The days flew by.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

Xiao Zhan had already stabilized the situation in Great Tang, supporting the Seventeenth Prince as the Puppet Emperor, while he became the real power holder.

Jiang Feng and Han Dong continued to live inside the Imperial City.

The two were inseparable most days.

Every day, Jiang Feng would guide Han Dong in her cultivation.

Unfortunately, Han Dong didn’t have a Cultivation Spiritual Root.

Her Martial Arts Talent was only average as well.

Jiang Feng gave her Spiritual Spring from the Divine Sect Mansion to drink, but Han Dong’s strength hardly improved at all.

She remained stuck at the Innate Elemental Realm.

Yet with the nourishment of the Spiritual Spring and Cultivation Technique, Han Dong at Innate Elemental Realm was already stronger than many True Essence Realm experts, even capable of threatening Celestial Profound Realm powerhouses.

The only pity was it seemed she could never break through again.

And the lifespan of Innate Powerhouses was, at most, a little over a hundred years. If Han Dong could not become a Cultivator or Martial Cultivator and break through the Innate Level, even if she cultivated Innate Level to the peak, her lifespan would not exceed a hundred and twenty years in the future.

This left Jiang Feng feeling a little troubled.

But Han Dong was still young now; perhaps a miracle would occur in the future. Jiang Feng could only take things one step at a time, though he had already mentally prepared himself.

"These are the books King Xiao sent today. I flipped through a few, but none seem to have the rune mark you’re looking for."

Han Dong carried a stack of more than a dozen books to Jiang Feng.

The ones in her hands were all strange records and ancient texts, including various rune explanations.

"It’s all right. Since we’re idle anyway, might as well read more."

Jiang Feng replied casually.

In the past half year, he had been studying the Blood God Curse, trying to decipher the rune marks on it to record the Blood God Curse into his panel.

He’d specially asked Xiao Zhan to help look for such books.

Yet, after half a year, Jiang Feng hadn’t cracked even a single rune.

"Maybe the content that can help you solve the secret of the Blood God Curse can only be found in the Divine Sect."

Han Dong helped look through them, guessing aloud.

Since following Jiang Feng, Han Dong would also ponder over the books Jiang Feng read. As a martial arts fanatic, she didn’t want to always be sheltered by Jiang Feng.

She wanted to become Jiang Feng’s right-hand aide, and she too yearned for a breakthrough. Sadly, Heaven was rarely so kind. Even after coming in contact with Cultivation Techniques surpassing Celestial Extreme, like the Yangchun Technique, though she could circulate Primordial Power using the Heart Method, she still couldn’t use the Yangchun Technique to break through her cultivation. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

In the end, she couldn’t even continue strengthening her Primordial Power.

That bottleneck left Han Dong feeling powerless, but she didn’t give up.

"Let’s keep looking. If it really doesn’t work out, we’ll find a chance to pay a visit."

Jiang Feng naturally knew the Divine Sect contained the Blood God Curse’s secrets.

But right now, the Divine Sect was controlled by Blood Sea Loose Cultivators—even the Cyan Snake Demon clan dared not intervene. Even though Jiang Feng’s cultivation had reached Qi Condensation Realm Perfection, he didn’t dare barge in recklessly.

He had no desire to clash with those loose cultivators.

It’d be best if they could get along peacefully.

They could probe the situation at the Divine Sect Mansion; he’d investigate the truth of cultivation here in the Dragon Capital Underground Palace. Keeping out of each other’s way was the ideal state.

There was no need to offend that group just to unravel the Blood God Curse rune a little sooner.

Another three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Feng checked his panel information.

Name: Jiang Feng

Fortune: 67110

Cultivation Technique: Yang Technique (Great Success)

Skills: Flame Saber (Perfection), Wind Control (Mastery)

Realm: Qi Condensation (Perfection)

Divine Power: Immortality

Ever since settling the Cyan Snake King and Mo Changlin, everything in Dragon Capital had been peaceful. Jiang Feng, living in the Imperial City, faced no further danger, and the Fortune Point increase depended solely on the slow daily gain.

Nearly a year had passed.

He’d accumulated scarcely more than sixty-seven thousand points.

Most came from the malice of minor figures. Jiang Feng didn’t need to lift a finger; with Qi Condensation Perfection, he could automatically resolve all malice, denying those petty minds any way to harm him.

"Hyaa!"

Han Dong was practicing her two-handed sword in the yard.

Han Tieshan and Bao Longwei watched from the side.

