I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

The next morning, Zhao Zian suddenly opened his eyes.

He exhaled a breath of stale air, which carried a slightly fishy, ​​sweet, and burnt smell.

"call……"

Become!

Zhao Zian felt the spiritual energy surging within his body.

The pure spiritual power obtained from a Blood Spirit Pill after being refined using the Longevity Formula is equivalent to half a month of his usual arduous cultivation!

Most importantly, his spiritual power became more condensed.

The foundation for breaking through to the Golden Core stage is now more solid.

Blood earned!

He glanced at the few remaining Blood Spirit Pills in the jade bottle and suppressed the urge to continue refining them.

Trying to do too much at once will only lead to failure; refining such evil pills will greatly deplete one's mental energy.

Moreover, absorbing too much at once can easily lead to an unstable foundation.

The rest can be saved for when we need to break through bottlenecks later.

"Thanks for your hard work."

He walked to Murong Qingxue's side and said softly.

Murong Qingxue shook her head.

"I'm glad you're alright."

Zhao Zian took two bowls of dry food and water from his pocket and handed them to Murong Qingxue.

"Have something to eat, rest for a bit, and then we'll get ready to leave."

"Um."

Murong Qingxue took the food and ate it in small bites.

The two rested for half an hour.

Zhao Zian withdrew the warning array and erased all possible traces inside and outside the cave.

"Let's go, let's fly there directly."

He looked in the direction of the capital.

After such a long delay, I wonder if the Murong family and that so-called Duke Anguo's mansion have pulled any new tricks.

We must get to the capital as soon as possible and take the initiative into our own hands.

He summoned his flying sword, which hovered in mid-air.

"Come up."

Murong Qingxue looked at the long sword and stepped onto it.

Hold on to me.

Zhao Zian extended his hand to her, ready to take off.

Murong Qingxue blushed slightly and placed her hand in his palm.

Common vibrations before takeoff.

Murong Qingxue stumbled and instinctively hugged Zhao Zian's waist from behind.

The man's back was strong and warm.

Murong Qingxue's heart skipped a beat.

Zhao Zian stiffened slightly, but didn't say anything more.

"Let's go!"

He made a sword gesture, and the flying sword soared into the sky.

A gust of wind rushed towards her face, and Murong Qingxue cried out in surprise, burying her head in his back and hugging him even tighter.

The little white fox peeked its head out from Zhao Zi'an's clothes, its tail wagging back and forth.

Above the flying sword, the sea of ​​clouds churned.

Below, the Yunze Mountains were gradually left behind.

Directly in front of them, at the edge of the horizon, the outline of a city was already faintly visible.

We've arrived in the capital!

……

The flying sword lost its spiritual light and landed in a pine forest on the outskirts of the capital.

Zhao Zian lightly touched the ground with his toes and landed steadily.

Murong Qingxue followed and fell.

"Don't move."

Zhao Zian's voice was very soft.

He walked up to Murong Qingxue, gathered a ball of spiritual energy at his fingertips, and brushed it across her cheek.

Murong Qingxue felt a warm, gentle aura envelop her face.

She instinctively closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, Zhao Zian had already withdrawn his hand.

He handed over a bronze mirror.

The woman in the mirror still has the same features.

But with the added air of a chivalrous heroine and the weathered look of someone who has been traveling all year round, she looks like a female knight-errant.

"this……"

Murong Qingxue stroked her face.

"This is just a minor illusion; as long as no one's cultivation level is higher than mine, no one can see through it."

Zhao Zian himself has also changed.

His features became ordinary, and a scar appeared on his cheek.

Even the little white fox in his arms was covered by a layer of spiritual energy, making it look like an ordinary pet ferret.

"We are now a couple from beyond the Great Wall, who have come to the capital to make a living."

Zhao Zian set up an identity.

"You are the wife, and I am the husband. Remember that."

"Husband...husband?"

Murong Qingxue's cheeks flushed instantly.

"Um."

Zhao Zian did not notice her unusual behavior.

Or rather, he noticed it, but didn't take it to heart.

He carefully surveyed the surroundings and, after confirming it was safe, led her out of the dense forest.

The checks at the city gate were less stringent than I had imagined.

The city guards merely glanced at them, noticing their江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) attire, before waving them away.

Bustling and noisy.

This was Zhao Zian's first impression of the capital.

The streets were bustling with traffic and people, with shops lining both sides and vendors calling out their wares.

The two found a place called Sihai Inn to stay.

The inn was neither too big nor too small, but its advantage lay in the large number of people and the lively chatter, making it an excellent place to gather information.

They booked a room on the second floor with a window, and after settling in briefly, the two went down to the lobby for a meal.

It was lunchtime, and the lobby was about 70-80% full.

Zhao Zian ordered a few side dishes and ate them, listening to the sounds coming from all directions.

"Have you heard? The runaway daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites is getting married to someone else!"

A fat man at the next table said in a low voice.

"It's already spread everywhere!"

"They say she's going to marry the newly promoted General of the Valiant Cavalry, who is a favorite of His Majesty."

"So young, yet with such a bright future!"

His companion smacked his lips, looking on with envy.

Murong Qingxue's hand holding the chopsticks stiffened.

Zhao Zian placed a piece of food on her plate, signaling her to calm down.

His attention had already shifted to another table.

Several martial artists with swords were sitting over there.

"Hmph, that old Murong has some nerve! What does he take our Duke Anguo's mansion for? He can just call off an engagement like that?"

One of the burly men with a thick beard slammed his hand on the table.

"Keep your voice down!"

His companion quickly held him down.

"Is the young master's business something we can discuss?"

"Our mission is to find that woman and bring her back!"

"If the Murong family dares to seek another family, they are courting death."

"The young master has gone mad from his cultivation and needs that woman's special physique as a furnace."

"If this falls through, can the Murong family afford the consequences?"

The words "furnace" pierced Murong Qingxue's ears.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly.

My body was trembling uncontrollably.

If Zhao Zian hadn't saved her, what would have become of her now...?

Zhao Zian frowned slightly.

He reached out and took her hand under the table.

Murong Qingxue's chaotic mind calmed down a bit.

She looked up at him and saw that Zhao Zian's expression was calm.

He ate his food, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the other tables of people.

After dinner, Zhao Zian paid the bill and took Murong Qingxue back to their room upstairs.

Close the door and create a soundproof barrier.

"Bang!"

Murong Qingxue could no longer control herself and slammed her fist on the table.

"A pawn! I am just a pawn!"

There was a cry in her voice.

"In his eyes, I'm not his daughter at all!"

"It was merely a tool he used to curry favor with the powerful and consolidate his position!"

"First it was the Duke of Anguo's mansion, and now it's the General of the Valiant Cavalry!"

"Did he ask for my opinion? Did he care whether I lived or died?"

Zhao Zian listened quietly as she vented.

He knew she needed to vent all the fear, resentment, and anger that had been building up over the past few days.

Until Murong Qingxue's voice gradually became hoarse.