"How about this: the Earth-Opening Technique plus the Mountain Opening Technique," Guo Xiang said.
"Then I’ll go ask Sister Youfei."
Li Qingxian sat in Chunfeng Inn, waiting leisurely for a long while before replying with feigned difficulty.
"Sister Youfei said this Thunder Skill isn’t just mine. It’s also connected to the Celestial Cloud Sect and that person I can’t name. He thinks so highly of me that he passed this Thunder Skill on to me. I can’t just trade it away so casually, right? Besides, whatever you trade me, I can only use it myself. But the Emperor’s Finger Divine Curse can be passed down to all the disciples in your Mountain Fate Sect. The difference in value is clear at a glance."
"Nonsense! For a Daoist Skill like the Emperor’s Finger Divine Curse, which Middle-Lower Grade disciple would be suicidal enough to use it? The fact you didn’t end up paralyzed in the Ministry of Justice’s custody means you were incredibly lucky. If we had this Magic in our Mountain Fate Sect, we could only pass it down to Upper Grade disciples."
Li Qingxian sighed and said, "How about this: Besides the Earth-Opening Technique, teach me the three techniques of Mountain Opening, Vessel Collection, and Mountain Building. I won’t ask to learn anything else."
"You’re Lower Grade. Right now, you can only cultivate the weakest of them, the Mountain Opening Technique."
"Then I’ll just wait until I’m Middle Grade to trade with you?"
"You brat... you really won’t make a move without seeing the reward. Hold on, I’ll go discuss this in detail with the Elders."
Li Qingxian waited leisurely, not at all anxious. He even suspected that Guo Xiang already had a bottom line and that the Mountain Fate Sect’s Elders didn’t need to be consulted at all.
A First-Class Great Sect wouldn’t be short on Daoist Skills of this level, but the Mountain Fate Sect was a Second-Class Fate Sect, and their need for such a Daoist Skill was extremely high.
After a long while, Guo Xiang said, "There was a lot of opposition within the sect, but in the end, the Sect Leader personally made the decision. He said it’s mainly because he values you as a person. He also said that if you’re willing, he’s still happy to accept you into the Mountain Fate Sect and teach you all our techniques."
Li Qingxian curled his lip. ’Smooth talk. Keep it coming.’
"Alright, let’s find a time to make the exchange. But let’s do it as soon as possible. I’m afraid things are about to get rough for us at the Patrol Bureau," Li Qingxian said.
"Alright."
After the negotiations concluded, Li Qingxian smiled. With the Earth-Opening Technique, he could now open a Youth Life Land.
’Does that mean I’ll be considered a Young Fate Master then?’
’I’ll have to ask Han Anbo for a big favor. I must find some people with good Fate Grids, even if it costs a lot.’
After experiencing the last Life Play, Li Qingxian now understood what kind of Destiny Star he should choose.
"You’re up?" A slightly hoarse, soft voice with a Jiangnan accent came from outside the door.
Li Qingxian stood up and looked at Zhou Chunfeng.
Dressed in green robes, Zhou Chunfeng stepped over the threshold. He gave a light cough, his right fist habitually resting against his lower lip.
Zhou Chunfeng was as handsome as ever, with a fair complexion and red lips, but a hint of sorrow clouded his features.
"Have you finished the loquat paste?" Li Qingxian asked.
"There’s so much. It’ll take at least three months to finish. How could I be done already?"
"Well, after a while, I’ll go get you some more," Li Qingxian said with a smile.
"Have a seat. How are you feeling?" Zhou Chunfeng said as he walked.
"I’m fine. I don’t feel any different."
"The Divine Sky Thunder Seed is truly extraordinary. From now on, study Daoist Skills properly. Don’t act recklessly on a whim."
"Since it was passed to me by an Eighth-Grade Warrior, I figured I could probably use it. Besides, I also prayed to the Yuqing True King. If I really couldn’t use it, that great being wouldn’t have helped me," Li Qingxian said.
Zhou Chunfeng shot Li Qingxian an exasperated look and said, "What’s your take on this matter?"
"The waters are deep. I want to escape the Divine Capital," Li Qingxian said.
"Sigh..." Zhou Chunfeng let out a long sigh.
Li Qingxian asked tentatively, "You were with the Night Guard for many years. You must have countless capable people under you. Can’t you investigate this?"
"The Demon Sect has been around for a thousand years, the Ministry of Justice for centuries. The Night Guard? We’ve only existed for a little over a decade."
"That’s true."
"Do you really want to leave?" Zhou Chunfeng looked at Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian’s heart stirred. He smiled and said, "I have yet to see the Baidi of Jiangnan, the misty willows of the Qinhuai, or the Waterfront Households. I would indeed like to go out and see the world."
Zhou Chunfeng sighed softly and gazed out the window.
