The grim news of Jiang Wuteng cast a pall over what had been a joyous victory banquet, coating it in shadow... a deep, lingering gloom.

Though the precise details remained murky, the death of this rising star of the Confucian school was an undeniable certainty. Those cultivators who had been preparing to travel to the capital found their hearts suddenly heavy with trepidation. After all, within the Imperial City, the Emperor was protected by True Dragon Qi, and the power of cultivators was significantly suppressed. Should any incident arise there, the feeling of powerlessness would be inescapable.

Feng Zikang, however, was unconcerned. The great calamity looming three years hence necessitated that he seize this chance to observe the Fortune of the Great Tang dynasty, to ascertain precisely which ship he would need to stand upon when the time came.

The following day, the grand army returned to the capital.

Since he was traveling with the main contingent, Feng Zikang refrained from employing any celestial powers of flight or teleportation. Instead, he reclined comfortably within his carriage, moving forward slowly, taking in the scenery along the way—a view markedly different from the one afforded him when soaring high above.

Generally speaking, the common folk and populace along the route still lived lives of peace and contentment; there was no immediate sign of upheaval. If not for the resolute prophecies of so many high-level figures foretelling widespread chaos, Feng Zikang would never have imagined such immense turmoil brewing just three years hence.

“Brother Zikang, these steamed buns are delicious!”

Fairy Tianfu, on the other hand, was beside herself with excitement. Having spent over a decade confined within the Tianfu Palace, everything she saw now struck her as novel. She showed no hesitation in crossing the line between immortal and mortal, frequently engaging with the common people and taking immense delight in it. She possessed an innate aura that brought good fortune to those around her, so the mortals naturally gravitated toward her. Even without payment, they were happy to hand over a few steamed buns. After all, the moment Fairy Tianfu stood before the bun vendor’s stall, those buns would sell out completely within moments. How could the vendor not rejoice?

“Little girl, take these and eat! It’s no trouble at all.”

The bun vendor cheerfully wrapped several buns for Fairy Tianfu, who accepted them with proud glee and rushed to present her treasure to Feng Zikang.

Feng Zikang smiled faintly. This Fairy Tianfu was utterly guileless; keeping her by his side would be easy. Besides, her sect only had one useless senior disciple to worry about. He consistently looked out for her, and the Fairy grew increasingly reliant on him.

※

After half a month of travel, the army finally reached Chang'an.

Civil and military officials lined the route to welcome them. The Emperor was reportedly indisposed, thus failing to appear, but the welcome was grand enough to grant Grand Tutor Pang considerable prestige. On such an occasion, discretion was key. Grand Tutor Pang offered only a strained smile and a few perfunctory pleasantries to the gathered officials before entering the city.

The capital's splendor far surpassed that of any other locale. The city teemed with excitement, leaving Fairy Tianfu utterly mesmerized.

As cultivators, they were naturally provided lodgings at the official guesthouse. Grand Tutor Pang settled them in swiftly before rushing off to seek an audience with the Emperor. After all, the matter of Jiang Wuteng had been weighing on his mind for half a month, an agonizing worry he could delay no longer.

Feng Zikang remained at the guesthouse. He noted that the spiritual energy here was dense and harmonious, greatly beneficial to cultivation practices of any school or sect. He nodded slightly; the capital indeed held many capable individuals to have cultivated such an auspicious environment. He felt no impatience, instead settling cross-legged to slowly regulate his breath and meditate. The little fox scampered around him, clearly enjoying the surroundings as well.

That evening, Grand Tutor Pang returned from the palace, announcing that they would be received tomorrow for bestowment of honors, but he could not suppress his sighs of grief. He had finally gained clarity on the matter of Jiang Wuteng.

It turned out that the reigning Emperor had taken a fancy to a female Daoist recluse, intending to elevate her to the rank of Consort! A female Daoist—a genuine practitioner of the Daoist path. To the common people, this might seem merely a king’s temporary indulgence, and even the court officials offered only gentle remonstrances. However, few understood the fierce integrity of Prime Minister Jiang Wuteng; many even questioned Grand Tutor Pang about the reason for his extreme devotion.

Grand Tutor Pang knew the true gravity of the situation. According to heavenly principle and human ethics, scholarship concerning the cultivation of both life and spirit was strictly forbidden from entering the royal family! This was an ironclad rule, one fiercely upheld by the Confucian doctrine! The Emperor must not attain longevity, nor his consorts, nor his imperial descendants. Those who wished to pursue the Dao had no choice but to renounce their royal status and become commoners before they could begin their studies.

It wasn't that Emperors were forbidden from possessing supernatural abilities—several founding Emperors of previous dynasties displayed immense powers; Emperor Qin Shi Huang could move mountains and fill seas. But they cultivated supernatural arts, not the path to eternal life, and their lifespans were the same as ordinary mortals. Correspondingly, those who learned the arts of longevity were naturally barred from marrying into the royal lineage.

What was strange was the Daoist sect's ambiguous stance; they made no strenuous effort to intervene. This enraged Prime Minister Jiang Wuteng, who championed the rule. He argued so fiercely that he clashed with the Emperor right there on the Golden Hall. In the end, when the Emperor insisted on his will, Jiang Wuteng threw himself against a pillar, dying to uphold loyalty and righteousness!

Feng Zikang sighed softly. He understood that the Confucian Way placed the Way above mere life and death; the concepts of 'achieving benevolence through self-sacrifice' and 'upholding righteousness through sacrifice' encapsulated this very principle. After his death, Jiang Wuteng would certainly be guided by the boundless righteous energy of his realm, so there was nothing to fear for him personally, but his action caused immense shock in the mortal realm.

The Son of Heaven had not held court for half a month, setting aside the issue of the female Daoist. Only upon Grand Tutor Pang’s return did the Emperor reluctantly show his face, looking haggard and distracted.

