Chapter 224: Amusing Incident (Part 1)

The mountain path is steep.

Beside him, Zhang Gui caught sight of Zhen Ciyun's stumbling steps, triggered the divine cluster "Heavenly Phenomena and Earthly Geography Great Convergence" within his body, and unleashed the power of "Beginning of Autumn".

In an instant,

a wave of coolness rose from Zhen Ciyun's heart.

At the same time, a cicada's "chirp chirp" sounded at her ear, and she instantly regained composure, steadying her mind.

Realizing that Zhang Gui must have lent a hand, Zhen Ciyun sighed,

"I originally thought my 'Meditative Mind in Concentration' skill had already entered obscurity.

But I didn't expect that when a great event arose, my true form would be revealed; I must thank you."

"You're welcome."

Zhang Gui gave a faint, calm smile.

"As the ancient saying goes, 'When Daishan collapses before you and you do not change color, you may be appointed as a senior general.'

If a single mountain's collapse is like that, imagine the ruin of a nation and its state."

Zhen Ciyun seemed about to say something upon hearing that, but she was truly exhausted and ultimately fell silent.

At the foot of Tianyuan Mountain, everything was empty.

Looking far away, there were only a few trees, while the grass spread as far as the eye could see.

Whenever the wind passed, countless blades of grass swayed, grand as a vast sea of blue waves.

Zhang Gui and Zhen Ciyun ascended the steps under moonlight, arriving at the entrance of Xianhezhai.

Zhang Gui, as if nothing mattered, reached out to push open the side door and stepped inside.

Upon entering the bamboo grove, he whispered in praise:

"The Huayu Zhen Family truly lives up to the Chuangu Grand Clan; they also have a reputation in Yuanshan.

Just now, the first time I entered Xianhezhai, I spent three thousand taels of Dog Head Gold as a passage fee.

This time, following Noble Lady Zhen, you entered boldly without any pretense."

"This isn't about the Huayu Zhen Family's face, but the favor of Baoshan Angyue represented by that bone tile given to you.

The prairie's 'True Prime Minister', daughter of the Long Princess of Yuanshan, do you think this is a joke."

Zhang Gui brushed the bone tile casually hanging at his waist, showing a dawning expression.

"I see.

The Yuanshan people's attitude toward you Ming Song clan youths isn't as good as I imagined.

It's not all bad, but it's not that terrible either.

It's merely emulating the historical tale of 'Kindness and Might in Balance.'

Just now, the Heshuo Commandery Princess kindly invited us to a feast—that's the kindness.

As for the 'might', it's the dignity of the teacher's way,

Mr. Huaihe has taken many of Yuanshan's outstanding scholars into Xianhezhai, appointing them as teachers.

With the master‑disciple relationship established, they can discipline us however they wish."

The two whispered as they followed the stone slab path, passing through the bamboo grove.

They arrived before rows of neatly staggered classrooms and study halls.

At this moment, many rooms were lit.

Sounds of clamor echoed.

"It seems the news of Yanjing's fall has already reached the study hall.

But here truly is 'strict governance'; the Yuanshan aristocratic youths seem more rule‑abiding than the Ming Song people.

Such a great victory, yet they only dare to make a ruckus inside the study hall's rooms."

Outside, many students, book‑servants, and maidens walked back and forth.

Zhen Ciyun carefully avoided acquaintances, lowering her voice:

"That's natural.

We Ming Song youths are mostly self‑motivated, 'inviting the lord into the jar'.

But the Yuanshan aristocratic youths in Xianhezhai were selected by their Everlasting Heaven.

You also know how lofty Chang Sheng Tie Mu's prestige is on the great prairie.

These Yuanshan aristocratic youths naturally dare less to act rashly in the study hall."

While speaking, they walked for a while longer.

The two avoided the dim lights of Xianhezhai, arriving before a row of narrow, pitch‑black rooms pressed against the southern wall.

"These rooms were originally a place for students' 'quiet cultivation retreat.'

