CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 112: FORMING A TEAM

Indeed, impervious to swords and spears.

In the bedroom, Li Ang looked at the gloves formed by Mo Si, his brow slightly furrowed. The tip of the dagger he used to cut and stab the gloves already showed slight wear, while the surface of Mo Si remained unchanged. As the cutting force gradually increased, a shallow trace finally appeared on the surface of the Mo Si gloves. After infusing Spiritual Power, even this trace quickly healed itself.

After devouring gold and silver equivalent to eighteen thousand strings of coins, a new change has emerged, Li Ang silently thought. The first stage is to act as a bridge for Spiritual Energy, enhancing its transmission efficiency and strengthening bodily functions. The second stage is the ability to project from the body, forming protection? This protection also requires a certain amount of Spiritual Power to maintain. The greater the external force, the more Spiritual Power it consumes.

He paused for a moment, released his Spiritual Power, and guided the Mo Si on his palm to slowly contract, then concentrated his will.

RUSTLE—

Under the control of his will, the Mo Si extended again, gathering on the back of his hand. Afterward, no matter how he released his Spiritual Power, the area of Mo Si did not increase.

It seems that with the current total amount of minerals devoured, the second-stage Mo Si can only expand to this extent, Li Ang raised his eyebrows. I originally thought that Mo Si reconnecting the broken Spirit Veins and repairing the Skull-interrupted Sword trigram was already an extremely special Mutated Object. Unexpectedly, there are more changes. If I continue to feed it minerals, could the total area of the second-stage Mo Si increase to form a mask, a breastplate, or even full-body armor? Currently, I’ve only fed it Gold and Silver Ingots. What if I used higher-grade special metals like Mountain Copper or Mystic Iron? Could there be a third stage to Mo Si...

"Master, dinner is ready."

Chai Cuiqiao’s voice from the living room interrupted Li Ang’s contemplation. He set aside his slightly worn dagger and watched the Mo Si on the back of his hand retract under his skin. "Oh, I’m coming."

At the same time, in the Great Ming Palace, Greenhouse Hall.

The Tributes, eunuchs, and Imperial Guards stationed on either side of the folding screen stood as still as statues, their eyes fixed forward. In the center of the hall, Emperor Yu Li Shun pressed his palms on the long table. His sharp gaze was fixed on the map of the Nanzhou border defenses spread across it, his brow deeply furrowed, his expression solemn.

Emperor Yu slowly exhaled, and a name flashed through his mind once again: Jun Qianzi.

This name, estranged from Chang’an for fifteen years, had resurfaced like an old scar being torn open, stinging the nerves of many.

If He Siping, the current Left Spring Palace Middle Officer of the Crown Prince’s Palace, represented this generation’s Academic Palace Disciples, then Jun Qianzi, fifteen years prior, had been the most outstanding disciple the Academic Palace had seen in nearly fifty years—bar none.

He was a Doctor of Talismanic Study from the Academic Palace and a High Order cultivator of the Cloud Patrol Realm, just one step away from the Candle Cloud Realm. He was also a member of the Philosophy Society and had improved various techniques, including those for spinning wheels, dyes, oil presses, and farming tools. Furthermore, he had supervised bridge construction in Shannan East Road and Shannan West Road, river dam and seawall construction on Jiangnan East Road, and locust disaster relief in the Capital Province.

This name should have been hung on the walls of the Academic Palace’s History Hall, alongside those of past Mountain Masters and distinguished Doctors. That was until he, a man always known for his mild and refined demeanor, suddenly took advantage of the Mountain Master’s absence from Chang’an. He seized more than a dozen Mutated Objects from Dongjun Tower and, using them, brutally killed the Master stationed at the Academic Palace, the Vice Commander of the Garrison who came to intercept him, and numerous other cultivators, before fleeing Yu Country.

Over the past fifteen years, Yu Country had never ceased its pursuit of Jun Qianzi. Spies lurking in Nanzhou, West Jing, the Turkic territories, and even the Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains tirelessly searched for clues. The resources required for a cultivator’s practice are immense; it was unlikely he could have remained entirely undetected.

All searches turned up nothing until two years ago, when the Mountain Master personally announced that Jun Qianzi’s life lamp had been extinguished, likely in the depths of the Endless Sea.

