Chapter 2091: Bad News

**Wuxia Xianxia**

**Chapter 1960**

**The Fire Domain.**

From within Qin Sang's cave dwelling, a phoenix-like cry suddenly resonated. Its clear, joyful sound filled the air. A brilliant crimson light illuminated the dwelling, overwhelming the scattered starlight. The scene was akin to a raging fire sweeping through a star-filled sky, and at the heart of the flames, a Vermillion Bird was being reborn from fire.

Qin Sang looked at the Vermillion Bird with a strange expression. The creature was clearly on the verge of a breakthrough. After the First Sword Servant had re-ensouled it, the Vermillion Bird had reawakened, regaining cultivation equivalent to a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, stopping just before the Divine Transformation stage. He hadn't expected it to break through now.

Qin Sang had also never anticipated that asking the Vermillion Bird for assistance in comprehending the sword array would, before the array was even formed, lead to such an unexpected joy: helping the Vermillion Bird break through its bottleneck. The Vermillion Bird's origin was unique, and Qin Sang wasn't entirely clear about its true state. He didn't know how much this sword array comprehension had aided the Vermillion Bird's breakthrough, but it certainly wasn't a coincidence.

"Could my feeling be correct? The Four-Symbol Saint Beasts, with the Vermillion Bird representing the South, truly have some unknown connection with the real Vermillion Bird clan? Is there a certain correspondence between the stellar power of the Southern Seven Mansions and the Vermillion Bird?" Qin Sang's thoughts raced. Otherwise, he couldn't explain why the Vermillion Bird could experience an epiphany while he was comprehending the Dao.

Vermillion Bird, stars. Wasn't the *Heavenly Demon Refining Form* exactly about tempering the body with stellar power? Given the First Sword Servant's cultivation and status, the fact that he had specifically reminded Qin Sang about this cultivation method showed that the *Heavenly Demon Refining Form* must have a profound origin, possibly being one of the true methods of the demon race. Could it be that the stellar Dao was one of the fundamental Daos pursued by the demon race? This suggested that his previous insights gained from the Four-Symbol Star Domain were not unfounded; they were connected to his cultivation of the *Heavenly Demon Refining Form* and manifested, offering assistance, when he was comprehending the Four-Symbol Sword Array. His cultivation methods and spiritual techniques had, by chance, achieved a complementary effect.

"Caw!" Another long cry interrupted Qin Sang's thoughts. This cry carried a hint of urgency. At the same time, the Vermillion Bird's aura fluctuated violently, and the resulting impact spread out of the cave dwelling, affecting the spiritual energy throughout the entire cultivation ground. This caused the fire spirit demon soldiers guarding the area to fall into disarray.

Ling Shi, who was cultivating, was immediately startled awake. Rushing out of his cave dwelling, he saw the stone dwelling on the mountain peak burst open with a loud rumble, emitting a red light.

"It's fine, no need to panic," Qin Sang's words reached Ling Shi and the fire spirit demon soldiers. His deep and steady voice instantly quelled all their panic. Ling Shi flew down the mountain to appease the demon soldiers, who had been entrusted to him by Marquis Gui before his departure. The red light shot out of the cultivation ground and vanished in an instant.

Earlier, the Vermillion Bird had entered the Transformation Stage in its sleep, and its breakthrough hadn't triggered a heavenly tribulation. Qin Sang didn't know if this breakthrough to Divine Transformation would bring a heavenly tribulation, so as a precaution, he took it out of the cave dwelling to find a place for it to undergo the tribulation. Now, with more and more cultivators in the Fire Domain, it was difficult to find a secluded spot. Qin Sang had no choice but to personally seal off the heavens and earth to prevent the tribulation's fluctuations from spreading and alerting various factions.

Above a volcanic area, Qin Sang lifted the restriction, and scarlet flames erupted violently, almost burning through the sky. The Vermillion Bird knew it could now break through without restraint and no longer suppressed itself, fully attacking its bottleneck!

