Yet say, the old man who read Jiang Wang’s face at the head of Linzi street, retreated into the crowd and vanished from sight.

When he reappeared, he was within a mysterious space. Above, the starry river flowed; below, the star charts were intricate. The four directions were vast, the night colors surging, boundless to the eye.

Lines of starlight constructed the star charts, like a suspended spider’s web. Below the star charts, and even above the starry river, lay infinite darkness.

The old man, whose name meant “Divine Shadow Fades to Thin Air,” narrowed his eyes and gazed at a young Daoist before him. This person’s face was youthful, yet their eyes seemed to hold the flow of the starry river, vast and without limit.

They wore a Daoist robe densely woven with star charts, and their Daoist bun was held in place by a single ink-colored jade hairpin. From appearance to temperament, this person was beyond compare to the old man.

The old man pursed his lips. “Ruan Qu! Why do you bar my path?”

He was the owner of the Star Gazing Tower, the tallest building in Linzi. The Supervisor of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, named Ruan Qu! This youthful-looking Daoist actually possessed such an origin!

“Rather, it is I who should ask you,” Ruan Qu said faintly. “What brings you to Linzi?”

The old man, clad in coarse cloth and hemp, appeared shabby and listless in comparison to Ruan Qu. Yet, his voice was full of vigor. “This old man neither harms heaven nor reason, nor does he kill or injure. There’s no need for me to report every little thing to you.”

Ruan Qu merely gave him a faint look, his gaze devoid of sorrow or joy. The star chart beneath their feet suddenly brightened.

“Alright, alright,” the old man said irritably. “You don’t welcome me, I’ll just leave then.”

“If I had not come out, you would still be able to leave,” Ruan Qu said. “If others had come, it wouldn’t be so easy.”

The old man suddenly smiled. “Look at you, making Linzi sound like a den of tigers and wolves. Are the people here really that fierce?”

Without waiting for Ruan Qu’s reply, he craned his neck to look behind Ruan Qu. “Is this your daughter?” He smiled and praised, “Truly, she is born not bad!”

Behind Ruan Qu, starlight gathered, condensing into a young woman of blooming age. She also wore the same Daoist robe as Ruan Qu, and her Daoist bun was styled identically. Her face bore a three-point resemblance to the divine, yet she was born clever, spirited, and exceptionally beautiful, her delicate nose like jade, starlight shining in her pupils.

She asked, “Father, who is this person?”

“A crooked path, a deviant way,” Ruan Qu said. “Speak no more of it!”

“Ruan Qu!” The smile on the old man’s face finally vanished. He looked at Ruan Qu and said, “Ten thousand years ago, who was on the crooked path?”

Ruan Qu did not even lift an eyelid, merely saying, “People must always move forward, look further ahead. Walking a backward path is just the crooked path.”

The old man flicked his sleeve and said, “Truly, a summer insect cannot speak of ice!”

He took large strides towards the outside. Before stepping out of this space, he suddenly turned his head. “You think, that Xie boy’s words about pretending to be a ghost and playing god were scolding me? Heh heh, I don’t beg for a living in Linzi anyway!”

Having said this, he took a step and left.

Only the father and daughter remained within the space. Ruan Zhou wrinkled her beautiful nose. “This person is truly rude!”

Ruan Qu merely said faintly, “When there is resentment in the heart, words of resentment naturally emerge.”

His form dissolved into starlight, falling into the center of the star chart. Ruan Zhou also disappeared with him.

Flame Zhao possessed a considerable demonic beast bloodline, which was reflected in its speed. The sky had just turned dark when it stepped upon the night colors and entered Yang Ground. This was a full two thousand li of official road! Its running speed surpassed Lin Youxie’s flying speed, and its endurance was beyond question.

In fact, after traveling for a little over half the journey, Jiang Wang released the horse and hurried along using the Blue Cloud Stepping Immortal Technique. He had specifically led Flame Zhao out the gate to accommodate Lin Youxie’s speed. The first time, when he refused to let the horse go, seeing Lin Youxie’s exasperated expression, he had deliberately tormented her.

The faster they reached Zhaohang City, the closer they would be to the true clues. Jiang Wang still understood this much. He was also very clear that in investigating the case, Lin Youxie was the main force.

“Let’s first go to Qingyang Town and rest the horse,” Jiang Wang said in the air.

His green shirt billowed in the wind. Having worn the immortal clothes for these past few days, they had already absorbed enough power. Though moved by the strong wind, they were truly controlled by it, exhibiting a certain ease and freedom.

Jiang Wang had carefully studied these Free-Willed Immortal Clothes for a long time, but he had found no clues about the Immortal Palace. Considering that these immortal clothes were bestowed by the Son of Heaven, and who knows how long they had been in the national treasury, or how many people had pondered over them, if they contained an Immortal Palace inheritance, it likely wouldn’t have remained until now.

The clothes bestowed by the Son of Heaven, while a reward, were also perhaps a hope that these immortal clothes could somehow connect with the Immortal Palace inheritance on Jiang Wang’s body, allowing Jiang Wang to gain further insights. Many people would rather let treasures gather dust in a warehouse than give them to others cheaply. The Son of Heaven’s spirit was naturally different.

