A Pill Enters the Mouth

That day, selecting Chen Xu was clearly the Princess's personal choice! You almost let him slip away!

Hearing Lord Dingbo's words, those in the know among the attendees secretly grumbled, but their attention quickly refocused on the strategy proposed by Chen Qing.

"Chen Xu's strategy is to borrow strength and use it effectively, guiding the situation with benefits, which aligns with the Dao of naturalness. Zhou Renjing's strategy, on the other hand, is to forcibly twist people's hearts with extraordinary power! Each has its merits, but we are not the court, and cannot afford too much expenditure!"

Zhou Renjing, of course, could hear this. His expression turned displeased at first, but after a moment of thought, he sighed, "Compared to my plan, Fellow Daoist Chen's method consumes less and requires no great sages or powerful beings. Ordinary soldiers can carry it out, making it indeed easier to implement."

Seeing his modesty, Chen Qing responded politely, "He who conquers with virtue reigns; he who conquers with force dominates. Brother Zhou, your strategy uses both virtue and force, embodying the Way of Kingship and Hegemony!"

"..."

Zhou Renjing felt something was amiss.

"It's more than just settling the criminals! It's a grand strategy for governing the world and securing the nation!" Young Marquis Lu slammed the armrest of his chair and abruptly stood up. "Borrowing strength to fight strength, using benefits to drive away tigers, it strikes at the very heart of human nature!"

He took out a crimson token, neither gold nor jade, from his embrace. With a flick of his finger, the token transformed into a streak of red light and landed in Chen Qing's hand.

"This is the Scarlet Fire Token. Whoever holds this token is an honored guest of my Lu clan! I apologize for my earlier rudeness. Consider this a token of friendship. Should you ever wish to leave Fengting City, the gates of the Lu clan will always be open to you!"

Lord Dingbo's expression changed upon hearing this. "Young Marquis, your words..."

Before he could finish, Young Marquis Lu let out a hearty laugh and, with a sweep of his robes, floated away gracefully.

He arrived with sharp brilliance, but departed with effortless ease.

Zhou Renjing was not surprised. He cupped his hands towards Princess Xiyao, Chen Qing, and the others. "I have gained much today. I will visit again another time." He couldn't resist glancing at the Princess again before leaving with three attendants from the Marquis's mansion.

As they departed, the tense atmosphere in the hall eased.

Princess Xiyao did not comment on Lu Qiyuan's departure. Instead, she said, "The assessment is complete. All that you have seen and heard today is classified information and must not be leaked."

"As you command!" Everyone's hearts grew solemn, and they responded in unison.

"You may withdraw now."

In the blink of an eye, the grand hall was left with only Princess Xiyao, Lord Dingbo, Lord Zhengshuang, the two female officials behind the Princess, Qingluan and Yingyao, and... Chen Qing.

Princess Xiyao's gaze fell upon Chen Qing.

"Chen Xu's strategy is excellent," the Princess said, her voice a little less distant. "Lord Dingbo, Lord Zhengshuang, what do you two think?"

Lord Dingbo stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his voice like a booming bell. "Divide and rule, drive them with benefits, deter them with might – this is a grand strategy of kingship! I believe we should immediately present this strategy, along with Chen Xu's name, to the Jade Capital via secret missive!"

Lord Zhengshuang nodded slightly, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his withered face. "The details still require further deduction to ensure there are no loopholes, to silence the gossip of the court, and to prevent sabotage. Since this strategy comes from Chen Xu, he should be the main force in its subsequent development."

"Matters of state and military importance should be decided by all of you," Chen Qing politely declined. What use were political accolades? Cultivation was the foundation. Revealing himself in public was merely to cash in on the spot and secure tangible benefits.

"You are indeed more devoted to cultivation," the Princess seemed to discern his thoughts. "In that case, once the details are finalized, we will present it to my father, the Emperor, via secret missive. After this strategy has been implemented for some time and yielded results, there will be rewards. Yours will certainly not be lacking." She paused, then changed the subject. "I too shall reward your contribution in offering this strategy. Chen Xu, what reward do you desire? A cultivation technique? Pills? Or pardon from your crimes?"

The hall fell silent.

Chen Qing had been waiting for this, so he was not polite. "I have three requests."

"Speak."

Chen Qing said, "Firstly, I wish to study the art of painting and calligraphy. I request the Princess to bestow relevant classics and illustrated manuals, which I can then copy and ponder in my leisure time."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Among cultivators, many sought cultivation techniques, pills, or magical artifacts. Seeking something like painting and calligraphy, considered a "minor art," was truly rare.

Princess Xiyao did not press for details. She nodded. "Granted. Qingluan, select a few of the painting and calligraphy classics from the mansion's collection, along with a set of high-quality brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, and bestow them upon him. Also, take my personal calling card and visit the painting and calligraphy masters in the city, asking them to impart their insights."

"Thank you, Princess!" Chen Qing was overjoyed.

The divine charm of the dreamlike visualization, if it could be depicted even partially through painting and calligraphy in reality, would be immensely beneficial for the cultivation of the Great Claws and Small Rays, as well as his own cultivation technique development!

"Secondly, I have cultivated the Great Mountain Heavenly Art to a bottleneck. Are there any pills that can harmonize the Five Elements and condense Five Elements spiritual energy to aid my advancement?"

