fifth form

Chapter 3625 Invitation to Fight

"Can someone in the 'Only Self Realm' truly master your divination skills?"

Zhang Xuezhou robbed several people at the Mingci gambling den.

Huo Qubing was very indulgent.

Reaching the Divine Power Realm did indeed make Huo Qubing feel that he had completed his cultivation. He also believed that the subsequent realms would require years of honing, so he relaxed.

It wasn't until Zhang Xuezhou retrieved the hidden object several times that Huo Qubing began to have a slight hope of entering the realm of selflessness.

"Your skill in guessing hidden objects far surpasses that of the experts at Mingci Gambling House. I can't see through it at all. How can anyone beat you?"

Lei, the old gambler, was also invited out by Zhang Xuezhou and witnessed Zhang Xuezhou's gambling skills.

He looked at the shooting device placed three zhang away and couldn't understand how Zhang Xuezhou could send it to such a distant blind spot in an instant.

"With this ability to predict the future, wouldn't you be able to get whatever you want?" Lei was asked.

"almost!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded.

Using the ability to control speed for shooting is a waste of talent, but it must be said that it is indeed very useful.

If you can't break his control, it means you'll be completely unaware of his actions and can only watch helplessly as the projectile disappears instantly into Zhang Xuezhou's hands.

"Why don't I have this skill of divination!"

Lei cried out in pain. If he could acquire Zhang Xuezhou's ability to divine the future, Lei felt he could abandon everything else.

"Brother Dongfang, may I learn from you?" Lei asked. "Just a little bit is fine!"

“As long as Xiao Huo wants to learn, you can watch from the sidelines. Whether you can learn it or not depends on your ability,” Zhang Xuezhou nodded.

"Little Huo, Brother Huo, Master Huo, you'd better nod and beg to learn!"

Lei kept scratching his head, clearly eager to urge Huo Qubing to quickly cultivate his skills and learn new abilities, while ruthlessly ignoring Huo Qubing's age.

"The Realm of Sole Self is very difficult, I'm so young..."

"You little brat!"

"I'm only thirteen years old!"

"Thirteen... What's wrong with thirteen? If I had someone to guide me back then, I would have reached the Realm of Self-Mastery at the age of thirteen!"

"You really think you can reach the Realm of Solitary Self at the age of thirteen?"

"What a joke! The Realm of Self-Existence is nothing special. Let alone the Realm of Self-Existence, as long as I have enough cultivation resources, I could break through to the Realm of True Self at the age of thirteen without any problem."

Gamblers can make all ten of their statements completely false, and Lei doesn't even blink when he's being praised.

But Lei Bei did have the ability to boast. After all, the guards of Mingci Gambling House were not to be trifled with. Huo Qubing had also seen Lei Bei in action, and he could even compare Lei Bei's swordsmanship with Wei Qing's.

If they were to fight on horseback, Wei Qing's swordsmanship would be enough to overpower Lei Bei. However, if they were to fight in terrain like a gambling den, Wei Qing's swordsmanship would be inferior to Lei Bei's.

Huo Qubing had some suspicions about Zhang Xuezhou, but he did not doubt his gambling friend.

After Lei finished exaggerating, Huo Qubing put aside his ulterior motives.

Do we need to hire more people?

Ren Anran asked in a low voice.

Boosting cultivation is not unusual. In reality, it has formed an industry to help those who have reached the seventh level of cultivation. So, it is not unusual for Huo Qubing to reach the realm of selflessness.

Looking at the people Zhang Xuezhou had gathered along the way, Ren Anran couldn't help but wonder if Zhang Xuezhou had any more people to choose from.

"Yishuo needs to be careful to prevent any accidents, and those two also need help!"

Zhang Xuezhou pointed towards Weiyang Palace and Changxin Palace. Dong Zhongshu, who was walking towards Sima Gate, couldn't help but gasp. He felt that the person Zhang Xuezhou had invited to help him was of great importance, and it would be almost impossible for an ordinary person to meet such a condition.

"Please wait here at the mansion while I go to invite the people!" Zhang Xuezhou invited everyone into the mansion, then called out to Zhu Jiuyin, who was constantly observing and inquiring, before heading to Weiyang Palace with the 'Imperial Attendant's Order'.

"Marquis Wu'an, what kind of behavior is this, dressed like this? Have you been drinking too much and turned Weiyang Palace into a gambling den?"

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

"Useless and incompetent!"

Inside the Weiyang Palace, the new emperor's repeated reprimands echoed, and the entire palace was filled with a somber atmosphere.

