Investiture of the Gods: Childhood Sweetheart Daji, Starting with Quasi-Saint Cultivation

Inside the Tian Ce Mansion, Su Yunbai finished handling the first batch of government affairs in the afternoon.

He rubbed his temples.

The affairs of the imperial court were complicated and even with the assistance of Fei Zhong and You Hun, they still took a toll on one's mind and energy.

"It's time to try out the new escape technique."

With a thought, he activated the Love Thread Escape Technique.

This supernatural power uses the threads of love as a guide, allowing one to instantly teleport to their partner's side.

Su Yunbai sensed the three threads of affection.

A tree stretches towards the azure sky, in the direction of the Three Immortal Islands, distant yet clearly visible.

A branch connects to Jiang Xiaowu, in Jizhou, which is relatively close.

The last one, the thinnest yet the strongest, led to Daji.

Su Yunbai chose this one.

"escape."

Magical power surged, and emotions trembled slightly.

The space ripples.

Su Yunbai's figure disappeared.

next moment--

The air is filled with the fragrance of water vapor and flowers.

Su Yunbai appeared in a room filled with mist.

Before me was a huge bathtub, the water tinged with a pale pink, with flower petals floating on the surface.

In the pool, a slender figure stood with her back to him.

Her long, dark hair was wet and draped over her smooth back, with water droplets sliding down her delicate skin.

It's Daji.

She is taking a bath.

Su Yunbai was stunned.

Daji seemed to sense something, let out a soft "hmm," and turned around.

Eyes facing each other.

Time seemed to stand still.

Daji was initially bewildered, but upon recognizing the newcomer, her pupils dilated slightly.

"Yunbai?!"

She gasped, instinctively hugging her arms to protect her chest, and shrank further into the water.

But the water in the bath is shallow, so there's nowhere to hide.

Su Yunbai then realized what was happening.

The Love Silk Escape Technique... directly sent him to Daji's side.

But I never expected it to happen while I was taking a shower.

"I..." He was unusually flustered, "I recently learned a new teleportation technique that allows me to instantly teleport to your side. I never expected..."

I didn't expect you to be taking a shower.

Daji blushed and was too embarrassed to speak.

But soon, she bit her lip, a sly glint in her eyes.

"Yunbai," she called softly.

"Um?"

"You... come here."

Su Yunbai paused for a moment, then walked closer as instructed.

Daji stood up from the water.

Water droplets slide down, and spring light appears for the first time.

She reached out and took Su Yunbai's hand.

"Now that you're here..." Her voice was soft, tinged with shyness, yet incredibly firm, "Don't leave."

Su Yunbai's breath hitched.

Daji looked up at him, her eyes filled with affection.

"Yunbai, I miss you."

Just one sentence.

Su Yunbai lost all reason.

He took Daji's hand in his own, put his other arm around her waist, and lowered his head to kiss her.

Water splashed up.

His clothes were completely soaked.

The temperature in the bathtub rose rapidly.

(A thousand words of tender, beautiful, and subtle description are omitted here, focusing on the fusion of emotions.)

I don't know how much time passed.

The surface of the bathtub returned to calm.

Daji nestled in Su Yunbai's arms, her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.

"Yunbai, your escape technique is truly amazing," she said softly. "You can come to me anytime you miss me."

Su Yunbai held her close, his fingers twirling her hair.

"Hmm. But next time... I'll sense what you're doing first."

Daji chuckled.

"What, afraid of catching me taking a shower again?"

"I was afraid you'd be shy."

"I'm not afraid." Daji looked up and kissed his chin. "I'm not afraid of anything in front of you."

Su Yunbai felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.

The two lingered for a few more moments.

Su Yunbai suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, by the way, I have something for you."

He took out the Life-Creating Pill from the system space.

"Keep this pill safe; it might come in handy in a critical moment."

Daji took it and carefully put it away.

"Is everything going well in Chaoge?"

"It went smoothly." Su Yunbai briefly recounted the morning's court affairs.

Daji listened intently.

"So you're a great general now?"

"Um."

"That's great." Daji's eyes crinkled with laughter. "I knew it, Yunbai, you're the best."

Su Yunbai kissed her forehead.

"How's it going in Jizhou?"

"Everything is fine. Father trains his troops every day, and Sister Xiaowu is in seclusion. The people live in peace and prosperity, and the new craftsmen are already testing the new farm tools you mentioned."

