The Fifth Prince Had Always Been Indifferent

Feng Dabao vaguely remembered that at the other party's vigorous, hot-blooded age, he had held his head high above the clouds, yearning only for techniques that let one fly through the heavens, escape through the skies, and kill enemies in battle.

He probably would not even have glanced at a book like the "Longevity Technique."

Compared to other Immortal Martial Arts Techniques, the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique had few advantages beyond its proficiency in prolonging life.

Though it was an Immortal Martial Arts Technique, it truly was also a Longevity Technique.

Thus, Feng Dabao was genuinely surprised by Zhao Hongming's choice.

Rumor had it that the Fifth Prince had always been indifferent by nature and had no desire whatsoever to contend for that position.

Now that Feng Dabao had seen him today, the rumors proved true.

Feng Dabao said calmly, "According to ancestral law, Your Highness may only study Immortal Martial Arts Techniques in the Martial Repository Hall and may not take them out of the Martial Repository Pavilion. There are private rooms on the third floor where Your Highness may cultivate. Your Highness may enter and meditate for a while first; later, the Martial Repository Pavilion's Steward will deliver the technique before Your Highness."

Zhao Hongming nodded. "This Prince understands."

"Does Your Highness have any other requests?"

"No."

"Then this old servant shall take his leave first and return to report."

As if recalling something, Zhao Hongming took a jade pendant from his sleeve. "Eunuch, you made this trip today. You have truly troubled yourself..."

With a gentle push of his hand, Feng Dabao made Zhao Hongming feel an immense force stopping him, leaving him unable to make another move.

"This is merely part of this servant's duty. Fifth Prince, there is no need for this."

Having said that, Feng Dabao bowed and withdrew.

Only after Feng Dabao had completely left did that obstructing sensation vanish entirely.

Zhao Hongming remained silent and put away the jade pendant.

He found it perfectly normal that the other party had refused it.

As a Seal-holding Eunuch, Feng Dabao had no need for—and would not care about—such petty gains.

But whether Feng Dabao accepted it was his business; whether Zhao Hongming offered it was Zhao Hongming's business.

Having lived two lives, Zhao Hongming still understood that principle.

Putting aside those thoughts, Zhao Hongming walked into the private room.

The space inside was not large, just enough for one person to move around. It contained a long table and a wooden chair.

There were also tea, fruit, and pastries on the table.

At a glance, there was nowhere here to stretch one's limbs, so it was likely only a place for understanding and studying Martial Arts.

Actual cultivation would still have to be carried out privately.

After sitting in the private room for a while, the Martial Repository Pavilion's Steward brought in the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique.

Along with the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique came annotations from other Martial Dao masters.

When martial artists in the jianghu wished to learn the Martial Dao, they often needed to find a martial arts school for guidance.

If circumstances did not permit it, they would find some way to seek instruction from a Martial Master.

It was not as simple as snatching a Martial Arts manual and being able to recite it mechanically and apply it rigidly.

Which meridians should be opened during Meridian Opening, and how did one locate them?

What counted as opening an acupoint?

Which parts of a technique were coded terms, and what exactly did they mean?

All sorts of things like these were problems.

The Martial Dao appeared to have no threshold, but in truth, knowledge lay everywhere within it.

Otherwise, everyone could take a Martial Arts manual and become accomplished through self-study.

Zhao Hongming let out a soft breath, subdued the monkey of his heart and the horse of his mind, and began leafing through the Immortal Martial Arts Technique known as the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique.

Before long, he had finished reading the entire first level of the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique.

With a thought from Zhao Hongming, a line of notification appeared in his vision.

As Heaven moves with vigor, the noble person strives ceaselessly for self-improvement; as Earth is receptive, the noble person carries all things with generous virtue.

The more one tills, the more one reaps. Heaven's Reward favors diligence.

Name: Zhao Hongming

Cultivation Technique: Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique—Not Initiated (5/100)

Techniques Available for Breakthrough: None

Today's Cultivation Time: 0.5 hours

Physique: Ordinary

Talent Enhancement: 1

Hah...

It worked.

Keep working.

Zhao Hongming silently encouraged himself.

He set down the technique in his hand, picked up the annotations beside it, and read them carefully.

These were all annotations by Martial Dao masters. They progressed from shallow to profound, pointing out one by one many places that had left him puzzled.

Moreover, there was more than one set of annotations sent over, allowing him to compare them separately.

Where one set of annotations had omissions, another would provide a corresponding explanation.

Zhao Hongming became completely absorbed in reading.

Qianqing Palace, Imperial Palace of Daliang, Wei Country.

Feng Dabao, the Seal-holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, entered the hall with a bow. He crept toward the desk on tiptoe and stood there without speaking.

Behind the imperial desk, Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu held a memorial with an expressionless face. After a long while, he picked up his brush and wrote his comments.

