"But speak freely."
Chen Sanshi gestured for him to continue.
"The Nine Nether Forbidden Land in Autumn Frost Valley has opened."
Zhang Shun paused before adding, "However, there is a powerful spiritual energy disturbance at the entrance to the secret realm. Anyone who approaches is immediately torn to pieces. For now, no one dares to enter. The independent cultivators and the various clans are still watching from the sidelines. It is said that this situation has never occurred before."
"A spiritual energy disturbance?"
Chen Sanshi nodded. "Understood. Continue monitoring it. Once I finish handling affairs at court, I will return to Heavenly Water Isle at once."
"This minister obeys."
Zhang Shun had come in haste and left just as quickly.
"Is Father leaving again?"
Chen Yunxi asked.
"I will remain for a few more days."
Chen Sanshi did not deny it. "Come, let us go to the family banquet."
At today's family banquet, not only the empress, consorts, and children were present—several of his senior brothers who were still in Eastern Divine Continent also attended.
Over the past 10 years, they had rarely gathered together. It was a rare occasion to share a meal.
Looking around, his senior brothers all appeared noticeably older. Their martial talent was more than sufficient; they simply lacked resources.
No matter what, he had to find more heavenly materials and earthly treasures capable of opening the Jing Divine Gate.
After several rounds of wine, the senior brothers spoke of their greatest lifelong wish—to avenge their Fourth Brother, Fang Qingyun, and exterminate the entire Guiyuan Sect.
"Golden Core."
Chen Sanshi calculated silently. That Huang Laojiu was not only at Golden Core, but at the late stage of Golden Core, not far from Nascent Soul.
At his current speed of cultivation, how many years would it take him to reach such a realm? 50 years? 100 years?
There was a saying among mortals: A gentleman's revenge is never too late after 10 years. In the immortal world, one could just as well say that 100 years is not too late.
In any case, this grudge would certainly be repaid.
When the last pot of wine was finished, the family banquet came to an end.
Chen Sanshi still rested that night in Yonghe Palace and revealed that he would soon be leaving again.
"Junior Brother, help me take my pulse."
Sun Li extended her fair wrist.
"Take your pulse?"
Chen Sanshi quickly understood. "You?"
"Mm."
Sun Li nodded calmly. "I have had some reactions these past 2 days."
This time, Chen Sanshi had stayed for 2 months. With some luck, the timing indeed aligned.
His Medicine (Mortal) skill was first-rate. He immediately took her pulse, feeling the steady rhythm beneath his fingers. "It is indeed a joyful pulse. Good. This should finally silence those court officials.
"Nianxia!
"While I am away, take proper care of the Noble Consort. If anything goes wrong, I will hold everyone in Yonghe Palace accountable."
In the Great Han, the inner palace had established a female official system consisting of six bureaus and one office. A considerable number of them possessed spiritual roots, while others were exceptionally talented martial artists.
The Palace Rectification Office was responsible for security within the harem—essentially the female counterpart of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Nianxia was the Deputy Director of the Palace Rectification Office. After 10 years of cultivation, she was on the verge of breaking through to the middle stage of Qi Refining.
"This servant obeys."
Nianxia bowed. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Heaven blesses the Great Han; the nation's fortune shall flourish."
"Senior Sister, matters in Heavenly Water Isle require my presence. I truly cannot stay long—please forgive me. If anything urgent arises, contact me through the Palace Rectification Office."
After exchanging a few more words, Chen Sanshi left the inner palace and returned to the Boundless Hall in Tianyong City of the Great Han, once again activating the puppet emperor.
The puppet, carved entirely from pure wood and dressed in black-and-gold robes, sat at the desk, ready at all times to handle memorials.
With everything arranged, he was about to depart for Heavenly Water Isle when Siqin entered the hall.
"Your Majesty, Miss Ningxiang and Miss Zhao Zhao request an audience."
"They?"
Chen Sanshi considered briefly. "Let them enter."
Ningxiang and Zhao Zhao, whom he had not seen for a long time, entered one after the other. As cultivators, the marks of time were barely visible on their faces.
Ningxiang remained slender and graceful, her steps soft and elegant, a subtle fragrance following in her wake.
Zhao Zhao had rarely visited the Boundless Hall before. Her eyes blinked as she looked about curiously in every direction.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
Ningxiang bowed. Zhao Zhao followed a moment later.
"The two of you."
Chen Sanshi spoke directly. "What brings you here?"
"Has it not been 3 or 5 years since Your Majesty summoned this servant?"
Ningxiang's tone carried a hint of grievance. "If we did not come today, who knows how long we would have to wait for Your Majesty's return next time?"
"These past years, you have both worked hard."
Chen Sanshi knew well that most of the promising talents within Tianyong City of the Great Han had been selected by them from various regions. The most fundamental methods, such as guiding qi into the body, had also been taught by them. They were, in effect, instructors of the Imperial Guard.
