Chapter 1 An Instant Before

A moment before...

Ji Xiang's position was on the back wall of Qixiang Palace, located at the southwest corner of the West Six Palaces. The distant fire obscured the view, but it left a narrow path, which was not very obvious in the flames.

He prepared all his magical artifacts and talismans, held the Taiyi Three-Primes Sword in his hand, and dashed forward, experiencing the joy of a great hero running on walls.

Just then, three figures walked along the passage from Qianqing Palace to the West Six Palaces, which was also the West First Long Street.

Ji Xiang's eyes had been fixed on those three little black dots from a distance. His eyesight was very good; people nicknamed him "Small Aperture Formation"...

Finally, Ji Xiang saw those three figures!

In his inner vision, the blank divine tablet reappeared with text, providing a strategy!

[Three in the Fire: True Gods!]

—

[Red Banner Child (Divine Appearance): A fire god! A fire monster from the Southern Song Dynasty, originally dressed in ochre, now appearing as a child in brocade clothing, holding a red flag, spinning like a blossoming hibiscus, using it to spread fire disasters!]

[Seize his red flag and he will be unable to set fires.]

—

[Qian Guang: A fire god! The Fire King of the stove from the Tang Dynasty, appearing as an old man with white hair and a white robe, once a magistrate of the Tang Dynasty, but was tied to the stove by a woman for doing evil, unable to get food. This god can steal a person's ji (lifespan), about three years for a large amount, and about three days for a small amount.]

[Smearing his mouth with sugar and mud can temporarily seal his fire techniques; sugar can seal for a day, mud can seal for a moment. When he prays to the heavens for techniques, stealing people's lifespans, shout "Offending against Heaven leaves one no place to pray," and you can steal his lifespan instead.]

[The stolen lifespan will be converted into fire-elemental energy, supplementing the divine fire within the cultivator's body, beneficial for cultivation.]

—

[Song Zhongzheng: A fire god! A god who sends fire from the Song Dynasty, wearing a large red robe, with the appearance of a nobleman, rumored to be an envoy of the Yinghuo Star (Mars), once sending heavenly fire to burn a hundred people to death because the people disrespected his shrine.]

[Saying things like "Heaven has bestowed virtue upon me, what can misfortune and fortune do to me?" will anger him.]

[Do not answer any of his questions, and do not speak when he argues with you.]

[If this god sees "sui yang jing", he will flee; at night, face away from the direction of the Yinghuo Star, and shout "Flickering firelight, chaotic illusions," to make the light of the Yinghuo Star descend, causing him to fall into a state of fear, unable to use his magical power.]

—

[These three types of fire spirits steal national prestige. Among them, Qian and Song have become true gods, while the Red Banner Child has not obtained a divine name. Calling out his true name will reduce his divine power by a third.]

Ji Xiang learned the true identities of the three in the fire and obtained strategies to deal with them.

But what was going on with this Song Zhongzheng among the three fire gods?

Why was there a warning to "not answer" and an option to "enrage him"?

What would happen if he was enraged?

Would he enter second-stage mode?

"?"

Ji Xiang pondered slightly, thinking, could it be that this guy asks questions, deliberately guiding people towards a certain topic, leading them to say something that would enrage him?

It was unexpected that this fire god was also a master at directing topics.

Then I, Ji Xiang, am a pro at pulling aggro.

"Facing three head-on, my chances of winning aren't great. As the saying goes, even a good tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves."

Ji Xiang began to formulate a plan in his mind.

First was the Red Banner Child. Without the red flag, he was just a brat that could be slapped into tears.

Then there was the white-bearded old man Qian Guang. Smearing his mouth with mud would temporarily seal his abilities.

Finally, there was Song Zhongzheng in the large red robe. To deal with him, he had to face away from the direction of the Yinghuo Star.

Ji Xiang identified the position of the Yinghuo Star, a red star that was relatively visible in the sky illuminated by the fire.

Looking at the moving position of the three fire gods, Ji Xiang decided to jump into the Yongning Palace in the center of the West Six Palaces, hiding behind the gate. When the three fire gods passed diagonally across from the gate, he would immediately follow from behind, first snatching the child's flag, then beating up the old man, and finally, engaging in a one-on-one duel with the most powerful red-robed fire god.

However, when Ji Xiang jumped into the Yongning Palace, he saw a charming middle-aged woman sitting in front of the palace gate, giving Ji Xiang a shock!

