Chapter 817

If Zinu recommending herself to follow Su Xuan out to sea was purely because she was interested in the Seven Luminaries of the Azure Dragon, then Duanmu Rong coming before Su Xuan to recommend herself was because she was interested in the overseas immortal mountains—no, it should be said, she was interested in certain things recorded in the "Liezi" as existing upon those immortal mountains.

In the "Tang Wen" chapter, Lie Yukou used a dialogue format to reveal the five overseas immortal mountains, stated the reasons for the disappearance of two of them, and described the scenes upon the immortal mountains.

Aside from immortals and many strange, auspicious birds and beasts, a type of "pearl-like tree" also grew on the immortal mountains; its fruit was sweet, and eating it could allow one to live forever, though this was more likely a legend of the Liezi.

But upon learning that the three immortal mountains, including Penglai, truly existed, Duanmu Rong very much wanted to ascend the immortal mountains to see their true appearance with her own eyes. Even if there were no "pearl-like trees" or the like, just treating them as the immortal mountains of legend, she thought there might exist some medicinal herbs that did not exist in the Central Plains, possessing effects unknown to men. If she could ascend the immortal mountains and study these medicinal herbs, perhaps she could gain new insights in the medical path, temper... and surpass her master.

Everyone has an obsession; for Duanmu Rong, her obsession was to surpass her master, Nian Duan.

From a very young age, she had always followed by her master's side to learn medicine. Her master's medical skills were profound, and she held great prestige among the many medical practitioners in the world; Duanmu Rong did not know where the limits of her master's medical skills truly lay.

When she was young, she did not feel it, but as she grew older, and as she learned more medical skills from her master and gradually gained her own understanding of the medical Dao, she discovered that she seemed to have always lived in her master's shadow.

Her master's medical skills were too strong.

They were already unfathomable before, and later, after joining the Yin-Yang School, combining the Yin-Yang School's alchemy and techniques, and listening to Su Xuan preach the Dao, she had advanced a step further on the foundation of her original medical skills.

For the world, this was naturally a good thing, especially since her master Nian Duan had compiled her lifelong learning into medical books, which, with the help of the Qin Guo, were spread throughout the world, saving countless lives.

But for Duanmu Rong, it was a depressing matter.

She was quite proud and considered herself to have great talent in the medical path, naturally harboring a heart to surpass her master, but reality was so cruel that she could never see the possibility of surpassing her master.

Until she learned that Su Xuan was going to crack the Seven Luminaries of the Azure Dragon, build the Mirage, and prepare to go out to sea.

Especially since Su Xuan's destination was the legendary three immortal mountains.

In "Liezi - Tang Wen," there were extremely detailed records of the three immortal mountains. Even if they might be the imaginings of Liezi, Duanmu Rong felt that she should go out and travel; perhaps she could find the possibility of surpassing her master in the outside world.

Su Xuan did not know these thoughts of Duanmu Rong, but he did see that Duanmu Rong had some obsessions.

And so, he agreed to Duanmu Rong's request.

Besides Zinu and Duanmu Rong, the person Su Xuan most wanted to bring was Yan Lingji.

Yan Lingji was the first servant he had taken in, and also the person who had followed by his side from the very beginning.

Since he was bringing so many people on this trip to sea to find the immortal mountains, Su Xuan naturally did not mind bringing Yan Lingji along, but after he learned of a certain matter, he changed his mind.

The matter he had learned of was that Ying Zheng had recently begun to set his sights on conquering Baiyue.

Baiyue was a general term for the ancient Yue tribes in the southern coastal region, also known as the Ancient Yue or Yue tribes. Because these ancient Yue tribes were numerous, they were called "Baiyue." The region these tribes occupied was extremely vast, stretching seven or eight thousand li from Jiaozhi to Kuaiji, with the Baiyue intermingled and each having their own clans.

In original history, after the Qin Guo unified the world, it had mobilized a great army to conquer the land of Baiyue. Although it successfully occupied Baiyue, it also paid a devastatingly heavy price.

This was only because the geographical environment where the land of Baiyue was located was extremely complex. Most of these tribes lived in jungles with complex terrain. Between these jungles, poisonous miasmas were rampant, and poisonous insects and fierce beasts were countless. Because the people of the Baiyue tribes had lived there for generations, they were exceptionally familiar with the environment inside, while the Qin army was different. To conquer Baiyue, one must first pass through these jungles with harsh environments, and often, before even seeing the Baiyue army, they would suffer heavy casualties due to the environment.

Therefore, the Baiyue tribes were actually not a great enemy to the Qin Guo; in the matter of conquering Baiyue, the Qin Guo's greatest enemy was the environment!

0 ········Seeking flowers···· ····

Su Xuan did not know why Ying Zheng would begin the matter of conquering Baiyue at this time.

But he would not abandon the trip to sea because of this matter.

And because he was worried that he would not have the opportunity to help the Qin Guo while at sea, and that the Qin Guo would suffer heavy casualties during the process of conquering Baiyue, he decided to arrange some things before leaving.

Su Xuan did not meet Yan Lingji in the Taiwei Zi Palace, but privately went to Yan Lingji's residence.

Because Yan Lingji had a close relationship with Su Xuan.

Whether it was Su Xuan's mansion in Xianyang, the brand-new State Preceptor's Mansion, or the Yin-Yang School headquarters, she had her own residence in all of them.

When Su Xuan arrived at the Yin-Yang School, in the room belonging to Yan Lingji, Yan Lingji was learning... embroidery?

Looking at Yan Lingji holding an embroidery needle, Su Xuan felt it was very interesting. If it were killing people, Yan Lingji was very proficient; at this kind of thing, she seemed not to be very skilled.

Su Xuan quietly watched Yan Lingji embroidering there, looked for a long time, and finally could not help but laugh out loud.

After Yan Lingji heard the laughter, she also turned her head abruptly, only to see Su Xuan.

Without a doubt, Su Xuan had been here for a long time.

"Master..." Yan Lingji spoke softly, with a look that made one feel pity.

"It seems you are not suited for embroidery!" Su Xuan was very straightforward, directly stating the truth of the matter.

Yan Lingji rolled her eyes at Su Xuan, seemingly feeling that the other party should not say such things to strike her. Having followed by Su Xuan's side for many years, she knew that sometimes Su Xuan did not mind if she joked with him.

Su Xuan smiled, then restrained his smile, and said to Yan Lingji in a deep voice: "I have a matter to find you for!"

Yan Lingji's expression immediately became serious.

Su Xuan explained: "The Mirage has already been built. I will take the Mirage out to sea in a few days to find the immortal mountains. Originally, I intended to take you with me, but because of a certain matter, I need you to stay behind!"

He looked at Yan Lingji and said what that matter was.

"The Qin Guo has decided to conquer Baiyue!" Chuan