Two days later, Xu Changshou and Ye Shanhu arrived at Xuri City.

As the capital of the Huosang Kingdom, Xuri City boasted a population exceeding one million, standing as the grandest and most prosperous jewel in the mortal realm.

The two cultivators strolled through the bustling streets, eventually halting before a grand storefront.

Xu Changshou lifted his gaze, noting the majestic plaque suspended above the lintel. Three bold characters were carved into the wood: "Wanbao Pavilion."

He marveled inwardly at the sheer reach of the Wanbao Pavilion; to think they had planted a branch even in this remote, spiritually barren Huosang Kingdom.

"Junior Brother Xu, this is my destination. Why not come inside and rest for a while?" Ye Shanhu invited with a warm smile.

"There is no need. I have already delayed my journey considerably, and I must locate the Exceptional Spirit Root," Xu Changshou replied amicably.

Ye Shanhu gave a slight nod. "Junior Brother Xu, proceed with your duties in the imperial city. Once your karma is settled, seek me out here, and we shall return to the Sect together."

Ye Shanhu carried her own burdens in the Huosang Kingdom; she certainly had not traveled all this way merely to accompany Xu Changshou on a mortal excursion.

"Understood!"

"Senior Sister Ye, I take my leave. Until we meet again."

"Farewell, Junior Brother Xu."

After their parting, Xu Changshou strode directly toward the towering gates of the imperial city.

Heavily armed guards manned the threshold, strictly barring anyone without an official royal decree.

Annoyed by the mortal obstruction, Xu Changshou simply summoned the wind. His robes fluttered as he rose into the air, effortlessly gliding over the towering fortifications.

The Windwalk Technique was not true flight, but rather a wind-attribute technique granting brief levitation, allowing one to glide dozens of Zhang in a single bound.

Mastering the Windwalk Technique allowed a cultivator to cross a thousand Li in a single day, though it demanded a significant toll on one's Spiritual Qi.

Ordinary Rogue Cultivators would rather wear their boots to the soles than squander their precious reserves on such travel.

"Look to the heavens, an immortal!"

"We pay homage to the Exalted Immortal!"

"Quickly! Kowtow before the immortal!"

Across the city streets, waves of mortal commoners dropped to their knees, fervently kowtowing toward Xu Changshou's fading silhouette.

Xu Changshou traversed the airspace as if strolling through an empty courtyard. Not a single garrison soldier dared to raise a bow; they cast aside their halberds and prostrated themselves in sheer reverence.

Without hindrance, Xu Changshou drifted directly above the heart of the imperial palace.

"Fellow Daoist, for what reason do you trespass upon my Huosang Imperial Palace? I ask that you withdraw at once, lest you force this poor Daoist to abandon courtesy!"

A white-haired elder clad in pristine white robes surged into the sky, intercepting Xu Changshou's path. The elder's cultivation base was profound-he was genuinely a peak twelfth-layer Qi Condensation cultivator.

Alighting gracefully atop the sweeping eaves of a swallow-wing pavilion, Xu Changshou cupped his fists. "Dare I ask if you are Senior Brother Li Xiaoxian?"

Prior to his departure, Li Daotu had thoroughly briefed him on the geopolitical landscape of the Huosang Kingdom.

The kingdom housed but a single cultivator: Li Xiaoxian, the blood nephew of Li Daotu. Decades ago, he too had toiled as a Miscellaneous Disciple within the Green Immortal Sect.

After a century of stagnant cultivation, he severed his karmic ties to the Sect and returned to the mortal dust, assuming the mantle of Protector-State Imperial Advisor for the Huosang Kingdom.

His authority within the court eclipsed even that of the reigning mortal monarch, King Li Zheng.

"I am Xu Changshou. I carry the mandate of Martial Uncle Li Daotu to conduct urgent matters within the Huosang Kingdom."

Xu Changshou declared, his expression solemn and unyielding.

He deliberately omitted his pursuit of the Exceptional Spirit Root. Li Daotu had warned him that within these borders, only King Li Zheng and the Imperial Advisor Li Xiaoxian were privy to the Awakening of the Exceptional Spirit Root-even the child's birth mother remained utterly ignorant.

Li Daotu had explicitly commanded absolute secrecy to prevent unforeseen karmic variables.

Thus, Xu Changshou kept his lips tightly sealed regarding the Exceptional Spirit Root.

"Ah, so it is Junior Brother Xu! Please, please, enter!"

Li Xiaoxian's guarded demeanor instantly melted into warm hospitality. It was evident he had long anticipated Xu Changshou's descent into the mortal kingdom.

Guided by Li Xiaoxian, the pair bypassed all mortal checkpoints and strode directly into King Li Zheng's private imperial study.

"Li Zheng, this is your Martial Uncle Xu Changshou. Make haste and offer your greetings to Martial Uncle Xu."

"This Junior, Li Zheng, pays his deepest respects to Martial Uncle Xu."

Dragging his opulent, portly frame, the mortal king dropped to his knees, kowtowing with absolute reverence before Xu Changshou.

Li Zheng was well into his twilight years; his temples were frosted white, placing him at nearly sixty mortal winters.

Witnessing an elderly, sovereign monarch prostrate himself so thoroughly evoked a fleeting sense of absurdity in Xu Changshou.

