From epochs long past, the arts of medicine and poison have flowed from a single wellspring, their paths intertwined. The East King Valley, embracing both, stands as a sect of profound antiquity and deep roots.

Its hallowed ground lies not within the borders of Qi, but directly to the north, a dominion unto itself, governed independently. Yang Country, nestled in the northwest of Qi, in truth shares a closer proximity to the East King Valley.

Shuanzi, his mind stirred by the whispers of the Flower Sea, spoke of the Tianqing Stone mine vein’s depletion, a matter seemingly tied to the Xi Family. By all reason, though Qingyang Town falls under the jurisdiction of Jiacheng, a mere Lord of Jiacheng should not provoke the wrath of the Chongxuan Family.

Could it be, that bolstered by the backing of the East King Valley, the Xi Family dared to covet the Chongxuan Family’s vein?

Tianqing Cloud Stone, though precious, yielded but scant amounts according to the records Jiang Wang had perused. Common Tianqing Stone, its value greatly diminished. Could a gain of this magnitude truly blind the eyes of the Xi Family?

Jiang Wang knew not.

Lost in contemplation, he felt a sliver of gaze upon him. Returning the glance, he espied the very figure astride the tall horse, strolling leisurely down the long street – Xi Zichu.

Jiang Wang offered a warm smile.

But Xi Zichu seemed merely to have cast a casual glance, his eyes sweeping past, already shifted elsewhere.

The fevered cries of the crowd never waned, accompanying his receding form.

With his cultivation, he could have entered the city unnoticed, a phantom in the shadows. Yet, he rode atop a noble steed, flaunting his presence, even commanding the armies to clear a path, a display of sheer spectacle.

Mere outward charm could not achieve such an effect. Even Zhao Rucheng’s comeliness in Fenglin City had not ignited such fervent adoration.

First, his identity: the son of the city lord, a cultivator of the East King Valley, undeniably the most esteemed youth in Jiacheng, his future limitless. Second, his cultivation: already in the Tenglong realm, a true paragon of strength. These were undeniably alluring attributes.

But these alone were not enough.

There must have been an element of calculated hype, perhaps augmented by illusionary techniques. Jiang Wang initially failed to grasp the purpose of this extravagant display.

But observing the fanaticism of the crowd, a sudden realization struck him. With such a figure of immense popularity, the Xi Family’s dominion over Jiacheng would likely remain unchallenged for a century to come. This, he realized, was reason enough.

The young master of the Xi Family had long since passed, yet the women of the street lingered, reluctant to depart. Jiang Wang called out to Xiao Xiao and Shuanzi, preparing to return to the inn. His plan was to spend the night in Jiacheng, and under the shroud of darkness, seek out the city lord’s mansion.

Just then, a figure in guard’s attire, pushing through the throng, approached Jiang Wang and spoke in a low voice: “My young master extends an invitation.”

“And who is your young master?”

The guard smiled, an air of immense pride about him: “Young Master Xi.”

Jiang Wang’s heart stirred. Why would he seek me out? Does he know me? From the Tianfu Secret Realm, or Nan Yao City?

His mind churning with possibilities, Jiang Wang casually instructed Xiao Xiao and Shuanzi to return to the inn. To the guard, he said: “Lead the way.”

Regardless of Xi Zichu’s reasons for a private meeting, he had no cause for apprehension. If Xi Zichu did not know him, there was nothing to fear. With his current strength, even if he couldn’t easily vanquish a Tenglong realm cultivator, escape was well within his grasp. It was utterly inconceivable for Xi Zichu, ignorant of his true power, to lay an ambush involving four or five Tenglong realm experts for a mere Tongtian realm cultivator. The entire Xi Family might not possess so many formidable individuals.

If Xi Zichu did know him, then there was even less to worry about. He now represented the Chongxuan Family. Xi Zichu, no matter how witless, would not dare openly slay a member of the Chongxuan Family.

Following the guard, they wound through the city, finally entering a small courtyard. The guard stopped at the gate, and a pure and beautiful maidservant took over, leading the way. From the exterior, it appeared a humble dwelling, but stepping within revealed a world apart. Jagged rockeries, tranquil waters, lush flora, and trailing vines – the master of this place must possess a discerning taste for pleasure.

Arriving before a pavilion, the maidservant withdrew. Within the pavilion, Young Master Xi sat alone in the main seat, wiping his face with a warm towel, appearing to have just arrived himself. A beautiful woman attended to him with meticulous care.

He set down the towel, waved the beautiful woman away, and looked towards Jiang Wang, saying: “Brother, pray be seated.”

