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    At the inn, Miao Youfang let out a contented, pained sigh.

    Ever since he had followed Xu Qi’an, this nominal proprietor and actual master had been helping him collect herbs for hammering his physical body.

    He was also taught unique luck spells to aid in promotion.

    Soaking in the medicinal bath daily, enduring the fire-scorched and acid-etched pain, and silently lucking out, he finally stepped over the threshold and was promoted to the Sixth Grade Copper Skin and Iron Bone.

    He rose from the tub and looked around himself, the surface of his bronzed skin shimmering with a faintly divine light.

    The strength and five senses had made considerable progress, and the qi was much more vigorous, but what surprised the martial artist the most was this body that was impervious to swords and spears.

    There is a saying in the jianghu: a county magistrate of the sixth rank, a governor of the fifth rank, and a marquis of the fourth rank.

    Using the official position as a metaphor for martial arts rank, the sixth rank could reign supreme in a county and the government would not dare to mess with it.

    The fifth rank, on the other hand, can flaunt its power in the land of a house.

    The fourth rank refers to being able to dominate a party like a vassal.

    Of course, this statement is limited to the jianghu to claim one side, and does not involve the imperial court.

    Miao Youfang looked down, what a superb spear.

    He surprised:

    “Good man, just as I expected.

    “In the future, when the long spears are spread across the country, the girls will not cry out ah ……… Hey, brother Li, envious, you must be very envious.

    “Only a martial artist can deal with a martial artist.”

    Li Lingsu glanced at him and faintly said:

    “Isn’t an embroidery needle still an embroidery needle, no matter how hard it is?

    “Oh, you’re thinking that stabbing people will hurt a little.”

    Miao Youfang was furious and held his back, “Compare?”

    Li Lingsu crossed his legs and snorted, “My contraptions are only for beauties, not with embroidery needles.”

    At this moment, Xu Qi’an pushed open the door of the room, swept them a glance, and said expressionlessly:

    “Pack up and leave the city of Jiangzhou.”

    Two living treasures ……. Xu Qi’an muttered in his heart and turned to leave.

    He wasn’t in too good of a mood, not realizing that Jiangzhou City, as the main city of a continent, only had scattered Dragon Qi hosts.

    ………..

    Yuzhou.

    Xiang, Jing and Yu states are close to the Yan Kingdom, and based on the principle of proximity, Nalan Tianlu first “searched” for the Dragon Qi hosts in the three states.

    His decision was undoubtedly correct, and after a period of time, they collected eight Dragon Qi Hosts in Xiangzhou and two in Yuzhou.

    The highest restaurant in the city, the Heaven’s Character elegant room.

    Dongfang Wanrong was wearing a peach-colored low-cut dress, exposing the white grease of her chest, sitting sideways on the soft collapse, drinking tea.

    The door to the room was pushed open, and Dongfang Wanqing, who had the same appearance as her sister but with a cool temperament, crossed the threshold, reaching out to receive the tea handed to her by her sister while saying:

    “Caught a scout, to be precise, he approached me of his own accord.”

    Dongfang Wanrong’s delicate eyebrows raised in surprise:

    “Spies from the Daebung court?”

    Dongfang Wanqing shook her head, “He claimed to be from the Tianji Palace.”

    Tian Ji Palace …….. Dongfang Wanrong frowned gently, filled with strangeness at this name.

    At that moment, a pale, gentle voice came into her head, “Let him in.”

    Dongfang Wanrong asked in her head while conveying her teacher’s order:

    “Teacher, you know about the Tianji Palace?”

    After a few seconds, Nalan Tianlu replied:

    “An intelligence organization established by a Second Grade Warlock, they are spread all over the Central Plains and even in the Nine States. This organization played a great role in the Battle of Shanhaiguan back then.

    “Wei Yuan suffered a great deal back then.”

    Dongfang Wanrong became more and more puzzled, “A second grade magician, yet he stands against the Great Founder?”

    She was under the impression that warlock could also be synonymous with Sitian Supervisor, which was subordinate to the Da Bong court.

