Chapter 57: Value Highly

The study was silent except for the faint, steady burn of sandalwood incense.

In his mind, Xu Changge gently shook his head.

Though once again driven by women, this Long Tian had finally brought him some peace of mind.

The old strategy of covert operations—enemy hidden, I visible—had been completely upended, thanks to his third brother, now turning into a clear confrontation: enemy visible, I hidden.

Without stirring the pot, if he were to quietly move to Jingjiang Prefecture now, he might catch his opponent off guard.

With that thought, Xu Changge nodded slightly:

"Very well. I shall set off for Jingjiang Prefecture today."

Xu Yinhe said nothing, rose slowly, and walked to the windowpane, gazing outward along the window's edge.

The Great Inland Capital had been built upon the summit of the Seven Dragon Mountains, yet after centuries of construction and renovation, the massive mountain had transformed into a towering metropolis.

From the foot of the mountain to the imperial city at the peak, bustling streets and rooftops stretched upward, while three towering walls—outer city, inner city, and imperial city—divided the vast capital into distinct zones.

The Chancellor's estate stood flush against the imperial citadel at the mountain's crest, looking down from its sheer height upon the endless, tightly packed roofs of the imperial capital stretching past the horizon.

After a long moment of quiet contemplation, Xu Yinhe finally spoke, offering a word of caution:

"Changge, if the task proves impossible, take Changtian back to the capital to deliberate anew. Do not force it."

Hearing the counsel, Xu Changge smiled faintly and replied:

"Rest easy, Father. If I could gravely wound Qin Weijiu with a single strike back then, the same holds true today."

Over the intervening years, Qin Weijiu might well have stumbled upon some grand fortune, but it would not hinder his path in the least.

You may have grown stronger,

But,

What has that to do with my killing you?

Such was the supreme confidence residing in the heart of Xu Changge, the unrivaled peer of his generation.

Xu Yinhe glanced back at his eldest son with a deep, silent look, and did not smile.

"Changge, the world is vast."

"Changge naturally knows that."

"Hmph."

Xu Yinhe let out a faint, displeased huff, but did not attempt to dissuade him. He merely spoke plainly:

"If you encounter that boy named Qin Mo on the way, remember to handle him personally."

Xu Changge slightly lifted his gaze, his eyes flickering with a hint of surprise.

Qin Mo, barely past his twenties, had only just reached the eighth rank of pulse refinement—such a useless scion, why would Father specifically instruct this?

For a single, still moment, they locked eyes.

Then Xu Yinhe spoke softly, offering an explanation:

"Qin Mo was likely raised alongside that group of miscreants. There are several Source-born individuals in the Burial Village, and for someone of Qin Mo's age and cultivation level, it's utterly abnormal. Perhaps he's practicing a secret method of rapid growth—such a path might cause unforeseen complications."

Pausing briefly,

Xu Yinhe's eyes carried a hint of deep, knowing insight:

"He may also be holding a secret treasure from the Burial Village."

A secret treasure?

Xu Changge raised an eyebrow.

"The Soul-Nourishing Ring."

Xu Yinhe uttered the three characters, delivering the information with quiet gravity: "When the Burial Village was destroyed, I searched every inch of the forest and never found this object. Perhaps the Soul-Nourishing Ring is now in Qin Mo's hands."

"The Soul-Nourishing Ring?"

Xu Changge's eyes flickered with confusion. His father had never mentioned this item to him before.

Regarding his eldest son, Xu Yinhe had no intention of playing the game of riddles or hiding his meaning—he spoke plainly instead:

"This amulet can house a spirit and nourish a soul. If the ancient text is accurate, it should be containing the lingering essence of a sage."

"Sage?" Xu Changge's brow furrowed even tighter.

Yet when he spoke of sages, Xu Yinhe's tone was not serious at all; his eyes even held a hint of contempt:

"There's no need to worry so much. Even sages cannot withstand the passage of time, let alone a fragmented soul clinging to existence."

"And to call such a being a sage—choosing to hide within this amulet, surviving in such a weakened state—is nothing more than a cowardly, desperate dog, driven by fear and self-preservation."

"Should you give it your full might, he will fall easily."

