From the jade-paved streets of Mirage City, the capital of the Daquan Dynasty, a dawn cleansed by rain emerged. Willows wept emerald tears, painting a verdant tapestry kissed by the nascent spring. Though poets strained to capture such a scene, the common folk felt its beauty resonate within their hearts. Three carriages halted gently along a western thoroughfare, spilling forth a company of travelers. Beside them, a lotus pond shimmered, its waters mirroring the dawning sky.

A woman of regal bearing, adorned in silks of spun moonlight, lingered near the pond’s edge. Her hand, pale as alabaster, rested upon the cool stone railing. The water, reflecting a sky the color of jade, cradled leaves like emerald coins.

The woman outshone even such beauty.

She flexed her fingers, absently wiped her palm, and with a graceful twist of her wrist, glanced back at her companions. They stood patiently at the mouth of the lane, not daring to interrupt her reverie. Among them was a man with an empty sleeve hanging limp, a warrior robbed of his limb. Beside him stood a woman, a blade strapped to her hip, her nature seeming gentle. A small smile touched the woman’s lips. She was playing matchmaker, a task she hardly enjoyed. The Yaos, generations come and gone, were not known for their youthful dalliances. This particular brother-in-law, the Prefect of Mirage City, was an outlier in his perpetual bachelorhood. Though fate had spared his life on the battlefield, it had left him limping and robbed of an arm. He bore the burden of his scars with a grim determination. Not that he lacked for suitors, no. But any woman drawn solely to his rank and title found no welcome in his steely gaze.

This company was led by Yao Jinzhi, the Empress of Daquan. Beside her stood Yao Xianzhi, the Prefect of Mirage City, with his loyal attendant, Liu Yi, called Yuanyang as a girl and known by the Daoist name “Yifu.” Liu Yi, a third-rank Court Guardian, had recently been transferred to the Mirage City Prefecture, serving as Yao Xianzhi’s personal bodyguard. This imperial decree, whispered to be a favor of the Empress, was received with little resistance from Liu Yi.

Then there was Han-Guanghu, a newcomer to the Daquan court from the Golden Armor Isle, now serving as the Imperial Preceptor. Liu Zong, the Chief Royal Guardian, hailed from the Blessed Land of Lotus Flower and the young Jian Ming, a lad of the Bottle Isle known by the Daoist name “Yueren Ge,” a gleaming legal knife, “Ming Quan,” tucked beneath his arm. And lastly, Yao Lingzhi, sister to the Empress and the Prefect, bore the subtle marks of time around her eyes. Ever since losing her own blade, “Ming Quan,” she had abandoned her wanderings, no longer mingling with江湖 wanderers and highwaymen.

Yao Jinzhi was on her way to a small Daoist monastery to visit a former imperial prince from a bygone age who should rightfully call her sister-in-law – Liu Mao, now a Daoist priest from Dragon Isle as recorded in the imperial registry.

The monastery was called the Yellow Blossom Abbey, and it sat on the western edge of Mirage City.

As Yao Jinzhi walked towards the lane entrance, she raised her hands, and breathed on them, and offered a small blessing to the journey ahead. Yao Lingzhi gave her brother a glance, a silent instruction to lead the Empress onward.

The Daquan Dynasty had always embraced Daoism, and Mirage City teemed with monasteries of every size. The Yellow Blossom Abbey, while small, possessed a venerable history.

Once, not long after the founding of Daquan, the Taizong Emperor had commissioned it as a place of imperial prayer, dedicated to the Three Great Celestial Officials revered in the Daoist pantheon.

Larger carriages could not navigate the twists and turns of the narrow lane.

Yao Lingzhi accompanied the Empress through the shadowed alleyway, speaking softly. “Your Majesty, the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Ministry of Rites have notified Liu Mao at the Yellow Blossom Abbey to prepare for your visit today. However, they were instructed to expect us around noon. We’ve arrived an hour early. I don’t know if Liu Mao…”

Yao Jinzhi chuckled, a sound like wind chimes. “The Yellow Blossom Abbey has but three souls – the abbot and two novices. How much preparation does Liu Mao truly require? Let us proceed without ceremony.”

