The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

“Everything in the world has its own principle. If you know its root, you can control its birth and death.” Yi Huawei said calmly, as if he had done something insignificant.

Lu Miaozi took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He knew that in the path of medicine and poison, his proud "skill" was as laughable as a child playing with mud in front of the "way" controlled by the other party! He stopped lingering and strode towards a complex model, half a person's height, made up of countless intricate gears, levers, and reeds, in the corner of the room.

"This is a miniature model of the 'Thousand Machine Tower' that I constructed!"

Lu Miaozi's eyes rekindled with fighting spirit, gleaming with an almost fanatical craftsman's brilliance: "The building has nine floors, subtly corresponding to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, containing 3,600 interconnected mechanisms, each affecting the entire structure! Self-destruction, trapping the enemy, deception, deadly strike... the variations are endless! The core hub is hidden in the 'Death Gate' at the bottom floor. Only someone who understands all the variations and simultaneously deciphers all nine key nodes can open it! Let alone shut down its self-destruction mechanism! You are an expert in mechanisms; could you possibly break this building?"

This model is one of the culmination of his thirty years of seclusion, representing the pinnacle of his mechanical skills! He doesn't believe anyone can decipher its secrets in a short time!

Yi Huawei's gaze swept over the "Thousand Machine Tower" model, whose structure was so complex it was dazzling. His eyes remained calm and unwavering. He slowly raised his right hand, spread his five fingers, and pressed them lightly in the air towards the model!

hum!
An invisible and intangible yet real and profound fluctuation instantly enveloped the entire "Thousand Machine Tower" model like ripples on water!
Before Lu Miaozi's horrified eyes, all the thousands of intricate parts inside the model, which were frantically operating and interlocking with each other, seemed to be paused instantly by an invisible hand of creation! Then, they no longer followed the complex logic set by Lu Miaozi, but instead, as if they had gained their own life, began to operate and recombine on their own in a way that Lu Miaozi could not understand at all, yet was perfectly harmonious!
The gears rotate in reverse, the levers pry at impossible angles, and the reeds resonate with strange patterns... The entire model's structure is undergoing a silent and dramatic transformation! There are no collisions, no destruction, only a natural evolution as smooth as flowing water!
Just three breaths!

The originally treacherous and incredibly complex "Thousand Machine Tower" model was transformed, under Yi Huawei's effortless press in mid-air, into a sturdy, simple-lined model of an ordinary pavilion, with all dangerous mechanisms deactivated and the core hub's doors wide open! It was as if this was always meant to be!

"puff--!"

Lu Miaozi was utterly shaken and could no longer hold back, spitting out a mouthful of blood! His mind had suffered an unprecedented shock! His lifelong dedication to mastering the pinnacle of mechanical arts, which he was so proud of, was being dismantled and reassembled at will in the hands of his opponent, like a child's building blocks! This was no longer a breakthrough, but... a reconstruction!
He staggered backward, barely managing to steady himself by grabbing the bookshelf for support. His gaze towards Yi Huawei was filled with shock, bewilderment, and a hint of... awe for a higher level of intelligence that even he himself was unwilling to admit!
The rest of the competition needs no further explanation.

Military strategy simulation: On the sand table, Lu Miaozi set up the "Ten-Sided Ambush Immortal Slaying Formation," a peerless killing formation that combines ancient and modern techniques with the orthodox and unorthodox methods, believing it to be invincible.

Yi Huawei casually picked up a few pebbles and tossed them onto seemingly insignificant points on the sand table. Lu Miaozi initially paid no attention, but after a moment of deduction, his face turned deathly pale—where those pebbles landed, they acted like anchors, completely locking down all the variations in his painstakingly crafted killing formation. All attacks crumbled and disintegrated on their own, as if hitting an invisible dam! The entire formation collapsed without a fight!

In astronomical calculations, Lu Miaozi posed three complex problems combining celestial shifts, tidal anomalies, and changes in the earth's atmosphere, involving predictions of celestial phenomena over the next ten years. Yi Huawei closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, he casually uttered extremely precise answers, even pointing out three subtle flaws in Lu Miaozi's calculations that Lu Miaozi himself had not noticed! Lu Miaozi, comparing his work with the classic texts, trembled and was speechless.

Disguise Technique: In front of Yi Huawei, Lu Miaozi displayed all the skills he had learned in his life. His bones cracked slightly, and his facial muscles moved and shifted like flowing water. In a moment, he had transformed into the likeness of Shang Xiuxun! Not only was his appearance incredibly lifelike, but even his aloof and cold demeanor was perfectly imitated!
He was about to speak when Yi Huawei merely smiled slightly. The next moment, Lu Miaozi was horrified to discover that the unique true energy he used for disguise was uncontrollably reversing and dissipating! The "mask" on his face melted away like ice and snow, rapidly revealing his aged face once more! What horrified him even more was that Yi Huawei's figure began to blur and distort in his eyes, instantly transforming into... a spirited young Lu Miaozi with eyes as sharp as knives! That was exactly how he looked decades ago when he first met Zhu Yuyan! This was not just a disguise, but an illusion directly targeting his inner demons! Lu Miaozi lost his composure and stood frozen in place.

