Inside Kunning Palace,

After listening to Granny Gui's account, the Empress Dowager nodded with great satisfaction.

"It's not in vain that I've bestowed so much favor upon her; at least she's of some use."

Granny Gui bowed again.

"You should rest. Tomorrow you will be setting off for Huguo Temple to pray for the Emperor Emeritus."

The Empress Dowager had just bathed in the new holy water today, and she felt that even the wrinkles on her fingers had decreased, and her skin had become smooth and fair.

She looked on with admiration, her voice soft and gentle.

“He’s a decrepit old man now, and he doesn’t have much time left. I will pray to the Bodhisattva to let him live one more day, so that he can see what kind of ending will be for Xiao Jiu, whom he has been protecting with all his heart.”

...

Mo Yunhan left the palace overnight. Horses were already prepared outside the city. He and Ye Qiyu used their lightness skills to leap across the rooftops like nimble cats and leopards.

After they left, the two red-eyed crows transformed into human form and landed on the deserted street outside the palace.

A black mask concealed his facial features, and his eyes had an eerie red glow.

They don't seem like humans.

A rough, hoarse voice came from behind the mask.

"The sage's prediction was indeed accurate; the Ninth Prince is truly impatient."

"Unfortunately, the spirit fox's human form was created by us, so he will ultimately gain nothing."

“If he doesn’t go, we can’t break the protective formation outside the imperial mausoleum. Once we get the secret treasure of the Great Zhou imperial mausoleum, the sage will lead us back to the old site of the Great Sui imperial mausoleum to obtain the Rootless Water, and our curse will surely be lifted.”

"The next Red Sun Sun is yet to come, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Sage has instructed that this time we must succeed and not fail."

Both of them were very excited.

Their forms quickly transformed into crows, one chasing after Mo Yunhan's direction, and the other flying straight to the palace.

...

Xuanling Mountain is the largest mountain located more than 100 miles outside Beijing.

The mountain peaks are steep and precipitous, and it is said that an immortal once sat here and ascended to heaven.

A century ago, the Great Zhou Dynasty was consolidated and established its capital in the capital.

The imperial mausoleum was then moved to the mountains, and a guard camp was built around it to protect the tomb.

No one is allowed to approach within ten miles.

The next day at noon.

Inside the nearest inn outside Xuanling Mountain.

Su Liuer, dressed in a black outfit, was cutting meat with a sharp dagger, her beautiful eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

Because of its remote location, there were hardly any people in the inn even at midday.

The shopkeeper was dozing off in front of the counter.

Just then, someone rushed in and whispered a few words to Su Liuer.

Su Liuer narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Are you sure? If they escape again this time, I won't have the face to go back to the capital."

"It's confirmed, but that place is too close to Xuanling Mountain, what if..."

The newcomer looked troubled, and Su Liuer quickly wiped the dagger and put it back in her waistband.

“If we don’t dare go in, they don’t dare go in either. Call the brothers and let’s go.”

Inside the main camp of the Spirit Guard at the foot of Xuanling Mountain.

Just as the leader Zhang Hengshui was about to have his lunch, a guard rushed in.

"Report!"

He was so startled that he dropped the wine cup in his hand to the ground.

"What are you reporting? In broad daylight, how can an imperial tomb be haunted? Speak."

The guards hadn't even had time to catch their breath.

"General, the mountain-protecting formation has been activated."

Zhang Hengshui picked up the wine cup and dropped it on the ground in surprise again.

"What did you say?"

His family has been keeping vigil for generations, from his grandfather to the present. Their daily lives are monotonous, which has fostered a lazy disposition.

After all, Xuanling Mountain is not too far from the capital, surrounded by numerous military camps and encircled by four cities, so no one dares to trespass on the imperial tomb.

Since he took over, the mountain-protecting formation has remained untouched.

However, his father told him on his deathbed that the mountain-protecting formation was set up by an immortal who ascended to heaven, and that ordinary Taoist practitioners could not open it. Only the blood of the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty could make the mountain-protecting formation vibrate.

Realizing that something terrible had happened, Zhang Hengshui was so anxious that the fat on his face trembled.

"Oh no, oh no, which prince is going to rebel? Why isn't he causing trouble at the palace? What is he doing at the imperial mausoleum? Quickly gather troops to guard the mausoleum and don't let anyone in, no matter who it is."

The guards quickly stopped him.

"General, the location of the abnormal formation is in the back mountain, not in the imperial mausoleum."

"The back mountain?" Zhang Hengshui stared at him. "You mean, they want to attack from the back mountain? That's a natural fortress!"

The guard leaned closer with a mysterious look on his face.

"I don't know, but I heard from the people who went to buy supplies today that some villagers outside the mountains saw a transformed spirit fox heading towards Xuanling Mountain. Could this strange activity be due to the spirit fox intruding?"

A flicker appeared in Zhang Hengshui's eyes, and his tense nerves relaxed.

“That makes sense. The back mountain is treacherous and there’s no path at all. Even if someone wanted to break into the imperial tomb, they wouldn’t choose that place. It seems that Xuanling Mountain really is a sacred mountain. This fox is extremely cunning. It must have found the place where the immortals of the past passed away and wants to take the opportunity to become a spirit.”

The guards encouraged them.

"General, the mountain-protecting formation has malfunctioned, allowing us to enter the back mountain. Why not seize this opportunity to capture this fox and present it to the Emperor? He will surely be delighted, and perhaps you won't have to keep vigil anymore. There are countless beauties outside the mountain. I beg you to take me with you when you are promoted."

Zhang Hengshui was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"If this succeeds, I will reward you handsomely. Gather your men and go to the back mountain to catch foxes."

...

Inside the backyard of the Prince's Mansion.

Jiang Qingwan, who had been practicing making pills all night, had just woken up.

Hearing her get up, Lian'er immediately pushed open the door and entered.

She handed over a basin of warm water with a damp cloth in her hand.

"Miss, please wipe your face first. Is there anything that feels uncomfortable?"

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