Liu Xian started a rebellion, but ultimately it wasn’t destiny. If he could obtain the assistance of a bearer of fortune, the success of his ambitions would increase significantly.

This Guo Daniu, was the helper found for Liu Xian by a renowned fortune-teller, and could also be seen as a talisman.

Watching the two sedan chairs slowly leave, disappearing from his sight, Wang Chengfeng couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Being able to find a bearer of fortune, whether he could kill or not, his departure from Chang’an this time was considered a mission accomplished.

As for whether he could kill, and how to kill, it would depend on Yuwen Sanzui and their methods. After all, Wang Chengfeng was merely a fortune-teller.

Gold and Silver Pavilion.

Wang Tao sat in his designated seat, opposite him was Liu Xian, the magistrate of Yangzhou Prefecture.

"Steward Wang, the matter of joining hands I mentioned to you last time, have you considered it?" Liu Xian asked with a smile.

"Lord Liu, you want my Gold and Silver Pavilion to cooperate with you. If the court learns of this, it is a matter that could cost one’s head." Wang Tao stroked his chin beard, pretending to be hesitant.

However, Liu Xian knew well that the Gold and Silver Pavilion was not afraid of the court. The Yangzhou Prefecture was just a branch, its headquarters spread across the world, doing business everywhere. Even if the court wanted to eradicate them, they couldn’t reach the root.

So, if he could obtain Wang Tao’s help, his strength would further increase.

"Steward Wang, I’ve heard of something." Liu Xian slowly took out an envelope from his bosom: "The court is controlled by the Ten Constant Attendants, and behind them stands the extremely mysterious Rootless Sect."

Wang Tao’s heart moved slightly: "Lord, this isn’t exactly a secret."

"Within the Rootless Sect, there is a Divine Skill named Nine Yin Extreme Dao Scripture," Liu Xian continued.

Upon hearing this, Wang Tao’s expression immediately changed.

"I’m unworthy, I can’t see the Nine Yin Extreme Dao Scripture, but I do know some clues about another Divine Skill, the Nine Yang Ultimate Skill." Liu Xian smiled.

"Nine, Nine Yang Ultimate Skill!" Wang Tao was utterly shocked, and immediately stood up from his chair.

Seeing his intense reaction, it was evident that this was very important to him.

"Does the lord really know where the Nine Yang Ultimate Skill is?" Wang Tao asked with a trembling voice.

"The clue is right here, if Steward Wang is willing to ally with me, I will naturally assist you, and everything depends on Steward Wang’s choice." Liu Xian was quite composed, smiling like an old fox.

Wang Tao looked solemn, he never expected that what he had been plotting for years would be discovered by Liu Xian, and the other party vaguely used it to threaten him.

The reason Wang Tao was so devoted to Guang Zhao, even enduring humiliation to acknowledge him as a foster father, was to obtain the Divine Skill ’Nine Yin Extreme Dao Scripture’ from the Rootless Sect.

Wang Tao’s deceased master once told him that the Nine Yin Extreme Dao Scripture and the Nine Yang Ultimate Skill were a set of complementary and mutually beneficial powerful Internal Cultivation Methods. If one could obtain them and cultivate both, it could lead to becoming a peerless master in the martial world and even unlock a chance to become immortal.

Indeed, Wang Tao’s master firmly believed throughout his life that the ultimate achievement in martial arts is immortality, and that when martial arts in the world reached the limit, one could touch the immortal path beyond the earthly world.

Also known as, achieving immortality through martial arts.

Wang Tao’s master spent his life searching for these two Divine Skills, hoping to break through the limits of martial arts, but to no avail in his later years, leaving regrets as he passed away.

Upon his death, the task fell to Wang Tao’s shoulders, and he had been searching for the whereabouts of the Nine Yin Extreme Dao Scripture and the Nine Yang Ultimate Skill ever since.

And now, Liu Xian presented him with a gift that moved his heart.

"Since Lord Liu demonstrates such genuine sincerity, I naturally have no reason to refuse. Alright, I will represent the Yangzhou Prefecture Gold and Silver Pavilion branch to ally with you." Wang Tao accepted the envelope and happily smiled.

Liu Xian smiled slightly, with the power of the Gold and Silver Pavilion, his standing in Jiangnan became a bit more stable. Wang Tao representing the Gold and Silver Pavilion branch boarded his ship, and in the future, he wouldn’t fear pulling the entire Gold and Silver Pavilion force down.

"Then Steward Wang, I still have urgent matters to handle, so I will leave first. Next time, I must host you at the residence, you must come and grace the occasion."

"Certainly, certainly, I will definitely come."

The two exchanged polite conversation, and Liu Xian turned and left the Gold and Silver Pavilion.

As soon as he stepped out of the Gold and Silver Pavilion, the strategist Tong Yan immediately greeted him with a smile: "The two major non-martial forces in Jiangnan, Lord has already allied with the Gold and Silver Pavilion. Next, just take down the Twelve Linked Rings, then set the basics and proceed to attack Cao Mengda and Wu Bao, those two guys. Jiangnan will then completely fall under your territory, and you will become the King of Jiangnan."

"Do not indulge in thoughts so far away before achieving significant success. We must focus on the present, watch where we step, move steadily, and be cautious." Liu Xian said.

"Yes, I am enlightened." Tong Yan immediately cupped his hands and said.

Standing at the third-floor window of the Gold and Silver Dragon Phoenix Tower, watching Liu Xian’s men enter a carriage and leave, Wang Tao slowly tore open the envelope, revealing a piece of yellowed and worn Beast Hide Map inside.

