Capital City, Imperial Palace, Palace Front.
The civil and military officials of the Great Zhou gathered on the vast, flat ground of the Palace Front.
The sun shone overhead, the midday heat pressing down so intensely that standing for just a few minutes was enough to soak one in sweat.
Besides the officials, the disciples of the Five Great Cultivation Clans, who had followed the founding Li Emperor in his campaigns across the land and had guarded Great Zhou for over six centuries, were all present with their hair neatly bound and arranged.
These people gathered here for only one reason: to witness the elusive National Tutor, who appeared like a divine dragon—seen once but never truly revealed—conducting the Rain-Invoking Ceremony.
This mysterious National Tutor, personally summoned by the emperor and rarely seen in court, was a subject of curiosity and speculation.
Very few had ever laid eyes on his true form.
The officials wished to seize this opportunity to see what abilities this National Tutor possessed to merit such imperial favor.
There was still some time before the ceremony officially began at noon, so the ministers exchanged greetings among themselves.
“Head of the Ye Clan, it’s been a long time. I hope all has been well recently?”
Ye Tianlu, Head of the Ye Clan, led his clan members to the Palace Front, where the Ji Clan Head stepped forward to greet him.
“Thank you for your concern, Ji Clan Head.”
The Ji Clan Head glanced sideways and said to his son,
“Why don’t you greet Head Ye?”
“Greetings, Head Ye. I am Ji Ying.”
Ye Tianlu nodded approvingly.
“It’s been many days. Your nephew Ji Ying has already reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Truly, a bright future lies ahead.”
The Ji Clan Head shook his head.
“Head Ye, you flatter us. Ying still has much room to grow.”
He then shifted the topic, asking,
“I don’t recall seeing young Xichen today. Didn’t he accompany you, Head Ye?”
Before Ye Tianlu could reply, the Feng Clan Head suddenly interjected from nowhere.
“Head Ye, on such an important day, His Majesty specially ordered that all members of the Five Great Cultivation Clans who have reached the age of binding their hair must be present. Your son is sixteen now, isn’t he? Hiding him away at home and not letting him meet others—wouldn’t that be defying the emperor’s order?”
A twitch appeared at the corner of Ye Tianlu’s mouth.
He and the Feng Clan Head had never gotten along since before.
Turning, he called out softly,
“Xichen!”
From a short distance, a group of Ye Clan youngsters who had just turned fifteen parted, and one strode forward confidently.
The Feng Clan Head’s lips curled into a smirk. Ye Tianlu had hidden that “waste” son away for years, but now, how could he possibly hide him?
When the Ji Clan Head and others caught sight of the newcomer’s face, they couldn’t help but feel surprised.
“Xichen, this is the Ji Clan Head and the Feng Clan Head.”
“Greetings, Ji Clan Head, Feng Clan Head,”
Ye Xichen said with a calm bow, neither humble nor overbearing.
The Feng Clan Head stared suspiciously at Ye Xichen, then glanced at Ye Tianlu.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
This was no mere youth; it was clearly a young maiden.
Yet Ye Xichen wore male clothing, his hair bound neatly, and there was a noticeable flatness where it mattered.
More importantly, Ye Xichen radiated a distinct aura—cold and indifferent, yet filled with righteous energy—far from the typical demeanor of a young woman.
Others simply assumed Ye Xichen had an androgynous, beautiful appearance and did not question further.
“Your son… truly has a handsome appearance, Old Ye,”
said the Feng Clan Head, stroking his beard with a sigh.
Though the Ji Clan Head had already learned from a Ye Clan traitor about Ye Xichen’s sudden transformation into a girl, he could not speak of it openly.
If he did, Ye Tianlu would immediately suspect there was a spy within the clan.
But wait—Ye Xichen’s cultivation had already reached Qi Refining Fifth Layer?
Two months ago, he was still at Qi Refining Third Layer.
This child was terrifying.
Hmph.
So what?
My son has already reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and he’s even a year younger than Ye Xichen.
The Ji Clan Head turned to look at his pride and joy, Ji Ying, but found his son’s eyes fixed unwaveringly on Ye Xichen, unable to look away.
Ye Xichen noticed Ji Ying’s gaze and smiled in return.
Ji Ying’s face flushed red, and he hurriedly turned his head aside.
The Ji Clan Head awkwardly scolded,
“Ying, don’t be disrespectful.”
Qi Refining Fifth Layer was only average among the Five Great Cultivation Clans’ descendants, but it was enough to shed the “waste” label that had plagued Ye Xichen for years.
In fact, thanks to his beautiful appearance, many young women from the other four great clans now approached him willingly.
Meanwhile, at the far end of the palace corridor, two sneaky eunuchs were up to some secretive business.
“This Young Master Ye seems to be living quite comfortably. Looks like I did a good deed,”
one said.
“Young Master, we must move quickly. If we’re too late, Li Yuhan will become suspicious.”
“Got it, just a moment longer.”
Zhang Yuge, dressed in eunuch robes, crouched in a secluded corner, carefully dismantling the spells set up there.
Beside him, Zhang Qingyao, also in eunuch attire, kept watch, acting as a lookout.
They had sneaked into the palace since dawn, knocked out two eunuchs, and were now systematically seeking out and dismantling the formation spells Li Yuhan had secretly set during the night.
Both wore the human skin masks they had used last time at Yunbao Tower.
“Young Master, less than half an hour remains. Most of the ministers and the Five Great Cultivation Clans are already here,”
Zhang Qingyao urged.
“Phew, finally dismantled this one. Done.”
Zhang Yuge placed his hands on his knees and slowly stood.
“Master, are there any other places with spells?”
Zhang Yuge asked.
“There is one more. The Blood God Grand Formation has nine spell nodes—eight arranged in the eight cardinal directions, and the last one is the caster’s own position. That last one can never be broken,”
Yun Lan explained.
“Master, you know so much. Aren’t you from the Hehuan Sect? How do you understand Blood Nether Sect’s formations?”
Zhang Yuge flattered.
“Back then, both the Blood Nether Sect and Hehuan Sect belonged to the demonic path. I have some connections with the Blood Nether Sect leader. I’ve never eaten pork, but I’ve certainly seen pigs run.”
“By the way, Young Master, how did you suspect Li Yuhan was planning something big?”
Zhang Qingyao interjected.
“I just guessed. The reason Li Yuhan poisoned me was that he was determined to get rid of me. Last time, I fought him with the Master’s help, and he couldn’t get the upper hand, so he poisoned me early as insurance. For someone like me—a so-called ally who’s on the same boat—he wants to eliminate me all the more, not to mention the Five Great Cultivation Clans who have oppressed him for years. Besides, faking a shaman and doing a dance to get Zhang Clan’s release—there’s no such good deal in the world. It’s most likely a trap.”
Zhang Qingyao nodded thoughtfully, then asked,
“If Li Yuhan plans to wipe everyone out at the Rain-Invoking Ceremony, and we’ve dismantled the formation he set in advance, what happens when he can’t defeat the Five Great Cultivation Clans? What about my family…?”
“Don’t worry. You go search the heavenly prison and find where your family is held. I’ll stay here. Once the chaos begins, I’ll join you immediately.”