Chapter 507: Three hundred seventy-nine, Xin Dingjian Secret!

Three hundred seventy-nine, Xin Dingjian Secret!

Night is like ink.

On the official road from the West Gate to the Xunyang Grottoes.

Clusters of white robes and white armor were very conspicuous in the darkness.

"Blood Bronze..."

Ouyang Rong, in a green Confucian robe, rode alone at the very front, turning his head to look at the large team of Bai Hu Guard iron cavalry silently following behind.

His expression was somewhat lost as he chewed on this term.

Rong Zhen and Commandant Yi Qianqiu rode on both sides, not speaking, leaving him time to ponder.

Behind the three of them, snoring sounds came from the carriage the old musician was riding in.

This official road to the Xunyang Grottoes had been carefully repaired after Ouyang Rong took office as Prefect, using the budget of the Jiangzhou government, so there wasn't much bumping.

The old musician, who had played for a whole day, slept quite soundly.

Ouyang Rong took a deep breath and asked the two women who were keeping silent beside him in a low voice:

"What is the unknown killing power contained in that great formation?"

Ouyang Rong had heard from Lu Ya and the Sanqing Daoist Sect before that the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect had a legendary formation covering Jiang Nan, and he also knew that the Lady Yunmeng Order was somewhat related to this formation.

But he didn't expect that this formation could still operate. It turned out that the Lady Yunmeng Order was equivalent to a branch formation eye, and the material used to cast it, named Blood Bronze, was so special...

Pointed out by the secrets revealed by Rong Zhen and Commandant Yi Qianqiu, Ouyang Rong was suddenly enlightened, and for a moment, he had a thousand thoughts.

Many things that had been ignored or doubted in the past were like pearls, strung together by the thin thread of "Blood Bronze."

"Still unknown." Rong Zhen shook her head.

Ouyang Rong took the blood-stained bronze short sword from Commandant Yi Qianqiu's hand and examined it. At a certain moment, he narrowed his eyes and speculated:

"Since the Lady Yunmeng Order is sword-shaped and is a so-called branch formation eye, then is the true formation eye also a sword? The Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect is the number one sword sect in the world. Is this great formation related to the legendary Xin Dingjian?"

Commandant Yi Qianqiu looked at Ouyang Rong more, and opened her mouth:

"It's not unreasonable. However, for thousands of years, no one has known the details of this great formation guarded by the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect. We only know that the Lady Yunmeng Order cannot be separated from it. This formation has existed since the Pre-Qin period, and the time is too long ago. I don't know if it's still useful.

"But looking at it now, the Lady Yunmeng Yue women dare to distribute the Lady Yunmeng Order widely again. Looking at it this way, this formation still has some use..."

Rong Zhen nodded lightly:

"That's right. Those who have seen the killing power of this formation in the past should all be dead. There are no specific records, and even the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect has always downplayed its existence. There hasn't been any news about it for a long time."

Ouyang Rong suddenly spoke:

"Wait, if it's related to the mythical Xin Dingjian, then there is a doubt here. Did this formation already exist in the Pre-Qin period?"

"If the records are correct, it is like this, because the era when the first Yue Maiden lived was in the Spring and Autumn period. The Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect was also born in the poor mountains and bad waters of the Wu-Yue region at that time. This legendary great formation should also have been established by someone at that time. Being able to cover the entire Tiannan, it is very likely the work of the Heaven-men of the Divine Land..."

Ouyang Rong interrupted: "When was the first Xin Dingjian born?"

Rong Zhen answered with a serious tone:

"The first Xin Dingjian was born in the Qin period, named 【Longevity Medicine】, which led to the death of the First Emperor and indirectly promoted the Qin's destruction a thousand years ago... It was also from that time that the first Tripod Struggle among practitioners began, and only then were the Tripod Swords born one by one."

Ouyang Rong's tone was decisive:

"The time doesn't match. This great formation has existed for much longer than the first Xin Dingjian."

