"Of course it can't be written by them." Shangguan Jin replied.
"I think so," Zhao Yan said. "This poem is of great literary talent and grand momentum. It is by no means a mediocre work."
Having said this, she paused, then looked seriously into Shangguan Jin's eyes and said, "Let me guess... is this the work of the owner of the 'Jinghong Brush'?"
"Sister Zhao is so smart!" Shangguan Jin praised with a smile.
"Is he at the Yamen today?" Zhao Yan asked.
"Yes," Shangguan Jin nodded, "Is it possible that Sister Zhao is interested in him and wants to compete with him?"
"No, I'm just asking casually," Zhao Yan shook her head slightly, "You should know that I usually don't bully people who are weaker than me."
After a moment of silence, she asked again: "Is Mr. Pang Wanzhen also in the Yamen today?"
Pang Wanzhen is a guest of the Exorcism Department and a fifth-level monk who is famous in the capital for his superb marksmanship.
Ten years ago, he defeated talented opponents from all over the country and successfully won the first place in the "Luoshui Conference", and was highly praised by many big shots.
If one were to make a list of monks specializing in marksmanship in the Daqi Dynasty, then Pang Wanzhen would definitely be at the top.
"Mr. Pang was arranged by the Chief of Staff to perform a mission in the western frontier," Shangguan Jin replied, "I'm afraid you won't have the chance to see him in the recent period."
As he spoke, Shangguan Jin was filled with emotion.
Because to them, Pang Wanzhen is undoubtedly a senior-level figure.
But now, Zhao Yan has regarded him as an opponent and included him in the list of "whetstones".
After hearing Shangguan Jin's answer, Zhao Yan smiled regretfully, and without even saying "goodbye", she jumped lightly onto "Da Hong"'s back.
Accompanied by the neighing of the horse, she left the Exorcist Department headquarters along the way she came.
The cool breeze rustles, and the red skirt is hunting.
Her long hair flew freely behind her, like black flames.
Shangguan Jin stood next to the statue of Shi Suanni, watching her back disappear from sight.
"This 'Luoshui Conference' is really exciting!" She murmured to herself as she raised the corners of her mouth.
Then she turned around and climbed up the steps and walked into the Yamen.
…………
"What are you doing, Fellow Daoist Gu?"
"Charms."
"But the talisman you drew this time is different from the talisman I have seen before."
"This is an improved version of the 'Fiery Flame True Talisman', which is slightly more powerful than the original version," Gu Xu explained, "I just saw the battle between Chu Fengge and the eldest daughter of the Zhao family by the window, and something popped into my head. I got some inspiration about talisman and seal script, so I wanted to put it into practice. I didn’t expect this idea to be really feasible.”
Shangguan Jin sat on a desk next to him, holding his chin with his hand and resting his arms on his knees, looking at the talisman paper placed in front of Gu Xu with interest.
I saw Gu Xu using golden ink to outline obscure runes one after another, and finally formed a complicated pattern.
Looking from a distance, the shape of this pattern looks like a flying phoenix.
Just looking at it, it seems that you can feel a hot breath coming to your face.
"Gu Daoyou is indeed an extraordinary person," she commented with a smile. "Forty percent of the officials and government officials who were watching the battle today came to see the fun, and forty percent came to see the beauties. At most two dozen people could tell from this. A little knowledge.
"But Fellow Daoist Gu can not only get a glimpse of the door, but also understand his own things from it. He is worthy of being the most respected genius monk by the Chief of Staff."
"Thank you, fellow Taoist Shangguan," Gu Xu responded with a humble smile, "I was just lucky enough to be favored by God, and accidentally entered a state of enlightenment."
While speaking, he raised his head and saw Shangguan Jin's delicate and elegant face.
Although Gu Xu is now forced to devote himself to Taoism due to life expectancy issues, at heart he is still a layman who likes money and beautiful girls. He once secretly evaluated the appearance and temperament of women in the world like ordinary men.
