National Division

Chapter 109: Nothing but relentless courage, a fight to the death! (10,000 words daily, please vote!)

Azure Mystery Cave Heaven, Heavenly Mystery Peak—

Before Shen Xian and the Princess arrived at the Dao Palace, they had just landed in front of the hall when a flash of light appeared, and a figure in a white dress with wide sleeves appeared.

"Zhihua." The princess's beautiful eyes showed surprise: "How come it's you?"

Xue Zhihua pursed her pink lips and asked, "Your Highness, have you come out?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Xian's face and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The eldest princess, with a hint of amusement in her eyes, looked at the beautiful woman's fair and delicate face and asked, "Zhihua, didn't you go home earlier?"

He thought to himself, "Has this girl been waiting here for several days?"

No, are we here to guard against thieves?
"Your Highness, I went home earlier to pay my respects to the old lady, and I just came out now." Xue Zhihua's voice remained clear and cold.

Then, looking at Shen Xian beside him, he asked, "Have you finished your cultivation?"

Shen Xian said, "I've mastered almost all of the martial arts techniques."

Xue Zhihua nodded and said, "The competition platform outside the Qilin Pavilion has been set up, and the viewing area around it has also been set up according to your wishes. Officials and dignitaries from various government offices in the capital have been invited to watch. It is currently midnight outside, and the competition can begin early tomorrow morning."

She was waiting there because she was worried that Shen Xian would miss the date, so she wanted to remind him; she had no other intention.

Shen Xian said, "In that case, everything is ready, except for the final push."

"Tomorrow, the Imperial Palace, fellow Daoists from Yuqing, and members of the Cui family will go to witness this event," the Princess said softly with a charming smile.

Xue Zhihua said in a clear voice, "Your Highness, Her Majesty said that she will also attend the ceremony tomorrow. I heard that the Lady of Han, the Lady of Zheng, and the Lady of Wei will also be there."

Upon hearing the name of the Third Madam, the Eldest Princess's beautiful face froze for a moment, then she frowned and said, "Why aren't they staying home? What are they doing getting involved in this?"

The Third Madam refers to three widows.

Apart from Lady Yang Simin of Wei, who was the niece of the Empress's brother, and who became a widow on the day of her marriage, and later served in the court, Lady Zheng and Lady Han did not hold official positions.

Lady Han and Lady Zheng were the two half-sisters of the Empress. They were famous in the capital for their beauty, plump and fair skin, and were quite accomplished in singing, dancing, playing the xiao, qin, and zheng. However, their husbands seemed to be unable to enjoy their good fortune.

She became a widow early and stayed at home, studying music and dance.

Rumors circulated that the two women possessed the art of union with beautiful women, were skilled in the seductive arts of celestial maidens, and were exceptionally adept in bed. It was also said that in his early years, Emperor Hongxi, upon seeing their beauty, wanted to take them into the palace, but was strongly opposed by the jealous Empress Dowager.

These scandalous rumors circulated in such detail that it seemed as if one had witnessed them firsthand.

The reason why the Empress was called the "Demon Empress" was because she was lumped together with her two younger sisters. It was said that the Empress was charming and skilled in seduction, which is why she was favored by the late Emperor Hongxi.

However, as the diva's imposing and ruthless aura grew stronger, people forgot that she was just a woman and treated her more as a political figure, which led to fewer rumors about the diva herself.

The two widows, Lady Zheng and Lady Han, had lived as widows for many years and possessed remarkable beauty. Although they had no children of their own, they raised a group of adopted sons and daughters.

Some say that the two wives ostensibly adopted sons, but in reality, they were male lovers, and the adopted daughters were merely a cover.

Therefore, the two ladies had bad reputations, and the Empress seemed to dislike her two younger sisters.

Although the princess didn't have a good impression of her two nominal aunts who were always flirtatious and obsequious, they were, after all, her juniors, so she maintained her usual decorum.

The eldest princess's impression of Yang Simin was somewhat better because Yang worked in the imperial court.

The princess frowned as she spoke, then turned to look at Shen Xian, chuckled, and said with a flirtatious glint in her eyes, "You've made such a grand spectacle that the capital is now watching."

Xue Zhihua looked at Shen Xian with a complicated expression and said, "That newspaper, Qilin Daily, also contributed a lot to this."

Shen Xian said, "It's alright, we'll find out tomorrow."

"It's still dark now, we can go there early tomorrow morning," the princess said softly.

Shen Xian said, "I've been in the Evergreen Tower for too long, and I want to breathe some air from the outside world."

