The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 63 - 60. New Changes to the Martial God Map

"The magician was turned over by me, and then taken away by an official from the Imperial Palace named ’Mo Chou,’" she said.

From atop the beam, Jin Jian spoke unhurriedly.

Quite efficient... Zhao Douan had a flash of Mo Chou’s icy face in his mind, feeling somewhat regretful:

Going to the palace to show sanctity, what a pity she wasn’t there, slapping her face would have been most satisfying.

"Has the magician’s identity been confirmed?"

Jin Jian nodded, "Confirmed as a fugitive fallen priest, a member of the Magic God Sect."

"Magic God Sect?"

Zhao Douan heard this name for the second time, his thirst for knowledge apparent.

Jin Jian explained, "That is an organization of magicians in Jianghu, having some origins with our Heavenly Master Mansion..."

According to her, the founder of the Magic God Sect was once a powerful magician within the Heavenly Master Mansion many years ago.

He had committed a great sin, and was expelled and wanted by the Heavenly Master, after which he fled into Jianghu and established the "Magic God Sect."

Its members mainly consisted of Jianghu magicians and fallen priests who, for various reasons, had committed crimes.

The reason the robed magician was hiding in the Capital seemed to be related to his personal vendetta, but Jin Jian indicated that she didnt know the specifics.

"This isn’t my concern," Jin Jian disengaged, remaining aloof.

"So, it’s suspected that Prince Jing Mansion is colluding with the Magic God Sect?" Zhao Douan furrowed his brows, though he was not surprised.

The "Eight Princes" were secretly gathering strength to oppose the Empress, and besides firearms, certainly also needed the assistance of cultivators.

"Perhaps." Jin Jian was disinterested in worldly affairs and then said:

"I came to you because I have a question to ask."

"Please ask."

Jin Jian lowered her eyes, staring at him intently, her words shocking:

"Why didn’t you die in the Southern Suburb Bamboo Forest that day?"

!!!

At that moment, Zhao Douan, submerged in the bath, tensed his muscles in a sudden fright, her question was beyond his expectations.

"What do you mean, priest?" Zhao Douan feigned composure.

Jin Jian thought for a moment and said:

"That day, I happened to be near the Southern Suburb Bamboo Forest. I caught a glimpse of the ’Earth God’ descending and rushed over, but it was too late. Judging by the mana fluctuations, that ’World’ magician did not hold back against you.

Yet, you survived. Very... odd."

This was the reason she had stealthily followed Zhao Douan and intervened in the case of the firework craftsmen.

He realized that... Zhao Douan’s pupils constricted.

For him, the biggest loophole since his arrival was being injured but not dying.

He had told the Empress that he guessed the ’World’ magician hadn’t used his full strength, but he hadn’t expected there to be a "witness" like Jin Jian.

How to explain? How to respond?

Sweat beaded on his forehead, mingling with the bathwater, indistinguishable.

As he racked his brains desperately, Jin Jian said to herself:

"I was very curious. But now I think I understand, it must be because your Divine Soul is innately strong."

Zhao Douan: "Ah?"

Jin Jian, pondering:

"You have inherited the Imperial Family Martial God lineage, and you used Imperial Family Martial Skills when you slew the puppet on the street, which shows you are well-suited to that path. As far as I know, those with strong spirits match best with the Martial God lineage."

Zhao Douan: "Ah!"

Jin Jian’s eyes and brow relaxed:

"So, your Innate Divine Soul is strong. That’s how you could withstand the deadly strike from the magician’s keen mind."

Zhao Douan: "Ah yes, yes, yes!"

Jin Jian’s smile bloomed, revealing the joy of solving the puzzle.

Last time, she had gone to her master, the Old Heavenly Master, with her doubts; he told her to observe and ponder, and now that she had the answer, the girl was naturally pleased.

As for her suspicions about Zhao Douan, they never existed from the start.

In her view, a weak cultivator failing to answer correctly was normal.

Asking him face-to-face was more about confirmation, and the desire to show off her own wit.

Huh... that works?

Zhao Douan sighed silently, resolved to adopt this explanation if anyone asked in the future.

With his doubts cleared up, Jin Jian had no more reason to stay, and she prepared to leave.

Zhao Douan made to get up to see her out, the water splashed loudly, and he hurriedly sat back down, clasping his fists in respect:

"I apologize for not being able to get up," said Zhao Douan, "I wonder if I can seek clarification from a priest should I encounter challenges in my cultivation later on?"

