Chapter 175: The Mutual Reinforcement of Combat and Magic
The dragon qilin, having drunk its fill of water, looked at Qin Mu and said, "I'm still a bit hungry..."
"I'll take you to refine some medicine."
Qin Mu led the dragon qilin toward the treasury, intending to first buy some ingredients for refining Crimson Fire Spirit Pills. On the opposite side of Jade Dragon Lake, a Daoist priest was watching them, gazing at Qin Mu and the dragon qilin as they walked away. He murmured to himself, "That dragon lion at the mountain gate has come to life? How did it end up drinking from Jade Dragon Lake? Who is that youth? Doesn't he know the water of Jade Dragon Lake is tribute to the imperial family? Oh well, as long as it didn't jump into the lake to bathe, a few sips of water aren't worth bothering about."
As Qin Mu passed by the Princes' Courtyard, he saw many scholars gathered there, bursts of cheers rising from the crowd. Qin Mu glanced from afar; even scholars from the Scholars' Residence had run over, and quite a few cultivators from the Divine Abilities Residence had also arrived, packing the area in front of the Princes' Courtyard so tightly that not a drop of water could pass through.
Suddenly, with a thunderous crash, a figure was sent flying into the air, landing headfirst into the ground. A voice shouted, "Another one defeated!"
Qin Mu was startled. The one who had been knocked headfirst into the ground was a prince from the Princes' Courtyard—a prince, the son of a king. Who would dare strike so ruthlessly?
"Let me take you on!"
A girl's voice came from the crowd, but Qin Mu had already walked some distance away. Suddenly, another loud crash rang out. A girl in green robes flew backward, crashing through the wall of the Radiant Light Hall not far ahead of him with a crack, leaving only her long legs sticking out.
"That looks like a princess..."
Qin Mu turned back to look at the crowd, thinking to himself, "That fighting style seems familiar—it's Senior Brother Bashan's combat-magic technique."
Bashan the Sacrificial Wine had pioneered the combat-magic technique, combining the moves of the combat technique school with spells and divine abilities. Its power far exceeded that of pure combat techniques or spells alone. It was this innovation that elevated Bashan the Sacrificial Wine to the ranks of sect master-level experts. In the current world, no one surpassed his mastery of combat-magic techniques.
The only drawback of combat-magic techniques was that their moves were not as flexible and varied as pure combat techniques or spells. This was also the reason why Bashan the Sacrificial Wine, despite reaching the height of a sect master-level expert, could not advance further.
"Could it be Sister Yuxiu? Why is she fighting with the princes and princesses?"
The dragon qilin was so hungry its steps were unsteady, its belly sunken. Qin Mu suppressed his urge to watch the fight and continued toward the treasury to buy the medicinal ingredients. The treasury pharmacist handed him the herbs, then noticed the massive creature behind Qin Mu and stared wide-eyed.
Qin Mu led the dragon qilin back the way they came. Along the way, he analyzed the medicinal properties of the herbs and refined them into a batch of Crimson Fire Spirit Pills.
The dragon qilin quickly ate them, but one batch wasn't enough to satisfy its hunger, and it looked at him with pitiful eyes. Qin Mu had to refine another batch before finally filling the massive creature's belly.
The dragon qilin perked up, following closely by his side, and said ingratiatingly, "If there's ever anything you need, just say the word. I'm very capable in a fight."
Qin Mu shook his head and headed toward the Princes' Courtyard. Fox Ling'er sneered, "You wouldn't even fight a cow, and you dare claim you're capable in a fight?"
The dragon qilin immediately wilted.
In front of the Princes' Courtyard, the crowd was still immense, even larger than before. A scholar said, "Is there no one in the Princes' Courtyard who can defeat her? Ever since the Seventh Princess returned from her training outside, it's like she's a different person. Her skills have improved by leaps and bounds."
"By combining spells and combat techniques with the royal Nine Dragons Emperor's Art, the Seventh Princess can basically sweep through the Princes' Courtyard. I wonder if she can go block the gates of the Scholars' Residence and the Divine Abilities Residence?"
