The Great Seminary

Chapter 415 Familiarity Without Being Bound by Etiquette
After having designs on Zhang Gui, Su Hui began to pay attention to and collect information about Zhang Gui's various experiences after he appeared in the 'underground world'.

I know that Zhang Gui sells 'Earth Demon Transformation' in the market at the Northern Sect of the Three Holy Swords.

And it is said that he made it by hand.

That's why we recognized the scattered objects on the ground as 'Transformation Shells' upon meeting today.

Otherwise, Su Hui wouldn't have been able to name such an unusual and rare item so easily.

Upon hearing Zhang Gui's half-open, half-hidden request, he laughed heartily and said:

"What's the big deal?"

Legend has it that the "Record of the Transformation and Shifting of the Hundred Races of Earthly Demons" can create 108 kinds of artifacts, which correspond to the numbers '36 Heavenly Spirits and 72 Earthly Fiends'.

In fact, even more have been discovered; to my knowledge, there are at least 125 species.

"We can gather more from the archives of 'Xia Que' later and give it all to Uncle Chuoyang."

Although the benefits hadn't been received yet, at least the promise was there. Zhang Gui knew that Old Man Su was a respectable man who wouldn't easily boast or renege on his word, so his attitude immediately improved a bit, and he clapped and flattered him:
"Such erudition and generosity can only be found in the high-ranking officials of the 'Xia Que' palace."

It's truly breathtaking.

"Ah, Lord Zeyang is the ruler of the 'Xia Que' vassal states. Is it only natural for him to look at the books in the 'Keeper of the Archives'? Hehehe..."

The two of them entered the main room in a pleasant atmosphere, and after drinking tea and exchanging pleasantries, they entered together.

Zhang Gui felt he had been polite enough, so he smiled and asked Su Hui why he had come.

As expected, it was someone else who came to pick him up in place of Shen Shijing, and together they met up with Qi Zhenyao and headed to Kunlun for their appointment.

"Ceyangbo has a special status; he is both a newly risen noble and a descendant of the most outstanding among the ancient meritorious officials. This time, he is willing to accept the invitation to accompany Young Master Zhenyao..."

"Oh dear, Lord Su and I are now considered friends despite our age difference, so there's no need to be so polite."

I may not be good at other things, but I am very self-aware.

A prestigious title may sound nice, but it's just that—it sounds nice. What is it actually worth?
In ancient times, Emperor You of the Great Zhou Dynasty, as the ruler of the Eastern Lands, had his capital city breached by the Quanrong. He was so destitute that he did not taste wine for three years and eventually died drunk.

So, I know better than anyone what I really am.

Since it was Zhenyao Shaojun who gave me the opportunity to meet Yanglian Shangjun and receive the imperial decree from Xiaque, I should be his 'follower'.

Firstly, to repay past favors; secondly, to plan for future benefits.

Faced with Zhang Gui's sudden 'frankness and honesty', even an old fox like Su Hui had never seen anything like it before and was speechless for a moment.

In the end, all he could say was, "That's very good."

Zhang Gui remained calm and asked with a smile, "Shall we set off now?"
Should we still go to the 'Three Holy Swords Northern Sect' to pay our respects as a matter of courtesy?

Su Hui waved his hand and said, "I did not come on the orders of the Emperor."

"Since I don't have a personal relationship with the members of the 'Three Holy Swords Northern Sect' who greet me regularly, there's no need for that."

Zhang Gui nodded in agreement and said, "That's for the best."

Actually, before I received the Supreme Edict, I was slightly tricked by the Xuanwu Sword Master.

Although, as the saying goes, even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake, and besides, I'm just a small 'mudfish'.

Out of consideration for the younger generation of the 'Three Holy Swords Northern Sect' and a group of relatives and friends, they ultimately held back.

But unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to see that 'old geezer'.

The more familiar he seemed with someone, the less formal he became.