In truth, Liu Mao, styled “Dragon Isle,” had been waiting near the gate since dawn, clad in spotless robes, whisk in hand, eyes closed in serene meditation.

Two young children, the reluctant novices, stood beside him, rubbing sleep from their eyes and stifling yawns. Their master had not specified who they were to greet. It was a most tiring affair.

Recently, Liu Mao had declared his intention to attain the Golden Core, requesting imperial assistance in securing a suitable place of ritual.

Two imposing spirit guardians, painted in vibrant colors, adorned the abbey’s gate.

Han-Guanghu, the newly appointed Imperial Preceptor, who had arrived at Daquan by the introduction of the mysterious knife lender, Mr. Zeng, remarked, “Your Majesty, Liu Mao possesses no small talent for cultivation. To seek the Golden Core at his age is no easy feat.”

Leaving aside any comparison to younger, more boisterous cultivators, this former prince of the Daquan Liu Dynasty would still earn the title “genius” should he successfully attain the Golden Core.

All now rested upon the Empress’ decision – would she permit the Dragon Isle Daoist to ascend, or would she confine the former prince to the borders of the Dragon Gate realm?

Perhaps this answer would only be revealed after the Empress met with her former brother-in-law. Perhaps she already knew it in her heart, and today’s visit to the Yellow Blossom Abbey was merely a formality.

It was said that each year Liu Mao sent handwritten petitions, verses, and celebratory talismans to the palace. The Empress, in turn, would gift them to senior officials still serving in the court. It was a simple message: Liu Mao, son of the Daquan Liu Dynasty, lived. The Empress showed mercy, and Liu Mao expressed thanks, wishing to contribute to the Yao Dynasty, however marginally, while he cultivated himself in peace.

Unnoticed, Yao Lingzhi had switched places with the Korean Preceptor, and she, with Master Liu Zong and the young Jian Ming, walked behind the others at the end of the alley.

Yao Xianzhi, with his limping gait, slowed his pace and turned, smiling. “Preceptor, Liu Mao is no simpleton. From his youth, he possessed a shrewdness beyond his years, a talent for manipulation, and a knack for winning hearts. Had he not chosen the path of the Daoist priest, I would never have become the Prefect of Mirage City. My sister’s ventures would have been under Liu Mao’s careful watch. The man possesses a rare kind of talent. Even the massive ‘Records of the Land Under Heaven from the Twelfth Year of Yuanzhen,’ that massive compilation of four hundred volumes, was actually overseen and compiled by Liu Mao.”

“I’ve kept a close eye on him these past few years. He’s remained relatively honest. Liu Mao is also skilled in divination and calculations. His shelves are filled with books of arithmetic, which are all nonsense to me. But I believe Liu Mao has been cultivating his spirit. He may have had ambitions in the beginning, but now he is truly focused on Daoism. The last time I visited, he spoke to me with genuine sincerity. Of course, his words were rather unpleasant. Liu Mao has always enjoyed speaking sarcastically to those he looks down upon.”

Yao Lingzhi glanced cautiously at the Empress, seeking any sign of displeasure, and squeezed her brother in the ribs, as if to caution him against speaking ill of Liu Mao.

Yao Xianzhi hesitated, withholding his true thoughts. Mr. Chen had claimed that Liu Mao was truly disillusioned and that, with proper guidance, the Daquan Dynasty might gain an Immortal of the Nascent Soul realm to help with their national destiny. It was only because of Chen’s assessment that Yao Xianzhi dared to speak so freely. Did they really believe that such a long-standing Prefect of Mirage City was no more than a figurehead?

Yao Jinzhi simply smiled, offering no judgment.

“We’ve arrived,” Yao Xianzhi announced.