Actually, he wanted to comprehend the essence of martial arts. He had just heard Xue Zhihua mention that it was night outside, and he wanted to touch the darkness and see the dawn.

Yebai...

“Indeed, you’ve spent quite a bit of time in the Eternal Green Tower.” The princess suddenly realized and said, “It’s time to go out and experience the real world.”

The world within the grotto-heavens and blessed lands is all man-made.

It can be said that Shen Xian stayed in one place for over a year, almost like being imprisoned, cultivating tirelessly day and night. If he still couldn't become a grandmaster after all that, it would be completely unreasonable!

Xue Zhihua looked at the two people who seemed naturally close, and a hint of doubt appeared in her clear eyes beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows.

Have the two become so familiar with each other?

Shen Xian nodded, looked at Xue Zhihua, and said, "Zhihua, let's go outside and take a look."

Then, looking at the eldest princess, he said gently, "Your Highness has worked hard these past two days. Why don't you rest for a while in the cave?"

The princess glanced at Xue Zhihua with a half-smile and said softly, "Perfect timing. I'll go back and take a good bath. See you tomorrow."

Afterwards, Shen Xian bid farewell to the Princess and left. Shen Xian looked at Xue Zhihua beside him and said, "Let's leave the cave."

Xue Zhihua asked with concern, "How's your martial arts training going?"

"I have basically mastered the martial arts techniques; now all that's left is to refine my martial arts intent," Shen Xian said.

"I've inquired about Cui You and Lu Ziling's cultivation levels for you. Both of them are at the peak of the Grandmaster realm and have cultivation methods. One is at the early stage of the Danxia Realm, and the other is at the peak of the Tianmen Realm," Xue Zhihua said softly.

Shen Xian frowned. If he were to use Taoist magic, it would take some effort.

Xue Zhihua said, "However, the Empress has decreed that tomorrow's competition will not allow the use of immortal jade slips or even immortal magic treasures. It will be designated as a martial arts competition. The winner will be rewarded with a four-star divine weapon and a mansion in the capital. The Cui and Lu clans have also declared that they will not use immortal magic treasures. As for the four-star divine weapon and the mansion, the two clans have no shortage of them. They said they will appease you after you lose."

After all, it was a martial artist from the Qilin Pavilion who was challenging them, and using immortal methods to win was not a fair chance.

Moreover, using immortal methods, it is easy to borrow from all things. If everyone takes out the Daoist jade slips of the Void Realm experts to clash, whose ability will it be?

Shen Xian sneered, "They really think they've got this in the bag."

This is what makes it different from the battles of the martial world. With powerful figures witnessing the events, many methods are restricted; otherwise, in a life-or-death duel, no means would be spared.

Xue Zhihua said, "Everything has been arranged, and the competition can begin at noon tomorrow."

Shen Xian's tall figure seemed to blend perfectly into the darkness. Among the rows of houses on both sides of the street, many shops had already turned off their lights.

However, many brothels and taverns remained open as usual, brightly lit, with beautiful women dancing and drinking, creating a lively atmosphere.

Xue Zhihua pursed her pink lips and said, "I still don't understand why you would choose to fight against the young members of the Cui and Lu clans? In the Empress's eyes, you are a strategist of the state. Even if you don't confront the young members of the Cui and Lu clans, it won't damage your credibility. On the contrary, it would only increase the risk of defeat."

Shen Xian was known to the Empress for his strategist skills, so he should have been exempt from martial arts disputes.

"Putting aside the fact that I don't want to be just a strategist offering advice," Shen Xian's voice was clear and rhythmic, containing both the vigor of youth and the composure of a young man. "I also want to do many things myself, otherwise, what's the difference between me and aristocratic scions who just stand around talking?"

If one aspires to be a cunning strategist like Yuan Tiangang, it means that he is incapable of standing alone, unable to establish authority among martial artists, and unable to build his own faction.

Could it be that they are secretly forming a snake spirit?
To plot or scheme?
This is why, even though he had already reached a certain position, he still wanted to be promoted to the Qilin Pavilion and continue to mingle among the Grandmasters and Innate Martial Artists.

If one wants to win over the hearts of all martial artists and recruit the martial arts talents of the three lists of the Qilin Ranking, how can it be justifiable if one never takes action and never suppresses those who are unwilling to submit?

Only by climbing up step by step from the grassroots, building a team, and gathering a group of supporters of one's political ideals, can one sweep away all the old fogies with the dignified advantages of the system.

