Chapter 110: Heart-to-Heart Connection

Cheng Xi looked at the brand-new marriage certificate in Li Zhi'an's hand, feeling a mix of amusement and helplessness. She never expected Li Zhi'an to act with such lightning speed, settling the marriage certificate overnight.

Looking again at Li Zhi'an's spirited appearance, there was not a shred of the weakness from his injury last night; it was as if this piece of paper was his best medicine, instantly making him glow with vitality.

"This, this is too fast." Cheng Xi took the marriage certificate, her fingers gently stroking the paper that still carried the scent of ink, and looked up at Li Zhi'an. "Dean didn't give you a hard time?"

The corners of Li Zhi'an's mouth lifted slightly, his eyes full of triumph. "What could he do to me? He just grumbled a few times, but I didn't care; getting the marriage certificate in hand was what mattered."

Cheng Xi smiled helplessly and carefully put the marriage certificate away, though a trace of sweetness welled up in her heart. Although this progress was faster than she had imagined, seeing Li Zhi'an so attentive, she felt everything becoming wonderful.

"Since we have the marriage certificate, we must plan our days ahead properly." Li Zhi'an pulled Cheng Xi to sit on a stone bench in the courtyard. "Although Ye Wujin has been quiet for now, he certainly won't let it go; we must guard against his return."

"Indeed." Cheng Xi sighed softly. "I plan to sneak into the City Lord's Mansion at night to test the depth of the Ji Family. What do you think?"

"When will you go?"

"When you are recovered."

Li Zhi'an nodded. "Then let's make it the day after tomorrow."

"Fine." Cheng Xi put the marriage certificate away, and seeing the faint smile in Li Zhi'an's eyes, she couldn't help but smile along, then said, "I always feel there should be some connection between the Ji Family and Ye Wujin, but I can't figure out where that link is."

"We'll know once we go, no rush." Li Zhi'an said warmly. "Ye Wujin was heavily injured this time and will need some days to recover; we can just use this time to investigate."

"The activity at Wanxing Mountain is significant. Ji Tang has been in the Academy; as long as she has the mind to, she will certainly be able to uncover news."

"Are you trying to lure the snake out of its hole?"

"Not exactly. The Ji Family members look quite clever; if we act too much, we will inevitably arouse their suspicion. The more we pretend nothing happened, the more they will become suspicious. Clever people have a common failing: they are often misled by their own cleverness."

Li Zhi'an laughed. "Makes sense. Let's do as you say. In that case, I'll go walk around the Academy twice today."

Cheng Xi knew Li Zhi'an understood her thoughts and nodded with a smile. "Then thank you for your hard work."

If Ji Tang could find out about the activity at Wanxing Mountain, she would certainly know about the clash between them and Ye Wujin that night, or perhaps she had a way to get information from Ye Wujin's side.

Regardless, the fact that Li Zhi'an was injured was no secret. If he appeared in the Academy pretending to be fine, it would instead make Ji Tang suspect he was setting up a ruse or putting on a show.

In this way, when the news reached the Ji Family, Ji Hang would surely think they were doing it on purpose. Thus, when they snuck into the City Lord's Mansion, Ji Hang would think they were injured and inconvenient to act, never imagining they would move so quickly.

Let's play the time difference.

For two consecutive days, Li Zhi'an appeared in the Academy. As the famous Regent of Daliang, his appearance naturally drew countless attention, and sure enough, Ji Tang's secret focus on Li Zhi'an increased significantly.

Li Zhi'an returned and told her he sensed someone following him, but they were very discreet and left no traces.

Cheng Xi then said, "It seems the Ji Family is very concerned about you."

"Then we act tonight. Since the Ji Family values me so much, it wouldn't be right to let them down." Li Zhi'an said, his voice tinged with coldness.

"Fine." Cheng Xi agreed.

That night, the two of them quietly descended the mountain and headed straight for the City Lord's Mansion.

The City Lord's Mansion was deathly silent, the moonlight obscured by thick, dark clouds as if gripped by an invisible hand. Cheng Xi carried Baohua on her shoulder, and Li Zhi'an walked with her. The two hid in the shadows, spiritual power circulating through their bodies, their nerves as taut as a fully drawn bowstring.

Baohua returned to its small form, perched on Cheng Xi's shoulder, its feathers trembling slightly and emitting a faint golden light—the signal that it was on full alert.

Cheng Xi looked toward the City Lord's Mansion with a solemn expression, clutching a jade pendant carved with star patterns in her hand. Her hair danced wildly in the night wind, her sleeves fluttered loudly, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions Diagram beneath her feet flickered in and out of existence, shimmering with her breath.

"Baohua, be sharp. If there's danger, run..." Cheng Xi said softly, but before she could finish, Baohua covered her mouth.

Cheng Xi:...

It even dared to use its hands; it had grown bold.

Li Zhi'an watched from the side with the corners of his lips curled, but he was tactful and said nothing, pretending he hadn't seen it.

Meanwhile, inside the City Lord's Mansion, Ji Hang stood in the center of the eight Bronze Pillars, surrounded by thick blood mist. His eyes flashed with an eerie red light, he muttered incantations, and his hands waved continuously, controlling the Jade Seven Stars.

The blood mist churned like a boiling sea of blood, and six mummified corpses swayed atop the Bronze Pillars, emitting creaking sounds as if about to break free from their restraints.

"Cheng Xi, you think knowing the Earth Vein Sealing Technique can stop me? Today is the day you die!" Ji Hang's voice echoed in the night sky, his eyes filled with mockery.

Using Ji Tang to feed him false information was indeed quite clever, but unfortunately, he was not the only informant in the Academy.

Following Ji Hang's movements, the blood-colored Runes on the ground became increasingly dazzling, the abyss crack widened, and thick blood surged out, emitting a nauseating stench.

This thick odor spread outward at high speed, and Cheng Xi and Li Zhi'an soon smelled it. The two met each other's eyes, a flash of shock crossing their faces.

"Go!"

The two flew toward the direction the scent was drifting at top speed. There was no obstruction along the way, and their hearts grew heavier.

"It seems Ji Hang was playing a game of 'letting the enemy think they have succeeded'; we have fallen into his scheme."

"Whatever his scheme is, one force overcomes ten tricks—beat him!" Cheng Xi said with a dark face.

Any conspiracy or trick was a paper tiger in the face of absolute strength; it would break with a single poke.

The two arrived quickly, and seeing the scene before them, they attacked without the slightest hesitation.

Cheng Xi quickly formed seals with her hands and shouted softly, "Azure Dragon appear, break the evil!"

In an instant, the Eastern Azure Dragon Seven Mansions shone brightly, and a massive phantom of an Azure Dragon slowly emerged from the Xingshutou.

It roared at the sky, its dragon might vast, its body shimmering with brilliant starlight; every Dragon Scale seemed to contain endless power. The Azure Dragon swung its body and lunged at the blood mist within the City Lord's Mansion.

Ji Hang snorted coldly, controlling the Jade Seven Stars to meet the Azure Dragon. The seven stars rotated, emitting an eerie black light that collided with the starlight of the Azure Dragon.

For a moment, light spilled everywhere, and the energy fluctuations, like surging sea waves, impacted everything around them. The buildings of the City Lord's Mansion collapsed one after another under this force, bricks and stones flying.