The Heavens: A Qing, the Yue Girl at the beginning

Shi Yuanlu smiled lightly, ignoring it, and simply brought the winged boat to a safe stop and withdrew her magic.

The water-condensed hull of the boat instantly dispersed into a fine drizzle, falling softly into the river.

Hearing her say "Until we meet again," Zhao Qing stepped ashore, reached out a powerful hand, and gently lifted the limp white ape, carrying it on his back. He walked through the streets and past the market pavilion, and soon returned to the pavilion next to the Yuwang Ancestral Temple in the south of the city.

I pushed open the door and entered; all was quiet.

Rui Xi had already woken up upon hearing the sound and was sitting on the edge of the bed, still a little sleepy from just waking up. Upon seeing Zhao Qing, she asked softly, "You're back? How have you been these past few days? Have you eaten?"

Just as he was about to get up to go to the kitchen to start a fire, his gaze fell on the old ape's appearance, and he couldn't help but feel worried: "Why is it so tired?"

"That's how it is when you practice martial arts, it's normal."

After gently placing the ape on the green cattail couch in the side room, Zhao Qing said that cultivation should be deeply integrated into life. If you don't use your true energy to help cook a meal, wouldn't you miss out on a training opportunity?

Don't worry about the consumption; there are plenty of supplements available here.

So, I instructed her to make a whole steamer of rice balls filled with oil, fish, shrimp, chicken, goose, and other ingredients, a rather sumptuous dish.

He then served his mother a bowl of chicken egg soup, watching her slowly savor it. Zhao Qing herself, however, did not eat any. Normally, it would be fine, but now, as she was cultivating at an accelerated pace and making breakthroughs one after another, it was not advisable for her to be mixed with impurities.

The delicious food, made purely from vital energy, would have no impact, but it would be too much of a hassle for her to cook it.

After casually recounting some amusing anecdotes about myna birds selling incense and portrait painting for a living, Rui Xi was about to make a move after the meal when Zhao Qing had already used magic to clean the dishes, forcing her to turn away and prepare to pack her belongings which were lying on the corner of the table.

Zhao Qing's belongings were mostly stored in his jade storage token, so there wasn't much to worry about. This bag, of course, belonged to Ape Master.

Its various items were stuffed into a coarse cloth satchel, the opening of which was not tied tightly, so when shaken, a lot of things would roll out with a clatter.

Rui Xi picked them up one by one, and found several sandalwood pills, several pieces of cut gold ingots, and two small jade discs.

There were also many other miscellaneous items: amulets, paper bridges, a bottle of unlabeled pills, several packets of dried fruit, and even a string of black silver and gold inlaid bracelets.

"How could you have accumulated so much furniture in just a few days? Could it be... stolen?" she asked in surprise, her expression suspicious.

The bracelet is clearly a woman's accessory, with exquisite craftsmanship. The silk threads woven from two shades of dark silver create ingenious patterns. Under the side light, it reflects the overlapping images of a girl and a dove, hazy and indistinct, with multiple images alternating and changing, as if they were alive.

This is actually a magical artifact used to cast illusions. It is activated by a unique bird song and can transform the wearer into a large bird.

Considering that the girl's appearance here has nothing to do with Zhao Qing and is most likely custom-made and bound, it undoubtedly has an original owner.

"...betting money, deposit..." Dissatisfied with Ruixi's slander, Yuan Gong briefly opened his eyes and vaguely explained half a sentence.

Zhao Qing understood the origin of these goods.

It seems that the ape king heard that he had participated in a gambling game, so he followed suit and found someone in the tomb to gamble.

The young man who was granted entry into the tomb was not necessarily more skilled than it, and his comprehension was many times worse. The outcome of the battle was already predetermined.

By feigning ignorance and weakness, first showing the enemy weakness, then using cleverness to overcome brute force, wouldn't you reap a huge reward? The other party would have no choice but to accept their bad luck. If things really come down to it, external status and position are of no use.

It's unknown which female cultivator was forced by the Ape King to stake her personal magical artifact to pay off her gambling debts, or when she will come to visit and redeem them.

Rui Xi held it in her palm and examined it twice, but couldn't figure out what it was. Although she felt that the origin of this item was a bit strange, she didn't want to investigate it too deeply. She just categorized the various miscellaneous items.

The sandalwood pills were placed into an old bamboo tube, the dried fruit was wrapped in a clean cloth, and the gold nugget was weighed and marked with a small scale.

Seeing that her mother showed no signs of fatigue and was full of energy, Zhao Qing carefully guided her on the key points of qi cultivation and breath regulation, and taught her some brief excerpts of techniques such as the Lesser Formless Skill and the Compassionate Sword Manual. After all, she had only recently learned to read and write, so she taught her in great detail.

