A Pawn's Passage

Lion City was the most prosperous place in the entire Nanyang. Though it could not compare to Jade Capital, where nothing was lacking, it was still abundant in supplies. Qi Xuansu was now the Chief Deputy of the Poluo Daoist Mansion, so he could mobilize the Daoist Mansion’s manpower and resources and was no longer as constrained as before.

Ordinary low-grade Soul-Returning Incense took the form of an incense stick, costing 10 Taiping coins each.

For Lin Yuanmiao to fully gain control over the Immortal body, he would need 10,000 of such incense sticks, which amounted to 100,000 Taiping coins.

At the very beginning, Qi Xuansu provided Lin Yuanmiao with 1,000 sticks. Later, Zhang Yuelu added another 5,000 sticks.

Qi Xuansu’s thinking was straightforward. He could simply make up the remaining 4,000 sticks of Soul-Returning Incense so that Lin Yuanmiao could fully control Lin Lingsu’s mortal shell. Later, they could supplement him with other methods and rely on Lin Yuanmiao’s Immortal body to heal itself.

This was much like an ordinary person falling ill. Often, medicine could only relieve symptoms, while true recovery still depended on the body’s own self-healing ability.

Xie Jiaofeng took stock of Tianfu Palace’s inventory. Counting the high-grade and mid-grade Soul-Returning Incense and converting them into low-grade equivalents, there were about 1,600 sticks.

Qi Xuansu had not been entirely clear in his instructions at first. But after learning of the Tianfu Palace’s reserves, he explicitly stated that the remaining shortfall of 2,4000 sticks needed to be made up and ordered Xie Jiaofeng to handle the requisitioning.

Xie Jiaofeng had spent many years in Lion City and was genuinely good at dealing with people, with solid connections to boot. Moreover, he was requisitioning in the name of the Daoist Mansion, so gathering 2,400 sticks of Soul-Returning Incense was no difficult task.

Before long, the Huasheng Hall personnel had arrived.

If it had been the main branch of Huasheng Hall in Jade Capital, curing Lin Yuanmiao would have been assured. But this was only the Poluo branch, and Qi Xuansu did not expect them to resolve the Immortal sword qi eating away at Lin Yuanmiao’s body. He only asked that they do their utmost to help alleviate Lin Yuanmiao’s injuries, strengthen his life force, and provide auxiliary support to buy some time.

The Huasheng Hall personnel first moved Lin Yuanmiao into a sufficiently sealed, quiet chamber, then used various tools on his body.

There was a pot-shaped device into which pills could be placed and crushed, turning them into mist, which could seep into the body through the skin. This made it convenient for patients who could not swallow pills. There were also items borrowed from Westerners, like bottles, jars, and all manner of thin tubes. Qi Xuansu did not understand medicine very well and simply let them proceed.

Once Lin Yuanmiao’s condition stabilized, Qi Xuansu ordered that the Soul-Returning Incense stored in Tianfu Palace be brought over and lit before sealing off the entire room.

Although the Soul-Returning Incense was harmless, it would cause a person to temporarily lose all cultivation.

The effects of the Soul-Returning Incense were immediate. After burning 1,600 sticks, the previously unconscious Lin Yuanmiao finally woke up.

Qi Xuansu only came to Lin Yuanmiao after the Soul-Returning Incense had mostly dissipated. He asked, “Old Lin, how are you feeling?”

Lin Yuanmiao was still lying on the bed. He let out a bitter smile. “I won’t die for now.”

Little Yin was also standing beside Qi Xuansu, clutching the edge of the bed and looking at Lin Yuanmiao with wide, anxious eyes. “I thought you were going to die! You scared me to death!”

Lin Yuanmiao exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi and looked at Little Yin with a hint of affection in his eyes. “I really was close to dying.”

Qi Xuansu took the opportunity to ask, “What exactly happened?”

