Chapter 922

Pan Yun shook her head, eyes gleaming: "But I know it's something fierce and powerful."

"It's a demon," Zhang Li said. "These demons first appeared in the Southern Song, and the more chaotic the world becomes, the bolder they grow—through the Southern Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, especially during the later Yuan, these fiends ran rampant until the Great Ming was founded, when the Taizu Emperor ordered my Zhang family to lead all Daoist and Buddhist cultivators in suppressing them."

"The three most vicious and powerful demons were sealed at the three corners of Long Hushan; the demon beneath Si Guo Cliff was the strongest of them all, while the others were sealed in the four directions, suppressed by the dragon veins. When the late emperor perished, the Great Ming nearly collapsed—the national fortune was tied to the dragon veins, and these demons all sought to emerge. That's why I sent you back to investigate the Long Tu. If you wish to be a true State Advisor, you must know this."

Pan Yun's eyes darted—this had clearly always been the Zhang family's responsibility. Her sister was making her take over as State Advisor, intending to seize power from the Zhangs.

First seize power, then fight against this corrupt State Advisor, and finally rally public support for reform…

Pan Yun's mind brimmed with schemes; she gazed at Xuanmiao with deep admiration: "Sister, you're amazing!"

Xuanmiao knew nothing of the storms in her mind, only glanced at her and said: "The beast beneath Si Guo Cliff carries the bloodline of Taotie. The sealing array has just been reinforced—it's restless now. Do you want to go down and take a look?"

Pan Yun: "Under the array's suppression, could it swallow me whole?"

Xuanmiao: "If you get too close, maybe."

Pan Yun shrank back—but she desperately wanted to see.

Taotie? An ancient ferocious beast.

Though this one isn't Taotie, it carries Taotie's bloodline. According to nature's law, when an animal undergoes atavism and its ancestor was powerful enough, its atavistic power grows stronger during development, eventually becoming something truly akin to its ancestor.

In her past life, when spiritual energy revived, demons and monsters surfaced en masse, many exhibiting atavism.

But very few reverted all the way back to ancient ferocious beasts or divine beasts.

Pan Yun felt she might see only this one Taotie-blooded beast in her entire life.

Unlike contemporary people's attitude toward ferocious beasts and demons, Pan Yun came from the 26th century—a progressive soul.

She wouldn't claim to be from an animal protection association, but faced with a nearly extinct beast possessing only a trace of bloodline, she still held a protective stance.

So after a moment's hesitation, she nodded: "I'll go see it—but I need to prepare."

Xuanmiao assumed her preparations meant bringing more talismans, artifacts, and other survival tools; she always knew her little sister was sometimes reckless, but mostly cherished her life.

So Xuanmiao agreed: "You have one day to prepare. Come here tomorrow at noon."

Pan Yun accepted.

After Pan Yun happily left, Cheng Lingzi stared at Xuanmiao.

Xuanmiao frowned, meeting his gaze without flinching: "What are you staring at?"

Cheng Lingzi: "I'm wondering whether you've become too clever—or suddenly gone mad. The tactic of inviting the wolf into the house? Not everyone can pull it off."

Xuanmiao: "She's not a wolf."

"I'm not talking about her," Cheng Lingzi said. "Have you thought about what happens a hundred years from now? Maybe even less—court politics aren't like our Zhang family's squabbles; they shift in an instant. The Emperor trusts her now—what about next year? Three or five years from now? Even if she succeeds and steps down, who will take over? Once the Long Tu is transferred from our Zhang family to the imperial court, retrieving it will be difficult."

Xuanmiao: "I won't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Before she steps down, I'll simply return the Long Tu."

Cheng Lingzi snorted: "You're too naive. Once someone ascends the throne, they never willingly step down and surrender power. How can you be certain Pan Yun will return the Long Tu?"

Xuanmiao: "I trust her."

Cheng Lingzi frowned.

"Because we all know the Long Tu is safer in Zhang hands than in the imperial court's," Xuanmiao said. "My sister isn't power-hungry. She puts the people first in everything she does." Cheng Lingzi: "People change."

Xuanmiao turned and walked away: "Then we'll talk when you change."

Cheng Lingzi, seeing her sulk, let out a cold snort—but when he saw her几步 reach the mountain's edge, he hurriedly called: "You've got some free time these days, come up and chat with me. The Academy's locked all students in their classrooms to keep them out of trouble—Si Guo Cliff's been so quiet lately."

Xuanmiao pretended not to hear.

Meanwhile, Pan Yun sprinted down the mountain all the way to the great dining hall.

The hall was bustling, preparing dinner for students and teachers.

Pan Yun had barely peeked in when an old Daoist Priest grabbed her collar and yanked her out.

Pan Yun realized she couldn't dodge him.

Tsk tsk tsk—this old man serving meals to students and teachers isn't stronger than those two Laozu?

The Zhang family has terrible eyesight.

Pan Yun stood obediently.

"It's you?" The old Daoist released her. "You're not in class—why are you here? Who's on duty today? Don't you know meals are supposed to be carried back by the duty student?"

Poor kids—even the right to leave class for a meal was stripped away.

Pan Yun bowed respectfully: "Sir, I'm here to order food."

"Order food?" The old Daoist frowned. "Who's your Yuanzhu? Who's ordering meals now?"

Pan Yun didn't hesitate: "Zhang Ziwang. This meal is for a very, very, very senior elder."

The old Daoist stared at her. Pan Yun blinked her big eyes back. After a moment, he snorted: "Fine. What do you want to order?"

He slapped down a menu, chin raised: "Pick."

She knew the dining hall's food too well—none of this was what she wanted, except buns and steamed bread.

Pan Yun pushed the menu away: "Sir, I don't want any of this. I want big meat, big meat, and more big meat!"

"Are you feeding pigs?" The old Daoist snatched a fly whisk from beside him and tapped her head. "Little brat, I've already been lenient with you. How dare you call your Yuanzhu by name? If you're ordering for a very, very, very senior elder, why come to the dining hall? Do you think the Zhang family's main kitchen, small kitchen, and Immortal Tower chefs are decorations?"

Pan Yun blinked, then said: "You've given me another idea—but I think our dining hall's chef is just as good, no worse than theirs."

Two round heads popped out from inside the door, grinning until their eyes vanished: "Uncle, we agree with this student—our dining hall chefs are excellent."

"Shoo, shoo," the old Daoist waved them back to prepare food, then turned to Pan Yun: "Lying through your teeth. I won't help you anymore. You've lost your right to even pick a menu."

With that, he snatched the menu away.

Pan Yun hurriedly said: "Old Sir, I'm not lying! Zhang Ziwang really is my Yuanzhu—I just resent him, and we're peers, so I call him by name."

The old Daoist studied her intently, then finally said, "Oh—I remember. You're Zhang Li's junior sister. How's Zhang Li? Has the battle below the mountain ended?"

Pan Yun: "... Ended long ago. Brother Zhang Liuzhen has already succeeded as clan head. The petition to the imperial court for recognition has been sent."

The old Daoist: "If it's over, why aren't the students released? And you—everyone else is still locked up. How did you get out? Are you ordering food to celebrate?"