*Whoosh! Whoosh!* A sea of fire surged in the sky, wave after wave. Any stray stream of fire falling could cause magma to boil and mountains to collapse, creating a doomsday-like spectacle. Finally, a towering pillar of fire shot out from the fiery sea, accompanied by the Vermillion Bird's cry. This cry was less sharp than before, now deeper and filled with joy!

*Boom!* The Vermillion Bird's aura surged dramatically. Qin Sang had been closely monitoring the celestial phenomena. From beginning to end, there was no sign of tribulation clouds, and he felt no heavenly tribulation aura even as the fiery sea in the sky gradually subsided.

"The Vermillion Bird's cultivation back then must have far surpassed the Divine Transformation stage. It seems that while the Vermillion Bird's memory loss appears to be a rebirth and a fresh start in cultivation, its connection to its past cannot be severed. In the 'eyes' of the Heavenly Dao, it is merely gradually recovering its former cultivation. But what was its actual cultivation level before? How could a mighty figure at the Integration or even Mahayana stage have such a terrible personality..."

As Qin Sang pondered, he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. The Vermillion Bird had retracted its scarlet flames and landed there. He glanced sideways and noticed a significant change in the Vermillion Bird's appearance: its body was more slender, flames burned on its wings, and its tail now had several long feathers with peculiar patterns. Its demeanor instantly changed; it was no longer that fiery crow, but possessed a hint of a true Saint Beast. However, its nature remained unchanged. The Vermillion Bird looked around proudly, as if urging Qin Sang to quickly praise it!

Qin Sang erased all traces and returned to the cave dwelling. When he asked the Vermillion Bird to help him comprehend the sword array, the creature didn't complain a single word, eagerly waddling over to cooperate fully! After a brief attempt, Qin Sang immediately sensed a difference, his eyes shining with pleasant surprise. Bursts of sword resonance echoed through the cave dwelling. Around Qin Sang, stars glittered brightly, forming two star fields. One was the Western Seven Mansions evolved from the Seven Mansions Sword Array, and the other was precisely the Southern Seven Mansions!

Compared to the Western Seven Mansions, the stars of the Southern Seven Mansions appeared ethereal, their connections not close enough; some were bright, others dim. The seven constellations felt somewhat scattered, acting independently. They were not yet worthy of being called an "array"! But at the center of countless stars, a ball of fire shone incredibly brightly, its light illuminating the entire star field. It was this fire that drew all the stars together, connecting them and subtly forming a whole. With this fire, the rudimentary form of an "array" emerged!

He hadn't expected the Vermillion Bird's breakthrough to bring such a significant change. How could Qin Sang not be delighted? Today was truly a double blessing: the Vermillion Bird broke through, and the sword array also achieved progress far beyond expectations. The rudimentary form of the sword array was complete; now it only needed to be gradually perfected, much faster than anticipated. Furthermore, the insights gained this time would be extremely valuable for comprehending the next two sword arrays, making it much smoother even without the Azure Dragon Saint Beast and Black Tortoise Saint Beast by his side.

"Aren't you going to thank this Vermillion Bird?" The Vermillion Bird naturally felt the change and immediately manifested in the sea of stars, puffing out its chest proudly in front of Qin Sang.

"Well done. You were a great help this time. Keep up the good work." Qin Sang praised generously. He wished for breakthroughs every day, so letting the Vermillion Bird feel proud was no harm. The Vermillion Bird was indeed very pleased and eagerly plunged back into the sea of stars.

Achieving the "Triple First" was a rare feat in the history of the Yan Kingdom, counted on one's fingers. At the Qionglin Banquet, the Top Scholar temporarily stole all the limelight. Yet, the clamor was destined to gradually subside.

While the entire nation debated whether the new Top Scholar was a reincarnation of the Star of Literature, the man himself, disguised, arrived at a small teahouse by the Jade Waist Lake.