The reason she chose these few techniques, rather than top-tier divine skills like the Longevity Technique or the Nine Deaths Silkworm Technique, is mainly because with her assistance, they are easier to learn, progress faster, and are less dangerous.

Furthermore, it can be encompassed and nurtured by her sword realm system.

The improved Cihang Sword Manual allows for breakthroughs in spiritual realm through sword comprehension, leading to rapid growth in cultivation. Furthermore, it belongs to the orthodox path of the Taiyin True Water system and can serve as a foundation for those before reaching the Six Qi Realm.

The Sword Manual requires one to comprehend the Heavenly Dao, and Zhao Qing was precisely that day, that all-encompassing universe, favored by Heaven, and progressing a thousand miles a day.

"...Eat the Vermilion Fruits one by one, let the true energy follow my guidance, hmm, once, twice, then rush to the coccyx, and finally reach the crown of the head!"

Zhao Qing fed his mother several strings of red fruits—local specialties given by hospitable villagers like Chongming Guang—and then guided her Qi one by one, cleansing her meridians, expanding her lower Qi Sea, and then opening up the Ren and Du meridians, allowing her spirit and Qi to merge, circulating through the six voids, gradually entering a state of unobstructed flow through all the meridians.

Then, following the principles of transformation, he changed his tendons and marrow, reshaped his foundation, established a body with the innate Taiyin Qi, cultivated a mind of retreat and concealment, and with his mind and Qi following each other, entered the Niwan point, observed the spirit sitting in meditation, saw the bright moon shining in the sky, returned to the true nature of the Jade Mystery, and finally reached the wonderful state of spiritual resonance.

Simply put, it means significantly optimizing her aptitude, allowing her cultivation to reach the pinnacle of Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation, just before the threshold of Spirit Transformation.

Although this was inseparable from Zhao Qing's supernatural abilities, her main purpose was to maintain a flawless foundation, eliminate any shortcomings caused by accelerating progress, and make it far more solid than others of the same level.

In reality, the path of Qi cultivation is synonymous with ease and guidance. A little help from a pioneer, or a few rare elixirs and fruits, is better than countless years of ordinary self-cultivation.

Like the Zhu Guo here, there are about ten trees planted in each of the villages guarding the mausoleum. This special variety can bear fruit once every five years, with about five or six bunches and hundreds of fruits per tree. It seems quite abundant, but its effects are also extraordinary. It can nourish the body, calm the mind, and detoxify and heal wounds.

One pill can guarantee that an ordinary person can sense the mysteries of Qi and achieve enlightenment, equivalent to a hundred days of diligent and unremitting practice. One string of pills, as long as the practice method is not too bad or incomplete, will surely open up the meridians throughout the body and lead to the half-step into the Innate Realm. This is still under the condition of low absorption rate.

Therefore, among those aristocratic families, the unruly juniors who are mediocre, lack comprehension, and have little patience are basically arranged to accumulate resources and pursue the path of Qi cultivation.

If you can't master martial arts and internal strength, try cultivating internal energy (qi). This can prolong your life and help you protect yourself.

This is one of the fastest shortcuts. It only requires simple medicine, refining, and resolving issues such as the mismatch between true qi and perception, and how to perfectly utilize this true qi in battle.

The entire process can take anywhere from a few months to several years, but it allows one to master the skill equivalent to a poor genius who has cultivated his internal energy for a hundred years.

If converted to the sparsely populated environment of Jin Yong's world, it would be comparable to thousands of years of profound cultivation, easily shaking the past and present.

At the very beginning, they were already standing at the finish line of those from humble backgrounds.

Even Zhao Qing back then, in terms of cultivation speed, might not have been able to catch up. Of course, combat strength cannot be generalized.

However, if one relies on external forces to achieve rapid progress, then it is naturally easier to fall down, unlike the solid and stable martial arts.

Whether one diligently practices breathing exercises or takes elixirs to advance rapidly, if one encounters a region where the laws are incompatible, even a mere decree carrying the aura of a blessed land will immediately cause one's cultivation level to drop!

The biggest problem for Qi cultivators is their dependence on vital energy!

Almost all the cultivation and condensation processes of true qi and true essence are inseparable from the overall laws of primordial qi, which can be easily interfered with and destroyed by those at the Six Qi Realm, and completely suppressed by those who have mastered similar powers.

Aside from wielding divine or semi-divine weapons, possessing divine decrees and edicts, and cultivating a vast and refined sword and saber intent, only a handful of other martial arts, such as Taiyin Wuji and Taiyang Wuji, offer any resistance.

