Everyone's expression turned peculiar as they stared intently at the puppet.
It was said that Ji Liang had a passion for Dao techniques since childhood, and as the son of the Ninth Generation King, he used his immense power to seek out various ancient Dao secrets.
This puppet was proof of that. A treasure that could ward off calamities was exceedingly rare. At least, they hadn't ever seen, nor heard of, a treasure like that before.
Gai Wu suddenly cupped his fist and said, "Brother Ji Liang, this item is truly remarkable! Do you have more of it? I would be willing to pay a high price to purchase one."
Everyone turned their gaze to Ji Liang, including Hong Xian, the left patrol general of Yongan City, who stared unblinkingly at him.
As cultivators at the Fusion Realm, they also had tribulations to face. Having a puppet like that in their possession would essentially give them an extra life.
Ji Liang smiled and spoke, his voice calm yet tinged with a hint of anger everyone could sense. "There's only one; I only managed to obtain it by chance. Being forced to waste it right is a pity."
"A pity indeed," Gai Wu grumbled.
He quickly turned to his friends and said, "You all take me back to my quiet room. I'm facing a misfortune, so be careful. I'll send a message for my mother to send someone to pick me up at the Heavenly King Zhen Manor."
Xu Peng also didn't dare to linger, so he had Han Linqiu, Wang Yi, and the others escort him out.
"Fourth Sister, I also need to return and prepare. I succeeded in facing the tribulation and will soon be advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm," Ji Liang said, cupping his fist toward the Fourth Princess.
He then said his farewells to Chen Mang and Hong Xian before leaving the area surrounded by several people.
As Ji Liang passed by Fang Chen, he paused for a moment, staring at him intently.
Xia Ji was surprised. He followed Ji Liang's line of sight and inspected Fang Chen. After a moment, he pondered aloud, "Ninth Prince, what are you looking at? There aren't flowers growing on Fang Da's face, are there? "
"It's nothing; I just haven't seen Daoist Fang in a few years, and I felt a bit emotional," Ji Liang shared with a smile.
Fang Chen grinned. "I feel the same way. I am quite envious of you successfully passing your tribulation, Brother Ji Liang."
"What's there to envy? For a genius like yourself, Daoist Fang, the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations are nothing but minor obstacles. They're hardly worth mentioning. I'm the one who envies you for being the sword leader of the Void Immortal Sword Sect, especially since the Heavenly Cloud Emperor valued you and granted you Dao techniques.
"Everyone knows I have always had a penchant for Dao techniques. Alas… I've never had much luck with the Heavenly Cloud Emperor. He's never met with me. I hope to have the opportunity to…," Ji Liang's lips curled slightly, "inquire about the Dao."
With that, Ji Liang turned and left.
Seeing that the gathering was about to disperse, Chen Mang smiled and invited the Fourth Princess to stay a while longer. To his surprise, the Fourth Princess outright refused.
She disregarded Chen Mang's stiff expression and looked at Fang Chen with a faint smile. "Daoist Fang, please come with me."
Everyone was slightly taken aback.
What connection did Fang Chen have with the Fourth Princess?
Xia Ji was also momentarily stunned. "Fourth Princess, you're calling for Fang Da, not me?"
"Why should I call you? We haven't even made a proper introduction," the Fourth Princess replied calmly.
She glanced at Fang Chen again before leading her attendants out.
"I'll go see what the Fourth Princess wants; you wait for me here in the Exquisite Tower," Fang Chen instructed Xia Ji before following her.
Chen Mang squinted slightly. He walked over to Xia Ji and asked in a whisper, "When did you and Fang Chen become acquainted? I don't recall hearing that he knew the Fourth Princess." ŔâɴÖꞖƐŞ
Xia Ji looked at him for a moment before grinning slightly. "Well, that's a long story. Brother Yi, let's talk about it next time."
With that, Xia Ji turned and left.
Chen Mang watched his retreating figure briefly before looking at Hong Xian. "Brother Hong, would you like to come over to my place for a drink tonight?"
Hong Xian's eyes flickered as he nodded lightly. "Then I'll be bothering you tonight, Young Master Chen."
He took his subordinates and soared into the sky.
In the capital, only a select few were permitted to fly, and the Yongan City Guards were one of them.
In another quiet room of the Qionglou, the Fourth Princess brought Fang Chen in and dismissed her attendants.
The Fourth Princess gazed deeply at Fang Chen for a moment before speaking. Her tone was markedly different from before. "Your Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations have arrived."
Fang Chen revealed a bitter smile. "So it turns out you are Goddess Shen Ji."
He hadn't previously considered that the Fourth Princess would be Goddess Shen Ji; they looked quite different, and their auras were also dissimilar.
It seemed that she had some kind of special technique that could alter her appearance, allowing her to disguise herself so seamlessly that no flaws could be detected.
"Tell me what you are experiencing," the Fourth Princess said with a light laugh.
"There are whispers in my ears."
"Whispers? You are experiencing a Demonic Calamity. The whispers will initially appear both real and unreal, as the demons have yet to truly descend. However, as time goes on, the demons will manifest, and then it won't just be simple whispers; they will devour your flesh and soul."
The Fourth Princess frowned slightly. "This is even more troublesome than a Lightning Tribulation. You must be entangled in significant causal relations to attract a Demonic Calamity. Do you have any plans for how to deal with it? You might consider visiting the Jade Palace to see if there are any Vast Origin Fruits or Three Solar Fruits available."
Fang Chen gently shook his head. "Regarding how to deal with the calamity, I have my own plans in mind; you don't need to worry, Goddess Shen Ji."
"You have your own plans?"
Goddess Shen Ji observed Fang Chen for several moments before nodding and no longer pressing the issue. Instead, she asked, "Are you now a disciple of the Desolate Academy?"
Fang Chen nodded. "Indeed, I am."
He was not just a disciple of the Desolate Academy; he was soon to become the seventh Instructor of the Desolate Academy.
"According to the clues I have investigated, the Radiant Sun Spirit Lord from the Spirit Blood Sect may be a disciple of the Alchemy Department of the Desolate Academy.
"This matter is of great importance. Even with my status, I cannot simply go into the Desolate Academy and attack someone without concrete evidence. I hope you can investigate discreetly and find out who this person is. As long as there is evidence proving he is the Radiant Sun Spirit Lord, I will handle the rest," Goddess Shen Ji.
"Among these seventy-two, there are over twenty cultivators at the Middle Three Realms. A Spirit Lord is typically at the Middle Three Realms, but it isn't unlikely for someone to break through to the Upper Three Realms and keep it to themselves. Without a point of entry, it will be nearly impossible for me to investigate."
Goddess Shen Ji said, "I can provide you with a few clues. The Radiant Sun Spirit Lord is male, so that rules out any female disciples. He is likely struggling in the Desolate Academy, with a cultivation level of the Soul Splitting Realm or somewhere there.
"Beyond that, you will need to investigate on your own. A few of us have already received confirmed information that the Spirit Blood Sect will soon execute a significant plan. The Radiant Sun Spirit Lord plays a crucial role in this, and finding him could help us thwart the Spirit Blood Sect's scheme."
Fang Chen's eyes lit up. "A major operation? Do you know what kind of operation it is?"