"Disciple Sister, from now on, I'll have to come here in disguise every time," Yu Lang said, sporting a full beard, exuding a heroic aura that was strikingly realistic. He wasn't afraid of people knowing his connection to the teahouse, but he didn't want to disturb Xiao Wu's peace and affect her immersion in the mundane world.

"Here's some 'Lakeside Spring' from Yinzhou. Top Scholar, try it and see if it compares to the tribute tea bestowed by His Majesty." Xiao Wu personally brewed a pot of tea for Yu Lang.

"Even Disciple Sister makes fun of me." Yu Lang complained deliberately, but his heart was filled with joy. After three years of living in the mundane world, his Disciple Sister had changed a lot; she could even crack jokes now. Yu Lang thought of a slightly irreverent description: Disciple Sister had gained a touch of humanity.

He took a sip of the tea, praised it as excellent, then continued, "The Crown Prince wants to recommend me to the Ministry of Revenue, but after much thought, I've decided to go to the Hanlin Academy first."

"From my observation, although His Majesty is advanced in years, his health is still relatively robust. Barring any surprises, he still has about ten years left."

"His Majesty's golden decree, appointing me Top Scholar, was also a subtle expression of his attitude towards the Crown Prince."

"I've advised the Crown Prince to bide his time. His Majesty values tradition, and we already hold the moral high ground. We must remain composed, unmoved by any wind from any direction! Tao Teng also agrees."

Yu Lang rattled on, recounting his secret discussions with the Crown Prince and Tao Teng, as well as his future plans, holding nothing back. Xiao Wu sat opposite him, propping her chin on her hand, listening attentively. Unwittingly, the sky outside began to darken.

Yu Lang put down his teacup and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Don't laugh at me, Disciple Sister, but I'm a bit nervous and anxious. I already felt the power of the fame and fortune arena at the Qionglin Banquet. Talking to you makes me feel much more relaxed." He stood up and let out a long sigh of relief.

Xiao Wu said gently, "Come often from now on."

"Mmm!" Yu Lang nodded heavily and walked out of the teahouse, feeling as if a great burden had been lifted.

"Five years ago, I predicted His Majesty would live for another ten years, and I almost thought I had misjudged, tarnishing Master's reputation. Last month, His Majesty suffered a sudden severe illness. News from the palace said it was dire, and everyone was preparing for his demise. Unexpectedly, His Majesty suddenly held court this morning, looking ruddy and showing no signs of having just recovered from a serious illness."

"This illness was peculiar. Several princes couldn't hold back and revealed some clues."

"The Second Prince is more composed than we imagined, but we still found traces. We didn't expect his connections to be so deep; thankfully, we discovered it early!"

"It's good that the Crown Prince listens to advice. However, it's time for Tao Teng to start operating."

"Oh, right, Master Chen is already a chief official of a prefecture, but he still refuses to leave the border and won't allow me to work for him in the court."

In the private room, only the Disciple Sister and Disciple Brother remained. Yu Lang revealed his true appearance. He had grown a beard, and his face no longer showed any trace of youthfulness, replaced by the dignified bearing of someone long in a high position. He closed his eyes slightly, leaning against the back of the chair. Only with his Disciple Sister could he truly relax.

Another spring. Rain drizzled, and there were few customers. Xiao Wu sat idly at the counter. Looking up, she saw a scholar in a green robe holding a folding fan enter. She smiled faintly: "You're here."

"Still can't hide it from Disciple Sister!" Yu Lang drooped his head in frustration. His disguise art was already masterful, but no matter how he disguised himself, Disciple Sister would see through it at a glance. Even without cultivation, her discernment remained sharp.

"Because we are too familiar," Xiao Wu said, taking out a jar of tea. "Try the new tea sent from outside." They didn't go upstairs but found a quiet table on the first floor with a view of the lake.

"Martial Aunt gave birth to a daughter; both mother and child are safe. Disciple Sister should send a congratulatory gift, shouldn't she?" Yu Lang asked.

Xiao Wu happily asked, "What's her name?"

