After her sister fell asleep, Little Green, while her sister had not yet transformed into her original form, hurriedly carried her sister back to She Mountain.

After Little Green carried her sister back to the cave, Bai Ruxue soon transformed into a white giant python.

Little Green also transformed into her original form and stayed by her sister’s side.

Just as Little Green was about to gradually fall asleep, she suddenly lifted her snake head.

She heard some movement outside the cave.

Little Green transformed into human form and walked out.

The Tianxuan Sect elder named Fuchen stood at the cave entrance and bowed to Little Green, "I have met Miss Little Green."

"What business does the Daoist master have?" Little Green returned the bow.

"Miss Little Green, it won’t do for your sister to lie in this cave like this."

Fuchen shook her head.

"During Miss Bai’s hibernation this time, when she transforms, there will likely be considerable demonic energy that will attract many demon beasts to come devour your sister’s flesh and blood. Moreover, if other cultivators pass by and see this towering demonic energy, they will also come to subdue demons and eliminate evil."

Little Green frowned, "According to the Daoist master’s words, what should be done?"

"Please allow this poor Daoist to meddle in this affair."

Fuchen waved her hand, and instantly, eight formation flags flew out, then like meteors, they struck at the cave entrance and finally disappeared into the soil.

"These are Heaven-Concealing Flags, which can conceal demonic energy, prevent others from divining, and also have a certain spirit-gathering effect that can help your sister transform more smoothly."

Immediately after, Fuchen hooked her fingertip, and a giant boulder flew down from the mountaintop, smashing at the cave entrance, completely blocking it, "From today on, your sister will slumber inside. Before your sister awakens, remember not to move this boulder, or the formation will fail."

"Why does the Daoist master help sister like this?" Little Green asked.

In Little Green’s view, her sister had no connection with her at all. From what her sister had said, she had only given her a bowl of water to drink.

As for whether she had some conspiracy and wanted to harm her and her sister, this was even more impossible.

Because the gap in cultivation between herself and her was too great. If she wanted to harm her and her sister, it would be as simple as crushing an ant.

Fuchen lifted her head, a trace of reminiscence flashing in her eyes, "Because I also want to know if, after her, there will still be snake clan members who can transform into dragons."

Little Green: "..."

"This poor Daoist is leaving. Miss Little Green, being alone, must also take good care of yourself. Additionally, if Xiao Mo returns, Miss Little Green need not hide from him, nor need you deceive him. Xiao Mo has long known that Miss Bai and you are of the demon clan."

As Fuchen’s words fell, Little Green’s eyes trembled, full of disbelief.

So Big Brother Xiao had known all along?

"Daoist Master Fuchen!" Just as Fuchen was about to fly away from She Mountain, Little Green called out, "In this life, can sister and Big Brother Xiao truly never meet again?"

Fuchen paused slightly in the air, but said not a single word and disappeared directly into the horizon.

Fuchen traveled by shrinking earth into inches, and after half an hour, having traveled who knows how many tens of thousands of miles, she arrived at a mountain peak.

"Master, you’ve returned," a female disciple said happily as she came forward upon seeing her master return.

"Mm," Fuchen nodded and walked into the room.

On the floor of the woman’s room was drawn an Eight Trigrams formation.

Within the Eight Trigrams formation were turtle shells, phoenix feathers, and other things used for divination.

Previously, when Fuchen had leisure time, after divining Bai Ruxue’s tribulation, she had immediately gone to Stone Bridge Village and had not put these away.

Just as Fuchen was about to put these things away, she discovered that the copper coins and phoenix feather in the formation diagram had changed positions.

"Disciple," Fuchen called out toward the room.

"Master," the little girl ran in.

"Did you touch this formation?" Fuchen asked.

"No, Master," the little girl shook her head.

"Your master understands," Fuchen nodded, "You may go out."

"Oh," the little girl left the room.

Fuchen sat beside the formation, looking at the changed formation.

So-called fate is not unchanging.

So-called divination is merely using current people and events to deduce a possibility.

And now, this formation that divined Bai Ruxue’s fate had changed.

Fuchen knelt on the ground and re-divined Bai Ruxue’s destiny.

Only this time, Fuchen also added Xiao Mo’s birth date and time.

Half an hour later, the turtle shell cracked, Fuchen suddenly opened her eyes, and a trace of fresh blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.

Looking at the hexagram on the ground, Fuchen sighed softly:

"Sigh, why must it be so? Rather than meeting, it’s better not to meet..."

Lifting her head, Fuchen looked out the window, where goose-feather-like snow was already falling from the sky.

"It is fate... it is destiny..."

At She Mountain, Little Green sat on the boulder at the cave entrance, quietly guarding her sister inside the cave.

