"Fourth Master."

When Uncle Jiang saw Li Ming, he stood up, murmured a greeting, and silently stepped aside. This was a stark contrast to the warm and friendly way he had treated Li Huan.

Bai Yuan took note of all this.

Siblings in large, wealthy families often turn against each other for inheritance; for the Qingzhou Royal Mansion, this was only more pronounced.

The servants of the Prince’s Mansion might seem ordinary, but they were also excellent informants. And this Uncle Jiang had clearly taken Li Huan’s side.

For Li Huan to stand out among the King of Qingzhou’s many children, he relied not only on his own talent but also on the intelligence provided by this old servant.

In fact, there were many people like Uncle Jiang in the Qingzhou Royal Mansion.

But the King of Qingzhou seemed unconcerned by this, or perhaps he was deliberately using it to cultivate his sons’ ability to win people over.

Li Ming paid it no mind, merely glancing at Uncle Jiang before walking toward Bai Yuan with a smile.

The reason he was at the Qingzhou Royal Mansion was, of course, because he had heard the news of Bai Yuan destroying the Demon Stronghold and had rushed over through the night.

"I’ve heard Lord Bai enjoys collecting cultivation techniques. As it happens, I have a lightweight technique manual here that I thought you might appreciate."

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Lord Li, I cannot accept a reward I haven’t earned."

Although he was very fond of cultivation techniques, he didn’t want to get involved in the Qingzhou Royal Mansion’s family affairs because of it.

Li Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Lord Bai, I wonder what kind of treasure my ninth brother has offered you. In truth, I can offer a much higher price."

Bai Yuan shook his head. "Lord Li, I think you’ve misunderstood. I only came here to help at a friend’s request. If you need demons slain, I would be just as happy to help."

A flicker of understanding crossed Li Ming’s eyes.

He had, of course, already investigated and found that Bai Yuan had come to Qingzhou because of Yang Fangyu, the Prefect of Huanglong Prefecture, and Yang Fangyu was a good friend of Li Huan’s.

Immediately, he laughed. "Lord Bai, you jest."

He had just confirmed that Bai Yuan was only here to slay demons and hadn’t been won over by his ninth brother. Since that was the case, it didn’t matter.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out.

"Fourth Brother, this is my residence. You seem to have overstepped your bounds."

Li Huan was seen striding into the courtyard, practically breathing fire, his eyes blazing with fury.

Li Ming was trying to poach someone right from under his nose, in his own home. Naturally, he was furious.

Seeing Uncle Jiang standing behind Li Huan, Bai Yuan naturally understood that it must have been Uncle Jiang who had called him over.

Uncle Jiang was clearly on Li Huan’s side.

Knowing that he couldn’t stop Li Ming himself due to his status, he had called Li Huan over ahead of time.

Li Ming chuckled. "Lord Bai, come to Longgang Prefecture some other day, and we can drink and talk then. Farewell."

With that, he flicked his sleeves and strode out of the courtyard.

As long as he was certain Bai Yuan hadn’t taken a side, that was enough.

Li Huan’s expression was stormy as he watched Li Ming leave.

He knew very well that Li Ming had come here to fight him for Bai Yuan.

Just as the rumors said, the struggle within the Qingzhou Royal Mansion was extremely intense. Although it hadn’t reached the point of life and death, none of them could bear to see a rival gain any advantage.

The ranking of the King of Qingzhou’s thirteen sons wasn’t just about age; it was almost equivalent to their strength.

After all, the King of Qingzhou was already a hundred years old, and Li Huan’s eldest brother was already eighty.

Though age is not a true measure in the Martial Dao, none who could distinguish themselves from the pack of royal heirs was a simpleton. Li Huan, with only thirty years under his belt, was naturally no match for his elder brothers.

If Li Ming went all out to win Bai Yuan over, he truly had no bargaining chips to compete.

Li Huan sighed softly. "Younger Brother Bai, did you already agree to my fourth brother’s offer?"

Judging from Li Ming’s expression just now, it was clear he had succeeded.

Bai Yuan shook his head. "No."

A flash of joy appeared on Li Huan’s face, but it vanished just as quickly.