If one hundred points is the perfect score and fifty points is the average level, then Lu Shiyao from Qingzhou can get ninety points - she has a very fairy-like beauty, like a hibiscus emerging from the water, independent from the world, and almost impossible to pick. What's the flaw?
Princess Zhaoning Xiao Wanjun and Miss Zhao Yan can score 85 points. They have beautiful faces and graceful figures, and are extremely eye-catching and unique among the crowd. They are great beauties that cannot be forgotten at a glance - the former is as graceful and noble as peonies in bloom, while the latter is as coquettish and unruly as the phoenix chirping in the sky.
For example, Shi Xiaohan and Shangguan Jin scored about seventy-five points, falling into the category of "little beauties".
Although Shi Xiaohan's girl is no more than 1.5 meters tall and her figure is not convex in front or back, she has a green and childish face and a pair of beautiful almond-shaped eyes that are full of autumn water and seem to be able to talk.
If the beauty of Princess Zhaoning and Zhao Yan is oppressive and aggressive, many people will inadvertently stay away from them.
Then Shi Xiaohan is like the neighbor's little sister, who easily makes people feel close to her. They want to bully her, but also want to take care of her.
As for Shangguan Jin, she is a typical "light-faced" beauty - a palm-sized oval face, smoky eyebrows, willow-leaf eyes, a small nose, and light-colored lips. It doesn't look amazing at first glance, but it turns out to be fascinating upon closer inspection.
And she also knows how to use makeup to give full play to her strengths and make up for her flaws.
In addition, she has a high emotional intelligence and is very good at observing people's emotions and praising others. Getting along with her will be a spring breeze-like experience.
After talking to her, many people feel that she is a "confidant", an "understanding friend", and even an "ideal gentle and virtuous lover".
However, the first time Gu Xu met Shangguan Jin in the "Realm of Discussing Tao", he was attacked by her "not talking about martial arts", so he was naturally not fooled by her appearance.
"By the way, Fellow Daoist Gu, the Chief of Staff gave me a task early this morning." After a short silence, Shangguan Jin stopped his smile and said seriously, "He said that there are signs of ghosts near the North Gate of Luojing. , I hope I can go over there and find out the situation.”
"Luojing North Gate? Isn't this the area covered by the 'Tianlong Formation'?" Gu Xu frowned slightly, "Did a ghost break through the formation?"
"It was sneaking in secretly," Shangguan Jin replied, "But maybe because the ghost has some magic to hide itself, the chief executive can't see the specific situation clearly.
"The Lord Chief also said that the divination skills you master, Daoist Brother Gu, are very special and can calculate some things that he cannot see - he suggested that I seek your help."
"How much is the reward for this mission?" Gu Xu pondered for a moment and asked calmly.
He raised such a question not because he was greedy for the merit, but because he wanted to use the merit reward to estimate the difficulty of the task.
"It's not certain yet, because the strength of the ghost has not been calculated yet," Shangguan Jin said, "but the Chief of Staff said that it should be roughly equivalent to the reward that can be obtained by killing an 'evil spirit' level ghost."
Gu Xu nodded.
Since this was the task Luo Si first asked him to do by name, it was not easy for him to refuse.
In addition, his cultivation has been growing rapidly recently, and he has also studied and improved some talismans. He really wants to find a lucky ghost to be his guinea pig.
"Then when do we set off?" He put away the pen and paper on the table, stood up and said.
"Can you do it now?" Shangguan Jin jumped down from the desk lightly.
She was very tall, at least 1.7 meters tall. Standing next to Gu Xu, she could reach his ears.
There was a faint refreshing fragrance on her body - Gu Xu knew that this fragrance was not the so-called women's body fragrance, but came from the small sachet hanging on her waist, the ingredients of which had been carefully prepared by her. Blended, it smells fresh and not greasy.
"Please allow me to go to the public kitchen to buy two steamed buns first."
Gu Xu suddenly realized at this moment that he was so busy watching the battle and drawing talisman seals that he had forgotten to go to the public kitchen for breakfast.
It’s just that the battle of the fifth realm monks was too exciting.