"Enough. Go now."

With that,

Xu Yinhe turned his back.

Xu Changge saw this, rose to his feet, bowed deeply, and turned to walk out of the study.

He pulled open the door, preparing to step out.

"By the way."

"..."

Xu Changge's steps halted instantly, and he swiftly turned to face him.

"Before you go, remember to fetch some medicine from the estate and bring it over."

"..."

Xu Changge stiffened at this, then bowed slightly, smiling gently,

"Yes, Father."

...

...

The vast underground chamber was empty and echoing, save for the sphere of crystalline communication, which pulsed with a steady, soft white light.

Xu Yuan had been standing alone here for several minutes already.

There was no signal alert, no indication of whether the other end was connected or not.

Yet, since the other side remained silent, Xu Yuan found himself content with the stillness. With a gentle reach of his intent soul, he began to probe the intricate array of runes beneath the crystal sphere.

He had always been driven by a deep curiosity toward new things.

He wanted to understand how this array achieved long-distance communication—yet after hours of fumbling, the complex runes only left his mind swirling and confused.

The logic behind it remained utterly opaque.

When his curiosity had been fully spent, he simply withdrew his intent soul back into his consciousness.

Don’t ask how communication is achieved.

If anyone asks, it is the source qi; if anyone asks, it is the arrays.

Yet, speaking of arrays, a fragment of information Xu Yuan had previously glimpsed within the library pavilion drifted into his mind.

The formations of this world were not merely deployed for warfare or utilized to aid cultivation; they had already penetrated into every conceivable facet of the common people's daily lives.

The imperial court had even established a dedicated bureau to research arrays for civilian use.

There were the luminous inscription lamps that illuminated the night markets along the streets,

the sound-barring formations carved into homes to shut out the noise,

the torch arrays capable of gathering heat to provide warmth during the winter,

and there were even specialized solidification instruments on certain high-end carriages to absorb shocks.

With such a contraption, no matter how violently the carriage swayed inside, it remained as steady as it was at first, firmer than a bed, hah...

"Third Young Master."

The quiet chamber stirred suddenly, a soft call echoing from behind, startling Xu Yuan as he was lost in thought.

A glancing glance back.

Indeed, it was Yi'er again—this woman.

Beside her stood an old man with half his hair turned white.

The head steward of Jingjiang Mansion.

His cultivation was low, barely reaching the rank, not even ninth grade, yet he wielded considerable influence within Jingjiang. His mastery of operations was exceptional—he was a true managerial talent.

Xu Yuan took a deep breath and addressed Yi'er:

"Next time, make a sound. Don't appear like a ghost."

"Oh."

Yi'er lowered her gaze and nodded, whether she had truly heard remained unclear. She spoke calmly, her voice steady.

"Communication with the Prime Minister has already been severed, my lord. Do you still have words for him?"

Figures. The other side had hung up again without uttering a single word.

Xu Yuan said nothing, turning directly to walk back toward the surface.

He had already achieved his purpose.

By drawing the protagonist of this plot and that hidden figure, Qin Weijiu, into his villainous father's line of sight, a man of his father's character would inevitably take notice.

Whatever came next would have absolutely nothing to do with him.

The moment he turned, the steward whose hair was already half-white immediately fell into step beside him, his tone carrying a humble, fawning deference:

"Third Young Master, Third Young Master..."

Xu Yuan cast a sideways glance at the graying steward.

A man of meager strength, yet wielding immense power.

A typical case of low rank, high influence—yet in memory, this little old man had always been keenly aware of his place.

Since his arrival in Jingjiang Prefecture, this little old man had never ceased sending money and women.

"What business does Li Guanshi have with me?"

Li Guanshi's tone remained insincere, full of flattery:

"Hehe, Third Prince, as you instructed earlier, all the internal reports from the past ten days have been delivered to your private chambers."

"Ah, I see. I'm aware of that." Xu Yuan nodded.

Yet the little old man showed no sign of stopping. He crept closer, mysteriously pulling a scroll from his sleeve:

"Third Prince, this is a confidential report sent from Jin Cheng in Jiangnan Prefecture yesterday. Please take a look."