Rong Zhen and Commandant Yi Qianqiu exchanged a glance.

The former nodded lightly:

"It really is. Very detailed. However, it doesn't exclude that this formation of the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect is related to the 【Tripod】 that hasn't turned into a sword. Such a hidden upper sect has had 【Tripod】s. I don't know if the 【Tripod】 turned into a sword later."

"Mm."

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, digested it for a while, raised his head, and asked:

"But how does the Astronomical Bureau know that the Lady Yunmeng Order can mobilize the unknown killing power of this great formation? If there were records, why is the specific killing power of this formation unknown?"

The two women were silent for a while.

Commandant Yi Qianqiu turned a deaf ear and rode her horse in front.

Rong Zhen was quiet for a short while and shook her head:

"Actually, the Astronomical Bureau only recorded the function of Blood Bronze. The material of the Lady Yunmeng Order is Blood Bronze. It was also recently discovered after these Yue women distributed the Lady Yunmeng Order widely and we confiscated them."

Ouyang Rong looked toward Rong Zhen, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The first time the Lady Yunmeng Order was discovered was in the old prefecture prison, confiscated after torturing the hero Zheng Jun. At that time, Rong Zhen didn't mention this matter to him and Qin Yanqing. Looking back now, it's no wonder her reaction was so intense at the time, insisting on searching every corner of Xunyang City and catching everyone who privately hid this item.

Commandant Yi Qianqiu waved her hand and said:

"Let's just assume it's related to the Xin Dingjian. We will deal with it with this worst-case scenario."

"Can."

Ouyang Rong nodded, examined the blood-stained bronze short sword for a while, and asked directly:

"General Yi, when you first arrived at the Xunyang Grottoes, you once pulled Lady Rong and Deputy Supervisor Song to privately discuss important matters. Was it because you confiscated this item?"

Ouyang Rong signaled the Lady Yunmeng Order in his hand:

"So you recognized this item at that time?"

Commandant Yi Qianqiu rode her horse steadily, wearing the white silver tiger mask, her tone flat:

"Mm. Lady Rong is right. Prefect Ouyang is indeed smart and has a keen sense of smell. That day, this general was an outsider. Prefect, don't blame me."

Ouyang Rong asked casually:

"Did Commander Yi see Blood Bronze before and know the special function of this item?"

She was not a person from the Astronomical Bureau, but the Commander of the Bai Hu Guard, a mere martial artist. How did she know the top-secret news of the Astronomical Bureau about "Blood Bronze" that even a Prefect-level official didn't know?

Commandant Yi Qianqiu turned her head and looked at Ouyang Rong, who was questioning her repeatedly.

The white silver tiger mask shone brightly in the moonlight, somewhat stinging people's eyes.

Ouyang Rong's eyes didn't dodge, looking straight at her squarely.

Commandant Yi Qianqiu opened her mouth:

"The Bai Hu Guard is one of the four great imperial guards. As a Grade 4 Bai Hu Guard Commander, the secrets this general knows are still more than Prefect Ouyang's. Prefect, you can try to transfer to the imperial guards when you return to the capital to report on your duties in the future. At that time, what you know won't be less than what this general knows."

"Oh, is that so."

Ouyang Rong looked at the two women with a meaningful look.

They didn't seem to understand the great formation of the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect, but they were exceptionally knowledgeable about Blood Bronze and were exceptionally wary of the Lady Yunmeng Order made of this material, being exceptionally fearful of it.

He turned his head and wanted to question Rong Zhen.

In his mind, a matter suddenly popped up.

Ouyang Rong silently closed his mouth.

The three of them didn't speak all the way and sent the old musician back to the Xunyang Grottoes.

Ouyang Rong discussed the pipa party at Xunyang Tower with Rong Zhen and said goodbye to leave.

Just after returning to Xunyang City, Ouyang Rong went straight to Star Child Lane.