Just as Little Green hugged her knees and was drowsily falling asleep, she felt a touch of coolness on her neck.

Little Green lifted her head and looked at the snow dancing all over the sky.

The young girl stretched out her hand, and the white snow gradually melted in her palm.

"Sister... Big Brother Xiao... this year’s first snow has fallen..."

After a month of traveling.

When Xiao Mo arrived at the capital of Qi Kingdom, it was already early February.

The constables who had escorted Xiao Mo to the capital completed their mission and, without lingering long, directly returned to Qingshan County to report.

Xiao Mo found an inn to stay in.

With his status as a promoted scholar, Xiao Mo could stay at the inn at an extremely low price.

There were other promoted scholars in the inn as well. These people had also come to the capital right after the New Year, ostensibly to familiarize themselves with the environment in advance.

After resting for a while, Xiao Mo carried two jars of honey to Master Zhang’s residence.

"I am Xiao Mo from Qingshan County, West Mountain Prefecture, Jiangnan Province. Having been fortunately invited by Master Zhang, I have come especially to pay my respects. This is my visiting card. Please examine it."

Xiao Mo bowed and presented his visiting card.

The doorkeepers looked at each other, then one person stepped forward to receive the card, "Please wait a moment, young master. I’ll go inform the master immediately."

"Much obliged."

About a quarter-hour later, a woman dressed in a jacket and skirt came out and curtsied to Xiao Mo:

"This humble daughter is named Zhang Shuiqing. Young Master Xiao has come from afar, and we failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive us. My father is waiting for you in the study. Please follow me, Young Master Xiao."

"I’m imposing."

"You’re too polite, young master."

Miss Zhang led Xiao Mo into the courtyard.

Master Zhang’s courtyard was not particularly large, and there were no precious flowers or plants inside. Everything looked so simple.

At least on the surface, the other party seemed like an upright official.

The steward brought Xiao Mo to the study door and then withdrew.

Xiao Mo knocked and entered the study, where he saw a spirited old man walking toward him with a smile, "Haha, I’ve long heard of Young Master Xiao’s talent and learning. Seeing you today, I didn’t expect Young Master Xiao to be so dignified and handsome as well!"

"Master Zhang is too kind. You may simply call me by my name," Xiao Mo opened his bundle and presented two jars of honey, "This honey was gathered and brewed by my wife. It’s a small token of my regard. Please don’t disdain it, Master Zhang."

"Oh?" Zhang Qianzhi said in surprise, "Xiao Mo, you’re married?"

"Not yet," Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head, "But after this examination, I’ll return to marry her. She has already waited for me for a long time."

"Hahaha, good, good, good! Affectionate and loyal, talented and virtuous, you suit this old man’s taste!" Zhang Qianzhi patted Xiao Mo’s shoulder, his temperament appearing very straightforward, "Come, sit."

"Then I’ll be presumptuous."

Xiao Mo sat across from Zhang Qianzhi, who poured him a cup of tea.

"Thank you, sir," Xiao Mo quickly raised the teacup with both hands.

"This old man is not one for beating around the bush, so I’ll speak directly to you," Zhang Qianzhi put down the teapot, "The Grace Distribution Edict you wrote during the provincial examination greatly interests this old man. This Grace Distribution Edict has far-reaching implications, but there are some points this old man doesn’t understand. Can you enlighten this old man?"

"I will certainly speak without reservation," Xiao Mo said.

"Good," Zhang Qianzhi nodded.

For the next full hour, Zhang Qianzhi inquired about some details of Xiao Mo’s Grace Distribution Edict and some views on the current court.

Xiao Mo mainly elaborated using "breaking up the whole into parts, permanently eliminating future troubles," "legitimate and proper, occupying the moral high ground," "divide and conquer, reducing resistance," as well as some taxation issues.

As for views on the court.

During this time, Xiao Mo had also communicated frequently with Magistrate Sun, understanding quite a bit about court affairs, so he could combine this with actual situations and wasn’t merely talking in the abstract.

The more Zhang Qianzhi listened, the more he felt this young man was extraordinary and could be put to great use.

Later, Zhang Qianzhi not only asked about the Grace Distribution Edict but also told him about court affairs, and after speaking, deliberately asked questions.

This was already a form of examination.

"With your talent and learning, Xiao Mo, as long as you don’t have this old man’s rash temperament, you will certainly accomplish great things in the court in the future," Zhang Qianzhi stroked his chin with satisfaction, "During the palace examination this time, when facing His Majesty, just be like you are now. Our Qi Kingdom hasn’t had a scholar achieve the triple crown for a long time."

Xiao Mo was slightly shocked, "I am of shallow learning. You praise me too highly, sir."

