East courtyard.

The flying snow accentuates Jiang Ning at this moment.

The people and the scenery seem to merge into one.

Shush shush shush—

The sound of snow being crushed comes from afar, footsteps drawing closer.

It was at this moment.

Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes, only to see Lv Yi standing in the middle of the snow wearing a green fur cloak, with small snowflakes on her head.

"Master, the carriage is prepared, we can depart anytime." Lv Yi spoke.

Looking around, her face showed some reluctance: "Master, are we really leaving so soon? The snow hasn’t stopped yet."

"The roads are harder to navigate once the snow stops." Jiang Ning said casually, then stood up.

As his robe fluttered, snowflakes flew up: "Better early than late. As for Dongling City, Xie Xiaojiu and the Prefectural Governor Wang are there, no major troubles will arise."

"Staying in Dongling for too long might invite disaster! I don’t want to bring disaster to this city."

His gaze swept across this familiar courtyard, across the thin ice on the lake, across the snow-weighted branches, containing a calm yet storm-threatened oppression.

He knew very well that the Martial Saint’s intervention had bought him time, but it was like tossing a boulder into a calm lake, beneath the ripples, the undercurrents would only grow more turbulent.

The Royal Capital, beneath the Heavenly Son’s feet, teeming with powerful figures, like a lair of dragons and tigers, where all forces intertwine most closely, and the contests are fiercest.

Hiding there is avoiding the limelight for a while, as well as proactively entering a more complex and information-riched chess game.

The chaos of Great Xia lies in two people.

One is the Martial Saint.

The other is the current Changning Emperor.

Based on his previous understanding, that Changning Emperor won’t last much longer.

This journey to the Royal Capital might involve him in another vortex.

But compared to drawing potential disaster to Dongling City, he would rather actively engage in that vortex.

"Let’s go." he spoke again.

"Yes, Master!" Lv Yi responded, without any doubts.

When the carriage left Dongling City, the snow subsided slightly.

Jiang Ning’s departure did not alarm too many people, only Lv Yi and Zhong Ling accompanied him.

Passing through the city gate, the wheels crushed the snow, making creaking sounds, gradually fading away.

Above the city wall, several figures silently watched the convoy disappear at the end of the official road.

Wang Shouyi and Zhao Yulong stood side by side.

"What does Lord Wang think, regarding his journey to the Royal Capital, blessing or curse?" Zhao Yulong asked.

Wang Shouyi’s gaze was profound: "Blessing and curse go hand in hand. The Royal Capital can offer temporary shelter, but also gather more attention and killing intent. But for him, perhaps what’s more needed is a safe environment, and faster channels to acquire resources, his growth has greatly lacked money!"

Thinking of the scant money in his storeroom, Wang Shouyi gave a helpless bitter smile.

Guard against a thousand things, but in-house thieves are hardest.

To this, he could only let it pass.

"Entering the Royal Capital, he will inevitably get caught in another major affair; based on my understanding, the Holy Emperor can hardly hold until spring!" Wang Shouyi spoke.

"Do you mean, his journey to the Royal Capital will involve him in this vortex and mire?" Zhao Yulong asked.

"It certainly will!" Wang Shouyi said: "I have heard rumors that he has a private engagement with the Seventeenth Princess, and recent news from the Royal Capital confirms this! The Seventeenth Princess is the Eighth Prince’s dear sister, and given the Eighth Prince’s troubled situation, how can he remain uninvolved once in the Royal Capital, with his character?"

"You do seem to think quite a lot, Lord Wang!" Zhao Yulong gently laughed, implying something.

Wang Shouyi smiled helplessly: "I only have two daughters!"

...

Inside the carriage.

Jiang Ning closed his eyes and focused, his heart and spirit sinking into the Spirit Platform.

Within the Spirit Platform, at this moment, starlit shadows appear, shattering into fragments, burning into celestial bodies.

Then the celestial bodies burn out, everything returns to the void.

Soon, the void blooms, a hundred trees grow, all things start competing.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter cycle, day and night alternate.

Everything constantly cycles through destruction, all things return to nothing.

Only his own form remains eternally unchanged.

In the midst of constant destruction, he feels the True Spirit mark within his Divine Soul emitting radiant light, continuously dispersing spiritual light, merging with his Divine Soul.

At the same time, prompts occasionally appear before him 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

[Spirit Platform Enlightenment True Self Method Experience Value +10]

[...]

Compared to before, each prompt yields slightly less experience, yet progress remains swift.

At this moment, his heart is undisturbed, continuing to practice the Spirit Platform Enlightenment True Self Method.

The wheels beneath also roll onto the official road.

Compared to ordinary paths, the official road has little accumulated snow.

Under the official road, special stones lay, the natural heat contained in the stones can melt the snow falling from the sky.

As he progresses, the interior of the carriage remains warm and cozy, with soft carpets on the floor.

In the middle, the brazier burns with bright flames, giving off a faint light.

Suddenly, Jiang Ning opens his eyes, a sharp gleam shooting from them.

"Master, what’s wrong?" Lv Yi asked.

"Someone is coming!" Jiang Ning replied.

Speaking, he rose from inside the carriage.

Then he swept aside the heavy curtain hanging down.

Stepping onto the carriage frame, he saw the figure on the stone tablet protruding from the roadside ahead.

At this moment, the cherished horses towing the carriage seemed to be suppressed by invisible forces, halting abruptly.

The entire carriage stops suddenly on the road.

"Master!" Lv Yi poked her head out.

"Wait for me here!" Jiang Ning said.

Then he leaped gracefully onto the snowy ground without leaving a trace.

Soon, he walked leisurely on the snow lining both sides of the road.

Passing without leaving a mark, leaving no trace on the snow.

Watching this scene, Xia Xuanyan’s gaze remained serene.