Testing the Pill

Following the passing of the old Emperor, the entire Great Jin Immortal Dynasty fell into a state of delicate turmoil. That very night, the three remaining princes with real power, supported by the great families behind them, launched a bloody struggle right outside the gates of the Imperial Palace to decide the final successor to the throne.

Because of the old Emperor's erratic behavior in his final years, the original mechanism for the transition of power had already failed, leaving only this most primitive method.

After a night of great battle, one prince was killed on the spot, another fled with severe injuries, and the one who remained naturally became the new Emperor.

The old eunuch, relying on his connections and years of experience within the palace, secured a chance for Ming Shu to change his fate: the Pill Trial.

The Sky-Toppling Observatory announced its support for the new Emperor's legitimate succession the day after the decisive battle. The Pill Trial was one of the grand ceremonial performances prepared by the Sky-Toppling Observatory for the new Emperor.

In this ceremony, Ming Shu and two other members possessing royal blood would attempt to consume the discarded pills abandoned by the Immortals.

Immortal Pills were, of course, left behind by the Immortals of the past. They contained fragments of the laws of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, or perhaps the Immortal Qi used by the Immortals; in any case, they were excellent mediums for communicating with the Immortal Realm. It was a pity that only a few discarded Immortal Pills remained.

The Sky-Toppling Observatory would conduct the ceremony simultaneously at the Sitian Sacred Platform, the Jidi Profound Altar, and the Human Emperor Worship Hall.

The new Emperor would hold his enthronement ceremony at the Human Emperor Worship Hall.

The Grand Overseer of the Sky-Toppling Observatory would preside over the ceremony atop the Sitian Sacred Platform to offer sacrifices to the Heavenly Dao.

At the Jidi Profound Altar, three individuals carrying royal blood would directly undergo the "Pill Trial."

Most of these discarded pills were either poisonous, bizarre, or possessed power that mortals could not adapt to. They were more like lethal poisons, yet they were filled with temptation.

The people of this world were strange and varied, with nothing too bizarre to exist; some were born extremely unique and could resist this toxicity, transforming it into powerful strength.

Over the past few thousand years, there had been several legends who swallowed these discarded Immortal Pills, gained "Immortal Power," awakened special abilities, and created glorious lives.

Today, the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty's inventory held only the final three Immortal Pills.

The ritual for the Pill Trial was incomparably tedious.

Why hold a Pill Trial? The Sky-Toppling Observatory's suggestion was to cultivate a new legendary combat force for the Immortal Dynasty and the new Emperor.

The new Emperor stood upon the pill-staircase of the Human Emperor Worship Hall, gathering all the civil and military officials. They were the current elites, all prostrating on the ground. As the victors of the recent power struggle, their scene of dividing the spoils was bound to be sufficiently magnificent, grand, and imposing.

Ming Shu stood outside the gates of the Jidi Profound Altar, his heart filled with complex emotions. He knew this might be his only chance to escape life in the Cold Palace, but it could also be the end of his life. Yet, he also knew that if he did not try, he would be trapped forever in the narrow world of the Cold Palace. At this moment, following the guidance of the ritualists, he drifted along in a daze, waiting in line until he arrived outside the gates of the Jidi Profound Altar.

According to the ancestral teachings of the Great Jin, only those of royal blood were permitted to trial the pills.

The first royal family member to trial the pill trembled as he placed the medicine into his mouth; his body then began to convulse violently, and finally, with a loud bang, he exploded, flesh and blood flying everywhere.

Before the scene had even been cleared, the second person was pushed inside.

Also a fallen member of the royal family, after consuming the pill, his body gradually stiffened before he collapsed to the ground, falling into a deep coma and being carried to the side for observation.

It was the youth's turn to enter.

Inside the altar, it was cold and silent. The air was permeated with an ancient and mysterious aura. Although it was spacious and the stone statues and carvings were lifelike, the ground was covered in blood foam and shattered flesh.

The high-arched dome featured exquisite carvings that seemed like living creatures watching him.

Each thick, long pillar was filled with an ancient air.

He took a deep breath and calmly swallowed the pill. He felt a surge of heat spread rapidly through his body, followed by waves of intense pain, as if thousands of needles were darting through him.

Ming Shu collapsed to the ground in agony as his body began to exhibit various strange reactions. Yet, at this life-or-death moment, the Life Book within him suddenly emitted a faint glow, and a mysterious power began to circulate through his body, alleviating the pain brought on by the pill.

He entered the Mysterious Space within his mind once more, where a tattered and ancient book lay before his eyes.

On the cover of the book, two previously blurred characters—

Life Book! They had finally become clear.

Ever since his rebirth, this mysterious space and the book had accompanied him, though entering here always seemed to depend on luck.