Called Duanli She.

Now Zhang Jiujiang has taken one."

Zhen Ciyun halted, standing beside the door of the third room on the western side.

"Boom boom boom" knocked a few times; just as she was about to speak, Zhang Gui stopped her.

"Noble Lady Zhen, may I answer the door?"

"Then I'll return to my own room to rest.

The room number is Shui Zi Ershisan She.

You can come find me when you have free time."

"Alright," Zhang Gui said dryly, a bit stunned.

"Moreover, since Mr. Huaihe himself promised, we should be able to return to Ming Song in the first month of the lunar calendar."

Will it be okay if I go to Zhihai Town to find you then?

Zhen Ciyun blinked her big watery eyes and asked with an expectant face.

In this situation, Zhang Gui could only force a smile and say:

"Then of course, you are most welcome.

I'm just afraid that when I'm on Xianrong Island at Zhen Wang's Xingzai, I won't be able to see you."

"Xianrong Island, sigh, Yanjing has already been shattered, and the state is on the brink of collapse.

Ming and Song could still manage to continue ruling over foreign lands and restore people's mountains and rivers.

So by then we still won't know whether Zhen Wang's Xingzai even exists.

In any case, as long as you welcome me, that's enough."

Supernatural World, full of strange things.

From what Zhen Ciyun said, Zhen Wang's Xingzai might not even be there in the first month.

Zhang Gui couldn't help but think of Xingzai, where Yin Xiansheng and Tao Yaoyao, the two enigmatic true disciples of the Chuangu Grand Sect, reside.

Unexpectedly, when the name "Tao Yaoyao" flashed in his mind, his vision suddenly went black.

Heaven and earth shifted, and he stood atop a range where a sinister wind howled.

All he could see were trunks of bone, and flesh turned into bone buds on human faces—a grotesque sight!

In an instant, within Zhang Gui, the divine clusters of "Swallowing Crow, Drinking River, Water‑Fire Confluence… Hundred Herbs Life Mandate, Flaming Gold, Tai Sui Entering Spirit…" began to rotate.

Automatically, the Primordial Ability "Black God Explosive Burst General's Various Methods" was triggered!

Next to the empty Duanli She at Xianhezhai.

Zhen Ciyun, who was saying goodbye to Zhang Gui, saw him suddenly freeze.

Then three heads sprouted on his neck, and six arms extended from his ribs!

His body swelled as if blown by wind, pores spewing scorching magma steam, flesh turning into metal!

His eyes widened in shock.

But immediately, the towering golden figure of Zhang Gui, as tall as eight chi, shrank back like a deflating balloon to an ordinary human size, looking like a common mortal.

"What kind of freakish thing are you doing now!"

Zhen Ciyun, bewildered, looked at the naked Zhang Gui and whispered, "

I just now, because of something you said, thought of two people.

As a result, a sudden perception arose in my mind, and my spirit plunged straight into an illusion.

Under the stimulus of the divine clusters in my bloodline, a True Form spontaneously evolved.

Only then did I break free from the illusion."

Zhang Gui, while picking up his tattered, barely held‑together clothes, spoke the truth without concealment.

Hearing this, Zhen Ciyun was left dumbfounded.

At that moment, a commotion arose in the distance.

"Although you just evolved only a fragment of a True Form and didn't cause a big scene,

it still won't pass as if nothing happened.

When I get to Great Wolf Capital, I often dress in male attire and explore foreign customs in the inner city.

Come with me back to the residence and change clothes first."

"Thank you, thank you."

In Zhang Gui's current form and situation, a slight slip could leave him naked and be captured on the spot in the literary hub of the capital of a nation.

Thinking that after becoming a deity and saint, such a 'funny incident' might still be recorded in history,

even with his carefree, self‑centered nature, it still sends a chill down his spine.

He could only gratefully, under Zhen Ciyun's guidance, crawl and roll through the darkness, slipping into the Shui Zi Ershisan She.

(End of Chapter)