And there is this thing called epiphany, which is such a delay!
So he used the "Meteor Walking on the Moon" movement technique and disappeared into the library in an instant.
Shangguan Jin looked at him leaving in a hurry and couldn't help but laugh. Then he also used his body skills to leave this place.
…………
After leaving the Exorcist Department Yamen, Zhao Yan did not waste a moment and galloped her horse on Luojing Street to find her next opponent.
Soon she arrived at a dark red gate on the south bank of the Luo River.
The top of this gate is covered with green glazed tiles, and there is a kissing beast on the roof ridge that is used to ward off evil spirits. There is also a pair of stone lions in front of the door, one male and one male, looking majestic.
This place is the residence of the eldest prince Xiao Shangyuan.
Three years ago, when Zhao Yan was still in the capital, she challenged the second prince Xiao Shangheng and the third prince Xiao Shangli. The former was beaten by her until he lay in bed for three days and three nights unable to move, while the latter ran to his mother crying. Complain in front of the concubine.
As for Xiao Shangyuan, since he is already over thirty, much older than Zhao Yan, and far ahead in cultivation level, the two have never had any fighting experience.
But now, Zhao Yan finally equaled the eldest prince in terms of realm.
Naturally, she also included the name "Xiao Shangyuan" in her challenge list.
Although the eldest prince has been a peak fifth-level monk a long time ago, and has mastered the "Celestial Dragon Domain" that can fight across borders, his true combat power is even higher than that of ordinary sixth-level monks.
But Zhao Yan will not be afraid of this. After all, she also holds many powerful trump cards in her hands. In her mind, there is no point in bullying the weak. Only by constantly challenging stronger people can we truly achieve the effect of sharpening ourselves.
When she jumped off the horse, the red door of the prince's mansion opened.
Two soldiers wearing silver light armor stood on both sides of the door.
They hold silver guns and wear silver-white helmets, making their appearance invisible.
These soldiers are nominally affiliated with the Royal Guards of Da Qi Imperial City, but they are not real people, but metal puppets made with weapon refining spells.
As far as Zhao Yan knew, at least half of the members of the Imperial Guard were such puppets. In a sense, they are equivalent to part of the "Dragon Formation".
Although they will also obey the orders of the generals of the Imperial Guard or other royal members, their highest control is firmly in the hands of the owner of the "Taea Sword".
If Luojing City encounters foreign enemies or internal troubles, these puppets, along with the entire "Tianlong Formation", will become a weapon against the enemy in the hands of the emperor.
After a while, the eldest prince Xiao Shangyuan walked out of the mansion.
He was not wearing any fancy clothes today, only a blue-gray cloth shirt, and holding a book in his arms. He did not look like a noble prince, but like an ordinary scholar rushing to take the exam.
"Miss Zhao, do you really want to challenge me?" A helpless smile appeared on Xiao Shangyuan's face.
"Could it be that His Highness is timid before fighting?" Zhao Yan raised her eyebrows slightly, "This is not a good reputation for the Daqi royal family!"
"I just feel like it's meaningless," Xiao Shangyuan shook his head slightly and replied, "If possible, I still want to be friends with you peacefully."
Zhao Yan said no more.
In her eyes, Luo Jing City is a dark, cold and cruel place. Here, she never felt that she could find true friends.
Then the two of them took action in unison.
Xiao Shangyuan took a step forward, and a shadow of a five-clawed golden dragon appeared behind him. The brilliant golden light enveloped a few meters in radius, exuding extremely terrifying pressure, seeming to force the people around him to bow their heads, kneel and worship him.
The "Celestial Dragon Domain" he used had been used by the fourth prince Xiao Shangzhen before.
But Xiao Shangyuan's "Celestial Dragon Domain" is obviously more powerful and more powerful, and the golden dragon looks lifelike. In addition, he also controls the scope of the domain very accurately, preventing it from hurting innocent people and damaging surrounding items.
Zhao Yan narrowed her eyes slightly.
With a clear cry, the golden phoenix appeared above her head. It held its head proudly and spread its young wings.
