Wei He was stunned.
He looked at the calm face before him, momentarily at a loss for words.
He truly hadn't expected Jiang Yuechu to make such a request.
After a long while.
He slowly began, "Now that you've entered Core Formation, there are some things I can tell you without harm."
"However, I don't know much either."
Jiang Yuechu immediately sat up straight, looking as if she was listening intently.
Wei He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Do you know the current Empress Dowager?"
"Empress Dowager?"
Jiang Yuechu was puzzled.
What does this have to do with the Empress Dowager?
Wei He shook his head and explained, "If it were just Empress Dowager Liu, it wouldn't be much... the key is the Liu Family behind her."
"The Liu Family, a prominent family for ten generations, a thousand-year-old aristocratic clan, its origins can even be traced back to the previous dynasty. Within their clan, there is an Old Ancestor of the Lamp Lighting Realm. Throughout the world, only the Heavenly Family Li, or the Qinghe Cui Family, those ancient clans with thousands of years of Legacy, can compare to them."
"Your father Jiang Xun's case, on the surface, was political infighting, but behind it, it was likely the work of the Liu Family."
"…"
Jiang Yuechu's heart sank.
She quickly searched through her predecessor's memories.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Let alone having contact with a behemoth like the Liu Family, she hadn't even heard of them.
She had originally thought that since she had taken over this body for free, it would be only right to do something for the Jiang Family if she had the ability.
But now it seems... getting involved with such a colossal entity.
Oh, Father, Father.
It seems I won't be able to save you anytime soon.
However, she quickly caught another important point.
"Sir, what is this... Lamp Lighting Realm you just mentioned?"
Wei He glanced at her, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
An ordinary person, upon hearing that their family had offended such an aristocratic clan, would already be worried and at a loss.
But why was this young girl's focus so strange?
Nevertheless, he explained, "The three Realms of Hearing the String, Bone Resonance, and Core Formation, where a Martial Artist refines their body, tempers their Qi and blood, and condenses a martial core, are, in the end, merely struggles in the Mortal world."
He dipped his finger in some tea on the table and slowly drew three horizontal lines.
"These three Realms are called the Three Mortal Realms."
As he spoke, he drew a circle, encompassing the three horizontal lines.
"Above them, a Martial Artist's internal and external senses interact, stealing the essence of heaven and earth, only then can they truly enter the inner sanctum."
He then drew four more lines above the initial three.
"These are the Four Ascended Realms."
"Above Core Formation is the Ink Dot Realm."
"Above the Ink Dot Realm is the Seed Lotus."
"Above the Seed Lotus is Mountain Viewing."
"And Randeng is the last of the Ascended Realms, and also the pinnacle of martial arts within our Great Tang."
"Once one enters Randeng, their Lifespan extends for a thousand years, allowing them to witness the changing of seas into mulberry fields, existing as long as the nation itself."
"Such individuals are no longer Mortals."
Upon hearing this, only two words echoed in Jiang Yuechu's mind.
Holy crap.
A thousand years of Lifespan... The more she listened, the brighter her eyes became.
In this world, human lives were like weeds; living to seventy or eighty was considered a blessing.
But now, there were people who could live for a thousand years?
"Sir."
"How many Lamp Lighting Realm cultivators are there in the entire Great Tang?"
"I don't know."
He shook his head, his voice a little hoarse, "Such figures are like Dragons, seen at the head but not the tail. They have long since ceased to involve themselves in worldly affairs and will never easily reveal themselves unless the nation faces a crisis of survival."
"Does the Liu Family truly have one?"
"Yes."
Wei He's answer was firm and decisive, "This matter was verified by our Demon Suppression Division at great cost, there can be no mistake."
"Tsk... old bastard..."
"?"
Wei He looked up in disbelief at Jiang Yuechu's serious face.
Old... old bastard?
You call a Lamp Lighting Realm Old Ancestor an old bastard?
Jiang Yuechu also realized her slip of the tongue and quickly waved her hand, "A slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue, please continue, Sir."
"…"
Wei He felt a wave of exhaustion.
He took a deep breath and forcibly brought the conversation back on track.
"Jiang Yuechu, I'm telling you this to make you understand that your father's case is far more complicated than you imagine. In their eyes, your current strength is no different from an ant."
"However..."
He changed his tone, his voice softening slightly.
"You don't need to worry too much."
"Your father's case is being handled by my father."
At these words, a ripple finally appeared in Jiang Yuechu's eyes.
Wei He continued, "My father, Wei Wenda, has always been unyielding and brooks no injustice. If it was a frame-up, he would never let the case be hastily concluded."
"Furthermore, you are now in the Region and under the Demon Suppression Division's command. The Liu Family may be powerful and have connections everywhere, but they wouldn't dare to act rashly against someone from our Demon Suppression Division."
"What you need to do now is to be down-to-earth, stay steadily in the Region, slay demons, earn merits, and improve your strength."
"With your growth rate, in the future, it might not be impossible to catch the eye of the Dusi."
"Dusi?"
Jiang Yuechu was puzzled.
"Exactly."
Wei He said, "By then, if you can enter the Dusi and gain the appreciation of the Commander-in-Chief, what would a mere Liu Family count for?"
At these words, Jiang Yuechu's heart stirred.
A mere Liu Family?
A thousand-year-old aristocratic clan with a Lamp Lighting Realm Old Ancestor, in his mouth, became
"mere"?
Then what kind of person must this Commander-in-Chief be?
She licked her somewhat dry lips and asked with curiosity,
"Is our Commander-in-Chief... very strong?"
Wei He was startled at first, then a look of genuine pride appeared on his face.
"Randeng Perfection."
Jiang Yuechu nodded.
That is very strong. "Alright," Wei He seemed unwilling to say more. He waved his hand, "I've told you everything that should and shouldn't be said."
"You just need to remember to stay safely in the Region, stay alive, and everything is possible."
"Thank you, Sir."
Jiang Yuechu stood up, cupped her fists in a bow, then turned and quietly exited the main hall.
Watching her slender figure disappear at the doorway, Wei He slowly put down his teacup, a trace of complexity flashing in his eyes... After all that rambling, he had actually said nothing of substance.
Walking in the courtyard of the Captain's Mansion, Jiang Yuechu silently complained to herself.
The information Wei He revealed, apart from the Realms above Core Formation.
As for the rest, besides letting her know who her opponent was and how powerful they were, there were no details whatsoever about the case itself.
But she also understood.
Wei He was far away in the Region; it was already incredibly difficult for him to know such secrets, so how could he be clear about the details of a case far away in the capital?
In the end, she still had to rely on herself.
She still had to wait until one day she could return to Chang'an and investigate it herself.
Sigh.
Jiang Yuechu let out a long breath, feeling a wave of exhaustion.
She was just afraid... afraid that by the time she had the ability to fight her way back to Chang'an.
Her father Jiang Xun's head would have already fallen.