192: Chapter 192 This is also the grandest festival in Snowmoon City: the Hundred Flowers Banquet!

With his strength, he was already among the rare few in the Jianghu. Although he wasn't as all-powerful as Su Rui or Master, surely he wasn't so insignificant as to not even be qualified to know?

But in the end, he did not argue.

After all, it involved old matters of the Upper Realm, and the undercurrents were surging, far beyond what he could speculate.

After he left, White Robe Su was left sitting alone in the room, lost in thought.

“Su Rui... Su Rui... Could he really have some connection to me?”

His brow furrowed as his thoughts drifted. He suddenly remembered his wife, from whom he had been separated for a hundred years and was now like a stranger, and a sense of loneliness welled up in his heart.

“Wait two more months for the Heavenly Gate to seal the Realm; I'll take that opportunity to head down the mountain for a journey.”

He closed his eyes and whispered, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

“Besides, those remnants of the Upper Realm have been restless lately. It's about time I cleaned them up along the way.”

...

Seven Heroes Town, Tongfu Inn.

“Old man, is the Secret Manual drawn yet?”

Ji Wuming's gaze was sharp, and his tone already carried a hint of anger.

“Xiao Ji, don't make things difficult for him.”

Bai Zhantang sighed from the side, his expression helpless.

He had known long ago that his childhood friend wasn't very bright, and looking at him now, it was indeed true.

Within a few days of arriving at Seven Heroes Town, he had dragged a scruffy old man to eat and drink, insisting the man draw some 'Scripture of Immortality.'

This idea was something only a madman could come up with.

He thought Ji would forget after a few days, but who knew it would drag on for months, with Ji staring at the old man every day demanding the diagrams.

What was even stranger was the old man—he ate the food and drank the wine as usual, but did no work.

The silver on Ji Wuming's person had long been spent, so he now had to work as a handyman at the inn to survive. Every half month he would collect his wages and immediately treat the old man to another meal.

Tong Xiangyu and the others sat in the corner cracking melon seeds, whispering among themselves.

“Wasn't it said that Ji Wuming is a famous killer in the Jianghu? Why does he look like a fool?”

Xiao Guo stared with wide eyes, looking dazed.

“Oh my, keep your voice down! If you provoke him, how is our inn supposed to stay in business?”

Tong Xiangyu hurriedly covered her mouth.

“Shopkeeper, this can't go on! If the old man keeps stalling like this, Ji Wuming is going to explode sooner or later.

If he goes on a rampage, won't half of Seven Heroes Town end up dead?”

Li Dazui's face was pale, and his voice was trembling.

“What's the panic? Don't we still have Zhantang!”

Tong Xiangyu forced a smile, but before she could finish, a loud 'Ouch!' was heard as Bai Zhantang came flying across the room.

“Topple the Mountains and Overturn the Seas!”

Xiao Guo instinctively pushed out, but she didn't use enough force, and instead, everyone ended up rolling into a heap together.

Bai Zhantang lay on the ground, clutching his waist and then his chest, groaning in pain.

“Xiao Bai, you know my temperament. Don't mention this again. I must accomplish what Teacher assigned me!”

Ji Wuming stared coldly at Bai Zhantang, his tone brook no argument.

“Ouch, Xiao Ji, since you've put it that way, then don't hide either. Isn't it time you paid back the one tael and three cents of silver you borrowed from me?”

Bai Zhantang slowly climbed up from the chair. Upon hearing this, he immediately turned hostile and demanded the debt.

Ji Wuming was stunned, and his face turned a bit awkward.

“Don't be in such a hurry. Once I've settled Teacher's matter, I'll go out and take on a big job, and the silver will naturally be there.

Lately, I heard the Six Doors has posted a notice, a bounty for the Saint of Thieves. Captured alive or killed, the reward is a hundred taels of snowy silver!”

“I'm only worth that much?”

Bai Zhantang was dazed at first, but then he thought about it and felt something was off.

“Cough... Er, Xiao Ji, what's our relationship? Talking about money hurts our feelings. Consider it my treat!”

He gave a couple of dry laughs, but his eyes secretly flicked toward the old man who had just finished eating and was currently belching.

“Old gentleman, why don't you lend a hand and draw a set of powerful techniques for Xiao Ji? Let him finish his task early so everyone can relax!”

“Nothing to draw!” The old man waved his hand and shook his head with determination. “If there really were martial arts that could grant immortality without side effects, I would have practiced them myself long ago!”

Ji Wuming grew anxious, his voice rising several notches: “Impossible! Teacher said himself that you have it, so you must have it! Even if you don't, you have to make it for me, otherwise—otherwise I won't let you walk out that door today!”

“Even if you kill me, I still don't have it!” The old man stiffened his neck, looking like he was ready to risk it all.

Ji Wuming's spirit deflated, and his shoulders slumped.

The old man looked at his state, and a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

“How about this: you go back, bring your teacher here, and I'll chat with him face-to-face. Maybe a flash of inspiration will strike and I'll have it.”

“No!” Ji Wuming refused flatly. “If the mission isn't finished, I can't take a single step back.

I'll wait right here. I'll leave whenever you can draw it!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he stood up and walked toward Bai Zhantang.

Bai Zhantang and the others backed away in fear.

They watched as Ji Wuming snatched the rag off Bai's shoulder and went straight to a table to start wiping it.

The customers eating in the Tongfu Inn saw this and one by one bolted for the exit.

