Chapter 175: Battle Strategy and Tactics

The Dragon Qilin had drunk its fill and looked at Qin Mu, saying, "I'm still a bit hungry..."

"I'll take you to refine some medicine."

Qin Mu led the Dragon Qilin toward the treasury, intending to first purchase some medicinal ingredients for refining Crimson Fire Spirit Elixirs. Across Jade Dragon Lake, a Daoist was peering over. He watched Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin leave, muttering, "Has that dragon-lion from the mountain gate come to life? Why is it drinking water at Jade Dragon Lake? Who is that young man? Does he not know that the water from Jade Dragon Lake is reserved for the imperial family? Never mind, as long as it doesn't jump in for a bath, drinking a few sips of water is nothing to worry about."

As Qin Mu passed the Prince's Estate, he saw many scholars gathered there, with cheers erupting.

Qin Mu glanced over from a distance. Even the scholars from the Scholars' Residence had run over, and quite a few divine arts practitioners from the Divine Arts Practitioners' Residence had also arrived, crowding the entrance of the Prince's Estate.

Suddenly, with a loud bang, a figure was sent flying into the air, landing headfirst on the ground. A voice shouted, "Another one defeated!"

Qin Mu was startled. The one who had been knocked headfirst into the ground was a Shizi from the Prince's Estate—the son of a prince. Who would dare to be so ruthless?

"Let me have a try!"

A girl's voice came from the crowd. Qin Mu had already walked quite a distance when he suddenly heard another loud bang. A girl in green flew backward, crashing through the wall of Hangguang Hall not far in front of him with a loud crack, leaving only a pair of slender legs visible from outside.

"It seems to be a princess..."

Qin Mu looked back at the crowd, thinking, "This fighting style feels familiar. It's Senior Brother Bashan's combat technique."

Jijiu Bashan had pioneered his exceptional combat arts, combining the moves of martial skills with divine arts and spells. Their power surpassed that of pure martial skills or spells. This innovative creation had elevated Jijiu Bashan into the ranks of sect master-level powerhouses. Currently, no one in the world could surpass his mastery in combat arts.

The only drawback of these exceptional combat arts was that their moves were less flexible and varied than pure martial skills or spells. This was why Jijiu Bashan, despite reaching the level of a sect master, hadn't been able to advance further.

"Could it be Sister Yuxiu? Why is she fighting with the Shizi and Princesses?"

The Dragon Qilin was so hungry its steps faltered and its belly was sunken. Qin Mu suppressed the urge to stay and watch the fight, continuing toward the treasury to buy medicinal ingredients. The pharmacist at the treasury handed him the ingredients, only then noticing the massive creature behind Qin Mu, staring wide-eyed.

Qin Mu returned with the Dragon Qilin the way they came. Along the way, he analyzed the properties of the medicinal ingredients and refined a batch of Crimson Fire Spirit Elixirs.

The Dragon Qilin quickly ate them. One batch wasn't enough to fill it, so it looked at him eagerly. Qin Mu had no choice but to refine another batch, finally satisfying the enormous creature.

The Dragon Qilin, now full of vigor, followed beside him, smiling apologetically, "From now on, if there's anything you need, just say the word. I'm very good at fighting."

Qin Mu shook his head and walked toward the Prince's Estate. Hu Ling'er sneered, "You don't even dare to fight a cow, and you still claim to be good at fighting?"

The Dragon Qilin immediately became dejected.

The area in front of the Prince's Estate was still swarming with people, even more than before. Qin Mu heard a scholar say, "Has no one in the Prince's Estate been able to defeat her yet? Since Seventh Princess returned from her outdoor training, it's as if she's a completely different person; her skills have improved incredibly fast."

"Combining spells and martial skills, plus the imperial Nine Dragons Imperial Sovereign Technique, Seventh Princess can practically sweep through the Prince's Estate. I wonder if she'll go to the Scholars' Residence and the Divine Arts Practitioners' Residence to challenge them?"