Unfortunately, there was no such connection. This was also reasonable. The Nine Great Immortal Palaces were not a unified entity. During their era of supremacy, they might even have been rivals. Jiang Wang had obtained the Cloud Peak Immortal Palace and the Ten Thousand Immortals Palace inheritances, and there had been no entanglement between them.

But even putting aside their origin, the Free-Willed Immortal Clothes themselves were quite precious treasure clothes, a considerable reward.

Ignoring Lin Youxie’s opinion, Flame Zhao opened its hooves and followed Jiang Wang’s lead. Soon they arrived outside Qingyang Town. Lin Youxie dismounted and said, “Lord Jiang, you may go rest your horse. Your subordinate will wait outside the town.”

Jiang Wang had always avoided her like a tiger, intending to keep his distance. After borrowing a boat near the sea and promising to release his doubts about Jiang Wang’s body, she had also kept her distance well. She had not contacted Jiang Wang again since then. Even though she was assisting with the case this time, her attitude was very distant.

Jiang Wang hadn’t released the horse, and she had truly gritted her teeth and chased in the air for half the day, pursuing him until her Dao Yuan was nearly exhausted, yet she hadn’t uttered a soft word. Instead, Jiang Wang himself felt bad and released the horse. Now, they passed Qingyang Town but did not enter.

Jiang Wang found it hard to understand and simply replied, “This official will go and be back shortly.” He didn’t even say polite words, leading Flame Zhao directly towards the town.

Although there was nothing untoward in Qingyang Town, Lin Youxie’s gaze was truly sharp. Jiang Wang was unwilling to expose too much of his situation to her. Two town hall martial guards stood dutifully at the town gate. Upon seeing Jiang Wang, they couldn’t help but cheer. Their own seal lord was the Yellow River Chief! People from their Qingyang Town now held their heads high wherever they went.

Jiang Wang smiled and greeted them, then went to the town hall. The sky had already turned to night, and the town was not comparable to Linzi; there were few pedestrians on the streets in the evening. Jiang Wang’s pace was very fast, and he didn’t need to announce his arrival. When he reached the town hall, Du Gu Xiao was practicing Dao techniques in the backyard. Upon seeing Jiang Wang, the flame flowers in her hand scattered.

“Young master! Why are you back at this hour?” She had a look of surprise.

The last time Jiang Wang returned to Qi from the View River Platform, she had rushed to the side of the road to speak a few words. At that time, Jiang Wang had said he wouldn’t be back in Qingyang Town for a while. Although she was disappointed, she also knew that a prosperous place like Linzi was where the young master should ascend.

Although she was already extraordinary, she felt her cultivation qualifications were ordinary. If she could help the young master manage the sealed land well, she felt she was contributing something of value, that she was still a useful person to the young master. Of course, she hoped to be more useful, to have more value. So not only was she diligent in town affairs, but she was also very hardworking in her cultivation.

“When practicing Dao techniques, one must concentrate and be devout. Even if Mount Tai collapses before you, the Dao technique cannot scatter.”

Jiang Wang had seen a problem in that one glance just now and pointed out a few small sentences. This flame flower technique was also something he had passed on to Xiao Xiao. Looking at the world, in terms of understanding “flame flower,” he could say he was second to none.

Because time was tight, he merely pointed out the problem briefly and stopped, letting Xiao Xiao ponder it herself later. Then he asked, “Where is Fan Qingqing?”

“Sister Fan is cultivating in the Main Voice Hall,” Xiao Xiao said. “Should I call her back?”

Jiang Wang thought about it. He had promised Fan Qingqing that he would guide her after he had control over the *Voice Hearing Immortal Canon*. He had been busy lately and hadn’t had the leisure, but he should remember it in the future.

“No need,” Jiang Wang said. “I have an imperial order to come to Yang Ground and must leave immediately.”

He thought for a moment and asked, “Do you know about the death of the Town Pacify Envoy of Hengyang County Town, Huang Yixing?”

“I haven’t heard about it yet,” Xiao Xiao shook her head, the shock in her eyes difficult to hide. “How did he die?”

After all, he was a figure of considerable status, comparable to Tian Antai. He had died just like that! One must know that above Qingyang Town was Jiacheng, and above Jiacheng was the county office. Huang Yixing’s status could not be considered low.

“That is exactly what I have come to investigate,” Jiang Wang said. It seemed the local blue card system kept news very tightly sealed.

“Is there anything I can do?” Xiao Xiao asked.

“My horse is outside, remember to have someone take good care of it.” Jiang Wang looked around. Everything was still as before. He then instructed, “I put something in my room. Do not let anyone go in during this period.”

Xiao Xiao nodded and said, “I understand.”

Jiang Wang left the town hall and went directly to his residence in Qingyang Town, placing the protective charm the fortune teller had given him under his pillow. Without hesitation, he turned and left, flying into the night.