His Majesty is plotting a rebellion? Quickly, summon the Imperial Advisor!

Zhou Xiaoyou looked conflicted, truly facing a dilemma.

She deeply regretted her decision to be so playful and insist on going down the mountain, only to get caught up in this mess.

it's good now.

There's no way out now.

Waaaaah... Humanity is so terrifying.

Seeing Zhou Xiaoyou's reaction, Ji Yuan's expression turned somewhat strange; she was genuinely afraid that Zhou Xiaoyou was tempted.

She frowned and said, "Xiao You, listen to your senior sister, just wait him out. When the Imperial Guards come up the mountain, that will be his death day!"

"If you agree, you will fall into this person's trap."

She tried to sound more composed, but she couldn't hide her panic.

Xu Bing watched quietly. The calmer he was, the more impression he could create in Zhou Xiaoyou's mind that he was in complete control.

Considering all factors, it's not hard to guess what Xiaoyou will choose this week.

When Ji Yuan saw that Zhou Xiaoyou seemed to be interested, she immediately thought to herself, "This is bad! Is this sister-traitor really considering it?"

"Xiao You..."

She wanted to say something more.

Unfortunately, the situation was already beyond her control. Zhou Xiaoyou turned to look at Xu Bing, her eyes gradually hardening.

"If I impersonate Senior Sister Ji, you really won't kill us both? And... you really don't need me to use my magic?" she asked nervously, wanting to confirm again.

“Of course.” Xu Bing smiled slightly, then added, “Of course, you must keep this secret for me, otherwise… your sister Ji Yuan will still die.”

"Okay!" Zhou Xiaoyou nodded. "You keep your word."

Hear the words.

Ji Yuan couldn't bring herself to utter the words of advice she was about to say, and a sense of powerlessness arose in her heart, a feeling of utter indifference towards the vast heavens.

She understood Xu Bing's purpose and knew that Xu Bing would not kill her; his words just now were just to deceive Zhou Xiaoyou.

But... she couldn't change Zhou Xiaoyou's IQ!

Ultimately, Zhou Xiaoyou made this decision because he was afraid that Xu Bing would be detrimental to him.

She couldn't very well blame her.

Xu Bingban warned:

“Very good, put on this mask and this bracelet.”

"The Imperial Guards will go up the mountain tomorrow; just follow them."

He took out the Hundred Transformations Mask and a low-grade magic artifact: the Qian Yuan Ring.

With the ever-changing mask on his face, Xu Bing conjured up Zhou Xiaoyou's face into Ji Yuan's with a thought, and it stuck to his skin. Only Xu Bing himself could remove it.

Zhou Xiaoyou felt a little relieved. As long as she didn't have to use magic to change her appearance, she was fine. She didn't want to suddenly die one day.

The Qian Yuan Ring, imbued with sealing power, was placed on Zhou Xiaoyou's wrist. It could isolate her from her magic, and at the same time, it also held Zhou Xiaoyou's fate in its hands.

"This is... a grade-level magic artifact??" Zhou Xiaoyou's bright eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, her face filled with astonishment.

Such high-quality ritual implements are extremely precious.

How could such a lowly imperial advisor possibly possess such power?

With a wave of his hand, Xu Bing untied all the ropes binding Zhou Xiaoyou. Since the Golden Rope was free anyway, Xu Bing casually attached it to Ji Yuan.

"Xu Bing, you scoundrel!"

Ji Yuan was furious; this guy was really playing games. He felt even more powerless and humiliated.

"Zhou Xiaoyou, you troublemaker, you've really ruined my life this time."

Ji Yuan suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon.

This was a perfect situation where we could have broken the deadlock simply by doing nothing and waiting quietly.

Zhou Xiaoyou's arrival completely disrupted everything.

A bitter feeling welled up in Ji Yuan's eyes.

Now that things have come to this, she has no other options but to take it one step at a time... or more precisely, to sit back and wait and see.

the other side.

Xu Bing explained a number of things to Zhou Xiaoyou.

Then he roasted a rabbit to win people over, and Zhou Xiaoyou ate the rabbit with a look of disgust.

Xu Bing sat down to cultivate, while a crow kept a close eye on Zhou Xiaoyou's every move.

Zhou Xiaoyou tried several times to sneak into the room and untie Ji Yuan's ropes, but was stopped each time by Xu Bing's soft cough.

“If you don’t behave, then you can stop playing.” Xu Bing said coldly, “Not only is Ji Yuan’s life in my hands, but yours is also in my hands. With just a thought, the Qian Yuan Circle will take your life.”