    Nalan Tianlu sighed:

    “Back then, the Battle of Shanhaiguan was essentially an outbreak of the increasing conflicts between the various forces in the continent of Kyushu, but if it wasn’t for two people lobbying from the center and pushing the envelope, the Battle of Shanhaiguan might have to be delayed for more than a decade before it broke out.

    “And of those two, one is the leader of the Heavenly Compass Ministry, Elder Heavenly Compass, and one is this Second Grade Warlock.”

    A Second Grade Warlock and someone from the Celestial Compass Ministry joining forces to promote the Battle of Shanhaiguan? Dongfang Wanrong was surprised and bewildered as she heard about the inner workings of the war for the first time:

    “Why is that second grade warlock like that?”

    Nalan Tianlu slowly said, “Of course it is to replace the Supervisor Zheng and be promoted to the first rank.”

    Replace Supervisor …….. Dongfang Wanrong said indistinctly:

    “No wonder you wanted to see the scouts, that second grade warlock is an ally to pull in.”

    Nalan Tianlu grunted:

    “It’s just a temporary ally, he’s an extremely scary character, I was subdued in the Floating Pagoda for twenty years, and when I came out again, he’s already made such a mess out of Da Bong.

    “The biggest beneficiaries of the Battle of Shanhaiguan, besides the Buddhist Sect, were him and Old Man Tian Companion. Although the Great Feng won, half of the country’s fortune was stolen, and if that was all it took, it would not have ended up in such a state.

    “But that person plotted for twenty years to get rid of the Zhenbei King and Wei Yuan successively; the Zhenbei King was just a matter of time, and once Wei Yuan died, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.”

    Nalan Tianlu suddenly fell silent, and Dongfang Wanrong then looked towards the door of the room.

    Creak~ The door to the room opened again, and Dongfang Wanqing led a mysterious man with a cloak and a hood in.

    “Greetings to the two Palace Masters, I am Tian Ji Palace secret agent “Wind”, in charge of the boundaries of Yu Zhou.”

    A deliberately hoarse male voice came from the hood, “Allow me to make an introduction, the Tengi Palace is ……..”

    Dongfang Wanrong interrupted indifferently, “Speak directly to the matter.”

    The “Wind” secret agent was silent for two seconds and laughed, “It seems that the Grand Palace Master already knows our background.”

    He reached into his pocket, fished out a letter, and offered it with both hands.

    Dongfang Wanrong beckoned and the envelope automatically fell into her hands, unfolding and reading.

    After ten seconds or so, she placed the letterhead on the table and laughed:

    “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

    “Wind,” the secret agent said with a bow:

    “Great Palace Lord is wise. The Young Lord also said that when you encounter Xu Qi’an, you should avoid it if you can and wait for an opportunity.

    “Hehe, dragon qi has the property of attracting each other, as we collect more and more dragon qi, sooner or later all parties will meet. At that time, we will then conspire together.”

    After a pause, he said:

    “Next, there is an intelligence to share with the two Palace Masters.

    “Of the nine vital Dragon Qi, Xu Qi’an has already obtained three, in Leizhou, Xiangzhou in Zhangzhou, and Miao Youfang, a ranger in Qingzhou.

    “Yongzhou does not have a host for one of the nine Dragon Qi.

    “Nowadays, it is known that there is one in Yu Prefecture and none in Yun Prefecture. Of the thirteen continents of the Great Feng, only Jiangzhou, the northeastern states of Xiang, Jing, and Yu, Jianzhou, Chuzhou, and the capital’s borders remain. The remaining five channels of Dragon Qi are divided among these six continents.”

    The capital is also a continent in the official administrative division of the Daebung.

    “Not in Xiangzhou!”

    Dongfang Wanrong shook her head.

    The “Wind” spy said, “Then there must be one, or even two, in Jing and Yu states. If it wasn’t intercepted in advance by Sun Xuanji of the Heavenly Superintendent.”

    “I see.” Dongfang Wanrong said.

    “Wind,” the secret agent nodded, then said:

    “When the two Palace Masters have finished traveling through the three northeastern states, the remaining states will be Jiang, Jian, and Chu, and we, along with Xu Qi’an, should clash in one of these three states.

    “Is any of the Spirit Wisdom Masters of the Witch God Cult in the neighborhood?”

