Chapter 507: Imperial Envoy, Here to Deliver the Edict

The seven bronze star disks before Teng Qingxing trembled violently at once.

He snapped his eyes open, pupils constricting: "Someone wants to block me?"

The Masked Man was about to turn and leave, but hearing this he paused: "What did you say?"

Teng Qingxing gave no reply, his hands swiftly shifting seals as he murmured the incantation.

The seven star disks gradually steadied, ceasing to tremble.

He closed his eyes again, attempting to continue the spell.

But this time, no matter how clearly he chanted the true words from the Northern Dipper True Scripture, it was as if he struck an invisible barrier.

The barrier was soft as cotton, yet no matter what he could not penetrate it.

Teng Qingxing's brows knotted tighter and tighter, he constantly changed hand signs, trying countless times to break through the barrier.

Each time he fell short by just a hair, yet that hair was like a heavenly chasm.

What startled him most was that the opponent wasn't even opposing him—just "blocking"—yet it prevented him from advancing even half a step.

Like an old man teasing a child, never letting you reach what you want.

Teng Qingxing was shocked in his heart, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He flung his eyes open, and the seven star lamps went out simultaneously.

He gasped for breath, his back robes soaked through.

The Masked Man stared intently at him: "Sir?"

Teng Qingxing waved a hand, only after a long while did his breathing settle.

He lifted his gaze to the Masked Man, eyes flickering with surprise and disbelief, excitement: "Sir, your country truly hides dragons and tigers."

The Masked Man's brows slightly furrowed: "What happened?"

Teng Qingxing slowly rose, walked to the courtyard, and gazed at the night sky: "Someone is protecting that child."

"Protecting?"

"Yes." Teng Qingxing's eyes shone: "That person is versed in the Northern Dipper Art, his attainment far above mine."

The Masked Man fell silent a moment: "Sir, do you have any countermeasure?"

Teng Qingxing lowered his head to look at the seven extinguished star disks on the ground, then suddenly laughed: "Interesting."

He turned his head to the Masked Man: "Sir, for today let's leave it here."

"Dawn is almost upon us; I need to enter seclusion to devise a response. Tonight, if he strikes again, I will battle him once more."

The Masked Man said: "Sir, do you have confidence?"

Teng Qingxing gave no answer, murmuring: "That master's arts are extremely ancient, older than everything I have studied."

His eyes burned with fervent light: "But I simply refuse to believe he can protect that child for a moment—could he really protect them for a lifetime?"

At daybreak, the National Preceptor's residence.

Chu Yuan calmly closed the ancient book in his hands: "Who are you? Why are you so obsessed? Could it truly be to deal with my disciple?"

"Taoist Priest Xuanwei, I am fortunate to have this ancient text you left behind, and also fortunate that my little disciple happened to pass it to me."

He smiled, lifted his teacup, took a sip: "That one who toiled all night must be exhausted. I wonder if he will act again tonight."

That night, Chu Yuan waited in silence.

Teng Qingxing exerted all his strength, giving his all in magical combat with him, but only lasted until midnight when the seven star disks before him suddenly shattered simultaneously.

He flung his eyes open, a mouthful of blood surged to his throat, which he forcibly swallowed back.

His face turned as pale as paper, yet his eye sockets were blackened to purple.

The Masked Man stood silently to the side, observing his appearance: "Sir?"

Teng Qingxing rose, produced the five-pointed star folded that day from Northern Dipper Seven Stars talisman paper, and faced the Masked Man: "Sir, may I borrow a bow and arrow?"

The Masked Man ordered a servant to fetch it and then handed it to him.

Teng Qingxing threaded the five-pointed star through the arrow, drew the bowstring taut aimed at the night sky above, then released—the star on the arrow ignited without fire, like a shooting star flying off into the distance.

He fixed his gaze on that point of light until it vanished from sight.

He pointed to where the arrow disappeared: "Sir, the one protecting that child is hidden in that direction of Jingcheng."

"Is there a master residing in the southwest of Jingcheng?"

The Masked Man pondered: "Southwest?"

"Indeed there are two who could be called masters: one is our state's National Preceptor Chu Yuan, the other is the Temple Master of Xuanqiong Temple, True Person Xuanqing."

Teng Qingxing: "……"

"There are actually two?"

The Masked Man asked: "Sir, do you suspect it is one of these two?"

Teng Qingxing pondered a moment: "Which of these two has a closer relationship with that child?"

The Masked Man replied: "They are evenly matched."

"The National Preceptor personally instructed her, and the Temple Master once gifted her his Star Constellation Flow Pearl."

Teng Qingxing: "……"

He could not suppress his rising anger: "Just who is this child, that two masters would favor her so?"

The Masked Man said lightly: "The reason for this should be told by you, sir."

"I invited you to Jingcheng precisely to uncover the secret of that child's identity."

Teng Qingxing drew a deep breath: "Sir, it is not that my cultivation is lacking, but rather that the master protecting that child holds a vital object in his hand."

The Masked Man asked: "What is it?"

"It should be a magical implement or a treatise on arcane arts—either way, I must obtain it!"

He paused: "With such a powerful item, how could it not end up in my hands?"

"Your Excellency, may I meet these two in person?"

Masked Man thought for a moment: "Sure. If you need, I can also send someone with you, under the pretext of capturing criminals, to help you obtain the thing you mentioned."

Teng Qingxing's eyes flickered: "I am not a subject of your nation; yet you, Your Excellency, would willingly bestow such a treasure?"

Masked Man stared at him: "One day when I unify the world, your nation's tiny speck of land will be nothing more than a subordinate of my fiery nation."

"No matter how powerful this treasure is, if I desire it, won't it still have to be handed over?"

Teng Qingxing met his gaze, secretly startled—this man's ambition was indeed that great!

He spoke of a nation's rise and fall as lightly as having a meal and tea.

Masked Man withdrew his gaze: "Sir, rest for now. Whenever you wish to see those two, send someone to inform me, and I will arrange it myself."

You want your realm; I only want the treasure! You and I each take what we need.

If I can get this treasure, I will become the strongest onmyoji in the world!

Teng Qingxing, for the first time, bowed respectfully and replied: "Thank you, Your Excellency."

At the Guoshi Residence, in a quiet chamber.

Chu Yuan closed the ancient tome, entered the secret chamber, placed the book on the desk, and gently picked up the cloth rabbit that Tuan Tuan had left on the couch.

He gently stroked the rabbit's ear: "Tuan Tuan, no matter who comes, if they intend to oppose you, I, as your master, will shield you."

More than ten days later, at Xibei Daying.

In the main tent, Prince Ning and his son sat nearby, and Xiao Jieyun cradled Tuan Tuan in his arms.

Tuan Tuan pointed at the map on the desk: "Imperial Uncle, is this the capital?"

Xiao Jieyun nodded: "Yes!"

Tuan Tuan's little hand gently traced the location of the capital: "Imperial Uncle, when can we go back?"

Just as Xiao Jieyun was about to speak, a close guard rushed in: "His Majesty! Someone from the capital has arrived!"

Xiao Jieyun asked: "The capital? Who? What business brings them here?"

The guard's face flushed red with urgency: "They say they're an imperial envoy, here to deliver an edict!"