Chapter 320: Going to Jiangling (II)

Chapter 320: Going to Jiangling (II)

On the way to Jiangling Prefecture, Qi Xuansu took the opportunity to study the white fox face mask he got from Su Ran and found that it was a good item.

Since Qi Xuansu was at the Guizhen stage and he had experience with more spiritual objects, ordinary spiritual objects like his cutlasses could no longer impress him. Qi Xuansu was quite satisfied with this white fox face mask.

This white fox face mask was also a spiritual object, but it was the best quality among spiritual objects, borderline a treasure.

Its main function was not as a weapon but as a disguise with a few magical features.

The first magical feature was to increase one’s intuition. Even without using Yin Yang Eyes or Seer Eyes, one would be able to see ghosts and spirits. One would also be able to see through some illusions and disguises through the mask.

The second magical feature was that it could be used to hide one’s aura, so much so that one would be undetectable even with the Rogue Cultivator’s Qi Observation Technique and the Banished Immortal’s Divine Observation Technique. If Qi Xuansu had this mask early on, Feng Bo would not have tracked him down using the spell.

The third magical feature was the fox clan’s special skill of altering their face and figure. Su Ran wanted to shock others, so she only used the white fox face mask to hide her aura and prevent her identity from being exposed. However, she did not change her face. Instead, she used the original appearance of the mask, which resembled a white fox.

The white fox face mask was a spiritual object, not a treasure, so it had a limited number of faces it could change into. Qi Xuansu could only choose one among the several faces and could not customize them.

This mask had three existing faces: one of a handsome young man, a charming young woman, and a wise old man.

These three faces had the characteristics of the fox demon clan, who were generally beautiful. The men had strong brows and starry eyes, while the women had sultry eyes, suitable for seducing others.

In addition, the white fox face mask also had its shortcomings. This spiritual object had to be activated by magic or the Banished Immortal’s true essence. However, it could not be activated with innate qi or blood qi.

That was because the mask was not just an illusion. It would alter one’s real face temporarily, so it had considerable physical requirements. People with weak bodies would not be able to bear the slight damage caused by the mask’s alteration because, over time, it could lead to facial paralysis.

This was somewhat contradictory because aside from the special Banished Immortal lineage, those who had magic were physically weak, while those with strong physiques did not have magic.

However, this mask was not prepared for humans. It was custom-made for the fox demon clan. Among the demons, only the fox demon was born with both strong physiques and magic. That was why they were good at transformation. It was just coincidental that Banished Immortals and Qi Xuansu fit the characteristics of the fox clan.

After Qi Xuansu put on the white fox face mask, he felt the mask integrating with his own skin, becoming indistinguishable from one another. Then he activated the mask using magic and chose the third face.

Qi Xuansu’s cheeks gradually became sunken, and deep wrinkles appeared. His eyes became cloudy, and a white beard grew on his chin and above his lips, draping down to his chest.

This made many people in Jiangling inexplicably guilty. After all, the Yanqing Merchant’s Association was involved, so many people were eager to get information from Zhang Yuelu.

The moment Zhang Yuelu checked in to the Shenxiao Temple in Jiangling Prefectural City, the gentry came to pay her a visit.

Zhang Yuelu refused to meet people, saying that she was tired from the journey. She asked the abbot of Shenxiao Temple to receive these guests on her behalf.

Since these people had heard about Zhang Yuelu’s temper to some extent, they knew what to expect and did not get offended. They just left an invitation for a reception banquet for Zhang Yuelu, hosted by a respected Confucian scholar in the city.

Over the years, in order to suppress the seemingly submissive but actually duplicitous Buddhist Sect, the Daoist Order had been supporting the Confucian School and vigorously promoted the friendship between the two parties. It was comparable to the time when the Daoist Order joined forces with the Buddhist Sect to fight against the Confucian School.

Since this banquet was hosted by a Confucian scholar, it would be hard for Zhang Yuelu to blatantly reject the invitation.

After the gentry left, Zhang Yuelu met the abbot of Shenxiao Temple, Chen Shouchen, who was already in his sixties.

Although Chen Shouchen was also a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master, he was very respectful to Zhang Yuelu, treating himself as a subordinate at all times.

Zhang Yuelu looked at the gilded invitation and asked, “Abbot Chen, what kind of official is Master Yuan Chongzong?”

The Confucian School had three Grand Libationers, equivalent to the three Deputy Grand Masters. However, the Confucian School was not as structured as the Daoist Order, with an unclear hierarchy. However, most people in the Confucian School served as court officials. That was how one could gauge someone’s rank.

For example, a first-rank cabinet minister in the Imperial Court was roughly equivalent to a first-rank Tianzhen Daoist master in the Daoist Order.

Chen Shouchen replied, “Old Master Yuan has not served as a court official, but he is well known and revered in Jiangling Prefecture. There is a saying that he and the Old Commandery Prince rule Jiangling hand in hand.”

Zhang Yuelu questioned, “Is he related to the Yanqing Merchant’s Association?”

Chen Shouchen opened his mouth, but did not say anything for a long time.

After a while, Chen Shouchen responded. “I dare not make any judgments regarding this. The Yuan family is complex, with a long history and strong roots. Many court officials will have to obey the Yuan family’s orders. The vigilantes and thugs in the city had also become the Yuan family’s lackeys. Even though the Yuan family has a Confucian background, they also have a good relationship with several Sages in Huzhou. At least in the Jiangling area, no one dares mess with them.”

Zhang Yuelu nodded and muttered, “What a powerful family.”