Wang Tao hurriedly unfolded it, discovering it was a fragmentary map, painted with a sun beneath which was written slightly over two hundred characters.

After silently reciting it, Wang Tao’s eyes instantly lit up, his entire face turned red, breath heavy, and his body couldn’t help but start trembling.

Nine Yang Ultimate Skill!

This is actually a segment of the cultivation formula of the Nine Yang Ultimate Skill!

However, while it’s exciting, it doesn’t have much immediate use.

The more advanced the Heart Method, the more it requires the complete text. Otherwise, misunderstanding a single word or sentence can easily lead to obsession, disrupted meridians, and becoming crippled.

The Beast Hide Map that Liu Xian gave to Wang Tao contained a portion of the Heart Method formula of the Nine Yang Ultimate Skill, but since it wasn’t from the beginning, Wang Tao didn’t dare try to cultivate it. However, this was indeed a clue to the Nine Yang Ultimate Skill, and Liu Xian wasn’t deceiving him.

For a moment, Wang Tao’s expression kept changing as he pondered and speculated.

Is this the only piece of formula Liu Xian has? Or does he have many and deliberately threw out one to attract him and force him to cooperate?

Liu Xian’s mysterious demeanor left Wang Tao unsure of his intentions, though he was perhaps overthinking it.

In reality, Liu Xian only had this one piece of formula. After having someone transcribe the text from the Beast Hide Map, the map naturally became useless, and giving it to Wang Tao to entice him was a great way to make use of a discarded item, squeezing out its remaining value.

...

At the Suzhou dock, a large ship slowly sailed in from upstream, a White Lotus pattern clearly visible on its sail; it was the very ship on which Qin Yuesheng was aboard.

As the ship docked, Qin Yuesheng instructed the dozens of White Lotus Sect followers, "Stay here and don’t wander around until I return."

"Yes, Holy Envoy!"

Having witnessed many of Qin Yuesheng’s mysterious methods and formidable strength, the followers dared not disobey, especially since they still had Life-and-Death Cold Ice Talismans inside them, with their lives entirely under Qin Yuesheng’s control.

After completing the task set by the Seven Stars Supervisor, Qin Yuesheng went to the authorities to have Xun Sheng write a letter to Chang’an about the matter, then returned home alone.

Just as he entered, he heard a tiger’s roar. A golden figure lunged at him, and Qin Yuesheng opened his arms to catch it—Ah Hu.

After not seeing Qin Yuesheng for a long time, Ah Hu eagerly wanted to rub its face against him. But with Qin Yuesheng’s protective Inner Strength, Ah Hu couldn’t touch him. Ah Hu had grown considerably; its whiskers had become as hard as steel wires, and even with Qin Yuesheng’s physique, he wasn’t keen on experiencing that sensation.

"It seems you’ve grown a lot." Looking at Ah Hu, whose paws rested on his shoulders and stood steadily on the ground, Qin Yuesheng couldn’t help but pat its head and say.

Whether due to the War Tiger Bloodline or because tigers naturally grow fast, Ah Hu was now no different in size from an adult tiger.

With its size, it was perfectly suited to accompany him on his journeys across the martial world as a mount.

"Ah Hu... Young Master." Chunfeng and Cao Zhengchun approached and, upon seeing Qin Yuesheng, immediately bowed.

"Has Cyan Yang City been stable lately?" Qin Yuesheng asked.

Cao Zhengchun replied, "Young Master, nothing significant has happened. A small group of bandits came before, but the officials chased them away."

"Hmm." Qin Yuesheng nodded, placed Ah Hu on the ground, and intended to visit his parents.

But just then, Cao Zhengchun suddenly said, "By the way, Young Master, a beggar came yesterday, insisting on seeing you. I told him you had gone on a long trip and wasn’t sure when you’d be back. He was impatient and left this letter for me to give you upon your return."

Qin Yuesheng took the letter, noticing the envelope was greasy with fingerprints, somewhat gross.

But Qin Yuesheng wasn’t a pampered young master and didn’t mind much. He tore it open and began reading the letter inside.

****

To Young Master Qin,

Although I, the old beggar, have not met you in person, I have heard much about your exploits. The leaders of both the Sword and Saber Sect and the Thunder Fist Sect perished at the hands of the Demon Sect, yet you survived alongside Bao Jing the Monk. This clearly shows your exceptional prowess, with skills ranking amongst the top in Jiangnan.

But in a vast world, Jiangnan is merely a southeast corner. The Central Plains and the Great Desert also have countless masters. If you, with your martial talent, do not make a name across the land, it would truly be a loss. When you return, I hope to meet you at Cyan Yang Inn; the old beggar awaits.

A chicken claw bone.

****

Qin Yuesheng didn’t speak. Who was this guy? He wrote a lot without stating his true purpose. But since he knew about the events at the Treasure Bottle Temple that night, it’s likely he had communicated with Lian Baishan and Master Bao Jing.

Because on that night, only those two survived. Lian Baishan, lacking Lightweight Skill, arrived a step late and fortunately missed the six-word mantra from the giant skull, while Master Bao Jing purely relied on sheer strength to survive.

Crumpling the letter, Qin Yuesheng did not intend to rush to the Cyan Yang Inn. Since it was the other party seeking him out and not the other way around, he decided to let him wait and perhaps go see in the evening when free.

With that, Qin Yuesheng used his Lightweight Skill to search around the house for Qin Feng and Duan Hongjin.

Upon finding the couple, Qin Feng, seeing his son return safely, immediately and joyously asked about his journey.

Qin Yuesheng omitted the dangerous parts and primarily shared stories about the local customs and practices he encountered on his journey.

For a moment, the family of three was united in happiness.