Chapter 22: Only One Day Left
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The small purple bronze lamp tower shimmered with golden national fortune light, and the rooftop gradually revealed a starry sky. Seven crystalline stones in red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple burst forth their light simultaneously, converging into one. Historian Yuan wielded his whisk, shaking it as the soul aura of the Devouring King Python surged out, instantly condensing into an orange serpent shadow that slithered across the rooftop sky.
The black serpent’s tongue flickered, absorbing the seven-colored light within. Its eyes suddenly sparkled like stars, forming a pattern of seven stars in a row. Yuan chanted softly, flicking his whisk, and a single whisker thread swiftly merged with the seven-star formation, instantly shaping into an arrow. The arrowhead spun, and the Devouring King Python’s serpent head rotated accordingly, gazing down upon everyone below.
Yang Xuangan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a smile playing at his lips, his expression calm and composed, head held high. Yuwen Chenglong’s eyes widened, breath quickening with anticipation. Doctor Cui’s eyes darted restlessly, occasionally glancing at Ling Xuan.
Leaning against the wall with the Purple Firmament Divine Flute tightly gripped in his hands crossed over his chest, Ling Xuan’s peripheral vision flickered between the tower’s entrance and the seven-colored arrow. All seven towers lacked windows, accessible only through a single door each.
Ling Xuan did not understand why they were built this way, but there was no time to ponder. Once the seven-colored arrowhead pointed his way, he would immediately detonate the Tai Chi Pearl to create illusions and use the ultimate movement technique, Serpent Coiling the Moon, to vanish and reappear elsewhere.
The starry sky gradually dimmed, but the seven-colored arrow and the seven-star formation suddenly flared brightly, the arrowhead trembling rapidly. Ling Xuan’s heart jolted; he secretly activated Tai Chi Infinity, the Tai Chi diagram flashing in his palm, the Purple Firmament Divine Flute trembling lightly.
With a soft “click,” a crescent moon suddenly appeared in the starry sky, sprinkling drops of golden national fortune light. The Devouring King Python’s soul immediately rose, seemingly out of control, wrapping tightly around it.
“Is Serpent Coiling the Moon about to break through the seven stars?” Yuan’s expression changed drastically as the whisk dropped from his hand. Yuwen Chenglong gasped, “The host of Serpent Coiling the Moon has stolen the Devouring King Python’s soul?”
“Is Serpent Coiling the Moon about to break the seven stars?” Yang Xuangan’s lips trembled as he shouted, “Investigate immediately!”
Seven stars?
Ling Xuan’s serpent mark had only two star-like glimmers in its single vertical pupil; how could Yuan say Serpent Coiling the Moon was about to break through seven stars? Was he deliberately saying it for Ling Xuan’s benefit?
His heart tightened again; Ling Xuan hastily asked, “Lord Yuan, do you require the Imperial Medical Department’s assistance in locating them?”
Yuan slowly shook his head, picking up the whisk. “The Devouring King Python’s soul aura has been fully used. What use would finding Lord Chao be now?”
Yang Xuangan tapped his fingers on the table. “Yuwen Chenglong, the python soul was stolen less than an hour ago, and the host is still in Luoyang. I want results within three days.”
“Yes, I will immediately send word to my elder brother and ask him to return!” Yuwen Chenglong responded swiftly.
Yuwen Chengdu?
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Ling Xuan’s mind tightened. Could it be that he was about to meet the legendary General Tianbao so soon?
Though Yang Xuangan claimed ignorance of the host’s identity and whereabouts, whenever Ling Xuan thought of the phoenix-winged gilded halberd recorded in history, he felt it must be connected to Yuwen Chengdu.
The former Empress Chen had once warned his grandfather never to let Zi Huang encounter the Nine Phoenixes.
Ye Ziyan had just opened her Qi Sea and was only at the minor Zhou Tian stage. Although Ling Xuan did not know Yuwen Chengdu’s exact strength, with Yuwen Chenglong—his “second brother”—already opening his Qi Sea, Yuwen Chengdu could hardly be weak.
Ling Xuan grinned, looking at Yang Xuangan. “Brother, the Devouring King Python’s soul has been secured. Is there anywhere else you need little brother’s help?”
“Little brother, focus on studying the ‘Demonic Soul Source Theory,’” Yang Xuangan smiled faintly. “You’ll need it when you go to Zhuo Commandery. Has your wife’s Qi Sea stabilized?”
With a clap to his forehead, Ling Xuan feigned relief. “Brother, if you hadn’t reminded me, I’d almost forgotten such an important matter. My wife says she’s feeling troubled in her heart; tomorrow I must take her to the Luoshui Riverboat to relax.”
As Ling Xuan left, Yang Xuangan immediately inquired, “Lord Yuan, any further discoveries?”
“The host of Serpent Coiling the Moon carries the blessing of national fortune, making it impossible to determine for now whether it is the serpent consuming the national fortune or some other cause,” Yuan said hurriedly, bowing.
“You mean the divine emperor’s decree?” Yang Xuangan furrowed his brow.
Waving his whisk, Yuan quickly asked, “The recently appointed divine emperor only conferred the title to the crown prince of Changping. Does Your Highness know his shikigami?”
“A single-starred red-glowing one-eyed little snake,” Yang Xuangan slowly shook his head. “Since Lord Yuan says Serpent Coiling the Moon is about to break through seven stars, which is almost impossible, Lord Chao used the four medical diagnostic techniques and found nothing suspicious.”