Rounding a corner, they arrived at the Yellow Blossom Abbey. Liu Mao, composed, whisk in hand, walked to the center of the lane and offered a Daoist greeting as the Empress and her retinue approached. “Liu Mao, abbot of the Yellow Blossom Abbey, greets Her Imperial Majesty.”

Rising, Liu Mao bowed again. “Liu Mao greets the Imperial Preceptor and the Prefect.”

Yao Jinzhi chuckled. “No need for such formalities, Liu Mao. Has it truly been so long?”

Compared to the ambitious and disrespectful First Prince, Yao Jinzhi held no personal animosity towards Liu Mao.

The two young novices stared blankly, their minds reeling. They had forgotten all decorum – indeed, what did they even know of proper behavior? Their master had never instructed them.

Fortunately, the Empress did not seem offended. Yao Xianzhi, however, patted one of the novices on the head. “Where’s your usual mischievousness? What happened to your usual fire?”

Liu Mao’s expression grew more reverent. Dropping the Daoist salute, he bowed low, as a subject should, and said softly, “Your Majesty, it has been over a decade since we last met. The time passes quickly, like the snap of a finger.”

Han-Guanghu studied the abbot, Liu Mao. For a former remnant of the previous dynasty to survive under the Empress’ watchful eyes, there must be a reason.

Entering the abbey, Yao Lingzhi announced her desire to pay her respects in the abbey’s main hall. The group found a hall for worship and one for rest. Because it was built by the emperor, the abbey was small but of high standards. The hall was deep and solemn, and the light was dim. The warm chamber was only three feet from the hall, and the two were separated by a yellow dragon curtain. A luxurious carpet was laid out, and two antique armchairs were placed on it. A tapestry of coiling dragons was embroidered on the front in peacock feathers. However, the offerings on the altar were meager, with only three pieces of meat in the bamboo container and a few grains of millet. The ceremonial instruments were rough and mostly lacquered red.

Liu Mao quickly brought a bamboo tube filled with incense sticks. After the Empress took three incense sticks, the crowd retreated quietly, treading lightly.

After the Empress had offered incense, she did not leave the hall immediately but instead pushed aside the yellow curtain and looked around in the warm chamber.

Liu Mao’s lineage did not descend from the founding emperor of the previous Daquan Liu Dynasty but from a later Taizong Emperor.

Yao Jinzhi’s decision to place Liu Mao in this abbey, commissioned by the Taizong Emperor, could not be said to be without intention.

Yao Jinzhi stepped across the threshold and, instead of going to the larger guest hall, said she would rather sit in Liu Mao’s study. With so many people, the room was small, and the study had only two chairs, both of which looked like new carpentry.

Liu Mao remained expressionless.

Before taking up the Dao, he had been a prince, living in halls of opulence, the air filled with the clinking of goblets and the soft glow of candles thicker than a man’s arm. He was never satisfied with the liveliness.

Now, with just two of them, even those memories seemed overly loud.

Han-Guanghu, with his keen eyes, noticed a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall, plainly framed, copied from the Daoist text, *The Yellow Court Scripture*. At first glance, it appeared to be a single, flawless piece, but upon closer inspection, it revealed two distinct handwritings. The last sixteen characters read: “Divide the body, scatter the form, ascending to assist true men, live coeternally with Heaven and Earth.”

The old man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, examining the characters carefully. He remarked softly, “The later hand surpasses the former.”

Yao Xianzhi chuckled and brought a chair to the Empress to be seated, but Yao Jinzhi told him to sit instead. He didn’t hold back and sat down, and then he lightly hammered his legs with his fists, because in rainy and snowy weather, his legs would rebel. After so many years of recuperation, it was already much better. In the first years as a member of the imperial family, it had been miserable. When Chen gave him two feathers from the Blue Tiger Palace in the Pure Realm, Yao Xianzhi took one and found it effective, almost immediately. Chen joked that Yao Xianzhi was full of vigor and so could eat.

