Chapter 99

**Update Time: August 31, 2012**

Xu Fengnian joked, "That makes sense. When we enter Xiangfan, remember to stay far away from me. Otherwise, why would I have cut down so many fine peach trees at Jin Lanting's estate? It's because Grandpa Wei is a high-ranking Daoist of the Nine Dippers, and he carries several peachwood swords to slay demons. You should get closer to him these few days. Otherwise, you'll be haunted by countless wandering spirits. Women are inherently yin, and their yang energy is much weaker than men's. Even the old sword god Li Laojian couldn't save you."

Jiang Ni's face turned even paler, and she stammered, wanting to refute and boost her courage but not knowing what to say.

The beauty of the little clay figure had always ranked among the top three in Xu Fengnian's life. The first place was undoubtedly the androgynous White Fox Face, and the second was a woman he saw by the Luo River during his three-year travels, whom he couldn't distinguish as a noblewoman or the River Goddess. She was beautiful, but her appearance, like a fixed pattern on a nineteen-line Go board, didn't change much. The little clay figure, however, had been growing over the years. The princess with the "Peaceful" title, who once had a flat chest, was no longer "peaceful" but had become increasingly fuller. One day, she might quietly rival the White Fox Face. At this moment, with her face looking particularly poor, the little clay figure had a unique charm. Xu Fengnian enjoyed teasing, bullying, and scheming against her. Part of the reason was habit, and the other was that he felt that the little clay figure, though beautiful, lacked spirit when she was stern and lifeless, unlike when she was angry and frustrated, which made her more adorable.

The old sword god, unable to bear the innocent Jiang Ni being deceived and frightened by this little Xu rascal, said irritably, "Girl, this little bastard is deliberately tricking you. The concept of ghosts is like that of gods; it exists if you believe in it, and it doesn't if you don't. I've traveled the world and seen all sorts of wonders and extraordinary people, but when it comes to gods, only Old Daoist Qi counts. If Xiangfan really had ten thousand unwilling spirits, how could hundreds of thousands of living people survive here?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, not minding the old sword god's mocking words. He was quite indifferent to such things, not because he was born with a thick skin, but because he had been forced to develop it. He continued to bend the arrow in his hand, whistling and enjoying himself. The old sword god was frustrated that the Xu boy's nonsense was more effective than his earnest advice. Jiang Ni's beautiful little face remained pale, and she seemed ready to run to Wei Shuyang, who had a peachwood sword, even though they hadn't yet reached Xiangfan. Jiang Ni, deeply believing in ghosts and spirits, said timidly, "Then I won't enter the city; I'll stay on the boat!"

The old sword god could only roll his eyes and sigh, thinking that the little bastard was truly Jiang Ni's nemesis.

Xu Fengnian smiled, "When we reach Xiangfan, we'll have to abandon the boat and travel by land. What will you do then? Stay on the boat forever? I should tell you that the lake is also full of drowned spirits. Do you really think the ten-year siege of Xiangfan was just a simple city battle? Only after the Xiangfan navy was completely wiped out could the city be besieged. Inside the city, there's at least the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain performing the Grand Zhou Tian Daoist Ritual. What's outside?"

Jiang Ni was speechless, on the verge of tears.

The old man couldn't bear to listen anymore. He rubbed his crotch and decided to walk around the Yellow Dragon boat. Let these two troublemakers do as they please; he didn't want to get involved.

Jiang Ni asked timidly, "The Grand Zhou Tian Daoist Ritual set up by the old immortal of Longhu Mountain, with 36,500 positions, is very effective, right?"

Xu Fengnian glanced at Li Chunjiang's back and said playfully, "Of course. The Grand Zhou Tian Daoist Ritual is the highest ritual of Daoism, with 1,200 divine altars, which is a grand event that only occurs when the imperial family or the Daoist ancestral temple faces a major crisis. The word 'ritual' means the ceremony of pouring wine, which, in simple terms, means the Daoist priests inviting the heavenly gods to drink. In the past, the most grand ritual was for a prince, with 2,400 divine beings descending to bless and eliminate disasters, and for the emperor, with 3,600 divine beings descending to protect the country and its people. The unprecedented 36,500 Grand Zhou Tian Daoist Ritual in Xiangfan, established by the Celestial Master's Mansion, is equivalent to inviting all the heavenly saints. The initial cost of offerings alone was 900,000 silver taels from the national treasury. If it weren't effective, the Celestial Master's Mansion would have long moved out of Longhu Mountain."