"With your talent and learning, there’s absolutely no problem," Zhang Qianzhi smiled, looking more and more fondly at this young man, feeling he had the style of his younger self, "This old man has asked you so much. Is there anything you want to ask this old man? As long as it’s not something this old man cannot say, anything is fine."

Xiao Mo thought for a moment, "There are indeed some questions I’d like to ask for your guidance, sir."

"Speak," Zhang Qianzhi poured himself a cup of tea and placed the teapot beside Xiao Mo, quite informally, "If you want to drink, pour it yourself."

"I... want to ask about official arts."

"Hm?"

Zhang Qianzhi was stunned. He hadn’t expected Xiao Mo to ask about this, but he still answered in detail.

"So-called official arts depend on the kingdom’s mountains and rivers fortune."

"Mountains and rivers fortune?" Xiao Mo pursued the question.

"Exactly."

Zhang Qianzhi nodded.

"Mountains and rivers fortune has two aspects. One is that the higher your official position, the more mountains and rivers fortune you have on you.

The second is the people’s love and support.

The more the people love and support you, and the greater the number of people who love and support you, the more exaggerated the mountains and rivers fortune on you becomes.

In the court, there are cultivators and also officials who cannot cultivate.

How do those officials protect themselves from dying unnaturally?

They rely on this mountains and rivers fortune but if you are dismissed from office, then within half a year, the mountains and rivers fortune on you will gradually dissipate.

By relying on mountains and rivers fortune, one can use official arts.

These so-called official arts are actually using mountains and rivers fortune to replace a cultivator’s spiritual power, nothing more.

If you are a Confucian scholar, you can use mountains and rivers fortune to perform Confucian techniques.

If you are a Military School cultivator, you can use mountains and rivers fortune to perform Military School techniques.

The upper limit of mountains and rivers fortune relates to a dynasty’s strength and also to a person’s talent.

Related to strength means that ordinary human dynasties have limited mountains and rivers fortune. Even a prime minister might only have the cultivation level of a Dragon Gate realm cultivator.

Related to talent is because although some people have no spiritual roots and cannot use spiritual power, cannot embark on the cultivation path, this doesn’t mean their ’cultivation talent’ is poor.

So the stronger a person’s talent, the more differently they can use the same degree of mountains and rivers fortune.

And our Qi Kingdom is one of the three great human dynasties. If one becomes prime minister and is loved by the people of the world, one’s power can match that of an Immortal realm cultivator, or even Ascension!

But these official arts also have certain limitations.

First, His Majesty cannot use official arts, official arts are ineffective against common people, official arts cannot—"

Master Zhang spoke word by word, and Xiao Mo listened carefully.

To be honest, after learning about official arts, Xiao Mo felt somewhat strange.

As the ruler of a nation, the emperor cannot use official arts. Isn’t this a bit too absurd?

"I wonder if official arts are a unique setting in the Book of a Hundred Lives, or if they exist in reality?"

Xiao Mo thought to himself.

Because in the real world, Xiao Mo had indeed never heard the term "official arts."

He only knew about official arts through Master Sun.

Xiao Mo felt he could investigate this after leaving the Hundred Lives.

"Is there anything else you want to ask?" Zhang Qianzhi sipped his tea.

Xiao Mo asked some more questions about officialdom.

Hearing Xiao Mo inquire about officialdom, Zhang Qianzhi immediately became interested and explained things to Xiao Mo in detail, wishing he could impart everything he knew, as if he truly regarded Xiao Mo as his student.

In fact, when Zhang Qianzhi helped Xiao Mo become the principal graduate, the two had already formed a teacher-student relationship.

Actually, Zhang Qianzhi didn’t know why he liked this young man so much, but he just felt that this young man, when he entered the court as an official in the future, would not disappoint him.

"Master Zhang, I have one more favor to ask..." Just as Xiao Mo was about to leave, he said after some consideration.

Master Zhang said generously, "Please speak freely."

Xiao Mo bowed, "I would like to request a map of Qi Kingdom’s rivers and geographical features."

"A map of rivers and geographical features?" Master Zhang was stunned. Although he didn’t know what the other party wanted this map for, Master Zhang still took several scrolls from his bookshelf, "These maps depict the great rivers of our Qi Kingdom. You can take them directly."

"Thank you, Master Zhang."

Xiao Mo bent down and bowed deeply.

Master Zhang finally gave Xiao Mo some final instructions, then had his daughter escort Xiao Mo out of the residence.

Just as the two stepped out the door, something like goose feathers, cool and icy, drifted down before Xiao Mo’s eyes.

Xiao Mo lifted his head, and snow filled the sky, falling on eaves, bricks, treetops, and on everyone’s bodies.

"It’s snowing," Miss Zhang beside Xiao Mo said joyfully.

"Yes..." Xiao Mo drew his sleeves closer.

"It’s snowing..."