"I wouldn't dare say for the Divine Arts Practitioners' Residence, but for the Scholars' Residence, I'm afraid not, because that 'devil' is still there."

"Indeed. That devil hasn't been seen for three months; he's probably dead outside, which is good riddance for our Scholars' Residence."

"It's not certain that devil's abilities can surpass Seventh Princess's."

"Move aside, everyone, move aside!"

Many scholars felt a commotion behind them. They turned to look, their eyes wide with disbelief, as a massive creature—half-dragon, half-Qilin—moved its body, pushing aside the scholars blocking its path. Some scholars were so forcefully nudged by the Dragon Qilin that they lost their footing and were sent flying out of the crowd.

The colossal creature pushed through the crowd, making its way to the entrance of the Prince's Estate, clearing a path. The sight left all the scholars stunned, and they felt a sense of fear.

Even the well-traveled members of the imperial family in the Prince's Estate couldn't help but gape and stare at the majestic Dragon Qilin.

The Dragon Qilin shook its body, ruffled its fur, and then looked back, smiling apologetically, "Young Master, these ignorant people have already cleared a path. Please, Young Master, go in."

Qin Mu stepped forward to the entrance of the Prince's Estate, scolding, "Too ostentatious, too ostentatious! Don't do this again! Esteemed senior brothers and sisters, my apologies, my apologies."

The expressions on everyone's faces froze.

Qin Mu looked into the Prince's Estate and saw Ling Yuxiu, who had sealed her Five Luminaries Divine Treasures, fighting Min Yue Shizi. Min Yue Shizi was another scholar chosen by Jijiu Bashan. After only a few exchanges, Min Yue Shizi couldn't withstand Ling Yuxiu's astonishing explosive power and was sent flying.

As Ling Yuxiu unsealed her Five Luminaries Divine Treasures, nine dragons coiled around her, front and back, truly embodying a valiant and spirited aura.

Qin Mu secretly praised her. Ling Yuxiu's cultivation and strength had indeed improved rapidly after her journey to the Loulan Golden Palace. In these three months, she had gained an overwhelming advantage over the other scholars.

Evidently, after challenging the Loulan Golden Palace, she had diligently trained, refining the Nine Dragons Imperial Sovereign Technique to a profound level and compensating for her weakness of an unstable foundation.

Jijiu Bashan had tailored his teaching methods to her, differing from what the Imperial Academy officials taught. He specifically addressed Ling Yuxiu's weaknesses in her training, which finally allowed her to achieve significant growth.

However, Qin Mu observed that the Princess had also torn down nearly half of the Prince's Estate. He wondered who taught her to be so destructive.

"Hey, cowherd!"

Ling Yuxiu's eyes lit up when she saw Qin Mu. She waved at the royal disciples in the Prince's Estate and said with a smile, "No more fighting today. We'll decide the victor another time." With that, she walked toward Qin Mu.

Qin Mu praised, "Sister Yuxiu, I haven't seen you for over a month, and your skills have become even more formidable."

Ling Yuxiu complained slightly, "Where have you been all these days? I was very worried about you."

She quickly added, "Teacher Bashan was also very worried about you! By the way, the Grand Jijiu has resigned, and the new Grand Jijiu isn't Jijiu Bashan. It's that ice-sealed person whom I and General Qin rescued from the Dragon Palace in Yongjiang, Great Ruins."

"Ice-sealed person?"

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly. Could it be Gu Lihuan?

Seeing that the area was still packed with people staring at them, Ling Yuxiu, still a bit shy, whispered, "It's too crowded here. Let's go to my room to talk."

Qin Mu followed her and nodded. As the two walked further into the Prince's Estate, a figure suddenly flickered beside them. A handsome young man with a stern expression appeared, saying, "Seventh Sister, how can a girl's room be casually entered by a man? Let's go to my room instead."

Ling Yuxiu's face reddened slightly, and she quietly agreed.

Ling Yushu said with a dark expression, "Scholar Qin, please."

Qin Mu was puzzled, wondering how he could have offended this Prince, whose gaze seemed to devour him.