"Her nickname is Qi'er," Yu Lang replied, glancing at the other customers in the teahouse. He suddenly chuckled quietly and secretly pointed to a scholar in the corner of the teahouse, "Young Master Luo is here again." The scholar was alone, with tea and pastries spread before him, but he wasn't interested in tasting them, occasionally glancing over.

"I told you, Young Master Luo must have fallen for Disciple Sister," Yu Lang said teasingly. To avoid trouble, Xiao Wu's disguised appearance was not outstanding, and she even deliberately created flaws, but some discerning individuals still recognized her unique temperament and were attracted to it.

"Three days ago, someone came to propose marriage on his behalf," Xiao Wu replied, her expression calm and devoid of any shyness or awkwardness.

"Propose marriage?" Yu Lang was astonished. "Disciple Sister didn't agree?" Xiao Wu looked at him as if he were foolish.

"Disciple Sister, do you like him? Or rather, do you feel even a slight fondness for him?" Yu Lang asked.

"No," Xiao Wu shook her head without hesitation. "I don't even know what 'liking' means, but I see no difference between him and anyone else, so I definitely don't like him."

"Actually, Disciple Sister, you could try it. To like someone and be a couple for a lifetime, Master would definitely allow it," Yu Lang said, choosing his words carefully. To be able to like someone would mean she had truly immersed herself in the mundane world. To be a couple for a lifetime, accompanying a partner through their entire life, and then seeking the immortal path again, would not be considered a disservice. If the partner had talent, it would be even better; they could become cultivation partners. However, Yu Lang remembered that Disciple Sister's true form was actually that of a little girl appearing to be a few years old, and she was inherently cold and detached. It was truly difficult to imagine what it would be like for Disciple Sister to marry someone.

"Are you getting married?" Xiao Wu countered.

Yu Lang nodded. "I can't put it off any longer. To enter the mundane world means to abide by its rules. That fellow Tao Teng was forcibly pushed into the bridal chamber and already had a son. At my residence, matchmakers have almost worn out the threshold. I've met a young lady, the daughter of the Minister of Rites; she's beautiful and highly accomplished, but I need Master's approval."

"Master will definitely like the young lady you've chosen. Will Master Chen come?" Xiao Wu asked. Qin Sang would certainly not attend; only Chen Zhenqing, as an elder, would be present.

"Master Chen cares deeply for the common people, but he should be returning to the capital for his performance review soon. I don't believe in auspicious times; I'll just wait for the day Master Chen arrives in the capital," Yu Lang said, then glanced at Young Master Luo again, silently mourning for him.

"His Majesty lived one year longer than I expected, but his health is deteriorating, and he can only be sustained by medicine. Several princes have long begun to make their moves. During this period, I was spread too thin and couldn't come. The capital is a chaotic mix of forces, and the situation will inevitably be extremely turbulent. Disciple Sister, why don't you close your business for half a year? The outcome should be clear by then!" Yu Lang said in a low voice. Since Xiao Wu had sealed her cultivation and become a mortal, she would be swept up by the tides of fate and should act accordingly.

Xiao Wu hummed in agreement and said earnestly, "You must be careful!" This warning was not for Yu Lang's personal safety. If the situation turned dire, he could withdraw at any time, but his ambition and eleven years of effort in the mundane world would all be in vain.

"Under our guidance, the Second Prince is revealing more and more flaws. The only variable is His Majesty's posthumous edict! Once the edict is issued, the Second Prince will have no chance of overturning the situation! We'll see if he has the audacity to force the palace!" Yu Lang sneered. After a few more words with Xiao Wu, he hurried away.

The Crown Prince's palace, the princes' residences, various government offices, the Qin family, the Tao family... The capital and indeed the entire Yan Kingdom were surging with undercurrents, preparing intensively. Countless eyes focused on the imperial palace; everyone was awaiting news.

Just as the situation was on the verge of erupting, a sudden urgent report arrived in the capital. Upon seeing the urgent report, Yu Lang's face turned pale with shock. The Great Liang Kingdom had brazenly torn up the treaty, and the border was in chaos!