"Marquis Tian Tian of Wu'an disregarded etiquette and law, so his crown was removed, his marquisate was stripped, and all his marquis privileges were stripped away. Prime Minister Xue Ze was ordered to search Marquis Tian Tian's residence for any illegal gains and to hold all those who stole them accountable!"

The sound came from Weiyang Palace. Tian Tian, ​​who was kneeling at the door, kowtowed repeatedly, while Prime Minister Xue Ze, who came upon hearing the news, had a solemn expression.

Tian Fen rose to the position of prime minister too quickly and lacked a core family team, which caused many problems after his death.

Tian Tian was unable to protect Tian Fen's family fortune. The Marquis's mansion was riddled with loopholes, and some retainers took advantage of the situation to plunder, while others, envious of the situation, plotted to seize Tian Fen's wealth.

Even if the new emperor wanted to clean up the mess, Tian Tian would need to make a mistake first, otherwise it would be difficult to order an investigation and accountability, lest it lead to accusations of being cold-hearted and indifferent after someone leaves the palace.

However, the new emperor's punishment was indeed very severe. Today, he could strip Tian Tian of his title for disrespecting etiquette, but tomorrow he might hold other marquises accountable for their mistakes.

The case of Tian Tian will likely chill the hearts of many marquises, thus preventing them from making mistakes in court politics.

Xue Ze accepted the imperial decree and retreated step by step from Weiyang Palace, just as Zhang Xuezhou was about to step in.

"Thank you, Lord Dongfang!"

Xue Ze helped Tian Tian up from her kneeling position. When Tian Tian bowed deeply in gratitude with a livid expression, he realized something.

The court's etiquette system was indeed reformed during the time when Zhang Xuezhou served as Grand Master of the Palace, but it was not as strict as stripping a marquis's title. Tian Tian's stripping of his marquis title for his attire was the first such case.

Xue Ze was unsure whether Tian Tian was genuinely grateful to have gotten rid of the trouble or harbored resentment.

In short, Tian Tian got rid of trouble completely, and Tian Fen's decades of hard work and accumulation were not completely eradicated. From now on, Tian Tian could only live as a marginalized member of the royal family, relying on the wealth left by the new emperor.

"You're not even wearing a crown, who do you think you are!"

When Zhang Xuezhou's unfamiliar voice came, Xue Ze was slightly taken aback, and Tian Tian also widened her eyes, staring at Zhang Xuezhou, whose figure and voice were completely different from those of the gambling den, and for a moment doubted that she had mistaken him for someone else.

"Make way, I need to go and compose poetry with His Majesty!"

When Zhang Xuezhou kicked someone, Tian Tian, ​​who was blocking the entrance to Weiyang Palace, trembled and moved aside, allowing Zhang Xuezhou to swagger into the palace.

"It's like a tiger fallen into the plains being bullied by dogs. He's just a minor official supervising construction in Maoling. Who does he think he is? I'm not an official, but my friends are, and every single one of them is a higher-ranking official than him!"

Feeling he had mistaken someone for someone else, Tian Tian spat and muttered curses under his breath, but Xue Ze quickly covered his mouth.

"Let's go!"

Xue Ze held Tian Tian tightly. His cultivation level was low, but Tian Tian's was even lower. With a simple suppression, Tian Tian was unable to move.

Given Tian Tian's quick thinking, Xue Ze felt it was a good thing that she didn't become a marquis; otherwise, she would inevitably be pushed out as a scapegoat in the future.

Whether a safe retreat would be possible then is another matter entirely.

"Look, you're doing a good deed and no good thing happens to you, this fool is even cursing you!"

Xue Ze at the door understood the situation, and the new emperor in Weiyang Palace understood the reason with just a glance.

The new emperor made a sarcastic remark, but Zhang Xuezhou didn't take it to heart. After all, he didn't need to care about a spoiled brat like Tian Tian. He was just saying a few words because Tian Fen had been kind to him in the past, and he didn't want to get involved.

"Little Huo will scold me in a bit, I don't care if he's one more!"

Zhang Xuezhou bowed before replying.

Why would Xiao Huo scold you?

The new emperor originally intended to inquire about Zhang Xuezhou's itinerary in the Celestial Court, but when Zhang Xuezhou mentioned Huo Qubing, he felt that Zhang Xuezhou's journey must be going smoothly, and it was better not to ask about many things.

Compared to the past affairs of the Celestial Court, the new emperor was clearly more concerned about Huo Qubing's situation.