Lin Yuanmiao explained, “I followed Second Deputy Zhang to the Lingnan Daoist Mansion, where she began her routine inspection. On the way to the Dongdu Prefecture, we accidentally discovered a pod of whales. I suddenly remembered that whales might guide the way to the Tongzhen Palace, so I followed them and dived into the depths of the sea to begin searching for traces of the palace. Throughout this process, I maintained contact with Second Deputy Zhang, so I knew that she had arrived in Lion City.”

Qi Xuansu’s heart stirred slightly as he asked, “You found the Tongzhen Palace?”

Lin Yuanmiao nodded. “I did find the Tongzhen Palace, but I never expected that the Tongzhen Palace left behind by Lin Lingsu had been taken over by someone else.”

Qi Xuansu hesitated for a moment. “It couldn’t be Qian Xiangyun, could it?”

“If it were only Qian Xiangyun, I would have killed her,” Lin Yuanmiao said. “It was someone else. I don’t recognize this person, but she is also a woman—an Immortal one.”

Qi Xuansu was shaken to the core.

He already had a suspicion.

In Nanyang, there was only one possible Immortal woman—Chen Shuhua.

Not long ago, Xu Jiaorong had told him that before Zheng Jiaohe died, he had said that Chen Shuhua had a hidden refuge unknown to others, one that had been transformed from an Ancient Immortal’s cave dwelling.

That matched up perfectly. Chen Shuhua had been in Nanyang for many years. Even without Lin Yuanmiao’s memories, she could have found the location of the Tongzhen Palace. It could be by chance, or perhaps through other channels by which she obtained additional clues left behind by Lin Lingsu. In any case, Chen Shuhua had found the Tongzhen Palace.

What followed was only natural. Chen Shuhua took the Tongzhen Palace for herself and, as a result, her cultivation increased dramatically. After all, even without the Longevity Stone, Chen Shuhua was already a Pseudo-Immortal. That was something extremely rare without support from the Golden Palace. But it would make perfect sense for Chen Shuhua to obtain that level of cultivation if she had obtained an Immortal’s lineage.

It turned out that Chen Shuhua had been hiding here all along. No wonder Great Sage Jiang had searched mountains and seas without ever finding a trace of her.

Lin Yuanmiao noticed the change in Qi Xuansu’s expression. “You know who that Immortal woman is?”

Qi Xuansu sighed. “If I’m not mistaken, she should be Chen Shuhua, the former Chief Deputy of the Poluo Daoist Mansion who defected.”

Lin Yuanmiao had heard of Chen Shuhua from Zhang Yuelu but was not very familiar with her. He could not help but ask, “A dignified Immortal is only a Chief Deputy Mansion Master? Isn’t the Daoist Order being far too stingy?”

What Lin Yuanmiao implied was that the Daoist Order’s treatment was unfair, making an Immortal serve as a Chief Deputy Mansion Master, not even an Omniscient Sage. It was no wonder the Immortal chose to defect.

Qi Xuansu could only give a general account of the matter from beginning to end—how Chen Shuhua stole dragon qi, how she colluded with Ancient Immortals, how she refined the Longevity Stone, and how she harbored treacherous motives, became estranged from the Daoist Order, and committed acts of rebellion.

After hearing this, Lin Yuanmiao sighed with emotion. “She truly was someone of great talent and ambition, with extremely high cultivation and deep schemes.”

Qi Xuansu said, “It’s a pity she couldn’t see the situation clearly. If this were a chaotic age with heroes sprouting like grass, her actions might truly have made her a regional lord. But in the present world, the Golden Tower Council rules above all. Even if one attains immortality, it’s impossible to contend with the Daoist Order. She is currently still in the 49-day process of a major rebirth and has not yet achieved a true Immortal body. Even if she wished to ascend and leave this world, it would be difficult. I fear she will end up with everything coming to nothing.”

