Chapter 210: Home Ground

Lu Xingzhou's heart also sank a bit.

He rarely thought about issues on this level before, but when he pondered them carefully, there were indeed many problems.

If it is "ascension," what standard must be reached to ascend? Does ascension isolate one world from another?

If the two worlds are isolated, how did Mohe and this ancient corpse come here?

The ancient corpse was only at the Huiyang level in life, which is super-grade; could that alone allow ascension? Then why couldn't the super-grade Imperial Preceptor and the Emperor ascend?

Besides, this ancient corpse had a group of subordinates who were killed by the formation; could those subordinates, with their meager level, even be considered ascended ones?

Mohe was still refining the Nine-Turn Jin Dan that could make people immortal, which showed he hadn't ascended either... or is there another world?

If the two worlds are not isolated, then why is there no news of them in the world, and what exactly does this world count as in their perspective?

The Great Qian inside the box? The world within the scroll?

The medicinal herbs inside the alchemy furnace?

"Your alchemy notes came from here?" Ye Tinglan suddenly asked.

Lu Xingzhou came to his senses and nodded: "Yes."

"Besides the alchemy notes, are there any other records?"

"No, my cultivation technique is from here." Lu Xingzhou sighed: "As a temporary dwelling, the only ones who take notes are the things one focused on at the time; who writes a diary for no reason?"

Ye Tinglan searched the place again, found nothing, and walked out of the cave dwelling with a bit of disappointment.

Outside was a plain like the embers of a raging fire, as if a mountain hollow separated water and fire.

In the center of the plain were the pair of massive dragon and tiger bones. Ye Tinglan stood before the bones, stroking them gently for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Such creatures exist in the world."

Lu Xingzhou was stunned: "I've never seen them. In various ruins?"

Ye Tinglan smiled: "There are living ones too."

Lu Xingzhou's heart stirred: "The Demon Race."

Ye Tinglan nodded approvingly: "The current Demon Emperor is a female dragon."

Lu Xingzhou: "... You don't need to emphasize that it's female."

"I just thought you'd be interested." Ye Tinglan gazed at the bones, lost in thought, and said softly: "Besides the Demon Race, some Xianshan overseas should also exist. There are places where humans and the Demon Race live together, each dividing their territories like sects standing in great numbers. It's just that they are far from us, and we rarely encounter such customs."

"Then couldn't Mohe and the ancient corpse have come from there?"

"Of course, it's possible... but those places themselves are ancient worlds with boundary membranes." Ye Tinglan said: "Otherwise, it would be difficult for the world to coexist peacefully."

Lu Xingzhou nodded. Mohe and these people were obviously strong; if those places generally had this level of power, there would basically be no soil for ordinary mortals to survive, and it would be another kind of pure cultivation social form. Calling it another world wouldn't be a problem. Perhaps the so-called isolation is to protect mortals?

Ye Tinglan said: "These matters are very far from ordinary people; normally, one would never encounter them in a lifetime. But you encountered them while you were merely at the third grade, which is a strange fate... If the original owner of this place hadn't died, you would still have had an intersection."

Lu Xingzhou said: "Actually, even without this place, I would have encountered such things soon, wouldn't I?"

Ye Tinglan turned her head to look at him.

Lu Xingzhou continued: "The place Mr. wants to take me to for trial is mostly likely such a ruin."

Ye Tinglan smiled: "That won't be so peaceful."

She paused, then changed the subject: "Although these dragon and tiger bones are of no use now, you can still take some with you. Not only are they themselves a type of medicinal herb, but if you ever encounter similar things in the future, their bones might create some bloodline attraction; at the very least, they can be used for shamanic rituals."

Lu Xingzhou then took one leg bone from each and placed them on his person.

Ye Tinglan looked around, her gaze sweeping over the spirit stone vein as if she hadn't seen it at all, and she was quite disappointed: "This place is merely a cultivation treasure land, with a level unexpectedly high, which is why it was occupied and used by that Mohe. It is not a place hiding ancient secrets."

"Merely a cultivation treasure land," Lu Xingzhou heard this and couldn't help but laugh bitterly. How much do you look down on cultivation treasure lands? That's a place people fight to the death for! Even a super-grade expert occupied it to cause trouble, yet you are still disappointed.

After thinking for a moment, he asked carefully: "Mr., is there a kind of... um, the kind that messes with feng shui to strengthen the earth vein and fortune? It's useless in ordinary places, but it should work in this kind of feng shui earth vein, right?"

Ye Tinglan glanced at him and laughed helplessly: "However, there is absolutely no need to do anything else here. This dragon and tiger embrace is itself a natural feng shui formation. Holding it steady is more important than anything."

After speaking, she sneered: "Changing the feng shui and earth veins is an act of defying heaven and altering fate. Mohe's failure in his actions was directly caused by a severe backlash from this act. For Shen Tang, do you want my life?"

"I didn't know it was that serious." Lu Xingzhou smiled apologetically: "So, does such a method really exist?"

"Yes."

"Then can you teach me?"

Ye Tinglan asked in surprise: "You know this requires a huge price to pay, yet you still want to learn? Shen Tang's current fortune is already very strong; she doesn't need this."

"It's just that having more skills never hurts, and it's better to be prepared." Lu Xingzhou blinked: "Why insist on thinking it's for Tangtang? Maybe one day, it will be for Mr."