This is because the primordial energy structure of Taiyin True Water and Taiyang True Fire is far more concise and simpler than that of ordinary high-level true energy foundations, and is deeply integrated with the innate primordial spirit. Each strand forms its own field, making it extremely difficult to shake.

Spiritual plague and magical plague are also unlikely to cause the loss of spiritual power.

Although Zhao Qing and Tai Sui have never seen any other examples of these two, and they seem quite rare, considering that she has encountered even higher-level plagues before, she absolutely has to be on guard beforehand.

……

By the time we finished, dawn was breaking outside the window.

Rui Xi felt completely comfortable and her mind was clear. The wisps of Yin energy, though very little in quantity, made her spirit increase a hundredfold. Her five senses were heightened, and she could hear the sounds of aphids gnawing away several miles away. Every breath she took was running on its own, without any stagnation.

"So this is... the beginning?" she asked in disbelief.

"It's not just the beginning, it's more like a minor achievement." Zhao Qing smiled slightly: "If we were to draw nine steps before attaining immortality and riding the six qi, Mother has already reached the fifth and perfect level of cultivation!"

"...How could it be so fast?" Rui Xi clenched her fist and then relaxed it, as if sensing the increase in strength: "It's like I suddenly have tens of thousands of pounds of strength? I didn't do anything, and I even connected some threads..."

"It's more than just tens of thousands of kilograms. Let me teach you the method of manipulating aura..." Zhao Qing tapped her brow, inserting a Taiyi Hunming Qi into it, silently nurturing the seed of the Sword Realm:
“My mother’s talent was already quite good, one in a million. It’s just that she has been weakened over the years. With proper care, she will recover.”

"From now on, practice this method every day, regardless of the time of day. The key is to persevere. There are still a few bunches of red fruit left. Take one in the morning and one in the evening."

She'd finished it all. Given her relationship with Zhenge Wuhan, she could easily buy some more at a low price through someone. As long as it wasn't several cartloads, it shouldn't be a problem, and she had plenty of money. Looking at the price of thousand-year-old He Shou Wu in Kuaiji City, one could see that medicinal herbs weren't expensive in the present day.

At most, it will not exceed the same weight in gold.

Most spiritual materials that are no longer useful to those at the Six Qi Realm, after wiping out the influence of personal connections, have a market price that is lower than that of gold of the same weight, higher than that of auspicious gold of the same weight, or somewhere in between, which is considered common sense.

During the pre-Qin period, the price of such rare medicinal materials was already far lower than in later eras when their reserves dwindled. In fact, from the Zhou Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, the price of ginseng skyrocketed by a factor of ten thousand.

Yes, the price has increased ten thousand times! Of course, this is related to the changes in the situation outside the Great Wall, but Ganoderma lucidum and Polygonum multiflorum have indeed increased in price by several hundred times.

If you have the connections, a thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum weighing several kilograms can usually only sell for six or seven hundred dollars! That's about one tael of gold.

This stuff is so cheap that hardly anyone is willing to plant it. After all, it takes up a piece of land for thousands of years and continuously drains the farm's resources. Wouldn't it be better to do something else?

Although one could collect some of the flowers and pollen from the Ganoderma lucidum along the way, it was ultimately an extremely unprofitable business. Ordinary people would never touch it unless they were wealthy families who had cultivated it for generations.

Wild Ganoderma lucidum is so cheap!
However, due to the restrictions on the mountains and marshes, it is difficult for ordinary people to pick them at will. Even if they are lucky enough to get some, the government will buy them at a low price. Those that can be sold on the market are rare, and the price increases with each layer.

The reasons for the monopoly are quite plausible: that one cannot exhaust resources, nor should commoners be allowed to ruin the harvest of precious medicines in their eagerness for wealth.

For example, if a 990-year-old Ganoderma lucidum is only 10 years away from its optimal quality, but is dug up prematurely by a woodcutter who is greedy for small gains, thus damaging its spiritual essence, wouldn't that be a waste of a precious resource?

Therefore, the prohibition of gathering herbs in mountains and marshes was exclusively managed by the Yuheng Division. Those who gathered herbs had to have a "seasonal prohibition certificate" issued by the government, which stipulated the types and quantities of herbs to be gathered according to the season. Violators were subject to fines for minor offenses and enslavement for serious offenses.

Of course, considering that the medicinal materials are relatively young and have not yet developed a grade system, most medicinal materials less than 100 years old are not subject to many restrictions.

No one regulates or controls ordinary one-year-old Ganoderma lucidum.

High-quality medicinal herbs cannot be priced too low; otherwise, they would be shared privately and consumed. Even if they only help regulate the body, they would still be worth the price.

