Therefore, many people moved to the Capital City for a peaceful life.

This resulted in a significant population in the Capital City. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Aside from the nearly shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, Su Que also saw carriage after carriage loaded with goods, lined up heading towards the city gates.

With a sweep of his Spirit, Su Que sensed that the boxes on the carriages were filled with medicinal materials and Exotic Soldiers.

’It seems Li Xuanji has been following my instructions these days.’

After watching for a while longer, Su Que drew up the curtain and sat back in the carriage.

Shortly after entering the Capital City, Li Yujing came with people to welcome them.

Li Yujing’s dress was the same as before, with an air of nobility mixed with maturity and cold allure.

Her skin was as white as cream, with a rosy, captivating dust, and three golden hairpins were pinned on her black hair.

She wore a bright red long dress with slits, revealing glimpses of her long, fair legs.

Accompanying Li Yujing was another Gang Condensation Realm Martial Artist.

This Martial Artist was someone Su Que had seen before, acting together with Li Xuanji.

Li Yujing warmly hosted Su Que and Su Jing, treating them to a welcome feast in a lavishly decorated restaurant of the Capital City.

During the meal, Li Yujing said to Su Jing and Su Que, "I’ve arranged for martial arts masters in the Imperial Palace; I’m not sure when Xiao Que plans to go practice martial arts there."

"What?" Su Que replied, feigning a puzzled look.

Although he knew Li Yujing was Li Xuanji’s sister, as "Confucian Scholar Su Que," he did not know this.

Seeing Su Que’s expression, Li Yujing frowned slightly and looked at Su Jing with a puzzled expression.

Su Jing lowered her head slightly and said, "Sister Yujing, I haven’t told Xiao Que yet..."

Then, lowering her voice, she explained Li Yujing’s identity and her plan to take him to the Imperial Palace Vault for practice.

While listening, Su Que put on a surprised expression.

Even when he was in the Qi Blood Realm, he had strong control over his muscles.

Controlling his facial muscles was no difficult task for him.

Whatever expression he wanted, he could make.

Li Yujing said, "In recent days, along with some martial arts masters, we’ve been looking at the secret manuals in the Imperial Palace Armory and found several that could transform bones and meridians."

"If Xiao Que practices, it might improve his bones and meridians and help him step onto the martial arts path."

Hearing this, Su Que inwardly sought an excuse to decline.

He was already very familiar with the secret manuals in the Imperial Palace Armory and found no need to review them again.

Feigning excitement, Su Que said, "That’s really kind of you, Sister Yujing, but could you perhaps bring those secret manuals out? I’d like to study them myself, and if there’s something I don’t understand, I can consult the martial arts masters later."

"Alright." Li Yujing responded, not forcing him, and nodded her head.

The three of them continued eating and chatting, and after the meal, Li Yujing arranged a residence for them in the Capital City.

The residence met Su Jing’s requirements and featured three main buildings and three courtyards.

Though not considered luxurious within the Capital City, it was considerably larger than in Jiannan Prefecture City, sufficient for her and Su Que to live and practice martial arts.

At night, Su Que sat cross-legged on his bed, contemplating whether he should head to the Imperial Palace tomorrow to meet Li Xuanji and obtain the elixirs.

After all, more than half a month had passed, and the first batch of elixirs should have been refined by Elder Qingxuan.

’However, if I were to visit Li Xuanji tomorrow after just arriving, it’d be too much of a coincidence. It’d be easy for him to suspect me instantly.’ Su Que thought.

’I should wait a few days before going.’

...

At the Imperial Palace, Li Xuanji was in his study, listening to his subordinates’ reports.

After meeting Su Que in Jiannan Prefecture City, he had been waiting for Su Que to come ever since returning to the Capital City.

Given the long wait and Su Que’s lack of appearance, Li Xuanji felt uneasy.

Li Xuanji speculated whether he had misunderstood Su Que’s intentions.

