I am about to die of old age, and I have awakened the character of longevity.

Chapter 177 The Fairy Queen shows goodwill, Baozhi attracts the fox demon!

Xie An and the eldest princess have been together for a long time.

Previously, Xie An was not strong enough and rarely asked about matters that did not concern him. This was the first time Xie An asked about the high priest.

After all, he will soon reach the level of the high priest and Li Changchun, so it is necessary to know more...

There is a martial arts master sitting at home, it would be a waste not to ask.

Before answering, Su Yuqing asked Xie An a question: "How long will it take you to reach the 19th section of Ming Yu Gong?"

Xie An did not hide this, "If everything goes well...it will take at least half a year, at most a year."

Su Yuqing nodded slightly. "The High Priest's Mingyu Gong, with its nineteenth stage, is comparable to an entry-level Grandmaster in terms of combat power alone. If I had to make a comparison... maybe four High Priests can rival one entry-level Grandmaster. But their strength and speed have indeed been greatly enhanced. In an assassination attempt, they could kill an entry-level Grandmaster."

Xie An was not too surprised by this answer.

He was mentally prepared for this.

Although Mingyu Gong has a significant effect on the five senses, strength, and speed, it is ultimately a form of health cultivation, not a form of killing. Therefore, it is reasonable that it cannot rival the Grandmaster level.

Being able to reach a quarter of the level of a Grandmaster and being able to kill a Grandmaster of Martial Arts with the help of assassination is already quite remarkable.

As if worried that Xie An might misunderstand, Su Yuqing added: "I am comparing myself to the lowest-ranking ninth-grade master!"

This was the first time Xie An heard of the level of strength of a Grandmaster, and he couldn't help but feel curious: "Ninth-level Grandmaster?"

Su Yuqing said, "Becoming a martial arts master is a process of unlocking the nine secrets of the human body. The strength of a master is also divided into nine ranks. The lowest is the ninth rank, and the most powerful is the first rank. Any master who wishes to serve the court can be granted a second-rank official position at the very least. If they have made meritorious contributions, they can easily obtain a title. At the very least, it is the title of a county duke. They can also own land and fiefdoms, and it can be inherited."

Xie An was secretly shocked when he heard this.

Daqian is indeed a dynasty founded on military power, and the importance it places on martial artists has reached a level that was unattainable in ancient times.

As long as one is a martial arts master, he will be given a second-rank official position when he enters the court. If he has made a small contribution, he will be given the title of county duke.

Although the county duke is the lowest among the three classes of dukes, it is much higher than the marquis.

The ownership of private land and fiefdoms included the working people on the land. For example, if Xie An was the county lord of Qingwu County, then the entire Qingwu County belonged to Xie An.

They were able to levy their own taxes and train troops within the amount stipulated by the court... Xie An was a local emperor here. As long as he didn't oppose the court and occasionally submitted memorials to express his agreement with the emperor, he could do whatever he wanted.

A title with a fiefdom is a real title, not an empty position.

This is incredible.

Many people who enter the civil service work hard their entire lives but never achieve a high position. Even if they become a high-ranking official in the imperial court, they will serve the court until old age. At most, the emperor will be grateful for their loyalty and hard work and confer a title on them, giving them a salary and allowing them to inherit the throne. But they will not receive any fiefdom.

Ultimately, the court needs loyal ministers, but there is no shortage of them.

What the imperial court lacks is a pillar of the nation at the master level.

To be valued, one must be both valuable and capable. The more scarce one's capabilities are, the more benefits one will receive.

Rather than struggling in official circles, flattering others, and fighting bravely amidst intrigues and deceptions, it would be more refreshing to directly become a martial arts master and ascend to heaven in one step.

Xie An is not far from becoming a martial arts master.

Thinking about it this way, Xie An felt that the Daqian court, which combined feudal fiefdoms and counties, was quite suitable for him.

He rubbed his hands, feeling a little more hopeful. "Does the imperial court offer any preferential treatment in terms of titles to Ninth-level Martial Masters?"

Su Yuqing shook her head, "No. Although the court attaches great importance to the training of ninth-level martial artists and provides preferential treatment in all aspects, the title of nobility will not be given easily."

Ok.

And he has to be a martial arts master!

But it is understandable if you think about it. There are only two martial arts masters in the entire Nanzhou, which shows how scarce masters are.

Su Yuqing said, "Breaking through to the Grandmaster level is no easy feat. Among a hundred ninth-level martial artists, if one person manages to do so, it's truly remarkable. That's one in a hundred. Since the founding of the Jingtai Dynasty, nearly a hundred years ago, only one Grandmaster, He Nanfeng, has been born in the entire Nanzhou."