Jian'an Emperor was the seventh emperor of Great Wei. He had reigned for twenty-five years and was now forty-six, in the prime of his life.

He was broad and sturdy, with black hair falling to his shoulders and vigorous Qi and Blood throughout his body.

Even though he had bent over his desk year after year, not the slightest sign of decline could be seen in him.

During his twenty-five years on the throne, he had lightened taxes and corvée labor, encouraged the people's livelihood, and quelled multiple martial artist uprisings within the realm. He could be considered a ruler capable of preserving what his ancestors had built.

He put down the memorial and raised a sharp gaze eighty percent similar to Zhao Hongming's. Without anger, he still inspired awe. "Which technique did the Fifth choose this time?"

Feng Dabao's expression remained calm as he bowed. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince chose the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique."

A hint of surprise flashed through Zhao Yongxu's eyes. "Did he say anything about why he chose this technique?"

"The Fifth Prince's exact words were, 'Father Emperor has given instructions. As your son, I should strive diligently. Cultivating this technique will not delay This Prince's study of the ancient sages, so it is quite suitable.'" Feng Dabao did not conceal anything and repeated the words exactly as they had been spoken.

In truth, Feng Dabao's words in the Martial Repository Pavilion had not been fabricated merely to comfort him.

Jian'an Emperor truly had given such instructions previously.

Born into the imperial family, father-son affection might be much thinner than in ordinary households, but people were not grass or trees—how could they be without feeling?

Zhao Yongxu still paid some attention to this son with whom he rarely interacted.

"It seems he still has some self-awareness."

"Feng Dabao." Zhao Yongxu suddenly called.

Feng Dabao, standing to one side, bent low and replied, "This old servant is here."

Zhao Yongxu's gaze turned beyond the great hall. After pondering for a while, he asked, "Which prince do you think I should pass the throne to in the future?"

The Crown Prince was loyal and kind-hearted, and he was highly praised in court.

Yet Zhao Yongxu remained somewhat uneasy.

Now the Six Kingdoms stood side by side, an age of great contention.

Wars of conquest between the nations were common.

Whether such a Crown Prince could preserve the ancestral foundation was truly uncertain. Zhao Yongxu's mind had begun to waver.

At Zhao Yongxu's question, the wrinkles on Feng Dabao's face could not help but tremble.

The matter concerned the imperial heir; it was not something a Seal-holding Eunuch like him could comment upon recklessly.

This matter involved not only the princes themselves, but also the consorts behind them and certain forces within the court.

Discussing the imperial heir was a well-known taboo.

As Feng Dabao considered his words, he said, "The imperial heir concerns the realm. Your Majesty would do better to discuss it with the Empress and the court officials. It is not something a maimed person like this old servant can rashly discuss."

Zhao Yongxu was clearly dissatisfied with Feng Dabao's evasive words and pressed on, "What is said today will remain only within this hall. If I tell you to speak, then speak."

Feng Dabao revealed an even more troubled expression. After pondering for a while, he said, "Your Majesty has already established the Eldest Imperial Prince as Crown Prince. This old servant believes Your Majesty already has a definite candidate in mind."

Feng Dabao's words were exceedingly smooth, tossing Jian'an Emperor's question straight back to him and offending no one.

"You old fox. Deduct two Wish Stones from this month's salary."

Zhao Yongxu snorted coldly. He knew that the entire court treated the matter of the imperial heir as something too taboo to mention, and asking Feng Dabao would yield no result.

Yet he felt somewhat stifled inside, so he gave Feng Dabao a punishment that neither hurt nor itched.

Wish Stones were special spiritual artifacts refined by gathering the faith of the people throughout the nation. They could use the faith of all living beings to gather spiritual power and increase the speed of cultivation.

The salaries of Great Wei's officials included not only gold and silver, but also Wish Stones.

Feng Dabao received ten Wish Stones in his monthly salary.

Thanks to Great Wei's resources and salary, he had already advanced to Innate Rank 8. Losing a few Wish Stones would no longer affect his cultivation.

Feng Dabao also knew well that Jian'an Emperor merely wished to vent his frustration. It was harmless, and the matter was considered over. "This servant thanks Your Majesty for the punishment."

After waiting for a while, Zhao Yongxu said, "I have heard that Minister Chen's Daughter possesses considerable talent in Martial Arts. Convey my verbal decree: the day after tomorrow, have Minister Chen's Daughter enter the palace and give the Fifth Prince some guidance in cultivation."

Feng Dabao was slightly stunned.

Because of his personality, and because he lacked the support of a birth mother, the Fifth Prince had the least presence among all the princes.

Minister of Works Chen Mou had recently been close to the Crown Prince, yet His Majesty was instead allowing his daughter to draw near the Fifth Prince.

It seemed there was an intention to issue a warning.

Feng Dabao did not think further and answered respectfully, "This servant obeys the decree!"

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