Chapter 8: Yan Gongzi

  The requirements for a Qi Refiner to accept an apprentice are extremely strict. If one doesn't have the innate talent, even if they offer a million taels of gold, the Qi Refiner won't teach them half a sentence of incantation.

  Bai Qi's innate talent, in the eyes of Princess Yu Zhen, was considered outstanding. She walked ahead, also feeling a bit proud. This cultivation genius, each sect vied for him fiercely. Longhu Mountain was the only sect among the famous schools that had connections with the imperial court, but to recruit someone like Bai Qi, they would have to put in considerable effort.

  She thought so, and her footsteps also became lighter. Bai Qi followed behind, seeing the elegant figure of Princess Yuzhen swaying in her Taoist robe, his mood improved a lot. If it weren't for an old corpse following beside him, his mood would be even better.

  Just as he was worried about how to understand these sects, he was brought by Princess Yuzhen. Looking at Princess Yuzhen's intention, it seemed that his own family was involved.

  If I can get in touch with Longhu Mountain, it will be much easier to gather some unfavorable news about Father.

  The scenery along the way gradually changed, and the early spring weather was originally cold. After crossing a mountain ridge, the chill in the mountains was even more suffocating. Bai Qi even saw a forest of pine trees, which was a northern landscape.

  After crossing the mountain ridge, Bai Qi also saw from a distance the Taoist temple built on the mountain, with flying eaves and brackets, full of ancient charm. In front of the temple gate, two tall old cypresses were planted, the gate was deserted, the mountain wind blew by, and only a few birds flew up, disappeared after flipping over the roof.

  Princess Yu Zhen gazed into the distance and frowned, saying: "There are outsiders present."

  She thought for a moment, then casually took out a Taoist robe and let Bai Qi wear it on his body. She also warned him: "If someone asks you about your origin, just say that you are a loose cultivator, without any sect or school, and do not mention your real name."

  Bai nodded in agreement, only then did he hear what Princess Yuzhen said. There were also cultivators in this Taoist temple who were not from the Dragon and Tiger Mountain sect. Now that the Qi Refiners have gathered near the capital, most of them are here to deal with his father. Princess Yuzhen said this because she wanted to protect herself.

  Bai Qi, after being enlightened by his wet nurse and having his meridians expanded by Na Duanqiang's spear technique, changed into a Taoist robe. He looked like he had some immortal aura about him, but he was still too young, with a hint of childishness between his eyebrows.

  Before long, several people arrived in front of the Taoist temple. A young Taoist priest came out and glanced at Bai Qi, saying: "Yu Zhenzi, why bring outsiders here? Our Dragon Tiger Mountain..."

  "It's none of your business." Princess Yuzhen obviously disliked this pale and greasy Taoist priest, she directly summoned the zombie to charge forward, the Taoist priest was infuriated but didn't dare confront the zombie, could only dodge aside, Princess Yuzhen walked in with her head held high.

  The white-robed Taoist priest watched the back of Princess Yuzhen, his face gloomy, but his eyes revealed boundless desire. He gritted his teeth and finally did not catch up to reason with her.

  Bai Qi walked alongside Princess Yu Zhen and wondered, "I saw that person just now, he doesn't seem like a cultivator, but rather an evil slave."

  "Hmph, that's the result of your cultivation going astray, and yet you don't reflect on your mistakes, wanting to..." At this point, Princess Yuzhen's face turned red, and she didn't continue speaking. She coldly turned her face away, leading Bai Qi to a courtyard behind the grand hall.

  There is an ancient locust tree in the courtyard, covering the entire yard. Under the ancient locust tree, there is a deep well, emitting coolness.

  "Ba Qi, you wait here in this courtyard, don't go anywhere."

  "Where are you going?" Bai Qi couldn't help but ask, if it were in the past, he would have been fearless, but after entering the world of cultivators, he knew that as the son of the Duke of Wei, he might not be any different from a village woman or a foot soldier in the eyes of cultivators.

  Jian Baiqi's face revealed a childish expression, and Princess Yu Zhen said gently: "I'll go see my master. The Dragon Tiger Mountain has always supported the imperial court, and your father's affairs are also the affairs of the Dragon Tiger Mountain. I'll go discuss with my master first to see if we can dispatch a few Qi-refining masters to your mansion to prevent anyone from harming your father in the capital."

  Bai Qi finally put his mind at ease, and Princess Yu Zhen's attitude was obviously also the attitude of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

  He didn't understand what Longhushan meant, thinking it was just a group of Taoist priests. From the wet nurse, he learned that the generations of Tian Shi in Longhushan were at least Jin Dan's ultimate figures, and only when they ascended to heaven would they put down everything and go to the heavenly realm.

  Jīn Dān's ultimate peak, also known as the highest realm of Líng Shén Fǎn Xū, is the strongest Qi cultivator in this world. Unless they encounter an immortal, they are invincible.

  Princess Yu Zhen was cautious and kept the old corpse and four palace maids to accompany Bai Qi, but did not allow Bai Qi to enter the surrounding Dan House.

  Bai Qi didn't mind either and directly came to the well to meditate, waiting for good news from Princess Yu Zhen.

  Princess Yu Zhen finally left her own courtyard and went to her master's alchemy room.

  Longhushan's industry was originally not important, but because of Princess Yuzhen, it started to flourish. The Taoist temple in the city, on the other hand, did not have a strong Jindan master sitting in it.

  It wasn't until they arrived outside the Dan Fang that Princess Yu Zhen felt something was off. Outside her master's door, two Dao Tong who normally served her were standing with ashen faces, and inside the room was dead silence.

  "Clear wind, what's going on inside?" Princess Yuzhen asked.

  A slightly taller and darker-skinned Taoist youth replied: "The teacher is seeing an important person and has driven us out."

