60: The token of guidance

Ten days later.

In the Xu Residence garden, a bird delicately landed on Yang Qiyuan's hand, gently pecking at the rice crumbs in her palm, its gaze warily fixed on Xu Sanyan; if he made the slightest move, the bird would flap its wings and fly away.

Xu Sanyan pouted, disdainfully turning his head away; with his current strength, he could easily catch it with a mere raise of his hand.

Yang Qiyuan watched everything, finding it amusing, then leaned her ear close to the bird's beak.

The bird chirped clearly, its two claws hopping in her palm, before it flapped its wings and flew high, disappearing from sight.

Only then did Yang Qiyuan clear her throat, "It says that Elder Brother's residence has recently gained many new people."

Xu Sanyan nodded, unconcerned.

He wasn't afraid of any number of ordinary Martial Artists; he just wondered how the Cultivator in the Prince's Residence was doing lately.

That Cultivator stayed in the pavilion every day, with doors and windows tightly shut, never going out, so even a bird couldn't observe his actions.

Xu Sanyan suddenly paused, then said to Yang Qiyuan, "You should go back first, we have a visitor."

"Mhm."

Yang Qiyuan nodded; she knew some information wasn't meant for her to know, so she never inquired.

After she had walked far away, a figure emerged from behind a tree ahead, and Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes, "Young Miss Yang? What brings you here?"

The person who came was Yang Qizhu.

Yang Qizhu no longer had her usual smile; she looked in the direction her sister had departed, her expression very grim as she said, "News from the front reports a great defeat for the imperial court, over a hundred thousand troops were buried alive, General Su Kuohai committed suicide to atone for his crimes, and Father King is leading his army towards the capital."

Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, smiling as he said, "This is good news, why do you look like that after a victory?"

"Yang Xin You is dead," Yang Qizhu said in a low voice.

"Third Young Master is dead?"

Xu Sanyan was stunned; Yang Xin You was a strong contender for the throne; when he first arrived, he had even sent people to win him over, and yet he died so easily?

Yang Qizhu's face grew even uglier as she said, "Father King issued an edict, stating that Yang Xin You colluded with the enemy, listing dozens of crimes, and had him beheaded before the battle as a sacrifice."

Xu Sanyan's expression became serious; Prince Rui was so ruthless, even killing his own son?

Then he asked curiously, "Why are you telling me all this?"

Xu Sanyan knew she must have other matters, and certainly hadn't come just to deliver this news.

Yang Qizhu pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Alas... it's come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore, Young Master Xu, do you know the Cultivation Technique I Cultivate?"

Xu Sanyan said, "Is it the "Heart Slaughtering Yin Devouring Skill"?"

"That's right, Father King gave you a copy too?"

Xu Sanyan nodded.

Yang Qizhu said, "Do you know the three Foundation Establishment methods within it?"

"I know."

"Actually, no, it has a fourth Foundation Establishment method, and it is also the most superior method..."

Yang Qizhu enunciated each word clearly, "Blood Skull Dao Foundation, also known as... Blood Kin Foundation Establishment Method!"

"Blood Kin..." Xu Sanyan seemed to understand something.

"Using this method for Foundation Establishment, one absorbs and refines the essence of blood kin from the same clan; the required number of blood kin is enormous, our few children are certainly not enough, and if we talk about where the most Yang Family clan members are..."

Xu Sanyan was startled, understanding the root cause of Prince Rui's rebellion, "The capital?"

Most of the imperial clan members are in the capital; after several hundred years, there are probably several thousand of them.

"That's right," Yang Qizhu nodded.

"So... Third Young Master's death is a signal, meaning His Highness is about to begin his Foundation Establishment?" Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow.

Yang Qizhu slowly nodded, "I once entrusted someone to travel thousands of miles to the Sect to find my Cui Family maternal uncle and inquire about this Cultivation Technique; I only recently received the news."

"Quite a coincidence."

Xu Sanyan smiled, not knowing whether to believe her.

He didn't believe Yang Qizhu hadn't been tempted; for the sake of the Immortal Dao, mere blood kin, especially those she wasn't close to or had never even met, what was there to be reluctant about?

"Why are you telling me all this?" Xu Sanyan turned and asked.

"I want you to help me," Yang Qizhu said with a serious expression.

"Help you?"

Xu Sanyan laughed, "What's the reason?"

Leaving aside what she wanted him to do, just whether she could offer something that interested him.

"I have something in my possession that I think you should be interested in," Yang Qizhu smiled mysteriously.

"Oh?" Xu Sanyan was slightly curious, turning his head to look at her.

Yang Qizhu slowly said, "Sect Admission Token!"

Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes; just by the name, he knew the purpose of this item.

"With this token, one can join the corresponding Sect without an examination."

Yang Qizhu's explanation confirmed Xu Sanyan's guess.

"What do you want me to do?" Xu Sanyan needed to consider if it was worth it.

Currently, he knew nothing about the Immortal Realm; if he could join a Sect as a buffer, it would be much safer than him venturing out rashly.

Yang Qizhu said, "How about three times you make a move for me?"

Xu Sanyan pondered to himself; this deal was doable, then after a moment, he softly asked, "Do you think... His Highness will make a move against you?"

Since he already had clan blood kin, why would he attack his own children?

Yang Qizhu's face was grim, "Because we Cultivate the same Cultivation Technique, we are... the medicinal catalysts."

Xu Sanyan understood; it seemed there were still restrictions to Foundation Establishment using this method, then he continued, "Since you have this token, why don't you go to the Sect yourself?"

Yang Qizhu gave a bitter smile; of course she wanted to, "Young Master Xu doesn't know, but joining a Sect also has requirements; one must reach Heavenly Human Realm Perfection before the age of thirty, or Foundation Establishment Realm before the age of fifty."

If she could meet the requirements, she would have gone long ago; who wouldn't want to Cultivate and seek the Dao?

Even someone like Prince Rui, who enjoyed all the power of the mortal world, didn't he try every means to step onto the immortal path?

Xu Sanyan nodded; the Sect's requirements were not low; even though he had reached Heavenly Human Realm Perfection before the age of twenty, it was because he had a cheat.

Normal Cultivation Geniuses who could meet the requirements before the age of thirty were few and far between.

Even Geniuses as strong as Ma Tianqing and Yang Xinli had to work extra hard.

Xu Sanyan said with a peaceful expression, "Young Miss Yang, could you let me see that token?"

Yang Qizhu smiled and shook her head; she had a deep understanding of Xu Sanyan's character; the Cui Family still hated him to the core.

With this past lesson, how could Yang Qizhu dare to carry the item on her person? She could only assure him, "Young Master Xu, rest assured, after three times, I will certainly present the token to you with both hands."

Xu Sanyan nodded regretfully.

"Since that's the case, I won't disturb you further. Farewell." Yang Qizhu stood up and left.

Xu Sanyan looked up at the sky, very curious about what kind of splendor that Sect possessed; he imagined it must be filled with Geniuses, and he wondered if he could secure a place if he went.

He definitely could!

A heroic spirit rose in Xu Sanyan's heart; the Dao of Cultivation was nothing more than the word "contention."

Before long, Yang Qiyuan slowly walked over, sitting silently beside him, without the slightest intention of inquiring about what had just happened.

She only wanted the people around her to be safe and sound; everything else in the outside world had nothing to do with her.