The Empress’ gaze wandered around the room, landing on two brush rests in the brush holder, which Liu Mao had likely been using to copy scriptures.

In fact, Yao Jinzhi knew every brush, every book, and even where each item was placed in the Yellow Blossom Abbey, especially in this study.

For example, the two brush rests inscribed with “Clarity” and “Purity” were originally left behind after a “confiscation” and were left along with the book banned by the court, *The Heavens, The Phases*.

She was kind enough to advise the young abbot of the Yellow Blossom Abbey that in a “quiet” place, one must have a “clear” heart.

When you are finished with your cultivation, you can also read books such as *The Heavens, The Phases*.

Since he was a man of cultivation, he should look up to the sky more and stop focusing on things on the ground.

As to whether Liu Mao understood, Yao Jinzhi didn’t care. The Daoist of the Yellow Blossom Abbey would face whatever the consequences were for his mistakes.

Did he think that this empress who had spared his life would continue to be generous and kind to him again and again?

Yao Jinzhi walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out the banned book, her eyes narrowing instantly. She flipped through it quickly. The only sound in the small, quiet room was the rustling of pages.

On the title page and back page of the book, there were two side-by-side seals, “Infinite Thoughts” and “Take a Step Back to Think”, “Contentment” and “Insufficient Knowledge”.

Yao Jinzhi casually returned the book to its original place, turned around, reached out to the abbot in the Daoist robe, and gestured him to sit down in the last chair with gentle eyes.

Liu Mao hesitated, but seeing Yao Jinzhi’s expression was the same, he had no choice but to sit down. Time changes everything, and the once soft and weak woman in front of him now had the aura of a ruler.

The young Jian Ming crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame. He was very strange, he had wanted to return the national treasure to Daquan Yaos, but the celestial empress did not take it back, but instead gave it to himself. In exchange, Jian Ming became a third-class Court Guardian in the Ministry of Justice, and would be specifically involved in the search of several affiliated countries later, which meant promotion based on merit. Because of the Korean old man’s position as the national teacher of Daquan, Jian Ming could give up his status as a Court Guardian and leave Daquan Dynasty at any time.

Yao Jinzhi walked to the desk, tapped the brush holder with two fingers, and smiled, “Abbot Liu, do you know that our Daquan Manufacturing Office has a newly established stationery department, which has craftsmen specially making chicken-claw pens? The factory site is selected on the Lotus Bridge not far from the Yellow Flower Temple, next to the Baquan Bureau and Cangchang Yamen of the Ministry of Revenue. They will soon be sold to all parts of a continent, but I don’t know what the sales will be like in the future. I was not very satisfied with the official models submitted by the Ministry of Industry earlier. I always felt that something was missing.”

Daquan Dynasty’s chicken-claw pens were most suitable for writing small calligraphy, and were famous throughout the continent. Officials and literati from various countries used to like to buy some chicken-claw pens and match them with Luomei paper produced in Yunku Paradise as poetry and harmony in correspondence.

This deal was jointly done by the Daquan Ministry of Industry and the Qingping Sword Sect, but used a suggestion from the other party, changing “official system” to “imperial system”.

With just one word, the price doubled.

As one of the allies in opening up the waterways, the Yuigui Sect in the south agreed to reserve 30,000 chicken-claw pens with Daquan Dynasty, including the entire Yunku Paradise, plus several fairy crossings including Bicheng Ferry.

Liu Mao asked carefully, “May I ask Your Majesty, how are these chicken-claw pens priced?”

Yao Jinzhi smiled, “One imperial chicken-claw pen, one snowflake coin. The Divine Seal Peak of Yuigui Sect has already reserved 30,000 pens with us, and the amount of the deposit alone is not small, so I will be so embarrassed. We can’t just let the stationery department of the manufacturing office casually come up with some poorly made chicken-claw pens and use them to fool Yuigui Sect. This matter is very important. If the Divine Seal Peak really investigates, it won’t be a matter of refunding the money.”