“Since the matter has been dropped, Grand Tutor Pang need not worry excessively,” Feng Zikang advised calmly. But in his heart, he knew the affair could not be so simple. A crack in the foundation of the palace might well be the catalyst for the so-called Great Heavenly Tribulation.

Grand Tutor Pang sighed. “One can only hope so. Tomorrow, you will all enter the palace to receive your honors. Nephew Feng, please observe the Emperor’s complexion for me; your insightful gaze will surely discern something.”

Feng Zikang agreed. Regrettably, when they entered the palace the next day, the Emperor did not appear, reported to be gravely ill and confined to bed. However, the arrival of these cultivators was a significant event, and the Imperial Household dared not slight them. Several of the court's enshrined cultivators personally emerged to greet them with great courtesy.

Feng Zikang was conferred the title of "Grand Marshal of All Troops, King Who Stabilizes the Nation and Promotes Martial Prowess," granted a purple-gold sash, and gifted a thousand mu of fertile land surrounding Dragon Tiger Mountain as his estate. This title was, of course, symbolic, but as cultivators, they paid it little mind. As for the thousand mu of land, it was naturally bestowed upon Dragon Tiger Mountain as an endowment; Feng Zikang himself had no use for it.

Fairy Tianfu was named "Immortal Sister Who Protects the Nation" and received countless treasures. She took great interest in examining them one by one, but to her, these gold, silver, and jade objects were no different from the steamed buns offered by mortals. The others also received honors. The cultivators who died in battle were given particularly generous posthumous rewards—but such posthumous glory held absolutely no meaning for those who trod the path of cultivation.

That evening, a grand banquet was held in the Imperial Palace, again hosted by the same enshrined cultivators, who plied Feng Zikang with wine. Naturally, he was elevated to the highest echelon. His achievements cemented his position as the foremost disciple among the current generation of the Nine Paths. Those enshrined masters were all at the Core Condensation stage, yet they treated Feng Zikang with extraordinary deference.

“Nephew Feng’s future is boundless; this old man is truly envious.”

One of the masters, a corpulent elder who served as their leader, was at the mid-stage of Core Condensation. He was a practitioner from the Yue-Lu Academy of the Confucian School, and even Grand Tutor Pang had to address him as Martial Uncle. However, these individuals no longer concerned themselves with worldly affairs, focusing solely on upholding the principles of the Dao. Their extreme courtesy toward Feng Zikang left him feeling overwhelmed, and he repeatedly declared himself unworthy.

The banquet finally concluded late at night. Feng Zikang returned to the guesthouse. The moment he woke the next morning, Fairy Tianfu was clamoring to go shopping. Feng Zikang readily agreed, accompanying her for a tour through the capital. She had been envious of the bustling city these past two days and keenly dissatisfied at not having explored enough. Being able to drag Feng Zikang out early this morning made her ecstatic, bouncing joyfully through the marketplace, truly resembling a young mortal girl.

However, her shopping habits revealed a peculiar habit. Whatever caught her eye, she would exchange it for gold and jewels. These were treasures gifted by the Emperor himself, objects the vendors had never seen; their eyes went wide with shock. Only after she had moved on would they drop to their knees, offering repeated, fervent thanks. This naturally attracted a crowd eager to present their own treasures. Feng Zikang, growing impatient, used his aura to push them back, finally allowing them to walk normally.

By noon, Fairy Tianfu insisted on eating at a restaurant. Feng Zikang indulged her, choosing the largest establishment, securing a private box, and ordering the most expensive wine and dishes. While earthly fare might lack the sublime rarity of items from the cultivation world, it possessed a unique flavor all its own. Feng Zikang offered a few quiet compliments after just a couple of bites. Fairy Tianfu ate with even greater enthusiasm, showing a particular fondness for the stinky tofu, repeatedly demanding the waiter bring more portions. Since they didn't fear overeating, the flavor was all that mattered. The little fox, meanwhile, buried its head deep inside a wine jug, refusing to emerge—it had thoroughly transformed into a drunken fox.

They were enjoying their meal heartily when a sharp smack echoed from outside the door, immediately followed by the sound of shattering crockery and an angry roar.

“What nonsense is this? Some foul stench just drifted past—how is a gentleman supposed to eat?”

Another voice chimed in, seemingly offering apologies, “Sir, please forgive us! That was the stinky tofu ordered by the guests next door. I only brought it after several requests. Kindly overlook it! Forgive us!”

The second party was clearly a guest the restaurant dared not offend; though they had smashed dishes, they had to swallow their anger down with the pieces.

Fairy Tianfu, unable to bear the thought that her order had caused others distress, was about to rise and leave when a commotion erupted at the entrance. Waiters were shoved aside, and several burly men stormed in. A waiter was held aloft by one of the large men, looking miserable.

“Are you the table of guests? How dare you dine here!”

The leading ruffian was about to shout abuse when he was halted by a tall, slender youth beside him. The youth stared at Fairy Tianfu for a moment, a look of distinct admiration crossing his face. His previous look of fury vanished instantly, replaced by a smile.

“Ah, so it is the young lady enjoying such refined delicacies. How amusing. It was merely a misunderstanding; my subordinates were momentarily rude. Please, young lady, accept my apologies.”

Fairy Tianfu hadn't even swallowed her piece of stinky tofu. She looked utterly bewildered, unsure what performance these men were putting on. She turned to look at Feng Zikang, her expression one of perfect naiveté.

Feng Zikang scoffed silently in his heart, but the youth continued speaking to himself, seemingly unconcerned with their presence. “If the young lady does not find it disagreeable, perhaps you would care to join us in the next room? I have brought my own chefs and prepared several small dishes I would be honored for the young lady to sample!”