That day, it was the Princess who had personally chosen Chen Xu! You nearly let him slip through!
Hearing Lord Dingbo's words, those in the room who knew the truth silently grumbled to themselves. But soon, their attention was drawn back to the strategy Chen Qing had proposed.
"Chen Xu's strategy is to borrow strength and turn it to his advantage, guiding people with incentives. It accords with the Daoist principle of following the natural course. Zhou Renjing's strategy, on the other hand, is to use extraordinary power to forcibly twist people's hearts. Each has its merits, but we are not the imperial court, after all. We cannot afford such heavy costs!"
Zhou Renjing had naturally heard him. At first, his expression turned displeased, but after a moment's thought, he sighed. "Compared with my strategy, Daoist Chen's approach costs less. It requires no great sage or mighty expert; ordinary soldiers can carry it out. It is indeed much easier to put into practice."
Seeing his counterpart's modesty, Chen Qing returned the courtesy. "He who rules through virtue is a king; he who rules through force is a tyrant. Brother Zhou's strategy uses both virtue and force. It is the way of kings and tyrants!"
"..."
Zhou Renjing couldn't help feeling that something was off.
"How could this be merely a way to settle the condemned? It is truly a grand, open strategy for bringing peace to the realm!" Young Marquis Lu slapped the armrest and rose abruptly. "Turn force against itself, drive tigers with profit—it strikes at the very roots of the human heart!"
He took a crimson token, neither metal nor jade, from his robes and flicked it with a finger. It became a streak of red light and landed in Chen Qing's hand.
"This is the Crimson Fire Token. Whoever holds it is an honored guest of the Lu Clan! I was rather discourteous just now. Take this as an apology—and as a gesture of friendship. Should you ever wish to leave Tingfeng City, the Lu Clan's doors will always be open to you!"
Lord Dingbo's expression changed at his words. "Young Marquis, you—"
Young Marquis Lu didn't wait for him to finish. With a hearty laugh, he swept away, his robes fluttering.
He had arrived with his edge bared, yet left as lightly as drifting clouds.
Zhou Renjing was not surprised, either. He cupped his hands toward Princess Xiyao, Chen Qing, and the others. "I've gained much today. I'll pay another visit in the future." He couldn't help glancing once more at the Princess before leaving with the three attendants from the marquis's estate.
Once they had left, the tension in the hall eased.
Princess Xiyao said nothing about Lu Qiyuan's departure. Instead, she said, "Today's examination is over. Everything you have seen and heard is confidential. You must not reveal it."
"Understood!" Everyone's hearts tightened, and they answered in unison.
"You may withdraw."
In the blink of an eye, only Princess Xiyao, Lord Dingbo, Lord Zhengshuang, the two female officials behind the Princess—Qingluan and Yingyao—and Chen Qing remained in the vast hall.
Princess Xiyao's gaze settled on Chen Qing.
"Chen Xu's strategy is excellent." Her voice held a little less distance than before. "Lord Dingbo, Lord Zhengshuang, what do you think?"
Lord Dingbo stroked his beard and laughed, his voice booming like a bell. "Divide and govern, guide with incentives, and keep them in check with the threat of force—that is the open way of kings! I believe we should immediately send the key points of this strategy, along with Chen Xu's name, to the Jade Capital by secret talisman!"
Lord Zhengshuang gave a slight nod. A rare flicker of emotion crossed his withered face. "The details still need careful consideration. We must leave no gaps, so that we can silence the court's critics. We must also guard against anyone meddling. Since this strategy came from Chen Xu, he should take the lead in working out the details."
"These matters of state and military affairs should be decided by all of you," Chen Qing said, politely declining. What use did he have for political fame? Cultivation was what mattered. Making a grand impression in public was only worthwhile if he could turn it into real gains on the spot.
"You truly are more devoted to cultivation," the Princess said, as if she had seen through his thoughts. "In that case, once the details are settled, we'll send them to my father by secret talisman. After the strategy has been implemented for a while and we have results, you will be rewarded. You certainly won't be forgotten." She paused, then changed the subject. "I should also reward you for presenting this strategy. Chen Xu, what would you like? A cultivation art? Pills? Or to have your crimes pardoned?"
The hall fell abruptly silent.
Chen Qing had been waiting for this, so he made no attempt to be modest. "I have three requests."
"Speak."
Chen Qing said, "First, I wish to study the art of painting. I ask the Princess to grant me relevant texts and illustrated manuals, so I can copy and study them in my spare time."
At this, everyone was taken aback.
Cultivators often sought cultivation arts, pills, and magical treasures. It was rare indeed for anyone to ask for painting, such a "minor art."
Princess Xiyao did not ask why. She nodded. "Granted. Qingluan, select several painting texts from the estate's collection, along with a set of high-quality brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, and give them to him. Then take my calling card and visit the city's master painters. Ask them to share their insights with him."
"Thank you, Princess!" Chen Qing was delighted.
If he could capture even a little of the Visualization Diagram's essence through painting in the real world, it would greatly benefit the cultivation of Big Claw and Little Yao—and even help him develop his own cultivation art!
