Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 885 Preparing for the Annual Meeting
"After several major battles, we have accumulated a lot of good stuff in our treasury. Instead of letting it gather dust, we should take this opportunity to distribute it and help everyone improve their strength."

"If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it well."

Xiaoqing chimed in with an air of maturity, as if she were a master of leadership.

Just as they were discussing, Baiyun approached Qiantang County. At that moment, Xiaoqing suddenly leaned closer, her golden eyes staring straight at Xu Xuan, "Are you sure you're not taking me with you on your trip north?"

Bai Suzhen looked over upon hearing this, her cool eyes also filled with inquiry.

Xu Xuan sighed: "It's still the same problem. The human destiny and fortune converge in the north, and various forces are deeply intertwined. You will be in danger if you go there."

"Wait until I've paved the way before you come."

His tone betrayed a sense of helplessness. If he had a choice, wouldn't he also want to take his old partner north with him?
After all, they were a golden duo: one committed the murder while the other acted as lookout; one set fires while the other fanned the flames.

They have such great teamwork that they can coordinate with their eyes closed, and they even have their own unique combo moves.

But these days are different.

“We’re not the insignificant people we used to be.” Xu Xuan gazed at the distant Qiantang River. “An ant crawling into a beast’s territory won’t attract any attention; but if one beast trespasses into another beast’s territory…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: it was a fight to the death.

Human territory at least has rules and traditions to maintain order. But among demons, it has always been a naked struggle of the strong preying on the weak.

Moreover, Xiaoqing now possesses a special bloodline, and once she sets foot in the north, who knows how many lurking old monsters she will disturb.

“It’s not just Luoyang that’s dangerous,” Xu Xuan continued, “we need to be extremely careful on the way north. My main purpose this time is to gather intelligence, so the more discreet we are, the better.”

Bai Suzhen nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes. It seems this Xu fellow is quite reliable and hasn't been blinded by victory.

However, I still need to prepare something for his protection.

Thinking about it made me a little annoyed. This guy hadn't even sorted out his love tribulation yet, and he was already messing around. It was really frustrating.

White clouds slowly descended over the Qiantang River. Without saying a word, Bai Suzhen "threw" the three noisy fellows down and returned to West Lake on her own.

Everyone was already used to this; the White Lady had always been like this, aloof and self-possessed, unwilling to participate in such mundane affairs.

She used to be quite gentle, but recently she's become rather irritable for some reason. Xu, keeping his achievements hidden, said, "I don't know either."

The trio received a warm welcome when they returned to Baoan Hall.

"Congratulations to Master Qing on your completion of seclusion!"

"Master Qing's demeanor is even more impressive than before!"

Department heads came to offer their congratulations, ostensibly to celebrate Xiaoqing's transformation, but in reality, their eyes darted around, clearly more concerned about the outcome of the battle in the East China Sea.

What if Master Xu makes a mistake?
"It's just a simple exchange, everyone doesn't need to take it too seriously." Xu Xuan waved his hand dismissively.

Everyone immediately understood: they got it, Little Green King lost.

Xiao Qing's face darkened, and her golden eyes narrowed dangerously: "Isn't a deputy hall master a hall master?"

However, she quickly put the defeat out of her mind. What was so shameful about losing to Xu Xuan? The upcoming annual meeting was more important!

Compared to Xu Xuan's attitude of "trying to integrate into local customs," Xiao Qing showed amazing enthusiasm and creativity for this event.

Seeing that someone's plan was rather simple, he immediately slammed his hand on the table and said, "Leave this to me!"

However, before she could finish directing the procurement of supplies, Xu Xuan grabbed her by the back of her collar and dragged her away.

"Leave this kind of thing to Master Mao and Mr. Zhuge. Don't steal their jobs. Let's work hard before the New Year and clean up all the messes. That way, you'll have room to maneuver in Jiangnan next year."

Although Xu Xuan has always disliked involution, strangely enough, he always feels that there is not enough time.

The little butterfly he had just received brought him some trouble.

With the year-end approaching, I must hurry up and finish up the tasks at hand.

So, amidst Xiaoqing's discontented grumbling, the two of them rushed off to Dongting Lake without stopping.

Landing atop Mount Yu, Xu Xuan took out three sticks of incense and respectfully offered them to King Yu.

As the smoke from the cigarette rose, a figure rode a crab in the distance—it was Li.

"Greetings, Master Xu; greetings, Lord Shui Jun." Student Li bowed respectfully.

He had spent many years mingling with the demons of Taihu Lake and was very familiar with the formidable reputation of this Little Green King. "This is a newly drawn hydrological map of Dongting Lake."

