Chapter 250 - 132: Marquis’ Guest, Helping You Enter the Mansion Courtyard and Become a ’Qi Cultivation Grandmaster

Chapter 250: Chapter 132: Marquis’ Guest, Helping You Enter the Mansion Courtyard and Become a ’Qi Cultivation Grandmaster

’Without the cultivation to break free of one’s cage, one is truly bound, with no freedom to speak of. No wonder she seems to find this trivial little county so fascinating.’

At this thought, he couldn’t help but look at Bai Shuo with a hint of pity.

Everyone has their own struggles.

He was constrained in the county by his limited horizons and resources, forced to constantly climb upward.

But someone like her, born into a great power like the Water Monarch’s Mansion as a noble of the Dragon Descendants, had all that from birth.

Yet in exchange, she had lost the kind of untethered freedom he possessed in Anning County, where he was hailed by crowds and could display his might for all to see.

’It’s true what they say. In this world, everyone just sweeps the snow from their own doorstep and walks their own road.’

’Another’s path may look bright and glamorous, but it isn’t necessarily any easier to walk than one’s own muddy lane.’

The old woman in black’s words had left the Nine-Scaly Attendant completely speechless.

"The True Dragon Nine Transformations is a Treasure Skill of the Dragon Descendants. If its origin must be investigated, it should be my father, the Lord of the Mansion, who comes in person, or at least another of the Dragon Species who comes to inquire."

"Nine Scales, I, your Young Lord, have not even inquired about its origin, yet you presume to do so in my stead. Even if I have not yet come of age and received my own Guardian Dragon Attendant, I will not tolerate your insolence!"

"You are my elder brother’s Guardian Dragon Attendant, but since you accepted the mission to find me, you are my Guardian for the time being."

"When we return, you will receive thirty lashes of the Dragon Whip!"

"Now, get to the docks and wait. In ten minutes, you will accompany this Young Lord back to the mansion!"

Bai Shuo’s voice rose, her clear, cold tone suffused with a dragon’s might. The attendant’s face fell at her words. Seeing the young lady’s uncharacteristically firm stance, she could not help but lower her head.

"But, Young Lord—"

"Does my lady need to repeat herself?"

Qingtuan stiffened her neck and glared, her eyes wide.

The Nine-Scaly Attendant was taken aback, but ultimately said no more.

Watching the silent, retreating back of the woman from the Water Monarch’s Mansion, who had already concealed her aura.

Qingtuan clicked her tongue twice and rolled her eyes.

"She’s completely clueless."

"She’s only acting like this because she has her master to back her up. She sees that my Young Lord’s power is still shallow and her chances of becoming the next Lord of the Mansion are slim—that she’ll probably just be married off—so she dares to be so shameless."

"If *I* were the Young Lord’s Guardian Dragon Attendant, and someone acted so presumptuously, I’d march right up and SLAP! SLAP! give that old hag a couple of smacks to see if she’d still dare to squeak!"

The little Clam Maiden in green gritted her teeth in frustration.

Bai Shuo turned to Ji Xiu with an apologetic look, but he didn’t seem to mind.

"A brutish servant who has cultivated Dragon and Tiger Qi could run roughshod over an entire prefecture in the Great Xuan. It’s only natural for them to have a bit of an arrogant streak..."

Before he could finish, the old woman in black at his side shook her head.

"Members of the Water Race have long lifespans, much like Spiritual Objects. They are nurtured by heaven and earth. As long as they pass the great tribulations of their youth, it’s normal for them to live for several hundred, even a thousand years."

"Furthermore, the Dragon Attendants are guardian retinues specially crafted by the Water Monarch’s Mansion for its Dragon Descendants."

"Once a Dragon Prince or Princess comes of age, a special technique is used to empower their attendants, instantly elevating their cultivation so they may serve as living weapons for protection."

"That kind of cultivation is just an inflated sham. If it came to a real fight..."

"Back when I followed the Marquis to fight against Buddhist Soldiers and Immortal Armor, some of the rabble I cut down on a whim might not have even been much weaker than her."

The old woman gripped her ebony walking stick and snorted, her bright, sharp eyes filled with disdain.

This made Fan Nansong, who was standing to the side, break out in a cold sweat.

’Wait a minute.’

’The "Immortal Armor" you just mentioned killing... only powers on the level of the Ten Thousand Laws Sect are even qualified to create those!’

’Among the Immortal Dao Sects and Daoist Lineages of the Chixiao Heaven Universe, the number of Immortal Armor and Daoist Soldiers one possesses is a direct measure of their foundation’s depth. Destroying mountains and temples is a trivial matter for them!’

’A Daoist High Merit like him, who had only just stepped through the threshold and whose Daoist Skill realm couldn’t even match a Leakless Martial Artist, wasn’t even qualified to be made into an Immortal Armor or a Daoist Soldier.’

’Hold on, how did this young master quietly get connected to the Heir of Beicang?’

He had established his own temple in Jiangyin Prefecture and fostered ties with Grand Lineages and Schools, but...

’The Beicang Marquis’s Mansion was completely out of my league!’

’From the young lady of a Grand Lineage, to the Water Monarch’s Dragon Maiden, and now the Heir of a Marquis’s Mansion...’

’This guy really has a talent for latching onto powerful connections!’

’In this great age where Martial Artists can become Manifested Saints, his talent isn’t as apparent.’

’But if he had been born in the Chixiao Heaven Universe...’

’If he ever caught the eye of some Female True Venerable, he’d be set for life with a wife three thousand years his senior and a ticket straight to the ranks of the Immortals!’

This expert from the Beicang Marquis’s Mansion certainly had a high opinion of herself.

Hearing this, Ji Xiu, still shouldering the Sword Plaque, gave a small smile.

"By the way, I haven’t had the chance to ask for your name, senior. You mentioned the Heir of the Marquis of Beicang wishes to thank me..."

He recalled giving the Earth Treasure, the Jade Marrow Cold Lotus, to Huang Xuan a few days ago. Afterward, the old man took his disciple, Zheng Jun, left the Wind and Cloud Association, and returned to Jiangyin Prefecture with Xu Li.

Ji Xiu had assumed the old man was going to use the Earth Treasure to treat his own hidden ailments, but now, it seemed that wasn’t the case at all.

’He...’

’...had gone to secure a better future for me!’

’That old man... sigh.’

A warmth spread through Ji Xiu’s heart, and he sighed to himself. He resolved that after entering the mansion, he absolutely had to meet the old man and help him resolve his lingering health issues.

Just as he was lost in thought, the old woman in black spoke.

"My family name is Shi. In the Marquis’s Mansion, the Young Lady Heir calls me Granny Shi. I’ll never achieve a Title in this life, so a name... is rather meaningless."

At the mention of a Title, Granny Shi’s expression turned wistful, but she quickly composed herself. She sized up Ji Xiu, and a sharp glint suddenly flashed in her bright eyes.

"However, kid."

"Let’s just be direct."