Jiang Feng also came out to the yard. Seeing him, Han Tieshan and Bao Longwei both seemed a little uneasy. Even though Jiang Feng had said they were all family now, neither Han Tieshan nor Bao Longwei could relax in his presence.

Even though Han Tieshan was now his father-in-law, he still felt a lack of confidence before this powerful cultivator.

After greeting them, Jiang Feng went to the side and prepared Spiritual Spring Water for Han Dong, conveniently preparing a small cup each for Han Tieshan and Bao Longwei as well.

The Spiritual Spring Water from the Divine Sect Mansion came in a single Jade Bottle, but inside was a vast space; the spring totaled over a thousand liters, so even drinking straight, it would last a while.

However, all three—Han Dong, Han Tieshan, and Bao Longwei—had mortal constitutions. Drink too much pure Spiritual Spring without being able to refine it, and it would cause more harm than good.

So, after moving into the Imperial City, Jiang Feng would always carefully dilute the Spiritual Spring Water for Han Dong. If Han Tieshan or Bao Longwei happened by, he’d also prepare a cup for them.

Ever since the two of them began drinking it, they’d drop by to visit Han Dong from time to time, even moving into the Imperial City themselves. Jiang Feng understood what they were after, but he had no objections to it.

Because, according to the physical constitutions and talents of Han Tieshan and Bao Longwei, at most they could only drink a liter of Spiritual Spring Water—and that liter also needed to be carefully diluted and would take several months to fully absorb.

Any more would just burden their bodies.

The reason Han Dong could keep drinking it was mainly due to the Yangchun Technique.

"Sister Dong, take a break and come drink your water."

Jiang Feng called after finishing the preparation.

"Alright."

Han Dong put away her two-handed sword.

"Dad, Senior Brother, you must be thirsty too. Let’s drink together!"

Han Dong said with a smile.

"Yes, I haven’t had a drink since this morning. My throat’s dry."

Han Tieshan nodded.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Bao Longwei feigned a coughing fit for effect.

The three came over and drank the diluted Spiritual Spring Water together. Jiang Feng also poured himself a bowl. What he drank was pure, undiluted Spiritual Spring filled with Spiritual Qi; draining a bowl brought a noticeable surge in Spiritual Power.

As a cultivator at Qi Condensation Perfection.

Jiang Feng’s spiritual power kept growing with no bottleneck in sight.

But there was a great chasm between Qi Condensation Perfection and Foundation Establishment. For Jiang Feng to break through would not be easy, so much that he’d placed his hopes on Fortune Points.

"Commander Jiang, King Xiao seeks an audience."

Suddenly, Chu Tianhe came running in.

He was responsible for watching over Jiang Feng’s residence, assigned by Xiao Zhan on purpose. Xiao Zhan thought Chu Tianhe was an old acquaintance of Jiang Feng and Han Dong, so putting him in charge of Jiang Feng’s daily affairs wouldn’t annoy Jiang Feng and might win his goodwill.

It was rare to have friends to chat with, so Jiang Feng hadn’t refused. However, the difference in strength was obvious, and given they hadn’t been especially close before, Jiang Feng and Chu Tianhe always kept a certain distance.

The only reason he didn’t refuse was to show approval, hoping Xiao Zhan would look after Chu Tianhe more.

"Let him in."

Jiang Feng had already sensed Xiao Zhan’s aura.

"Immortal Master, please save Great Tang!"

As soon as Xiao Zhan entered, he knelt before Jiang Feng, not caring a bit about Han Tieshan and Bao Longwei watching.

Jiang Feng’s brows furrowed.

He immediately released his Spiritual Sense, enveloping all of Dragon Capital. He sensed no danger. Thinking further, he focused his Spiritual Sense outward toward the South City Gate.

At last, he detected several powerful presences.

Jiang Feng knew full well that Xiao Zhan now controlled Great Tang, all rebels purged, and the various Vassal Kings submissive beneath him.

Even the Turkic Empire dared not make trouble anymore.

Now, only two groups could shake Xiao Zhan’s rule.

One was Jiang Feng himself.

With Qi Condensation Perfection strength, he could topple Great Tang and destroy the Xiao Family overnight.

The other group were the Blood Sea Loose Cultivators controlling the Divine Sect.

Xiao Zhan coming in and paying such respects meant he must have received a threat from the loose cultivators.

Sure enough, Jiang Feng’s Spiritual Sense found several strong loose cultivator presences outside the South City Gate.

These people couldn’t resist the allure of the Underground Palace in the end and were all heading for Dragon Capital.