"Dragon?"

Immediately, Chen Mo looked at the words Xiao Jiu had written on the ground and couldn’t help but be stunned: "Are you saying that the blood in this bottle is dragon blood?"

Xiao Jiu nodded, then gestured vigorously for a while, using body language to express the effects of dragon blood to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo was half-understood: "Isn’t the Canglan Continent a place of exile? How can there be dragons?"

Although Chen Mo did not know the status of dragons in this world, he guessed they were not low by any means, definitely a very powerful existence.

Therefore, its blood would definitely be of great benefit to him.

However, he couldn’t use it now. If the dragon blood immediately propelled him to Foundation Establishment, it would be bad.

Xiao Jiu shook his head, indicating he didn’t know either.

"That’s true. It’s said that the Flood Dragon also has dragon blood in its veins. Since this continent has Flood Dragons, it means dragons have been here before, which isn’t surprising." Chen Mo murmured to himself, channeling True Qi into the Jade Bottle to prevent the dragon blood inside from melting and seeping into the bottle.

Chen Mo squatted down and touched Xiao Jiu’s head, asking: "Xiao Jiu, where did you find these stones?"

Xiao Jiu nudged his arm with his head, then leaped onto the roof, looking back at Chen Mo.

"You want me to follow you?" Chen Mo said.

Xiao Jiu nodded.

Chen Mo immediately followed.

A man and a fox soon arrived at the stall Xiao Jiu visited yesterday.

"This... sir, what would you like?" The vendor raised his head, greeting guests as usual, but upon seeing Chen Mo, he froze.

From Chen Mo’s attire, it was clear he was either wealthy or noble, so calling him ’sir’ must be correct.

And the White Fox beside him, wasn’t it the one from yesterday?

Could it be he’s here about the stones today?

The vendor’s face changed, quickly saying: "Sir... let me explain, whether there’s jade in those stones depends entirely on luck, sir you..."

Chen Mo raised his hand to stop the vendor.

He knew these vendors’ businesses were aimed at commoners because any Martial Artist who could open the Celestial Eye could see if there was jade within the stone embryo.

Therefore, it was impossible for ordinary people to get rich overnight by gambling stones.

Stone containing jade would have already been picked out; the remaining ones had no jade or were inferior jade with many imperfections.

"I ask you, where did these stones come from?" To get the vendor to speak honestly, Chen Mo took out the Token of the Infantry Department.

Seeing he was dealing with the military, the vendor became even more frightened, immediately confessing: "These stones all came from Jiangnan; there’s no jade in them. My superiors told me to sell them this way..."

The vendor, without hesitation, threw his superiors under the bus.

"Where in Jiangnan did they come from?" Chen Mo asked.

The vendor shook his head: "I don’t know, I truly don’t know. I’m only responsible for selling them. All I know is they came from over in Jiangnan, I don’t know anything else."

Seeing that he seemed genuinely ignorant, Chen Mo asked again: "Who is your superior?"

"It’s..."

...

Returning to the mansion.

Chun Lan found him and said she had received three invitations.

One was from Xiao Yunqi.

One was from Wu Lu.

Another was from Quan Qiyang.

They all invited him for a talk at their residences.

Wu Lu and Quan Qiyang seeking him out, Chen Mo could guess: one was certainly about a marriage proposal, the other related to Consort Yu’s matter.

But as for Xiao Yunqi approaching him, Chen Mo couldn’t figure it out.

However, recalling the events in the simulation, Xiao Yunqi should now be wary of him.

If it turned out to be a trap, it would be troublesome.

Chen Mo chose to simulate first.

According to the simulation content, Chen Mo discovered that Xiao Yunqi intended to use Xiao Yunxi and the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture to uncover whether he was Chen Hong. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

After all, in Xiao Yunqi’s view, Chen Hong had cultivated the Child Fire version of the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, so as long as Xiao Yunxi activated it to check Chen Mo’s reaction, whether he’d suffer the burning of Heart Fire, it would be evident.

Seeing it was merely that, Chen Mo slightly relaxed. Although his wings had grown quite full, he did not want to clash with Xiao Yunqi, especially since Xiao Yunqi was Xiao Yunxi’s biological father.

After briefly tidying himself up, Chen Mo headed to Xiao Mansion.

Xiao Mansion Hall.

"Subordinate greets Lord An Yang..." Chen Mo respectfully saluted Xiao Yunqi, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then said, "May I ask what important matter Lord An Yang seeks my assistance with?"

Xiao Yunqi raised his hand, motioning a maid beside him to pour tea, then smiled: "It’s nothing important, just inviting you over for lunch. You’ve worked hard in Qinyang County; let me reward you well."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo showed an appearance of unworthy honor and said: "This is my duty, it wasn’t hard work..."

"Then it’s settled." Xiao Yunqi decided just like that.

He then chatted with Chen Mo about matters in Qinyang County, resembling a superior expressing concern for his subordinate.

During the conversation, Chen Mo noticed Xiao Yunqi making several strange gestures, which piqued his curiosity.

Activating his Ancient Heavy Pupils, Chen Mo discovered a secret room behind the hall’s walls.

Inside the secret room, Xiao Yunxi bit her lip, tightly clutching her skirt hem, seeming hesitant and conflicted, with a very complex expression.

Observing Xiao Yunxi’s delay in response, Xiao Yunqi gave a heavy cough.

Chen Mo immediately expressed concern, asking what was wrong with Xiao Yunqi.

Xiao Yunqi said it was nothing, but accidentally dropped the teacup in his hand, shattering it on the ground.

At this moment, Chen Mo understood something.

Xiao Yunqi must be urging Xiao Yunxi to activate the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, but Xiao Yunxi hesitated to act.

The shattered teacup seemed to be a signal to push Xiao Yunxi.

Realizing this, Chen Mo instantly reversed his True Qi, and as the True Qi within him descended into chaos, he collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest, unable to utter a single word due to the pain.

Seeing Chen Mo’s state, Xiao Yunqi knew Xiao Yunxi had acted, sighed with relief, and hurried over to support him: "Chen Mo, what’s wrong? How did you end up like this? Are you alright? Someone, quickly fetch the Imperial Physician..."

While supporting him, he checked Chen Mo’s pulse, noting the disorderly flow of his inner energy and the violent True Qi, which was evidently a reaction from having his Heart Fire stirred.

It seemed irrefutable that Chen Mo was indeed Chen Hong.

Xiao Yunqi quickly coughed twice.

After a moment, Chen Mo ceased his cries of pain, his body stopped convulsing, and he said with some trembling: "Lord An Yang, what... just happened to me?"

"I also don’t know. I just saw you fall, in great pain, you... what happened to you?" Xiao Yunqi displayed a façade of concern for Chen Mo.

Chen Mo shook his head: "I suddenly felt severe pain in my chest, with a blazing fire in my lower abdomen, it was unbearable, but now it doesn’t hurt anymore."

"I’ve sent for the Imperial Physician; he will examine you when he arrives." Xiao Yunqi said.

Chen Mo nodded: "Thanks for the trouble, Lord An Yang."