From stable boy to peerless immortal

In Hua Qinglian's view, Shen Yuan was no longer just her subordinate, but also her confidant, so she didn't intend to hide anything from him:

"Several months ago, a misty area appeared deep in the Yunmeng Mountains. This area was strange and eerie, filled with demonic energy. As a result, many evil spirits have emerged in various places. The government and the Demon Suppression Bureau have sent people to investigate, but they have not found any clues. However, this matter is most likely related to the demonic path."

"The Demonic Path?" Shen Yuan frowned.

Seeing Shen Yuan's puzzled expression, Hua Qinglian explained:

"The Great Zhou Dynasty established its rule over the world, bringing all nineteen states of the Central Plains under its control. However, the Great Zhou Dynasty was ultimately just inheriting the foundation of the previous dynasty, and its founding was only eight hundred years ago. In fact, the truly ancient forces in the entire Central Plains are the immortal and Buddhist sects. For example, my sect, the Divine Water Palace, was passed down from ancient times, and many of its founders have ascended to the Immortal Realm, making it a first-class holy land of immortals in this world."

Shen Yuan's expression immediately became somewhat strange.

The young lady before him was a member of the elite, yet her casual remarks about the Great Zhou Dynasty revealed a lack of respect and reverence. This suggested that she, like himself, was likely lawless and disregarded the law.

Hua Qinglian ignored Shen Yuan's expression and continued, "As for the Demonic Path, it is a general term. In reality, it refers to the various sects and lineages of the Demonic Path. Most of them were squeezed out of the realm by the combined forces of the Immortal and Buddhist Paths and the Great Zhou Dynasty, and are also known as the Outer Realm Demonic Path."

Shen Yuan nodded solemnly. The fact that these foreign demonic sects could be targeted by the combined forces of the immortals, Buddhas, and the Great Zhou Dynasty meant that their power and strength were absolutely extraordinary!

Hua Qinglian, being of special status, naturally knew many secrets, which she did not conceal at this time:

"Jiannan Prefecture is located in the southeastern border region, close to the southern frontier and bordering the outer regions. Most of the unusual events that have occurred recently are related to the demonic path. Seeing that a major event is about to happen in Jiannan Prefecture, the sects such as Jinji Temple, Danxia Sect, and Xuanyin Sect are naturally unable to sit still and have successively dispatched their disciples to investigate the matter."

"Not only that, but traces of the Ghost King Sect and the Heavenly Eye Sect, both from foreign demonic sects, have also appeared within Jiannan Prefecture. Currently, the entire Jiannan Prefecture, or rather Liucheng, is in chaos and rife with undercurrents. That's why I'm telling you to be careful."

Shen Yuan kept this information firmly in mind and nodded earnestly: "Thank you for the reminder, Miss. I will be careful."

......

On the other side, Steward Wu hurriedly headed to the inner palace with a gloomy face.

Before long, he arrived at a spacious and luxurious bedchamber. However, he was stopped by the guards at the gate. After he took out his identity token to verify his identity, the guards allowed him to pass.

After passing through a garden area and turning through a long corridor, they finally stopped in front of an attic.

"I am Wu Qi. Please, ladies, inform them that I have important matters to report!"

He instructed the two maids at the door to announce his presence, and shortly after receiving permission, he stepped inside.

Upon entering the spacious hall, a faint fragrance wafted through the air. It came from a hollowed-out incense burner in the shape of a bronze crane with a single horn in the corner, emitting a delicate aroma that was rich yet not cloying, warm yet refreshing, making one feel clear-headed and light-hearted.

Not far away, on a soft couch, a graceful lady, dressed in a red cloak, with fair skin and well-maintained appearance, was enjoying dinner, attended by more than a dozen maids.

On the table in front of them were thirty-eight exquisite and delicious spiritual dishes, soups, and snacks, each with a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste.

Even the vessels used to hold the spiritual food soup are carved from warm jade, which can keep the temperature, spiritual energy and flavor of the spiritual food from dissipating.

A handsome young man with narrow eyes and a hint of arrogance sat to the side, idly playing with a jade ring in his hand.

Wu Qi dared not look any longer, and immediately moved quickly and quietly, kneeling down to pay his respects:

"This old servant, Wu Qi, greets Madam and Second Young Master!"

Hua Yujie glanced at him sideways, then looked away without saying a word, continuing to play with his jade ring.

As for Madam Wu, who was seated at the head of the table, she seemed not to have heard anything and continued to eat while being served by her maids.

Steward Wu lowered his head, knelt on the ground, and dared not utter a sound.

Although he and Madam Wu were from the same clan, and he was Madam Wu's distant cousin by blood, he was as humble as a dog at this moment and dared not be presumptuous in the slightest.

In prominent families, rules are paramount. Although Steward Wu is a relative of Madam Wu, he knows that Madam Wu's primary identity is the wife of the clan head of the Hua Rong Mansion, and only secondarily a member of the Wu family.

The key to his becoming the head steward of the main house wasn't his surname, Wu; it was his strong work ethic.

It took a full incense stick's time for Madam Wu to slowly finish her meal. A maidservant helped her rinse her mouth with ginseng soup from a jade bowl, while another maidservant knelt down to receive it from a copper basin. Only then was dinner over.

"Everyone, step back."

At Madam Wu's command, the maids lined up in an orderly fashion to collect the bowls and chopsticks, cleaned the room, bowed slightly, and then left the hall one by one, leaving only two personal maids to stand guard on either side of Madam Wu.

At this moment, Madam Wu finally had a chance to look at Wu Qi and said, "Get up. What just happened?"

"Yes."

In front of others, Steward Wu was imposing and domineering, like a tiger or wolf, but in front of Madam Wu, he was cautious and respectful, rising to his feet with utmost deference.

"Reporting to Madam, the commotion just now was caused by the eldest daughter of the second branch of the family. This person is named Shen Yuan, the very same lad I mentioned some time ago..."

Steward Wu did not hide anything and recounted the whole story from beginning to end.

"Master Ma..."

When she heard that Shen Yuan had raised a spirit horse and become a horse master, Madam Wu's expression changed slightly, but she didn't say anything.

Hua Yujie just pursed his lips, not really caring.

While Master Ma is indeed rare and a highly talented individual, for him, he is nothing special.

But when she heard that the monk Kumu, who was enshrined in the manor, insisted on taking Shen Yuan as his disciple, but Hua Qinglian was still unwilling, Madam Wu's eyelids twitched, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

"Even Master Kumu wants to take him as his disciple. It seems that this kid has a good physique. Qinglian has really picked up a good seedling."

Although she was praising, her expression was somewhat cold, and the two personal maids behind her remained silent, not daring to utter a sound.

Manager Wu remained silent.

"Go on," Madam Wu said, glancing at him.

"Yes, Madam..."

After Manager Wu finished explaining the matter as instructed, Hua Yujie sneered, "It seems that my cousin thinks highly of this kid surnamed Shen."

"That makes sense. She returned from her sect with no one else besides her personal maid. She finally found a promising talent, so naturally she should promote him."