But now, his name had returned, appearing on a Sealing Demon Talisman that could only have been written by a High Order cultivator of the Candle Cloud Realm.

The most fundamental Military Studies course at the Academic Palace repeatedly emphasized that cultivators of the Candle Cloud Realm could literally change the outcome of wars. This was especially true for a Talisman Master of High Order Candle Cloud Realm. A single talisman could halt a river’s flow, cause cliffs to collapse, or make thousands of troops retreat.

What had Jun Qianzi experienced in these fifteen years? How had he progressed so rapidly from the Cloud Patrol Realm to High Order of the Candle Cloud Realm? And why would he use such a deliberate method to inform Yu Country of his return?

Could it truly be because of the plan to deploy troops to Nanzhou? Li Shun wondered, his hand brushing over the Nanzhou border map painstakingly drawn by the Ministry of War, his knuckles white from the force.

Following the news about Jun Qianzi, the Garrison mobilized capable personnel to fortify Chang’an City’s defenses. The Imperial Palace Tributors also rearranged their guard schedules to protect important dignitaries. These measures, however, only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. Guarding against a thief for a thousand days, a lapse is bound to occur. The key still lay in ascertaining Jun Qianzi’s status—alive or dead—and his intentions.

Hopefully, the Mountain Master will bring good news soon, Li Shun silently withdrew his hand. Without understanding the intentions of a High Order Candle Cloud Realm Talisman Master, many plans were forced to a halt.

TAP, TAP, TAP.

The sound of footsteps and light, cheerful chatter drew nearer. Emperor Yu looked towards the side hall, where Empress Xue was approaching, laughing and talking with her children.

"Father."

The princes and princesses saluted respectfully. Emperor Yu took the young Princess Lin Zhang from Empress Xue’s hands, held her, and said casually, "Back from watching the play?"

"Yes."

Princess Lin Zhang hugged Emperor Yu’s neck, her childish voice recounting the play they had just seen. The Royal Family had recently invited some theatrical troupes from Chang’an to perform in the palace. Officially, it was for the appreciation of art. The real purpose, however, was to find an excuse to temporarily detain those foreign troupes in Chang’an, including the Jianyue Theater Troupe.

The old woman in gray from the Jianyue Theater Troupe had been the carrier for the Sealing Demon Talisman Jun Qianzi sent to Chang’an. Although, according to the Garrison’s interrogation results, the Jianyue Theater Troupe knew nothing about it, they could not be allowed to leave, just in case. The Garrison planned to ask Dongfang Lu, one of Yu Country’s three Prime Ministers and the Minister of the Secretariat, to step forward. He would claim to be extremely fond of the Jianyue Theater Troupe, willing to spare no expense to keep them permanently in Chang’an, and even bring their families from Nanzhou to live in Chang’an. The Garrison hoped to use this method to lure the snake out of its hole.

"The palace is still too quiet," Emperor Yu said in a casual, lighthearted tone, showing no sign of his earlier worry about Jun Qianzi. "In the future, the Teaching Bureau should also learn from those foreign theater troupes and study other styles of drama."

"That would be wonderful," Empress Xue, also aware of the Jun Qianzi matter, replied with a calm smile. "It would prevent some of their plays from becoming lost to Chang’an after those foreign troupes leave."

The family chatted casually, the conversation gradually turning to Li Leqing’s studies.

"Leqing’s studies are still excellent," the Fourth Prince, Li Hui, said proudly. "She scored Class A in National History, Yu Law, Mathematics, and Natural Science exams."

"Moreover," he continued, "this year’s new students had read part of the Academic Palace’s textbooks during the admission test phase, giving them a head start. Leqing hadn’t read the textbooks before; her achievements are purely from her recent studies. If Leqing had taken the admission test, she might even have returned as the Academic Palace’s Top Scholar!"

"Brother—" Li Leqing, her face slightly flushed, nudged her full brother’s back. "That’s not true. I just dropped some courses like Body Refinement and spent more time on other subjects."