In short, if it were earlier, Zhao Qing could only go to the Martial Academy to buy a limited amount of Five-Colored Lingzhi Liquid at a reasonable price to replenish his internal organs and indirectly improve his skills. But the situation is different now:

The prescriptions written by Zhu Jiyang included the purchase batch numbers.

With this connection, everything will be much easier!
If one possesses the appropriate methods, Ganoderma lucidum is undoubtedly the best auxiliary medicinal material, and it is more cost-effective than Zhu Guo (a type of medicinal fruit) and ginseng.

"...At that time, even the pair of spirit jades that Ape Master brought back will be enough to buy two or three years' worth of Qi-tonifying medicinal diets." Zhao Qing said calmly, without mentioning any other expenses in the future.

This small amount of money is nothing to her.

As for the issue of what is mistakenly called "drug resistance," which is the overuse of the same kind of elixir leading to oversaturation of related vital energy and a decrease in its nourishing effect, Zhao Qing stated that although he is currently unable to create new medicines at will, it is easy for him to adjust the existing medicines to mitigate the vital energy laws involved.

Hearing this, Rui Xi felt relieved and no longer worried about the expense.

She used to be bedridden and relied entirely on her daughter for help. Now that she has embarked on the path of cultivation and gained some skill overnight, she is somewhat at a loss.

Hearing these unheard-of stories made me feel as if I had traveled to another world.

"...I never imagined that at my age, I would have such an opportunity."

She couldn't help but sigh, "Before, I just thought that if I could live a few more years and see you safe and sound, I would consider it a blessing from heaven. Ah, it really feels like a dream, with benefactors and gods right beside me..."

"Mother is still young, how can she be considered 'at this age'? She is in the prime of her life!" Zhao Qing shook her head and chuckled, then carefully gave some instructions before letting Rui Xi go to regulate her breathing.

Rui Xi nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

She has recently noticed that her daughter seems to have gained quite a reputation outside, and she is associating with many prominent figures.

Although I don't understand those big things, keeping the house tidy and not causing her any trouble is the best way to help her.

Meanwhile, the old ape was still fast asleep.

Zhao Qing didn't disturb it. This white ape had gained a lot from its visit to the mausoleum, comprehending dozens of inheritances alone. Its mental and physical energy had been severely depleted, and it needed to rest and sleep for a few days.

As the sun rose higher, she carefully perused the newly acquired jade slip inheritance. Due to the sheer volume of content, she only grasped the general framework, but the gains were already substantial.

"The body of the Dharma, the spirit of the heavens, the signs of life, the virtue that fills the constant scene, the single-minded control, the mechanism of life and death..." Zhao Qing seemed to be thinking, feeling that his observation was gradually becoming more and more profound.

……

Almost at the same time.

On the banks of the Xialu River, the water flows swiftly.

The upstream flood peak is rapidly filling back the hundred-mile stretch of mudflats, with mud and sludge churning and turbid waves crashing against each other. Floating logs and broken branches are carried by the current, crashing against the reefs and splitting into several pieces, before being swept into the bottom of the water by whirlpools.

The river wind howled, bending the reeds on the bank to the ground.

A lone figure stands on a remnant reef in the middle of the river.

He was a man dressed in hemp clothing and straw sandals, about forty years old, with a thin face, a neatly trimmed short beard, and narrow, deep-set eyes. At his waist hung a short, unsheathed halberd, its blade no more than a foot long, entirely black, with a dull edge.

This person is none other than Shi Qi, the second-ranked swordsman in the Chu Kingdom.

With his right hand forming a sword incantation, between his index and middle fingers, a dark sword shape was clearly visible, without a sharp edge or spine, its entire body perfectly round like a chisel, with fine lines running along its surface.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the landscape of mountains and rivers covering a radius of a thousand miles!

The sword captures every detail, from undulating peaks and winding rivers to villages and settlements, and from swaying grass and trees, as if imprinting the entire world onto its blade, transforming it into a miniature world!

However, this world is gradually fading away.

As if ink had seeped into water, the mountains first lost their sharp edges, then the riverbed faded into a dotted line, and the vegetation turned into hazy green spots.

The outlines of all things dissolve one by one, returning to nothingness.

The colors of the surrounding environment became increasingly rich and vibrant.

The turquoise of the river, the green of the reeds, the ochre of the pebbles, the gray of the sky—as if someone had just peeled off a layer of skin, they are now awakening anew from illusion, their outlines being filled in anew. Thus, the world within the sword and the world outside the sword complete an inner-outer exchange, exchanging time, space, and laws.