On the small table within the pavilion, a pot of fine wine, two jade cups, and three small dishes were arranged. It was a sight pleasing to the eye. Jiang Wang took a casual seat, observing this master of showmanship at close range. He found the man’s gaze sharp, his temperament unique. A faint, clear fragrance emanated from him, arousing a degree of vigilance in Jiang Wang, for the scent brought to mind the Dao art of the Flower Sea.

Facing Jiang Wang’s scrutiny, Xi Zichu seemed unperturbed. He raised the pot and poured two cups of wine, then, without waiting for Jiang Wang to partake, took a sip himself.

“Let me guess…” he said with a smile. “You are from the Chongxuan Family?”

Jiang Wang neither confirmed nor denied: “How can you tell?”

“Within the entire domain of Jiacheng, I know every single individual of your age who has attained the Tongtian realm, yet I have never seen you. Thus, you are not from this place.”

“The entire domain of Jiacheng, there is no one who does not know me. And you look at me with curiosity. This indicates you have only recently arrived.”

“From your bone structure, you appear to be between eighteen and nineteen years of age. Hmm, it seems your lifespan has suffered some loss. This likely explains the multitude of experiences you’ve endured. Jiacheng is a small place, and Yang Country is a small country. Where would one find so many trials?”

“Most importantly, you are only in the Tongtian realm, yet you subtly make me feel a sense of threat. This indicates your strength is considerable. Within the entire domain of Jiacheng, who else could possibly threaten me? Considering the matter of the Hu Family’s Tianqing Stone mine vein being on the verge of depletion, I surmise you must be an emissary sent by the Chongxuan Family.”

“Furthermore, the affairs of the Chongxuan Family in this region of Yang Country are currently overseen by Chongxuan Sheng.”

Xi Zichu paused, a flicker of confusion crossing his brow: “However, I thought you would be a youth with white hair.”

Jiang Wang was on the verge of applauding: “You likely did not learn the arts of medicine in the East King Valley, but rather some methods of divination and calculation. As you surmised, I am indeed Jiang Wang, and the matter of my hair has other reasons.”

“Precisely,” Xi Zichu chuckled, clapping his hands.

“A physician observes, hears, asks, and examines. The eyes are of paramount importance.” He pointed to his own eyes, saying with conviction: “If I cannot even perceive your strength, then I am not worthy of claiming to have cultivated in the East King Valley.”

It seems it’s imperative to learn a secret technique for concealing one’s true strength. Merely relying on controlling one’s Dao Yuan to conceal it is fundamentally insufficient against such discerning eyes, Jiang Wang thought. Aloud, he asked: “Since you know the purpose of my visit, why have you specifically invited me? Is there something you wish to convey?”

“Having just seen you, I wished to inform you that the Tianqing Stone mine vein of the Hu Family has no connection to my Xi Family. Indeed, regarding the affairs of the entire Qingyang Town, we have never interfered, save for collecting a small amount of taxes.”

Xi Zichu spoke slowly: “Pray believe in my sagacity. While I have achieved a modicum of success in the East King Valley, it is not enough to inflate my ego to this extent. The East King Valley is strong, but it lies far to the north. The Chongxuan Family, however, is close at hand. A Tenglong realm expert, assaulting at full speed, can reach here from Qi Country within three days, not to mention those even stronger.”

Jiang Wang’s heart held three points of belief, but he asked aloud: “Apart from this, is there anything else you wish to remind me of?”

Xi Zichu interlocked his fingers, placing them before him, his face a picture of profound mystery: “That is a matter for you to consider on your own.”

Jiang Wang nodded: “Spoken truly.”

“Since you are Jiang Wang, one of the victors of this year’s Tianfu Secret Realm, perhaps we can discuss more interesting matters.” Xi Zichu said slowly: “I have a friend named Ji Xiu. He also participated in the Tianfu Secret Realm, and unfortunately, he failed. Do you recall him?”

“You are quite skilled at guessing. Perhaps you should continue to guess.”

Jiang Wang smiled, rising to depart from the small courtyard. His objective had been achieved. He knew that Xi Zichu was no fool. This was sufficient. This man was the son of the Jiacheng city lord, cultivated in the East King Valley, and possessed Tenglong realm cultivation himself. His influence within the Xi Family was undoubtedly significant. As long as he was not a complete imbecile, he would never endorse the Xi Family’s seizure of the Chongxuan Family’s mine vein. Until more compelling evidence emerged, the Xi Family’s involvement could be temporarily ruled out.