"Brother Li, my master is Dong Wanjun. I will not interfere in the affairs of the Qingzhou Royal Mansion."

How could Li Huan not understand? Bai Yuan had not only rejected his fourth brother, but himself as well.

’He’s right,’ Li Huan thought. ’Although Bai Yuan is only the Sect Leader of a prefecture-level sect, his master’s lineage traces back to the Lingzhou General, and even further up, to the Minister of War, Xu Dingchun.’

The Qingzhou Royal Mansion was powerful, but not so powerful that it was worth Bai Yuan getting too deeply entangled.

Li Huan quickly forced a smile.

Bai Yuan had already done him a huge favor. Now, by staying neutral, Li Huan was actually the one coming out ahead.

"Younger Brother Bai, I have already reported the matter of the Soul Chasing Tower Lord to my royal father. Let’s go to the Library Pavilion."

Just now, he had barely stepped out of the King of Qingzhou’s chambers when Uncle Jiang was already waiting at the door. It was only after learning that Li Ming had come to his courtyard that he had rushed back.

Although Bai Yuan had no intention of interfering in the Royal Mansion’s family affairs, he had still helped him, and a promise was a promise.

Before long, Li Huan led Bai Yuan to the Library Pavilion within the Qingzhou Royal Mansion.

As expected of the Royal Race, the Qingzhou Royal Mansion’s Library Pavilion covered more than ten acres, far more magnificent than the Divine Mansion Sect’s Instructor Hall.

However, similar to other sects, the truly core cultivation techniques of the Prince’s Mansion would certainly not be shared with outsiders.

The Library Pavilion had nine floors in total.

Li Huan led Bai Yuan into the Library Pavilion.

With Li Huan present, the guards of the Library Pavilion did not try to stop them.

The reason the Qingzhou Royal Mansion allowed outsiders into its Library Pavilion was, of course, to make it easier for the disciples of the Royal Race to recruit powerful experts.

After all, no matter how many children the King of Qingzhou sired, he couldn’t possibly protect such a vast family enterprise with his offspring alone; he would always need help from outsiders.

That was why a rule was established that royal descendants who served as prefects could bring people into the Library Pavilion.

The Qingzhou Royal Mansion’s Library Pavilion looked large from the outside, and the collection of books within was frighteningly vast.

It housed martial arts techniques from every province in the land.

It was clear the Qingzhou Royal Race had spared no effort in creating this Library Pavilion.

Li Huan’s authority granted him access up to the fifth floor. Any higher, and you reached the ancestral cultivation techniques of the Qingzhou Royal Race, which only core members of the clan were qualified to see.

Bai Yuan examined everything carefully.

It was almost impossible for a top-tier cultivation technique to be overlooked and gather dust, but he had to try his luck anyway.

Li Huan was extremely patient, chatting with Bai Yuan as they walked.

By the time Bai Yuan finally reached the fifth floor, the sky had already turned a dusky yellow.

"Brother Bai, this floor has some decent cultivation techniques, but with your high standards, I’m afraid you probably won’t find them worthy of your attention."

Li Huan walked up to the fifth floor with his hands clasped behind his back, speaking with ease and confidence.

The truly valuable things in the Qingzhou Royal Mansion would, of course, not be given to outsiders. The cultivation techniques on the first five floors were merely a display of power.

Unless one was willing to sell themselves to the Prince’s Mansion, the fifth floor was as far as they could go.

Bai Yuan, of course, had no intention of selling himself. He had only come to the Library Pavilion to try his luck.

He examined every book carefully, constantly cross-referencing them with the names in his memory.

Suddenly, he stopped in front of a bookshelf.

Curious, Li Huan looked toward the spot Bai Yuan was staring at. He was eager to know what kind of cultivation technique could have caught Bai Yuan’s interest.

Spirit-Seizing Technique

His brow furrowed.

"Younger Brother Bai, you’re interested in this kind of lost ancient technique?"

"Ancient technique?"

Bai Yuan turned to look at Li Huan.

Li Huan gave a slight chuckle. Anyone else from the Qingzhou Royal Mansion would not have been able to explain the origin of this cultivation technique, but he happened to enjoy listening to strange tales from around the world, so he knew a thing or two.