So he sent a message to Jiannan Prefecture City, instructing his trusted men there to leave secret markings on the city walls in hopes of discerning Su Que’s thoughts and instructions.

However, days passed, and his confidant in Jiannan Prefecture City reported that the "gentleman" had yet to appear.

Ten days later, Li Xuanji received another message from his confidant in Jiannan Prefecture City, learning that they were still waiting at the original Heaven-Breaking Army base, without any sight of the "gentleman."

By noon, clad in a Dragon Robe, Li Xuanji approved some memorials but felt slightly drowsy.

Suddenly, his vision blurred as a figure abruptly appeared.

The four guards, startled by the sudden appearance of someone, quickly drew the single sabers from their waists.

Seeing the figure clad in Martial Attire with a Cloak and a sinister ghost mask under the hood, Li Xuanji realized it was the "gentleman."

"Sir, you’ve finally arrived!" Li Xuanji swiftly rose and made a bow towards Su Que.

Having recognized Su Que as well, the four guards exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Sir, during this period, Daoist Qingxuan led the most outstanding Alchemist from the Qi Kingdom to refine pills for you. Two batches of elixirs are ready for you now."

Li Xuanji informed Su Que,

"I wonder how many days you’ve been in the Capital City, and if you need me to arrange a residence for you?"

Su Que simply replied, "No need."

Liu Xuanji began to ponder.

’Does the gentleman already have a residence in the Capital City? Is he already settled here?’

’Perhaps the gentleman previously resided in Jiannan Prefecture City.’

’I wonder what identity the gentleman assumes after shedding his disguise...’

’If I investigate those who moved from Jiannan Prefecture to the Capital recently, maybe I could narrow it down...’

Suddenly, realizing these thoughts, cold sweat appeared on Li Xuanji’s back.

’Why am I thinking this? If the gentleman discovered my investigation, my newly established Qi Kingdom might be doomed by him!’

"The elixirs?"

Just then, Li Xuanji heard Su Que’s typically cold, detached voice.

"Sir, I will have it brought to you right away." Li Xuanji promptly responded.

After ascending to the throne, Li Xuanji referenced himself in imperial terms with others, yet dared not do the same with Su Que.

The four guards by his side had long been his trusted aides.

They had followed him from the modest beginnings of the Heaven-Breaking Army.

They witnessed the Heaven-Breaking Army successfully navigating multiple crises with the help of the mysterious expert standing before them today.

They understood what this mysterious expert meant to Li Xuanji and to their Court.

So even as Li Xuanji ascended the throne, they found his respect and caution towards this mysterious expert unsurprising.

As in their eyes, the expert’s power had transcended mortal bounds, perhaps nearing mythological divinity.

Naturally, they wouldn’t share Li Xuanji’s behavior in front of this mysterious expert with anyone.

Soon after, one of the guards, using Lightweight Skill, brought two Jade Bottles to Su Que.

Having received them, Su Que utilized his Lightweight Skill, disappearing from Li Xuanji and the others’ sight.

...

In the Upper Realm.

Rumble!

Amidst the noise, a massive stone door rose, revealing a black cave entrance.

Colorful mist wafted from the cave.

Before long, a middle-aged man emerged from the mist.

This middle-aged man had a majestic appearance, his eyebrows slanting into his temples, his eyes bright and full of spirit.

The beard on his chin and cheeks was meticulously groomed.

His features were imposing, evoking the image of the Emperor among mortals at first sight.

Even though he wasn’t in a Dragon Robe but rather in a casual outfit made of expensive silk.

He was Emperor Jing of Liang from Su Que’s Small World.

After breaking through the Tribulation Seed Realm, he ascended to the Upper Realm and joined the Celestial Sect.

Upon receiving the Celestial Medicine from the Celestial Gate Master, he entered a Cave Mansion for secluded training to break through.

During this retreat, he refined the Medicinal Power of the Celestial Medicine, achieving a small breakthrough in realm, enhancing his strength further.