Starting with helping Zhao Kai ascend the throne in the snow

After Hong Jingyan finished speaking, he asked with a troubled expression, "Grandmaster, you are a man of great knowledge and experience. Do you think my master was deceived, or are there really such people in the world?"

When asked by Hong Jingyan, Taiping Ling did not answer immediately, but instead frowned deeply.

A moment later, he stretched out his right hand and began to calculate. However, as his fingers calculated more and more slowly, his complexion became worse and worse. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face filled with horror.

"Master." Hong Jingyan saw that Taiping Ling was weak and listless, and hurriedly stepped forward to help him.

Taiping wiped the bloodstains from the corner of her mouth, then took a few deep breaths. The paleness on her face subsided slightly, and her complexion returned to normal.

"Master, what's wrong with you?" Hong Jingyan hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question that had been bothering him. He really wanted to know what the Taiping Order had foreseen that would cause it to backfire and cause him to vomit blood.

"I pride myself on being second only to Huang Sanjia in the art of Yin-Yang divination, yet I couldn't predict anything at all. The secrets of heaven are in complete chaos. When I tried to force my way through, I immediately suffered a violent backlash. If I continued to calculate, it seemed as if there was a great terror in the darkness..." Taiping Ling shook his head, explaining with a sense of loss what had just happened. Not only had he failed to predict anything, but he had also been seriously injured.

Taiping Ling then turned his gaze to Hong Jingyan and said, "Jingyan, your master has a favor to ask of you."

"Please speak, Master." Hong Jingyan bowed respectfully.

"I want you to disguise yourself and go to the Southern Dynasty to verify whether what your master said is true or false. This concerns the future of our Northern Mang. I wonder if you are willing?" Taiping Ling stared intently at the most outstanding junior in front of him.

Hong Jingyan, the disciple of Genglouzi, is not only exceptionally gifted but also possesses outstanding talent and wit. He is the most outstanding disciple of the Chess and Sword Music Academy and a promising future giant of Northern Mang.

"Rest assured, Master, leave this matter to me." After saying this, Hong Jingyan bowed again, then turned and left the mansion, heading towards the Southern Dynasty.

Zhu Lu Mountain, Zhu Lu Sect.

Since Luoyang succeeded as the tenth leader of the Zhulu Sect, the sect immediately went from decline to prosperity.

Although they were suppressed by the Prince of Yan during this period, after Deng Mao and Yelü Dongchuang joined, the Zhulu Sect still withstood the suppression from the Prince of Yan's mansion in the southern border and stubbornly survived.

Of course, the most important reason for this was that the war in Guangling Road attracted the attention of the Yan Chi Prince's Mansion. Compared to the mere Zhu Lu Sect, the Yan Chi Prince's vision has always been to look to the whole world and seize the throne. So after realizing that dealing with the Zhu Lu Sect was not worth the effort, he lost interest.

"Rumble..."

At that moment, a fierce fighting sound came from the foot of Zhulu Mountain. Two figures moved as fast as lightning, constantly exchanging blows. Their powerful energy destroyed everything around them, but they could not determine a winner.

"Lord Deng Mao, who do you think will win between these two?" Yelü Dongchuang asked, squinting as he watched the two men locked in combat.

The two people fighting before them were Luo Yang, the current leader of the Zhulu Sect, and Liu Songtao, who had left after meeting with Xuan Yuan Qingfeng that day.

As the previous leader of the Zhulu Sect, Liu Songtao wasted decades in Lantuo Mountain due to his injury. Therefore, after returning to the Liyang Dynasty and meeting Xuanyuan Qingfeng, he planned to visit Zhulu Mountain.

Decades ago, the Zhulu Sect was powerful and influential because of him, but it also fell into decline because of him. So, if possible, Liu Songtao plans to take command of the Zhulu Sect again and revive it.

Liu Songtao had no idea that the Zhulu Sect had a new leader. As the saying goes, two tigers cannot share one mountain, and the two leaders started fighting as soon as they met.

The Demonic Sect has always believed that the strongest shall rule, and whoever is the most powerful shall be the leader of the Sect. That is why Liu Songtao and Luo Yang fought each other to determine a winner.

After a brief exchange, the two realized that their strengths were evenly matched, and neither could gain the upper hand.

Upon hearing Yelü Dongchuang's question, Deng Mao carefully examined them for a moment before shaking his head and saying, "I can't tell. Their strengths are almost identical; it just depends on whose combat experience and on-the-spot performance is better."

Soon, Liu Songtao and Luo Yang reached a draw again and chose to cease fighting, heading together towards Zhulu Mountain.

As the previous leader of the Zhulu Sect, Liu Songtao was recognized by some of the elders in the sect. Therefore, everyone in the Zhulu Sect knew that he was the former leader, and a courtyard was arranged for him in the sect.

Just then, a loud cry of an eagle rang out in the sky.

The next second, a magnificent black peregrine falcon swooped down from the sky at incredible speed and landed on Yelü Dongchuang's arm.

Yelü Dongchuang was born into the imperial family, which gave him the opportunity to engage in aristocratic activities such as falconry. This falcon was his pet and could also carry messages for him.

At this moment, a bamboo tube containing a secret message was tied to the peregrine falcon's left leg. Upon seeing this, Yelü Dongchuang removed the bamboo tube, opened it, and read the order sent by Empress Murong.

After reading the order, Yelü Dongchuang handed a secret letter to Deng Mao, which contained the sentence, "Investigate the Yue King's residence in detail."

"The Prince of Yue's residence? Lord Deng Mao, do you know what His Majesty means by this? Why would he allow such a minor prince to be inspected?" Yelü Dongchuang asked Deng Mao, puzzled.

Since they were ordered to infiltrate the Southern Dynasty, they had heard of the Yue Prince's Mansion because of the martial arts examination. However, they were then drawn to the covert battle between Zhuolu Mountain and the Yan Chi Prince's Mansion, and thus no longer paid attention to the small power of the Yue Prince's Mansion.

"His Majesty has his own reasons; we simply need to carry them out," Deng Mao said calmly, casually shredding the note.

The two then jointly requested to resign from their posts in Luoyang, as they were to go to Yuezhou to carry out an investigation mission for Empress Murong.

"Yuezhou? I remember that Zhao Kai, who fought in the Battle of Iron Gate Pass, was enfeoffed as the King of Yue. Since Zhao Kai was the King of Yue, then that Shen Qing..." Luo Yang watched Deng Mao and Yelü Dongchuang leave, and the figure outside Iron Gate Pass appeared in his mind.

In the courtyard of Shen Qing's residence in Yuezhou.

Shen Qing and Xuan Yuan Qingfeng stood side by side, looking at the sunset on the horizon, just like the poem says: "Who will accompany you at dusk, laughing and asking if the porridge in front of the stove is warm?"

"Shen Lang, I wonder how long you'll be staying at home this time? Can you take me with you when you leave?" Xuan Yuan Qingfeng asked, gently resting his head on Shen Qing's shoulder.

She knew Shen Qing was very busy, with many things to handle in both worlds.

"Qingfeng, things haven't stabilized over there yet, so I can't take you there for the time being. But believe me, it won't be long before we can go together," Shen Qing comforted Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, putting his arm around his shoulder.