Chapter 19

"Sure!" Xun Tan was overjoyed. "Is Big Brother finally going to study magic?" He quickly led Xun Yi to the study and deliberately set up a barrier to shield others from prying.

In this world where the Way of the Gods flourished, magic was not a secret. Each county and city had specialists stationed to test individuals' talents, allowing them to enter the specialized cultivation grounds of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The dynasty used its power to cultivate sorcerers, alchemists, and qi cultivators to participate in the conquest of other continents.

"Will the Qingyuan Hall say anything if I study?"

"It's our family's own place, what's there to fear!" Xun Tan waved his hand, completely disregarding the rules of the Qingyuan Hall.

Lord Maode had three sons. The eldest inherited the title, which is Xun Yi's line. By the time of Xun Yi, he was the fifth-generation grandson of Lord Maode.

The second son loved money from a young age. With his father's support, he went into business and later expanded, so the Xun family members outside of Longchuan were all from this line. This line was also a major pillar of the Xun family's finances.

The youngest son inherited Lord Maode's cultivation talent and founded the Qingyuan Hall. Therefore, Xun Tan didn't have to cultivate at the Xuan Academy of the Imperial College like ordinary people; he could directly be a "little princess" in the family-founded sect.

"Great-uncle has no descendants and is now at a critical moment of advancing to a Celestial Deity. He would be delighted if our family had more cultivation talents, so the Qingyuan Hall could have a successor." Xun Tan also wanted Xun Yi to gradually progress. If he could somehow treat his heart ailment, it would be even better.

"What does Big Brother want to learn? Just magic? Cultivating qi is too time-consuming. Big Brother only needs to cultivate the Maolin Sword. Reaching a high realm with the Maolin Sword can awaken divine nature."

Seeing Xun Yi's confusion, Xun Tan slapped her forehead. "Right, Big Brother hasn't cultivated at the Qingyuan Hall, so you don't know this. The Maolin Sword taps into bloodline talents. There's a rule in the clan: when one reaches the third realm, Maolin Shao Hua, they must visit the Qingyuan Hall. Do you know why?"

"For the subsequent cultivation techniques?"

"Exactly. The Maolin Sword has five realms, transforming from the mundane to the divine. The last two realms' techniques are in the Qingyuan Hall. The 'Maolin Sword Technique,' 'Twelve Flower Laws,' and 'Qinghua Xuan Qi' are the three major techniques of our Qingyuan Hall, all capable of reaching the Celestial Deity level. The Maolin Shao Hua realm is enough to enter the Dao and begin true cultivation."

"Then, according to the five realms, which realm does Maolin Shao Hua correspond to?"

"The third realm." Xun Tan explained, "The starting point of the Maolin Sword is the third realm, refining a thread of divine nature. Then, sensing the virtue of wood and refining the divine soul is enough to achieve Dao and ascend to a Celestial Deity. This is a spiritual cultivation technique parallel to the orthodox nine realms."

But the problem is that divine nature is hard to come by, and few family heads have reached this step throughout the generations.

"Then I'll learn the Flower Laws."

"Which one of the Twelve Flower Laws do you want to learn?"

Flowers have their blooming periods. Arranged by the most common blooming periods, the flowers correspond to months, forming the Twelve Flower Laws. This was a unique skill created by the Flower Goddess in the Xiaohuang era. In the past, Lord Maode entered the forbidden grounds of the Flower Palace and found this supreme technique. This was the earliest external cultivation method of the Xiaohuang era.

"I'll learn the March Peach."

"I guessed you would choose this one." Xun Tan looked down on Xun Yi, who favored peach blossoms among all flowers, while Xun Tan preferred night-blooming cereus. Unfortunately, night-blooming cereus was not included in the Twelve Flower Laws, which was Xun Tan's greatest regret.

"The March Peach, also known as Shuota Zui Chun, originates from the Great Peach Tree on Dushuo Mountain in the East Sea, which stretches for three thousand miles. Because Dushuo drives away ghosts, this technique, Shuota Zui Chun, can also expel evil spirits." Xun Tan imparted this technique to Xun Yi.

This was both a cultivation technique and a combat move, a Flower Goddess skill that could be integrated into fist, palm, and finger techniques, as well as sword, spear, and halberd techniques.