“Oh my! You haven't paid the bill yet!” Tong Xiangyu saw the situation was bad and shouted out, but the people were already long gone.

“Oh Heavens, what sin did I commit! I should never have stepped over the threshold of this shop. If I hadn't come...”

She muttered to herself, slapping her thighs and sighing.

The old man, having had his fill, glanced at everyone and slowly got up to walk out.

After leaving the inn, he turned into his own alleyway.

“Interesting. I've been holed up in this Seven Heroes Town for so many years, yet some fresh things are actually happening outside.

Pity, I can't leave just yet!”

Returning to his small courtyard, he lightly pressed a mechanism in the corner of the wall. The ground slid open silently, revealing a deep, dark passage.

He stepped inside, and his figure disappeared into the darkness.

In the underground secret chamber, several figures were chained to the walls with heavy profound iron chains, unable to move.

“Mortal! You dare to imprison us? Are you tired of living?”

“Do you know who we are? How insolent!”

Several people shouted in anger.

The old man didn't speak. He silently took a leather whip wrapped in iron thorns from the wall and lashed out a few times.

Miserable howls rang out instantly.

“Now, it's your turn to speak—tell me everything about the God Race!”

Those people gritted their teeth; no one spoke a word.

A few more whip strikes fell.

“What do you want to know?” Finally, one person couldn't take it anymore and roared out.

“Whatever you know, say... everything.” The old man retracted the whip and casually picked up the paper and brush nearby, waving them at him.

The surroundings were deathly silent, and everyone's expressions were extremely ugly.

No wonder no one dared to easily cross that boundary gate.

The Mortals of this Lower Realm were actually this strong, their strength not inferior to the Great Gods of the Upper Realm who had awakened their Divine Power!

“If the gods were not unable to cross the portal, your world would have been turned to ashes long ago!” the man said through gritted teeth, his voice sounding as if it were squeezed from his throat.

“Heh, tell me something I don't know.” The old man gave a cold laugh and lashed out with the whip again.

“Ah—I'm going to kill you!” the man roared in extreme pain.

The old man remained unmoved, only offering a faint smile:

“Just a useless mad dog; no matter how loud you bark, it's useless.”

Half an hour later, having pried out some new information, the old man finally nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave the secret chamber.

Leaving behind those people from the Upper Realm to stare at each other, their mouths full of bitterness, unable to say a single word.

The old man held a piece of paper covered in writing. He walked out of the cellar and solemnly placed it into an iron box.

“I'll find an opportunity later to send this out.”

He sighed again, looking at the roof and muttering to himself:

“Just... when will I truly be able to extricate myself?”

...

Great Zhou Dynasty, a hidden valley.

Several men and women of various statures gathered quietly.

“You all know about Lord Bodhidharma's matter, right?” a woman said with a raspy voice.

“Yes, died at the hands of an expert in Northern Li.”

“Bodhidharma was someone who had awakened the power of the Vajra Realm. Could that person be an ancient existence guarding the Heavenly Gate?”

“But Snow Moon City has no Heavenly Gate at all... this matter is strange.”

A voice spoke with confusion.

“Perhaps another new powerhouse has emerged. It seems our previous work was not thorough enough.”

One person's voice was low and slow, slightly heavy.

“Leaving Di Shitian alone back then and letting him do as he pleased resulted in him getting himself killed instead.”

Everyone sighed, their expressions complex.

“I heard several Lords are planning to attack a Heavenly Gate; perhaps they have already found a way to open the passage.

Once a Great Power of a higher Realm descends, all troubles will naturally be resolved.”

“That is merely your speculation.

Our current priority is to first eliminate the Empress of Great Zhou, then move to the next target, and eradicate as many experts as possible who might rise in this world.”

“But Wu Zha's strength is not to be underestimated. Her Heavenly Demon Arts are not only good for group combat but also extremely swift for escaping.

If the first strike doesn't land, it will likely be difficult to get close to her again in the future.”

“Then we must plan thoroughly!”

A person clearly in a leading position spoke, their tone steady.

“In some time, Great Zhou will hold a grand Sacrificial Ceremony at Mount Tai. We can set a killing trap in advance.”

“Very well.”

With a clear time and place, they had more confidence in taking action.

...

Inside the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.

“Waner, take this down. On the day of the Mount Tai Fengshan Ceremony, go to Snow Moon City and invite the Pavilion Master to come and observe the ceremony.”

Empress Wu commanded.

These past few days, a faint trace of concern had actually surfaced in her heart.

“Your Majesty, that person is still in the engagement period. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until the ceremony is over.”

Shangguan Waner reminded her softly, but in her heart, she sighed quietly.

The Empress's state of mind was in disarray.

The Empress herself had told her this, yet now she often forgot it.

“I did forget. Then remember to remind me when the time comes.”

Empress Wu was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.

“I will keep an eye on it.

Once that person's engagement ceremony is complete, Your Majesty can personally invite him to come to Great Zhou to observe the ceremony together.”

“That would be for the best.”

Empress Wu nodded, her eyes flickering slightly.

Two months later.

Snow Moon City.

The rotation of the four seasons here did not bring much change.

The summer was slightly warmer, and the temperature difference in other seasons was not large.

To people, there was no difference, but to the flora, there was its own rhythm.

Flowers bloomed and withered according to the season; they did not bloom all year round.

And right now, it was the time when all flowers were in full bloom—this was also Snow Moon City's grandest festival: The Hundred Flowers Banquet.

Young men and women took this auspicious opportunity to get to know one another, and affection secretly blossomed.