Su Yunbai nodded.

It seems that the things he arranged before he left are already underway.

The two talked for a while longer.

As darkness fell.

Su Yunbai stood up.

"I have to go back to Chaoge."

Daji reluctantly pulled him back.

"So fast?"

"There are many affairs in the court, and I cannot leave for too long." Su Yunbai touched her face. "I will bring you over once Chaoge is stable."

"Okay." Daji nodded. "Then... will you use your magic to go back?"

"Um."

Su Yunbai activated the Love Thread Escape Technique.

Prepare to sense the direction of Chaoge—

and many more.

He suddenly realized a problem.

The Love Thread Escape Technique uses one's Daoist partner as a coordinate for teleportation.

He was in Chaoge... without a Daoist partner.

In other words, he could teleport from Chaoge to Daji's side in Jizhou.

However, the message could not be relayed back to Chaoge from Jizhou.

Because Chaoge has no "anchor point".

Su Yunbai's expression froze.

"What's wrong?" Daji asked.

"This teleportation technique..." Su Yunbai smiled wryly, "can only teleport me to places where I have a Daoist partner. I can't teleport directly back to Chaoge."

Daji blinked.

"Then... how will you get back?"

Su Yunbai sighed.

"We have no choice but to fly back."

With his current cultivation level of Quasi-Saint, flying from Jizhou to Chaoge is not slow for him.

But compared to the ability to escape in an instant, it's still more troublesome.

Daji couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Yun Bai, even you have your miscalculations."

Su Yunbai shook his head helplessly.

He finished dressing and kissed Daji again.

"I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself."

"Yes. You too."

Su Yunbai left the room, transformed into a streak of light, and soared into the sky.

The direction of Chaoge.

He flew through the air at an extremely fast speed.

But I still felt a little depressed.

They finally obtained a great escape technique, but it only allows for one-way teleportation.

This design is so unintelligent.

[Ding! Host's complaint detected. System automatically responds:]

[The Love Thread Escape Technique is a supernatural power derived from the Law of Love, requiring Love Threads as a conduit. Since the host has no Love Thread anchor point in Chaoge, teleportation is impossible.]

[Suggestion: Placing a bound Daoist partner in Chaoge will resolve this issue.]

Su Yunbai almost fell from the sky.

"Damn system, you've finally spoken up?"

[This system has always been online, but the host has not called for it.]

"Don't give me that." Su Yunbai said irritably, "Why didn't you say so earlier that your escape technique has flaws?"

[As stated during the exchange: Partner's consent is required; maximum distance depends on cultivation level. Two-way teleportation is possible unless otherwise stated.]

Su Yunbai recalled.

It seems... it really wasn't written.

But most people would assume it's bidirectional transmission, right?

"What do we do now?" he asked. "Where in Chaoge can I find a Daoist partner?"

[Suggested option:]

[1. Summon either Bixiao or Jiang Xiaowu to Chaoge.]

2. Develop new binding partners in Chaoge.

3. Continue flying without using any escape techniques.

Su Yunbai rolled her eyes.

Option three is essentially meaningless.

Option one is inappropriate, as Bixiao has just returned to the Three Immortal Islands and Xiaowu needs to protect Jizhou.

Option 2...

Are you developing new partners in Chaoge?

Chaoge is now a melting pot of all sorts of people: demons from Nuwa's faction, spies from various forces, daughters of court officials...

None of them are easy to go for.

Moreover, forming a Daoist partnership is not a trivial matter; it requires an emotional foundation and the system's approval.

It's not that easy.

"Never mind, let's just keep flying."

Su Yunbai accelerated.

With his Quasi-Saint cultivation fully unleashed, his speed rivaled that of a streak of light.

Half an hour later, Chaoge City was in sight.

He concealed his aura and landed in the Tian Ce Mansion.

Fei Zhong rushed over as soon as he landed.

"General, you're finally back!"

"What is it?"

"Someone from the palace has come and said that His Majesty summons you."

Su Yunbai frowned.

"When did this happen?"

"An hour ago, the chief eunuch came. He waited a while after seeing that you were not there before leaving. He said that you should come to the palace immediately upon your return."

Su Yunbai nodded.

"Prepare the horses."

"Yes."

Su Yunbai changed his clothes and rode into the palace.

On the way, he pondered in his mind.

King Zhou must have something important to discuss with him at this time.

Could it be that another upheaval has occurred in the court?