Garden Architecture: Lu Miaozi used his fingers as a brush, and with his true energy, he sketched in the air, instantly constructing a three-dimensional scroll of "Xuanji Villa" that integrated a feng shui formation, traps, and seasonal scenery. It was exquisite and unparalleled, a true miracle.

After examining the painting, Yi Huawei flicked his finger, sending a drop of water into the pool at the center of the courtyard scroll. The drop of water seemed to contain the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, subtly and fundamentally altering the layout and atmosphere of the entire scroll! The originally exquisite but slightly contrived design was infused with the soul of nature, becoming perfectly natural and in accordance with the Dao! Looking at the "new villa" transformed by a single drop of water, Lu Miaozi's eyes were filled with endless awe and…longing.

He lost all nine competitions!
Lu Miaozi staggered, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. He struggled to the last item—the stone slab for calendrical calculations. He looked at the complex formula he had carefully deduced and was proud of, and then at the concise and beautiful yet profound answer that Yi Huawei had casually written down.

"Pfft!"

This learned and proud master craftsman, the world's number one craftsman, suddenly knelt down in front of Yi Huawei.

He raised his head, and his ancient face was no longer filled with any resentment or arrogance, but only with a shock of being completely convinced, an excitement of seeing a higher hall of wisdom, and a sense of... relief!

"Sir, your learning is profound and transcendent, far surpassing ordinary people! Lu Miaozi... is like a frog at the bottom of a well, arrogant and conceited!"

His voice was hoarse and excited, filled with heartfelt respect: "I have lost in all nine arts, and I am completely convinced! This old man... is willing to accept defeat!"

With trembling hands, he carefully took out a small black box, neither gold nor jade, but warm to the touch, from his bosom. He held it high above his head and presented it to Yi Huawei: "This is the sixth volume of the tenth book of the 'Heavenly Demon Strategy'! Please accept it, sir!"

Then, he kowtowed deeply:

"This old man, Lu Miaozi, is willing to follow you out of the mountains and serve you with utmost loyalty! I will use my frail body to help you create the world of 'Heavenly Way'! I would gladly die for it!"

The courtyard was completely silent. Only Lu Miaozi's excited yet respectful voice echoed.

Looking at Lu Miaozi kneeling on the ground, and then at her master standing with his hands behind his back and a calm expression, Shan Wanjing was filled with unparalleled shock and pride.

Yi Huawei looked at Lu Miaozi kneeling on the ground, nodded slightly, and reached out to take the small black box that contained the supreme secret of the Demonic Sect. He did not examine it immediately, but instead focused his gaze on Lu Miaozi's gray hair and slightly hunched body.

This exceptionally talented scholar was severely injured by Zhu Yuyan's palm strike years ago, damaging his heart meridian. Coupled with thirty years of resentment and self-blame, his body was already at its limit, showing signs of exhaustion.

"Sir, please get up."

Yi Huawei’s voice was calm as he reached out to support Lu Miaozi, and a gentle yet overwhelming force lifted him up steadily.

"Sir, you are a man of extraordinary talent; you should not be afflicted with this serious illness."

Yi Huawei looked into Lu Miaozi's cloudy eyes, which held a glimmer of new life: "I will lend you a hand and help you regain your vitality."

Before he finished speaking, Yi Huawei pointed his fingers like a sword and aimed at Lu Miaozi's forehead from a distance!
Before his fingertips even reached him, a warm and vast aura, seemingly containing the most primal vitality of the beginning of time, surged into Lu Miaozi's depleted meridians like a gentle stream!
"Uh!"

Lu Miaozi trembled violently, his eyes widening in shock! He felt an indescribable warm current flow into him from between his eyebrows, instantly spreading throughout his limbs and bones! This power was not a domineering impact, but rather like the most exquisite weaver, using unparalleled skill to precisely repair his already damaged heart meridians, nourish his parched and withered acupoints, and wash away the pent-up emotions and hidden wounds accumulated over thirty years!

His body, like a parched tree receiving rain after a long drought, greedily absorbed this vast life force! His pores opened, and wisps of grayish-black impurities, reeking of decay, were forced from his surface by an invisible force, instantly vanishing. Then, an even more astonishing sight unfolded!
Lu Miaozi's once white hair, as if touched by an invisible brush of time, rapidly turned black from the roots at a speed visible to the naked eye! His pale beard, too, seemed to have shed the marks of time, becoming jet black and glossy once more! The deep wrinkles on his face seemed to have been mostly smoothed out by an invisible hand, his skin regained its rosy glow, and his once cloudy and dull eyes became clear, bright, and as sharp as ever! His entire spirit and energy underwent a dramatic transformation in just a few breaths! It was as if time had reversed twenty years for him!