This time, he didn't enter the quiet courtyard, but came directly to the Temple of Heaven, finding Yuan Bangxian, who was cooling off on a rocking chair in the courtyard.

"Where is the thing?" Ouyang Rong asked as soon as he entered the door.

"What thing?" Yuan Bangxian was curious, quietly hiding a straight wooden stick behind his back.

Ouyang Rong's expression was serious: "The authentic manuscript scroll of Tao Qian's 'Peach Blossom Spring'."

Yuan Bangxian breathed a sigh of relief: "So it's this, you should have said so earlier."

Under Ouyang Rong's frowning gaze, Yuan Bangxian ran back into the room and brought out the authentic manuscript scroll of "Peach Blossom Spring."

Ouyang Rong didn't open it, lowering his head to examine it carefully.

Yuan Bangxian also discovered this point. His friend didn't even look at the content of the authentic manuscript scroll, but was slowly stroking its wooden shaft.

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked: "The bronze shaft that Daoist Wu asked you for back then, was it very similar to this thing?"

"This is?"

Yuan Bangxian looked closely at the thing Ouyang Rong took out, his expression surprised.

This was a bronze short sword.

"Let me see." He took the Lady Yunmeng Order, examined it, and nodded lightly:

"The material is very similar. Wait, isn't this the same kind of thing? Both are bronze wares..."

Ouyang Rong said calmly: "This thing seems to be called Blood Bronze."

"Blood Bronze?"

Ouyang Rong observed Yuan Bangxian's curious expression; it didn't look like he was pretending.

He also remembered a matter Yuan Bangxian had mentioned before: when Rong Zhen learned that Daoist Wu had taken away the bronze shaft, her reaction was very calm.

This at least reflected one thing: Rong Zhen knew at the time that this item was Blood Bronze.

Secondly, this matter didn't seem to be too serious, or rather, no bad consequences had been discovered for the time being.

Looking back now, Blood Bronze was not a Xin Dingjian after all. Being intercepted by someone indeed couldn't be considered too big an oversight.

Didn't he see the Lady Yunmeng Orders of the Lady Yunmeng Sword Sect being distributed everywhere? It meant that wanting to use Blood Bronze, besides needing a special formation, also required a specific way of using it.

Just two bronze shafts alone didn't have much use.

Thinking of this, Ouyang Rong also remembered the matter the little ink spirit had mentioned before.

On the battlefield of the Yuanjia Northern Expedition, the 【Cold Scholar】 azure-colored rainbow-like sword energy had appeared. And according to the little ink spirit's memory at the time, before this, the National Master of Liu Song had brought this scroll of "Peach Blossom Spring" from the palace overnight.

This meant that this authentic manuscript scroll of "Peach Blossom Spring" was not the 【Cold Scholar】 itself, but it was closely related to the 【Cold Scholar】, at least... it could utilize its sword energy!

Looking at it this way, Blood Bronze and the corresponding formation were indeed closely related to the Xin Dingjian, and the killing power that could be mobilized was very likely the power of the Xin Dingjian. This point was not exaggerated and should be dealt with seriously.

Ouyang Rong suddenly said:

"Brother Bangxian, you being beaten by Commander Yi last time was not without reason."

Yuan Bangxian was stunned.

"Lend me this authentic manuscript again."

Ouyang Rong took the "Peach Blossom Spring" that had lost its Blood Bronze and turned to leave.

Leaving behind a dumbfounded Yuan Bangxian.

"Great Female Monarch, why didn't the Second Female Monarch come?"

"The Second Junior Sister left first."

"Left first?"

"There is an important matter to handle, so she went to Jiangzhou first."

"So that's how it is."

Snow Wood Villa, at the entrance of a stone hall underground.

Wei Shaoqi, with an elegant posture, stood at the entrance, and Du Shuqing was packing things inside the stone room.

Snow Candle came to find them alone.