Conversely, if one tries to maintain the so-called "unassuming" image by becoming a figure like Dao Yan or Liu Bowen who sits and discusses philosophy, it would be counterproductive.

That also locks up one's own activity area.

Engaging in cultural and entertainment propaganda? Conducting national policy research? Although one could enter the elders' council, those in the know understand; how could that be the same as climbing up from the bottom?
Beneath Xue Zhihua's delicate, willow-leaf eyebrows, her clear eyes flickered as she said, "That's true. To gain the Empress's trust, mere words are certainly not enough."

Over the years, whether it was Si Di or Gao Yanfu, all the important ministers who had served the Empress for a long time were quite skilled in martial arts.

Shen Xian said calmly, "Most of the powerful people in this world cultivate both immortality and martial arts. They won't listen to reason with you. They'll always have to fight. If the Cui and Lu clans are not convinced, then we'll suppress them with all our might! We'll suppress them all the way from the Grandmaster realm to the Human Immortal realm. Even if it's the immortal path, we'll suppress anyone who is not convinced with a single hand!"

If the opponent cannot win through reasoning, they will inevitably resort to force, and then he can suppress them.

From grandmasters to immortals, all future masters of the immortal path, those who refuse to submit to our teachings will be suppressed!
To some extent, punishing those who teach is the way of the sage!

Xue Zhihua's eyes lit up, her clear and captivating gaze, shimmering like waves, falling upon the young man.

“If they are ignorant of the bigger picture and disregard the overall situation, blindly trying to stop a chariot, then I also know a little bit of martial arts!” Shen Xian said softly.

Upon hearing this, Xue Zhihua remained silent for a long time. Then, her eyes flickered, and she chuckled, "Scholar Shen, what realm are you in the Immortal Path? Have you reached the Qi Sea stage?"

Shen Xian: "..."

This Xue Zhihua, she's quite the copyist, isn't she?
This was clearly the soul-searching question Shen Xian had posed to Magistrate Lu in the Guhe County government office.

Shen Xian cleared his throat and said, "Wait, my immortal cultivation will catch up soon."

“The path of immortality is not like the path of martial arts, which relies heavily on resources and cannot be taken by shortcuts.” Xue Zhihua chuckled, a look of concern appearing in her eyes, and advised, “Be careful when you fight Cui Lu tomorrow.”

Feeling the beauty's concern, Shen Xian hummed in agreement, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. He looked at Xue Zhihua with gentle eyes and said, "Last time, when you went to Guhe County, I didn't take you to eat the local snacks. I'll make it up to you when we get back."

In the candlelight illuminating both sides of the street, the boy's sharp, cold features seemed to soften slightly. Xue Zhihua's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head away, saying softly, "There's one more thing. The imperial decree appointing your father as the magistrate of Guhe County, along with the official document from the Ministry of Personnel, his official robes, seal, and other items, have already been sent out. However, they were sent via post stations, which caused a slight delay from the Ministry of Personnel."

Xue Zhihua and Shen Xian traveled on clouds and arrived in the capital in a day or two, but official documents and imperial edicts from minor officials did not arrive so quickly.

Shen Xian nodded and said, "It's good that this matter has been settled."

Father, you've finally made progress.

Xue Zhihua said softly, "When I was selecting the Thousand Bull Guards the other day, Wang Shence said he was going to Guhe County to capture the blind girl from the Yu family." Shen Xian frowned, turned to look at Xue Zhihua, and asked, "Didn't the Empress Dowager pardon the Yu family girl?"

The Yu family's case is still under trial. He also said that he would wait and see how deep the involvement of the Yu family and others was.

Actually, it's not that Shen Xian and Yu Qingchan had any deep feelings for each other.

"Yes, a pardon has been granted, but Wang Shence set off with the criminal officials of the Dali Temple about ten days ago," Xue Zhihua said softly. "The decree of pardon probably hasn't been conveyed."

There is a time difference here.

Shen Xian asked, "Have we already arrived at the Valley River?"

That's not right either; the Yu family girl should already be on the road in the prison cart.

Xue Zhihua shook her head and said, "Wang Shence is not in Guhe County at the moment."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian was puzzled, but then suddenly realized and said, "That means there were some twists and turns in the middle."

He had a vague feeling that something might have happened.

Logically, this should be considered a good thing for him, but Wang Shence was the Empress's favorite general, and his whereabouts are now unknown.

