The Woman Disguised Herself as a Man and Abolished the Prince, Married a Princess and called the Empress - Chapter 6

Xiong Shaoqing looked at the strange scene before her, her heart filled with caution. Turning her head, she saw her master, Su Xianfeng, with a slight frown, signaling her and Bai Mei to follow closely.

Su Xianfeng softly chanted the secrets of the Celestial Chart, and though Xiong Shaoqing didn’t quite understand the words, she could feel the air around them tremble with a mysterious power. Su Xianfeng muttered incantations, using the principle of earth giving birth to metal and water overcoming fire to unlock the formation’s restraints one by one.

Xiong Shaoqing watched Su Xianfeng’s every move, secretly marveling at her master’s extraordinary abilities. Su Xianfeng finally determined the “gate of life” was in the southeast (Xun direction). Following her lead, Xiong Shaoqing and Bai Mei carefully advanced and successfully broke the formation.

The scene before them abruptly changed, and a picturesque courtyard appeared. Xiong Shaoqing was stunned. The surrounding mountains were stacked with peaks, and clouds and mist swirled around, creating a scene like a fairyland on earth. A path paved with blue flagstones wound its way up, flanked by neatly trimmed green bamboo that swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound. Sparrows occasionally chased each other, their chirping incessant.

The courtyard gate was made of ancient nanmu wood, carved with patterns of dragons and phoenixes. The marks of time etched on the gate told stories of the past.

Suddenly, the gate creaked open, and a middle-aged man walked out steadily, approaching the three of them.

“Please follow me. The clan leader has been waiting for a long time,” the man said, gesturing for them to come.

Xiong Shaoqing and Bai Mei exchanged a look, then followed Su Xianfeng and the man through the gate.

Inside the courtyard, a delicate pavilion stood by a lotus pond. The pond’s lotus leaves had just begun to sprout. A stone bridge spanned the water, connecting the pavilion to the shore, its rails carved with lifelike floral and bird patterns. A few ancient pines stood tall, their branches and leaves lush, providing natural shade and adding a touch of solemnity to the tranquil place.

In the center of the courtyard, a small stone table with four stools sat. A Taoist priest, about forty years old, was sipping tea at the table. Three other cups of steaming tea were placed at the other seats. The fragrant aroma of the tea, mingled with the scent of bamboo, filled the air. In the distance, a mountain stream gurgled, a stark contrast to the courtyard’s serenity, highlighting its peaceful and transcendent nature.

“Senior Brother, how are you here?” Su Xianfeng asked, surprised.

Xiong Shaoqing was also full of questions, her eyes carefully studying the Taoist priest. He wore a slightly faded Taoist robe made of ordinary cloth, yet he wore it with a sense of ease and freedom.

“Junior Sister, surprised, aren’t you? I did a quick calculation and knew you’d be coming today!” Li Yongdao said, then turned to look at Xiong Shaoqing. With just one glance, he felt an inexplicable closeness. He scrutinized her, his eyes catching sight of the jade pendant at her waist.

“Young friend, could you lend me your jade pendant for a look?”

Xiong Shaoqing instinctively looked at Su Xianfeng, who smiled and said, “My apprentice, it’s fine to let him see it. He is my senior brother, which makes him your Senior Uncle.”

Upon hearing this, Xiong Shaoqing’s eyebrows relaxed. She took off the jade pendant and handed it to Li Yongdao.

Li Yongdao took it, examining it carefully. The jade was translucent and exquisitely carved. In the center was a fusang sacred tree resembling a willow, surrounded by a circle of seal script inscriptions. As he looked, Li Yongdao’s hands began to tremble. He looked at Xiong Shaoqing, his eyes filled with emotion: “This is my sister’s jade pendant! Girl, is your mother Li Biyun?”

Xiong Shaoqing’s calm expression was instantly rippled. Her eyes widened, her pupils contracted, and a look of disbelief flashed in them.

Seeing her frozen, Li Yongdao understood and slowly began to speak. “Your mother probably never mentioned her family to you. She was once the Saintess of our Gou Mang clan. Back then, she and your father, Xiong Yichuan, fell in love. But according to clan rules, a Saintess, who bears a gifted bloodline and is the hope of the entire clan, cannot marry, or she won’t live long. But your mother was determined to be with your father. The clan leader had no choice but to strip her of her Saintess title and even her gifted bloodline.”

