Chapter 300 - 118: Effortless Tool Person, a Portrait, and a Person of Extraordinary Daring

Her words of encouragement, in particular, seemed to whisper and echo personally in his ear.

After finishing his Fist Technique practice, Xiao Teng wiped away his sweat and took out his Communication Jade Talisman. As was his habit, he began asking Xie Jianjia what she was doing, if she had eaten lunch, that the weather was nice today...

After quite a while, a pulse of energy finally emanated from the Communication Jade Talisman.

Xiao Teng smiled as he looked at it. He told her about the Fist Technique he had practiced today and that he was much stronger than before, faintly able to touch the threshold of the late Fifth Realm.

Again, a long while passed before there was any response from the Communication Jade Talisman.

Xiao Teng was already used to this. However, the message from the Communication Jade Talisman this time contained some different news.

’Spirit Turtle Divination Shell? I’ll ask my father about it in a bit. He probably doesn’t know much about it either, but since Jian Jia is the one asking, I have to help her.’

Xiao Teng silently committed this to memory.

He then saw that Xie Jianjia had mentioned something else.

’It seems Jian Jia has also heard about that Yijian Palace Disciple, Zhang Yuan, who’s been causing such a stir in the Imperial Capital lately, becoming the talk of the town...’

’But she’s right. At the auction that day, for Zhang Yuan to dare bid on that Exotic Stone right in front of Jiang Lan and that mysterious woman, he must be an exceptionally bold person, unafraid of offending the Prime Minister’s Mansion.’

’Here in the Imperial Capital, right under the Emperor’s nose, and with the Southern Hunting drills imminent, the Prime Minister’s Mansion won’t dare do anything to Zhang Yuan. But once he leaves the Imperial Capital, it’s a different story.’

’That Zhang Yuan is extraordinarily bold, harbors secrets, and shares a common enemy with me. It’s just as Jian Jia said—I really should try to befriend him. Perhaps I can make him useful to me in the future.’

Xiao Teng nodded to himself as a wave of warmth washed over his heart. Xie Jianjia was being so considerate of him, just like a supportive wife.

After committing this information to memory, he ordered someone to find out Zhang Yuan’s whereabouts.

With the Southern Hunting drills approaching, all the major Immortal Sect Lineages were sending Elders and Disciples to observe the ceremony.

The Qianyuan Prefecture, which the Royal Family opened only once every few decades, would soon be opened for the major Immortal Sects. He could go there and try to befriend Zhang Yuan.

The Qianyuan Prefecture was a Secret Mansion that the Great Xia Royal Family had spent a fortune to build. It contained numerous opportunities and treasures, such as ancient carvings, insights from masters, cliffside inscriptions, and more, all divided into three regions: Heaven, Earth, and Man.

Each region had a different concentration of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Even cultivating in the Man region for a single day was equivalent to several days in the outside world. The more outstanding a Celestial Pride’s talent, the more efficient their cultivation and the greater the benefits they would receive.

Before the Southern Hunting drills began, the Great Xia Royal Family would always open the Qianyuan Prefecture to host the younger generation from the various Immortal Sect Lineages, arranging residences and courtyards for them within. The regions and courtyards were all contested based on strength.

The young disciples of the powerful clans, Noble Families, and the Nobility could also go there to compete for resources.

Half a month after the Qianyuan Prefecture opened, the Southern Hunting drills would begin.

At that time, the Qianyuan Cave Realm in the mountains behind the Great Xia Imperial Capital would open, and numerous death-row prisoners would be exiled into it to become prey for the drills.

This custom had existed since the founding of Great Xia and now had a history of several thousand years.

...

「Night, 7:00 PM, Desire Immortal Pavilion.」

「Lishui Pavilion.」

Song Youwei arrived as promised, bathed in moonlight. Dressed in a white robe and white socks, she was utterly immaculate. After removing her embroidered slippers, she emulated Jiang Lan and sat cross-legged on the mat.

"What’s this?"

On the tea table before her, a scroll was spread open.

It depicted a lifelike, full-figured woman with a smile on her lips. She appeared to be in her thirties or forties, her features marked by the trials and traces of time.