Zhou Xiaoyou was so frightened that he shrank back and dared not move at all. He obediently bent his knees, hugged his legs, and sat in the corner with a pitiful expression.

She thought to herself, "Senior sister, I've done my best, Xiaoyou."

If Ji Yuan knew what she was thinking, he would probably curse her out.

Trying your best? Trying your best to screw me over, huh?

Ji Yuan was now alone again. As tomorrow drew closer, she no longer had the composure she had before.

The situation has not improved.

Moreover… her current condition is even worse.

Because she had been in one position for too long, her body had gone numb. If she hadn't practiced martial arts and knew how to circulate her blood and qi, her legs, arms, and lower back would have been ruined long ago.

"It feels so bad."

Ji Yuan tried to struggle a little.

Yet, I felt as if my whole body was tightly bound by a tough iron hoop.

Helpless and desperate, she gave up. Xu Bing was too cautious; there was no way she could break free from these constraints.

……

Xu Bing practiced the Yu Yi Creation Technique, using the primordial energy of heaven and earth to nourish the Dao Lamp, and his consciousness sank into the Primordial Space.

He wandered around the space at random. It was pitch black inside, but his lantern was very bright, allowing him to see very far.

This was the longest he ever walked inside.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, Xu Bing noticed a faint flame on the ground.

As he approached, the wisp of fire drifted onto his Taoist lamp.

The wisp of blue light on his own lamp seemed to grow stronger after absorbing the flame.

"Such a good thing?" Xu Bing's eyes lit up.

Da Xi is a mortal country, with heavy worldly influences and thin primordial energy, so the effect of nurturing the Dao lamp is not very good.

But the benefits brought by that wisp of fire were equivalent to two days and nights of arduous cultivation.

"I heard Zhou Xiaoyou say that one must be extremely careful when walking in the Taichu Middle School, because every step is a tempering of the body and soul. Walking carelessly or excessively may deplete one's lifespan."

"In this primordial space, countless Qi cultivators have spent their entire lives without finding the location of that insurmountable barrier, thus failing to advance to the next realm."

"The path of cultivation is long and arduous."

Xu Bing thought to himself.

The system notification tone suddenly sounded.

【Ding! 】

It's midnight.

[Have you checked in?]

Xu Bing did not answer, but instead mentally went through all the places in Jingxin Villa that he had not checked in at.

He stood up, walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and his gaze drifted to the lake.

I haven't checked in at the still lakes that are a bit further away yet.

He left the Hall of Tranquility and walked towards the still lake.

The figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.

Zhou Xiaoyou tiptoed and quietly leaned against the window, watching Xu Bing gradually disappear into the distance.

"What a big jerk, what's with all the arrogance?" Zhou Xiaoyou cursed and excitedly ran into Ji Yuan's room.

She wore the Qian Yuan Ring on her wrist, which sealed her cultivation completely. However, being playful by nature, she didn't know any magic anyway, so she didn't feel it had much of an impact.

"Senior sister, I'm here to save you," she whispered.

"Xiao You, you..." Ji Yuan looked surprised, clearly not expecting Zhou Xiaoyou to suddenly turn back.

"That big bastard was acting suspiciously, I don't know what he went out to do, senior sister, I'm here to rescue you!" Zhou Xiaoyou said in a low voice.

As she spoke, she reached out with both hands to feel for the golden rope, searching for the knot.

After a stick of incense.

There has been no improvement whatsoever.

Both women looked somewhat desperate, unsure whether it was due to Zhou Xiaoyou's clumsiness or the rope being too difficult to tangle.

Seeing no hope of escape, Ji Yuan frowned and said, "Xiao You, are you really planning to help him impersonate me?"

Zhou Xiaoyou's face fell. "Senior sister, I have no choice. Our lives are in his hands."

"However, this is only a temporary measure. I will find a way to save my senior sister!"

Ji Yuan also knew that she couldn't change Zhou Xiaoyou's mind.

Just then, faint footsteps could be heard in the distance. Although they were very faint, it was clear that Xu Bingzheng was walking back.

Ji Yuan didn't have time to say more, only instructing, "After you go out, go find Cui Chen and Song Si."

Zhou Xiaoyou nodded, gave a reassuring gesture, then tiptoed back to the main hall of the Tranquil Heart Hall, pretending nothing had happened, and sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

At the same time, he felt a little smug. Such a disguise was perfect, and Xu Bing would definitely not be able to see through it.

And at the same time.

A black raven with red eyes.

The actions and conversations of the two were laid bare.