He could use such colloquialisms as "old-timer" so easily that Su Hui, who was also an "old-timer," couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

But he could only nod helplessly.

After watching Zhang Gui summon the steward to leave a few letters for friends who might visit in the near future, they all left together...

Ten days later, high in the sky, the autumn air was crisp and the sun shone brightly. Zhang Gui squatted in a huge, strange chariot pulled by three one-horned dragons.

Sitting by a long, low table, I savored the sweet taste of crab meat with a small, thin-handled copper spoon...

According to ancient rites, as a count among the feudal lords of 'Xia Que', he was appointed by the supreme ruler to enfeoff territories and guard a region.

Even without the bloodline of the Great Qi Dynasty, and without the authority to travel by imperial decree or deliver imperial edicts to 'localities', one is still qualified to ride 'three dragons' when 'traveling'.

It's just that no one reminded us beforehand, and no one made any arrangements.

Now that I have a foothold, my treatment has improved accordingly...

Feeling satisfied with his meal, Zhang Gui couldn't help but think smugly to himself:
"While it is true that one should eat the wind and drink the clouds, 'those who eat the air live long, and those who do not eat will live forever without dying.'"

But since Qi evolved into all things in the universe, all things in the universe can naturally return to Qi.

Once you master the ability to 'return all things to their origin,' indulging in the pleasures of food becomes no big deal..."

She unconsciously hummed softly, "No need to force it, no need to force it..."

at this time.

A mist of water shot up from below, causing the magic arrays on the left and right side windows and the front and rear curtains to swirl and emit an invisible protective shield that enveloped the entire carriage.

"Did we encounter another attack from the Earth Demons? Weren't we supposed to be at 'Kunlun' soon?"

Unlike Emperor Qi, the Queen Mother of the West doesn't suppress the Great Earth Cave, so why are there still so many people needlessly throwing their lives away? That's an anomaly.

Slightly startled, Zhang Gui dropped the copper spoon and ran to the window to look outside.

However, instead of demons running rampant below, it was a different story.

Instead, it was a strange sight of towering waves, dragons stirring the sea, and yakshas treading on the waves.

"What does this mean!"

In the blink of an eye, the mulberry fields turned into the sea, leaving Zhang Gui dumbfounded.

At the same time, a monster with a human face and a bird's body, wearing green snakes in its ears and stepping on red snakes, flew to his window, carrying Su Hui's sparse hair in its beak.

Old Man Su explained casually:

"Next up should be Ao Youzun, the 'Crimson Dragon King' who rose to prominence in the last ten years and is known as the 'Ancient Ruler of the Four Seas and the Great Ancestor of the Eastern Victory' Dragon Palace."

He's the one who came with Young Master Zhenyao to the appointment; let's go and say hello."

"Is the Dragon Palace really that powerful? I only have a thin skin to cover myself, so it's fine."

Lord Su, you are truly a senior physician of the Xia Que lineage, a descendant of the powerful god Yu Qiang with a legitimate lineage…”

Hearing Zhang Gui spouting his rambling, obscure nonsense again, Su Hui reluctantly interrupted him.

"You're too kind, you're just being polite."

If Ao Youzun doesn't die, his future is limitless. We should be polite to such a person…

As the two were talking, a gaunt, turtle-backed old man, leading a group of shrimp soldiers and crab generals, arrived near Qi Zhenyao's carriage, riding on a swirling, rising wave.

Su Hui caught a glimpse of it and blurted out;
"Great, they've arrived first, let's go greet them quickly."

Unwilling to waste any more words with Zhang Gui, he hurriedly flew over.

"Old man, he was so polite before I joined, but after I joined, he treated me like a servant."

"Look at your appearance, do you even look human? What are you doing going to greet them..."

Zhang Gui gazed at Su Hui's swaying figure in the air and muttered a few words to himself.

He waved his hand, summoning a whirlwind, and flipped directly out of the square window, chasing after Su Hui to fly towards the old man with the tortoise-shell back.

(End of this chapter)