Chapter 192: Came to Visit Relatives

In these two days, almost everyone had heard the rumors about Ding Yao's powerful aura after breaking through his realm, and they had all heard several different versions.

Especially in the outer courtyard, which is separated from the inner courtyard, those who had not seen him were even more so.

But at this time, Ding Yao, who was walking down the mountain along the Bishui Lake, had a restrained aura, with no wonders showing, only a slight leakage of spiritual energy when he stepped, which made them, like Cao Jingsong, although they tried their best to capture it, still unable to see his depth clearly.

He was indeed in the Upper Realm of Profound Understanding, but no one could grasp exactly what his combat power level was...

At this time, Ding Yao drifted down the mountain, still calculating the opportunity to fix the Dao in his heart, his gaze deep, passing by two mansion gates with headless lions, and turning into the center of Shengjing City.

In the imperial city after the heavy snow, it was all white.

Red lanterns hung high in front of the mansions of the nobles in the capital, and the mellow scent of winter brew floated in the wind, with the fragrance of wine overflowing.

And in stark contrast to this were the beggars not far away, lying in the snow nests, their eyes turbid, shivering, truly living up to the saying, "Behind the vermilion gates, wine and meat go to waste; on the road, there are frozen bones."

Among them, the front of the Chong Wang Fu was the most lively.

Those coming and going were either old men with thick auras or heroic geniuses, all having come from afar.

Ever since the human mission visited the Snow Region, the supply of demon race spirit stones began to decrease, the reason being that the Scale Race, who controlled the mining of spirit stones, was thrown into the cold prison after that night in Yuyuan.

The mining progress was slowed down, and the supply of spirit stones would naturally decrease.

It is not an easy and rapid thing for the entire trade route to recover.

But for those cultivators who sat in deep mountains, having used high-quality spirit stones, who would still be willing to use those spirit stones containing impurities?

Thus, the major immortal sects and noble families were quite dissatisfied with this and sent people to Shengjing to apply pressure.

Some said that the only thing the demon race could take out after entering the Nine Provinces for trade was those top-grade spirit stones, and if even these could not be taken out, there was no need to continue the trade.

There were many such sayings, all with an arrogant attitude, and I don't know if they were truly stupid, or if they had already stopped considering the secular world after attaining the Dao for a long time.

Does the human race still have the foundation to negotiate conditions? Today's brief peace was begged for.

And these immortal family disciples who entered the imperial city were invited into the wine banquet by the pro-immortal faction such as Chong Wang and Wei Li after returning from the palace.

The world is broken, the nobles eat and drink; this has always been the norm of the Qingyun world.

At this time, in the backyard of the Chong Wang Fu, on the second floor of the Zhaixing Pavilion.

Three disciples from the Tianjian Peak of Lingjian Mountain, from the shore of the Xuanhai, Liu Junchi, Yao Chenglin, and Peng Peng of the Realm of Merging with the Dao and the Realm of Profound Understanding, were drinking and singing with the entourage of Princess Changle.

The men were heroic and dashing, and the women's brows and eyes were smiling.

"... After New Year's Day, I plan to enter the Upper Realm of Merging with the Dao. I will definitely participate in next year's Heavenly Dao Assembly; I am determined to get one of the top ten spots."

"Why not the champion?"

"Although my heart is as high as the sky and my sword Dao is peerless, I am still a bit worse than Senior Brother Zhuang You, the personal disciple of the Jianfeng. If he competes next year, the champion is a bit difficult for me."

"Top ten is already strong enough. Then I wish Senior Brother a sword like a rainbow and victory in the coming year."

"Many thanks for Senior Sister's auspicious words."

Liu Junchi raised his wine glass toward Zhao Yunyue.

Princess Changle, as a member of the imperial family, is restricted by law and cannot become a disciple of an immortal sect, but in fact, there has always been a Lingjian Mountain elder raised in her home. Tracing the source, she is indeed a disciple of Lingjian Mountain.

Moreover, she was also fostered at Tianjian Peak for a period of time when she was young, so calling these Lingjian Mountain disciples Senior Brother is not inappropriate.

Zhao Yunyue picked up her wine glass, showing a shallow smile, sipped the spiritual wine in the cup, and her gaze flowed.

This banquet was actually not just an ordinary gathering; Princess Changle could vaguely feel another layer of meaning, which was that her father hoped she could find a Dao companion among them.