Dan Wanjing watched in stunned silence, her honey-colored face filled with shock! Although she knew her master possessed extraordinary abilities, witnessing this near-miraculous reversal of life and death, and rejuvenation, still deeply moved her! This was beyond the explanation of martial arts; it was true divine power of creation!
Lu Miaozi felt the unprecedented surge of life force coursing through his body, felt the chronic illness that had plagued him for thirty years completely disappear, felt his young body regaining its strength, and he was so excited that his whole body trembled slightly. He looked down at his hands, which had become smooth and strong, and when he looked up at Yi Huawei, his voice trembled slightly:

"I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace, sir! I could never repay it even if I died ten thousand times!"

He bowed deeply again, his voice loud and powerful, showing no trace of old age or dejection.

"Easy to do."

Yi Huawei calmly withdrew his hand: "Sir, your talent should be matched with a suitable physique in order to fully display your abilities."

He glanced at the refreshed and energetic Lu Miaozi and said, "Now that the matter is settled, go and say goodbye to the shop owner."

Upon hearing this, Lu Miaozi's excitement froze instantly, replaced by immense shame and an indescribable mix of emotions. He looked towards the courtyard gate, his eyes filled with pain, self-reproach, and profound helplessness.

"gentlemen……"

Lu Miaozi sighed deeply: "I... am ashamed before Qingya, and even more ashamed to face Xiuxun. She... she hates me to the bone. Over the years, although I have been so close to her, it has been as if there is an insurmountable chasm between us. I have never truly stepped into her world. Now... I am even more ashamed to see her. It would be better not to see her at all, as it would only increase her resentment."

He shook his head, his eyes filled with bitterness: "Please, sir, convey my apologies to her. I... will leave with you now."

Love is the most difficult thing to understand, and it cannot be forced. Yi Huawei nodded slightly: "Very well."

He turned to Shan Wanjing and said, "Wanjing, wait here for a moment and look after Mr. Lu." He then said to Lu Miaozi, "Sir, please wait a moment as well."

Yi Huawei walked out of the quiet courtyard alone. Outside the gate, Shang Xiuxun still sat upright on her magnificent white horse, her back to the courtyard, her posture as straight as an ice sculpture. Liu Zongdao stood silently by her side, leading the horse.

Hearing footsteps, Shang Xiuxun slowly turned around. When she saw Yi Huawei come out alone, her eyes, hidden behind the light veil, flickered slightly before returning to their usual coldness.

"he……"

Shang Xiuxun's voice carried a barely perceptible tension, "...How is it?"

She couldn't help but ask the question after all.

"Mr. Lu is out of danger."

Yi Huawei looked at her calmly: "His old heart injury has been completely healed, and his chronic illness has been cured. He is now reborn. He will be going with me."

Shang Xiuxun's delicate body trembled slightly, and her fingers tightened instantly around the reins! Although she had a premonition, hearing with her own ears that the person she had resented for thirty years was really leaving forever still stirred up extremely complex emotions in her heart—was there relief? Was there resentment? Perhaps... there was also a trace of loss that she herself was unwilling to admit, a deeply buried sense of loss?
"So they left."

Shang Xiuxun's voice was deliberately raised, carrying a chilling quality that kept people at a distance:

"This Pegasus Ranch has never had such a person! Taking him away, sir, will restore peace and quiet to my ranch!"

Yi Huawei, observing her forced composure, didn't point out the fleeting complexity in her eyes. He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the fertile land beneath their feet and the majestic castle in the distance:
"Shop owner, this Pegasus Ranch is truly a paradise on earth, blessed by nature."

Shang Xiuxun was slightly taken aback, not understanding why Yi Huawei suddenly brought this up, but she still subconsciously straightened her back, with a hint of ranch pride: "Pegasus Ranch has been run by generations, relying on the legacy of our ancestors and the bravery of our soldiers to maintain peace in this region."

"peaceful?"

Yi Huawei repeated it softly, a faint smile playing on his lips, his gaze becoming deep: "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

Shang Xiuxun's face, hidden beneath the light veil, suddenly turned pale! Her knuckles turned white from gripping the reins so tightly!
Yi Huawei's voice was calm, yet every word struck Shang Xiuxun's heart like a heavy hammer:

"The ranch possesses the finest horses in the land, a crucial asset in the struggle for supremacy during chaotic times. This place boasts a strategic location, abundant resources, and is both offensive and defensive, making it a vital strategic stronghold for military strategists. Now that the Sui Dynasty has lost its control, various warlords are vying for it. The Li clan, Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, Du Fuwei... and even the Turks and Tiele from beyond the Great Wall, who wouldn't want to seize this treasure land and its prized horses?"

"Your Pegasus Ranch has been able to remain in a state of relative peace until now thanks to three things: first, its strategically advantageous location; second, the subtle protection afforded by the prestige of the Song Clan; and third, the mutual checks and balances among various factions, leaving them no time to look elsewhere."

However, this balance is as fragile as paper.

Once a powerful warlord rises, sweeps away all rivals, and dominates the land, your Pegasus Ranch will become his coveted prey! At that time, how much weight will the Song Clan's protection carry? How long can your ranch's treacherous terrain withstand an army of hundreds of thousands? The ranch's generations of accumulated wealth, its prized horses, and you… this renowned 'beautiful ranch owner'—all will become targets of others' covetous eyes.

(End of this chapter)