People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

Cao Ze said tactfully, "Brother Han, you don't know much about the Book of Changes and the Eight Trigrams, do you?"

Han Fei scratched his head: "I haven't seen much."

He was a Confucian scholar and a legalist, but not a sorcerer.

The Book of Changes (Zhouyi) states in its commentary on the trigrams: "Zhen represents the east." The Azure Dragon is the first of the four symbols, residing in the Zhen palace, and is associated with the virtue of spring growth and the control of vital energy.

"Therefore, the orientation is based on the 'Left Azure Dragon' as the boundary between Xun and Zhen. The Zhen Palace Mao position is associated with Jia in Geng, Yi wood is in its official position, and the Azure Dragon coils in the Yin, Mao and Chen three-way wood formation, in conjunction with the three green Lu Cun of the Purple and White Nine Stars."

"If the scroll is in the Yellow Springs, then the Yellow Springs should correspond to the Azure Dragon position."

As Cao Ze spoke, he slowly located the Yellow Springs based on the directions.

Han Fei said, "There are no traps here."

He explored the murals in this area.

Cao Ze smiled, then pressed down hard, shattering the stone bricks on the relief.

"The absence of a mechanism does not mean that things cannot be hidden."

Han Fei moved the pebbles one by one, revealing a space only the size of a scroll, which was heavily wrapped in oilcloth.

No wonder there was no hollow sound when he tapped the mural.

Cao Ze looked at the scroll that Han Fei had taken into his hand and chuckled.

Duke Zhuang of Zheng actually placed the "Azure Dragon" scroll in the Yellow Springs.

It's unclear whether Duke Zhuang of Zheng had an Oedipus complex or was a severe case of psychological manipulation (PUA).

Despite being bullied by her mother like this, and even nearly dying, she still managed to leave her important belongings here and erase the symbol representing the underworld.

He inexplicably thought of the TV series "The Legend of Qin" that he had watched before, and felt a lot of sympathy for the fake Li and Ao Gu in it, both of whom were used as pawns by the people they cared about most.

Han Fei peeled away the layers of oilcloth, revealing a shiny scroll.

The two characters "Azure Dragon" are clearly visible above.

Just as Han Fei was about to open the scroll, Cao Ze grabbed his hand and stopped him.

"This is not the place. Let's go to Zilan Pavilion."

After saying that, Cao Ze smashed some more of the mural to cover up the marks.

Han Fei handed the scroll to Cao Ze, saying, "Your martial arts are superior, so you take it."

Your martial arts skills are trash, but you can summon the Reverse Scale... Cao Ze took the "Azure Dragon" scroll, stroked it, and found that the wood material was the same as the "Seven Constellations" scroll he had obtained.

It can be preliminarily confirmed that this was indeed done by the same person.

Cao Ze and Han Fei sneaked into the backyard of Zilan Pavilion.

Hongyu and Caidie came over and asked, "Mr. Cao Ze, would you like to take a bath?"

While a back massage by beautiful women is quite nice, and they might even be willing to engage in a land, sea, and air battle with Hongyu and Caidie, now is clearly not the time.

"No need, you guys go and rest. I'll contact you if I need anything."

Hongyu and Caidie left with regret.

They had just heard from Nongyu the poems that Mr. Cao Ze had written during the day, which made them very eager to learn.

She arrived early in the backyard to wait for Mr. Cao Ze, hoping that while serving him a bath, something might happen.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cao Ze was too upright and gentlemanly. He treated them as equals and never laid a hand on them. At most, he would tease them verbally, which made the two of them extremely eager.

Han Fei closed the door.

"Open it and take a look."

Cao Ze took out the "Azure Dragon" scroll from his bosom and slowly opened it.

He thought to himself, "Please don't let it be like the 'Seven Mansions' scroll, where you start with a single map and have to scavenge for all your equipment..."

"The Yellow Emperor ascended Juci Mountain and visited Dawei. He ordered his chariot to travel to the wilderness of Chengying. All seven sages were lost and had nowhere to ask for directions."

Han Fei read it aloud one by one, letting Cao Ze know what the Spring and Autumn Annals characters were.

"The Zhuangzi, in the chapter 'Xu Wugui,' mentions that when the Yellow Emperor was about to meet Dawei at Mount Juci, Fangming was the charioteer, Changyu was the charioteer, Zhang Ruo and Yan Peng were the horses in front, and Kun Hun and Hua Ji were the charioteers behind. When they reached the wilderness of Xiangcheng, the seven sages were all lost and had no way to ask for directions."

After Han Fei finished speaking, he murmured, "Could there be some connection between these two things?"

Cao Ze frowned slightly. Ya Fei had also mentioned this chapter of Zhuangzi before. What a coincidence.

Then, recalling what Han Cang said—according to ancient legends, the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions were legendary objects created by the seven sages after the Yellow Emperor defeated Chiyou.

Could it be that the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions were truly created by the Yellow Emperor?

Cao Ze pondered for a moment: "Upon reaching the wilderness of Xiangcheng, all seven sages were lost. Xiangcheng was called 'Fan' during the Spring and Autumn Period, and belonged to the territory of Zheng. Later, it was changed to 'Chengying'. Because King Xiang of Zhou lived here, it was also called Xiangcheng."