Previously, she wanted to summon Ding Yao into the mansion to be her son-in-law, but the other party did not respond. Since the wish fell through, she naturally had to choose a new target.

In Chong Wang's view, attacking from afar and attacking nearby is a good political means.

He has been in close contact with the three southern sects for these years, which is precisely the reason, so marrying his daughter, who is already a disciple of Lingjian Mountain, into Lingjian Mountain is indeed an excellent choice.

And what Zhao Yunyue was thinking at this time was different from her father's grand ambition; her strongest thought had nothing to do with the family, but rather she hoped to find someone who could be stronger than Ding Yao.

Even more, someone who could beat Ding Yao like a dog, lying on the ground and calling for help.

After all, the incident of sending a letter to seek dual cultivation but being ignored caused a huge uproar, and it is still often mentioned to this day, so she cannot marry someone inferior to Ding Yao; she needs a more brilliant husband to vindicate her name...

At this time, a man in white as snow was walking past the wall of the Chong Wang Fu.

He reached out several times along the way, sending one piece of silver after another to those beggars who were lying in the snow and had blended into the accumulated snow, and then walked toward an alley named Chunhua.

During this time, many people turned their gazes over, watching him walk past the long street.

Zhao Yunyue's gaze also turned over, staring for a long time.

There seemed to be rumors in the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan in the past few days, which she had heard, saying that Ding Yao had broken through his realm and had already reached the Upper Realm of Profound Understanding.

But he seemed to be restricted by his powerful physical body, and the process was very difficult, but later news came out saying that his aura after breaking through his realm was very powerful.

But seeing him now, his aura was restrained, which made Zhao Yunyue feel that he did not have much change from when he was on the street the day before yesterday.

At this time, someone from Lingjian Mountain called her Senior Sister softly in her ear, pulling her thoughts back.

"Senior Brother?"

"We have been on the immortal ship for two days and nights, and we are a bit tired; we intend to rest for a while first."

Zhao Yunyue raised her eyes: "It is said that the third floor of the Nujiang immortal ship is extremely comfortable. Based on Senior Brother's status, it should have been enough, right?"

Liu Junchi shook his head: "We failed to enter the third floor on this trip, but have been living on the second floor; the room is cramped, and we haven't had a good sleep."

"Why are you living on the second floor?"

Liu Junchi sighed slightly: "It was a coincidence; the day we arrived, there happened to be a big shot boarding the ship, and the third floor was all under martial law. This kind of courtesy is probably for the travel of some immortal sect high-level official, so we naturally didn't force it."

"So that's how it is." Zhao Yunyue nodded with a smile: "Then all Senior Brothers, go and rest. There will be a boiled snow tea party in the mansion tomorrow. At that time, I would like to ask Senior Brother how to break through to the Realm of Profound Understanding."

"Easy to say."

Zhao Yunyue watched them go down, but couldn't help muttering in her heart, not knowing what kind of big shot could make the entire third floor under martial law.

And at this time in the West Market of Shengjing City, a figure with an immortal appearance and a very good figure was strolling through the market, her footsteps swaying and lively.

She was wearing a sunset-colored Ruyi cloud brocade shirt, wearing all kinds of luxurious spiritual hairpins; just looking at her attire, she looked quite like a girl from a small family, but the nobility revealed in her gestures, as well as the arrogance in her eyes, showed that her identity was far more than that.

However, her appearance could not be seen, because this woman was wearing a mask she bought from some stall at this time, a cat mask...

Strolling from the south of the West Market to the north, she did not seem to have a very strong desire to buy, more like she was curious.

It was as if she had been sitting in the tea house all along, listening to people discussing the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan student named Ding Yao breaking through his realm, which was the same kind of curiosity.

How strong can combat power that cannot be determined by realm be? On this point, if he doesn't make a move, no one can accurately know.

But no matter how strong, I don't think it could be stronger than myself.

The masked girl looked at the candied fruit stall for a long time, and finally stopped at a small stall selling roasted sweet potatoes.

"Miss, my sweet potatoes use Fengzhou honey potatoes. Everyone knows that although that place is where birds don't shit, the sweet potatoes are indeed extremely sweet. Which one do you want?"

"Who said Fengzhou is where birds don't shit?"

The vendor was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but close his mouth.

Although the other party was wearing a mask and couldn't see her expression, the slight coldness in her tone could make the vendor feel her sudden little temper.