Xue Zhihua frowned and said quietly, "Wang Shence's men have lost contact in Ningyang County, Anzhou for some reason. The Vermilion Bird Division has sent people to investigate their whereabouts."

Shen Xian asked in a cryptic tone, "With demons and monsters wreaking havoc across the land, could it be that Wang Shence has encountered them?"

“Very likely,” Xue Zhihua said.

"Let's leave that aside for now." Shen Xian said thoughtfully, "Once everything in the capital is settled, I'll also return to Guhe County."

Xue Zhihua reminded them, "We've arrived at the Qilin Pavilion ahead."

Shen Xian said, "Let's rest in the pavilion first."

He didn't want to observe martial arts techniques in the pavilion; he had simply learned enough recently.

"I'll take you to try some local snacks in the capital city tomorrow morning," Xue Zhihua suddenly said.

Shen Xian chuckled and said, "After eating fasting pills for almost a year, I really want to eat something normal."

Xue Zhihua chuckled softly. Under the glow of the lanterns, the peach blossom ornament between her brows resembled a cluster of flames, her smile bright and beautiful, as lovely as peach blossoms and plum blossoms.

Shen Xian looked at the beautiful woman with a somewhat absent-minded gaze. Under the woman's shy and reproachful gaze, he put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.

There seems to be no moon tonight; the sky is overcast, and it looks like it's going to rain tomorrow.

Night white, night white...

There is no moon, so why is the night so white?
Shen Xian frowned slightly, pondering the essence of the Night White Blade Technique, but felt completely clueless.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the Qilin Pavilion.

The lights were dim in the upper room, but the main door was wide open. Six guards, dressed in exquisite clothes and wearing wingless mountain-shaped crowns, stood guard on either side, their long swords hanging from their bodies.

He was tall and imposing, with a resolute brow; his stance hinted at the shifting formations of an army.

"This humble servant greets the scholar." The leading guard stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and a faint aura of menace emanated from him.

The guards behind him also clasped their hands in salute.

Shen Xian was surprised and looked at Xue Zhihua with a look of doubt in his eyes.

Xue Zhihua chuckled and said, "These are the guards of the Thousand Bull Guard, and their left and right guards. There are twelve people in total, all of whom are martial artists at the Grandmaster or Innate Realm. Currently, there are six people from the front pavilion. This is Guard Zhang."

These were all handpicked by her; some of them were even her brother's former subordinates.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian was delighted and said with a smile, "Brothers, you've worked hard. I'll treat you to drinks later."

These are his twelve chief generals? His imperial guard?

The person in front of me also has the surname Zhang. Could he be a spirit?
The guard looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, but his face was weathered and his demeanor was full of fierce and ruthless aura. Upon hearing this, he smiled honestly and said, "This humble officer is Zhang Rong. I have been ordered to protect the scholar with my brothers. I dare not drink alcohol."

Shen Xian invited, "It's late and cold. Let's have some wine to warm ourselves. It's the same imperial wine that the Empress bestowed upon me last time."

"Imperial wine?" The young guard's eyes lit up. "Is it the Hundred Flowers Immortal Wine?"

They had obviously heard of this name.

Unlike Shen Xian, who consumed pills like food, these soldiers had risen through the ranks and did not have that luxury.

Shen Xian said, "Zhihua, it's in the Sumeru Bag. Go and take it out, divide it into a few wine jugs, and share it with the brothers of the Thousand Ox Guards."

Xue Zhihua glared at Shen Xian, thinking to herself, "Does this man really think of her as his maid?"

However, she still accepted the Sumeru bag from Shen Xian and returned to the pavilion.

At this moment, the minor officials in the pavilion heard the commotion and came out to greet him.

Han Yi emerged from the inner room, almost running all the way, and greeted him with a smile: "Scholar Shen."

"You haven't gone home yet, it's so late?" Shen Xian asked in surprise.

Han Yi smiled and said, "Scholar, with the Qilin Gazette about to be published, there are countless matters to attend to. I have no choice but to make do with sleeping on the floor in the pavilion to make it easier to work."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian was taken aback for a moment, and then advised, "While working day and night for the public is good, you must also take care of your health."

The young man has just been promoted, and it is the perfect time for him to mentor Yulong and repay the kindness shown to him.

It's probably because why would our department head tell me where he goes?
"Scholar, it's cold outside. Why don't you come inside for a chat?" Han Yi asked, touched.

Shen Xian instructed, "Go and get some stools while we're drinking with the Qianniu Guard brothers."

Although Han Yi did not know Shen Xian's specific intentions, he still turned back and instructed the clerk to do so and set up the tables and chairs.