"I wouldn't dare say about the Divine Abilities Residence, but the Scholars' Residence probably won't work, after all, there's that demon there."
"Right. That demon hasn't been seen in three months; he's probably dead outside. That would be one less scourge for our Scholars' Residence."
"That demon's skills might not necessarily surpass the Seventh Princess's."
...
"Move aside, everyone move aside!"
Many scholars felt a commotion behind them and turned to look, only to freeze in shock. A massive creature, half dragon and half qilin, was pushing its way through, shoving the scholars blocking its path aside. Some scholars, bumped by the dragon qilin, lost their footing and were sent flying out of the crowd.
The colossal beast pushed through the crowd, all the way to the entrance of the Princes' Courtyard, clearing a path. The scholars stared in awe, a flicker of fear rising in their hearts.
Even the imperial family members in the Princes' Courtyard, who had seen much in their lives, were stunned speechless at the sight of this majestic dragon qilin, unable to tear their eyes away.
The dragon qilin shook itself, fluffed its fur, turned back, and said ingratiatingly, "Young master, these clueless ones have cleared a path. Please, come in."
Qin Mu stepped forward to the entrance of the Princes' Courtyard and said reproachfully, "Too flashy, too flashy! Don't do that again! My apologies to all you senior brothers and sisters, my apologies."
The expressions on everyone's faces froze.
Qin Mu looked into the Princes' Courtyard and saw Ling Yuxiu, her Five Radiance Divine Treasury unsealed, fighting with Prince Minyue. Prince Minyue was another scholar chosen by Bashan the Sacrificial Wine. After just a few exchanges, Prince Minyue couldn't withstand Ling Yuxiu's astonishing explosive power and was sent flying.
Ling Yuxiu surged through her Five Radiance Divine Treasury, nine dragons coiling around her front and back. She was truly heroic and spirited, radiating brilliance.
Qin Mu silently praised her. After their journey to the Loulan Golden Palace, Ling Yuxiu's cultivation and strength had advanced rapidly. In these three months, she had gained an overwhelming advantage over the other scholars.
Clearly, after blocking the gates at the Golden Palace, she had trained diligently, refining the Nine Dragons Emperor's Art to a deeper level and compensating for her earlier unstable foundation.
Bashan the Sacrificial Wine taught according to her aptitude, unlike the imperial academy's instructors. He specifically targeted Ling Yuxiu's weaknesses to nurture her, finally allowing her to achieve tremendous growth.
However, as Qin Mu looked around the Princes' Courtyard, he saw that nearly half of it had been demolished by this princess. He wondered who had taught her to be so violent.
"Cowherd!"
Ling Yuxiu spotted Qin Mu, her big eyes lighting up. She waved at the imperial family members and said with a smile, "No more fighting today. We'll settle the score another day." With that, she walked toward Qin Mu.
Qin Mu praised her, "Sister Yuxiu, in this past month or so, your skills have grown even more formidable."
Ling Yuxiu said with a hint of reproach, "Where have you been all this time? You had me so worried."
She quickly added, "Teacher Bashan was also very worried about you! By the way, the Grand Sacrificial Wine resigned and left. The new Grand Sacrificial Wine isn't Bashan the Sacrificial Wine; it's that frozen man you and General Qin rescued from the Yong River Dragon Palace in the Great Ruins."
"The frozen man?"
Qin Mu's heart stirred. Could it be Gu Linuan?
Seeing that the place was still packed with people, all staring at them, Ling Yuxiu, still somewhat shy, lowered her voice and said, "There are too many people here. Let's talk in my room."
Qin Mu nodded and followed her as they walked deeper into the Princes' Courtyard. Suddenly, a figure flashed, and a handsome young man appeared beside them, his face dark as he said, "Seventh Sister, a girl's room is hardly a place for a man to casually enter. Let's go to my room instead."
Ling Yuxiu's face flushed slightly, and she quietly agreed.
Ling Yushu said with a dark expression, "Scholar Qin, please."