Hearing this, Xiong Shaoqing’s eyebrows arched slightly, a fleeting wrinkle of surprise appearing between them. Li Yongdao paused, then continued, “Your mother was devoted to your father and left Gou Mang Peak without a second thought. After she left, we never heard from her again.”

Xiong Shaoqing’s nostrils flared slightly, and her breathing became rapid and shallow. Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face. “My mother, she… she has already…”

“Mother, your child is useless. I had resolved not to cry, not to show my true feelings, but I can’t help it. I never expected to meet a relative today and learn about your past, which you never told me.”

Li Yongdao stepped forward and patted Xiong Shaoqing’s shoulder, his voice gentle. “Child, you’ve suffered all these years! I am Li Yongdao, your mother’s second elder brother, which makes me your maternal uncle. What’s your name?”

Xiong Shaoqing choked back a sob and replied, “Xiong… Shaoqing.”

“Shaoqing, that’s a good name!” Li Yongdao said, looking at Xiong Shaoqing’s wrist. “Come, let your uncle check your pulse and see your constitution.”

“Okay.” Xiong Shaoqing wiped away her tears and extended her wrist. Having been disguised as a boy since childhood, she didn’t have the same strict views on physical contact between men and women. A simple pulse check was not something she would reject.

After about ten seconds, Li Yongdao withdrew his hand, his expression grave and complex. He looked at Bai Mei and asked, “Who is this?”

Bai Mei stepped forward, cupped her hands, and bowed. “I am Bai Mei, and I came with Young Master Xiong.”

Xiong Shaoqing interjected, “She is a fellow Taoist I met in Nanhuazhen. Her mother is poisoned by marsh miasma and needs an antidote. Uncle, do you have one?”

“Is it the miasma from down the mountain? I have the antidote here!” Li Yongdao said, turning to the middle-aged man who had welcomed them. “Steward Xu, please take Miss Bai to the guest room to rest, and then bring her some ‘Qingxin Pills’ from the apothecary.”

Steward Xu took his leave, and Bai Mei followed him. Once they were gone, Li Yongdao turned to Xiong Shaoqing. “Shaoqing, come with me,” he said, then looked at Su Xianfeng. “Junior Sister, you come too. I’ll need your help later.”

Xiong Shaoqing’s dark eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes were filled with confusion and curiosity. She looked at her master, whose eyes also held a hint of unknown doubt. They followed Li Yongdao, their minds full of questions, ignoring the dancing shadows of the bamboo and the rustling leaves in the wind.

“Senior Brother, I’ve always wanted to ask, weren’t you in seclusion on Mount Sumeru, far from worldly affairs? How did you become the Gou Mang clan leader?” Su Xianfeng finally couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked.

Li Yongdao answered candidly, “This clan leader position was originally meant for our eldest brother, Li Yongxian, but who would have thought something unexpected would happen? His only son, Li Chengsi, went missing, and there hasn’t been a single word in over five years. Our eldest brother was heartbroken and fell ill, and in the end, he passed away. There was no other way, so the clan affairs were left to Steward Xu for the time being. When I came out of seclusion, I calculated these changes and came down to take over.”

Hearing this, Xiong Shaoqing felt a pang of sadness. She never knew she had an uncle she had never met who had already passed away. And her missing cousin, she wondered if he would ever be found in this life.

“We’re here,” Li Yongdao’s words interrupted Xiong Shaoqing’s thoughts.

Xiong Shaoqing looked around. The area was shrouded in clouds and mist, making it difficult to see clearly. Li Yongdao began to draw a formation, muttering incantations. Soon, Xiong Shaoqing saw the scenery around them change. A tree resembling a willow stood tall, reaching into the clouds, its leaves lush, like a green totem between heaven and earth.

“See that? That’s our Gou Mang clan’s sacred tree. Your mother’s spirit root, which was stripped from her, is being nurtured within this tree.”

Xiong Shaoqing carefully examined the Gou Mang sacred tree in the distance. The trunk of the sacred tree was covered with ancient and mysterious runes, which flickered with a faint spiritual light. The crown of the tree was filled with crystal-clear fruits, each containing a powerful life force and radiating a tempting glow.

“Uncle, why did you bring me here?” Xiong Shaoqing was shocked by the scene before her and full of questions.

“Shaoqing, you are the one chosen by heaven. The future of the Gou Mang clan depends entirely on you. Today, I want to awaken your gifted bloodline. The blood of our Gou Mang clan flows in you; you were born one of us,” Li Yongdao said with a solemn expression.