    He politely hinted that one could not get involved in a battle at this level without the strength of the Transcendent Realm.

    Dongfang Wanrong smiled and said, “No need to worry.”

    ………..

    Yuju.

    Xu Yuanxiang unfolded his arm, letting the carrier pigeon land on his small arm as he drew out the small note from the thin bamboo tube tied to the pigeon’s claws.

    After unfolding and reading it carefully, his clear face showed a few smiles and turned back:

    “The Seven Dragons of the Canglong have captured that Dragon Qi Host of Yuzhou, though it has been through ups and downs and has nearly allowed him to escape on several occasions.

    “But with the intention of counting, and with the assistance of the secret agents of the Tianji Palace, coupled with the power of the Canglong Seven Constellations, it is considered to be a surprise.”

    It is one of the nine vital dragon qi.

    Liu Hongmu and the others were relieved, and Ji Xuan laughed, “Next, it’s time to contact the two Vajra.”

    ………..

    Near the Qingzhou of Yunzhou, Pure Heart and Pure Edge traveled thousands of miles on foot and finally met up with the two Vajra, Du Nang and Du Fan, at a deserted and broken temple in one of the counties on the border of Qingzhou.

    The vajayjays wore cloaks and hoods as a way to hide their dark golden skin color.

    “Master! Sifu!”

    “Two Masters!”

    Pure Heart and Pure Edge bowed together.

    Pure Heart told the two Vajra in detail what happened after he was taken away:

    “Xu Qi’an released us as promised.”

    At this point, even he who was a Zen master could no longer call that person a Buddha’s son.

    The mind rages.

    “Three years ……..”

    Dufan Vajra sighed, “Fortunately, the son of the Shura King has returned to his throne.”

    Even the Buddhist Sect couldn’t afford to lose a Second Grade Lohan.

    The Pure Heart and the Pure Edge were overjoyed.

    The latter asked, “Master, Uncle, what are you doing here?”

    Du Nang Vajra slowly said, “An incarnation of the Bodhisattva of the Garuda Tree is in the Subterranean City of the Cloud State, and may give orders in the near future. The two of us will wait here for the messenger.”

    Pure Heart was puzzled, “Why don’t you go in?”

    Dufan Vajra said in an urn, “The Supervisor is keeping an eye on Yunzhou.”

    Pure Heart and Pure Edge looked at each other in horror.

    ……….

    A decade later, Jiangzhou City.

    Going round and round, Xu Qi’an’s footprints traveled all over Jiangzhou and returned to this main city.

    He had already exhausted all the dragon qi hosts in Jiangzhou, but he still hadn’t found one of the nine dragon qi hosts.

    “If Jiangzhou’s Dragon Qi host was a Ranger Child, it would have traveled elsewhere by now, just like Miao Youfang.”

    Xu Qi’an led the filly and walked with Miao Youfang and Li Lingsu towards the congee hut that had been erected outside the city.

    There was a long line of poor and displaced people in poor clothing, holding broken bowls and bamboo tubes, waiting for the congee to be given.

    The city guards roughly maintained order, reprimanding, punching and kicking the crowded paupers at every turn.

    The manner was rough, but it did stabilize the situation.

    And those poor people who were starving and cold, although numbness and pain still remained on their faces, there was a bright light in their eyes as they looked at the porridge hut.

    To be honest, this disaster relief initiative of Emperor Yongxing had made Xu Qi’an change his opinion of him greatly.

    Da Feng has come to the present day, the officials around the world are mostly the generation of yin and yang, the dynasty is corrupted to a certain extent, not the emperor alone can change, not even the lord of the capital can change.

    Difficulty in the implementation of governmental orders has always been the biggest headache of all dynasties.

    According to Huaiqing, Emperor Yongxing adopted Xu Erlang’s suggestion and dispatched all the royal historians from the capital to oversee the states, giving the governors the right to make decisions beforehand.

    Each governor was accompanied by another white-clad warlock to oversee the situation.

    The White Warlocks are known to be notoriously proud and wealthy, which greatly avoids joint corruption.

    However, because of the reason that low-grade warlocks are weak chickens, in order to prevent the governor from not being able to withstand the temptation to embezzle and kill people, the court added another ironclad law:

    The warlock is dead, and the governor is asking for the death of the man.