Lin Yuanmiao had to acknowledge this as well. “No wonder she didn’t pursue me to the end. Turns out she’s still in the midst of the major rebirth.”

One of the reasons Lin Yuanmiao chose to follow Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu instead of striking out on his own was because of the overwhelming power of the Daoist Order. Even a Second-Tribulation Immortal might not be able to contend with that kind of power.

Qi Xuansu’s mood was rather complicated at this moment. With Chen Shuhua occupying the Tongzhen Palace, all of Lin Lingsu’s treasured collections inside had naturally fallen into Chen Shuhua’s hands and were most likely already used up. However, the silver lining was that they had unexpectedly discovered Chen Shuhua’s whereabouts. It might not count as a great merit, but at least it meant eliminating a hidden danger.

If Chen Shuhua were allowed to escape, once she recovered to her peak state, Qi Xuansu would have to worry about his own safety. He did not believe Chen Shuhua would easily let him go. After all, he had single-handedly ruined Chen Shuhua’s many years of planning, reducing her schemes to nothing. He had also ordered the execution of Chen Shuhua’s elder brother, Chen Shuzhen.

If Qi Xuansu were in Chen Shuhua’s position, he would also want to kill himself to vent such hatred.

After all, Chen Shuhua was already an immortal. If even an Immortal could not freely settle grudges, that would be far too stifling. Moreover, Qi Xuansu was in the open while Chen Shuhua lurked in the shadows. It would be hard for Qi Xuansu to defend himself at all times.

Therefore, for Qi Xuansu, it would be best to resolve Chen Shuhua’s matter as early as possible.

Qi Xuansu asked, “Old Lin, can you give me the location of the Tongzhen Palace now?”

Old Lin nodded, struggled to raise his hand, and pressed a finger against his forehead. He then pulled out a speck of spiritual light, which flew on its own to Qi Xuansu’s front.

Qi Xuansu did not press this speck of spiritual light into his own forehead and tucked it into his sleeve instead. He then instructed Little Yin to watch over Lin Yuanmiao, then turned and left.

At that moment, Xie Jiaofeng also returned, wiping sweat from his brow. “Chief Deputy, I’ve requisitioned the 2,400 sticks of Soul-Returning Incense you asked for.”

Qi Xuansu said, “Record it all under the Daoist Mansion’s accounts, then hand it over to the Huasheng Hall Branch and have them use every last stick. Don’t leave out a single one.”

Xie Jiaofeng nodded in acknowledgment.

Qi Xuansu continued, “Make the preparations. I’m going to Thanglong Prefecture.”

Xie Jiaofeng was startled and blurted out instinctively, “Haven’t the Three Prodigies already gone? Are they not enough that you need to go personally, Chief Deputy? This is insane! Is Nanyang still under the Daoist Order or not?”

Qi Xuansu ignored him and said, “Go prepare the flying ship. I need to report something to Great Sage Jiang first.”

“Yes,” Xie Jiaofeng responded, hurrying off.

Chen Shuhua’s failure to pursue Lin Yuanmiao to the end was certainly due to her poor condition, but there were also other variables at play.

She could have already abandoned the Tongzhen Palace and fled elsewhere, making it unnecessary to silence Lin Yuanmiao.

Or perhaps she could have grown careless. She might not know Lin Yuanmiao’s background and assumed he was not a member of the Daoist Order. So she believed he would not leak her whereabouts.

That was because all Zaohua-stage Heavenly Beings within the Daoist Order were all famous figures with proper titles, and there were not many of them. As a former member of the Daoist Order, it would not have been difficult for Chen Shuhua to recognize them all. Thus, she could safely assume that if she did not recognize someone, they were not of the Daoist Order.

As for Qian Xiangyun, though she recognized Lin Yuanmiao, she did not know about Lin Yuanmiao’s cooperation with Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu. By that time, she was already on the run.

No matter which situation it was, Qi Xuansu needed to act now and settle this as quickly as possible.