The woman was also dressed in luxurious clothes, a phoenix coronet, jade hairpins, gold bracelets, a round-collared shirt embroidered with gold, a large crimson-sleeved robe, a cloud collar, a red silk skirt, and a vest, all woven with gold and embroidered with phoenix patterns.

She was sitting in the courtyard, her eyes fixed on the gate. When Ji Xiang suddenly jumped in, she stared at Ji Xiang, not afraid at all, just sitting at the door, and actually asked very naturally:

"Tell me, what's happening outside?"

The West Six Palaces were inhabited by the emperor's consorts, but this woman called herself "lao shen" (old body), Ji Xiang instantly realized that this might be one of the Longqing Emperor's lesser wives...

However, this thought was quickly overturned.

"A Daoist... the last time I saw a Daoist was during the time of the Shizong Emperor, about thirty years ago."

"Just now, the palace maids serving me all walked out of the palace gate as if they were possessed. When I woke up, the palace was empty, and the outside was brightly lit, the sky was red for half a day."

"Now, a little Daoist like you has jumped into my palace. Interesting, the Forbidden City hasn't changed for so many years, why is it so lively tonight?"

"You can call me Consort Shang."

Ji Xiang was very surprised!

How could a concubine from the Jiajing Emperor's time be so young?

Of course, now was not the time to think about this, Ji Xiang quickly replied: "Reporting to Imperial Concubine, there are monsters that have entered the Forbidden City, setting fires to burn down the front and rear palaces, assassinating His Majesty!"

Consort Shang asked doubtfully: "Monsters?"

Ji Xiang replied: "Yes, they are using the bodies of mortals in the palace, setting fires everywhere. Now the front three halls and rear three palaces have all been burned down. His Majesty is trapped in the West Six Palaces, surrounded by flames. Three monsters are advancing towards His Majesty's location."

"They are about to pass through Yongning Palace. I am a sweeping-yard Daoist from Wudang Mountain in Longde Hall. After discovering these monsters, I came here to intercept and kill them. I didn't expect to disturb Your Ladyship."

Consort Shang looked at the half-open palace gate, then at Ji Xiang, and smiled:

"You've come to save the Emperor... I see... Fire god monsters."

"My palace maids have also been possessed by monsters, is that so? But the Forbidden City is the largest forbidden area in the world, how could monsters just come in so easily."

"However, I don't doubt your words, because I saw it before, too."

Ji Xiang asked strangely: "You saw... what?"

Consort Shang said: "Just two days ago, Consort Zhou and Consort Xu brought their children to my palace to visit... I saw a red-clothed child and a white-clothed child in front of the door."

"I asked them where their children came from, but they said there were no children in front of the door, that I was seeing things."

Consort Shang recalled for a moment, then suddenly thought of something, and said to Ji Xiang:

"But you, little Daoist, with your current cultivation, saying you're going to subdue monsters... Third Realm, Golden Tendons and Jade Bones... you do have courage."

Ji Xiang's eyes were immediately fixed on this imperial concubine.

This imperial concubine didn't seem to be cultivating, so how could she see through his cultivation level at a glance? And she even gave Ji Xiang a very dangerous feeling.

The Forbidden City was indeed deep.

Ji Xiang probed: "Does Your Ladyship have great cultivation? Why not go out and help? I am willing to be your vanguard."

Consort Shang smiled: "I have no cultivation."

Ji Xiang didn't speak, and Consort Shang said: "I really have no cultivation, but, as for helping out, I can give you a hand."

"Looking at you, it will be difficult to subdue the monsters outside. Those who can cause trouble in the Forbidden City must be extraordinary things. It's also strange, why hasn't Doumu (Mother of the Dipper) reacted?"

Consort Shang got up from the doorway. In her hand, she held a Daoist magical artifact, and she directly threw this magical artifact to Ji Xiang.

"Here, take this."

This magical artifact was shaped like a golden goblet, two inches wide, with a shape similar to an upturned alms bowl. It was placed on the upper end of a golden-bronze handle, the handle being ten inches long.

Ji Xiang looked at the magical artifact!

In his inner vision, the divine tablet appeared with a description!

[Golden Striker (Emperor's Sounder): Arouser! Awakens the long night, alerts the coma; brings forth good intentions, stops all suffering!]

[An imperial artifact once used by the Jiajing Emperor!]