Random, fated. It left him unable to grasp any pattern.

Sometimes he wanted to come in but could find no way; other times he had no intention of entering, yet he arrived here by accident.

Moreover, strangely, there was only this one book. When he opened it, the vast majority of the pages were blank.

Anything he tried to record on them could be saved. Thus, he wrote diaries here, organized his observations, made deductions, and formed plans.

Over these past few years, he had learned much about this world from the young eunuchs and the old eunuch, all of which he had recorded here.

It was only just now, when he swallowed that Immortal Pill, that he had come straight in. His pain had also been greatly relieved.

A wisp of so-called Immortal Qi had passed through his body and entered here, activating the book. The two characters Life Book on the cover were finally clearly visible.

The youth turned to the first page and saw the name "Ming Shu," while many memory fragments surged forth—these were his past lives!

This page also recorded information about his previous life. Coupled with the massive amount of memory fragments, he needed to slowly sort through that distant past.

Some fragments were blurred, others clear.

But this discovery was enough to leave Ming Shu in a state of immense shock.

This Life Book? Without the activation of Immortal Power, had he been drifting through the world, constantly being reborn?

Finding a suitable body and possessing it? Rebirth? Was it all uncontrollable?

He had occasionally entered here in past lives to record some experiences and guesses; he wondered if his past self had discovered and begun to explore this secret?

After recovering a portion of his memories, Ming Shu quickly flipped through the subsequent pages. Most remained as they were, though on a few pages, a few scattered, blurred characters had appeared, chaotic and disorganized, unable to form any effective information.

And during the time he had been unconscious, the second person to trial the pill had been unable to hold on and had breathed his last.

Three days later, the ceremony concluded, and he was not yet dead. However, he remained in a deep coma.

For the time being, he was still considered alive.

Through the machinations of the old eunuch and the covert leniency of the Sky-Toppling Observatory, the old eunuch and the young eunuch escorted Ming Shu out of the Royal Capital.

Ming Shu assumed a new identity and was exiled to the borderlands to settle down with the An Family. The old eunuch and the young eunuch became his overseers and guards.

They were required to report periodically to the Sky-Toppling Observatory and the Imperial Court regarding any subsequent changes in Ming Shu—should he ever wake up.

Seven days later, the trio had already left the Imperial Capital Region. Ming Shu finally regained consciousness.

It was customary for a new emperor to grant a general amnesty upon ascending the throne. Many royal clansmen who had been struck from the records of the Imperial Clan Court were mostly exiled to remote areas to settle down.

By this time, they had finally moved far away from the Imperial Capital Region of the Great Jin, heading east with the intention of settling in Donghai Prefecture.

This was a very favorable outcome. Perhaps the old eunuch's connections and resources had played a role.

Other demoted princes were sent to the true frontiers, where they had to face foreign enemies. That was far more dangerous.

Though in Donghai, there were pirates who frequently came ashore to pillage.

Everything along the journey was, for the time being, arranged by the old eunuch.

He resumed his original name, Zhao Youfu, and the young eunuch followed suit, changing his name to Zhao Xiaojie. He knelt and kowtowed immediately, acknowledging his master, Old Zhao, as his foster father.

After waking up, Ming Shu did not rush to get up. Throughout the bumpy journey, Old Zhao channeled his energy daily to regulate Ming Shu's blood and meridians, feeding him liquid nourishment like rice milk, thin porridge, and soups.

It was far more comfortable than the days in the Cold Palace.

The air of freedom, an infinite future!

The key was that Ming Shu could now autonomously control his entry and exit from the Mysterious Space within his mind. Once his mental will entered, his body would fall into what appeared to be a deep sleep.

He did not need to worry about his awakening being exposed.

Then, after Old Zhao and Little Zhao fell asleep at night, his mental will would return to his body to secretly observe the surroundings and any changes.

Although Ming Shu felt that his state could not deceive Old Zhao, it should be enough to deceive enemies from afar. Old Zhao had previously spoken of the fates of those princes exiled to the frontiers; those who were restless all ended up dead. The Imperial Clan Court's management of the various regions was extremely strict.

Ever since his body had absorbed the Immortal Qi, his health had been recovering better and better. His five senses had also become much sharper.

After many days of travel, Old Zhao and Little Zhao were both extremely exhausted and slept very soundly late at night. Having been on edge for many days, even Old Zhao, who was keeping watch, could not hold out, and he began to doze off while meditating.

In the silent night, Ming Shu helped keep watch, listening for movements in the distance.

Tonight, something was wrong. Ming Shu sensed an anomaly; someone was stealthily approaching.

There was killing intent.

Ming Shu slowly extended his finger and gently tugged at Old Zhao's sleeve.