“Gifted bloodline?” Xiong Shaoqing was confused.

“Everyone in our Gou Mang clan has a special ability. Ordinary clan members can undergo a complete transformation by eating the fruits from the sacred tree. But a gifted bloodline can only be awakened by the clan leader’s direct relatives, and it requires integrating the spirit root.”

Hearing this, Xiong Shaoqing was still a little lost.

“It’s okay if you don’t understand now; you’ll get it once it’s awakened. But this process can be a bit painful. Are you willing to go through it?”

Xiong Shaoqing nodded without hesitation. Although she didn’t know what the gifted bloodline was, her intuition told her it must be very powerful and would only benefit her. She urgently needed to increase her strength so she could avenge her father against Xiong Yishan in the future. No matter how much pain, she was willing to endure it.

Li Yongdao looked at Xiong Shaoqing’s reaction and nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Su Xianfeng. “Junior Sister, give me a hand! Let’s transfer our powers into Shaoqing’s body together to help her awaken her gifted bloodline.”

Su Xianfeng nodded slightly and joined Li Yongdao in transferring her power.

Xiong Shaoqing instantly felt as if her meridians were on fire. Her face turned pale, sweat poured down her body, and she trembled all over. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, enduring the flushing of the immense power. Each冲击 of power was excruciating, but she knew this was the path she had to take to transform.

“Shaoqing, grit your teeth! Hold on!” Li Yongdao’s low voice echoed in the air.

Su Xianfeng also said softly, “The pain is temporary; the power will be your future protection.”

Xiong Shaoqing let out a low roar, allowing the vast power to transform her body. She believed that as long as she endured this darkness, light was ahead.

After about two hours, the pain disappeared, replaced by an indescribable sense of comfort. Xiong Shaoqing’s five senses were elevated to an unprecedented level. Her hearing was so sharp she could catch the faint rustling of leaves in the distance. Her sense of smell could pick up the subtlest floral scent on the wind, and even the weakest scent couldn’t escape her nose. Her vision was even more astonishing; she could see distant ants with perfect clarity. In terms of touch, she could even sense the frequency of a bird’s wings flapping.

Moreover, she began to perceive realms she couldn’t touch before. She could sense the flow of elemental energy in the world and the subtle changes in the laws of nature. The spiritual energy in her surroundings seemed to come alive, establishing a mysterious connection with her.

Xiong Shaoqing opened her eyes and exclaimed, “Marvelous! The obscure parts of the old man’s manual make perfect sense now!”

“Come, let your uncle check your pulse again and see how you are!” Li Yongdao asked.

Xiong Shaoqing extended her wrist. “Please.”

After about half a stick of incense, Li Yongdao withdrew his hand, greatly astonished. “I never expected you to awaken the rare spiritual power talent! If you cultivate this to the highest level, hypnotizing and controlling others would be a piece of cake. But this talent requires the elemental energy of Mount Sumeru to be supported; it cannot be fully utilized in our mortal world.”

Li Yongdao paused and continued, “But it’s still great now. With this ability, you’ll be full of energy and can go without sleep for days and nights without getting tired. It’s just a shame you’re burdened with a celestial fate; otherwise, you would be an excellent candidate for cultivation. You could break through the spatial barrier and explore another world.”

Xiong Shaoqing was a little confused. “Spatial barrier? Another world? What do you mean?”

“You’ll understand when the time comes. Your gifted bloodline has just awakened, and your foundation is not yet stable. You need to recuperate properly. Listen to your uncle, cultivate here on Gou Mang Peak for a while, and when your foundation is completely stable, you can go do what you want to do.”

“Okay.”

The next day, Xiong Shaoqing asked Bai Mei to go home first to get the antidote to save her mother. Bai Mei was deeply grateful to Xiong Shaoqing. Having obtained the antidote thanks to Xiong Shaoqing’s help, she was now determined to pledge her loyalty to Xiong Shaoqing.

“Thank you, Young Master! If you ever need me for anything in the future, just come to Nanhuazhen to find me. I’ll be waiting at home every day and will do whatever it takes for you without hesitation!”

Several months passed, and Xiong Shaoqing’s realm had stabilized. She had also fully comprehended the old man’s manual. Her entire demeanor became more reserved, and her clear, limpid eyes grew more profound.

She and Su Xianfeng bid farewell to Li Yongdao and set off for the kingdom of Shu. Before they left, Li Yongdao gave her a specially made anti-poison pearl, which would make it much easier for them to return in the future.

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