The Heavenly Court is gone, I don't want to be a True Lord.

But it was difficult to refuse. Lin Yulian had given her so many treasures; it wouldn't be right to just leave like that.

So Zuo Qi and Lin Yujun went to the banquet.

At the banquet, Zuo Qi undoubtedly became the focus of attention, and everyone wanted to strike up a conversation with him, including the Lin family.

Zuo Qi was not negligent; he would not offend people for no reason unless there was a conflict of interest.

Zhang Shuo didn't come, but Qin Chen did.

Throughout the entire meal, he did not say a word to Zuo Qi, only occasionally their eyes met, and there was a cold glint in his eyes.

In a secluded corner, Zuo Qi observed Qin Chen's life.

Life Points: 68

[Spiritual Essence: 17]

His physical strength also surpasses that of the peak of the second level of cultivation. Lin Yujun previously said that he possessed a life-bound bone, and it seems that this is indeed possible.

Zuo Qi seemed to be deep in thought.

"Brother Zuo, this is Lord Qi Yuan, the prison warden."

Qi Yuan was about thirty years old and smiled when he saw Zuo Qi.

"Greetings, Lord Qi."

Zuo Qi clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Qi Yuan explained his purpose and invited Zuo Qi to join the prison, while also sincerely stating that he could not directly grant Zuo Qi an official position.

The officials of Dai Viet were different. Officials were appointed by the word of the official, and documents were transferred to the official register. Their descendants were all officials.

Obtaining an official position is extremely difficult.

There was no imperial examination system in Dai Viet. To become an official in Dai Viet, one needed guarantees from the village, township, and county authorities, as well as recommendations from a prominent family. Only after all the merits were recorded could one become an official.

Qi Yuan has high hopes for Zuo Qi and promised to help with the guarantee and recommendation, but Zuo Qi can only rely on his own efforts to achieve the credit.

Zuo Qi understood this principle, but he did not want to join the Prison Warden's Office. The prison was under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Administration Commission and did not have much power. The most important Zhenyuan Prefecture, which imprisoned martial arts masters, was under the jurisdiction of the Six Doors.

Most importantly, Zuo Qi's purpose in joining the Six Doors was to obtain a fundamental technique that could replace Jin Yi Gong.

The prison cannot provide that.

Of all the government offices in Fushan City, only the garrison, the city garrison's directly subordinate government offices, and the Six Doors could provide such services.

Moreover, he already has a way to join the Six Doors. After breaking through to the third level, he can join the Lin family's patrol guards and make contributions to join the Six Doors.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Lord Qi, but unfortunately I have already promised Miss Yu Chan that I would be patrolling the Lin family."

After thinking for a while, Qi Yuan suddenly realized, "So Brother Zuo wants to join the Six Doors."

He knew that Lu Xun had done Lin Yuchan a favor from the Six Doors, and that Lin Yuchan's retainers had made great contributions and could be exceptionally admitted to the Six Doors.

Knowing Zuo Qi's ambitions, he was not angry. He simply told Chen Yuan to invite him when they drank together in the future.

There are certainly those who become angry and deliberately cause trouble when their invitations are rejected, but those are mostly people from the underworld. Even if an official has a bad temper, he wouldn't be so reckless.

……

On the way back, Lin Yujun was still unusually excited, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zuo Qi.

At today's banquet, she stole the show. Born into the sixth branch of the family, she had always been a nobody in places like the academy, never before becoming the focus of everyone's attention at the banquet.

All of this is because of Zuo Qi.

"Brother Zuo Qi, are you really going on patrol?"

"What I promised Miss Yu Chan cannot be changed."

Lin Yujun pursed her lips but didn't say anything.

The entire journey was speechless.

Back at the Lin family home.

Zuo Qi didn't bother to talk to He Xiao and the other person. He left behind the words "I'm going into seclusion" and went straight into his room.

Lin Yujun first told Lin Yuchan about Zuo Qi's performance that day, and then went to the guest courtyard to tell He Xiao and the others about how Zuo Qi had made a big splash that day.

Chen Xun's eyes lit up when he heard this.

It must be said that Lin Yujun has great potential as a storyteller, which is no wonder she studied at the academy.

……

the other side.

Lin Yunian looked at Qin Chen somewhat embarrassed.

"Brother Qin, I apologize for what happened today. I didn't expect the people from the Sixth Branch to bring that Zuo Qi with them."

Qin Chen remained expressionless.

Lin Yunian took out a book from his bosom. "This is a rubbing of the Dragon-Slaying Halberd Technique. In my heart, you are the victor today. Zuo Qi only won by luck."

Qin Chen's expression finally changed, and he nodded slightly, "Thank you."

Lin Yunian left, but Qin Chen's heart was not at peace.

His identity is mysterious and he has a powerful background. He came to Fushan City to prove himself indirectly. He had already laid a lot of groundwork beforehand, and today should have been the day he made a name for himself, but it was ruined by Zuo Qi.

