"Please, you two go ahead."

Sweeping a glance at Hu Tianzong, Moon Sea True Venerable showed no intention of backing down, closing her eyes without saying another word.

"This old woman..."

Biting his cheek, staring at the punch-worthy expression of Moon Sea True Venerable, Hu Tianzong really wanted to go up and give her a good slap.

Raising his hand slightly to calm Hu Tianzong, Qi Xiu gazed at the expressionless Moon Sea True Venerable with closed eyes, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Healing you first, we are certainly unwilling, but if we want the elder Moon Sea to provide the method first, I'm sure you wouldn't agree.

How about we each take a step back and come up with a compromise?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Opening her eyes slightly, Moon Sea True Venerable's pupils flickered:

"What kind of compromise?"

"You give us half of the method to return to the future first, and after we heal you, you give us the other half.

That way, neither of us will be at a disadvantage, what do you think?"

Hearing Qi Xiu's solution, Hu Tianzong furrowed his brow slightly, just about to speak, but seeing Qi Xiu's calm and confident face, he closed his mouth again and chose to trust this True Dragon Daoist.

"Ha, alright, this is indeed a good solution."

With the corners of her mouth slightly raised, hearing that this method seemed to work in her favor, Moon Sea True Venerable thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

The method to return to the future is not impossible to decipher, but it isn't easy either.

But this method is entirely different from the Daoist inheritance of the future.

Not even half, even if one has nine-tenths, it's hard to deduce the remaining tenth.

So in her view, providing half is essentially the same as not giving it at all.

Since that's the case, why not agree to it.

"Alright, let's settle it this way."

With mutual consent, Moon Sea True Venerable then told Qi Xiu half the method to return to the future, word by word.

"How about it, do you need me to repeat it?"

Watching Qi Xiu chant silently with his eyes closed, Moon Sea True Venerable asked considerately.

After storing this half of the method in his mind, Qi Xiu exhaled deeply and cupped his hands to Moon Sea True Venerable:

"No need, I've memorized this method already, Old Hu, let's go."

"Bring the people from the Imperial Medical Bureau soon, this Venerable will wait for you here."

Boom——

The heavy closing of the Heavenly Prison's door stirred up rolling yellow fog and dust from the ground.

Walking on the road back to the Protector's mansion, Hu Tianzong, looking at Qi Xiu's calm face, couldn't resist his curiosity:

"Are we really going to find Lord Song and get the people from the Imperial Medical Bureau to save this old woman?"

Glancing sideways at the somewhat anxious and worried Hu Tianzong, Qi Xiu stopped pretending, chuckled:

"Of course not, after healing her, who are we going to settle the account with for our unwarranted dispatching here, almost losing our lives?"

"Then what's your..." Qi Xiu's words made Hu Tianzong a bit confused.

"Moon Sea True Venerable assumes that half the method is useless, but she might not know that I have some insight in method deduction.

With this half as a foundation, I have a way to deduce the full method."

Only at this moment, Qi Xiu revealed his true intention.

From the moment he stepped into the Heavenly Prison and saw Moon Sea True Venerable.

He never intended to truly cooperate with Moon Sea True Venerable.

All various actions were just setups and disguises, the ultimate goal was to make Moon Sea True Venerable believe they genuinely sought cooperation.

Aiming for something substantial, acquire the half-method from her hand.

"Ha? I see, I thought Daoist truly intended to cure this old woman."

Patting his chest lightly, Hu Tianzong laughed:

"So, she can only watch us return to the future while she finishes her days honestly in the Endless Hell."

"I intend to enter seclusion and deduce the method, not knowing when I will succeed.

During my seclusion period, I want you to help me find these things."

Handing a note to Hu Tianzong, Qi Xiu spoke softly.

Hu Tianzong is cheerful and spontaneous by nature, a true social butterfly. Within just three days at the Protectorate Mansion, he had become acquainted with many people there.

The notes were filled with titles from the Thunder Law Lineage's canonical volumes.

Having arrived at this Great Tang Dynasty by chance, not bringing back some local specialties would be a wasted journey.

He himself practices the "Hunyuan Myriad Laws Immortal Scripture" and doesn't have a high demand for great scripture volumes.