Within the inner palace, Ningxiang also oversaw the female officials.
Moreover, both possessed excellent aptitude. Despite limited resources, Ningxiang had reached Qi Refining ninth layer, and Zhao Zhao Qi Refining eighth layer. Both were nearly ready to begin preparing for Foundation Establishment.
"Whatever reward you desire, speak freely," he said. "I will do my utmost to grant it."
"Your Majesty,"
Ningxiang shook her head. "This servant wants nothing. I only wish to say that for this trial, it would be better to take the two of us along. Shutting ourselves away and working behind closed doors is not a solution. After the trial ends, this servant hopes to remain in Heavenly Water Isle together with Zhao Zhao and seek another place to cultivate."
"Seek another place?"
Chen Sanshi did not refuse. "Very well. Wait a while longer. If I am unable to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills for the two of you, then it is my own incompetence. Wherever you choose to go, I will not stand in your way."
"Your Majesty has misunderstood."
Ningxiang hurried to explain, "This servant lives as a person of the Great Han and will die as a ghost of the Great Han. I would never seek resources from Your Majesty. It is only that our constitutions are somewhat special. Remaining in Eastern Divine Continent, we fear it will be difficult to advance further. It would be better to cultivate elsewhere for a time. If we achieve something and then return, we can serve the court even more faithfully."
"There is no need to explain so much."
Chen Sanshi said calmly, "In the blink of an eye, you have followed me for more than 10 years. I do not doubt your loyalty. Even if you never return in the future, I will not blame you."
"This servant kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's grace."
Ningxiang prostrated herself on the ground.
"In that case, come with me."
Chen Sanshi led the two of them aboard the dragon carriage. After soaring into the clouds, they headed straight toward The Edge of the World.
"Emperor Chen,"
Zhao Zhao asked, "what realm are you at now?"
"Foundation Establishment."
With his eyes closed in meditation, Chen Sanshi answered evenly.
"Foundation Establishment…"
Zhao Zhao placed a finger against her lips, muttering to herself as she calculated. "Then doesn't that mean I'm about to catch up to you? Won't you soon be unable to beat me?"
"Zhao Zhao, do not be rude."
Ningxiang reproached her. "Why are you still so impudent? His Majesty cultivates both immortal and martial paths and can fight across realms. Can you compare to that?"
"Fool."
Chen Sanshi teased, "Why are you so obsessed with defeating me? I have no grudge against you."
"No grudge?!"
Zhao Zhao widened her eyes. She first put her hands on her hips in disbelief, then raised her right hand to reveal the scar on her slender wrist. "And this is not a grudge?"
"Oh, I forgot."
When they had first met, he had indeed severed the tendons in her hands and feet. But she had been dressed in night clothes, sneaking about like a thief. Surviving at all had already been fortunate.
"Just you wait."
Zhao Zhao declared confidently, "When I defeat you, I'll leave the same scar on your wrist and show you how formidable this young lady is."
"Very well. I will be waiting."
Chen Sanshi paid her no further attention and resumed his meditation.
Several days later.
The group arrived at The Edge of the World. Using the jade token that had been transmitted to them, they entered Heavenly Water Isle and traveled to an ordinary town along Northern Yang Dao to meet with their subordinates.
"Reporting to Your Majesty,"
Sima Yao cupped his fists. "At present, within Heavenly Water Isle, we have assembled a total of 51 subjects from Tianyong City of the Great Han."
With the court's limited resources, 10 years of accumulation had yielded only this many cultivators at the middle stage of Qi Refining. Their numbers could no longer increase.
"Give me the roster."
Chen Sanshi took the list and made detailed arrangements before turning to the records concerning the Nine Nether Forbidden Land.
Within the forbidden land, a great number of rare treasures had once emerged, some of which could not even be measured by ordinary grades. Among them were the Earth Spirit Tree Core and the Golden Essence Clay Embryo.
The former, the heart of a demon locust tree, was one of the heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Its effect was similar to a false core refined from a third-tier demon core.
After cultivating a false core, a cultivator's combat strength and lifespan would be nearly equal to that of a true Golden Core cultivator, though further advancement in cultivation would be impossible.
It was said that when certain smaller sects faced the brink of extinction in their lineage, they would exhaust every means to create a false core cultivator to protect their successors, thus bridging the gap between generations.
The latter, the Golden Essence Clay Embryo, had a similar effect.
The fact that they could ensure the continuation of a lineage was enough to demonstrate their preciousness. Even within the forbidden land, they were rare treasures.
Other similar heavenly materials and earthly treasures were also recorded.
Among them, Chen Sanshi found a spiritual plant he urgently needed—the Earth Spirit Purple Vine.
As long as spiritual energy was abundant, this plant could transform ordinary soil into spirit fields.
