Li Youjiu’s personal naming of Funing Mountain was an act of pure affection.

And Yue Leng’s manner of binding him with chains was an act of fellowship.

This journey to the Plain of Stars and Moon was truly worthwhile. Not to mention witnessing Master Guanyan and the strong practitioner Chanxin of the Equality Realm debating the Great Dao, the insights gained were something Jiang Wang would need to slowly digest.

Even within the Qing Pai system, Jiang Wang could now be considered to tread with ease.

The son of the Deputy Patrol Inspector, with whom he had cultivated a good relationship.

The actual power wielders, the Vice Envoy of the Patrol Inspectorate, Yang Weitong, who had shown him favor.

The retired God Catcher Yue Leng, with whom he shared camaraderie, and the currently active third-rank Qing Pai, Li Youjiu, who had bestowed upon him a measure of affection.

And on the other side, Lin Youxie had also promised not to actively pursue him further, backed by the exceedingly influential one-generation famous catcher Wu Lie within the Qing Pai system.

This meant that within the entire Capital Patrol Inspectorate, a portion would not provoke him, and another portion would only assist him. The rest, truly, could be said to be “not worth mentioning.”

While these relationships weren’t as ironclad as those with Yan Fu and Li Longchuan, this foundation could already be called quite solid.

Even now, detached from friends like Chongxuan Sheng, today’s Jiang Wang could be said to have truly rooted himself in the Qi Kingdom.

However, Jiang Wang himself held a clear understanding.

How much of this goodwill was directed towards his participation in the Yellow River Assembly, he held a clear number in his heart.

Whether he would ascend further within the Qi Kingdom or remain here in languor, in the end, still depended on his performance at the Yellow River Assembly. This was the most crucial factor.

Jiang Wang activated his Voice-Hearing Immortal State, listening for the correct resonance. After doing so, he shared some opinions with Fan Qingqing regarding the entire Correct Sound Hall, pointing out slight disharmonies, areas requiring minor adjustments, even down to the precise placement of certain tables and chairs…

Fan Qingqing might not have truly taken it to heart, but on the surface, she was respectful and courteous, indicating that adjustments would be made swiftly.

However, Jiang Wang didn’t much care; simply hearing her words was sufficient. Once the adjustments were truly made, she would understand who was correct.

Since the Correct Sound Hall was already constructed, he immediately decided to grant the Taixu Corner Tower quota to Fan Qingqing.

He didn’t walk the official path, often acting as a hands-off superior, so clear rewards and punishments were of utmost importance.

Furthermore, Li Youjiu had a nephew who was also very interested in the Taixu Illusion, and Boss Jiang, with a grand gesture, promised a quota to him as well.

Following this, he specially summoned Xiao Xiao, offering some guidance on cultivation and a few words of encouragement.

Dugu Xiao was his earliest foundation, and within the entirety of Qingyang Town, the person he trusted the most.

But that was all. Her cultivation talent wasn’t exceptional, and while her ability to handle town affairs was indeed good, in the extraordinary world, she would only fall further and further behind…

After simply handling a few town matters, Jiang Wang departed with the two Qing Pai seniors, returning to Linzi.

As for how Yue Leng and Li Youjiu would report this trip to their superiors, it was foreseeable.

Fabrication and exaggeration were impossible, but Jiang Wang’s emphasis on his fief, his sense of belonging to the Qi land, and the fact of his diligent cultivation would certainly be relayed to even higher-ranking figures.

This was what was called friendship.

Jiang Wang did not linger in Qingyang Town for too long, his departure leisurely, like winning steps in a courtyard, stepping empty and soaring far. Dugu Xiao then silently entered the Correct Sound Hall to tidy up.

Having handled government affairs in Qingyang Town for so long, at times when dignity was required, she also possessed some. Only in front of Jiang Wang did she still always regard herself as a maidservant.

Because “Jiang old master’s maidservant” was perhaps the closest relationship she could maintain with Jiang Wang.

Although she wasn’t old, everything she had experienced had made her very clear-headed.

Jiang Wang’s small courtyard in Qingyang Town was always cleaned by her personally, the bed linens and quilts regularly changed, unwilling to entrust it to others.