Zuo Qi…

With a low growl, Qin Chen slammed his palm down, snapping the paperweight on the table in two.

……

Inside the room.

Zuo Qi calmed himself down and first took out the Dragon-Slaying Halberd Manual, then carefully studied it.

This martial art is called Dragon Slayer, which emphasizes momentum over technique, stressing that the power originates from the body and is displayed through the halberd.

The cultivation requirements are very high. It requires three stages of cultivation, initial tempering of the five internal organs, and then using fire-attribute spiritual objects to open up many acupoints near the heart, thus tempering the heart a second time.

Fire-attribute spiritual objects?

Zuo Qi immediately thought of spiritual objects from demons. He recalled the demons recorded in the Demon Record and realized that there seemed to be no fire-attribute demons near Fushan City.

We'll have to look in the black market.

Fortunately, he had some connections with Yin Jiu, the black market boss at the dock, so he could ask him for help. If that didn't work, he could exchange the spiritual items from the mountain demon for Yin Jiu's services.

After carefully studying the Dragon-Slaying Halberd Technique, my mind became as still as water.

Zuo Qi put away the martial arts manual and took out two porcelain bottles, one containing a heart-protecting pill and the other a vital energy pill.

A moment later, Zuo Qi knelt on the ground, and a calming incense stick was lit in front of him.

After swallowing two Yuanli Pills, the refining speed was very fast.

One of the advantages of elixirs compared to directly consuming spiritual objects is that the refining speed is much faster.

About an hour later, the Yuanli Pill was finished being refined, and Zuo Qi's arm strength increased again. At the same time, the bone-refining blood in his body also reached 113.

It's possible... a breakthrough has been achieved.

A trickle of qi and blood gathers and surges within the body, flowing from bone to flesh and then from flesh to bone, circulating continuously.

As his body's Qi and blood were fully mobilized, Zuo Qi silently recited the key points of the Golden Ease Technique for breaking through barriers.

Even though the Golden Ease Technique is balanced and peaceful, it involves the five internal organs, so one must be extremely careful when practicing it. According to the technique records, when breaking through a barrier, one should resonate the Qi and blood throughout the body, fully activate the skin, flesh, and bones, increase the burden on the five internal organs, and then use the kidneys, which are closest to the ribs, to allow the Qi and blood to permeate.

Simultaneously, it completes the sublimation from refining bone qi and blood to refining internal qi and blood, as well as the first tempering of the five internal organs.

Zuo Qi followed Jin Yigong's instructions to maintain the Qi and blood in a prescribed rhythm, and then guided the Qi and blood to slowly flow into the kidneys according to the steps.

The heart-protecting pills I took beforehand began to take effect, as if a thin film had formed in my internal organs, so I didn't have to worry about the blood and qi being too violent and damaging my fragile internal organs.

As the Qi and blood surged, one could feel streams of Qi beginning to move, solidify, and gradually become substantial within the internal organs.

With the flow of Qi and blood into the body, the most difficult hurdle has been overcome.

Zuo Qi was delighted, but dared not be negligent in the slightest.

……

Red Street.

As night falls, the flower boats moored on the shore gradually enter the river, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. With the arrival of the Autumn Festival, some people who have been studying or practicing martial arts in other places return home to reunite with their families. Young people always like to seek out pleasure, and recently the flower boats have been doing very well.

The woman who had met Xu Dong earlier was now standing at the bow of the boat. "On what day did Xu Dong arrive in the prefectural city?"

"Ten months ago."

A young man dressed in the latest fashionable clothes in Taizhou spoke up.

When the Xu family fell on hard times, they split into three branches: one branch remained hidden in the city, another branch built a village outside the city and became farmers, and the third branch changed its name and identity in Taizhou Prefecture and quietly developed its business.

With the emergence of Xu Jialong, the three branches gradually began to meet again.

This young man was none other than the pageboy of the Xu family in the prefectural city, the one with the unicorn-like appearance.

Xu You felt a sense of foreboding. Could something have happened to Xu Dong?

News has arrived from Du Ming's side; Master Xi has brought Du Ming back, but Xu Dong has yet to return.

It wasn't that they were worried about Xu Dong's safety, but rather that what Xu Dong had done before was too important. Du Ming, as General Fubo's deputy, held a high position and great power in Taizhou Prefecture. Now that he had just aligned himself with them, they absolutely could not let the news get out.

"Miss Xu You, something happened to Xu Dong?"

The young man noticed Xu You's change in mood and asked in a low voice.

Xu You shook his head slightly, "Don't worry, even if Xu Dong falls into the hands of the government, he knows what he should and shouldn't say. We will also investigate Xu Dong's whereabouts as soon as possible."

The young man no longer asked any more questions.

The two continued to discuss plans for the future of the Xu family.

"News has also come from Bailiandao in Fengzhou that they will cooperate with our operation. The Fengzhou army will not be able to come to our aid so easily."

"The people of the White Lotus Path are always cunning, so make some preparations."