The countless dead things that were temporarily projected outside, the piles of "corpses" that filled the world, the vital points of which were pierced by the sword intent that was as solid as a substance, the mental images that included flowers, birds, insects, fish, mountains, marshes, forests and beasts, all disappeared and dissipated!
The so-called "all things are destroyed" means that each sword strike is broken down into the combination of billions of dead things, making the two sides isomorphic, and then giving them the destined end of "defeat".

The higher the degree of fit between the sword domain and the mental image of defeat that Shi Qi has mastered, the more one can trace its cause and effect, and the more ferocious the sword domain becomes!

In his brief demonstration, he defeated two opponents single-handedly, not only defeating Zhu Jiyang but also thwarting Xia Lüjiang, the water god who had the home advantage, leaving the other side with a Daoist wound that would never heal.

It is difficult to cure throughout one's life, but it is not incurable.

"Brother Chen!" Shi Qi turned his head and looked at the figure holding a bow standing under a withered willow tree a dozen miles away: "The opportunity I just told you about, are you really not going to reconsider it? This matter is truly rare!"

Chen Yin remained expressionless, but said calmly, "You want to use the position of Xuan Ge in Zhongyuan to invite me to join your cause, I appreciate that sincerity. However, what real benefits did you gain from obtaining the title of Heavenly Principle Star Official?"

"Six years ago, I saw you make a move in Weijing Taoqiu. I was terrified and couldn't sleep for several days. I felt as if I had walked through the Yellow Springs a thousand times, and my spirit and body were exhausted. But now that I see this sword appear in the world again, I no longer feel the same soul-shaking and trembling sensation as I did back then."

"After the trip to Jing Mountain, I finally caught up with Brother Shi and stepped into the 'Creation of Origin' realm. But when I compared my footprints, I found that yours were not as solid as mine. They were wobbling and floating in the water!"

"The Way is like a clumsy stone; what is the meaning of depth?" Shi Qi solemnly replied, his expression serene.

"It's nothing more than a contrast between large and small!"

Chen Yin replied, “Hanging a louse on a window makes it appear large, while hanging a louse on a distant mountain makes it appear small. You now hang the Dao in the vast emptiness, how is that any different from dwelling as a speck of dust? Why bother with such matters!”

"The depth of the path is not determined by what one has reached, but by what one has not yet reached. In the past, neither you nor I were willing to compromise our principles to serve others, so we abandoned our official positions as if they were worn-out shoes. But now you have entered a new nest, running around and working for it. Haven't you just changed the Chu court again? Don't forget who you really are and where your original intentions lie."

Shi Qi smiled but did not respond directly: "So what? Shi Xie is gone, yet you still cling to the old ways? The Yang family's 'Great Qu' bow has been gathering dust in the Chu King's treasury for so many years, are you really content with that?"

"The Great Bow was originally a gift from the Prime Minister Qu Jian, and it gained its name due to its outstanding military achievements. When did it become the bow of the Yang family? What master and apprentice passed down was skill, not the weapon. Don't argue, or you'll only make people laugh." Chen Yin shook his head and said no more.

Shi Qi sighed, not wanting to persuade him any further: "Let's go."

He turned around and walked away on the waves.

His aura grew higher and higher, and more and more ethereal, as if reaching the stars and the heavens, in harmony with the void.

Having committed such a serious attack, they naturally need to lay low for a while.

……

At noon, the ape woke up once and ate some dried fruit.

Zheng Dan visited and inquired about the matter of Yuling and Shi Yiguang's situation. Zhao Qing then taught her a technique for the Breaking Phoenix Sword.

"The hall is spacious and bright, which perfectly matches your sword intent. Go all out and be yourself, without being constrained..." Zhao Qing explained in detail: "The sword strikes like a phoenix falling, not seeking life but seeking destruction, not seeking return but seeking complete annihilation. This move is most important in terms of intention, and there can be no hesitation whatsoever."

Ape heard this in his sleep, got up and took a look, and suddenly wondered if he had made a mistake? How could the high-level inheritance bestowed by the sages not be as exquisite as the sword strike that Zhao Qing casually pointed out?
It scratched its cheek, then lay back down heavily, feeling its mind was a complete mess, so it simply stopped thinking about it.

With nothing to do, the golden carp idly soaked in the small lake beside the building, lost in thought.

The day passed uneventfully.

On the morning of the ninth day, seeing that the sky was clear, Ruixi carried several quilts from the pavilion to the corridor to air them out. While she was busy doing this, she heard footsteps outside the building, and it was Zhen Ge Wuhan who drifted in.

She wore a dark indigo robe with the cuffs neatly tied, and got straight to the point: "There is a banquet today. His Majesty has specially arranged a feast on the Great Winged Ship to entertain worthy men from all directions, and will provide food and soup for them to travel throughout the country. His Majesty has specifically instructed that he will personally receive you, young lady, and will bestow upon you generous gifts. If it is convenient, you may set off as soon as possible."

