I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

In the days that followed, Wei Hongying led the vanguard battalion to pursue the retreating Northern Barbarian army.

Normally, one would retreat swiftly, while the other would chase swiftly; one would be afraid of not escaping, while the other would be afraid of not catching up.

But this time, the situation was exactly the opposite; both sides were moving slowly.

She looked like an old woman with bound feet, unable to move around easily, making people anxious just watching.

The Northern Barbarian army's retreat was extremely slow, which was understandable, because every time they arrived at a city, they would drive and coerce the local people of the Great Zhou to go with them. Everything of value in the city would be packed up and taken away, making the army extremely bloated.

But the Great Zhou's pursuit was even slower, which was truly puzzling!

Many rank-and-file soldiers have complaints. How could they not have complaints when their hard-earned military merits have slipped away?

But the high-ranking generals of the Great Zhou Dynasty didn't care about any of that and used swift and decisive measures to suppress the rebellion.

However, some small groups of Northern Mang troops refused to withdraw and put up a stubborn resistance.

The result was that they were caught up by the vanguard battalion and easily wiped out!

Since their numbers are at most a thousand, they are not a threat at all.

"That city ahead, must be Xuanque Pass?"

Two months later, Qin Li, mounted on horseback, stood on a high slope, gazing into the distance, and asked.

"Yes, it's Xuanque Pass!"

At this time, it was lunchtime when the army was setting up their cooking pots. Zhou Biao and the other guards had all gone to help, leaving only the Chun Tao and Xia Liu sisters by Qin Li's side.

The two men were dressed in ordinary soldiers' uniforms, which accentuated their perfect figures.

However, this makes it appear even more delicate, as if it would collapse if the wind blew.

"Because I came to Xuanque Pass with Fang Yuan," Chun Tao replied.

That magnificent city in the distance is Xuanque Pass; she wouldn't mistake it.

With a soft "hmm," Qin Li dismounted, aided by Xia Liu's outstretched hand.

Compared to Chun Tao's usual reluctant service, Xia Liu was proactive and attentive in everything she did, as if she truly regarded Qin Li as her new master.

"That won't be necessary; I, the prince, have hands and feet!"

Qin Li waved his hand, not needing Xia Liu's help, and dismounted.

He reached up and patted his clothes, casually asking:

"What, did you serve Fang Yuan like this before?"

Xia Liu was so frightened that she immediately knelt down. Qin Li knew that Xia Liu had misunderstood him, so he reached out and lifted her elbow to make her stand up. "That's not what I meant. What I meant was, does Fang Yuan need someone to serve him in everything and not do anything himself?"

That shouldn't be the case.

Where did Fang Yuan pick up these bad habits?

Having only been in this strange world for a short time, have you already developed the bad habit of expecting to be fed and clothed without lifting a finger?

Although he admits that those days were good, enjoyable, and his ultimate goal.

But Fang Yuan shouldn't have picked up this bad habit so quickly. Even he, the eldest prince, doesn't have it, so why should Fang Yuan?

Fang Yuan was merely a son-in-law, and the status of the Tianyi Tower Master was not particularly high.

Qin Li couldn't figure it out for a moment.

"Your Highness, no."

Xia Liu lowered her head and replied, "We usually serve Miss, and she needs our help when she gets off the carriage."

"Miss, which miss?"

Qin Li didn't quite grasp this idea for a moment.

"The mistress of the Song family, Miss Song Qian!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Li understood.

No wonder, they're indigenous people.

People like Song Qian, who are native to the area, feel that it is their duty to be waited on in everything.

Visitors from another world like her and Fang Yuan haven't fully adapted yet.

Speaking of Song Qian, Qin Liqing couldn't help but narrow his eyes. He wondered how she was doing in the capital.

Now that Fang Yuan is dead, he no longer has any power to stop Song Qian from becoming his woman.

After returning to the capital, he took her in.

Such monstrous creatures must not be released to harm others.

"Your Highness, Your Highness?"

Qin Li snapped out of his daze and looked at Xia Liu. "What's wrong?"

"I have some clues about the question Your Highness asked me yesterday."

"Oh?"

Qin Li immediately became interested and handed Wangcai's reins to Chun Tao, telling her to take Wangcai to graze in the distance and not to get in the way of him and her sister, since Chun Tao didn't like him anyway.

Then, Qin Li grabbed Xia Liu's hand and found a rock nearby to sit down, letting Xia Liu talk to him properly.

Looking at her hand being held by Qin Li, Xia Liu felt a mix of emotions, a mixture of fear and sweetness. However, she hid these feelings well, knowing it wasn't the right time to express them.