They even thoughtfully handed over a jade slip that gleamed with a watery sheen.

Xu Xuan took the jade slip and casually asked, "Where is your uncle?"

"I've returned to Qingzhou," Li said with a wry smile. "He said it was too dangerous in the south. He happened to be interested in the Yellow River's waterways and wanted to study them, so he resigned from his post."

"The South is in danger?" Xu Xuan raised an eyebrow, sighing inwardly: But the North is about to be in danger...

This was not referring to himself, but rather to the fact that the bad guys in the north were about to face a blow from justice, which would cause some turmoil.

However... the Yellow River...

The Yangtze River has Le Zilong, but who knows what's in the Yellow River.

But then I thought, it shouldn't matter to ordinary people. Anyway, when the Yellow River goes berserk, it will beat all the children equally.

Xiaoqing was impatient to listen to anything about the Yellow River and the Luo River. Although she was a water deity, she wasn't actually very interested in hydrology.

He took the jade slip containing the hydrological information and leaped to the highest point of Mount Jun.

The jade slip in her hand transformed into countless shimmering reflections of water, spreading like a spiderweb across every corner of Dongting Lake, connecting with the nodes of the lake's underwater veins.

The hydrological conditions of the entire Dongting Lake immediately became clear in her mind, and the water deity began to return to its proper place.

Although there were some special effects, after the Battle of Dongting Yunmeng, even the crab mount that was almost asleep from the cold was too lazy to take a look.

While Xiaoqing was communicating with the water veins, Xu Xuan and Li went aside to chat.

The senior cultivator stood with his hands behind his back, speaking eloquently to the young student, explaining the key techniques of the East Sea Mother Palace.

His understanding is profound, and when he gives pointers, he does so from a superior and insightful perspective, speaking with great clarity and logic.

As he spoke, he pulled out a handful of crystal-clear, light blue crystals from his sleeve. These were the essence crystals formed from the collision of water elemental forces during his previous battle with Xiaoqing in the East Sea.

"These might be of some use to you." Xu Xuan casually tossed the crystals to the other party.

Li hurriedly caught it and immediately felt the surging water elemental power within it.

These crystallizations, which are of no use to highly accomplished individuals, are invaluable treasures that are hard to come by for practitioners who have not yet entered the path of cultivation.

The unevenness in the cultivation world is just that cruel and realistic.

Xu Xuan patted Li on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Since you are determined to embark on this path, then cultivate diligently. The lineage of the East Sea Mother Palace will be yours from now on."

He paused, then added, "If you encounter any difficulties, you can go to Baoan Hall and find a young man named Yan Renying. He inherited the 'Galaxy Sword' from the Jellyfish Palace, and you are connected by karma, so he will definitely help you if you need anything."

At this point, Xu Xuan suddenly felt that he had the demeanor of a senior master from the Legend of the Swordsman of Shu Mountain.

He casually enlightens his juniors, arranges causes and conditions, and possesses an air of otherworldly elegance.

Just as Xu Xuan was enjoying himself, a sudden rushing sound came from the surface of Dongting Lake.

In the dead of winter, the lake level rose unexpectedly, and the weather warmed up as well.

An invisible force rose from the bottom of the lake, traversed thousands of mountains and rivers, and fell directly into Taihu Lake.

The history and civilization of the two major waterways converge at this moment, and are fully integrated into Xiaoqing's body.

She was enveloped in a soft, bluish light, her true form shifting between reality and illusion. Her snake-like and dragon-like form grew increasingly ancient and imposing, with totem patterns from ancient people's sacrificial rituals appearing on her scales.

Although it is no longer the heyday of ancient mythology, gaining the recognition of the two major water bodies has already brought about a qualitative leap in her Water Element Dao.

A streak of azure light flew from Mount Jun and landed steadily beside Xu Xuan.

"Perfect ending!" Xiaoqing waved her hand triumphantly. "Let's go back and hold the annual party!"

On the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, the annual meeting of Baoan Hall was held as scheduled.

On this day, the people of Qiantang suddenly felt the winter warmth return.

Standing in his study, Yu Gong gazed at the sky above the mansion not far away, where Buddhist light and demonic energy intertwined, sword energy and righteous energy soared into the heavens, and the fortune of humanity solidified like a canopy. He silently pressed the gold-embossed invitation to the bottom of his desk, then turned and closed the doors and windows tightly.

"Qiantang, hey, Qiantang." The old man shook his head and smiled bitterly, choosing to ignore it.

　I feel like I've been struck by Asmita's Heavenly Dance Wheel, stripped of my sense of smell, taste, and even my sixth sense. I'm even hallucinating while typing this.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)