Perhaps fearing to dampen Xie An's enthusiasm, Su Yuqing also offered some encouragement, "I have high hopes for you. If you work hard and break through to Grandmaster level soon, I will ask for a title for you."

Facing the princess' encouragement, Xie An was speechless, but he said, "I'll try my best."

After exchanging a few brief greetings with Su Yuqing, Xie An cleaned up the dishes and left the backyard with the tray.

Back in the kitchen, Xie An enjoyed a bowl of Chunlan's fried noodles.

It contains peppercorns, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon, all of which are expensive spices on the market and are not something most people would be willing to consume on a daily basis.

Chunlan’s cooking skills are also great, she has incorporated the flavors of spices into the noodles.

One bite and your mouth is filled with spicy flavor. It tastes very satisfying.

After eating and drinking, Xie An changed into his official robe and went to the Demon Suppression Division.

Although Chen Tie and Yu He handled most of the Demon Suppression Division's affairs, leaving Xie An with little to do, Xie An still held an official position, so he still had to go for a stroll occasionally. He didn't want to be accused of occupying the toilet without doing anything.

Moreover, the Qingwu Demon Suppression Division was not only led by the Princess, but also by the Prince of Huainan. Xie An had to be mindful of the impact, lest he leave any evidence to be criticized.

What puzzled Xie An was that the deputy general manager and inspector of Nanzhou had not yet taken up their posts.

When we arrived at the training ground, we still saw Chenxi instructing the Demon Suppression Guards.

But this time is different from usual.

Before he finished his instructions, Chen Xi left the Demon Suppression Guards behind and quickly walked up to Xie An, "Thank you, Commander."

So active in moving forward?

Xie An became more alert, but his expression remained normal. "Miss Chenxi, is there something wrong?"

Chen Xi said calmly, "I heard you've been interrogating Huang Silang for three months, but haven't come up with any results. I do have a method for interrogation that might help you, Lord General."

It's no wonder that Xie An came to the Demon Suppression Division today just to ask about the progress of Zhao Qing'er's interrogation.

Chenxi came to help on his own initiative?

This is so abnormal.

This woman had spent three months in the Demon Suppression Division without showing any signs of weakness. She was truly patient.

But on second thought, Xie An felt that the princess was also a person who could endure...

None of it is simple.

Could it be that Chenxi couldn't bear it anymore?
Xie An asked, "Miss Chenxi, what can you do?"

Chenxi took out a small green bottle and shook it in front of Xie An. There was a "clang clang" sound inside, as if a few pills were colliding with each other inside.

"This is... Nanzhou's uniquely crafted "Dumb Pill." After taking it, people become confused and their subconscious self-preservation tendencies are abandoned. It won't answer anything you ask, but it's about 70% to 80% accurate. At least after taking it, people won't lie."

Confused pill?
Veritaserum?
After all, it was a gift from the Fairy Queen, so Xie An didn't immediately take it. Instead, he used his five senses to examine the bottle, finding nothing special. Chen Xi, on the other hand, looked at him indifferently. Many Demon Suppression Guards were also glancing at him.

In public, if someone offered to help, it would be inappropriate for Xie An, as the general manager, to refuse.

"Thank you, Miss Chenxi."

Xie An took the small green bottle, exchanged a few words and left.

In the southwest office, Xie An found Zhao Qing'er, who was practicing sword.

Xie An did not go up to disturb them immediately, but stood at the door and watched for a while.

Very exquisite swordsmanship.

The transitions between the beginning, the end, and the end were as smooth as silk, and like the surging water of a great river, it poured out and erupted, endlessly. Xie An estimated that if he hadn't used the Mingyu Gong, he would probably be no match for her.

If you add Mingyu Gong, then there won't be any big problems.

But Zhao Qing'er is only in her thirties, and it is already amazing that she has achieved such an achievement.

After Zhao Qing'er had completed her swordsmanship, she put away her sword and approached Xie An, showing off a bit, "Master Xie, how do you think my swordsmanship is?"

“Exquisite.”

"I heard that Chief Xie received a seventh-level internal energy pill a while ago. I think he has reached a high level of martial arts. How about giving it a try?"

Xie An quickly waved his hand, "I'm old now, and I don't like to fight. I wonder where the princess learned this exquisite sword technique?"

I'm already fifty-eight, and I'm still getting aggressive with young people in their thirties. It's outrageous...

Zhao Qing'er sheathed the sword with a clang. "This is the sword technique the eldest princess created, called the Great River Sword Technique. Unfortunately, I've practiced for over a decade, but I've only barely grasped the essence of it."

Xie An was quite surprised.

