Chapter 113 - 83: Heaven-Defying Grand Array, Entrance to the Former Dynasty’s Ruins

Chapter 113: Chapter 83: Heaven-Defying Grand Array, Entrance to the Former Dynasty’s Ruins

In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.

Lingge City was especially bustling today. Just after dawn, a large convoy of carriages had already gathered at the North City Gate. Each carriage was forged from Profound Iron and bound with rows of iron chains.

Just a glance from afar was enough to feel the majesty of the Court.

On both sides of the convoy, two teams of guards stood at the ready.

After all, this escort mission involved Qi Cultivation Pills worth several hundred thousand taels. Not only were they incredibly valuable, but they were also important strategic resources, so no one dared to treat the matter lightly.

The two teams of guards, fourteen men in total, were all at least experts of the Physical Body Realm, and the Guard Captain was a master at the Divine Treasure Second Layer.

Their mission was to escort the Qi Cultivation Pills to the Northern Three Prefectures and guard them until every last pill was distributed.

"Damn! This is a full-blown armed escort!"

Zhao Ci couldn’t help but feel impressed. Honestly, this was even more intense than the armed escorts of his previous life.

That was because after a Cultivator condensed their Flesh Body Divine Patterns, their physical strength would undergo a qualitative leap. With all Divine Patterns active, they could rival firearms from his past life.

And these were handpicked royal guards, whose physical bodies far surpassed those of ordinary Physical Body Realm experts.

Besides, Zhao Ci knew.

This was a Prefecture Examination mission, so there was definitely a Lao Liu from the Imperial Clan Court lurking in the shadows, ready to act if a Peace Jade shattered.

This expert from the Imperial Clan Court would be at least at the Divine Treasure Third or even Fourth Layer. With their Physical Body Divine Treasure and two main cultivation Divine Treasures all opened, their combat power could only be described as terrifying.

’With all this security, no one would dare make a move on me, right?’

Zhao Ci rubbed the warm jade on his chest, wondering why Gu Xiangzhu was so nervous.

The warm jade felt a bit cooler than when he first touched it.

’It’s all because my pecs aren’t big enough to envelop it like Gu Xiangzhu can.’

’Hah!’

’Demoness, stop messing with my mind.’

Zhao Ci shook his head vigorously to banish the tantalizing scene from his mind. ’I can’t let my guard down,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, if I fall for that woman’s Demon Technique, I’ll really become her little puppy.’

’I have to admit, that woman’s looks and aura are truly top-tier.’

In the past few days, he had only gone over to cook and chat, yet he already felt his mind being clouded by lust.

And he was a veteran pervert who had been trained by countless lewd pictures in a world of information overload.

Even so, he was having a hard time resisting.

It just went to show how terrifying she was.

"Zhao Ci, what are you smirking about?"

"Huh? Was I?"

"Stop pretending!"

Feng Kucha sneered. "I’ve seen that same damn look on your face back when I used to rent Banshees from the Demon-Slaying Bureau. Speaking of which, you need to wrap this up quick. The Prefecture Examination is in a few days, and we need to hurry up and trade for those Ten Thousand Wood Roots."

You have no idea how miserable my life has been these past few days without any money to rent Banshees.

I need to break through already!

If I can’t afford to rent a Banshee, I’ll just have to catch one myself!"

Zhao Ci was speechless.

He suddenly felt that Feng Kucha was actually quite inspirational.

’Taking care of his own damn business.’

’Reliable!’

"What are you guys talking about?"

Zhu Li came jogging out from inside the city gate, looking at the two of them curiously.

Zhao Ci quickly put on a serious face. "We’re discussing things men ought to do. You shouldn’t ask."

Zhu Li was a little displeased. "Anything a man can do, I can do too. Are you looking down on me?"

Zhao Ci retorted, "I can pee standing up. Can you?"

Zhu Li: "???"

At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded from behind them.

"Lao Shi, you’re here early?"

The voice was somewhat familiar, tinged with a weariness that tried to feign high spirits.

Zhao Ci turned to look.

He saw Zhao Yong approaching on a flashy white horse, accompanied by a retinue of Mansion Officials from the Ninth Prince’s Mansion.

They were all dressed smartly.

But their eyes held a trace of unconcealable exhaustion.

They were being polite, though.

Since they were in public, Zhao Ci didn’t want to clash with them head-on, so he smiled and cupped his hands. "You jest, Ninth Imperial Brother. As the main envoy for this Emperor’s Gift Pill mission, of course I had to arrive a bit early."

Zhao Yong was speechless.

’So you’re saying I’m just the Vice Envoy.’

He didn’t feel much like talking to Zhao Ci. It was as if the man couldn’t speak without taking a jab at someone.

Meanwhile, Zhu Yan looked at Zhu Li, his voice turning cold. "Xiaozhuli, why haven’t you returned to the Zhu Family these past few days? Is it because you don’t dare?"

Ever since the Gongdan Conference, Zhu Li’s standing in the Zhu Family had worsened again.

This was mainly because she had completely disrupted the rhythm of the Mansion Contest. Even Zhu Gong, the head of the Zhu Clan in Lingge, had faced considerable criticism for letting Zhu Li go.

And her relationship with the younger generation was even worse; she had trampled all over them and humiliated them right after the Gongdan Conference ended.

For the past few days, everyone had been waiting for Zhu Li to come home, but she hadn’t returned even once, acting as if her surname wasn’t Zhu.

"Why would I go home?"

Zhu Li huffed and grabbed Zhao Ci’s arm. "My Highness said I’m not supposed to play with rookies. Look at how pale your lips are. Refining a mere thousand pills has left you like this. I’m afraid I’ll catch what you have and affect the productivity of our Xingyu Pill Association."

Zhu Yan: "???"

Seeing the look on his face, as if he’d just eaten shit, Zhu Li’s mood instantly brightened. She was beginning to think her new boss was pretty great; there was a lot worth learning from him.

Especially that sharp tongue of his.

When she had time, she’d have to spar with him more, verbally.

Zhao Yong shook his head, not wanting to get any more tangled up with these thick-skinned troublemakers. "Lao Shi, since everyone’s here, let’s get ready to depart!"

With that, he spurred his horse and rode toward the front of the convoy.

Zhao Ci glanced back and noticed that none of the Mansion Officials from the Ninth Prince’s Mansion were on horseback. He couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Brother Zhuge, aren’t you all going with us?"

Zhuge Xiao, sitting in his wheelchair, smiled faintly and gently waved the feather fan in his hand. But the weather was cool, and the breeze from the fan was a bit chilly, so he tightened his collar.