Chapter 168

Ji Wang Fu, front courtyard.

At this moment, a rather strange scene unfolded.

Aside from servants and slaves, dozens of figures stood in the courtyard; though differing in age, all were dressed in luxurious attire, each strikingly elegant.

But without exception, they were all Misses.

Though he had heard rumors that Ji Wang Fu housed dozens of princesses, seeing this sight with his own eyes still left Jiang Chengyun astonished.

Unless Ji Wang had some physical defect, it was impossible for him to have only Prince Jinjiang as his sole son.

The others must either be dead or secretly sent away… The true master of this grand mansion was surely the seemingly gentle Wang Fei before him.

Wang Fei swept her gaze lightly across the crowd and cleared her throat.

The next instant, the princesses swiftly parted, revealing the slender figure in the center.

The young man had a pale, delicate face, clad in a dark green silk long robe, appearing somewhat frail.

"Jinjiang, this is the martial arts master your mother personally fetched from Outside Qingzhou—none other than the famed my lord Jiang. Why don't you come and pay your respects?"

Wang Fei seemed slightly nervous, but upon seeing that neither servants nor princesses dared to meet the gaze of the ink-clad figure, her tension eased considerably.

This was the girl who best matched the description "immortal grace."

Jiang Qiulan's exquisite face bore no makeup, no jewelry—only a clean ink-colored robe, yet standing casually in the courtyard, she effortlessly captured everyone's attention.

The delicate youth fell silent, raised his eyes, hesitated, then finally took a step forward.

Seeing this, Wang Fei finally exhaled in relief.

"Jiang Miss." Prince Jinjiang stepped closer and bowed slightly.

"Prince, no need for such formalities," Jiang Qiulan shook her head.

"This child is shy, just unfamiliar—once he grows closer to you, it'll be fine," Wang Fei forced another smile.

A short distance away, the silver bells at their waists trembled faintly, silently transmitting information.

"The more I look, the more something feels off—this isn't about inviting my lord Jiang to guide your martial arts, this is clearly…" Jiang Chengyun frowned tightly.

"Hmm."

"You noticed too?"

"Hmm."

"Then why aren't you reacting? My lord Jiang is from Outside Qingzhou…"

"I only want to get my Condensation Pill Method quickly."

Shen Yi's expression was calm; he simply wanted to know when this group would finish talking.

As for anything else, he had no interest whatsoever.

The logic was simple: if Jiang Qiulan didn't want to come, who in Outside Qingzhou could force her? Since she's here, why should anyone else meddle?

As Shen Yi grew slightly bored and stood there idly staring.

Prince Jinjiang suddenly clenched his palm and cast a glance toward this side.

Dark, icy armor radiated solemn authority; his crimson cloak fluttered slightly. The youth's expression remained utterly still, merely gazing quietly into the distance.

"May I ask, General…"

Prince Jinjiang bowed again, then suddenly remembered something: "I am Chen Jinjiang. May I ask your esteemed name, General?"

Before he finished speaking, Wang Fei finally recalled Shen Yi's presence; her eyelid twitched faintly, and she took an almost imperceptible step forward, smiling: "This is General Shen from Outside Qingzhou. He has urgent business at the Wumiao—don't trouble him."

After waiting so long, she finally said it.

Shen Yi bowed in response, neither humble nor arrogant: "Shen Mou has urgent duties. I beg your pardon, Wang Fei."

"Official duties come first. General Shen, please go about your business," Wang Fei nodded understandingly.

Shen Yi turned and walked toward the gate of Wang Fu; Jiang Chengyun, worried about Jiang the Great, kept glancing back every step—until Shen Yi grabbed him and pulled him out.

"…."

Jiang Qiulan watched silently as the two departed, her white palm tightening slightly within her sleeve.

…

Leaving Ji Wang Fu.

Jiang Chengyun gritted his teeth: "The Regional Commander… how could he do something like this!"

This was Outside Qingzhou's sharpest sword—used not to slay demons, but for marriage alliances?

Is the old bastard living too long and gone senile?! Damn old fool!

Seeing Shen Yi had already walked far ahead, he hurried after him: "General Shen, you're going the wrong way!"

Shen Yi had assumed the Wumiao would be something like a shrine.

But under Jiang Chengyun's guidance, he was led straight to the street closest to the Imperial Palace.

"…."

Upon seeing the true form of the Wumiao.

Even though Shen Yi had seen skyscrapers in his past life, he still felt a flicker of surprise.

Two timber pillars, over thirty zhang tall, glowed translucent amber, supporting a hall of impossible height, as if piercing the clouds.

The double-eaved hip-and-gable roof lay like the spine of a colossal beast, quietly crouching within the imperial city.

Shen Yi understood how it was built—after all, he himself could shatter mountains; in a world with such power, such feats were not astonishing.

He simply couldn't fathom the point of building a structure this tall.

"General Shen, I know what you're thinking."

Jiang Chengyun, having once harbored the same doubt, said no more and led Shen Yi into the Wumiao.

Compared to its opulent exterior, its interior was stripped to the barest simplicity.

And every detail served one purpose: to draw the eye instantly to the high dais at the very back.

On that high platform.

On the left and right sides, there were six Golden Bodies each, three zhang tall. Compared to the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas enshrined in Buddhist temples, these Golden Bodies took various forms: some had the fierce appearance of Yakshas, others had beast heads and human bodies, and one even looked exactly like a Lion-Camel demon...

Surrounded by a total of twelve Golden Bodies, in the center stood a six-zhang Golden Body in the form of an angry-eyed Luo Han!

Their bodies were massive and strange, gazing down indifferently at everything below. Their faces were dim and indistinct, creating an extremely strong sense of oppression!

Shen Yi stared blankly, his mind somewhat dazed.

It was not for any other reason, but under the enhancement of the Mountain Lord's Divine Eye talent, he suddenly saw a faint shadow within that six-zhang Golden Body.

Is this thing alive?

"Don't keep staring," Jiang Chengyun lowered his head and quietly reminded him: "These are all Soul Transformation Realm cultivators since the establishment of the Great Qian Dynasty."

Above Wu Xian lies Soul Transformation.

The so-called Soul Transformation involves condensing a Golden Body Dharma Image with incense and wish-fulfilling power, discarding the physical body of the Yin Spirit, merging it into the Dharma Image, and transforming into the various True Gods of legend.

From then on, they would no longer suffer the pains of mortal flesh; as long as the Yin Spirit does not perish and the incense flow never ceases, they will exist for ten thousand years.

"That is the supreme treasure possessed by the Great Qian Dynasty."

"The Golden Body Luo Han Dharma Image."

Jiang Chengyun quietly looked again at the six-zhang Golden Body in the center.

It was precisely because of the existence of this Shenxu Laozu that the Great Qian Dynasty could hold onto the current Nine Provinces.

Everyone, upon stepping into the Wumiao, would involuntarily feel awe, as if standing before immortals and gods, consciously feeling insignificant and tiny.

Lord Shen was naturally no exception; he would probably need a while to recover.

"..."

Shen Yi stared at the many Golden Body Dharma Images, his heart somewhat conflicted.

If I could get hold of this thing, wouldn't it be much more convenient to kill demons and monsters in the future?

(End of this chapter)