This was the substantial benefit!

The threats from the Mystic Chess Academy and the Sea Abyss Temple loomed like a shadow. He had to improve his real-world strength as quickly as possible!

Only one-tenth of the spiritual energy condensed in his dreams could be fed back to his physical body. It seemed small, but like gathering sand to form a tower, accumulating more would surely be significant.

But more importantly, the Supreme Harmony Qi could be fed back to his physical body outside of the dream. What about the refined energy from the Five Elements Spiritual Items?

If the refined energy from the Five Elements could also be fed back to his physical body outside of the dream, wouldn't that save him the arduous effort and time of collecting Five Elements Spiritual Items?

"You are truly not holding back," Lord Dingbo said with a smile, shaking his head. If it were anyone else, with two consecutive requests like these, he would have thought them insatiable. But now, looking at Chen Qing, he found him so pleasing that he saw it as being uninhibited, not distant, and genuinely forthright.

Princess Xiyao had already spoken, "Granted. Lord Zhengshuang, fetch the Nine Orifice Pill."

The grey-robed elder, Lord Zhengshuang, nodded silently. With a wave of his sleeve, a warm mutton-fat jade bottle floated before Chen Qing.

As the stopper was slightly lifted, a clear fragrance instantly permeated the air, invigorating the spirit and making every pore in the body feel as if it were expanding.

Chen Qing received the jade bottle with both hands. It felt cool and smooth. He pried open the stopper and saw a pill, the size of a longan, perfectly round, shimmering with a nine-colored misty radiance. Nine orifices on the pill's surface seemed to inhale and exhale spiritual energy.

Lord Zhengshuang said, "This is the Nine Orifice Meridian-Opening Pill, refined from the essence of nine types of Five Elements spiritual materials, supplemented by thirty-two kinds of precious herbs."

"Thank you, Princess!" He bowed deeply again.

Princess Xiyao then asked, "And the third request?"

Chen Qing raised his head frankly. "My offering of this strategy is solely to repay a debt of gratitude, for the kindness you showed in helping me escape my predicament. If this strategy is fortunate enough to be favored by the Holy Emperor, I do not wish to be too involved. I only wish to continue my quiet cultivation in the mountain villa."

After all, this was a dream realm. What use was conquering the world? To take a step back, even if it were real, it would have happened countless years ago. The Central Spirit Continent had already sunk; everything else was illusory. A place for cultivation was better.

Currently, the Princess's Estate seems quite suitable for me.

However, this posture only deepened the admiration in Lord Dingbo and the others' eyes. Even Yingyao, the silent maid, had a flicker in her gaze.

Princess Xiyao gazed at Chen Qing for a moment, her eyes curving slightly as if she were smiling.

"As expected of you, truly a cultivation fanatic. Approved!"

She paused, then continued, "Chen Xu's counsel was meritorious. Find a spiritual acupoint and grant it to him... Select a spiritual acupoint in the separate courtyard, build a private dwelling there for him to cultivate. No one shall disturb his serene cultivation unless summoned by this Princess. The necessary provisions will be supplied at double the standard rate for offerings. Furthermore, Qingluan, go to the Mysterious Prison and expunge Chen Xu's criminal record. If Li Benji has any objections, have him come to me."

Chen Qing's heart settled. This protective charm was enough to ensure his dream-body could cultivate in peace!

"A considerable harvest."

Upon returning to his mountain villa, Chen Qing did not immediately swallow the Nine Orifice Meridian-Opening Pill. Instead, he sat cross-legged on a cushion, his eyes slightly closed.

With the great medicine before him, he remained calm.

"This pill contains the essence of the Five Elements, possessing the ability to temper bone and refine blood, saving countless hours of trial and error! However, to bear its weight, one must first solidify its foundation."

Within Chen Qing's sea of consciousness, the majestic Mount Tai and the vast Azure Sea shone in contrast, smoothing and consolidating the slightly agitated spirit and qi blood from the previous counsel and secret discussions. It was like a master craftsman polishing uncarved jade, removing the dross and preserving the essence.

He sat like this for a full three days.

On the fourth day, Chen Qing activated the villa's spirit-gathering formation. Worldly spiritual energy surged into the quiet room like a tide, absorbed by the pores of his body and transforming into sustenance to nourish his physique and stabilize his foundation.

On the fifth day, he repeatedly simulated the pill's effects after ingestion using the method of medicinal deduction taught by his master, aiming to temper his body to the greatest extent and break through bottlenecks.

On the sixth day, Chen Qing's essence, qi, and spirit reached their peak through settling and accumulation!

On the seventh day.

As the first ray of purple qi pierced the window lattice, Chen Qing's eyes snapped open. He flicked his finger, and the stopper of the mutton-fat jade bottle popped open!

"Buzz—"

Nine-colored auspicious light erupted, and the aura of pure Five Elements essence exploded, instantly igniting the spiritual energy within the quiet room, causing it to boil!

He opened his mouth and inhaled!

The pill transformed into a streak of light and flew directly into his mouth!

I heard that posting two chapters together has a better effect. I need to adjust the update time tomorrow and will release both chapters around 8 PM.