“Are you still going to talk about how calligraphy reflects character?” Lian Que’s face darkened. He wasn’t Zhong Xuan Sheng, after all, and was quite aware of his own appearance. His large hand had already subtly pressed down on the booklet, ready to snatch it back if even a single word displeased him.

“Character *does* have its reasons for reflecting the person,” Jiang Wang said, unhurriedly and calmly. “Look at these characters! They twist and turn, like a dragon walking, and carry the momentum of soaring clouds and riding mist! Ugliness is just outward form, the true essence lies in the wind bone! Besides, with your unparalleled perseverance and talent, who else in the Lian family could write with such vigor?”

Lian Que’s expression softened, and he released his grip, allowing Jiang Wang to draw the booklet of nurturing methods closer.

Long Xiang Si possessed the potential of a famous weapon, capable of being called one, but it hadn’t fully reached that stage. It required years of tempering, the owner’s daily accumulation and companionship in battle, and shared progress.

Methods to accelerate this process existed, particularly within the Lian family, a sacred land of weapon casting. They lacked no related research. However, most of these methods were beyond Jiang Wang’s capabilities with his previous strength.

Using a divine ability seed to nurture a famous weapon was one such orthodox and grand method.

And Lian Que, as the caster of Long Xiang Si, understood this sword better than anyone save Jiang Wang himself. He had made special adjustments, naturally crafting the most suitable nurturing method for this renowned blade.

Despite his feigned dislike, Jiang Wang was quite eager and immediately flipped through the pages of the nurturing method booklet.

One had to admit, though Lian Que was outwardly plain and his temper prickly, on the path of a casting master, he possessed astonishing talent. The entire book, from shallow to deep, was exquisitely crafted. Even an outsider like Jiang Wang could immediately discern its preciousness.

Up until now, Jiang Wang had relied only on Long Xiang Si’s inherent sharpness in battle, its unique properties as a famous weapon not yet fully revealed. With this nurturing method, Long Xiang Si was bound to shine brightly sooner.

Lian Que had a fierce disposition and was clumsy with words; often, he spoke very little.

Jiang Wang, having spent considerable time with people like Zhong Xuan Sheng and Xu Xiang Qian, subconsciously felt the urge to engage in witty banter. Fortunately, their friendship was deep, and Lian Que wouldn’t truly take his words to heart.

“Here, there’s more.” Lian Que said, producing a flat, square, slightly dark iron box. “The thing you wanted me to forge is complete. This item is somewhat malevolent, you should use it with caution.”

It was characteristic of someone like Lian Que to speak so directly.

Jiang Wang reached out and took it, not examining it closely before placing it directly into his storage box. “Was it difficult to handle?”

“Not *too* easy… but difficulty can’t defeat me.” There was a hint of pride in Lian Que’s voice.

“Of course, forging can’t defeat you, you are Lian Que after all!”

Jiang Wang thought for a moment, then said solemnly, “I won’t use it lightly. I just subconsciously felt this thing was rare and didn’t want to waste it. After thinking about it, only you could handle it properly.”

Lian Que grinned widely. “The more one contends for position, the more complex human hearts become. Now, when others speak, I have to take their words with a grain of salt. Only you, Jiang Wang, whatever you say, I can believe it.”

He had not hesitated to risk death to vindicate Jiang Wang during the Lian family’s ancestral worship ceremony. Such a person could not be swayed by power, wealth, or influence.

To be recognized by someone like Lian Que was undoubtedly a gratifying matter.

Jiang Wang raised his cup towards the window. “My heart is like the moon, fortunate to have met you!”

Beneath the same bright moon.

Yin Guan stood atop a tree, facing the moonlight, his eyes distant, lost in thought.

The masked coroner official, Wang, sat cross-legged beneath the tree.

Small fry like Su Xiu Xing could escape and relax, blending into the crowd like stones sinking into the sea, creating only momentary ripples that dispersed quickly. But they, the “Yan Luo,” were beings the North Yamen openly and relentlessly sought to capture, their lives unimportant!

The “Yan Luo” of Hell No Door were absolute top-tier assassins. When it came to concealing their tracks, they were all experts.

However, before the powerful pursuit forces of Qi Country, it was still not enough.

Even someone as strong as Tai Shan Wang was smoked out of his hiding place and caught squarely.

For everyone in Hell No Door, these were difficult days. They had been pursued by national powers before, but ultimately to no avail; nothing could truly harm Hell No Door.

But this time was different. Everyone realized, this time it was truly different.

This time it was Qi Country, the hegemon of the East Domain, the mighty Qi of the world!

However, being pursued by heaven and earth did not cause Yin Guan to show the slightest discomposure. He stood alone atop the tree, completely unafraid of exposure, even having the leisure to appreciate the moon. There was not a trace of decline on his handsome face.

“How is it? Is the new hand useful?” Yin Guan asked from the treetop.

“Just passable. After all, it’s only a hand from the Inner Mansion realm.” The coroner official Wang, sitting cross-legged beneath the tree, spoke with a hoarse voice. “I can no longer remember what my original body was like…”

For the vast majority of cultivators, if a severed limb could not be reattached, their combat power would be greatly reduced. Even if they took certain spiritual medicines that could regenerate the limb, it would not return to its former state in just a year or two.

Every strong person who reached their level had tempered and shaped every part of their body through daily accumulation. That investment of time and sweat, once lost, was not easily regained.

But the coroner official Wang’s cultivation was special. The vast majority of his limbs, even his flesh, had been “exchanged” from the bodies of others. This was also why he could resolutely abandon a hand to create an opportunity for Yin Guan.

Yin Guan did not elaborate on this topic, but instead said directly, “Then, summon everyone.”

The coroner official Wang then began forming hand seals. After a series of dazzling gestures, he brought his palms together in front of him, then slowly pulled them apart.

Between his palms, a silver-white screen of light appeared. The screen initially trembled slightly, then slowly stabilized, neatly divided into ten grids.

Within six of these grids, human figures were reflected.

Yin Guan and the coroner official Wang also appeared, occupying two of the grids.

In the remaining four grids were four individuals wearing masks identical to the coroner official Wang’s.

They were—Song Di Wang, Bian Cheng Wang, Du Shi Wang, and Ping Deng Wang.

This time, Qi Country’s actions had prompted Hell No Door to dispatch seven Yan Luo. Of the ten halls of Yan Luo, only Chu Jiang Wang, Yan Luo Wang, and Zhuan Lun Wang had not entered Qi.

Although only five had truly taken action at Xiao Lian Bridge, their preparations were absolutely sufficient, leaving a margin of two Yan Luo.

It was clear that although Hell No Door seemed lawless, they still maintained considerable caution towards Qi Country. Yet… looking at it now, this level of caution seemed far from enough. Perhaps they should never have taken that business in the first place!

There were only six grids of human figures because the three Yan Luo outside of Qi Country could not possibly communicate with them by crossing Qi Country’s protective grand array at this tense time. That would almost directly expose their positions.

The remaining grid belonged to Tai Shan Wang…

The various Yan Luo of Hell No Door, who had been hiding in the east and west during this period, were rarely gathered together in this manner.

As soon as he appeared, Du Shi Wang said in a hoarse voice, “Is it appropriate to request communication at such a dangerous time, Qin Guang Wang?”