At this time, the woman stretched out a piece of onion-white jade-like finger from her brocade sleeve and pointed to the roasted sweet potato that was overflowing with charred fragrance.

"I want this one, help me wrap it up."

The vendor wrapped it up nimbly: "Listening to the girl's accent, you don't look like a local?"

"Hmm."

The masked girl held the roasted sweet potato in her hand, her eyelashes trembling as she said: "Came to visit relatives."

The vendor just asked casually, and nodded slightly after hearing her say she came to visit relatives, but in fact, he was also a bit puzzled in his heart.

The accent is indeed not local, but it doesn't look like Fengzhou either, but rather more like the south.

When he was young, he was forcibly conscripted to repair a palace for the Shanhai Pavilion in the south, and he knew the southern accent very well.

But since she is not from Fengzhou, he doesn't know why this strange young lady would lose her temper because others said two words about Fengzhou.

At this time, the vendor selling cotton mattresses next door poked his head out: "Although Fengzhou is barren, since last year, it has become a place we want to go but can't."

"Why is that?"

"I also heard it from my uncle. The tax offerings in Fengzhou have been reduced to one-tenth. Many people in our village ran to Fengzhou overnight, but it's a pity that I do business in the capital and missed the best opportunity. Later, the official government issued a decree not to allow arbitrary migration."

The vendor selling cotton mattresses was talking, and suddenly saw the masked girl reach out and put down a piece of silver: "Buy a cotton mattress."

The vendor opened his mouth: "Is the girl not here to visit relatives? Why buy a cotton mattress..."

"I want to buy it."

"Then... thank you, girl, I will pick the one with the most cotton for you!"

Subsequently, the masked girl held her roasted sweet potato, hugged the cotton mattress she bought, and walked toward the distance.

The vendor selling cotton mattresses tidied up the stack of quilts he had turned messy just now, looked at the departing figure and said: "She should be a southern girl, and now she has married into Fengzhou, right? There are quite a few such things now, after all, the tax offerings there are low."

The roasted sweet potato vendor suddenly realized: "No wonder she would get angry when people spoke ill of Fengzhou."

The cotton mattress vendor put his hands on his waist: "Wait until I save some money, I also want to go to Fengzhou."

"Didn't you just say that the government ordered not to allow migration?"

"The rules are dead, people are alive. I know an old brother who works on the border of Zhongzhou, he has a way."

At this time, the masked girl had walked further and further in the market, then found a corner of the alley to stand still, and handed the cotton mattress to the two beggars kneeling in the snow.

Then she reached out and pinched the sweet potato skin, tore it off gently, put it in her mouth and smacked it twice.

Not far in front of her, the snow-covered Nishan was clearly visible.

When she came last time, the two had never met, so it was reasonable to go directly to the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan to see him on the way.

But now if she went directly, it would seem like she was deliberately looking for him.

At this time, a cat ran onto the wall in front of the masked woman, its tail held high, making her eyes involuntarily narrow slightly.

And at this time, Ding Yao had already reached the end of Chunhua Lane and was walking toward Xiang Kuangcheng's small courtyard.

He saw many people looking at him along the way, their eyes seeming to carry a fighting spirit that was eager to try, but unfortunately, not a single one made a move, making his professional quality unable to be reflected.

Going out without robbing money, isn't this the same as losing it?

However, what surprised him even more was that Xiang Kuangcheng's courtyard was locked, with a note pasted on it, saying he had moved, and then leaving a string of addresses.

"?"

After another turn, Ding Yao came to a residence, then stepped in, and saw Xiang Kuangcheng holding a broom and sweeping in the main room.

This residence was not big, but compared to the previous humble room, it could be said to be heaven and earth.

Xiang Kuangcheng said it was arranged by the Si Xian Jian, originally a private residence used by an official of the Ministry of Revenue to raise a mistress, but later it was confiscated because of a tax corruption case.

Since then, after repairs, these vacant residences were arranged for the officials of the Si Xian Jian.

Government units distributing housing, right.

Ding Yao muttered, thinking to himself that it still had to be a civil servant.

Xiang Kuangcheng said that there were actually larger ones in the assigned courtyard, but with Xiang Kuangcheng's personality, he was not good at fighting for it, so he already felt satisfied with a small humble room.

"I feel more and more that you are living freely and easily. If I had known, I would have gone to take the imperial examination."

Xiang Kuangcheng looked at him holding the broom: "But Brother Ding has not loved reading since he was a child."

