“Let’s go, take me there quickly,” Qian Xiaoxiao said excitedly.
She hadn’t expected to run into Oliver Sheng while strolling through the night market.
Ever since she saw Oliver’s handsome face and unparalleled demeanor at the city gate that day, she had been deeply attracted to him.
Compared to the aristocratic young men in the capital, Oliver was undoubtedly exceptional.
Not only was he talented in poetry, but he was also a young general who had reclaimed lost territories and achieved great feats.
Who doesn’t love a hero?
Qian Xiaoxiao was no exception. A single line of poetry from Oliver had captivated many aristocratic ladies in the capital.
But by the time Qian Xiaoxiao and her maid arrived, Oliver and his companions were nowhere to be seen.
“Where are they? Could you have been mistaken?” Qian Xiaoxiao looked around but couldn’t find any trace of Oliver.
“No, Miss, General Sheng and his men were just here, looking at the lanterns,” the maid replied.
Qian Xiaoxiao approached the lantern vendor and asked, “Did you see a tall, handsome young man just now?”
“Are you talking about the young man with a distinguished demeanor? They just left,” the vendor answered.
“Which direction did they go?”
“They went down that bustling street,” the vendor pointed.
Without even thanking him, Qian Xiaoxiao hurried off in that direction.
However, in the vast sea of people, such a serendipitous encounter was unlikely.
After wandering through the lively Chunxi Street, Zane Wang still didn’t get to visit Jiao Si Fang to see the renowned beauty, Fairy Song Shishi.
After all, they had to attend court the next day to receive their titles.
Celebrating at Jiao Si Fang tonight would be inappropriate.
Back at Honglu Temple, Oliver Sheng stood on the upper floor, gazing over the entire Luo Capital.
With his Yin Spirit, he observed the city’s human fortune burning brightly like a raging fire.
No wonder Daoists were reluctant to stay in Luo Capital; the flourishing human fortune greatly suppressed the Yin Spirit of Daoists.
In Oliver’s eyes, the human fortune was like a blazing fire, thriving and prosperous. Luo Capital truly lived up to its status as the heart of the nation.
His gaze penetrated the sky above Luo Capital, where the dragon energy converged into a golden five-clawed dragon, stabilizing the thirty-six states of Great Wei.
Within the dragon energy of Great Wei, there was another force suppressing it, preventing it from dispersing.
However, the energy suppressing the entire Great Wei seemed old and frail.
“Hmm? What’s going on?”
“Could it be that Great Wei is nearing its end? But it doesn’t look like a dynasty in decline!” Oliver murmured.
Great Wei had no foolish or incompetent rulers, no corrupt ministers, and no chaos in the court. By all accounts, Great Wei shouldn’t show signs of decline.
“Could it be that the Great Wei Ancestor has encountered a problem?” Oliver speculated.
Having reached the peak of Yin Spirit cultivation, Oliver noticed this issue.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t mastered the techniques of Qi observation and deduction, so he couldn’t uncover the truth.
In the Royal Armory within the palace, the royal ancestor Han Wu sensed a prying gaze.
“Which Daoist master is spying on Great Wei?” Han Wu frowned, using the dragon energy of Great Wei to scan the entire Luo Capital with his powerful spiritual perception.
Daoists usually stayed out of worldly affairs, so why would a Daoist master be spying on Great Wei’s fortune?
Unaware of this, Oliver’s Yin Spirit cultivation, already comparable to the early Yang Spirit stage, had inadvertently caused Han Wu to become suspicious.
Retracting his gaze, Oliver looked at the bustling lights, feeling a sense of tranquility.
The mundane world, with its simple pleasures, was most comforting to the human heart.
Even though he was just a step away from becoming an Earthly Immortal, a lofty Yang Spirit, or a Martial Saint, he still felt like just another person among the masses.
……
Da Chu, Jinzhou!
The entire Jinzhou was controlled by the Sima Clan, who held the title of kings with different surnames, akin to princes in Da Chu.