"Second, I've cultivated the Great Mountain Heavenly Art to a bottleneck. Are there any pills that can harmonize the Five Elements and gather Five Elements spiritual qi, to help me advance?"
Now that was a tangible benefit!
The threat from the Mystic Chess Academy and the Sea Abyss Temple hung over him like a thorn in his back. He had to improve his strength in the real world as quickly as possible!
One-tenth of the spiritual qi he condensed in the dream could feed back into his physical body. It might not seem like much, but grains of sand piled up could form a tower. If he accumulated enough, the results would surely be impressive.
But more importantly, Supreme Harmony Qi could feed back into his body outside the dream. What about the refined essence of the Five Elements Spiritual Items?
If the refined essence of the Five Elements could also feed back into his body outside the dream, wouldn't that spare him the toil and time of gathering those items?
"You really don't hold back," Lord Dingbo said with a smile and a shake of his head. If anyone else had made two requests in a row, he would have thought they were insatiable. But now, everything about Chen Qing seemed agreeable to him. He took it as a sign that Chen Qing was easygoing, unpretentious, and genuine.
Princess Xiyao had already spoken. "Granted. Lord Zhengshuang, bring out the Nine Orifice Pill."
The gray-robed elder Lord Zhengshuang nodded silently and swept his sleeve. A smooth, warm jade bottle floated before Chen Qing.
The stopper loosened slightly, and a fragrant scent instantly filled the air. Just breathing it in lifted the spirits and seemed to open every pore in the body.
Chen Qing accepted the jade bottle with both hands. It felt cool and smooth. He pulled out the stopper and looked inside: a pill the size of a longan, perfectly round and shimmering with a misty, nine-colored glow, lay within. Nine apertures on its surface breathed in and out spiritual qi.
Lord Zhengshuang said, "This is the Nine Orifice Meridian-Opening Pill, made from the essence of the Five Elements Spiritual Essence and thirty-two precious medicinal ingredients."
"Thank you, Princess!" He bowed deeply once more.
The Princess then asked, "And your third request?"
Chen Qing looked up without hesitation. "I presented this strategy only to repay your kindness, in gratitude for helping me escape danger. Even if the Holy Emperor happens to favor the strategy, I don't wish to become too involved. I only want to continue cultivating in peace at the mountain villa."
After all, this was a dream. What use would it be to conquer the world? Even if it were real, it had all happened countless ages ago. The Central Spirit Continent had sunk, and everything else was illusory. A place to cultivate was all he needed.
For now, the Princess's Estate suited him quite well.
Yet this attitude only deepened the admiration in Lord Dingbo and the others' eyes. Even Yingyao, the maid who had remained silent all along, showed a flicker in her gaze.
Princess Xiyao studied Chen Qing for a moment. The corners of her eyes curved slightly, as if she were smiling.
"Just as I expected of you. You truly are obsessed with cultivation. Approved!"
She paused, then said, "Chen Xu has rendered service by presenting this strategy. Find a spiritual acupoint and grant it to him as—choose a spiritual acupoint in the mountain villa and build a private courtyard there for him to cultivate. Apart from when I summon him, no one may disturb his cultivation. Provide him with twice the resources given to an Attendant. Also, Qingluan, go to the Mysterious Prison and erase Chen Xu's criminal record. If Li Benji objects, tell him to come to me."
Chen Qing's heart settled. This protective shield would keep his dream-self safe and give him peace to cultivate!
"A good haul."
After returning to the mountain villa, Chen Qing did not immediately swallow the Nine Orifice Meridian-Opening Pill. Instead, he sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his eyes half-closed.
With such a Great Medicine before him, he was all the more able to keep his composure.
"This pill contains the essence of the Five Elements and can temper my bones and refine my blood, sparing me countless hours of trial and error. But to bear its weight, I must first strengthen my foundation."
Within Chen Qing's Sea of Consciousness, the towering Great Mountain and the vast blue sea reflected one another. They calmed and gathered his mind and qi-blood, which had stirred slightly from presenting his strategy and attending the secret discussion. Like a master craftsman polishing uncut jade, he removed the dross and kept the pure essence.
He sat there for three whole days.
On the fourth day, Chen Qing activated the villa's spirit-gathering formation. Spiritual qi surged into the quiet chamber like a rising tide, entering through the pores of his body and nourishing his physique, strengthening his foundation.
On the fifth day, he followed the method his master had taught him for making the most of a pill, repeatedly deducing the changes it would cause once swallowed, so that it would temper his body as thoroughly as possible and help him break through the bottleneck.
On the sixth day, Chen Qing's Essence, Qi, and Spirit reached their peak amid the quiet accumulation of strength!
The seventh day.
As the first wisp of purple qi pierced the window lattice, Chen Qing's eyes snapped open. He flicked a finger, and the jade bottle's stopper sprang free!
"Vmmm—"
Nine-colored light burst upward. The pure essence of the Five Elements Spiritual Essence erupted, instantly igniting the spiritual qi in the chamber and sending it into a boiling frenzy!
He opened his mouth and sucked in!
The pill became a streak of light and shot straight into his mouth!
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