. Then, he gathered true energy in his finger and gently slid it open, cutting through the flesh.

Black blood gushed down.

The effect was immediate. Young Master Guo opened his eyes and said, "Many thanks, Celestial Master."

It is evident that although he was poisoned, he remained conscious.

Exhausted, he couldn't bring himself to say anything more and closed his eyes again.

"Let him rest quietly for a few days, and he'll be fine."

Guo Congyang bowed again in gratitude: "I don't know how to thank you for such a great favor. If you go to the Eastern Capital, I would like to humbly invite you to my humble abode as a guest, so that my master may have the opportunity to hold a banquet to express his gratitude."

Zhou Yi's interest was piqued upon hearing "Dongdu".

Which company in Dongdu are you from?

Guo Congyang said, "The head of the Guo family is Guo Wenyi."

Guo Wenyi?
Zhou Yi was initially unfamiliar with the name, but then he suddenly remembered what Chen Laomou had said.

Oh right, isn't this one of the Seven Nobles of Luoyang?

The Seven Nobles of Luoyang were seven powerful ministers appointed by King Yang Tong of Yue after he ascended the throne. The seven men held important military and political positions, such as Grand Counselor, Grand Secretary, and Minister of War, and were granted gold and iron certificates.

Guo Wenyi was the Inner Secretary of the Sui Palace in Luoyang.

Guo Congyang, an elder of the Guo family, assessed the situation and quickly added, "Whenever the Celestial Master comes to our humble abode, he will always be our most respected guest. If the Celestial Master has any requests in the Eastern Capital, we will certainly do our best to fulfill them."

Once he took the initiative to speak, Zhou Yi was able to respond easily.

"I'll visit you when I have time."

Guo Congyang was about to say something polite when Zhou Yi asked, "Were these people specifically there to ambush you?"

"Exactly."

“It’s quite strange,” Guo Congyang said with a suspicious look, “we have never had any dealings with these people before, and this trip to Yingchuan was just to visit friends, so we didn’t offend anyone.”

"So who do you think it's related to?"

Zhou Yi looked at Guo Congyang, wondering if he was willing to talk.

Guo Congyang seemed to be thinking, but in reality, he was hesitant.

He wasn't the head of the family after all, so there were some things he dared not say to outsiders.

The young master of the Guo family, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his mouth and said in a weak voice, "Master Tian, ​​perhaps it is related to the matter discussed by the Duke of Lu. Uncle Yang, you speak."

This Duke of Lu was none other than Yuan Wendu.

Although he was also one of the Seven Nobles, he was Wang Shichong's biggest rival besides the Dugu clan.

Guo Congyang said:

"Since Wang Shichong controlled most of the military power in Luoyang, and Yuwen Huaji had established Yang Hao, the Prince of Qin, as emperor in Wei Commandery, the Duke of Lu suggested that Emperor Tai persuade the powerful Li Mi to surrender in order to counterbalance Wang Shichong. This matter aroused Wang Shichong's dissatisfaction, and there were many struggles in the court."

"The head of the family has a very close relationship with Lu Chu, the Grand Secretary, and is his deputy. Lu Chu supports the Duke of Lu and has since become enemies with the Duke of Zheng."

"The biggest struggle in the Eastern Capital court is here, but I have never heard of any connection between Wang Shichong and the Khitan bandits."

Wang Shichong, Yuan Wendu, Lu Chu, and Guo Wenyi—four of the Seven Nobles of Luoyang were implicated at once.

Surrounded by enemies, they are also engaged in fierce internal strife.

Zhou Yi glanced towards the cliff and suddenly asked, "Did the Rong family invite you to their birthday banquet?"

Invitation received.

Ignoring how quickly he changed the subject, Guo Congyang simply replied:

"Almost every prominent figure in Dongdu is present this time. With the Luoyang Gang leader Shangguan Long killed, Rong Zunchang has taken over as leader. He is very powerful now, and I believe the forces in Dongdu will give him face."

Knowing what Zhou Yi was concerned about, he added:
“I heard that Venerable Rong recently invited people from Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Temple.”

Zhou Yi became interested: "Did they respond?"

Guo Congyang affirmed:

"Neither of these two major factions has refused, which may lead to the discovery of the He Shi Bi jade. Therefore, this birthday banquet will be a grand gathering of heroes."

As he said this, he glanced at Zhou Yi.

He thought to himself, 'It seems the Celestial Master is also going to the Rong Mansion. The Eastern Capital is about to be turned upside down.'

Zhou Yi paused for a moment, nodded slightly to him, and said nothing more.