Yet, governed by the rigid hierarchy of the Sect, this was natural law. As Xu Changshou shared a generation with Li Xiaoxian, he intrinsically stood a full generation above Li Zheng.

Even stripping away their Sect lineage, King Li Zheng would still be obligated to grovel and address him as 'Exalted Immortal'. This was the insurmountable chasm separating immortals from the mortal coil.

Between the heavens and the earth, the hierarchy of power was absolute.

Without the foundation of cultivation, even the most tyrannical mortal emperor was but an ant, bound to revere those who walked the Dao.

"Rise."

"Yes, Exalted Immortal."

Permitting the mortal king to stand, Xu Changshou immediately deployed a sound-isolating Formation around the study's perimeter. Only when the array stabilized did he extract a sealed missive and present it to Li Xiaoxian.

Li Xiaoxian broke the seal, his eyes rapidly perusing the contents before a wide smile bloomed. "Indeed, this bears Third Uncle's authentic spiritual signature."

Li Zheng awkwardly leaned his stout body forward, catching a glimpse of the calligraphy. "It is Grandfather's own hand!" he exclaimed in a trembling, excited voice.

Carefully stowing the letter within his robes, Li Xiaoxian cupped his fists. "Junior Brother Xu, did Third Uncle impart any further mandates?"

Xu Changshou shook his head. "None. Martial Uncle Li merely instructed me to securely escort the Exceptional Spirit Root back to the Sect."

"Martial Uncle Xu, would it be possible to delay your departure by a few days?" Li Zheng implored with utmost deference.

Xu Changshou narrowed his eyes. "For what reason must I delay?"

Li Xiaoxian smiled warmly. "In half a month, the Li Clan will hold its grand ancestral worship ceremony. Zheng'er and I have reached a consensus-we wish for the Ninth Princess to offer her respects to the ancestors. Once the rites are concluded, she shall accompany Junior Brother Xu to the Sect."

"That is acceptable."

Xu Changshou nodded slowly. "Martial Uncle Li explicitly stated that upon my arrival, I am to accommodate your arrangements."

Satisfied, Li Xiaoxian turned to the king. "Zheng'er, make haste to the inner palaces. Summon the Seventh and Eighth Princesses. Tonight, they shall attend to Junior Brother Xu's bedding."

...What?

Xu Changshou's expression darkened considerably. It had never crossed his mind that Li Xiaoxian would brazenly offer King Li Zheng's own blood daughters, the reigning royal princesses, to serve him as concubines.

Yet, after a brief moment of reflection, the cold pragmatism of the situation became glaringly obvious.

Though these princesses commanded supreme authority within the mortal realm, they were ultimately tethered to the mortal coil. To surrender their chastity to a true cultivator was an unimaginable honor.

A mere casual reward of Spirit Stones or elixirs from him would guarantee them a lifetime of vitality and luxury.

More importantly, should they be fortunate enough to bear his immortal seed, the resulting karma would be boundless.

It would forge an unshakable celestial pillar for the entire Huosang Dynasty.

Bloodlines tracing back to cultivators possessed a vastly higher probability of Awakening Spirit Roots than the mortal rabble. It was the very foundation upon which illustrious cultivation clans were built.

"Yes! I shall make the arrangements at once."

Li Zheng spun on his heel, eager to fetch his daughters, but Xu Changshou sidestepped, firmly blocking his exit. "There is no need for such trivialities. I hold no desire for mortal women. Lead me directly to the Exceptional Spirit Root."

Xu Changshou's priority was absolute; he needed to lay eyes upon the Exceptional Spirit Root immediately. His primary mandate was her protection, and any unforeseen variables would breed deadly karma.

"Ah... as you wish."

Li Zheng's aging face visibly sagged with profound disappointment.

Li Xiaoxian offered an understanding nod. "Since Junior Brother Xu has spoken, take him to see the Ninth Princess."

"Martial Uncle Xu, please follow me."

Dejected but obedient, Li Zheng guided Xu Changshou from the study, winding deep into the secluded, labyrinthine quarters of the imperial palace.

As they walked, Li Zheng whispered respectfully, "Martial Uncle Xu, Ling'er remains entirely oblivious to her Ice Spirit Root. I beg of you to maintain this veil of secrecy and not reveal the truth to her."

"Set your heart at ease. Simply inform the Exceptional Spirit Root that I am her newly appointed personal guard."

Given that his true purpose was to function as her shield against the shadows, the title of 'guard' was perfectly suited.

While Xu Changshou might command the absolute reverence of King Li Zheng, he held no illusions of superiority over the Exceptional Spirit Root.

The moment she stepped foot within the Green Immortal Sect, she would undoubtedly be enshrined as a core Inner Sect Disciple, groomed with the Sect's absolute finest resources.

Xu Changshou casually drew three Windwalk Talismans from his robes, tossing them into Li Zheng's trembling hands. "These are Windwalk Talismans, personally drafted by my hand. Affix them to your legs, and you shall traverse a thousand Li in a single day. Consider it a minor fated gift."

"I thank Martial Uncle Xu for this supreme bestowal!" Li Zheng was instantly overcome with ecstasy, bowing repeatedly until his back ached.

Within moments, the two halted before the opulent bedchambers of the Ninth Princess, Li Ling'er.