"This technique, the Spirit-Seizing Technique, is said to have been created three thousand years ago by a group of people called Spirit Cookers. Those people claimed to use all of creation as their ingredients, and powerful Spirit Cookers could even rival Alchemy Masters."

"Funnily enough, to become a Spirit Cooker, one must at least break through the Entering the Realm stage. The barrier to entry was too high, so it gradually faded into obscurity."

"It seems every lost art has its reasons for disappearing."

"This copy of the Spirit-Seizing Technique was obtained by an ancestor a thousand years ago by chance, but because the introductory technique is missing, no one has been able to master it since."

Li Huan said all this in one breath.

Although Bai Yuan appeared calm on the surface, a storm was raging in his heart.

He originally thought his path as a Spirit Cooker would likely end at the Master level. He never expected to encounter a lost Spirit Cooker cultivation technique. This was a gift from the heavens.

He forcibly suppressed his excitement, not letting Li Huan notice anything was amiss.

Bai Yuan said, "It is rather interesting. Brother Li, I’ll take this cultivation technique."

Seeing that Bai Yuan had made up his mind, Li Huan didn’t try to dissuade him.

Bai Yuan took the Spirit-Seizing Technique and went straight downstairs.

The guards at the entrance still didn’t stop him. An old man in the Library Pavilion simply picked up his brush and wrote a short line in a ledger.

The Spirit-Seizing Technique in Bai Yuan’s hands was, of course, a copy, not the original. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been allowed to take it so easily.

But a copy was enough.

...

"Brother Bai, you’re returning to Ling Province?"

Li Huan was a little disappointed. He had hoped Bai Yuan would stay in Qingzhou for a few more days. Even if Bai Yuan was unwilling to get involved in the Prince’s Mansion’s affairs, he might still need his help with demon slaying in the future.

"I have been away for several months. There are many matters in Ling Province that require my attention."

Seeing that Bai Yuan was determined to leave, Li Huan didn’t insist he stay.

After all, Bai Yuan was not only the Shenfu Sect Master but also the Demon-slaying Guard General of Ling Province. He was indeed a very busy man.

"In that case, I will come to Ling Province to find you and Fang Yu in a few days."

"Farewell."

Bai Yuan cupped his fist, then vaulted onto his horse and galloped out of the city.

In just three days, he was back in Huanglong Prefecture.

He had Li Huan’s Demon Horse to thank for that. A regular horse would have likely run itself to death.

"Sect Leader, you’ve returned."

Yu Hui appeared in the Sect Leader Hall at the first opportunity.

Bai Yuan nodded. "Has anything major happened recently?"

"All is well."

Yu Hui said flatly.

Bai Yuan wasn’t surprised. After all, he and Yang Fangyu had joined forces to kill the Soul-Chasing Tower’s leader in Huanglong Prefecture. With Yang Fangyu presiding over the city, Huanglong Prefecture was indeed much more stable than the other prefectures.

"I’m going into seclusion for a while."

"Seclusion?"

Yu Hui’s expression was a little strange.

Although Bai Yuan was a Martial Arts Grandmaster, he had entered seclusion only a handful of times. After all, like Dong Wanjun before him, he followed the path of breaking through realms with raw power.

That was why he was so surprised to hear Bai Yuan say he was going into seclusion.

Bai Yuan didn’t explain further and walked straight into the secret chamber in the Sect Leader Hall.

With a RUMBLE, the hidden door slowly closed.

Bai Yuan sat cross-legged on a cushion in the center of the secret chamber and looked at the panel.

[Name: Bai Yuan]

[Class: Demon Hunter, Sword Ghost, Boxer, Spirit Cooker, Skin Painter]

[Skills: Chaotic Blood Hidden Tiger Saber (Beginner), Toad Venom (Master), Ten Thousand Poison Hand (Master), Spirit Extraction (Master), Spirit-Seizing Technique (Beginner)...]

[Enhancement Points: 2134]

Bai Yuan had saved over two thousand enhancement points just for a cultivation technique from the Qingzhou Royal Mansion’s Library Pavilion.

As it turned out, his wait had not been in vain.

"Add the points!"