"Thank you for coming to deliver this message, Lord Wu." Zhao Qing straightened his clothes slightly and asked, "Are there any rules or regulations regarding this banquet?"

Zhen Ge Wu Han glanced at her, his eyes filled with surprise and admiration: "Come with me, and we'll talk as we walk."

With a wave of his sleeve, a straight black and white road appeared to the east, running through several courtyards, side halls, and gates, seemingly both separated from and connected to the outside world, stretching for more than thirty miles and leading to the riverbank.

The two stepped onto the straight road, and the surrounding scenery rushed past like flowing clouds. In no time, they had arrived at the dock on the other side.

A large winged barge was moored majestically at the dock. The barge was narrow, thirty-six zhang long and forty-eight zhang wide. Its shape resembled an enlarged version of a large winged warship, but it lacked the austereness of a warship and instead had a more leisurely and elegant air. Its entire body was lacquered like a mirror, reflecting the rising sun and shimmering with light.

Zhen Ge Wu Han withdrew his magic, the passage dissipated, and he introduced, "This banquet will be held on this boat. We will then sail into the Luo Men Waterway, head north to the royal city, admire the scenery of Huang Zhuo Mountain, exit through Lei Gate, and return through the East Gate to enjoy the scenery of Kuaiji. We will return after the banquet."

Simply put, it's about driving around the eastern section of the city wall for a short while, then driving around outside the city, making a round trip.

……

At the same time, on the side street outside the Yuwang Ancestral Temple, a group of people were slowly approaching. Four cavalrymen held banners embroidered with the emblem of the Xu Kingdom's royal family, while someone drove a decorated chariot behind them.

This man is Shu Jiubi, a retainer of Marquis Xu.

Now, Xu Hou Ci Liu, ever since that night when Zhu Ji Yang broke into the post station and beat him up, adding dozens of items to the gift list in front of him, was both angry and afraid, yet dared not disobey.

However, the newly added items were all extraordinary, and raising funds and allocating them to the granaries was fraught with difficulties, causing numerous controversies and obstacles.

Lai Yin, also a member of the Xu royal family, immediately denounced the matter upon hearing it, saying that the old scoundrel was shameless and wasteful, completely lacking the demeanor of a ruler, and that giving such a generous gift to an outsider was utterly disrespectful.

Then he gathered several of Xu Hou's sons and grandsons, and in the makeshift ancestral temple, he burned incense and offered prayers to his ancestors. With tears streaming down his face, he said that the emperor had been muddle-headed and that the state had not yet been restored while the treasury was already empty. If this continued, how could the Xu lineage survive?

By the time things calmed down a little, quite a bit of time had been wasted.

After much deliberation and hesitation, and having learned that Zhao Qing seemed to have spent the entire day sleeping in the pavilion yesterday, making it unwise to disturb him or deliver the letter, Xu Hou found an excuse to delay.

It wasn't until the morning of the ninth day of the lunar month that someone was finally sent to deliver the gift list and invitation.

However, upon arrival at the temple, the rules were very strict, and no one was allowed to enter without permission. They could only hand the gift list to the shaman on duty at the entrance.

Shu Jiu politely explained his purpose and offered a bribe, only to learn from the other party that the person in question had gone to a banquet with Zhen Ge Wu Han before dawn and was not in the pavilion.

His heart skipped a beat. After hesitating for a moment, he finally left the gift list and invitation at the gatehouse and asked the shaman to make sure they were delivered.

Even though the gift was not presented in person and the visiting card was not delivered to him, which greatly diminished the sincerity of his intentions, he could not very well follow the King of Yue to the banquet. He could only lead his entourage back home in frustration.

To be honest, I originally thought that my lord was just fooling around, that he suddenly got the idea to do some ridiculous secret schemes, and I didn't really care about the person he hired. I even looked down on him.

However, having now encountered a setback and learned of her attendance at the banquet, he took the matter very seriously. After much deliberation, he even began to wonder if Marquis Xu had truly been unusually wise for a moment? Was his foresight indeed profound?

……

Zhao Qing, of course, knew nothing of this. He and Zhenge Wuhan went up to the boat and went straight to the top floor to continue chatting.

She glanced up and took in the entire layout of the large winged ship. The deck was spacious, with three towers amidships: the lowest was called Lu, the middle one Fei Lu, and the highest one Jue Shi, each towering up in turn.

The lowest level pavilion is spacious, with portholes on both sides, and can accommodate more than a hundred people without feeling crowded; the middle level pavilion is slightly narrower, but it also has dozens of seats, and its layout is quite different from that of an ordinary banquet hall, so it must be used for something else.

