Cultivating Immortality: What kind of cheat can you use if you don't have money?

Chapter 166 Fragments of the Xuan Turtle Mirror

The top floor of Wangyou Residence, Courtyard No. 3 of the Heavenly Character, is an independent and elegant courtyard equipped with spirit-gathering and soundproofing arrays.

Hongzhong had been sitting in front of the stone table in the courtyard for a long time.

Seven days have passed, but there has been no news.

Is it auspicious or ominous that the young master has been brought into the palace?

Where is Master Xuanji?

If Li Qingyi hadn't given her prior orders, she would have already gone to search for clues.

Just as she was feeling uneasy, a figure in a green robe slowly walked in.

"Young Master! You've finally arrived!"

"Something came up and I was delayed," Li Qingyi said succinctly. "Now, come with me to the west of the city."

There were no pleasantries, no explanations.

Although Hongzhong was full of questions, he immediately nodded: "Yes!"

The two quickly left Forget-Worry Residence.

As soon as they arrived at the door, they saw Qi Xuanjia standing silently to one side.

As they left Wangyou Residence, Qi Xuanjia followed naturally beside them.

Hong Zhong cast a questioning glance at her, but Li Qingyi simply reassured him with a telepathic message: "The Emperor's men are not worth our time."

The western district of the imperial city.

Only when Li Qingyi truly stood on this land did she truly feel how terrifying the "power of the Purple Mansion" was.

As far as the eye can see, there are only broken walls and ruins.

What should have been a bustling street with towering buildings is now just a stretch of ruins extending for miles.

Devastated.

"This is just the aftermath," Qi Xuanjia's voice rang out from the side. "If His Majesty hadn't sensed the anomaly and intervened in time, forcibly suppressing the eruption in the core area with the national fortune and dragon energy, thus limiting the destruction to this place..."

"I'm afraid the entire imperial city has been reduced to nothing."

Li Qingyi gazed silently at the ruins, her heart filled with indescribable shock.

This is power beyond the Foundation Establishment stage; with a mere gesture, mountains and rivers change color, and cities crumble.

"The Purple Mansion Realm—it's truly captivating," Qi Xuanjia murmured to himself.

He longed for the kind of power that could control his own destiny to a certain extent, and even influence a region.

His aura involuntarily emanated from his body.

Feeling the imposing aura emanating from Qi Xuanjia, Li Qingyi felt a chill run down her spine.

Only then did he realize that the other side had probably let him off easy that day outside the capital.

Li Qingyi: "Commander Qi is actually at the peak of Foundation Establishment."

Upon hearing this, Qi Xuanjia revealed a complex and enigmatic smile: "It's nothing more than a peak built upon the fortune of a nation."

Despite their seemingly glamorous appearance, their foundation is weak and their future is jeopardized.

Without the blessing of the Xuan Kingdom's dragon energy, I am nothing.

He paused, his gaze drifting towards the palace, his voice even lower: "If I were given another chance to choose—I would never take this shortcut."

Li Qingyi probed, "Commander Qi can't use the dragon's energy to break through to the Purple Mansion realm?"

"The Purple Mansion?" Qi Xuanjia shook his head. "That kind of fortune is beyond my reach, and it's not my turn."

Li Qingyi remained silent.

It seems that this method of "cultivating one's destiny" has far more limitations than imagined.

The allocation of such resources within the royal family likely involves extremely strict rules and potential conflicts.

Just then, Hong Zhong's voice transmission rang in his mind: "Young Master, what exactly are we looking for in these ruins?"

Li Qingyi then remembered that the real Hongzhong was unaware that Xuanji had left clues here.

He replied telepathically without showing any emotion: "The secret lies here; there may be clues. Search carefully."

A glint flashed in Hong Zhong's eyes. Without asking any more questions, his figure instantly transformed into a pale red phantom and disappeared into the ruins ahead.

Li Qingyi then turned to Qi Xuanjia and asked about another matter on her mind: "Commander Qi, do you know where Zhao Jingci is now?"

"Mr. Zhao is a key minister close to His Highness the Crown Prince, and his whereabouts are kept secret. This humble general dares not make any presumptions, nor does he have the authority to inquire about them."

Watertight.

Li Qingyi was not surprised, and instead asked, "What about Jiang Yanxu, the Sect Master of the Three Ones Sect? Did Commander Qi see him during the chaos in the imperial city?"

Qi Xuanjia paused for a moment, seemingly recalling: "There were indeed several fierce battles that broke out outside the city that day, and the atmosphere was chaotic."

