Chapter 07
Luring Him Deeper into the Trap
Book: The War God’s Consort Stops PretendingāShe Is a Cultivation Master
Author: Lin Yilei
Xiao Tao answered openly,
“My mistress is in secluded cultivation on a mountain outside the capital. If Young Master wishes to find her, you’ll have to go there.”
Xuanyuan Yu fell silent.
If he didn’t go, he would have to wait another half month before seeing the divine physician.
He decided to make the trip.
After all, there was nothing especially urgent requiring his attention at the moment.
Outside the Imperial Capital
Qilin Mountain
Qin Ziguang found what she considered an ideal temporary cave residence.
The spiritual energy here wasn’t particularly abundant.
Compared to the cave she had used near the frontier, it was much weaker.
However, this cave had one great advantage.
It contained a spiritual spring.
The spring emitted curling wisps of warm mist.
After soaking in it for half an hour, Qin Ziguang felt refreshed from head to toe.
Even her meridians had relaxed considerably, allowing her to absorb the surrounding spiritual energy more quickly.
“Seventh Brother, Eighth Brother, place a restriction around the entrance to this cave. Also, I noticed a smaller cave nearby. You two can stay there.”
This time, Qin Ziguang hadn’t brought many guards to the capital.
The only people she truly trusted were the adopted sons of Prince Qināher sworn elder brothers.
Five of them had returned to the frontier with Prince Qin.
Only three remained by her side.
She had left Sixth Brother in the capital to monitor the situation, while Seventh Brother and Eighth Brother accompanied her into the mountains.
Receiving their orders, Qin Seven and Qin Eight immediately began setting up restrictions to prevent anyone from approaching Qin Ziguang’s cave.
A short while later, Qin Seven returned.
“Xiao Zi, weren’t you deliberately luring that Xuanyuan Yu into the mountains? If you set up restrictions, how is he supposed to get close?”
Qin Ziguang smiled.
“He cultivates the Golden Armor Technique. This is the perfect opportunity to test his strength.
“The Golden Armor Technique can break through ordinary restrictions.”
“Oh, I see.”
Qin Seven grinned.
“Then I’ll make the restriction even stronger and reinforce it with a formation.
“Let’s see if he can break through.”
Qin Ziguang nodded.
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Seventh Brother.”
Prince Qin’s adopted sons had all grown up cultivating Qi alongside Qin Ziguang.
Unfortunately, none of them possessed enough talent to successfully establish their Foundation.
They had remained at the Qi Refinement Stage all these years.
Even so, compared to ordinary people, they were already extraordinary.
For many years, they had followed Prince Qin into battle and earned countless military achievements.
They were more than capable of commanding armies independently.
Prince Qin had even suggested assigning them to defend other frontier regions.
But every one of them remained fiercely loyal to him.
They also cherished Qin Ziguang as their younger sister.
None of them wished to leave Prince Qin’s residence.
Xuanyuan Yu had visited Qilin Mountain before.
The royal family maintained a hunting ground there.
Every year, noble families came to hunt, so he was familiar with the mountain.
But only the first mountain.
Qilin Mountain actually consisted of three peaks.
The deeper one ventured, the more dangerous the beasts became.
According to legend, the second and third mountains were inhabited by ferocious beasts recorded only in ancient texts.
Very few people hunted in the second mountain.
Almost no one dared enter the third.
Yet judging from the tracks…
The divine physician had actually gone into the third mountain.
And she hadn’t been alone.
There appeared to be two companions with her.
Judging by the footprints, they were men.
“Young Master, if we go any deeper, it will become dangerous.”
As Xuanyuan Yu’s personal guard, Gu Feng had to remind his master.
Xuanyuan Yu looked toward the third mountain, where dense clouds and mist swirled endlessly.
He had never ventured there before.
He knew perfectly well how dangerous it was.
But the divine physician had gone there.
Why would she enter such a dangerous place?
To gather medicinal herbs?
Or for some other reason?
Whatever the case…
If a woman dared to venture that deep, then so could he.
Still, Xuanyuan Yu was always cautious.
To be safe, he instructed Gu Feng,
“Send the signal.
“Call our men.”
He commanded an elite force numbering fewer than one hundred.
Though small, their combat strength was astonishing.
He rarely deployed them.