More importantly, this Shuota Zui Chun technique also studied peach blossoms, similar to the third move of the Maolin Sword, Zhuohua Taotao. If the two could be combined, it would be his strongest move.

With the foundation of Zhuohua Taotao and his family's talent for wood control, Xun Yi quickly got the hang of it. He also vaguely felt that he had seen this move somewhere before, probably just a couple of days ago.

"You learned it so quickly?" Seeing the green peach petals in Xun Yi's hand, Xun Tan was surprised and taught him another move: "In the Maolin Sword Technique, there's a move called Gui Xiang Lihun. In the Flower Laws, there's also osmanthus. The osmanthus in August is fragrant for ten miles. Big Brother can try it."

However, perhaps because Xun Yi favored peach blossoms, he spent half a day but still couldn't grasp the "Muxi Bao Yue" move.

The study where the siblings were located was on the second floor, adjacent to Xun Yi's bedroom. Xun Tan set up a barrier to prevent others from prying, but there was still someone in the courtyard secretly learning.

Continuously making gestures, using moonlight to perform Muxi Bao Yue, the crescent moon's silver glow danced in his palm. The man muttered to himself, "These two Flower Laws are the Flower Goddess's ultimate skills. Even one technique is enough to reach the Celestial Deity level. Legend has it that when the Twelve Flower Laws are combined, they have even stronger attacks and can open the Flower Palace's hidden treasures."

Muxi Bao Yue could be figured out based on his experience, but Shuota Zui Chun was difficult. "It seems I can only use the flower vase in Young Master's hands to understand the March Peach spell."

"Liuhui, what are you doing!" Suddenly, a man with a basin in his hands came out of the small building. "It's so late, why aren't you sleeping?"

"Go to sleep first. I'm afraid Young Master and Miss will call us for something, so I'll wait." Liuhui saw it was Zhang Song and relaxed, at least it wasn't the two from the family.

"Young Master and Miss are talking, and there are Bai Shan and Dai Ping to serve them. Go to sleep early!" Zhang Song yawned and stood guard at the gate. "You'll have to take my shift later!"

In the Xun family's small building, besides Xun Yi, the head of the household, there were four maids, four servants, Aunt Xue, and Manager Liu. Among these people, Xun Yi clearly relied more on Liu Ziming and Aunt Xue, followed by Dai Ping and Bai Shan. Zhang Song was just the gatekeeper, and Liuhui was a mere sweeper.

Liuhui responded, deeply gazing at the study. "Calculating the time, those city gods should be here soon." He lowered his head, concealing his own magic, and withdrew the Heavenly Listening Technique, entering the house obediently.

Xun Yi and his sister were studying the Twelve Flower Laws. As Xun Yi focused on combining Shuota Zui Chun and Zhuohua Taotao, a white figure flew toward them.

"Who's there!" Xun Yi and Xun Tan's eyes turned cold, and they both attacked simultaneously, two "Shuota Zui Chun" moves transforming into green peach spiritual light and shooting toward the white figure.

"Damn! You guys are too ruthless!" This move was specifically for ghosts, and his ghostly body couldn't withstand it! Bai Fu quickly spat out a golden dragon, a treasure bestowed by the high ancestor, to swallow the green peach.

Bai Fu anxiously said, "Young Master, quickly go to the City God's Mansion, something has happened there!"

Xun Yi instinctively looked at Xun Tan. Xun Tan's face changed. "City God's Mansion? What happened? Are they looking for Big Brother to do something?" She grabbed Xun Yi's robe, vigilantly watching Bai Fu, preventing Xun Yi from leaving, like a protective mother hen.

"The City God is being promoted. Before the new City God arrives, I'm temporarily taking over." He patted Xun Tan's head, comforting his sister. "What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"It's the Divine Path Battle." Bai Fu smiled bitterly. He had just taken over the City God position for two days, and so many things had happened.

"Divine Path Battle? I want to go too!" Xun Tan hugged Xun Yi's arm, glaring fiercely at Bai Fu. "Don't think I don't know. This temporary City God position might not be a good job. It's not that the previous City God left a mess and is making Big Brother take the blame, is it?" Thinking of how close her brother had come to dying today, Xun Tan refused to let him go.