They arrived at Ling Yushu's residence within the Prince's Estate. It was arranged like a refined Jiangnan garden, very elegant. Though the rockeries weren't as tall as mountains, water flowed leisurely through them. Though the garden wasn't as large as a forest, winding paths led to secluded spots. It was immeasurably better than the Scholars' Residence.

This place resembled a small imperial palace, with palace maids constantly moving about, serving diligently.

Most of these palace maids were also divine arts practitioners; not only were they beautiful, but their strength was also considerable.

Ling Yushu led them to a pavilion with a pleasant view and open surroundings. A palace maid came forward carrying an incense burner, placed it by the pavilion, and lit the incense, which curled gracefully.

From a distant, unwilling place, zither music drifted over. The zither notes were slow and prolonged, like two old men leisurely playing chess, with only one or two notes played after a period, making one's heart easily settle into tranquility.

"Second Prince truly has refined tastes," Qin Mu praised.

Ling Yushu's expression softened slightly. He said, "Seventh Sister went to the frontier, and I must thank Doctor Qin for taking care of her all these days. Seventh Sister has told me about your experiences in the Loulan Golden Palace, and knowing that you saved my sister multiple times, I, Yushu, am incredibly grateful."

Ling Yuxiu laughed, "The cowherd is very strong. I even thought he had died and ended up crying in front of the shamans in the Golden Palace because of him."

Ling Yushu's eye twitched. Cried? She hadn't mentioned that.

"It's nothing, just friendship between classmates. My sister once cried when her pet cat died," Ling Yushu thought to himself.

"We also met the cowherd's two elders, and they praised me for being sensible and were very pleased with me," Ling Yuxiu said with a smile.

Ling Yushu's eye twitched again. She had met his elders? Seventh Sister hadn't mentioned this either!

Ling Yuxiu excitedly said, "Second Brother, Jijiu Bashan is indeed formidable. My strength has greatly improved since he took us on this trip, as you've seen. If Jijiu Bashan could take me and the cowherd on a few more long journeys, you wouldn't be able to defeat me either!"

Ling Yushu shook his head, "I've inquired, and Jijiu Bashan will be taking other candidate scholars on his next journey."

Ling Yuxiu looked a bit disappointed.

Ling Yushu looked at Qin Mu and said, "Father Emperor has appointed Gu Lihuan as the Grand Jijiu. I heard you have a grievance with Gu Lihuan. After he became Grand Jijiu, he also inquired about you from the Imperial Academy officials."

Ling Yuxiu chuckled, "I know about their conflict. The cowherd tricked Gu Lihuan out of his Shaobao Sword, which is why Gu Lihuan holds a grudge."

Ling Yushu said, "Doctor Qin, it's best if you return the Shaobao Sword to Gu Lihuan. This man comes from the Demonic Dao and is a Grandmaster among them. He's always been petty. While I can't say much about Father Emperor appointing him as Grand Jijiu, his magnanimity is far inferior to the previous Grand Jijiu. It's hard to guarantee he won't make things difficult for you. I can host a meeting for you two to resolve your differences; I assume he would give me that much face."

Qin Mu shook his head, "Our rule in the Great Ruins is that things obtained by trickery don't have to be returned."

Ling Yushu said with a half-smile, "But this isn't the Great Ruins. He is the Grand Jijiu; it would be very easy for him to handle you."

Qin Mu thought for a moment, then said, "I heard Gu Lihuan say he was the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian. A Crown Prince's Junior Guardian should be the Crown Prince's teacher when he was young, right? Second Prince, do you think Gu Lihuan would give you face?"

Ling Yushu's heart slightly trembled.

Qin Mu continued, "Second Prince, if he were willing to resolve the grudge, it wouldn't matter if I broke the rules of the Great Ruins and returned the Shaobao Sword to him. However, I think that even if I return the Shaobao Sword to him, he won't give you face and won't resolve the grudge. Furthermore, Second Prince, why aren't you worried about him making things difficult for *you*?"