Qin Mu was puzzled, wondering what he had done to offend this prince. The look in his eyes was as if he wanted to devour him.
They arrived at Ling Yushu's residence in the Princes' Courtyard. It was arranged like a Jiangnan garden, very elegant. Though the rockery lacked the height of a mountain, it had flowing water; though the garden lacked the vastness of a forest, it had winding paths leading to secluded spots. It was far superior to the Scholars' Residence.
It was like a small palace, with maidservants bustling about, attending to them diligently. These maidservants were mostly cultivators themselves, not only beautiful but also quite strong.
Ling Yushu led them to a pavilion with a pleasant view and an open layout. A maidservant brought over an incense burner, placed it by the pavilion, inserted incense, and lit it, the fragrance curling upward.
From not far away came the sound of a zither. The melody was slow, the notes drawn out, like two old men leisurely playing chess, plucking a note or two only after long intervals. It easily calmed the heart.
"Second Prince, you truly have refined tastes," Qin Mu praised.
Ling Yushu's expression softened slightly, and he said, "Seventh Sister's trip beyond the frontier—I must thank you, Scholar Qin, for taking care of her these days. She has already told me about your experiences in the Loulan Golden Palace. I know you saved my sister many times, and I am deeply grateful."
Ling Yuxiu laughed, "The cowherd is very capable. I thought he was dead, and I even cried in front of the Golden Palace's shamans."
Ling Yushu's eyelid twitched. Cried? She hadn't mentioned that.
"It's nothing, just the bond between classmates. When my sister's pet cat died before, she also cried," Ling Yushu thought to himself.
"We also met two elders of the cowherd's. They praised me for being sensible and were very pleased with me," Ling Yuxiu said with a smile.
Ling Yushu's eyelid twitched again. Already met the elders? Seventh Sister hadn't mentioned that either!
Ling Yuxiu said excitedly, "Second Brother, Bashan the Sacrificial Wine is truly formidable. This trip has greatly improved my strength, as you've seen. If Bashan the Sacrificial Wine could take me and the cowherd on a few more long journeys, even you wouldn't be able to beat me!"
Ling Yushu shook his head, "I've inquired. The next time Bashan the Sacrificial Wine goes on a long journey, he'll take the other candidate scholars."
Ling Yuxiu looked disappointed.
Ling Yushu turned to Qin Mu and said, "Father has appointed Gu Linuan as the Grand Sacrificial Wine. I've heard you have a grudge with him. After Gu Linuan became Grand Sacrificial Wine, he also inquired about you from the imperial academy's instructors."
Ling Yuxiu smiled, "I know about their grudge. The cowherd tricked Gu Linuan out of his Junior Guardian Sword, so he holds a grudge."
Ling Yushu said, "Scholar Qin, it would be best to return the Junior Guardian Sword to Gu Linuan. This man comes from the demonic path and is a grandmaster in that field. He's always been petty and narrow-minded. I'm not in a position to comment on Father's appointment of him as Grand Sacrificial Wine, but his breadth of mind is far inferior to the previous Grand Sacrificial Wine. It's hard to say he won't make things difficult for you. I can act as a mediator and arrange a meeting between you to resolve your differences. I expect he'll give me that face."
Qin Mu shook his head, "In the Great Ruins, our rule is that what you trick away doesn't need to be returned."
Ling Yushu gave a faint, ambiguous smile, "But this isn't the Great Ruins. He's the Grand Sacrificial Wine; if he wants to make things hard for you, it would be very easy."
Qin Mu thought for a moment, then said, "I heard from Gu Linuan that he is the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince. The Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince should be the Crown Prince's childhood teacher, right? Second Prince, do you think Gu Linuan will give you face?"
Ling Yushu's heart trembled slightly.
Qin Mu continued, "Second Prince, if he were willing to resolve the grudge, I wouldn't mind breaking the Great Ruins' rule and returning the Junior Guardian Sword to him. But I think that even if I return the sword, he won't give you face and won't let the grudge go. Moreover, Second Prince, aren't you worried that he might make things difficult for you?"