Liu Mao was speechless for a while, was this robbery?

In the past, there were many types of Daquan chicken-claw pens. If Liu Mao remembered correctly, leaving aside the privately customized, extravagant chicken-claw pens, only those sold in batches on the market had the best craftsmanship and the highest price. Was only a dozen taels of silver.

Imperial? Looking at a continent, which dynasty’s inner court could produce 30,000 writing brushes in one go?

Yao Jinzhi saw the Dragon Isle Daoist’s face full of hesitation, she seemed to be in a good mood, took out a chicken-claw pen from the pen holder, quickly turned it between her fingers for a few turns, glanced at the inscription, it was “Ming Jing”, she slightly raised her eyes, glanced at Liu Mao who had always been sitting upright, and then she casually threw the chicken-claw pen back into the pen holder and said, “After you leave the customs, if you can successfully form the pill, don’t practice too cleanly, you might as well stabilize your realm while refining your heart in the mortal world. According to the mountain, stepping into the mortal world is also practice. For example, the court is about to issue new money. Since the Yellow Flower Temple is so close to the site of the Baquan Bureau and the stationery department, you should go more often, I will let the Ministry of Justice give you a suitable official position, rest assured, it must be a noble and idle job.”

Liu Mao quickly stood up and bowed to thank the emperor, “Your Majesty, I will take the order and thank you for your kindness.”

Yao Jinzhi smiled, “Then I will wish Abbot Liu to be successful in forming the pill, and the results of the dojo and guardian selection will be finalized by Yao Fuyin within three days at the latest.”

Liu Mao turned slightly again, and thanked the Fuyin.

Yao Xianzhi was furious, how come I didn’t see you so polite when we got along in private?

Yao Jinzhi walked out of the house first.

Yao Lingzhi left a gift on the table.

After Liu Mao sent the party out of the monastery gate, he gently tugged at Yao Xianzhi’s sleeve.

Yao Xianzhi stopped, lowered his voice, and asked suspiciously, “What’s the matter?”

Liu Mao asked softly, “Fuyin, the private collection of banned books in the monastery is not in line with the court’s etiquette system. Can you please ask the emperor to order someone to take back this “Heavenly Elephant and Star Chart” and submit it to the library?”

Yao Xianzhi scolded with a smile, but still agreed, and turned to follow the party. Fuyin was full of complaints, this Liu Mao was really a wonderful person.

Returning the same way, walking in the alley, Han-Guanghu frowned and said, “Your Majesty, what is Han Jiangshu of Wan Yaozong thinking? She has been dragging on like this, without giving a clear statement. The deposit has been paid, and so far there has not been a single cultivator to contact the court. Is she so sure in those three Blessed Lands that we can’t find other buyers?”

Yao Jinzhi frowned slightly, “It is indeed strange.”

Han Jiangshu had contacted her before. Wan Yaozong was preparing to order an intercontinental ferry from the Daquan Dynasty. The two sides had a good conversation. This female immortal in the upper five realms, whose family owned a blessed land, did not have the slightest arrogance from beginning to end, but was easy to talk to, as if she had something to ask for.

Han-Guanghu sneered, “Your Majesty, according to my opinion, if Han Jiangshu does not reply in another month, Wan Yaozong will not want to get back this deposit. At that time, no matter who comes to the door, I will be responsible for telling the truth to Your Majesty. Not to mention a Yu Pu Realm, even her father Han Yushu, who is the head of the sect, should not try to get anything good from me if he comes to the door in person.”

Liu Zong sighed, people are more popular than people, and this is the bottom line for a martial artist in the Zhijing realm to speak.

Otherwise, even the emperor would not dare to urge Wan Yaozong too much, but just sent a letter from the Ministry of Rites to the contact person in the Blessed Land designated by Han Jiangshu, but it was like a clay cow entering the sea.