"Say it!"

Qin Li looked at Xia Liu beside him, expectantly.

After sending someone to secretly deliver Fang Yuan to the Empress, Qin Li set his sights on Fang Yuan's martial arts techniques and began practicing them.

That's the protagonist's technique; it must be the best in the world. Why not practice it?

However, the original manual had long been destroyed by Fang Yuan and only existed in his mind.

Fortunately, Xia Liuchuntao and Fang Yuan had lived together for so many years and had seen the secret manual before.

Fang Yuan had often told the two sisters how powerful his martial arts techniques were, and they had even discussed them together.

"Actually, the Fiery Cloud Palm wasn't originally called that. Its original name was the Netherworld Profound Palm. Because it was too evil, Fang Yuan felt that using the original name would make it seem like a heretical and demonic technique in the martial arts world, thus bringing him unnecessary trouble. So, it was changed to the Fiery Cloud Palm!"

Hearing Xia Liu's words, Qin Li reached up and rubbed his chin, involuntarily muttering:

"Netherworld Profound Palm? Why is it called that? Is there any story behind it?"

"Your Highness is unaware that the fire is called the Netherworld Profound Fire, hence the name Netherworld Profound Palm. The Netherworld Profound Fire is the most evil fire in the world, said to be a fire from the Netherworld, capable of burning even the soul. In battle, with just one palm strike, the opponent's body and soul are completely annihilated, truly ensuring they can never be reincarnated!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Li laughed, "That is indeed a demonic cultivation technique. No wonder Fang Yuan changed the name."

"By the way, what level has Fang Yuan reached? I heard he can even melt a sword into molten iron."

Qin Li only regretted that he had wasted time that night, that he hadn't rushed over earlier, and that he hadn't witnessed Fang Yuan use the Netherworld Profound Palm.

"The fourth floor!"

Damn, the protagonist's cultivation talent is really high; he's already reached the fourth level so quickly.

According to Xia Liu, the Netherworld Mystic Palm only has five levels.

Thinking of this, Qin Li stretched out his finger and activated his cultivation technique.

puff!

A small flame suddenly appeared at the tip of the index finger.

It was during this period of practicing the Netherworld Mystic Palm that I gained this skill.

"Why is my flame a ghostly green, while Fang Yuan's flame is dark red, according to you?" Qin Li asked.

The flame at Qin Li's fingertips was an extremely dark, ghostly green.

It looks extremely eerie, as if it can't be destroyed no matter what.

Looking at the flames at Qin Li's fingertips, Xia Liu said, "The Netherworld Profound Palm is originally a demonic technique. When Fang Yuan practiced it, he was afraid of falling into the demonic path, so he modified the technique according to his own understanding."

"call!"

Blowing out the flame at his fingertips, Qin Li said irritably, "Now I understand why Fang Yuan went mad with demonic possession."

Why?

Xia Liu asked curiously.

"The Netherworld Profound Palm, though malevolent, has been passed down through generations of demonic practitioners and is quite perfect. With normal practice, it won't cause qi deviation!"

"But who knew that Fang Yuan, in his arrogance, modified the cultivation technique without authorization, which was the reason he suffered a qi deviation."

"Like me, this prince, I only allowed him to gather information, but he took it upon himself to poison people everywhere!"

"That's completely unnecessary!"

Xia Liu had nothing to say about the original owner, Fang Yuan.

It won't overpraise, nor will it excessively belittle!

Let bygones be bygones.

She even refused to mention Fang Yuan again.

Thinking of this, Xia Liu deliberately changed the subject, saying, "Your Highness, when will we enter Xuanque Pass? Once we capture this last city, can we return to the capital in triumph?"

Qin Li glanced at Chun Tao, who was leading Wang Cai to eat grass not far away, and couldn't help but smile.

Chuntao held the reins in one hand and was pointing out to Wangcai which patch of grass was best to eat.

Wangcai was as stubborn as a mule, refusing to go, which infuriated Chuntao.

Chun Tao couldn't pull or push it, and she was so angry she was about to explode.

Before leaving the capital, winter had not yet arrived. Now the grass is growing tall, and the birds are singing and the flowers are blooming. It's time to return home.

As he was thinking this, Zhou Biao quickly ran over.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"

Zhou Biao said anxiously, "As usual, the vanguard battalion entered the city ahead of the main army to take over Xuanque Pass and mop up the remaining enemies. But who knew that the gates of Xuanque Pass would suddenly close as soon as the vanguard battalion entered the city."

"The vanguard battalion's fate is unknown!"