The banquet lasted until evening.

Hua Ying and Chu Qingcheng both got drunk.

Zhu Xian and Qin Luo drank a lot of wine, and Xiao Tuanzi was drooling with envy. She could only gnaw on a pork knuckle to satisfy her craving.

Qin Luo watched as Zhu Xian drank one cup after another, and realized that she had a high alcohol tolerance. "I didn't know you could drink so much."

Zhu Xian raised an eyebrow. "Of course, I originally wanted to get you drunk. Why can't you do what I did?"

Qin Luo rubbed his forehead. "I'm a little drunk."

"You're such a fake!"

Zhu Xian looked at Hua Ying, who was drunk and passed out on the table, and said, "Ying'er doesn't want to cultivate Tao. She left Wushang Temple after presiding over the Tao discussion. I plan to send her to Huaxi Village to raise pigs."

"fine."

Qin Luo nodded with a smile.

Zhu Xian stared at Qin Luo with her phoenix eyes and questioned, "Ying'er originally possessed the beauty of a celestial being, yet you caused her to have a flawed Dao heart. Don't you feel guilty?"

Qin Luo shook his head, "Why should I feel guilty?"

“They all say that the highest level of cultivation is ruthlessness, and it’s true. You’re amazing!” Zhu Xian raised his wine cup to Qin Luo and then drank it all in one gulp.

Qin Luo smiled calmly, looked at the drunk Chu Qingcheng, and said softly, "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness. I will take my senior sister back to rest first."

Zhu Xian nodded, "Then I'll trouble you to escort the Princess back to rest. Wan'er, you take Xiao Tuanzi and Lao Gao back to the Tiangan Courtyard."

"promise!"

Wan'er said respectfully.

The little dumpling has a big chicken leg in each hand.

Zhu Xian did not arrange a carriage for Qin Luo, so he could only carry his senior sister away from the palace.

When Qin Luo carried Chu Qingcheng back to Tenglong Inn, Chu Qingcheng opened her eyes and said with a smile, "Junior Brother, put me down."

Qin Luo put Chu Qingcheng down and chuckled, "Senior Sister, you weren't faking it too, were you?"

Chu Qingcheng smiled sweetly, "I'm a little drunk, just woke up. See you tomorrow."

Qin Luo waved goodbye to his senior sister. When he returned to the Tiangan Academy, it was already late. The little dumpling was playing in the courtyard, and she was holding a little black cat in her arms.

The imperial star is getting closer and closer to the capital.

Purple mist swirled in the sky.

Qin Luo took out the golden gourd, took a sip, and found that the dew tasted better.

"Boss, when are we going back?"

"You can go back anytime."

I mean us.

Qin Luo looked at Di Xing and said, "I don't know."

The little dumpling rubbed against the little black cat's head, grinning foolishly, "Little Blackie, come with me to the Purple Cloud Mountains, okay? You'll eat and drink well with me."

The little black cat didn't make a sound.

Outside the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty.

The Wushang Temple, nestled deep in the mountains, was exceptionally quiet.

In the Scripture Pavilion, Pei Mu, by candlelight, perused ancient books. He was the direct disciple of the Imperial Preceptor, and ever since his defeat by Qin Luo, he had been studying in the Scripture Pavilion, hoping to comprehend even stronger Daoist techniques.

Is it useful?

Whispers came from the darkness.

Pei Mu was startled. He came to his senses, closed the book in his hand, and said respectfully, "Master, the principles in the book have benefited me greatly."

The Grand Preceptor emerged from the darkness, dressed in a black robe. The lamplight in the pavilion flickered. "What is useful is the Way, what is useless is not the Way. Whether you have the Way or not is not important, whether you can attain the Way is not important either. What is important is who you are, what role you want to play, and whether you have truly lived."

Pei Mu knelt on the ground excitedly, "Thank you for your teachings, Master. I will remember them forever!"

"I'm leaving now. If you can shoulder the burden of Wushangguan, then do so. If you can't, then don't embarrass yourself. Just disband Wushangguan."

Pei Mu's eyes widened, and he lowered his head, saying, "Master, Junior Sister is more qualified than me!"

After a long while, there was no sound in the library. Pei Mu slowly raised his head, but the Imperial Preceptor had long since disappeared.

The capital of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Golden patterns lit up the city walls, which were taller than mountains. The Qian and Kun trigrams lit up one after the other, and a grand formation appeared in the capital. A golden light flashed, and the entire city fell silent.

The next day, early morning.

After getting up, Lao Gao picked some vegetables from the field. When he came back, he saw Qin Luo practicing his boxing. "Daoist Master, would you like a bowl of clear soup noodles?"

"Give me a bowl."

Qin Luo saw that the little dumpling was eating with great relish and wanted to try some.

Old Gao went back to the kitchen and cooked three bowls of clear soup noodles. Qin Luo took a bite and smiled, "No wonder Master shed tears, it turns out it's the taste of home."

The little dumpling picked up a noodle and fed it to the little black cat, then grinned sweetly, "Quickly say thank you to Sister Dumpling."

Meow~

The little black cat looked at the little dumpling.

The little dumpling quickly slurped up her noodles. After finishing the soup, she showed the empty bowl to the little black cat, with scallions still stuck to her snow-white teeth. "Look, it's gone."

Qin Luo finished eating the noodles.

Wan'er arrived at the Heavenly Stems Courtyard just then. "Master Qin, the princess asked me to invite you to the Supreme Temple for a discussion on Taoism!"

"I want to go too!"

The little dumpling loves to join in the fun.

Qin Luo said seriously, "Don't go anywhere. Stay in the courtyard and keep Lao Gao company."

"oh!"

The little dumpling pouted.

Qin Luo and Wan'er left the Tiangan Courtyard.

The little dumpling could only watch them walk further and further away.

The little black cat followed behind Qin Luo. When the little dumpling saw him, it shouted loudly, "Little black cat, come back here!"

The little black cat left without looking back.

The little dumpling was envious, but still followed Qin Luo's arrangement and stayed in the yard to keep Lao Gao company.

Qin Luo walked down the street, looking at the deserted street, there wasn't a single person on it.

Even Wan'er was somewhat surprised. Overnight, all the people in the city had disappeared without her noticing anything and had no idea what was going on.

As Qin Luo approached the Supreme Temple, he saw a burly man with two horns on his head, the symbol of the dragon race. The dragon youth entered the Supreme Temple.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!