Xue Beng stared fixedly at that wisp of blood-red Soul Power, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
Modify a Martial Soul? That was simply absurd. Yet Chen Chu's gaze was far too certain—so certain that Xue Beng actually found himself believing him a little.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally asked, "How am I supposed to believe you? Anyone can make empty promises."
"I can give you a little benefit first." Chen Chu raised his hand, and the wisp of pale purple Soul Power slowly drifted toward Xue Beng. "This is my sincerity, as well as proof. It can nourish your Martial Soul, allowing you to achieve twice the results with half the effort in future cultivation and breakthroughs. It may even strengthen your Swan Martial Soul. You can try it first, then decide."
Xue Beng looked at the Soul Power floating before him but did not accept it immediately. He knew that once he took it, there would be no turning back.
Moreover, this man had suddenly come to him and claimed he was willing to support him in fighting for the throne. There was clearly something suspicious about it.
But the temptation of "modifying a Martial Soul, even creating another Martial Soul" drew him in like a magnet. In the end, he gritted his teeth, extended his hand, and drew it over, allowing that wisp of Soul Power to merge into his body.
The instant the purple Soul Power entered his body, Xue Beng felt a warm, gentle current spread through the meridians in his arm, rushing straight toward the dantian where his Martial Soul resided.
He instinctively circulated his Soul Power to investigate. His Swan Martial Soul, which had always lain dormant and docile, actually trembled slightly. A phantom of wings flickered across his body and vanished, while even the Soul Power bottleneck that had remained stagnant for days showed signs of shifting.
"This..." Xue Beng's pupils constricted sharply, his voice filled with disbelief. He had once worked hard at cultivation too, but his progress over the years had been painfully slow. His Martial Soul had long since grown accustomed to its dormancy and had never shown such signs of activity.
Chen Chu stood where he was, his expression unchanged. "This is only preliminary nourishment. It does not count as true modification. If you want to completely reshape the foundation of your Martial Soul, further cooperation will be needed."
"Your Highness, do you believe in my abilities now? Can we discuss cooperation?"
Xue Beng was an important chess piece in Chen Chu's plans. After the Heaven Dou Palace Coup ended, the throne would inevitably fall into his hands. Contacting him in advance, even controlling him, would be equivalent to controlling the resources of the entire empire. With official backing as well, no one would be able to find fault with him.
"Cooperation?" Xue Beng laughed bitterly. "I'm just a disgraced prince now. With my eldest brother, the Crown Prince, around, what can I possibly do for you?"
Xue Qinghe's advantage was terrifyingly great. Especially after his other two brothers had died, nearly every minister in court had become friendly with the Crown Prince. Other than Uncle Xue Xing, no one cared about him at all.
"I said it already. I do not need you to repay me right now. Just keep doing what you have been doing and maintain your current appearance." Chen Chu stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and spoke earnestly.
As long as Qian Renxue did not expose herself, it would be difficult for him to control her. Unless he had Ao Tian force her hand and expose her true identity, but the risk was too great.
Besides, she still had her uses. She needed to kill Xue Ye. When Xue Ye was on his deathbed during the palace coup and passed the throne to Xue Beng, with the empire teetering on the brink of collapse, Chen Chu would be entrusted with great responsibility. At that point, with Xue Beng in his grasp, he would be a subject in name but an emperor in truth.
Most importantly, if the royal family massacre could be pinned on Spirit Hall, then in this feudal empire, the people would surely be enraged by such a bloody tragedy befalling the imperial clan.
When Spirit Hall openly rebelled, he would raise an army to suppress them. In that way, his reputation throughout the empire would reach unprecedented heights, and he could successfully inherit the faith power lost by Spirit Hall. That was the most reliable course of action.
If the Asura God successfully passed down his divine position, he could use that faith power to quickly familiarize himself with his strength. If not, creating a divine position of his own might not be impossible. Multiple safeguards were the surest path.
Xue Beng froze. "Keep being like this?"
"Yes, continue being your wastrel prince." Chen Chu withdrew his hand, his fingertips tapping lightly at his side. "Xue Qinghe currently sees you as nothing. That is the safest state for you. The moment you reveal your edge, with his methods, you will not survive three days."
Xue Beng clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. Of course he knew how ruthless Xue Qinghe was. The deaths of his two brothers remained full of suspicious details even now, but no one dared investigate. Chen Chu had torn through that thin veil, making the chill in his heart deepen further.
"But am I supposed to keep pretending like this forever?" Xue Beng lowered his voice. "Once Xue Qinghe completely controls the court, I'm afraid I won't even have the chance to play dumb anymore."
"It will not take that long." Chen Chu lifted his gaze and swept it over the parasol tree outside the courtyard. "Within the next few years, Heaven Dou City will undergo a change.
Before then, you only need to do two things. First, circulate the Soul Power cultivation method I teach you every day to stabilize the nourishing effects on your Martial Soul. Second, conceal what we discussed today. You must not reveal a single word, not even to Prince Xue Xing."
"Not even Uncle Xue Xing?" Xue Beng frowned slightly. Prince Xue Xing was his only support at court. If even he could not be trusted, then Xue Beng would truly be alone.
"No." There was no room for negotiation in Chen Chu's voice. "The fewer people who know about this, the more beneficial it will be for us. The more people who know, the easier it will be for Xue Qinghe to seize a weakness. When that happens, not only will he fail to save you, he will drag himself down with you."
Xue Beng fell silent for a moment. He knew Chen Chu was not wrong. Although Uncle Xue Xing protected him, he was far from a match for Xue Qinghe when it came to schemes and political maneuvering.
Several times before, he had tried to warn Uncle Xue Xing to beware of Xue Qinghe, only to be dismissed with the claim that "brothers of the imperial family should remain harmonious."
"So all you want me to do is this?" Xue Beng raised his head, his eyes carrying some unwillingness. "I can't keep hiding behind you and doing nothing forever."
"What you need to do now is precisely 'nothing.'" Chen Chu emphasized the words. "Your existence itself is like a chess piece on the board. The more useless Xue Qinghe thinks you are, the more valuable that chess piece becomes. When the time comes, I will naturally make you move."
As he spoke, Chen Chu took a palm-sized black box from his robe and handed it to Xue Beng. "There are three medicinal pills inside. Take one each month. They will not only speed up the nourishment of your Martial Soul, but also conceal the aura of your growing Soul Power, preventing Xue Qinghe's people from noticing."
Xue Beng took the box. It felt icy in his hand. Opening the lid, he saw three lustrous white pills resting within, giving off a faint medicinal fragrance. Their quality seemed even purer than the finest tonics in the imperial palace.
"These pills..." The words reached Xue Beng's lips before he swallowed them back. He knew it would be unwise to ask too much. Chen Chu's willingness to offer something so precious at least proved that he had no intention of harming him for the moment.
"Ordinary people could beg me for these pills and I still would not give them any. Calling the herbs inside priceless would be an understatement. You should count yourself lucky."
Chen Chu snorted. He was not wrong. Though the herbs within were not Immortal Herb grade, how could anything produced by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye be ordinary? He had merely added a few other ingredients.
Every medicine carried some poison. He had simply added another three parts poison to it.
As always, everyone, please keep following along. There have not been many new bookmarks these past few days, and it has mostly been longtime readers supporting me. I am deeply moved. Please continue following, and I will keep writing seriously. If you have suggestions or ideas, feel free to leave more comments.
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