“Could it be that the Changping crown prince came to our Imperial Historian’s Office just to watch the spectacle?” Yuan was puzzled.
“At the minor Zhou Tian stage, with a single-starred red-glowing shikigami, how could he have gotten in?”
Yang Xuangan’s anger flared. “Lord Yuan, is your Imperial Historian’s Office made of paper?”
“King Yue, please calm yourself, but this young man is highly suspicious,” Yuan quickly replied.
“A rustic farmer, suspicious of what?” Yang Xuangan shifted tone. “But his acupuncture technique is the Tai Chi Needle Method. Lord Yuan, since you once served the former Chen dynasty, can you discern anything from this?”
Yuan’s whisk dropped again, his pupils contracting as he froze. “Doctor Ling still lives?”
“Lord Yuan, you’re so surprised just because a former Chen doctor is alive?” Yang Xuangan smiled slightly and reminded him, “Focus on the present—the Purple Bronze Lamp requires urgent treasure hunting to suppress it.”
“Your Highness, do you want me to investigate the true identity of the Changping crown prince?” Yuan waved his whisk, regaining composure.
With the conversation reaching this point, everyone was intelligent enough to understand; Yang Xuangan smiled without replying and turned away.
Ye Ziyan possessed the Zi Huang shikigami and was confirmed to carry the former Chen royal bloodline.
But regarding Ling Xuan—the Changping crown prince—Yang Xuangan found it difficult to see clearly, though every time there was an unexpected gain.
To call him scheming—he even revealed the secret of the little white snake entwining the thunder-struck shadow box.
To call him guileless—he cleverly handled Doctor Cui’s obstruction with the Imperial Medical Department, responding calmly and resourcefully.
When the Imperial Historian’s Office was attacked, Yuwen Chenglong led the city defense patrol to search the prince’s mansion but was blocked by Ling Xuan.
The Devouring King Python’s soul was stolen, yet Ling Xuan didn’t shy away from the chaos and even climbed over the wall to watch the commotion. One could say he had used the identity of the Changping crown prince to great effect.
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Yet to believe Ling Xuan could steal the Devouring King Python’s soul? Yang Xuangan wouldn’t believe it for all his life; Ling Xuan’s strength was simply too weak.
At the same time, this was exactly when the Zi Huang shikigami broke free from the Profound Ice Curse, unlocking the two-starred orange glow.
The Devouring King Python’s soul, the little white snake, and the Bai Chi bloodline were all intricately connected.
Glancing back at the Seven-Star Lamp, Yang Xuangan furrowed his brow, silently wondering, “Bai Chi, Zi Huang, Serpent Coiling the Moon—what is your true connection?”
Bai Chi was the bloodline contained within the little white snake, which Ling Xuan had nurtured.
Yang Xuangan would never truly believe this young man was merely a bystander. Although his realm was low and strength weak, his audacity was unparalleled.
A crooked smile tugged at Yang Xuangan’s lips as he looked east toward Liaodong, then back at the Changping Prince’s Mansion. “Good brother, on your trip to Zhuo Commandery, don’t disappoint me. You must activate the Bai Chi bloodline.”
“Ah-choo…”
Just as Ling Xuan stepped into the Changping Prince’s Mansion, he sneezed repeatedly, bewildered. “Huh, could the tigress really be missing me?”
Hurriedly stepping into the backyard, before his foot even touched the ground, his ears softened, and he was instantly seized. Ye Ziyan shot him a sideways glare. “Speak truthfully—what benefits did you gain?”
“Benefits?” Ling Xuan pulled out the little white snake. “Just like this little fellow, itching for me to demonize sooner, right?”
“Already advanced?” Ye Ziyan reluctantly released him and asked with concern, “How much longer? Any clues?”
Shaking his head slowly, Ling Xuan’s playful smile surfaced. “Wife, if you truly care for your husband, don’t act rashly before the residual poison clears. Didn’t grandfather tell you?”
“Get lost,” Ye Ziyan snapped, irritated. “Three drops of blood a month. Remember that.”
“What?” Ling Xuan almost leapt. The Zi Huang had unlocked two-starred orange glow, and now even the necessary supreme Yang blood needed to increase? Were they really treating him like a medicine vessel?
No, no, such things required extra payment, he thought, a sly smile curling his lips. “Wife, pay a consultation fee first.”
“Feeling cheeky?” Ye Ziyan pouted, softly snorting.
“What are you thinking?” Ling Xuan grinned mischievously. “Tomorrow might be the last day I live as a normal man. Will you grant me the honor of accompanying me for a boat ride on the Luoshui?”
“One day?” Ye Ziyan was stunned, her fingertip trembling. “Only one day, and you’ll demonize?”
“Are you worried about me, or about yourself?” Ling Xuan’s heart raced, but his face showed no concern, only teasing. “Did grandfather ever tell you about the connection between shikigami star glimmers and cultivation realms?”
Trying to recall, Ye Ziyan whispered, “Why do you ask?”
Opening the “Demonic Soul Source Theory,” Ling Xuan pointed to the few characters specially written by Doctor Chao: “Five cultivation stages, shikigami in three tiers.” He spoke seriously, “Wife, think carefully—did grandfather ever hint at anything?”
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