But entering the third mountain justified using them.
Gu Feng fired the signal flare.
“Young Master, they’ll catch up with us in about an hour.”
“Then we’ll go ahead first.”
Xuanyuan Yu and Gu Feng ventured deep into the third mountain.
Fortunately, they encountered no dangerous beasts along the way.
“The footprints disappear here.”
Gu Feng frowned.
“Young Master, could they have vanished into thin air?”
Gu Feng excelled at tracking.
That was how he had followed the footprints all the way here.
But once they reached this spot…
Every trace disappeared.
Not a single footprint remained.
Where had they gone?
Even Xuanyuan Yu was puzzled.
That shouldn’t be possible.
Unless…
They could fly.
Otherwise, they couldn’t have vanished without leaving any trace.
“They were last seen here.
“Let’s search the surrounding area.”
Master and servant searched for several hours.
They found nothing.
Just as they were about to give up, they suddenly heard the sound of a flute drifting from the deepest part of the mountains.
“Young Master!
“They’re over there!”
Xuanyuan Yu nodded.
“We’ll follow the sound.”
Drawn onward by the flute, they continued deeper into the mountains.
The mist grew even thicker.
They could barely see the ground beneath their feet.
Step by cautious step, they pressed forward.
“Young Master, there’s a pit ahead.
“Be careful.”
Gu Feng led the way while constantly warning him.
Eventually, they discovered a cave.
Xuanyuan Yu saw someone seated inside, quietly playing a flute.
The person appeared completely unaware of their presence, continuing to play without interruption.
Xuanyuan Yu attempted to approach.
But he found himself unable to get any closer.
An invisible force repelled him.
Even Gu Feng was thrown back.
His eyes widened in astonishment.
“Young Master…
“How can something like this happen?”
Xuanyuan Yu spoke thoughtfully.
“I’ve heard that cultivation sects exist on this continent.
“If they place restrictions over an area, outsiders cannot enter.
“And the Qin family’s ancestors… seem to have had connections with one such cultivation sect.”
That information had surfaced during his investigation of the Qin family.
He also remembered how Qin Ziguang had subdued Xiahou Ying during the palace banquet.
That technique clearly wasn’t ordinary martial arts.
The Qin family…
There was definitely something unusual about them.
“So this divine physician belongs to a cultivation sect?”
Gu Feng asked doubtfully.
Xuanyuan Yu shook his head.
“I’m not certain.”
Looking toward the flute player, he called out,
“Sir, we’ve come searching for someone.
“We wish to meet a divine physician.
“Would you be willing to let us pass?”
The man acted as though he hadn’t heard him.
He continued facing away from them, calmly playing his flute.
Xuanyuan Yu frowned.
“Sir, if you refuse to remove the restriction…
“I’ll have no choice but to force my way through.”
Gu Feng hurriedly warned,
“Young Master, your Golden Armor Technique hasn’t yet reached perfection.
“We don’t know how strong this restriction is.
“You should be careful.”
Xuanyuan Yu answered firmly,
“Since I’ve come this far, I intend to see her today.”
He slowly began circulating his internal energy.
The greatest strength of the Golden Armor Technique was that it made the practitioner’s body incomparably hard and nearly indestructible.
However, true invincibility could only be achieved after mastering the technique completely.
Xuanyuan Yu was still some distance from that level.
Under normal circumstances, he should never have attempted to force his way through.
But today…
He wanted to test it.
He wanted to know whether the Golden Armor Technique could break through what appeared to be a cultivator’s restriction.
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
He repeatedly slammed his body against the restriction.
Inside the cave, Qin Ziguang was bathing.
She could clearly hear every impact.
From the sound alone, she judged the strength of Xuanyuan Yu’s internal energy.
Not bad.
This man was a true martial arts prodigy.
At such a young age, his internal cultivation had already reached an impressive level.
The only question was…
Was he also a cultivation prodigy?
She found herself genuinely curious.
“Seventh Brother…”
She paused before smiling.
“Let him in.”
Qin Seven laughed.
“Xiao Zi, didn’t you say you wanted to test him?
“What is it?
“Feeling sorry for him already?”
Qin Ziguang rolled her eyes.
“If he damages his body crashing into the restriction, I’ll be the one who has to heal him.
“I’m only worried about wasting my pills.”