Wan Yaozong was originally a sect-level immortal mansion, and according to Daquan Dynasty’s calculations, Wan Yaozong would most likely not be stopped by the Confucian Temple because of the money spent on the war exploits, so it would definitely have a lower sect within a few years.

It’s just that I don’t know why Han Jiangshu, as the spokesperson of Wan Yaozong, disappeared like a glimpse of light after showing up in Tongye Continent.

The “Lei Che”, an intercontinental ferry that was scheduled with the Daquan court, has been shelved.

Yao Jinzhi smiled slightly, “Let’s do it this way. No matter how large Wan Yaozong’s sect power is, it can’t be bigger than a word of reason.”

Previously, Daquan Dynasty had a partly bought and partly made the first intercontinental ferry, “Luxianzhi”, and the most expensive thing about the intercontinental ferry was the blueprint that was listed as the most top-secret by major sects. If it was just the cost of buying a ferry itself, the price would not be so high as to be staggering.

First, Daquan Dynasty will sign a contract with them, and will not disclose the blueprints to the outside world. Furthermore, Daquan Dynasty’s Ministry of Industry is currently unable to repair some key parts of the ferry even if they have the blueprints. This requires long-term cooperation with the seller in the future. Furthermore, the other party also hopes that the sale of the ferry will be equivalent to helping them own the largest “ferry” in Tongye Continent. Finally, the Daquan Dynasty will have a share of every new ferry built according to the blueprints in the future.

Daquan Yao plans to build two more intercontinental ferries in the next ten to twenty years, named “Emei Moon” and “Lei Che” respectively. Daquan will keep one for its own use and sell one to fill the national treasury hole for buying blueprints and building three intercontinental ferries. In addition to Wan Yaozong, there are two immortal mansions that are currently interested in this “Lei Che”, and the other is the Golden Peak Temple in the north. Baochen Daoist Yin Miaofeng and Shao Yuanran, both of them used to be first-class guards of the Daquan Dynasty. Lu Ying, the chief guard of Golden Peak Temple, had contacted Daquan, but Golden Peak Temple’s offer was 30% lower than Wan Yaozong’s.

Yao Xianzhi gently bumped Liu Zong’s shoulder and winked at the old man.

Liu Zong chuckled and pretended to be stupid on purpose.

Seeing that Yao Xianzhi was still not stopping there, Liu Zong turned to look at the female cultivator who was walking side by side with her apprentice behind him.

The old ginger is still spicy, and Fuyin was immediately defeated.

Because according to Liu Zong’s proposal, Daquan retained two intercontinental ferries, “Luxianzhi” and “Emei Moon”. The former runs the north-south route, passing through three continents, from south to north, Tongye Continent, Baoping Continent, and Northern Ju Lu Continent. After the second Emei Moon is built, it will join hands with the Liu family of Aikai Continent to develop the northern polar ice sheet, passing through Southern Suobo Continent, Middle Earth China and Aikai Continent, and forming an alliance with more than a dozen sects, immortal mansions, and dynasties under the mountain, totaling sixteen large fairy ferry ports, and signing detailed terms for the ferry’s berthing.

This matter has been approved in the emperor’s study.

However, the discerning people who are qualified to participate in the meeting all know that the person who can give this plan is definitely not Liu Zong, the chief guard.

Moreover, after Han-Guanghu became the national teacher, the plan has been changed, mainly the route has changed, and it can take the trade route of Luhua Island, Yulong Sect, Fuyao Continent and Golden Armor Continent.

After all, Han-Guanghu has a very high prestige in the Golden Armor Continent, and has very considerable deep connections and incense love both on and off the mountain.

Han-Guanghu did not think that the route plan proposed by Liu Zong was so brilliant, but only one point was full of praise, saying that Liu Zong had a long-term vision and was very insightful.

Because according to Liu Zong’s suggestion, Daquan Dynasty must set a price and sign long-term terms with each sect, immortal mansion, and dynasty ferry port that the ferry passes through. Now, most intercontinental ferries in the Haoran World have been requisitioned by the Confucian Temple.