Jiang Ni nodded vigorously, clenched her fists, and her face relaxed a lot.

Unexpectedly, Xu Fengnian changed his tone and said with a sinister smile, "But don't forget, just like you said that the Jing'an Prince needs two or three thousand troops to deal with me, the stronger the enemy, the greater the spectacle. If Xiangfan didn't have hard-to-subdue evil spirits, why would the dynasty spend so much money?"

Jiang Ni was scared stiff again.

Xu Fengnian casually threw the bow and arrow to a Northern Liang light cavalryman downstairs who was collecting arrows, walked towards Jiang Ni, and lowered his voice, "I not only have Grandpa Wei's help but also carry many Daoist talismans. When we reach Xiangfan, you might as well sleep with me. If not in the same bed, at least in the same room."

Jiang Ni kicked Xu Fengnian in the knee, her voice trembling with anger, "I'd rather be killed by a wandering spirit than live with you!"

Xu Fengnian bent down, patted his expensive white silk robe, and praised with a thumbs-up, "You have spirit!"

Xu Fengnian pretended to remember something and said with a sinister smile, "Right, I remember. The ten thousand wandering spirits in Xiangfan are enemies of Xu Xiao. They are my mortal enemies. If you are killed by the wandering spirits, you will have a lot in common with them. The more they like you, the less likely you are to be reborn. You can spend day and night complaining about me, for ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years..."

The little clay figure stared at this most despicable, most sinister, and most unscrupulous prince, her eyes red with tears.

Xu Fengnian sighed quietly, composed himself, and reached out to wipe the tears from the little girl's cheeks. But before Jiang Ni could turn her head, he withdrew his hand and said softly, "Little fool, did you really believe my nonsense? Think about it, you, who are so determined to kill me with a divine talisman, how could the wandering spirits bear to harm you? They would rather you live a long life to avenge them, wouldn't they?"

Jiang Ni nodded woodenly and sniffled.

Xu Fengnian turned to look in the direction of Xiangfan, his hands on his sword, the breeze blowing across his face and sleeves, making the prince with the phoenix eyes and a red mark on his forehead look like a celestial being.

Xu Fengnian whispered to himself, "So what are you afraid of? I should be the one afraid of Xiangfan. You know I truly believe in Buddhism, the six realms of rebirth, and cause and effect."

Jiang Ni wiped her eyes and asked blankly, "Then why are you going to Xiangfan?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "To see the spectacle, the 36,500 Grand Zhou Tian Daoist Ritual. Don't you want to see it?"

Jiang Ni shook her head, "Not at all!"

Xu Fengnian stretched, "Come, it's time for you to read."

The books were on the merchant ship. The two of them walked down the Yellow Dragon boat one after the other. Xu Fengnian said he would carry her in one leap, but she refused. Xu Fengnian had to stop the two boats and place a wooden board between them. Xu Fengnian let Jiang Ni go first, and she walked cautiously as if on thin ice. But the more afraid she was, the more likely something would happen. Halfway across, Jiang Ni swayed and almost fell into the Spring Spirit Lake. Fortunately, Xu Fengnian caught her by the shoulders. However, due to severe seasickness and inability to swim, she didn't dare move after stabilizing herself. Amused, Xu Fengnian picked up the peculiar girl who was brave enough to try to assassinate him but too timid to take another step, and carried her across the board, ignoring her struggles. He put her down, and she kicked and punched him. In the cabin, she read with gritted teeth, while Xu Fengnian, multitasking, listened to her read and read the geography of Qingzhou, with a map of Xiangfan on the table.

Just looking at the map, it was a formidable city.

In the following days, the Qingzhou noblewomen left in three batches. Most of them didn't want to go to Xiangfan, partly because the ghost city was too yin, and partly because they didn't want to be seen by the Jing'an Prince's mansion entering the city with the Northern Liang prince.

The oval-faced beauty was the last to leave. She spent most of the past few days chatting and drinking tea with the prince. She had been touched, stepped on, hugged, and pinched, but fortunately, she remained a virgin. Whether this was