Han Fei analyzed: "The place recorded as Zheng Zhuang Gong meeting his mother in the Yellow Springs is Chengying, which is today's Xiangcheng. In other words, what Zheng Zhuang Gong hid was in the Yellow Springs of Chengying?"

Cao Ze was about to praise his brother-in-law's intelligence when he suddenly remembered that the "Seven Mansions" scroll he had obtained depicted a mountain, not a city.

Duke Zhuang of Zheng was misleading them.

Upon realizing this, Cao Ze asked, "Where is Juci?"

"Juci? Juci Mountain, it's about 30 li southwest of Xinzheng."

"During the reign of Duke Zhuang of Zheng, the capital was in Xinzheng. If the purpose was to bury treasure, why go to such lengths?"

After listening to Cao Ze's words, Han Fei nodded slightly: "That's true."

"It is said that Juci Mountain, which is 30 miles southwest of Xinzheng, is also known as the Ancestral Mountain. It was the fiefdom of Feng Hou, a descendant of Fuxi and one of the three dukes under the Yellow Emperor."

At this point, Han Fei suddenly said, "It is rumored that Feng Hou is also one of the Seven Sages."

Cao Ze said, "Therefore, the Fangming, Changyu, Zhangruo, Yanpeng, Kunhun, and Huaji mentioned by Zhuangzi, apart from the Yellow Emperor himself, are very likely just metaphors and do not actually exist."

"The seven sages we know of now include the Yellow Emperor and Feng Hou. So who are the other five sages?"

Han Fei shook his head slightly: "I don't know. I only know that Shennong and Cangjie are also known as one of the Seven Sages, but I don't know for sure whether they are."

Cao Ze put away the scroll. "Whether we understand it or not is irrelevant. Shizu Mountain is only thirty li away from Xinzheng. It's not far. We can just go there."

Han Fei touched his burning forehead. "I'm afraid we won't be able to go anytime soon."

Cao Ze smiled and said, "No rush, no rush, let's rest first."

Han Fei felt he had overlooked something. It wasn't until he stepped outside and was hit by the cold wind that he realized how Cao Ze had noticed Zheng Zhuang Gong's misleading remarks so quickly.

Unless... considering that Cao Ze invited him to search for the scroll together, it seems that Cao Ze has a clue.

Han Fei rubbed his temples, feeling a terrible headache.

If we can't find this thing, fine, but if we do find it, it'll be a double-edged sword, just like the Chengjiao.

If used properly, it might even lead to South Korea's rise.

If not handled properly, it's not impossible for South Korea to be destroyed in an instant.

After Han Fei left, Cao Ze took out another scroll, "Seven Mansions".

Comparing the two pairs confirmed the guess.

The Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions are hidden in the Ancestral Mountain outside Xinzheng City, which is very likely the place where Duke Zhuang of Zheng buried the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions after obtaining them.

It's unclear why Duke Zhuang of Zheng hid the items there.

Moreover, as the hegemon of the Spring and Autumn Period and the dominant power of the time, why would he hide things?

Is it simply because the Ancestral Mountain was the fiefdom of Feng Hou?

Feng Hou Qi Men!

Cao Ze suddenly had an idea.

Feng Hou, a descendant of Fu Xi, was proficient in Qimen Dunjia and was even called the ancestor of sorcerers.

If Duke Zhuang of Zheng knew of the impending demise of the State of Zheng through some means, then it is not impossible that he planned ahead.

Wow, Feng Hou Qi Men...

In the world of Under One Person, it is known as one of the Eight Extraordinary Skills.

It's just that those who come after them are incredibly brilliant.

It's unimaginable how extraordinary this "Feng Hou Qi Men" technique, created by Feng Hou himself, must be.

If Duke Zhuang of Zheng hid the Feng Hou Qi Men (a magical gate associated with Feng Hou) in the Ancestral Mountain...

Even though he knew it was unrealistic, Cao Ze's heart still couldn't help but pound.

Suppressing his excitement, Cao Ze carefully studied the "Seven Mansions" scroll.

Now that we've confirmed that the mountain above is the ancestral mountain, what do the runes on it mean?

Where is the treasure hidden? What's the route into the mountains?

Cao Ze's heart skipped a beat.

Fire Fairy said these runes are runes used exclusively by the Baiyue royal family.

If the Azure Dragon scroll was written and hidden by Duke Zhuang of Zheng, then the Seven Mansions scroll, which is made of the same material as the Azure Dragon scroll, should also have been written by Duke Zhuang of Zheng.

Why would Duke Zhuang of Zheng use runes from the Baiyue region?

Cao Ze thought of a possibility: the runes used by the Baiyue royal family today were originally from the state of Zheng.

So here's the question: should he rescue Tianze beforehand and torture him, or wait until Tianze is released by Yemu before torturing him?

Chapter 248 So tender you could squeeze water out of it

Cao Ze ultimately gave up on the idea of ​​rescuing Tianze ahead of schedule.

That's too deliberate.

Neither Ji Wuye, the director of Nightfall Zoo, nor Bai Yifei, the deputy director, are fools.

Bai Yifei, in particular, knew a lot about the history of Baiyue. Back then, he went to Baiyue to secretly investigate things related to the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon.

He suspected that Bai Yifei spared Tianze's life either for the Seven Constellations of the Azure Dragon, for the Baiyue treasure, or both.

The next day, Cao Ze left Zilan Pavilion and, avoiding being seen, quietly arrived at the courtyard where Jing Ni and the others were staying.