The tip feathers of the wings turned into golden-red flames, which looked dazzling under the blue sky.
It was different from the previous multi-round confrontation with Chu Fengge.
This time the battle was decided in a split second.
I saw the golden young phoenix fluttering its wings and penetrating the "Celestial Dragon Realm", colliding heavily with the five-clawed golden dragon, and together they turned into dazzling flames, shooting straight into the sky.
The next moment, both of them turned into golden light fragments, and then disappeared without a trace.
Zhao Yan's face was so pale that it was almost transparent.
She only felt that her eyes were a little dark and her legs were weak. Only by reaching out and holding on to the trunk of the sycamore tree next to him, could he barely stand still.
Xiao Shangyuan also took a few steps back involuntarily.
But his complexion looked obviously better than Zhao Yan's.
"I lost," Zhao Yan looked at him calmly, "but within three months, I will challenge you again."
"Miss Zhao, you are actually quite good," Xiao Shangyuan showed a friendly smile on his face and said to her, "In less than a month after entering the fifth realm, you can instantly defeat the Tianlong of me, the peak monk of the fifth realm. "Field", few people in the entire Da Qi Dynasty can do it——"
"——If you lose, you are just not as good as others," Zhao Yan interrupted him lightly, "I don't need this kind of comfort like coaxing a child."
As soon as she finished speaking, she jumped on her horse and galloped towards the end of the street, like a flash of scarlet lightning.
Xiao Shangyuan stood quietly outside the mansion door for a while.
After Zhao Yan's figure completely disappeared, he suddenly reached out to cover his head, groaned in pain, and fell down on the steps.
The book in his hand also fell to the ground, but he didn't notice it.
Seeing this scene, his confidant Fan Cheng, a sixth-level monk who is worshiped by the Daqi royal family, immediately hurried to his side, squatted down and said to him: "Your Highness, are you okay?"
Xiao Shangyuan took a deep breath and said slowly: "Uncle Fan, do you think Zhao Yan's soul strength is really like that of a monk who has just entered the fifth realm?"
Fan Cheng had been hiding nearby and watching the battle quietly just now.
Zhao Yan's soul in the form of a young phoenix naturally fell into his eyes.
"It's really not like that," Fan Cheng replied, "'Soul transformation' is something that at least sixth-level monks can do. The moment I saw her soul, I even thought she had opened the 'Fengdu Gate' ', about to enter the 'Yam Luo Palace'."
"To be honest, Uncle Fan," Xiao Shangyuan laughed at himself after hearing Fan Cheng's response, and then said, "Although I practiced Taoism earlier than her and my cultivation level is slightly higher than hers, my soul power is much weaker than hers.
"In order to block her blow just now, I used my own blood as a medium to call on some of the power of Luo Jing City's 'Tianlong Formation'... If it were everyone in the suburbs, I might have lost.
"It's just that I feel that as the prince of Da Qi, we must not embarrass the royal family."
"You are right, Your Highness," Fan Cheng replied, "The Daqi royal family must not lose to the Youzhou people. This is a matter of principle."
Xiao Shangzhen was silent for a while.
"Actually, I'm very curious as to why Zhao Yan has such strong soul power," he thought for a moment and then asked, "In my memory, the Youzhou Zhao family has always focused on martial arts training and was not good at cultivating the soul. "
"There are three possibilities," Fan Cheng replied, "First, the Zhao family in Youzhou actually secretly hides the method of cultivating the soul. The level is at least high-grade, but few people have practiced it before.
"Second, she had cultivated to the sixth realm before, but for some unknown reason, she fell back to the fifth realm. If this is the case, her soul can still maintain the strength of the sixth realm."
"This is impossible," Xiao Shangyuan frowned slightly and said, "She is only in her early twenties, how can she reach the sixth realm?"
"I also think it's unlikely," Fan Cheng smiled and said, "But the third possibility is even less likely - she may be the reincarnation of an ancient powerful, or someone who fell into the mortal world. Banish the immortal.