Shen Xian turned to Zhang Rong and said, "Zhang Beishen, don't stand, sit down."

His move was certainly not merely to win over the hearts of the people, but rather to inquire about the cultivation of martial will, hoping to find a method for cultivating martial will from these battle-hardened generals.

"The wine is here." Xue Zhihua and several clerks brought over several wine jugs and some wine cups from the Hundred Flowers Immortal Brew.

"Zhang Beishen, what realm is your martial arts cultivation at?" Shen Xian picked up a wine cup and poured wine from a wine pot.

"My cultivation level is at the Grandmaster level," Zhang Rong said somewhat embarrassedly. Suddenly, he smelled the enticing aroma of wine, couldn't help but purse his lips, and said honestly, "Scholar Shen, this, this... is too much."

Such a celestial wine made from a hundred flowers—how could these military officers normally be qualified to drink it?

Shen Xian handed over the wine cup and said loudly, "A fine sword is given to a hero, and fine wine is given to a brave warrior. Zhang Bei, drink this cup to the brim."

Among these people, Zhang Rong exuded the most fierce aura, with a hidden murderous intent, making him a formidable warrior. The others were similar, all possessing a murderous aura.

Zhang Rong was flattered and overwhelmed. His hands trembled as he accepted the wine, thanking the maker repeatedly. He took a sip, and as the divine brew entered his mouth, two blushes appeared on his cheeks, but they quickly subsided. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Good wine, good wine!"

After taking that sip of wine, his originally calm inner energy seemed to be stirred up, like adding fuel to a fire, causing it to surge and churn violently.

Shen Xian asked, "Zhang Beishen, which kind of Grandmaster's will have you comprehended?"

“In response to Scholar Shen’s question,” Zhang Rong said solemnly, “I do not know what the will of a Grandmaster is, I only know a ruthless spirit, a killing intent that is willing to risk one’s life.”

"Oh?" Shen Xian became interested.

Zhang Rong's tone seemed somewhat elusive: "I was selected by the Left Guard. I joined the army at the age of twelve and have been serving for more than ten years. I have survived to this day by fighting on the battlefield with my family's martial arts skills. My life can be summed up in eight words: fearless and relentless, with no chance of survival!"

Shen Xian looked at him with admiration: "A general who fights his way through life sheds blood and tears at every step."

In my past life, I was a test-taker in a small town. Wasn't I also fighting my way up? I feel the same way. The path to upward mobility for those at the bottom can be summed up in four words: every step is filled with blood and tears.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Rong's body trembled, and his gaze froze.

One of the guards laughed and said, "Scholar Shen, Lord Zhang is the fiercest among us. When we spar, we all suffer minor injuries."

Shen Xian smiled, looked at Zhang Rong, and asked, "When did Zhang Beishen advance to the Grandmaster realm?"

"Reporting to the scholar," Zhang Rong said with a look of recollection on his face, "I only remember one day when General Liu led his army to suppress the rebels in Guilin. My troops were ambushed and fought from morning till night in the hills. I led my men to break through the encirclement. After two days and two nights, we ran out of food, our horses died of exhaustion, and in the end, only the two of us were left. The swords in our hands were all dulled from the fighting."

"And then?" Shen Xian raised his wine cup, took a sip, and listened intently.

"In the end, that brother didn't survive either." Zhang Rong sighed with a sorrowful expression, and said, "As for me, I was caught up by dozens of bandits in an old river camp. Exhausted, I was stabbed twice and bleeding profusely. At that moment, facing a life-or-death crisis, I suddenly realized that I must not die!"

"They absolutely cannot die?"

Zhang Rong's face still seemed to hold a fierce edge: "This subordinate must not die!"

"My father died early, and I was granted entry into the Guard's Mansion at the age of twelve. I still have an elderly mother to support, and a younger brother and sister to provide for with my salary. I was hacking around with a broken sword, and all I could see was blood. But for some reason, all of those dozens of bandits coughed up blood and flew backward. That's how I managed to save my life."

Speaking of the scene that day, Zhang Rong still looked shaken, and veins bulged on her forehead.

“There is great terror between life and death.” Shen Xian said with emotion, pouring a cup of wine. The Hundred Flowers Immortal Wine was crystal clear under the lamplight, like the nectar of the Jade Pool.

While the rich wine and meat smell, the road with frozen bone.

For someone to drink this wine, they have endured countless tears and blood.

But some people are born with it!

(End of this chapter)