Wei Shaoqi looked at the Yue women passing by, all of whom were packing things, preparing to withdraw.

Inside the stone hall, Du Shuqing re-shouldered a wrapped scroll of "Peach Blossom Spring."

This was returned personally by the Second Female Monarch, Yu Nianyuan, a few days ago.

Actually, at that time, Wei Shaoqi already knew the attitude of this Great Female Monarch.

"This humble person and Shuqing will definitely do our best to assist." He cupped his fists.

Snow Candle, who had temporarily sent away a certain Longhu Mountain Yellow-Purple Daoist, walked with her hands behind her back, her voice cold:

"Then I will trouble Mr. Wei. Let's go, we should also set off, before those imperial court running dogs smell the scent and find us."

Wei Shaoqi coughed violently for a while and finally coughed comfortably.

He covered his mouth with a handkerchief, took a long breath, lowered his eyes to look at the handkerchief, and then calmly put it into his sleeve.

"No matter, being able to help the Great Female Monarch is our honor."

Snow Candle stopped with her hands behind her back, standing in place:

"I haven't asked yet, where did you get these Blood Bronze shafts? They look a bit old. The small characters engraved on them are from the Southern Dynasty, right?"

Wei Shaoqi was silent for a while and said softly:

"From the Yuan clan south of Chang'an City."

"Chang'an Yuan clan?"

Du Shuqing interrupted in a muffled voice:

"It is the former Northern Wei imperial family."

"Northern Wei imperial family?"

Snow Candle sneered when she heard this term:

"So these remnants of the Xianbei barbarians are still around. Chang'an and Luoyang really have all kinds of monsters and ghosts."

Wei Shaoqi's expression was also somewhat emotional, pointing to the "Peach Blossom Spring" and saying:

"Mm, Guanzhong is the center of the world, gathering heroes and embracing all rivers... However, if it weren't for this thing, does the Great Female Monarch think that a family of descendants of the former imperial family could be so easily accepted by the authentic Guanzhong gentlemen?"

Snow Candle sneered and questioned:

"Since it was offered up, why wasn't this Blood Bronze shaft taken by the pseudo-Zhou imperial court? Instead, it fell into your hands."

Wei Shaoqi gently stroked the painting scroll and unfolded it gently.

A Peach Blossom Spring appeared on the paper.

The middle-aged Confucian scholar hid blood in his handkerchief, but pointed to the scroll and said with a smile:

"Because the mediocre descendants of the Northern Wei Yuan clan and those who sit in high positions and do nothing in the pseudo-Zhou court do not know the true mystery of this item, and do not know what Blood Bronze is used for. Especially this bronze shaft from the hands of Tao Qian—the tricks of the current Astronomical Bureau are all just imitating others."

Snow Candle glanced at the scroll shaft, her tone cold:

"How is Tao Qian not also imitating others?"

Wei Shaoqi shook his head firmly:

"It's different. Tao Qian is no small matter. As the legendary sword master of 【Cold Scholar】, he is not undeserving of his reputation. Even if he is truly the thief in the Great Female Monarch's mouth, what he did still makes people respect him. He has the merit of founding a sect, making the Xin Dingjian of the future no longer the Xin Dingjian of a few people, but the Xin Dingjian of a country.

"He truly gave his all for the Liu Song of the Southern Dynasty, but the Liu Song of the Southern Dynasty did not live up to his efforts."

Snow Candle frowned as she listened, sneering:

"Including the Liu Song of the Southern Dynasty, the Six Dynasties, how have they lived up to the expectations of my sect?"

"Perhaps."

Wei Shaoqi nodded lightly, his eyes recalling:

"Even a strange person like Mr. Wu highly respects Tao Qian. And being able to bring this 'Peach Blossom Spring' of Tao Qian back to light is thanks to Mr. Wu's discerning eyes."

Snow Candle turned her eyes.

"Mr. Wu?"

—————— ===== CHAPTER 508 =====

"Mr. Wu?"

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