For most factions, this item would likely be of little use.
In Heavenly Water Isle, places rich in spiritual energy inevitably possessed dedicated spiritual veins. Where there were spiritual veins, spirit fields would naturally form without the need to alter the soil.
As for mortal soil, it had no access to spiritual energy. Even with the Earth Spirit Purple Vine, it would be impossible to transform it.
But Tianyong City of the Great Han was different.
With the Spirit Pearl present, the city did not lack spiritual energy—yet it had no spirit fields. This Earth Spirit Purple Vine was practically tailor-made for the court.
If he could obtain this treasure, then the Jing Divine Fruit sapling he had acquired, along with the various other spiritual plant seeds, would finally be put to use.
The objectives of his trip into the forbidden land were now almost completely clear.
First, to gather resources for the court.
Second, to search for the Phoenix Luan Stone Beast—partly to win over Qu Lingchuan, and partly to refine pills to accelerate his own cultivation.
Third, to find the Earth Spirit Purple Vine.
Before taking action, Chen Sanshi always preferred to have a clear plan. Only by striving toward a defined goal could he maintain stronger motivation.
"Where is the forbidden land?"
He put away the records. "I will personally go and take a look."
"Yes."
Sima Yao led the way.
Autumn Frost Valley lay in the northwestern corner of Northern Yang Dao. The surrounding area had no spiritual veins and was an extremely barren mortal land. Yet the Nine Nether Forbidden Land happened to be located there.
Thus, whenever the forbidden land was about to open, independent cultivators and disciples from various clans across Northern Yang Dao would gather here. The nearby mortal villages and towns would become extraordinarily lively.
This scene had persisted for nearly 1,000 years.
However, due to a millennium of harvesting, the resources within the Nine Nether Forbidden Land had grown increasingly scarce. In the beginning, third-tier treasures were everywhere. Later, second-tier items became the majority. Now, most of what remained were first-tier items. If a second-tier treasure appeared, it was enough to make independent cultivators fight until their heads bled.
As a result, the status of those participating in treasure hunts had steadily declined. At first, disciples and cultivators from sects of other Dao would come. By the last opening, more than 90% were local independent cultivators. Even among the Seven Great Clans, only unfavored branches would send representatives.
This time, however, the abnormal disturbance within the forbidden land had drawn considerable attention.
From the reports provided by his subordinates, Chen Sanshi knew that many independent cultivators from other regions had arrived, and even some sect disciples. The local Seven Great Clans had once again taken the matter seriously.
Everywhere one looked, small groups of cultivators could be seen. The place felt almost overcrowded.
The entrance to the forbidden land lay near a chaotic forest of rocks within the valley.
Two broken stone pillars stood in the center. Their surfaces flickered intermittently with purple spiritual light, like guttering candles in the wind ready to extinguish at any moment. Between them was a teleportation gate, within which violent spiritual energy disturbances churned.
A sect disciple stood not far away, forming hand seals and forcibly driving a spirit beast into the gate. The moment it made contact, it exploded into a cloud of blood mist.
A sharp intake of breath followed.
Witnessing such a scene, the sect disciple instinctively stepped back several paces.
"For such an anomaly to occur in this secret realm of Northern Yang Dao—who knows whether it heralds the birth of a supreme treasure, or merely the collapse of the realm itself!"
"Indeed. If it collapses, our trip will have been for nothing."
"Let's go."
After familiarizing himself with the surroundings and situation, Chen Sanshi did not linger. He quietly left Autumn Frost Valley, yet his expression had grown exceptionally grim.
Because…
Those sect disciples in blue robes came from the Guiyuan Sect!
The one leading them was an old acquaintance—Cui Zichen of Seeking Immortals Tower, along with Qian Qiren, one of the sect master's direct disciples of the Guiyuan Sect.
Stepping onto his flying sword, Chen Sanshi's voice was so cold it seemed capable of freezing the clouds. Enunciating each word, he said, "Investigate how many people the Guiyuan Sect has sent this time, and who they are."
"This minister understands."
Sima Yao did not dare to speak further.
Chen Sanshi looked down at the figures below, growing ever smaller.
Since they had come—
Not a single one would leave!
On the anniversary of his senior brother's death this year, the grave would require some new offerings.
With that thought, his flight speed surged continuously, until he left Sima Yao—who was flying with talismans—far behind. At that moment, a panel suddenly appeared before him.
Skill: Aerial Control (Mastery)
Progress: 0/1000
Effect: Wind-Splitting Seal — After 10 years of Aerial Control, gradual comprehension is gained. Form a spell seal, consume mana, and increase Aerial Control flight speed threefold.
Wind-Splitting Seal.
Chen Sanshi tested it briefly and discovered that it was not limited to sword flight. Even while riding a mount, he could apply the seal to the mount as well.