Each ferry port needs to maintain operation and ensure profitability, so it needs intercontinental ferries such as “Luxianzhi” and “Emei Moon” that have not been drawn by the Confucian Temple to berth for trade, bring popularity and stabilize financial resources. Therefore, Daquan Dynasty can sign terms with the ferry port at this time at a price that is far lower than in previous years.

Therefore, the longer the term of years now, the more money Daquan Dynasty will save each year on tolls and tolls for the ferry port.

Saving money is making money, and everyone understands this simple principle.

After weighing the pros and cons, Yao Jinzhi was really difficult to decide for a while, so why not build another intercontinental ferry?

She had even taken the name, Huozhulin.

Yao Lingzhi had been married for a long time. The woman who longed for the martial world the most had married a scholar from a scholarly family. Now she had both a son and a daughter. She was the first in the “Zhi” generation to start a family.

Previously, Chen Ping’an entrusted Yao Xianzhi to give her two children red envelopes. Not long ago, during the New Year’s greetings, this move by her brother shocked the two children completely.

In the past, the two children were always skeptical about Yao Xianzhi’s claims. Uncle, are you really familiar with Chen Yinyin? You’re blowing your horn without drafting, right? In fact, you just nodded to each other after chatting a few words, right?

But since receiving a red envelope from Yao Xianzhi, the two children are now extremely respectful and polite when they see Yao Xianzhi again. Especially after learning that his uncle had become a nominal guest secretary of the Qingping Sword Sect’s Ancestral Hall, the two children’s eyes lit up, and they worshiped their uncle even more. When they met, they flattered him, “Uncle, do you want me to rub your shoulders and legs? Uncle, I haven’t seen you in a few days, you look younger and more handsome. Uncle, let me be a lobbyist for you with Sister Yuanyang. If you don’t object, I’ll just call you Auntie…”

After all, for children, among the many gods on the mountain, sword immortals are the most fascinating, without exception.

And that young Hidden Official from the Sword Qi Great Wall is the sword immortal among sword immortals.

In fact, the emperor, Yao Jinzhi, and even the grandfather, were happy to see this happen, but the Fuyin had not been enlightened, so it had been delayed.

Liu Yi, known as Yuanyang, Dao name “Yifu”, a native of Daquan, her family is a local county family, sixty-three years old, in the Dragon Gate realm.

Her beautiful appearance means that her talent for cultivation is excellent.

Previously, Liu Yi risked her life on the battlefields of Jingji and Mirage City. She was very brave, but also had great tactics. With her Dragon Gate realm cultivation, the war merits accumulated by the female cultivator were no less than those of several Golden Pills.

But in the end, Liu Yi only asked the Daquan court for a third-class Court Guardian, but according to her war merits, a second-class Court Guardian was more than enough.

Some things, the woman’s lack of objection is already a clear statement, how can she be more bold?

Yao Lingzhi looked at Liu Yi beside her and smiled again and again.

Liu Yi just pretended not to know, but her ears turned red quietly.

Yao Lingzhi felt sorry for her, so she quickened her pace and kicked Yao Xianzhi in front of her, kicking the latter into a stagger, and quickly reached out to support the wall. Yao Xianzhi turned and asked, “What’s wrong again?”

Yao Lingzhi said unhappily, “Is it any of your business?”

Yao Xianzhi laughed angrily, “Sister, you kicked a cripple for no reason, and you’re still right? I’ll have to talk to my nephews and nieces later to see who they help then.”

Yao Lingzhi spat, “A cripple? A fool is more like it.”

No wonder he heard that the grandfather had a conversation with Chen Ping’an on the ferry. One said that Yao Xianzhi was not worthy of a certain girl, and the other echoed that he also felt the same way.