Fan Qingqing naturally came over to help.

Dugu Xiao quickly stopped her: “Sister, don’t move. What kind of person are you? How can you do these things? Leave it to me.”

Although in terms of age, Dugu Xiao calling her “aunt” wouldn’t be a problem. But “sister” after all sounded more amiable.

Dugu Xiao wasn’t without her perceptiveness.

Her current cultivation was guided by Fan Qingqing, and ordinarily, she served her very carefully.

Accustomed to hardship, she knew best how to seize opportunities and had no qualms about lowering her head or bending her waist. Poor people didn’t concern themselves with such matters.

Fan Qingqing went along with it, casually closing the window, and seemingly casually said: “Do you feel as though you’re growing further and further from Lord Jiang?”

Dugu Xiao continued wiping the chairs inside the hall with a snow-white flannel cloth, smiling: “Lord Jiang was originally high above, always this far away!”

Fan Qingqing, having extensive worldly experience, naturally couldn’t discern the depth of Jiang Wang’s status in Dugu Xiao’s heart. And in her view, Jiang Wang entrusting such an important place as the fief entirely to Dugu Xiao was itself an extremely great trust.

Dugu Xiao had an opportunity to advance further…

This was what she thought.

And with her and Dugu Xiao’s mentor-disciple reality, and Dugu Xiao being this kind of young girl, if Dugu Xiao could gain more from Jiang Wang, she could also gain more.

One De Sheng Trading Company, one Taixu Corner Tower, had already left her dazzled. Jiang Wang was now going to participate in the Yellow River Assembly, competing with prodigies from various countries…

That person’s future, she simply couldn’t imagine.

And Jiang Wang, this person, appeared warm and humble, seemingly defenceless and easy to deceive, yet was actually calm, resolute, and held firm views, extremely difficult to sway.

This point could be glimpsed from Jiang Wang’s performance in a series of events in the Near Sea Archipelago.

She was among the earliest of the sea island cultivators who had come into contact with Jiang Wang, yet at the beginning, she hadn’t fundamentally seen this person clearly at all.

Relatively speaking, starting from Dugu Xiao’s side was definitely simpler.

She also didn’t want to harbor any ill intentions, merely wanting to shelter under the vigorously growing big tree that was Jiang Wang, wanting to occupy more shade and reach out to pick more fruits to eat.

“Silly girl,” Fan Qingqing smiled, “No matter how high above, in the end, they are not mud statues or wood carvings; they must have seven emotions and six desires. Being closer or farther can make a world of difference.”

Dugu Xiao lowered her head, appearing very shy: “Lord Jiang treats me very closely. His room isn’t allowed for others to tidy up, you know!”

Fan Qingqing took Dugu Xiao as a little girl who understood nothing. But in reality, she had guided Dugu Xiao’s cultivation for so long, yet didn’t even know what Dugu Xiao’s small heavenly cycle was, and fundamentally didn’t know about the existence of the God Seal Law.

From this, it could be seen that while Fan Qingqing was worldly wise, Dugu Xiao’s thoughts were also extremely deep…

Compared to Fan Qingqing’s eagerness, Dugu Xiao herself was actually very clear. She understood how everything she had today came to be, and why a dignified Inner Mansion Realm great cultivator treated her so well. Having experienced human warmth and coldness from a young age, she knew the reason all too well.

As long as she was proper and fitting, not making Jiang Wang bored, she could maintain her current happy life.

If she were truly insatiably greedy, that would simply be courting death.

Of course, she wouldn’t tell Fan Qingqing these things. She had figured out the temperament of old master Jiang; this was her advantage compared to Fan Qingqing. She didn’t have many advantages, and she would maintain the ones she had well.

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“Maidservants are also different,” Fan Qingqing smiled ambiguously, “Sister learned some secret techniques in her early years overseas. If you can learn them well, they are guaranteed to be endlessly useful…”

Dugu Xiao lowered her head, showing great shyness: “Xiao Xiao is just afraid I am clumsy.”

“As long as you are willing to learn…”

Fan Qingqing took her hand, saying with veiled meaning: “There is no difficult matter in the world, only those who are not wholeheartedly dedicated…”