Pan Shizheng, who had been listening silently from the side, said, "Uncle-Master, the people sent to the Rong Mansion by Jingnian Zen Temple and Cihang Jingzhai this time are all experts of the same generation as Master Fanzhai."

The fact that both holy sites have sent their resources shows that they attach great importance to this birthday banquet.

It's unlikely they'd bring out the He Shi Bi jade so soon.

Zhou Yi tried to sense it, but there was only one direction: the direction of the coffin palace.

The whereabouts of the He Shi Bi jade are unknown.

"Will my martial uncle accompany us?"

"That's all."

Zhou Yi rejected him, then looked at the rather intelligent young Taoist priest beside her and asked, "What's your name?"

"Master, my name is Li Chunfeng."

Seeing Zhou Yi's slight smile, Li Chunfeng boldly asked, "Master, can you accept me as your disciple? I wish to become your student and learn from you."

Master Pan's front side has an unusual color.

Guo Congyang was taken aback. If he were to be accepted as a disciple by the Celestial Master, wouldn't he be soaring to great heights? What a bold move, young Taoist priest!

The young master of the Guo family, who had been keeping his eyes closed, also opened them.

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "I have no plans to take on any disciples for the time being, but I can introduce you to Fellow Daoist Yuan Tiangang."

It was quite a stroke of luck that Yuan Tiangang accepted a disciple.

Guo Congyang sighed inwardly, feeling envious. The Taoist sect was now powerful, holding two of the four Grandmaster positions.

Yuan Tiangang was on good terms with the man in front of him. This young Taoist priest, like Pan Shizheng, could at least be considered a junior disciple.

They've already made a fortune.

Li Chunfeng suppressed the admiration in his eyes. Unwilling to give up, he bowed respectfully and said:
"Master, I still want to become your disciple."

Zhou Yi didn't reply, leaving him only with her back turned.

Everyone seemed to be affected by a burst of spiritual energy, their vision blurred for a moment, and when they regained their senses, they saw again.
The post road snaked along the cliffs and deep ravines, with fallen yellow leaves swallowed by the mountain mist. The white figure had long since disappeared.

The Guo family members were deeply moved and each breathed a sigh of relief.

With a stern expression, Master Pan advised, "With your achievements, Uncle-Master's vision is naturally exceptionally high, and it's not easy for him to accept disciples. Perhaps Master Yuan is more suitable to be your disciple, as the path you seek is quite similar to that of Master Yuan."

Li Chunfeng was small in stature but bold, and had a strong spirit of exploration.

He raised his voice and said, "Brother Pan, you don't know this, but after I learned divination and heard of the Celestial Master's name, I wanted to do some calculations."

"But no matter how I calculate it, I can't see the hexagram."

"The Way of the Celestial Master is far superior to my Way."

He spoke with a serious expression, but others only listened to it as an amusing anecdote, because this unorthodox method was inaccurate.

Pan Shizheng said, "You just told us to jump off the cliff."

Hearing this, the Guo family members were speechless at Li Chunfeng's behavior.

Li Chunfeng offered a consolation: "A dragon soaring in the sky offers a glimmer of hope; surely that's true?"

……

They talked along the way, and at the end of their journey, near the banks of the Yi River in the eastern capital.

A tall, robust man with fair skin and dark hair opened his eyes from his seclusion.

He held a sword, stroking it tenderly, as if in a trance.

Not far away, a beautiful woman with sharp eyes and a tall, graceful figure was walking from the Yi River.

"Let's go, it's time to head to the Eastern Capital."

As soon as Fu Junyu finished speaking, he heard Ba Feng Han burst into laughter.

"Junyu, my swordsmanship has improved again. I have left those two blacksmith lads far behind. This time I will definitely give them a big surprise."

"What sword technique?"

Ba Feng Han instantly suppressed his smile, his eyes sharp and confident: "My sword can incorporate all kinds of changes, stealing a sliver of possibility from the impossible. With one strike, there is a chance to crush the opponent's spirit and even destroy their martial will."

"When Qu Ao was defeated by the Martial Venerable, he developed the illusion that he could never defeat him again, which caused him to become despondent. This is the destruction of his will."

After hearing this, Fu Junyu scoffed, "Wasn't Qu Ao's mental wound stitched up by the evil monk?"

"A wound to the will is not so easily healed."

Fu Junyu said, "Compared to your swordsmanship, I think your blacksmithing skills are better right now."

Ba Feng Han's eyes were sharp as swords: "Now that there are so many experts in Dongdu, I will fight my way through, and your respect for me will only grow stronger with each passing day."

After he finished speaking, he stood up, magnifying his imposing figure to the extreme, stretching out his entire body, and then looked around, preparing to choose an opponent.
……

(End of this chapter)