"However, terms such as 'reincarnation' and 'exiled immortality' currently only exist in legends. There are no real cases in my memory."
Xiao Shangyuan thought for a moment and felt that the first guess was the most reliable.
"Zhao family in Youzhou is so secretive!" He sighed silently.
But suddenly, he remembered the disaster that happened in Qingzhou Prefecture last month.
At that time, both Xiao Shangyuan and Fan Cheng were trapped by the Kongxuan San people beside the black altar deep in Yishan Mountain. Even if they used the "Kong-Breaking Pearl", they could not escape from there and could only wait for death silently in despair.
He only remembered that Kong Xuansanren waved his hand gently, and he fainted without any resistance.
When he woke up again, he found himself lying on the soft bed of Luo Jing's mansion, with a young and beautiful maid standing next to him, serving him medicine.
Then he learned from the comments of others that the young man named Gu Xu in Yishui County who he had tried to recruit was his savior.
It was Gu Xu who broke the secret blockade of Kongxuan Sanren and delivered the news to the saints in the capital in time.
"How did he do that?"
Xiao Shangyuan still hasn't thought about this problem.
If Xiao Shangyuan was asked to name which person in the world is most like an immortal who fell from the mortal world and was reincarnated, then the first person he thought of would definitely be Gu Xu.
His talent for cultivation, his ability to understand, his attainments in Talismanism, and even his literary talents in writing poems and lyrics once shocked Xiao Shangyuan, and he wanted to recruit him under his command at all costs and make him his "competition" With the help of "Tai'a Sword".
But now, he has complicated emotions towards Gu Xu, and deep down he really doesn't want to meet him again.
It wasn't because Gu Xu had provoked him.
But it was because Gu Xu had witnessed him begging for mercy from Kong Xuan Sanren in embarrassment.
Thinking of this, Xiao Shangyuan supported the crimson wall and slowly got up from the ground, preparing to return to the house to continue practicing.
"Your Highness, your book fell."
As Fan Cheng spoke, Xiao Shangyuan picked up the book that Xiao Shangyuan had just dropped on the ground and handed it to the latter's hand.
Inadvertently, he caught a glimpse of the title on the cover of the book.
"Your Highness, why are you so interested in books like "Records of Da Qi" recently?"
"Da Qi Shi Lu" can be regarded as a chronicle history book compiled by the officials of the Da Qi Dynasty. It is used to record edicts, laws and regulations, as well as major events during the reign of various emperors.
In fact, it is not strange for a prince to read such a book.
What surprised Fan Cheng was that Xiao Shangyuan was in a critical period of breaking through recently.
According to his experience, in the process of ringing the "Fengdu Gate" and advancing to the sixth realm, one should concentrate on it and try not to be distracted as much as possible.
Logically speaking, the eldest prince should not be interested in reading such books that have nothing to do with spiritual practice.
"Uncle Fan, I'm just thinking about a strange question recently."
"what is the problem?"
"A question about the lifespan of the previous emperors of our Daqi Dynasty," Xiao Shangzhen hesitated for a moment and said, "Under normal circumstances, after a monk becomes a saint and reshapes his body, he can have at least two hundred years of life, and even live to It's possible to be three hundred years old.
"However, the previous emperors of the Daqi Dynasty were basically strong men in the eighth realm, but their lifespans were not much different from ordinary people. Almost no one could live to be over a hundred years old."
Fan Cheng was stunned for a few seconds.
This is indeed a question worth pondering.
But Fan Cheng discovered that as a member of the royal family, he had never paid attention to this matter before.
ps: 6000 words long chapter, sorry for the delay. It's coming to the end of the volume recently, and the plot is quite complicated. Pudding has no experience in writing million-word novels before, and his writing skills are limited, so it's difficult to master it. Yesterday I stayed up until four or five in the morning and wrote a few thousand words of scrap. I deleted it because I was not satisfied. I didn’t find the idea until noon today.
However, I will sort out the follow-up plot as soon as possible and strive to update it on time every day!
7017k