The eldest princess can even create her own swordsmanship... Dahe swordsmanship.

He is indeed a martial arts master!
He then echoed, "The Princess is truly a master swordsman."

As Zhao Qing'er led Xie An into the house, she proudly said, "Of course not. The eldest princess is a rare sword master in Daqian. Her self-created Dahe sword technique is particularly remarkable, especially the last three moves, which are famous throughout the capital."

"Which three moves?" "Great River Sword Qi, Rising Azure Sea Tide, and Rising Bright Moon from the Sea. It's said that when you master Rising Azure Sea Tide, you can unleash countless sword energies, as unstoppable as a rolling tide. With the last move, you can even witness the wondrous spectacle of a rising bright moon from the sea. I've never seen the princess use it, though. What a shame..."

Xie An secretly kept this in mind, feeling that he might have underestimated the strength of the eldest princess.

No wonder the eldest princess said that catching the Fairy Queen was no problem...it turns out there was such a swordsmanship as the finale.

It's really a monster!

After entering the hall, Zhao Qing'er took the initiative to make a cup of tea for Xie An and then started chatting with him.

After several months of getting along, Xie An and Zhao Qing'er have become very familiar with each other. They are very happy to work together as partners. There is no discomfort and no conflict of interest.

Xie An admired Wei Haoran and Zhao Qing'er, two children of the royal family, and Zhao Qing'er also recognized Xie An as his boss.

After some greetings, Xie An asked about the interrogation of Huang Silang.

Eh.

Zhao Qing'er shook her head and sighed, "Huang Silang seems like a wimp, confessing everything. But when asked about the dog demon, he refused to say anything. I've used the severe tortures of the Demon Suppression Division countless times, but he just wouldn't give in. I personally think Huang Silang must know more about the dog demon. It's a pity that the conditions in Qingwu County are so poor. If we were in Kyoto, I could find a great sorcerer to help him and he would tell the truth."

Xie An squeezed the small green bottle in his pocket and said, "Take me to see Huang Silang in prison."

When he arrived at the prison, Xie An saw Huang Silang.

He was tortured beyond recognition, covered in blood, and had fainted.

Xie An looked at it in amazement.

It's so miserable that he fell into the hands of the Demon Suppression Division.

"Is there any way to wake him up?"

"He's almost dead. If we want to wake him up, we'll have to use the Demon Suppression Division's top-grade pills, which will take three to five days. Even if he wakes up, he won't live long. It's not worth it."

Xie An took out the small green bottle and handed it to Zhao Qing'er. "Let's give it one last try. When he wakes up, give him this bewildering pill and try to interrogate him again. If you have any news, come to Xie's house and let me know."

……

After leaving the Demon Suppression Division, Xie An walked home in the wind and snow.

I wondered in my mind why Chenxi took the initiative to help.

Finally, a more logical possibility came to mind: Chenxi seemed to have been studying him, wanting him to form the palm prints of the fairy box as soon as possible, open the fairy box... and then intercept it halfway?
The more Xie An thought about it, the more he felt that this was the case.

How insidious!

However, Xie An felt that there was a good side to it. At least it meant that Chenxi would not attack him before the fairy box was opened, and might even provide him with some help.

So, could he start with the Fairy Queen? For example, ask her about the dog demon?

Su Yuqing said that the Fairy Queen was the only person in the Corpse Refining Hall who had come into contact with the Five Elder Demons.

Compared to the little information Huang Silang knows, the Fairy Queen must know more.

If you can make use of it, it will be of great benefit to you.

However, the Fairy Queen will definitely snatch his fairy box in the end. If he has enough means to prevent the Fairy Queen from snatching it... then there will be no problem.

Xie An rubbed his temples. "This matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration. Let's see what the interrogation results are from Huang Silang first."

It was already evening when we returned to Xie's house.

The two disciples also returned from the Weisheng martial arts hall. Chunlan had already prepared dinner, and Yuhe had also returned. The five of them gathered together for dinner.

Although Xie An was a fifth-rank general manager, he never put on airs at home and did not have the seriousness of an elder. The atmosphere at the dinner was naturally very good, and everyone talked about things in the county.

Chunlan has integrated well into local life and gets along well with her neighbors. "There was a rat problem nearby a while ago, and our house was especially full of them. Uncle Li and Aunt Wang next door even gave me some rat poison, but before I could use it, it was all gone in the past two days. Uncle Li also said there were a lot of dead rats in his house, and we had even more dead rats. We had to get rid of more than a dozen dead rats every morning."

Ancient architecture was not as scientific as modern architecture, and the disposal of leftovers was not as clean as modern ones, so it was common for mice to enter homes.