"Then let's go together?" Xun Yi hesitated. "Xun Tan has cultivation, so it should be fine."

"Let's go together." Bai Fu felt the high level of spiritual energy in Xun Tan, rivaling his own. Reluctantly, he said, "Young Master's City God Seal has been fully activated by Prince Longge. Just activate the seal to go to the City God's Mansion, and this time, bring your physical body."

"Alright!" Xun Yi pulled Xun Tan, activated the City God Seal, and dressed in the City God's robe. As the surrounding space twisted, the two landed in the City God's Hall with Bai Fu.

The gods in the City God's Hall were anxious. The civil and military judges and the four generals blocked the entrance, preventing the city gods from entering.

"Don't say you're busy! I just saw the new City God not long ago. I know he's in the mansion. What are you trying to do, blocking us from meeting him? Are you planning to do something in secret?" The City God of Jinglong City scolded the civil and military judges. "Our Longchuan County has such a big issue, and you want to hide it from the new City God?"

"That's right, move aside!" The City God of Yonglong City was also anxious. "Are you going to let Chulu be taken by the Baying County guys?"

Seeing the situation, Bai Fu quickly said to Xun Yi, "Young Master, please take your seat and maintain your composure. Don't panic; we're here for you."

"Alright." Sensing the urgency, Xun Yi didn't play around and sat on the throne, waiting for everyone to enter.

Xun Tan's face was grim, seemingly understanding the situation from the arguments outside.

"Divine Path Battle, you really dare. My brother hasn't truly cultivated, and you want him to get involved in this conflict?" Xun Tan was furious, clasped her hands, and a white mountain tea flower bloomed between them.

"Cloud Tea Conceals Mist." The mountain tea flower from the Twelve Flower Laws, with illusion and invisibility, Xun Tan vanished, standing beside Xun Yi and quietly explaining the situation of the Divine Path Battle.

"If I'm not mistaken, those people want Big Brother to lead the gods of Longchuan County to fight for the ownership of Chulu."

Chulu? Xun Yi recalled. Chulu was the border between Longchuan County and Baying County. But which side the vast forested mountain range belonged to had never been definitively decided. The Great Zhou Dynasty had debated for years without a conclusion.

Golden light flashed, and the door was forcibly pushed open. The city gods rushed in. "Chulu is our land in Longchuan. Please, City God, make a decision."

Xun Yi didn't speak, his gaze falling on the civil and military judges. Sitting upright, his demeanor, cultivated from a young age, calmed the crowd. The city gods, not suspecting anything, looked at their new superior with hopeful eyes.

The civil and military judges smiled bitterly. They knew Xun Yi's background, didn't they? Even if Xun Yi had fully inherited the City God Seal, he couldn't use divine power, so how could a divine battle start? And that divine battle hadn't even been decided yet!

"We should try to delay until the new City God takes over and let him handle it." The civil judge thought, unwilling to hand over the battle document.

The City God of Yonglong City was quick, snatching the document from his hand and respectfully handing it to Xun Yi. "This is the challenge letter from the City God of Baying County. Please, City God, make a decision."

Xun Yi briefly looked at it. The divine script was intricate, but after inheriting the City God Seal, he could naturally understand this divine text. It was a challenge letter from the City God of Baying County, proposing a divine battle to determine the ownership of Chulu.

"Fine, since that's the case, I accept." Xun Yi's face remained unchanged as he decisively picked up the seal and stamped it on the document. Immediately, it split into two copies, one of which turned into a paper crane and flew out of the hall.

"Good, what a straightforward divine friend! I'll be waiting for you in the Zhou Dynasty Dragon Palace!" A hearty laugh echoed through the City God's Mansion and then disappeared.

"Young Master, what are you doing?" The civil judge was furious. "Where do you get the confidence to challenge a well-established old City God?"

"There's no need to say more. Since I hold the City God position, I cannot let our land be encroached upon. Let's go to the Zhou Dynasty Dragon Palace."

The city gods looked pleased and immediately gathered around Xun Yi to head to the highest divine palace of the Great Zhou City God system. For mobile users, please visit http://m.piaotia.net

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