But acquiring some Thunder Law Lineage from the Great Tang Era would greatly benefit the Shenxiao Sect.

Whether it's his own illusion or some kind of omen is unknown.

These days, when he thinks of the Shenxiao Sect, there's an inexplicable unease in his heart, accompanied by an indescribable dissonance.

"Just yesterday, I discovered a bookstore in the Eastern District Market called: Wen Dao Bookstore.

It is an officially established bookstore selling Taoist True Scripture-level volumes.

In later generations, these are treasures sufficient to lead a school.

Indeed, this Great Tang is an unparalleled thriving era; just this Evernight Ancient City alone has far exceeded the wealth of future generations.

I eagerly want to see Chang'an City, which Lord Song referred to as the source of ten thousand paths."

Over the past few days at the Protectorate Mansion, Hu Tianzong heard a great deal about this sublime era of Great Tang.

His interest and admiration for the legendary era grew continually in his heart.

Yet they are people of the future, unaware of how much time has passed across the River of Time since then.

In their rush to return home, they hadn't had the time to see the flourishing scene of the Great Tang.

"Perhaps, there will be chances in the future."

Parting ways with Hu Tianzong, Qi Xiu returned straight to the Protectorate Mansion.

Though just a normal building, the Evernight Ancient City was actually enveloped in a giant divine prohibition array.

In this vast ancient city, besides Song Baiyi and his Hundred Battles Camp, there wasn't a single cultivator.

Hence, it was very safe to meditate in seclusion within the mansion.

Having returned to the Protectorate Mansion, Qi Xiu went to the separate residence Song Baiyi had prepared for him, and casually cast out hundreds of [Suppressing Talismans], which he had prepared beforehand.

The True Dragon Body, in terms of pure combat power, was entirely comparable to his true self.

Facing some extremely perilous situations, it might even prove to be more resilient.

But in terms of the variety of techniques, it was his true self, known as the Hunyuan Myriad Laws True Monarch, which excelled.

With the Suppressing Talismans sealing the entire building, ensuring his aura wouldn't leak, Qi Xiu's eyes began to shimmer with divine light.

In an instant!

His form changed, and his Primordial Soul underwent a significant transformation.

The True Dragon Body, hidden within him, left the True Dragon Mark, as Qi Xiu switched back to his original true self body.

Wide robes and long sleeves, fair and delicate.

Gazing at his original appearance in the mirror, Qi Xiu felt a sudden sense of disorientation, along with a peculiar sense of weakness and frailty, bringing a helpless smile to his face.

The True Dragon Body and his original true self body actually looked the same.

However, because of the True Dragon aura, the True Dragon Body's face appeared more dignified and steady, even somewhat intimidating, commanding reverence.

And the True Dragon Physique, strong and dominating, was unparalleled.

Qi Xiu's immortal body, although also a supreme physique unique in the world.

Yet in terms of bloodline depth and physical prowess, it couldn't match the True Dragon Body.

Just like using a wide-bladed, thick-backed broadsword and then switching to a delicate and light longsword, one would naturally feel a slight unease.

Fortunately, Qi Xiu quickly adapted to this awkward feeling.

"Next, is to complete that half of the Dharma Gate."

With both hands in the void, he pinched the Hunyuan Talisman, a white mirror light emerged on his forehead, transforming into the Haotian Mirror, hovering overhead. Then, behind him, a vast and turbulent crimson sea of fire opened, a mysterious and eerie Pocket World.

It was precisely the Small World Technique of the Primordial Lineage, the Hunyuan Palace!

Within the Protectorate Mansion, with Song Baiyi, the Primordial Spirit True Honor nearby, Qi Xiu couldn't summon the Hunyuan Palace to descend with great pomp.

He could only shift the Dharma Gate, immersing himself into the Hunyuan Palace.

The endless Red Lotus Karmic Fire burned unceasingly, the Karmic Fire Red Lotus Seed glowed gold and red, stable and calm, seeming to have adapted to the Hunyuan Palace environment.

Sitting beneath the Haotian Mirror, Qi Xiu took a deep breath, raising his right hand slowly to form a Daoist Incantation, within his palm, a simple and ancient Cloud Seal Talisman gradually emerged, exuding an aura commanding the entire world!

...