But having to deal with a dozen dead mice every day is an exaggeration.

Han Li said, "Just now, the hound at home went crazy. I don't know why. It suddenly barked non-stop and bit me. This hound used to be quite humane, but I don't know what happened to it that made it become like this. If it keeps doing this, I'll just kill it and eat it."

Xie An listened to their chatter, but felt confused.

My family has a hound, a Sichuan hound, a very powerful hound breed that understands human nature. It's unusual for it to suddenly go crazy and bite its owner.

Xie An didn't say anything, but he was cautious in his heart.

After dinner, Xie An returned to his bedroom in the courtyard as usual and sat cross-legged, practicing Mingyu Gong.

With the foundation of Fetal Breathing, Xie An could now fully practice Mingyu Gong while resting in Fetal Breathing. It wasn't as comfortable as sleeping, but it could certainly replace the function of sleeping.

It saves a lot of effort and greatly improves efficiency.

In the early hours of the morning, Xie An was interrupted by a burst of barking.

Wang Wang Wang!
A very sharp howl, very piercing.

Ok?
Xie An suddenly opened his eyes, not even bothering to put on his coat, and rushed out of the room in his inner lining and barefoot. He then saw a shocking scene:
A Sichuan hunting dog stood at the gate of the hanging flower garden, barking furiously at Baozhi's tree stump. Beside Baozhi, a white fox, slightly larger than a cat, was gnawing on something.

arctic fox?

I haven't seen it before.

It actually ate my precious plant!!

Just as Xie An was about to take action, he suddenly saw the hunting dog rushing towards the white fox, as if it wanted to bite it to death.

Xie An also felt that the Sichuan East Hound was much larger than the white fox, and it would be no problem to bite the white fox to death. However... the white fox turned around and glared at the hound, and the hound acted as if possessed by an evil spirit, trembling as it walked, and within a few steps it fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

brush!
The white fox rushed forward and bit the hound's neck.

The hunting dog whimpered twice and then died.

After biting the hound to death, the white fox returned to Baozhi, wagging its tail, and started to eat it.

A fox demon that can use charm?
This was Xie An's first instinct.

Even if you are a fox demon, you can't eat my precious plant.

You know, in the past three months, Xie An has put a lot of effort into cultivating this precious plant. He sold two internal strength pills and bought various precious medicinal herbs to grind, water and fertilize them.

How can I let you get away with it?

Xie An grabbed the Demon-Suppressing Knife and rushed forward, "You evil beast, give me your life!"

Having seen the fox demon's enchanting methods, Xie An had already activated the Mingyu Gong to the eighteenth level of frost. How terrifying was his speed and strength? In an instant, he rushed in front of the white fox.

However, the white fox dodged it with just one easy leap.

Even a seventh-level martial artist couldn't dodge it... but it dodged it!
Looking up, he saw the white fox climbing on the windowsill, glaring at Xie An and making hoarse roars.

What a beautiful white fox.

"Don't try to charm me!"

Xie An felt sorry for Bao Zhi and rushed forward to attack again, but the white fox dodged it again. Then the white fox leaped nimbly onto the courtyard wall and jumped out and ran away.

Ok?
Xie An clearly felt the white Taoist talisman in his mind glowing and vibrating.

It inspires longevity! ?
After a moment's consideration, Xie An jumped out of the courtyard wall and chased after the white fox.

It was windy and snowing at night.

There was no one on the streets in the early morning, and the white fox was moving at an astonishing speed. Even though Xie An pushed the Mingyu Gong to its limit, he was unable to get close to it. Finally, the white fox disappeared in the area near the City God Temple on the southeast edge of the county town.

Hu Hu Hu.

Xie An stopped and gasped for breath, "This beast ran too fast... I, an old man, have never been so tired before, huhu... Don't let me catch you next time."

Xie An walked back, holding the knife and breathing heavily.

It’s so tiring to chase him all the way.

Even chasing an eighth-level martial artist wouldn't be so tiring.

I don’t know where this white fox came from, but it can actually stimulate longevity.

Demon?
That doesn't make sense. I activated the longevity attribute by killing the dog demon. This white fox isn't even dead yet... How did it activate it?

Also, those dead mice were probably bitten to death by this fox.

Foxes are omnivores and will eat mice.

When they returned home, it was already dawn. Han Li and Chun Lan were disposing of the hound's corpse, feeling deeply saddened. Xie An offered a few words of comfort before entering the courtyard, only to find Yu He squatting beside the Baozhi tree stump.

"Master, come and see! This precious plant has sprouted blood-red buds, but something has eaten them..."

(End of this chapter)