    As for local officials, the court encouraged neighboring counties to monitor and report on each other.

    Once verified, the whistleblower will be promoted to a higher rank, and the whistleblower will be dismissed or beheaded, depending on the seriousness of the case.

    There were many other policies to prevent officials from embezzling relief food, such as “chopsticks floating up and heads falling to the ground” in congee buckets.

    As for how to deal with those who pretended to be refugees and fraudulently claimed the relief food, the old and spicy Wang Shoufu gave the solution:

    Seventy percent rice, two percent chaff and one percent sand.

    These still don’t completely eliminate corruption, but they have had a tremendous stifling effect.

    Li Lingsu looked at the congee hut and smiled, “Although the effect of what the imperial court has done is limited compared to the disasters throughout the Central Plains, it is at least a way for the people to see hope.”

    Miao Youfang, in a rare move, did not raise his hand and looked at the scene with a soft gaze.

    The group entered the city with the intention of resting for the night, the next stop was Jianzhou.

    ……….

    Night.

    Xu Qi’an took the candle by the round table, moved it to the desk, spread out the rice paper that was provided in the inn, and put pen to paper:

    “Xiang, Jing, Yu, Jian, Chu.”

    Mu Nanjian walked over with the little white fox in her arms and probed, “Where are all these places?”

    “Don’t you flip through the Da Bong Geography Journal every day?” Xu Qi’an asked rhetorically.

    “I forgot about it after reading it, who remembers.” Mu Nanjian skimmed her mouth.

    The female school scum ……… Xu Qi an heart bellyache.

    If this woman had lived in his time, there would probably have been two ways out:

    One: Marry a tycoon big shot and become a rich wife by virtue of her extraordinary beauty.

    Two: Go into showbiz and be a bad movie queen who can’t get popular anyhow.

    Why can’t it be red? Because the flower god reincarnation of the obvious is not the kind of hard-working people.

    Xu Qi’an didn’t have much to ask of her, except for being overly arrogant, she was essentially kind and sensible at critical moments, and wouldn’t drag her feet.

    A woman willing to accompany you on your wanderings was already the rarest quality in Xu Qi’an’s opinion.

    “Those six remaining dragon qi are basically in these places.”

    Xu Qi’an stroked his chin and analyzed her, “But we can’t tell if the forces of the Witch God Sect, the Buddhist Sect, and the Subterranean Dragon City have plucked the peach in advance.”

    Mu Nanjia nodded her head in a serious manner, her face was serious, like a good student who listened to the lesson attentively.

    “If they get one of the nine dragon qi, they immediately return to the base camp, which is the most troublesome situation.”

    She nervously asked, “What should we do?”

    “This is insoluble.” Xu Qi’an shook his head, “My bottom line is to lose two vital dragon qi and make up for it by accumulating more with scattered dragon qi.”

    Mu Nanjian immediately frowned: “Then how can we rob them?”

    Xu Qi’an laughed:

    “There’s no rush, I’m burdened with half of the country’s fortune, I have a greater probability of encountering dragon qi than they do, and if I haven’t encountered it, of course they won’t be able to either. At most, they will encounter one or two.

    “I have a hunch that Jianzhou will have a host for one of the nine dragon qi.”

    Just then, his heart sensed it and he took out the sound transmission spellshell.

    “Found on ……..”

    Sun Xuanji’s voice had just sounded over there, and Xu Qi’an immediately grabbed the answer:

    “At the Lai Fu Inn in Jiang Zhou City, on the third floor against the east, the third room.”

    A long silence fell over there.

    Xu Qi’an waited patiently for an hour, and finally, the clear light by the bedside rose from the bottom up, intertwining into a young man dressed in white, with ordinary height and ordinary features.

    “Senior Brother Sun, what’s the matter?”

    As he spoke, he respectfully handed over a pen and paper.

    If you can do it, you’ll never let Master Sun bleep.

    Sun Xuanji grasped the pen with resignation and wrote:

    “Dragon Qi Intelligence Summary!”

    After a pause, it was written again, “I found something strange.”

    ………..

    PS: Please ask for monthly votes!!! Yard the next chapter.

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