"Right now in Jiangnan is likely its most beautiful season. ’Spring waters, bluer than the sky; in a painted boat, listening to the rain, I doze.’"
Li Qingxian praised, "Uncle Zhou, your poetry is amazing."
Zhou Chunfeng rolled his eyes at him. "You’re so uncultured. That’s a poem by Mr. Huanhua from the previous dynasty."
"Why don’t we go live in Jiangnan for a couple of years? With you in Jiangnan, you’d be a top dog... I mean, a top-notch official. Find a place to be a Magistrate. Wouldn’t that be better than serving those bastards in the Patrol Bureau?" Li Qingxian asked.
"Serving which bastards?"
"The Ministry of Justice, of course," Li Qingxian said calmly.
Zhou Chunfeng snorted coldly. "Do you really want to go to Jiangnan?"
"It’s better than staying in the Divine Capital, at least. This place is too wicked. I have a bad feeling that if I don’t leave soon, someone’s going to get me killed," Li Qingxian said.
Zhou Chunfeng pondered for a moment, then said, "The Patrol Bureau has only just been established; there are a thousand things to sort out. How about this: give me some more time. Once the Patrol Bureau is stable, I’ll swallow my pride and ask the Emperor for a post as a Magistrate. If that doesn’t work, I’ll join the Civil Administration Department or the Inspectorate and find a quiet position to live out my years."
Li Qingxian laughed. "Uncle Zhou, you must be joking. You’re in the prime of your life, what’s this talk about living out your years? Still, Jiangnan is certainly nice. At least it’s more nurturing than the terrifying Divine Capital."
"What about you, Zhou Henn?" Zhou Chunfeng asked, looking at him.
Zhou Henn paused for a second, then said slowly, "There’s no rush. I can wait another two years."
"It’s been hard on you," Zhou Chunfeng sighed softly.
Zhou Henn stood by the door, expressionless.
"When the time comes, I’ll bring my aunt, uncle, and sister’s family, and Sister Youfei too. Our whole family will be together, happy and peaceful. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?" Li Qingxian said with a hopeful smile.
Zhou Chunfeng froze for a moment. He stared silently at the maple tree outside the window, not speaking for a long time.
Li Qingxian looked suspiciously at the silent Zhou Chunfeng, wondering if he had said something wrong. He glanced over at Zhou Henn.
Zhou Henn remained silent.
Li Qingxian looked back at Zhou Chunfeng and saw the colors of summer reflected in his eyes. Something seemed to be churning within them.
"Alright. Once we’re done with the Patrol Bureau’s affairs, we’ll go back to Jiangnan." Zhou Chunfeng’s voice was firm and decisive.
Li Qingxian smiled and nodded.
Zhou Chunfeng cleared his throat, his composure restored. He said, "The Night Guard has received intelligence that the Ministry of Justice Office is about to begin a ’Great Purge’. On the surface, it’s the Ministry of Justice reviewing major cases and catching bandits, but I suspect it’s aimed at the Night Guard, or even the Patrol Bureau. This is an old trick of the Ministry of Justice; whenever they’re under pressure, they retaliate against one specific party. After this blows over, I’ll talk to Songg Yanxue. I’ll head to Jiangnan and let her take over as the Inspector of the Patrol and Arrest Department."
"So we’re about to get busy?"
Zhou Chunfeng didn’t answer, instead looking at Zhou Henn and saying, "I’ll have to trouble you to stick with Qingxian during this time. I’m worried the Ministry of Justice will make a move against him."
Zhou Henn nodded.
Zhou Chunfeng then turned to Li Qingxian and said, "From now on, no matter the circumstances, find your Uncle Xiaozhou before you go anywhere. If your Uncle Xiaozhou isn’t here, don’t leave the house, even if a Holy Decree arrives. Just say it’s my order."
"Yes, sir," Li Qingxian said.
"You should prepare more Talismans in your spare time. You’ll need them if you run into a troublesome enemy," Zhou Chunfeng said.
"Mhm, I have plenty of Magical Artifacts. It’s just that Elixirs for restoring Magical Power are rare. I’ll go buy some in the next few days. Oh, right, I just negotiated a deal with the Mountain Fate Sect..." Li Qingxian then recounted what had happened.
"This is a win-win. They lack Daoist Skills, and you lack Fate Skills. However, a little is a gain, but too much will lead to confusion. Don’t be greedy."
"I understand. I’m slowly memorizing the Life-Seeking Skill right now, bit by bit. I’m not taking it lightly."
"Good. Chief Minister Zhao once said, ’Memorization is the root of learning; one can only improve through visualization.’ What is visualization? It means to study and memorize over and over again until the words and knowledge are as if they are right before your eyes, clear as day. That is why Mr. Quan Jie said, ’Anything short of visualization is not true learning.’"