Chen Xu cradled the little mouse in his arms, sighing softly in his heart.

Under the moonlight, all five "Earth-Turning Talismans" had been used up, and a long, wide path replaced the original narrow and perilous mountain trail.

The soft moonlight fell on the far side of the small village, and also onto this side of the road.

The small path connected to the main road, opening up a vast expanse ahead.

At the junction of the two main roads stood a milestone: Langxi!

It turns out that once you cross this rugged mountain path, Langxi County is just ahead.

After passing through Langxi County, you will leave Yunjiang Prefecture and enter Qinglin Prefecture.

On the other side of the mountain there might still be mountains, but as long as there is a road, the other side of the mountain can be vast and boundless, filled with splendid earthly hues.

Chen Xu waved his sleeve to send away the Tray Ghost, still bawling and with a mouth full of reluctance.

The Tray Ghost clamored, "Your grace, oh your grace, I don't want to leave. Please let me stay a while longer?

Although my mana is weak, not as clever as those two demon brothers, I know Ghost Technique!

I have hands and feet, carrying my companion who is one soul with me, and also at your service..."

The "companion" it spoke of was the squat and dumb little ghost.

Unfortunately, Chen Xu still ignored its pleas, merely flicking a few Red Vermilion Robes into the Tray Ghost's mouth, and the barrier between the Netherworld and the Mortal World silently opened once more.

The Tray Ghost, along with the squat ghost, shrieked as they tumbled into it.

The moment the barrier closed between the two realms, the Tray Ghost's reluctant cries abruptly stopped:

"Your grace! My loyalty to you is as clear as day and night, even if you do not need my service, I will always await your call in the Netherworld…"

Boom——

Netherworld and Mortal World, in silent separation.

Everything seemed to return to tranquility, and the little hedgehog came back.

The hedgehog's face was rosy, yet its eyes were full of vivacious delight.

Until Wei Yuan saw the little mouse in Chen Xu's arms, suddenly startled and said: "Brother Chen, what happened to Brother Mouse?"

Chen Xu gently stroked the little mouse's back, slowly releasing Literary Qi to dispel the Disease Fiend within its body, while also using Literary Qi to nourish the mouse's physique.

"Ah Shi is weak and can barely tolerate using mana," Chen Xu said softly.

Truth be told, he did not have a good method to truly cure the mouse, as its weakness was actually due to the influence of Master Jiu in its belly.

And Master Jiu's situation was even more complex; Chen Xu did not even know how to separate Master Jiu from the mouse's stomach.

What he could do for now was to grow his Literary Qi as much as possible, awaiting the arrival of the provincial examination and meanwhile, leveraging various channels to pursue more Spiritual Materials.

Perhaps one day a unique Spiritual Material would appear to solve the problem of the two Mouse Demons in one stroke.

In the night, Chen Xu, along with Ah Shi and Wei Yuan, crossed the milestone, walking toward the dawn.

He traveled with the wind, moving swiftly, and soon saw the outline of Langxi County from afar.

Yet Chen Xu did not choose to enter the city, instead finding a densely canopied tree in the nearby forest.

He gracefully leapt onto the treetop, lying beneath the moonlight and between heaven and earth.

The two Little Demons accompanied him, but Ah Shi had returned to sleep inside the Spirit Garden Pouch.

Wei Yuan, accustomed to sleeping in caves, under the earth, found sleeping on the treetop fresh and interesting and snuggled up to Chen Xu, saying:

"Brother Chen, the moonlight on the treetop is so vast, it feels like the entire sky is filled with moonlight."

Chen Xu took out the Intoxicated Spirit Wine and invited Wei Yuan to drink with him, suddenly bursting into poetic inspiration, smiling as he recited:

"When did the sky gain this moon? I pause my cup to ask it now.

People climb yet cannot reach the bright moon, but as it moves it follows their track.

It shines like a flying mirror above the vermilion towers, once green smoke clears the pure glow emerges…"

While he recited, Wei Yuan hurriedly pulled paper and brush from its own box.

The little hedgehog urgently pushed the paper and brush into Chen Xu's hand, urging him: "Brother Chen, such good poetry must be written down, written down!"

Chen Xu laughed heartily, accepting the paper and brush.

He leaned on the treetop, holding the brush in one hand, while the snow-white Xuan Paper seemed to be held aloft by divine hands, suspended in front of him.

Chen Xu dipped in thick ink generously and wrote swiftly.

The brushwork poured out as mightily as a river of the heavens, cascading down.

Under the moonlight, a wisp of cyan smoke rose, accompanied by the little hedgehog's clear recitation voice, resonating across the ink-black sky.

"The people now do not see the ancient moon, this current moon once shone on those before.

Old and new generations are like flowing water, together watching the bright moon as it remains.

Only wishing to sing and toast with wine, moonlight long lingers in the golden cup…"

Once the poetry was recited, the little hedgehog seemed struck by lightning, its entire demonic body quivering like it was electrified.

It was too excited, never imagining that under such moonlight, it would witness the creation of such a poetic masterpiece.

Chen Xu seemed driven by emotion, yet also as if he wrote it unintentionally.

His casual, few strokes unexpectedly captured the eternal bright moon and the sorrow of ages.

How could there be such brushwork in the world?

"The people now do not see the ancient moon, this current moon once shone on those before…"

Wei Yuan murmured repeatedly, wishing to shout aloud, but fearing its voice would be too abrupt, disturbing the brightness of the moon and the man reclining under its glow.

It had so many emotions to express, but at this moment it had to restrain itself and found no outlet.

What Wei Yuan did not know was that the moment Chen Xu's brush fell and the poetry formed with cyan smoke, several gazes in Langxi County City happened to look up and see the smoke under the moonlight.

Among them was Ning Siyu, the young talent from Linchuan Prefecture.

Ning Siyu, who had roots in Linchuan, was actually born to a prominent family in Jade Capital.

Due to his frail health, unable to withstand the power struggles among aristocrats within Jade Capital Celestial City, he returned to his native place to recuperate two years ago.

He was just waiting to pass the provincial examination and gain a reputation, solidify his Sea of Literature foundation, strengthen his Qi Blood and physique, and then return majestically to Jade Capital, avenging past humiliations.

Ning Siyu traveled from Linchuan Prefecture, passing through Yunjiang Prefecture, originally planning to survey the Celestial South Dao water systems once more before the provincial examination.

He aspired to write a treatise on "Celestial South Water Classics," hoping to become famous worldwide by this feat, perhaps even like someone on the Profound List, who achieved recognition without yet being a Scholar.

This grand ambition was not shared with outsiders, only known by one or two close aides.

Yet deep down, Ning Siyu bore immense pressure, so much so that he found it hard to sleep, tossing and turning every night.

That night staying in Langxi, he again gazed at the moon from the inn window.

Unexpectedly, he lifted his head and saw a distant wisp of cyan smoke rising to the sky.

At first the cyan smoke rose slowly, but as it ascended it suddenly darted like a green dragon emerging from a hill.

Its imposing presence seemed like rivers running through.

Ning Siyu was startled by just one glance, impulsively stepping forth, adhering a Wind Talisman onto himself.

He swiftly jumped onto the rooftop, causing a slight crackle.

The night watch aide heard the commotion and immediately reacted, hastily questioning, "Young master, what are you up to?"

But Ning Siyu did not reply, simply pulling out a short whistle and blowing it gently.

"Screech!"

From the sky, a golden eagle with a wingspan of at least a yard wide swooped down.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.