Yao Jinzhi ignored the noise behind her and continued to discuss business with the old national teacher, “The stationery department can’t just rely on the business of chicken-claw pens. There are also some old inkstone pits that have been closed for many years in the Daquan Dynasty. To take a step back, the new pit stones may not necessarily be inferior to the old pits. Speaking of the Taohe River on the southern border, I often went to the inkstone pits to play with Lingzhi and Xianzhi when I was a child. The mining was quite early, and it produced a kind of inkstone stone with a jade-like luster. In fact, it’s not inferior to other famous inkstones. It has a history of more than 1,200 years, but it has been abandoned for many years. It’s located in a remote area, and it’s really not easy to obtain.”

Yao Xianzhi nodded and said, “It’s just that those several main mining pits are located at the bottom of the deep waters of the Taohe River. If a certain number of Qi refiners are not used, it will be too difficult for ordinary stonemasons to mine. The biggest problem is that there has never been a special book recording it. In our Daquan, the Taohe inkstone is still unknown, let alone sold to other countries. Otherwise, those Meizi pits and the green in front of the temple and the red behind the temple that we often visited when we were children have really good stone texture. It’s a pity that people both on and off the mountain like to value the past and belittle the present. Otherwise, if the price is right and the quantity is large, the court only needs to continue mining in the old pits, which is no small profit.”

Liu Zong stroked his beard and said with a smile, “I heard that hundreds of years ago, there was a “Dongtian Qinglu Collection” that specialized in touting old famous inkstones from all over Tongye Continent, which listed more than a dozen precious inkstones? Why don’t we engrave an official version of this book in our court, find some good writers in the Hanlin Academy, and secretly add an article “Taohe Green Inkstone” to it? Emphasize in ink how good the Taohe inkstone is and how difficult it is to mine, and then add a few strokes of Zhi 怪仙跡, rich scholars like to value the past and belittle the present? Isn’t this very “old”?”

Yao Jinzhi turned to look at the chief guard.

Yao Lingzhi was even more surprised. Did the old master enter the Yuanyou realm, and even the business experience has become more brilliant?

Yao Xianzhi held back his laughter, secretly happy, and gave Liu Lao a thumbs up.

After thinking for a while, Han-Guanghu nodded and said, “A profitable business, it can be done. If it is operated properly and the reputation is established, in addition to this continent, it can be sold to other continents along with Daquan’s special products including intercontinental ferries and chicken-claw pens. It is indeed no small source of wealth.”

The old national teacher once again looked at the guard Liu Zong with admiration, this is really not a waste of food.

Liu Zong stroked his beard and smiled, recalling that when he was young, the nickname “Little Zhu Lian” in the martial world was not for nothing.

At the Yellow Flower Temple, two young Daoists squatted under the eaves, chattering and cheering. The Emperor is so beautiful!

In the study, Liu Mao opened the small brocade box on the table, which contained a palace-made circular ink, with gold plating, and the words “A gentleman cultivates it” written in official script on the front, and the title “Nine Longevity Xu Xu”, with blue filling in the yin knowledge, and a picture of “Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth” five elements on the back of the ink.

Liu Mao took a long breath and had to admit that he was able to get through this difficult time, thanks to that Chen.

Near the carriage, the emperor detoured back to the lotus pond railing where she had stopped before. After a moment of silence, she asked the old national teacher beside her, “I heard that the latest debate between the three religions is about to begin?”

Han-Guanghu nodded, “It was delayed for many years because of that great war before.”

Yao Jinzhi hesitated for a moment and asked, “With the identity of the national teacher, can you listen to the debate?”

Han-Guanghu laughed dumbly and shook his head, “I am just a martial artist, and I don’t have this qualification. In the Golden Armor Continent back then, even if I had the identity of a national teacher, I still couldn’t participate in such an important event.”

Yao Jinzhi nodded, seeming a little regretful.

Probably because he mentioned the Golden Armor Continent, the old man inevitably felt a bit homesick.

Everyone has someone they miss, separated by a long distance.

Yao Jinzhi also had hazy eyes and a dazed expression. People are far away, but also in the heart.