  "Important person?" Princess Yu Zhen was about to ask again, when her master's voice came from within the dan room.

  "Jade, come in and talk."

  Princess Yujin pushed the door open and entered, but was taken aback. She saw that her master was not sitting on his usual cloud bed for meditation, but rather on a chair opposite it. On the cloud bed, a young man with a high crown leaned against it, accompanied by two beautiful women with high buns.

  The young man looked arrogant, with his eyelids lowered, as if he didn't put the Taoist in front of him in his eyes at all.

  "Yu Zhenzi, come here and pay your respects to Lord Yan."

  "How dare you!" Princess Yuzhen exclaimed in anger.

  The young man on the cloud bed raised his eyelids, glanced at Princess Yuzhen, and suddenly his whole person radiated spirit, no longer as lazy as before.

  The young man's demeanor changed, and a strong sense of oppression immediately emanated from his body. Princess Yuzhen, who was already a mid-stage Qi-refining cultivator, was forced back several steps by this oppressive force, her back against the door, her heart shaken.

  However, he didn't say anything to Princess Yuzhen, but instead said to Princess Yuzhen's master: "Baiyazi, this is the intention of the Heavenly Court. You must listen to it whether you want to or not. Hmm, your disciple is quite good. I'll come to propose marriage in person later, don't refuse."

  The master of Princess Yu Zhen wanted to say something, but the young man with the surname Yan already had a purple gold token in his hand, facing Baitu.

  The front of the token has eight seal characters: "Da Tian Xun Shou, Ru Zhen Qin Lin".

  Bai Yazi's body trembled, and the Golden Elixir Master couldn't even stand up in front of this token. Yan Gongzi stood up, put away the token, smiled at Princess Yu Zhen, and left with two beautiful maids.

  Princess Yu Zhen was disheartened and dejected, that token in Yuan Gongzi's hand, she had heard of it.

  Above the Nine Provinces, there is the Heavenly Court. The people of the Heavenly Court find it difficult to descend into the lower realm, and can only choose to cultivate as the lowest-ranking Immortals to handle matters in the Nine Provinces. Above each major province, there are several Heavenly Emperor's Inspectors, holding the Purple Dawn Golden Edict, patrolling on behalf of Heaven.

  The Heavenly Emperor's Inspector is an immortal, even if his power falls in the mortal realm, he is still a cultivator who has returned to emptiness. With the Purple Night Golden Edict in hand, he commands the ghosts and gods of the mortal world. Except for a few major Xian sects, no one dares to defy the will of the Heavenly Emperor's Inspector.

  That young man went far away, and Bai Ya Zi finally stood up, saying sorrowfully: "Yu Zhen, this...this...this..."

  He didn't expect the Heavenly Emperor's inspector to take a liking to Princess Yuzhen and want to propose a marriage. As someone of his stature, he naturally knew the details about Yan Gongzi. What they called proposing a marriage was merely taking a concubine. How could he bear to give away his only exceptional disciple to be Yan Gongzi's concubine?

  Princess Yu Zhen saw her master lose his composure and was also somewhat flustered, but immediately comforted him by saying: "Master, I'll just return to the imperial palace now and not come out again. Even the Heavenly Inspection Envoy can't break the Nine Cauldron Seal, right?"

  Bai Yatou let out a long sigh and said, "Yuzhen, don't you understand? The Tian Emperor's inspection envoy ordered the Dragon Tiger Mountain not to help the White family. That is to destroy the foundation of the Great Jin Dynasty. Those twelve copper men will be destroyed, can the Nine Tripods protect your safety?"

  "How is that possible!" Princess Yu Zhen, although a Taoist cultivator, had always firmly believed since she was young that even the Heavenly Court could not interfere with the national affairs of the Great Jin Dynasty.

  Bai Yazi shook his head and said, "This Tian Emperor's inspection envoy must not be just here to warn the Longhu Mountain faction. Now Bai Jian can only fight alone. Without a cultivator to help him, do you think a mortal warrior can withstand the endless assassination of a cultivator?"

  Princess Yu Zhen shook her head, and Bai Ya Zi said: "If the King of Rui Country dies for his country, the foundation of the Great Jin Dynasty will be shaken, and the demons in the world will rise up. The national fortune will be exhausted, and then Yan Gongzi can naturally kill him at the end..."

  Bai Yazi couldn't bear to say any more, and Princess Yu Zhen was stunned. In the end, she also pulled on Bai Yazi's sleeve and said: "Master, save me!"

  Bai Yazi nodded secretly, this disciple was still quite understanding, if he were to save the Great Jin Dynasty himself, he would be unable to do anything.

  Thinking of this, Baitu said: "Yuzhen, if Baijian dies in battle, the imperial palace of the Great Jin dynasty will not be able to protect you either. Don't worry about the Tian Emperor's inspection envoy's door faction, there are only four in Zhongzhou. I'm not familiar with Kunlun, but Li Zhenren of the Western Qingcheng Sect has been friends with me for a hundred years, go to him to take refuge."

  "Is it really Li?"

  "It's him, the ordinary person named Li Fanyu."

  "It's Jade Ruler True Person!" Upon hearing this name, Princess Jade Truth relaxed slightly. Just now, Yan Gongzi's aura was unmatched, and she didn't have the slightest idea of confronting him head-on.

  However, as the master said, there are still many sects in the nine states, and even the Heavenly Emperor's inspectors cannot control them. These sects all have a complex relationship with the heavenly court.

  Northwest Kunlun, southwest Qingcheng, east Penglai, south Luofu. These four major immortal sects are powerful, and the Heavenly Court can only appease them.

  Once I enter Qingcheng, Yan Gongzi will have no choice but to give up.