I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

"Is that so? If that's the case, then you can wait to marry that girl from the Chen family!"

"Alas...elder brother!"

"Hahaha! Alright, I have no feelings for these young girls, and I won't steal your queen."

Bai Zhou stopped teasing his younger brother and promised him that he wouldn't ruin the marriage. Then he set off to propose.

Time flies, and three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

When the true emperor was enthroned, the whole country rejoiced.

"..."

I was overjoyed at my brother's wedding and even had a rare drink during the day.

"How wonderful, Second Uncle. In the blink of an eye, A-Du is married too. The girl's surname is Mu, and her name is Mu Zixiao. I've seen her; she's a good girl, from a respectable family, and of good blood. She's smart, has a good temper, and is virtuous. A-Du is truly blessed to have married such a wonderful girl. In another year, she'll have a big, healthy boy... or perhaps a little princess. Second Uncle, you must really want to hold your granddaughter, right?"

Leaning against the imperial tomb, gazing at the stars in the night sky, he rambled on and on during the day.

"Now I can leave the capital with peace of mind."

gentlemen……

"...I'm leaving now, Second Uncle. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

He poured the wine from his cup onto the ground and rose to bid farewell to the Crimson Dragon during the day.

Looking back at the bustling night view of the capital, his fingertips traced the lines of the fine brush. By day, his eyes were lowered, and a hint of tenderness flashed in them.

Sir... I've come looking for you.

Returning to the nameless painting, the dilapidated temple.

[Fellow Traveler: Daytime]

Faction: Chaos Neutral

Strength and physique: A+ (Indestructible, capable of lifting mountains and tripods)

Agility: A+ (Swift as the wind, aggressive as fire)

Wisdom: B+ (Quick-witted and eager to learn, cultivating both wisdom and good fortune)

Patience: A (Immovable as a mountain, steadfast as a rock)

Superpower Adaptation: EX (The ocean embraces all rivers, and tolerance is the greatest virtue)

(Attributes are divided into E-S from low to high, and each segment has three distinction methods: -, same level, and +)

Individual status:

[Fasting] (Now you only need to eat occasionally to sustain the activity level of a year)

[Health] (A little fatigue is nothing to your increasingly powerful body and soul)

[Joy] (You have obtained a clue to what you desire and have come this far; it is surely yours for the taking.)

[Longing]: (Having been separated from a close friend for a long time, I miss him dearly)

[Love] (Love that has been nurtured by the test of time, like branches intertwined in a grave, inseparable even in death.)

Heavenly Fortune: [Born of a Storm] (Born as a dragon, its glory lies in being born amidst a storm. Therefore, true dragons are born with the ability to control the power of wind and clouds for their own use.)

【Soul of the Holy Dragon】(The soul of the abyss will one day break through the darkness and bring light to the earth.)

The Holy Dragon is an image formed from powerful soul energy, and it influences the growth of the physical body from a spiritual perspective.

[Breathing Regeneration] (A peculiar power of rules; as long as one is not killed in one blow, one can recover one's condition by breathing)

【Different Paths, Same Destination】(All things share the same origin, all beings share the same root. Even the most chaotic power, the weakest ability, cannot escape your control.)

[Dark Power] (A powerful ability inherited from the dark side of the world, capable of swallowing light and creating eternal night)

【Arctic Symbiote - Heavenly Fiend】(A highly intelligent advanced life form that can enhance the strength of its symbiotes by consuming the mysterious energy "Arctic Energy".)

[Ascension Meme - Myth - Fourth Imprint] (Your soul has materialized, but your untransformed body is slowing you down. Once your body sheds its mortal nature, the true dragon will stand proudly at the pinnacle of the world.)

[Paradise Lost]: (All harm done to you is like a dream, a bubble, or a shadow.)

————■■————

[Yan Kingdom - Shengzhou - Yulin County]

Lei Zhongli is a well-known silk merchant in the area. After making his fortune in business, he developed a hobby of collecting antique and fascinating trinkets. He often has many like-minded people who come to him to exchange ideas and appreciate antiques together.

Today, he is all dressed up and ready to go to a banquet at the invitation of Liu Yingdou, the governor of the prefecture.

It seems that the governor probably took a fancy to some interesting little trinket and wanted to "buy" it.