As for the highest chamber, it was half-open, covered by a green silk canopy with jade pendants and tassels hanging from the four corners. The curtains were so thin that they allowed shadows to pass through, and when the wind passed by, they resembled smoke and mist, giving it a graceful and soaring appearance.

There were no bronze vessels in the room, only several low sandalwood tables, on which were arranged imitation bronze porcelain utensils with a bluish-green glaze.

Several people had already arrived inside the chamber.

In the central seat sat a man who appeared to be around forty years old. He had a thin face and deep-set eyes that seemed to hold a lot of resolute energy, yet his gaze was very warm. He wore a dark purple robe with few ornaments and was playing with dozens of miniature swords in his hand, with a smile on his face.

This was King Goujian of Yue.

If you observe carefully, you will find that the tiny swords in those palms are all divine weapons of exceptional quality. When they are thrown higher, they become several times larger, and when they fall back down, they shrink back to their original size.

Dozens of different artistic conceptions also intertwine and evolve accordingly.

To Goujian's left sat the Grand Minister Ku Cheng.

The Grand Minister of State, also known as the Grand Steward of Heaven, was roughly equivalent to the Prime Minister during the Western Zhou Dynasty. However, in modern times, his power has been greatly diminished, and he is essentially the Chief Steward of Internal Affairs.

Ku Cheng is an important figure who has entered the core circle of the Five Great Doctors.

Moreover, they generally enjoy the highest level of trust within the royal family.

This man truly lived up to his name; his face was slightly wrinkled, his hair and beard were gray, and the lines between his brows were deeply etched. Even when he was not busy, he carried a hint of sorrow, making one feel that he was concerned about the country and its people, and worked tirelessly day and night. On the table in front of him was a scroll of bamboo slips, as if he did not forget state affairs and official business even during banquets.

Beside Ku Cheng was the young master Cang Gui, also known as the Junior Sima.

This man was quite tall, probably around nine feet, and although his face was slightly dark, he had an elegant, scholarly air about him, and his gaze was clear and steady.

However, for some unknown reason, he had cultivated some strange skill, and upon first meeting him, he gave people a kind and benevolent feeling, like an uncle or elder.

As a veteran of the royal family, although he had no military achievements, he had seen the world in places like Yingdu, Gusu, and Linzi, and his seniority was considerable.

Sixty years ago, he was listed in the "List of Beauties of the World," a book compiled by a busybody from the state of Zheng that was not circulated among the common people.

Although she ranked nearly a hundred places lower than Mao Qiang and occupied only the last seat, it was still a remarkable achievement among the Yue people.

Zhen Ge Wu Han took her seat to Goujian's right, and Zhao Qing's seat was placed next to her, just one table away from the King of Yue. This treatment far surpassed that of the scholars and virtuous men in the Fei Lu below.

Another person sat upright at the head of the Zhenge Wuhan, looking to be around thirty years old. He was dressed in a neat and tidy robe, and his face bore a resemblance to Goujian, but he appeared more resolute. He kept his back straight from beginning to end, and his gaze was mostly fixed on the porthole, as if he were observing the scenery on the shore, or as if he were constantly cultivating himself, his mind and spirit inward.

Zhen Ge Wu Han transmitted his voice, saying, "That is the Crown Prince and Yi."

Zhao Qing understood, and didn't look at him any further.

Apart from her, everyone else in the noble family should be at the middle sixth level of Qi cultivation, and the techniques they have learned and the paths they are about to attain are all of superior quality.

Just then, the boat shuddered slightly, the mooring ropes were released, and the bow slowly moved away from the shore. The drumming and music from the shore faded into the distance, replaced by the buzzing sound of twelve pairs of wooden wings extending out and vibrating incessantly.

The curtains of the noble chamber were lifted by the river breeze, and the morning light slanted in, casting pale golden spots on the table.

Goujian sheathed the small sword in his hand, his gaze falling on Zhao Qing. He said with a smile, "I have long heard of your name, Miss. It is only today that I have the pleasure of meeting you. Indeed, you are quite remarkable. Your swordsmanship has reached the pinnacle of perfection!"

"I am delighted by the auspicious signs in the mountains, and even more so by the encounter with such a talented individual. The former is but a temporary blessing, while the latter can make one a hero for generations to come!"

Zhao Qing bowed slightly, saying neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Majesty flatters me."

“No praise, no praise.” Goujian’s attitude was easygoing, but he changed the subject: “The banquet is held at dawn, which is an ancient custom for long voyages on rivers and seas.”

"First, the rising sun gives off a purple glow, then the midday sun shines brightly."