Ye Tinglan stared at him in astonishment for a long while, then suddenly laughed: "Theoretically, I only teach you alchemy... but since I've already taught you the method of penetrating the bones before, it doesn't hurt to teach a few other things... If you have the ability, just use it."

Lu Xingzhou bowed deeply: "Thank you, Mr."

Shen Tang sat restlessly in the room, getting up and pacing back and forth.

A'nuo sat cross-legged on one side, her little head turning back and forth following her movements.

Shen Tang finally reached out and pinched her cheek: "You say your master has nothing to do with this Mr.?"

A'nuo's voice distorted: "At present, there really is nothing to do with him." It's just that this Mr. looks like Sister Yu; how Master feels about it, or if there will be a relationship later, no one knows...

"If there's nothing to do, why would he take her to a secret realm, and alone for so long! A single man and a single woman hiding down there for so long, they could have already had a child!"

A'nuo glanced at her sideways.

"What kind of look is that? I'm doing this for your sake!" Shen Tang looked serious: "What if I give you a younger brother or sister, then you won't be so favored anymore!"

A'nuo almost laughed out loud: "Master's Wife, don't you want to give me a younger brother or sister?"

"I..." Shen Tang gritted her teeth: "At least I'm not that fast!"

A'nuo laughed and buried her head in her chest, rubbing: "Okay, okay, good Master's Wife."

"Since you know I'm good, help me keep an eye on that fox spirit." Shen Tang urged: "If you see them doing anything crossing the line later, destroy it, understand?"

A'nuo said: "Master's Wife, aren't you quite generous? One moment you agree with Sister Bai Mao, the next you agree with Sister Yao..."

"That's because there's no other way. If your master really likes them... Besides, they can also help your master."

"Then Mr. Ye is even first grade, so he can help even more."

Shen Tang's eyes widened; she was speechless for a long while before finally squeezing out a sentence: "But she is your master's master too. How can master and disciple do this?"

"She doesn't even count as a master," Anuo said. "Master says the most that can be called is a family tutor, more flavor... uh..."

Anuo quickly covered her small mouth, her eyeballs rolling around.

Shen Tang ground her teeth: "Good, you've already taken a fancy to her looks, haven't you?"

"No, no." Anuo smiled apologetically: "Anyway, no matter what fancy it is, Anuo's master's wife is only you."

Shen Tang beamed, picked up Anuo, and gave her a "pop" kiss: "What do you want to eat? Say it, your master's wife will buy it for you."

These women are too easy to fool, unlike children. Anuo sighed with a sense of world-weariness.

"Sect Master." Shen Qi's shadow appeared behind her: "Shi Tielong has already sent an envoy to the capital; he will most likely seek support from Prince Jin or the Huo family."

"He doesn't understand; the more public this competitive move is, the less likely Prince Jin and the Huo family are to act rashly. At most, they will secretly send one or two experts to help him... what about the rest?"

"Shi Zhong has already led the crowd to arrive at Dongjiang to back Shi Tielong."

"How can he back him?" Shen Tang revealed a hint of a mocking smile: "Can he make other families' goods not go to us, but only to the Dongjiang Gang?"

Shen Qi said: "I'm afraid he really can."

"That can only affect the area around Dongjiang County. The core is now in Xiazhou. Even the Dongjiang Gang itself is moving to Xiazhou; what's the use of making a fuss over Dongjiang County?"

"With Shi Zhong's arrival, the Dongjiang Gang should be arriving soon as well."

Shen Tang smiled slightly: "A guest from afar is a guest. Go have people wait at the main road. When Sect Leader Shi arrives, tell them I, Shen Tang, am at Songfeng Tower in Xiazhou to welcome them."

Shen Qi looked deeply at Shen Tang. As long as Lu Xingzhou was not by her side, the Princess truly possessed the bearing of a regional ruler; her initiative and aggressiveness in handling affairs were very strong.

But as soon as Lu Xingzhou appeared, she seemed like a completely different person.

Shen Qi thought for a moment: "Hosting a banquet outside requires guarding against sudden changes during the meal. After all, Shi Zhong is a Second Rank; his strength exceeds all of ours."

"It doesn't matter. By then, the Governor will also attend to mediate business conflicts in the commandery; harmony brings wealth." Shen Tang smiled, revealing neat white teeth. Shen Qi looked and felt it was somewhat familiar; she turned her head to look, and Anuo had the same expression on her face, as if it were a perfect copy.

"Sect Master, Sect Master!" Tang Yunzhong rushed in from outside: "Our first batch of goods leaving Xiazhou was indeed ambushed by masked men in the suburbs."

Shen Tang smiled: "How was it?"

"Commander Wan of the Demon Suppression Bureau lay in wait and captured all the invaders in one sweep. After interrogating them, they were all disciples of the Cangshan Sword Sect."

"This is our home ground; they haven't even figured it out yet... A gift delivered to the door; if we don't pay a visit to the Cangshan Sword Sect in return, wouldn't that waste their good intentions?" Shen Tang put down Anuo: "Go call your master out to work; don't keep crouching there being all lovey-dovey with the Si Sect."

Before the words had fully faded, Lu Xingzhou appeared outside the door: "Hey, I was really going to do proper business!"

Ye Tinglan stood there expressionless, glaring at Shen Tang, with a belly full of grievances he didn't know how to vent.

You keep staring at me tearing something apart; what is it? What does it have to do with me at all?

I am calculating how to help you ascend to power, and you are treating me like a mistress?

(End of this chapter)