Lei Zhongli ordered his servants to prepare the carriage and drove to the best restaurant in Yulin County, "Guests Feel at Home". He straightened his clothes and entered the restaurant with his newly recruited guards.

"Hey! Mr. Lei! You've arrived!"

The waiter greeted him with a smile as soon as he entered.

"Ah."

Lei Zhongli responded, then looked at the empty hall and asked the waiter with some doubt:

"What's going on today? Why isn't there a single customer?"

"Hey! Don't say that..."

The waiter glanced left and right, and gestured quietly to Lei Zhongli.

"I heard that someone from above came, and Governor Liu booked the whole place without even asking any questions. He's incredibly wealthy and powerful; even the owner was stunned."

"Him? He booked the entire venue?"

Lei Zhongli was shocked.

What's wrong with this stingy governor today?

It's said that someone from above has arrived, but how powerful must that person be to make this stingy governor spend a fortune to book out a grand restaurant that earns tens of thousands of gold coins a day?

Governor? Provincial Surveillance Commissioner? Or someone of even higher rank...

Lei Zhongli was filled with a myriad of thoughts.

"Master Lei, it's time for you to go up."

The waiter gestured for him to enter and then led him upstairs to a private room.

He had been arranged to wait here for Lei Zhongli, and had also followed the governor's instructions to give him some advice. How Lei Zhongli performed afterward was up to him.

"Master Lei, please go in yourself. I still need to prepare the dishes."

The waiter led Lei Zhongli to the door of the private room and then hurriedly left.

"..."

"Old Wang, stand guard at the door."

Leaving the guards at the door, Lei Zhongli took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and went inside.

Upon entering the private room, Lei Zhongli immediately noticed the young man sitting in the main seat.

Black hair, sharp horns, and a robe with a black background, red clouds, and gold patterns.

His face was as fair as jade, and his eyes were as bright as stars.

Although he didn't speak, his noble air was naturally revealed and could not be hidden at all.

Moreover, Lei Zhongli immediately recognized that the brocade robe the other party was wearing was made of the finest Yun brocade, the kind used by the imperial court.

Having confirmed the origin of the clothes, Lei Zhongli couldn't help but swallow.

No wonder this stingy governor is spending so lavishly today; it turns out that someone from the imperial family has come.

"Oh, Brother Lei, you're here. Please take a seat, we've been waiting for you."

Upon seeing Lei Zhongli, Liu Yingdou, who was sitting upright, immediately greeted him warmly.

"Prefect Liu, it's been a long time, a long time indeed."

Lei Zhongli clasped his hands in a fist and smiled at him, then stiffly sat down next to Liu Yingdou.

"Come, Brother Lei, try this tea, freshly picked Maojian."

Liu Yingdou warmly served tea to Lei Zhongli, but Lei Zhongli could clearly see the fear in his eyes, and the trembling of the back of his hand when the tea was poured made Lei Zhongli even more uneasy.

They're really two brothers in misfortune!

"Prefect Liu, who is this young man...?"

After accepting the tea, Lei Zhongli tentatively asked Liu Yingdou a question.

"Brother Lei, who is this...?"

Just as Liu Yingda was about to introduce the guest's background, the guest waved him off.

"Bai is merely a buyer, and his status is not particularly advantageous. Governor Liu need not say more."

"Here."

What could Liu Yingdou say? He could only give Lei Zhongli a look that said, "You decide what to do."

After the man finished speaking, he looked at Lei Zhongli.

"I have heard that Master Lei has been fond of antiques and calligraphy for many years, so he must be very knowledgeable."

"No, no. I only have a superficial understanding and cannot be considered knowledgeable."

Lei Zhongli understood Liu Yingdou's implication, which further confirmed his suspicions about the young man, and he instinctively became more humble.

After drinking the tea, a smile appeared on the young man's face, and he said:

"Master Lei, have you ever heard of the painting 'A Hundred Feathers in a Forest'? I have been searching for this painting for a long time. If you can provide me with any clues, Master Lei, I will be very grateful."

"...This painting...is quite familiar, but my mind is like a mirage, I really can't figure it out. I'm getting old and easily confused, please allow me some time to think about it, my lord."

"It's alright."

Lei Zhongli held the teacup, pretending to be deep in thought, but in reality, he was carefully considering the profound meaning behind it.

Lei Zhongli remembered the painting "A Hundred Feathers in the Forest," and coincidentally, it was in his collection room.