Though she was older, one could still faintly tell that she must have been quite beautiful in her youth.

After her gaze swept over the portrait, Song Youwei looked up at Jiang Lan, who sat opposite her, with a strange expression.

"Take this portrait and find someone with a similar build and appearance. The requirements are that she must be a female Loose Cultivator with a clean background, preferably one with no friends or family."

"This is a bottle of Plasticity and Bone-Changing Pills. If you can’t find a suitable match in build and appearance, then just find a female Loose Cultivator with a clean background whose age and bone structure are in her forties. Have her consume the Elixir Pills inside to transform into the woman in the portrait."

Jiang Lan said, looking at her. At the same time, he placed a small, purple jade vial of Elixir Pills next to the portrait.

Song Youwei was even more bewildered now, having no idea what Jiang Lan’s purpose was.

’Find someone to disguise as the middle-aged woman in the portrait?’

"I understand. I’ll send people to find a suitable candidate right away."

She nodded, storing the portrait and the Elixir Pills into her Sumeru Ring. She didn’t ask Jiang Lan why he was doing this.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Jiang Lan had always admired this quality in Song Youwei—her discretion and intelligence.

She never asked unnecessary questions, only ever focusing on carrying out his instructions diligently and flawlessly.

"This is a small half-bottle of Muddy Blood. I did my absolute best to acquire it. The Elders of the Blood Immortal Sect guard the Muddy Blood very closely and don’t let anyone touch it easily."

Song Youwei then placed a Blood-colored Treasure Bottle, which was suffused with a hazy, sanguine light, in front of Jiang Lan.

She was using a Secret Technique to conceal its aura, so she wasn’t worried about attracting attention.

Jiang Lan’s gaze swept over it. He could see wisps of blood flowing inside, carrying a faint, sinister, and bizarre aura. A hazy, blood-red mist rose from it, swirling slowly.

Within its viscous depths was a life force that seemed to have been corroded and defiled, as if it could burst from the Blood-colored Treasure Bottle at any moment to corrupt and pollute all living things nearby.

’A single drop of Muddy Blood can corrupt an entire city. If this small half-bottle were to leak, it would be enough to cause a massive disaster.’

Jiang Lan nodded. With a sweep of his sleeve, he put the Muddy Blood away.

Of course, he didn’t intend to keep it for himself. He just wanted to see if he could refine it for his own use after he returned, and then give it back to Song Youwei for her to return to the Blood Immortal Sect.

He possessed the Blood Immortal Sect’s legacy, so when refining this small half-bottle of Muddy Blood, he didn’t have to worry about causing any changes to it. He could guarantee that no one would notice.

Song Youwei wouldn’t be suspected because of this, either.

When the time came for the Blood Immortal Sect to make a move on Great Xia’s National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal, he could use this portion of Muddy Blood to do many things.

"To condense this bottle of Muddy Blood, the Blood Immortal Sect slaughtered many cities in the surrounding small kingdoms. For this Southern Hunting drill, the Blood Immortal Sect probably has an even bigger conspiracy in mind."

"I’ve heard rumors that it might be related to Dongyuan Province." Song Youwei lifted her cup of clear tea, her red lips taking a small sip.

The Blood Immortal Sect had originally come from Dongyuan Province. The calamity that plagued the Nine Provinces Land many years ago had also first erupted from Dongyuan.

Jiang Lan still remembered the plotting and discussions among the younger generation of the Celestial Derivation Sect, Biyou Grotto Heaven, and other powers and Dao Lineages at the foot of Purple Mist Mountain.

Great Xia’s Dragon Fortune was dim, a star of calamity had descended, and the other major provinces were growing restless.

The Blood Immortal Sect was no longer at its peak and was not strong enough to intimidate the major provinces. On the contrary, if Great Xia, the power right in front of them, were to fall, countless resources and territories would be left for them to carve up.

But in the original story, no matter how precarious the situation became, Great Xia still stood strong. Its profound, hidden reserves were enough for it to look down upon all the Immortal Sects and Holy Lands, watching as the thunder and lightning withered away.

When that stage arrived, numerous individuals with great fortune would emerge, and to him, they would all be nothing but lush leeks ready for harvest.