The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Jiu Fang knew very well that nowadays, eight or nine out of ten people in power in the Nine Continents were men.

In the imperial court, all the high-ranking officials and nobles were handsome and dignified.

Women are rarely seen among the leaders of major cultivation sects, heads of aristocratic families, and owners of trading companies.

Even if a woman holds a high position, she is often talked about behind her back, with people saying that she is too sharp, not virtuous enough, and not like a woman.

Even worse, some have erased the woman's achievements and removed her name from the annals of history, as if she had never existed.

But his junior sister insisted on taking this path.

She is ambitious.

She refuses to be a decorative figurehead, a subservient follower, or be manipulated by anyone.

What she wanted was to be on equal footing with all the men in the world, or even to stand higher.

Jiu Fang knew very well that the path for women to fight for power was destined to be difficult.

She will be hated, slandered, and have many obstacles set up for her.

Those people will use "rules" to pressure her, use "duty" to shut her up, and use "since ancient times" to deny everything she has done.

But so what?

He will spare no effort to support his junior sister.

She wanted to be the blazing sun, so he dispelled the clouds that obscured it for her.

She wanted to sit on the clouds, so he paved the steps to the clouds for her.

If she wants to compete with the men of the world, he will stand behind her and be her strongest shield.

His junior sister should have been a celestial spirit.

Its radiance shines brightly, illuminating all directions.

Jiu Fangzhi snapped out of his thoughts and turned his gaze to the white jade statue in the center of the square.

The Flowing Cloud Medicine God stood quietly amidst the shimmering water, the spiritual essence flowing from his fingertips for millennia, as if silently telling a story.

"The Flowing Cloud Medicine God once had a wish."

He suddenly spoke, his voice low and solemn.

"She wanted to light a lamp for women in the world, so that future generations would know that women can also be doctors, can also become saints, and can also leave their mark on history."

Tang Xixue turned her head and looked at him quietly.

"pity."

Jiu Fangzhi paused, a hint of regret in his voice.

"Millions of years have passed, and people only know that the first Medicine God was the Holy Ancestor of Medicine, but they do not know her real name, let alone that she was a woman."

"That lamp was lit, then someone blew it out."

He raised his eyes and looked at the majestic Yaoguang Palace at the end of the square, his tone steady.

"The Valley of Divine Medicine is the legacy of the Flowing Cloud Medicine God."

"There have always been female disciples in the valley. Although their numbers are small, their existence proves to the world that women can also practice medicine."

"This is not a blessing, but a rule established by the Flowing Cloud Medicine God a thousand years ago."

"She wanted to give women the right to pick up medicine scales and wield silver needles."

"The Flowing Cloud Medicine God was actually the first Valley Master of our Divine Medicine Valley."

Jiu Fangzhi's gaze shifted from the glazed tiles of Yaoguang Palace to Tang Xixue's face.

"But these things are no longer recorded in the history books outside."

"Only within our Divine Medicine Valley do we still have some fragments of information about her."

"I have been following my master since I was a child, so I know many secrets that others do not know."

"Now, I will relight this lamp."

After listening, Tang Xixue remained silent for a moment, then asked softly.

"Senior brother, the Flowing Cloud Medicine God is the owner of that immortal herb."

"Could that miraculous herb be located in this city?"

"That's actually quite possible."

Jiu Fangzhi nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the white jade spirit flower in the statue's hand.

"The flower in the hands of the Medicine God statue should be the shape of the elixir of immortality."

"I just don't know how many secrets this underwater labyrinth holds."

Tang Xixue raised her eyes, imprinting every detail of the statue firmly into her mind.

She didn't miss a single detail of the white jade spirit flower's petal patterns, the shape of its stamens, or the faint spirit patterns on its stem.

Her intuition told her that the name and clues of this miraculous herb must be hidden somewhere in this city.

"Big brother, big sister, what are you still doing here?"

A crisp, clear voice suddenly came from behind.

The two turned around and saw that the little girl with the double buns had returned.

She still held the spirit flower in her hand, its petals fluttering gently like a butterfly with fluttering wings.

Her cheeks were round and chubby, and her pink dress fluttered in the breeze, making her look charming and adorable.

"It's getting dark, you should go home soon!"

The little girl looked up and solemnly gave him instructions, her voice as tender as a newly hatched oriole.

Tang Xixue squatted down, looked the little girl in the eye, and spoke in a soft and gentle voice.

"Little sister, what bad things will happen if you don't go home?"

The little girl blinked, leaned closer, and lowered her voice, as if she were telling a secret that she couldn't let anyone else hear.

"At night, a man-eating black fog descends upon our Yaoguang City."

Her expression was unusually serious, not at all like she was joking.

"You're only safe if you stay home and keep your doors and windows closed."

"You absolutely mustn't stay outside."

After saying that, she waved the spirit flower in her little hand, took two short steps, and hopped away.

The ethereal flower trailed a string of tiny starlight behind her, scattering and swaying in the water.

"Junior Sister, those people have all left."

Jiu Fangzhi looked around and said in a deep voice.

The people who were just chatting, playing chess, and drying herbs in the square are now hurriedly packing up their things and heading home in twos and threes.

The teahouse owner deftly put away the tea set on the table, the burly man at the blacksmith shop slammed the shop door shut, and even the flower vendor picked up his load and ran off in a flash.

In just a short while, the huge square was empty except for the two of them, making it seem almost unreal.

"Senior brother, look at this city."

Tang Xixue suddenly spoke, her gaze slowly sweeping over the houses on both sides of the street.

"It's different now than when we first entered the city."

She originally thought the city was like a fossil sealed in amber, with everything frozen in a certain moment.

The pearls, the buildings, the teacups on the teahouse tables—all were exquisite and perfect, yet they lacked one thing: vitality.

But now, the city is coming to life.

Dust rustled down from the roof beams, and the branches of the ancient trees swayed gently in the water.

There was even a butterfly that flew in from who-knows-where and landed on a glass lamp, its wings opening and closing as if it were breathing.

What surprised her most was that the water flow disappeared.

It wasn't that the lake water had receded, but rather that the resistance that had enveloped them, making every step feel like wading through water, had somehow completely vanished.

Now they stand here as if on land, their robes hanging freely, and even the azure light shield of the water-repelling pearl has retracted on its own.

"We'll take it one step at a time."

Jiu Fangzhi's voice remained calm and composed, without the slightest hint of panic.

"Junior Sister, look, they're starting to light up here. It seems night is indeed approaching."

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Let's find a place to stay first."