I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be Sect Master Jiang's escape light from afar, which was entangled with several powerful auras before disappearing into the horizon.

There has been no further definite news since then.

He paused, then added, "However, the actions of the Sixth Gate have been rather unusual recently."

Led by the Sanyi Sect, the other five sects also seemed to have received some kind of instruction, and a large number of their disciples who were traveling outside were recalled to their sects.

Li Qingyi's heart sank.

Jiang Yanxu's disappearance and the contraction of the six gates are definitely not good omens.

Could it be that Jiang Yanxu has truly perished in the conflict at the Purple Mansion level?

Or did the Six Gates sense an even bigger storm and choose to temporarily avoid its brunt?

A sense of urgency arose spontaneously.

Li Qingyi didn't delay any longer. She also unleashed her divine sense, combining it with her heightened perception after the initial formation of the sword embryo, to carefully examine the devastated battlefield.

Qi Xuanjia did not participate in the two's actions, but simply stood guard at a distance.

After searching for a long time, nothing was found.

Li Qingyi frowned slightly. Had the clues left by Xuanji been erased?

Suddenly, a thought struck him.

Go down a dark passage that is half-hidden by ruins.

Upon seeing the scene inside, he suddenly remembered.

Isn't the Listening to Rain Pavilion in the Imperial City located in the west of the city?

Hong Zhong's figure was standing in the center of a relatively intact, dilapidated hall, with his back to him, motionless.

She was holding something tightly in her hand.

Li Qingyi approached and saw the object clearly.

It was a palm-sized fragment of a tortoise shell, dark green in color, with a menacing scorch mark in the center.

It was exactly the same as what he had seen in his simulation.

"The Mysterious Tortoise Mirror—" Hong Zhong's voice was grave, "Xuanji's protective magic treasure has been shattered to this state—"

As she spoke, she raised her other hand, as if to perform a secret technique.

"Don't!"

Li Qingyi quickly stopped them.

He hadn't forgotten the tomb keeper who had accompanied him in the simulation.

In the simulation, it was Hong Zhong reading the fragment information that attracted the "gravekeeper".

Although he was unsure whether reality would actually trigger it, he absolutely could not take the risk.

Anyway, I already know the information inside.

Although Hongzhong didn't understand why, seeing Li Qingyi's unprecedentedly solemn expression, he immediately released his hand seal.

Hongzhong, puzzled, thought, "This is the key—"

"I know."

Li Qingyi took the fragments of the Xuan Turtle Mirror from her hands.

There is no spirituality above.

It was no different from the rubble next to it.

Li Qingyi searched again, but still found nothing.

What is the connection between this fragment and the whereabouts of the mystery?

Is it simply because it was once part of the mystery that the simulator considers it a clue?

Li Qingyi's doubts deepened.

But in any case, this item is crucial and must be kept safe.

Nothing was gained, only more confusion was added.

Li Qingyi felt less frustrated and more composed.

It seems unrealistic to expect to find the answer directly here.

We must speed things up—the breakthrough lies with Li Xuance.

The two left the now-ruined Tingyu Pavilion stronghold and returned to the surface.

Qi Xuanjia remained guarding the perimeter of the ruins.

Undeterred, Li Qingyi spent nearly an hour meticulously "plowing" through the entire western ruins with her divine sense.

After confirming that no further valuable discoveries had been made, they finally gave up.

"Hongzhong, go back to Wangyou Residence first and observe the situation. Do not take any action without my order, and do not try to contact anyone."

Li Qingyi gave the instructions.

"Young Master, you—" Hong Zhong hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

"I have my own plans."

Hong Zhong gave him a deep look, then transformed into a red shadow and quickly left.

After Hong Zhong had walked away, Li Qingyi turned to Qi Xuanjia, who was standing quietly to the side, and suddenly said, "Commander Qi, could you take me to the Crown Prince's residence?"

Qi Xuanjia frowned immediately: "The Crown Prince's residence is the residence of the heir apparent, and no one may enter without an imperial edict. Young Master, this is against the rules."

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. If Commander Qi is inconvenient, just let me know your location."

If I inquire myself, it will only be a bit more troublesome.

"6

Qi Xuanjia slowly exhaled: "Very well. This humble general can lead the way to the outside of the mansion. As for whether we can enter, and whether we can be seen, that is not up to this humble general."

"Thank you for your trouble." Li Qingyi cupped her hands in greeting.