In the bustling market street, the Emperor indulges himself in the commoner's world, ignoring the affairs of the state.
In hidden corners, remnants of a bygone dynasty, self-proclaimed noble lineage, gather their spirits, stepping onto the streets, attempting to revive the fallen kingdom of Dayong by drawing distinctions of nobility and commonness based on their bloodline.
Even if they can't succeed, they are determined to render Dayan a powerless entity, becoming nothing but lifeless puppets.
Outside the provincial examination hall, a young man who had twice failed the imperial exams, his head growing as large as a bushel from reading, gazes skyward and laments.
"A great man should serve on the battlefield, stabilizing the internal and dispelling external threats. How can one remain in the confines of pen and ink for long, wasting precious time?"
But when the young man recalled Emperor Zhu Yi, who died young but had ambitions to swallow the heavens and earth, he couldn't help but sigh the poetic lines of how the ruler was born before his time and how he aged before his birth.
Perhaps due to excessive gloom, the young man's head felt as if it were expanding even more in a daze.
Those troubles stuffed in his mind, perhaps, could only be unburdened once his ambitions were fulfilled...
...
Underground Street, the coffin shop.
Master Jingxu was playing chess with Tao Sanmei.
Xu Qing stood across the street, not entering the shop, but instead making exaggerated gestures towards the female priest inside, looking anything but decent.
If it were any ordinary person, Yizhen, the Taoist priest who had left home, would typically ignore them, and might even reprimand them, but alas, the person was her nominal junior brother...
Just as Yizhen was about to speak, she saw the youth outside immediately motion for her to keep quiet.
"..."
Yizhen sneaked a glance at her master inside playing chess. When realizing her master's attention wasn't on the outside, she cautiously and quietly slipped out of the shop like an unmarried maiden sneaking to meet her lover unbeknownst to her elders.
"Why is junior brother calling me out?"
Xu Qing remarked mischievously, "Well, then, can't I call my senior sister out even if there's no reason?"
"No!"
Yizhen kept a stiff face, responding coldly.
Though she said such words, she did not turn back to the shop as one might expect.
Xu Qing paid no mind to Yizhen's words, as he surveyed the female priest before him, the more he looked, the more satisfied he became!
This Tushan Fox Girl perfectly matched his needs...
Yizhen possessed the blood of the Nine-tailed Fox, cultivating the Nine-Tail Heaven-Granted Technique.
What is heaven-granted? What is heaven-granted? It means the intrinsic divine skill of bloodline, gifted by nature, needless of external seeking.
However, although Yizhen had the Nine-Tail Heaven-Granted Divine Techniques by her side, she did not possess a cultivation technique exceeding the immortal grade.
And now, Xu Qing happened to have a cultivation technique in hand called the True Skill of Heavenly Maiden, which was suitable only for female practice, and was perfect for Yizhen's cultivation.
As for Xuan Yu, she had the Profound Lady Scripture for her main cultivation method, so he needn't worry much.
Xu Qing took out the Jade Talisman recording the True Skill and handed it to Yizhen.
"This is a cultivation technique for the heavenly maiden, a divine-granted technique. Senior sister can use it as the main cultivation technique. Someday, she might cultivate to achieve the realm of the heavenly maiden."
The female demon who gifted Xu Qing the immortal garment was truly of heavenly maiden descent. The heavenly maiden, immortal and indestructible, even if she couldn't escape deadly calamity, could transform into a female demon, or become a god upon her return, becoming Pure Spirit Immortal.
Yizhen's consciousness sank into the Jade Talisman. Upon discovering the technique inside, the female priest's eyes trembled.
Xu Qing had helped her a lot, but if she wanted to repay him, she might still have the chance to do so. However, if she cultivated this technique, she might never repay him in this life, the next life, or even in countless lives.
"Why are you being so kind to me?"
The Taoist asked.
"You're my senior sister, who else should I be kind to? Besides, I promised old Hu I'd take care of you, if I slack off, wouldn't he crawl out of his coffin to settle accounts with me?"
What Xu Qing said, half-true half-false, held another more significant reason.
Which was that the cultivation technique was of no use to him!
Rather than letting it collect dust in the warehouse, he'd rather gift it to his senior sister. Perhaps when she's happy, she might let him touch her tail, if not even letting him touch her ears would be satisfying.
Xu Qing seemed to have a certain obsession with the tail of the legendary Nine-tailed Fox, similar to those who have never touched a tiger's butt, always wanting to try once they see a tiger, unlocking a new achievement in life.
The sense of accomplishment would surely be unparalleled!
When she noticed Xu Qing's gaze lingering at her waist, Yizhen's heart suddenly panicked, instinctively avoiding his gaze.
But once she regained composure, she realized Xu Qing had already withdrawn his gaze, as if her perception moments ago had been a mere illusion.
"This cultivation technique was indeed intended as a gift for senior sister, you don't need to refuse."
Xu Qing then shared the story about obtaining the authority of Gao Mei at Bao Sheng Temple, meanwhile revealing that Lady Bao Sheng wanted to invite Yizhen into the temple, to preside over affairs of marriage under the name of Tushan's clan.
In Xu Qing's eyes, Nine-tailed Fox relies on forming bonds for cultivation, and the Tushan clan that once oversaw human affairs for marriage is indeed a connoisseur, making her the most suitable candidate to manage marriage matters for Bao Sheng Temple.
Especially since the fox girl before him was his senior sister, they were familiar with each other, making the appointment trustworthy.
However, Xu Qing didn't expect that, upon hearing his words, Yizhen's first response wasn't about the marriage affairs; instead, she raised her eyes and asked:
"Junior brother knows Lady Bao Sheng?"
Xu Qing's heart tightened.
Could he say that he was Lady Bao Sheng herself? Certainly not!
If he divulged his secret, wouldn't the proper and trustworthy image he cultivated before his senior sister completely crumble?
Xu Qing at that moment showed an honest face and said, "Indeed! Lady Bao Sheng and I have been friends for decades, be it human or divine quality, all are excellent. Senior sister can rest assured!"