"That’s very good too," Empress Xue said, rubbing her daughter’s hair lovingly and proudly, though a twinge of sadness remained in her heart. Life at the Academic Palace had made Li Leqing much healthier, but her heart condition showed no signs of improvement or self-healing. This prevented Li Leqing from participating in parts of the Military Studies and Body Refinement courses.

Emperor Yu, keenly aware of the sadness in his wife’s eyes, quickly said to Li Leqing, "Tomorrow, for the Sword Study class, your mother and I will come to supervise. Did the Academic Palace’s Doctor inform you new students?"

"He did," Li Leqing nodded, a little embarrassed. "But I don’t seem to have any talent for Sword Study..."

"It’s alright," the Fourth Prince Li Hui consoled her. "It’s good enough for a cultivator to master one Dao Path. Even the Mountain Master only specializes in talismans and swords. In previous supervision classes like this, to make the presentations look better, they were group assignments. The new students formed their own teams."

"Um... that new student, He Fanshuang, is very outstanding. Leqing, you’ve already become good friends with her, right? You could be in a group with her. Or there’s Li Ang—although his Cultivation progress isn’t as fast as He Fanshuang’s or Pei Jing’s due to his limited talent, I heard he’s very good in Natural Science and Mind Study..."

Emperor Yu watched his fourth son genuinely offering advice to his sister, his gaze softening, a sense of warmth and reassurance filling his heart. As the ruler of Yu Country, he had countless channels for information and naturally knew about the fierce, albeit subtle, competition between the Fourth Prince Li Hui and Crown Prince Li Si for Chang’an’s young talents over the past few years.

He Siping was Crown Prince Li Si’s Left Spring Palace Middle Officer. He Fanshuang, being He Siping’s sister, was generally considered part of the Crown Prince’s faction. Furthermore, Li Ang’s recommender, Cheng Juxiu, was He Siping’s junior martial brother. By extension, Li Ang also had a high chance of being recruited by the Crown Prince.

Yet, Li Hui showed no concern about this, genuinely trying to find solutions for Li Leqing. This greatly pleased Emperor Yu, and his eyes softened further.

Li Ang had no idea the royal family was thinking about him while he slept. He woke up well-rested and headed to school.

"Risheng!" Yang Yu, a Biluo pastry stuffed in his mouth, hurried over, his words muffled. "Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?" Li Ang asked, puzzled. He stood still, waiting for Yang Yu to finish his Biluo to prevent him from choking.

"For the Sword Study class?!" Yang Yu exclaimed, clapping his hands. "I specifically asked the senior students and the Instructor after school yesterday. In previous years’ supervision classes, if the Emperor and Empress were to attend, they would have the new students form teams—groups of five, seven, or ten, something like that, to make the scene look better."

Li Ang blinked. "So?"

"Give a brother a hand," Yang Yu pleaded. "Count me in on the group project. I’ll cover this year’s expenses at Pingkang Square."

You’re using this to test Academic Palace Disciples? I don’t frequent those kinds of places...

"Count me in too!" Li Wei, holding a meat pancake for breakfast, rushed over from a distance, declaring boldly, "I failed Sword Study last time!"

"Failing is nothing to shout about so proudly," Li Ang said, rubbing his forehead. "Including you two isn’t a problem, but I don’t know how the class will be conducted yet..."

I’m still worried about Xi Yangyu trying to cause trouble!

"It’s fine, Risheng, we believe in you," Yang Yu and Li Wei said with earnest conviction, their expressions practically screaming, ’We’re useless, and we own it!’

"Alright then..." Li Ang nodded. Yang Yu and Li Wei both sighed in relief, only then belatedly noticing Li Ang’s attire.

"Huh, Risheng, why are you dressed so warmly today?"

Li Ang patted the thick robe he wore—to prevent Mo Si from accidentally piercing his skin. "To keep warm. Autumn is here, so I can’t be exposed to too much cold wind."

"Oh, right." Yang Yu and Li Wei, not quite understanding, made a mental note to imitate Li Ang’s attire. Ever since the news of Duke Yan’s recovery spread, everyone knew Li Ang was a famous doctor from Yizhou. His words, therefore, must be correct.

DANG DANG DANG—

The bell rang. Li Ang glanced towards the Forging Workshop. "Alright, let’s go. Class is about to start."