The grand estate of the Sima Clan was vast, with high walls, grand courtyards, red pillars, and glazed tiles, exuding extraordinary grandeur and nobility.
The Sima Clan boasted a Martial Saint and five Great Grandmasters, making them extremely prestigious in Da Chu.
A member of the Sima Clan hurried to an ancestral residence.
“Patriarch, we’ve received news from Great Wei. It seems they’ve found traces of that person from back then.”
Upon hearing the report, Sima Yan’s eyes brightened.
“Good, after searching for so many years, we finally have news. Send a message to Great Wei to confirm the authenticity of the information. I’ll report to the ancestor.”
Sima Yan quickly went to the secluded area where the family ancestors were in retreat.
“Fourth Ancestor, I have important news to report,” Sima Yan announced.
Sima Wushang ended his retreat immediately upon hearing the report and came out.
“Is this information confirmed?” Sima Wushang asked.
“The message from Great Wei is being verified. We should have confirmation soon,” Sima Yan replied.
“Good, mobilize all our forces in Great Wei. Once confirmed, report to me immediately,” Sima Wushang’s long-calm heart stirred with excitement.
The Sima Clan had been searching for the old soldier for nearly twenty years without any leads.
Now, they finally had a clue.
If they could retrieve the first half of the Martial Emperor Endless Sola’s legacy cultivation method, completing the Martial Emperor’s inheritance, their ancestor could advance further.
And they themselves might achieve Martial Saint status, ensuring the Sima Clan’s eternal legacy.
“Yes, Fourth Ancestor.”
……
The next morning, after washing and dressing up.
Riley Chen, the Deputy Minister of Honglu Temple, arrived.
“General Sheng, are you ready? I’ve come to escort you to the palace,” Riley asked.
“Ready!” Oliver smiled and nodded.
At this moment, he was dressed in a red robe and silver armor, his hair tied high, looking elegant and heroic.
Riley couldn’t help but admire, “What a distinguished young man in red and silver armor, truly unparalleled and noble.”
Sawyer Shangguan, also in armor, followed behind Oliver. As military officers without court attire, they could only wear their armor to court.
Once they were conferred titles, the court would provide them with court attire.
Wang Zhan and Zane Wang, not being generals, couldn’t accompany them to court.
“Let’s go!”
Outside Honglu Temple, Harrison Zhou, also in armor, was waiting.
Mounting their horses, the four of them headed towards the palace.
The morning in Luo Capital was already bustling, with street vendors calling out their wares and shops opening for business.
“Congratulations in advance, General Sheng,” Riley said with a smile on the way.
Many court officials already knew that Oliver would be conferred a marquis title, a certainty.
Oliver’s achievements were undeniable. As a top Great Grandmaster, possibly even a Martial Saint, no one would dare oppose his title.
Who would dare stop the conferment?
In recent days, rumors of Oliver’s battle with a Martial Saint had spread, leading many to suspect that he was already a Martial Saint.
As a future pillar of Great Wei, no one would dare offend him.
“Thank you, thank you,” Oliver replied with a smile.
“This general must be from the Shangguan family,” Riley said, looking at Sawyer.
“Yes, I’m Sawyer Shangguan, a collateral branch of the Shangguan family,” Sawyer confirmed, knowing his background had likely been uncovered.
Riley glanced at Harrison Zhou but said nothing. As the daughter of General Who Guards the South, Harrison Zhou’s identity was well-known.
He didn’t know why she was disguised as a man, but he wouldn’t pry.
“General Sheng’s subordinates are truly talented. No wonder you can keep the barbarians at bay,” Riley complimented.
Once Oliver was conferred a marquis, officials below the second rank would have to bow to him.
If he were conferred a king, even the Emperor would have to greet him first. Such was the prestige of a Martial Saint.
Riley was already thinking of currying favor with Oliver. After serving as the Deputy Minister of Honglu Temple for five or six years, he also wanted to advance.
Who in the court didn’t want to progress?
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