Ding Yao revealed an arrogant expression: "Heh, that little bit of yellow in your stomach, I could do it since I was a child."

His hands were not yet flexible at this time, so he sat on the steps watching Xiang Kuangcheng tidy up the courtyard, and chatted along the way.

During the time he was in seclusion breaking through his realm, the barbarian race retreated, and after withdrawing from the northern border, they returned to the depths of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Regarding this, Ding Yao did not feel surprised.

The barbarian race's charging the pass this time was to a certain extent to show the demon race, for the sake of enhancing the confidence of the demon race and them forming an alliance to go to the demon race together.

But the human mission made the Demon Emperor temporarily give up this idea, and now the news must have reached the barbarian race, so for the barbarian race, the meaning of this siege battle did not exist.

Most importantly, the severe winter had come, and marching from the Ten Thousand Mountains was not an easy thing, so the truce seemed logical.

"If this situation can be maintained, it would be good. If the war does not appear, Brother Ding might even be able to marry the demon princess."

"It cannot be maintained."

Ding Yao sat on the steps, thinking to himself how it could be maintained.

The barbarian race is determined to return to the Nine Provinces, and the Demon Emperor's unwillingness to interfere at this time is highly likely related to the human race's luck, but in the end, it is still unavoidable to have a battle.

However, what does this have to do with the demon princess?

The two of them were originally purely in a doctor-patient relationship, not even counting as friends.

If Ding Yao didn't believe that Xiang Kuangcheng was a local native, he would have suspected that he was a time-traveler who had seen many island nation art films with similar themes.

Hospital ward, active duty, first time, lifting the ban, all kinds of terms were frantically racing in Ding Yao's brain at this time.

At this time, Xiang Kuangcheng swept to the east courtyard, and suddenly saw a knife mark on the corridor pillar, which had almost penetrated half of the wood, and his eyes couldn't help but freeze.

Just after sweeping the back side of the water tank, he also saw the knife mark, which had scratched the tank wall.

These craftsmen, their work is really not meticulous.

But fortunately, this wooden beam is not the main load-bearing structure. In a few days, find a craftsman on the street, put a similar wooden board and hit it with embedded nails, that's all.

Xiang Kuangcheng patted the dust on his body, then rolled up his sleeves, and began to light a fire to cook.

Moving to a new home is to warm the pot. Ding Yao came here today but failed to eat the big meal he extorted before going to the Snow Region, but instead had to give some gift money.

"On New Year's Day lantern festival, does Brother Ding want to walk arm in arm with me and Miss Rui'er?"

"Forget it, a gentleman like me, it's better not to disturb your romantic night."

Ding Yao said coldly.

This was the second time he had heard this question today, and Rulong Immortal Emperor, who asked it last time, still feels cold in his heart to this day.

Xiang Kuangcheng looked at Ding Yao at this time: "The Yuan girl of the Pill Sect is too far away, and the demon princess is even further away, so Brother Ding, can't you find a female companion to walk arm in arm with?"

Ding Yao instantly puffed out his chest: "Nonsense, I just don't want to waste time cultivating the Dao, otherwise, if I open my arms gently, wouldn't they have to line up to the outside of the city?"

"Then why don't you open them?"

"I don't."

Xiang Kuangcheng looked at Ding Yao, thinking to himself that although Brother Ding seems to be romantic and is known as having fiancées all over the mountain, in reality, he has always been a lonely person. This may not be that he is truly self-disciplined, but more likely that there is a very powerful one in his backyard.

Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered the woman who was brought into the courtyard by Ding Yao that day and almost wanted to kill someone after being praised as cute.

The scholar Xiang pursed his lips: "Brother Ding is a bit afraid of his wife."

Ding Yao raised his head: "So smart, are you going to take the postgraduate entrance examination?"

"Postgraduate entrance examination?"

"Oh, I forgot you are already a champion."

"Brother Ding always says things I can't understand, but on New Year's Day, how do you plan to spend it?"

"Cultivation, seize the time to enter the Realm of Merging with the Dao."

"It's too hard, you just broke through your seclusion not long ago."

"The Upper Realm of Profound Understanding and the Initial Realm of Merging with the Dao, although they are only one realm apart, are actually like a chasm, so it's normal to be a bit hard."

Ding Yao had already eaten and drunk enough at this time, wiped his mouth and was about to slip away, but before he got up, he heard a burst of footsteps.

