204: consult

Night.

The night was as dark as ink. Li Xingyan had only recently awakened from a daze when the stone door of the Li family's secret chamber was gently knocked.

Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the window, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Li Xingyan's Face was still a bit pale. He was sitting cross-legged, circulating his Cultivation Technique, trying to calm the spiritual power within his body that had not yet fully stabilized.

"Who is it?" His voice was still a bit hoarse, but it carried a note of alert.

"Little friend Li, this Senior is Deng Qi. I apologize for disturbing you late at night, and I hope you can forgive me." A gentle voice came from outside the door. Although deliberately lowered, it could not hide the Nascent Soul True Lord's pressure it contained. However, that pressure was extremely well restrained, with no hint of malice.

Li Xingyan frowned, about to get up, but Fire Old's voice rang out in his Sea of Consciousness: "Let him in. This boy saw through things during the day. There's no avoiding him."

Li Xingyan got up as instructed and opened the door, only to see Deng Qi in a simple Daoist robe, standing with his hands behind his back outside the door. The moonlight shone on his Face, revealing a complex expression.

This Nascent Soul True Lord, usually so high and mighty, now had a hint of imperceptible earnestness in his eyes.

"Senior Deng, visiting late at night, may I ask what is the important matter?" Li Xingyan stepped aside to let him in, maintaining the politeness of a Junior in his tone.

Deng Qi entered the secret chamber, his gaze lingering on Li Xingyan for a moment before he went straight to the point: "Little friend, to be honest, the power you unleashed today is definitely not something you should possess at your age.

This Senior dares to guess that a Senior expert is probably residing within you, isn't he?"

Li Xingyan's Heart-Nature tightened, but his expression remained calm: "Senior, you jest. This Junior was merely lucky..."

"Heh heh." Deng Qi chuckled softly, waving his hand to interrupt him, "Little friend, there's no need to hide it. This Senior has cultivated for hundreds of years, and I still have that much discernment.

That power of flame is domineering and pure, carrying the majesty of accumulated years. It is definitely not something a young person can control." As he spoke, his tone became increasingly sincere, "This Senior came today with no intention of prying. I merely wish to consult the Senior about a cultivation problem."

As soon as his voice fell, a scorching aura surged within Li Xingyan's body. Fire Old's voice directly rang out in the secret chamber, carrying a hint of impatience yet also a trace of consideration: "You, young man, are quite sensible.

Speak, what is the problem? For Li Xiangyun's Face, if it's not difficult, I'll give you some pointers."

Upon hearing this, Deng Qi's eyes flashed with ecstasy, and he quickly bowed: "Thank you, Senior, for being willing to enlighten me! This Junior cultivates a Metal-element Cultivation Technique, and for many years I have been stuck on the Fusion of Geng Metal Dao Intent and Xin Metal Dao Intent.

Geng Metal is fierce, Xin Metal is sharp, and the two always clash, unable to achieve harmony..."

"Hmph, is this small matter worth agonizing over?" Fire Old's voice carried a hint of disdain, "Geng Metal is the bone, Xin Metal is the blade. Fierceness conceals sharpness, and sharpness contains fierceness. You are fixated on the differences between the two, yet you overlook their fundamental commonality as Metal-element.

Try using your own spiritual power as a guide, sinking the Geng Metal Dao Intent into your Dantian, letting the Xin Metal Dao Intent circulate through your Meridians, and then, with 'harmony' as your thought, allow the two to slowly rotate in your Qi Sea. Within three days, you will see the result."

A few simple words, yet they were like a sudden enlightenment, making Deng Qi freeze in place instantly, his eyes shining brightly.

He carefully chewed on Fire Old's words, and many stagnant points in his past cultivation suddenly became clear.

"Thank you, Senior! Thank you, Senior, for your guidance!" Deng Qi bowed deeply again, his voice filled with gratitude, "This kindness, this Junior will never forget!"

"Alright, the guidance is complete. You may leave. Don't disturb this boy's rest." Fire Old's voice gradually faded.

Deng Qi dared not linger any longer. He cupped his hands to Li Xingyan again, then turned and quickly departed. As his figure disappeared into the night, one could still see his eagerness to go back and try immediately.

Silence returned to the secret chamber. Li Xingyan breathed a sigh of relief and looked towards his Sea of Consciousness: "Teacher, why were you willing to help him?"

"That fellow's Heart-Nature is decent, and his talent isn't bad either." Fire Old said indifferently, "Besides, owing a favor might help you in the future."

Li Xingyan nodded thoughtfully, then sat down cross-legged again. Under the moonlight, the young man's eyes held a newfound clarity compared to before... Meanwhile, in a side hall of the Purple Palace in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Candlelight flickered, making the four walls alternately bright and dim. This was a Forbidden Ground where the Dynasty's offerings and the life tablets of important figures were stored. Normally, few people set foot here except for the eunuchs on duty.

The eunuch on duty tonight was a young eunuch who had just entered the palace not long ago, named Xiao Luzi. He was dozing on a brocade stool in the corner, his head bobbing, still clutching a duster in his hand.

Suddenly, a crisp "crack—" broke the silence, followed by two consecutive shattering sounds, as dense as falling hailstones.

Xiao Luzi jolted awake with a start. He looked up and saw that the three black life tablets representing True Lord Hanyue and the two others, on the jade shelf in the center of the Hall of Offerings, were turning into dust. The residual spiritual power fluctuations made the candlelight flicker violently, almost extinguishing it.

"Oh my god!" Xiao Luzi was so scared that his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He tumbled off the brocade stool, scrambling to his feet, even dropping his duster on the ground.

He knew the significance of these three life tablets—they belonged to three Nascent Soul True Lords who could make the entire Dynasty tremble! The shattering of the life tablets meant... He dared not think further. Xiao Luzi, having lost one shoe, stumbled out of the side hall, shouting incoherently: "Something's wrong! Something's happened! Lord Han Yue and the others... their life tablets are shattered! Quickly report to the Chief Steward!"

His voice was sharp, echoing through the silent palace corridor, startling the roosting birds into flight. Before he had run far, a figure appeared before him like a ghost, blocking his path.

The newcomer was dressed in a dark purple eunuch's robe with python patterns, his Face gaunt but his eyes sharp. It was Li Dequan, one of the chief eunuchs.

He grabbed Xiao Luzi by the back of his collar, lifting him off the ground, and said in a deep voice: "What are you panicking about? Has the sky fallen?"

Xiao Luzi was choked, his Face turning crimson. He pointed in the direction of the side hall, stammering: "Chief... Chief Steward Li... it's true! The life tablets of True Lord Hanyue and the two other Lords... they're all shattered! Just now!"

Li Dequan's pupils contracted sharply, and his grip on Xiao Luzi's hand tightened suddenly.

He had served two emperors and witnessed countless storms, but the simultaneous demise of True Lord Hanyue and the two others—such an event was enough to shake the entire Great Zhou court.

"Shut up!" Li Dequan growled, his gaze sweeping around ominously, "Don't make another sound. Follow me to see!"

With that, he carried Xiao Luzi, his footsteps silent, towards the side hall. The palace lanterns behind him flickered, casting a deep, melancholic shadow.