"Eating at sunrise is not for any other reason. Fishermen at sea must set sail before the morning wind rises and the tide begins to rise. If they wait until the sun is high in the sky, the wind will be strong and the waves will be high, and fish and dragons will disappear. It will be too late to regret it then."

"Therefore, the feast must be held at dawn, and only after the guests are satisfied should the feast begin!"

This statement has a double meaning.

This not only explained why everyone was invited to the banquet at dawn, but also implied that the Yue Kingdom would not want to miss out on a promising talent like Zhao Qing, and that they should win him over as soon as he showed promise.

By the time you try to recruit them when they are at the height of their power, it will be too late.

"Moreover," Goujian added, "those who cultivate themselves do not care about the time of day when they practice breathing exercises. Let alone starting a banquet early in the morning, even if the banquet is set up at midnight or the chopsticks are picked up at dawn, who at the table would care?"

"Whenever a joyous gathering occurs, it is a fine time."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands three times, and the cooks and maids responded by crossing the corridor on the second floor of the stern tower, carrying food trays into the duke's room and the flying pavilion, where they began to serve the dishes.

The stern tower is a two-story building at the stern of a ship.

The lower level was the kitchen, while the upper level was the helm and storage area. People carrying food and holding pots moved back and forth in an orderly manner.

The steam rising from the cauldron mingled with the glowing light emanating from the burning spiritual materials, spreading out and enveloping the entire large ship. This drew the attention of onlookers on nearby ships and along the shore, who craned their necks to inhale and exclaim in admiration.

Many birds, drawn by the fragrance, flew in in droves, as if they were going to a fair.

Because there was no direct staircase from the stern tower to the royal chamber, all dishes had to be sent to the Flying Pavilion first, and then from there to the royal chamber. This roundabout process allowed everyone present to see that what the king and his officials ate was exactly the same as what was served on the tables of the hundred or so scholars in the Flying Pavilion.

Although they did not eat at the same table, they enjoyed their meal at the same time, without any difference in speed, demonstrating that they were treated equally.

As expected, several people in the flying hut showed expressions of excitement, whispering among themselves and expressing their admiration.

Before long, the tables and chairs at each seat were filled with food.

The dishes were plentiful and varied: there was braised carp, dried elk, peaches, plums, roasted fish, steamed snake, minced snails, and beef porridge; there were also cold noodles with locust juice, crab roe and crescent moon dumplings, sugar cheese with red fruit, and abalone and bamboo shoot soup.

"This was made by my own hands at the fourth watch of the night," Goujian said, raising his chopsticks and pointing to the fish dishes at each table. "Have a taste first!"

He made a startling statement: "When I was young, I went to Wu and served as a servant to King Fuchai. In my spare time, I asked Zhuan Yi, the son of Zhuan Zhu, for advice and learned this skill. Zhuan Yi inherited his father's true skills and his method of roasting fish was the best in Jiangdong. I studied it quite diligently and tried it a few times after returning home. It was still palatable."

"You are enjoying the same treatment that King Liao of Wu received back then, so don't let your stomachs suffer. But rest assured, the belly of this fish is only stuffed with perilla, lemongrass, and licorice root; there is absolutely no sword hidden inside!"

Zhen Ge Wuhan smiled and picked up a chopstick, savoring it carefully: "Not bad at all. It's still the same taste as when the king personally cooks it! Such skill is worthy of being placed at the head chef's table." His words were casual, without any distinction between ruler and subject.

Upon hearing this, Goujian laughed heartily: "Zhuan Yi said the same thing back then. He said that if I were to stop being the ruler one day, he would also resign from his position as the chief minister, and together we would open a fish grilling stall, which would surely bring in a fortune every day."

After King Liao of Wu died by Zhuan Zhu's Yu Chang sword, Helü succeeded to the throne. His first edict was to appoint Zhuan Zhu's son, Zhuan Yi, as the chief minister.

To learn culinary skills from such a high-ranking official of an enemy state and to establish a good relationship, the twists and turns involved could not be fully described by the phrase "in moments of leisure".
Zhao Qing felt a chill run down his spine, and he began to weigh the Yue King's methods more carefully.

She picked up a piece of grilled fish and put it in her mouth. She found the meat to be exceptionally tender and the cooking time to be just right. A warm, spiritual energy rose from her stomach and slowly permeated her limbs and bones, mellow and lingering.

But this dish could win the heart of King Liao of Wu and lead him to his own death. It must be more than just delicious on the surface.
In fact, it contains a layer of testing on the understanding of the Tao.

This is actually a manifestation of the profound mystery within an unparalleled sword intent.

...(End of this chapter)