Subsequently, the footsteps stopped, paused for a long time in front of the door, and called out a few times, Young Master.

But with the ear power of the fierce bandit Ding, he clearly heard a few subtle clanging sounds before these few Young Masters were called...

Ding Yao narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself that I am also too bitter, I must break through my realm quickly, and after I can beat Yan Shuyi, I will bluff her, and then I will be a stallion in the world, letting those women who want to feel the heat line up.

Xiang Kuangcheng had not heard Wei Rui's voice at this time, and was still refilling wine for Ding Yao.

This is probably because of changing the residence, the previous volume seemed to be insufficient to penetrate the larger courtyard.

Ding Yao wanted to open his mouth to remind him, but soon heard another burst of footsteps that did not belong to Wei Rui, and his heart instantly became vigilant.

However, with Wei Rui's question, Ding Yao's heartstrings relaxed a little.

"Miss, who are you looking for?"

"Not looking for anyone, I'm just strolling around."

"I saw the girl standing here all the time when I came just now, as if listening to the movement in the courtyard, frowning for a while and humming for a while, it doesn't look like strolling around, could it be... you are also looking for Young Master Xiang?"

Wei Rui asked softly, but her voice was mixed with a sense of vigilance.

Miss Wei is not a cultivator, just an ordinary woman, so what made her vigilant was certainly not the other party's cultivation.

Combining the environment and context, that sense of vigilance is likely to come from the comparison of appearance between women, after all, they both appeared in front of the same man.

However, Wei Rui is actually a well-known beauty in the capital, so there are really not many people who can make her feel vigilant.

"I am not guessing that someone will come after inquiring about the news, and deliberately waiting here for a chance encounter, I am just strolling around."

"?"

"Really."

"Miss, look at your footprints on the snow, you have already drawn countless circles..."

Xiang Kuangcheng had just filled the wine at this time, looked up but found Ding Yao stunned in front of the table, and couldn't help but ask: "Brother Ding, what's wrong?"

Ding Yao frowned slightly and put his finger in front of his mouth: "Shh."

"?"

Xiang Kuangcheng couldn't hear what he heard, could only watch his ears move slightly, his eyes slowly open, and finally suddenly hold his breath.

The scholar Xiang frowned, thinking to himself why Brother Ding has a look of pleasure.

At this time, Ding Yao looked at him: "It's a deal, New Year's Day, walk arm in arm."

Xiang Kuangcheng: "?"

"Oh by the way, forgot to tell you, Wei Rui is here."

"Eh?"

Wei Rui was standing on the snow in front of the door at this time, looking at the woman in front of her with vigilant eyes.

This woman is too good-looking, her skin is white as snow, her face is exquisite and three-dimensional, her full figure is also exquisite and upright, and the most critical thing is her temperament, which is truly beyond the reach of even the imperial princess.

However, before Wei Rui could continue to speak, two figures walked out of the door, the one in front was Ding Yao.

Wei Rui bowed slightly: "Seen Young Master Ding."

Ding Yao was already going out of the door at this time, not even hearing Wei Rui's voice, only seeing the woman beside her looking coldly to the side, but then swept him with her peripheral vision.

Haven't seen her for a long time, she seems a bit thin, but her aura is more mysterious.

Wei Rui looked at Ding Yao: "Does the Young Master know this girl?"

Ding Yao came back to his senses: "This is my..."

"?"

This is mine, after understanding the context, Wei Rui instantly turned pink, understanding his meaning.

She came to find Xiang Kuangcheng today, Young Master Ding's meaning is that she is Young Master Xiang's, while the woman in front of her belongs to Young Master Ding.

So that's how it is...

No wonder Sister Yunyue wanted to dual cultivate with him but didn't get a response.

However, with this "mine" sounding, the fairy in the snow instantly narrowed her eyes, and the sword intent all over her body began to rise.

Wei Rui was startled, only then realizing that the woman in front of her was a cultivator, and full of murderous intent.

However, that sword energy only whistled for a while, blowing the sky full of snow, and then it dissipated on its own, and at the same time, the woman's expression seemed to become a bit well-behaved.

"What a coincidence."

"Coincidence my foot..."

Ji You looked at the snow behind the Lingjian Mountain Little Inspector, which was covered in small, delicate footprints, as if someone had walked in circles in the snow.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Yan Shuyi gave him a fierce look, signaling him to quickly say it was a coincidence.

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(End of chapter)