This top-notch connection handed down from the Heavenly Master himself was too good to pass up.

Jin Jian frowned, "The Heavenly Master Mansion does not entertain outsiders."

As Zhao Douan felt disappointed, he heard her say, "But you can send a letter to the Heavenly Master Mansion."

Connections +1

"Safe travels, Priest!"

Jin Jian gracefully acknowledged with a "Hmm" and suddenly her figure transformed into starlight, piercing through the roof and vanishing from sight.

Zhao Douan was squatting in the bath, calling out several times to confirm that the other person had "probably" left before he climbed out naked and donned his clothes, sighing in relief.

...

...

At night, when the lamps were first lit, the entire Capital was draped with green veils.

"Phew!"

Inside the bedroom, Zhao Douan kindled a fire stick to light the candles on the table.

Sitting cross-legged on his couch in the orange flame, he silently breathed in and visualized the "Martial God Map" in his mind’s ocean, proceeding with his cultivation for the day.

When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in his bedroom but atop a majestic blue mountain.

Before him was the familiar sea of clouds and the rising dawn.

The wind blew bellows... his robes fluttered.

Zhao Douan stretched his body, accustomed to the practice wherein the "Grand Ancestor Emperor" in the painting would begin practicing his fist skills, and he would be drawn into it.

However, today was different.

As the great sun rose, the towering figure with disheveled black hair and a robust martial artist aura, the "Emperor of Great Yu," suddenly turned his head and looked at him, then leaped towards the sea of clouds.

His gaze clearly conveyed the message, "Follow."

"Where are you going?" Zhao Douan was confused and saw the Grand Ancestor Emperor disappear; with gritted teeth, he too jumped.

After all, he wouldn’t die in a painting.

When Zhao Douan opened his eyes next, he discovered he was lying in an endless desert.

Within his field of vision, there was nothing but the boundless sand sea, and upon looking up, there was no cloud sea.

Only a blazing sun rose.

His attire had changed to a white robe, and beside him was a backpack containing a water pouch and dry rations among other things.

"Hello?"

Zhao Douan sat up and noticed that the Grand Ancestor Emperor was dressed similarly.

He was already wearing his backpack and starting to march forward.

"Can you hear me? Where are we going?" Zhao Douan hurriedly followed, trying to inquire.

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He had attempted similar conversations many times before but never received a response.

It seemed the person in the painting was merely a solitary record of a bygone image.

"Could it be similar to a game, where the first scene is me practicing the absorption of morning rays and fist skills, and now that I have achieved a minor mastery of the light absorption, I’ve entered the second act?"

"Eunuch Hai said the ’Martial God Map’ records the cultivation process of Great Yu Grand Ancestor... Am I essentially retracing the Grand Ancestor’s path of cultivation?"

With this thought, Zhao Douan silently followed.

After a while, as the blazing sun rose, emitting incredible heat, turning the entire desert into a melting furnace.

Zhao Douan, feeling dizzy and blurred from the heat, could only rely on his water pouch to quench his thirst.

The Grand Ancestor Emperor, also drenched in sweat, continued his unwavering pace.

The two followed a trail of camel footprints along the sand dunes.

From morning till dusk.

As the great sun set and the sky turned a deep blue, Zhao Douan’s water pouch was completely empty.

The temperature began to plummet—the desert known for its dramatic difference between its scorching day and freezing night temperatures.

Zhao Douan, mimicking the Grand Ancestor Emperor, took a blanket out of his backpack, wrapped it around himself, and continued walking.

Until the night deepened, and he nearly collapsed from exhaustion—only then did the Grand Ancestor finally stop, sat down cross-legged, and began eating.

"Is this also part of the cultivation? Don’t tell me, the Emperor of Great Yu truly crossed the desert back then."

Zhao Douan tore at the dried meat with his teeth, wildly complaining.

Just then, the Grand Ancestor Emperor, sitting cross-legged beside him, suddenly turned his head and glanced at him, with a hint of... disdain?

"Observe the sky," said the Grand Ancestor with the aura of a martial artist, and then he gazed upward while sitting cross-legged.

The painting was actually speaking!

Zhao Douan was startled and instinctively looked up, only to see above the sandy desert, a grand galaxy like a waterfall stretching across the sky, cloudless.

The stars were brilliantly vivid.

It was a sparkling starry sky he had never seen before.