Or is there some movement from Xiqi?

Soon, he arrived outside King Zhou's study.

After the eunuch announced his arrival, he was led inside.

King Zhou was alone in the study.

He was staring at a map on the table, his brow furrowed.

He looked up when he saw Su Yunbai come in.

"You're back."

"What important matter has Your Majesty summoned me for?"

King Zhou gestured for him to sit down.

Two things.

He picked up a report.

"First, in Xiqi, Ji Chang has already publicly declared himself king, with the state name 'Zhou' and his personal name being King Wen."

Su Yunbai was not surprised.

"And the second one?"

"Secondly," King Zhou said solemnly, "Grand Tutor Wen intercepted a secret report that Taiyi Zhenren, Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun, and Puxian Zhenren, three of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, have secretly arrived in Xiqi."

Su Yunbai's eyes narrowed.

"So fast?"

"It's at least three years earlier than the original storyline." King Zhou smiled wryly. "It seems that the wind we're flapping is blowing much bigger than we imagined."

Su Yunbai pondered.

The early intervention of the Chan Sect signifies that the process of the Investiture of the Gods is accelerating.

"What did Grand Tutor Wen say?"

"He suggested sending troops to conquer Xiqi," King Zhou said. "But there was strong opposition in the court. Led by Shang Rong and Bigan, they said things like 'the war is without just cause' and 'it will be a waste of manpower and resources.'"

Su Yunbai sneered.

"They are not against sending troops, but they are afraid that if war breaks out, it will affect the interests of the feudal lords behind them."

King Zhou nodded.

"So I'd like to ask for your opinion."

Su Yunbai got up and walked to the map.

"We must fight Xiqi. But not now."

He pointed to the map.

"Xiqi has the support of the Chan Sect, its troops are well-trained and its provisions are plentiful, and it has a reputation for 'benevolence and righteousness.' Sending troops now is exactly what they want. They will use the pretext of 'resisting tyranny' to unite the feudal lords from all directions and jointly oppose the Shang."

"So what do we do? Wait for them to call?"

"No," Su Yunbai said, "What we need to do is dismantle their alliance and cut off their wings."

"How do I do it?"

Su Yunbai looked at King Zhou.

"Attack the weaker ones first."

"Weak?"

"The only lords that Xiqi can unite with are the Eastern Marquis Jiang Huanchu, the Southern Marquis E Chongyu, and the Northern Marquis Chonghouhu. Among them, Chonghouhu has already secretly pledged allegiance to Xiqi, but the Eastern and Southern Marquises are still observing."

Su Yunbai pointed his finger at the map.

"Dongbo Marquis Jiang Huanchu is your father-in-law and Queen Jiang's father. Although he is ambitious, he dares not act rashly because of his daughter and grandson."

"Marquis E Chongyu of the South was greedy and fickle. He would side with whoever offered him the most benefits."

King Zhou understood.

"You mean, you want to win over Jiang Huanchu and sow discord between E Chongyu?"

"Exactly," Su Yunbai said. "I will send someone to contact E Chongyu and offer him great benefits. At the same time, you must show more favor to Queen Jiang and give Jiang Huanchu hope."

King Zhou nodded.

"What about Chong Houhu?"

"Chong Houhu is beyond saving," Su Yunbai said coldly, "but the northern region he guards borders Ji Province."

King Zhou's eyes lit up.

"You mean...?"

"I will have Su Hu, the Duke of Ji Province, closely monitor Chong Houhu's movements. If he makes any unusual moves, we will immediately send troops to suppress him."

"Very well!" King Zhou slammed his hand on the table. "That's settled then!"

He paused.

"There's one more thing. How's the implementation of those new farm tools and technologies going?"

"It's already being piloted in Jizhou," Su Yunbai said. "Once it proves effective, it will be rolled out nationwide."

"We need to be quick," King Zhou said in a deep voice. "I have a feeling... we don't have much time left."

Su Yunbai shared the same sentiment.

When I came out of King Zhou's study, it was already dark.

On the way, I thought of the Love Thread Escape Technique again.

Settle a Daoist partner in Chaoge...

Who should I contact?

As I was pondering this, I suddenly sensed something and looked up.

A streak of blue light descended from the sky and landed somewhere in Chaoge City.

That aura...

Su Yunbai was taken aback.

Bixiao?

Why did she come to Chaoge?

A thought struck him, and he headed in the direction where the blue light had fallen.