"Great King, this is the greatest concession your ministers can make. If you refuse, we would rather die than let you practice Daoist arts. None of the former kings ever had such an idea. The realm must come first, and the world of Yin Shang must come first!"
Shang Rong stepped forward and spoke again in a low voice.
He had seen a hint of hesitation in the Great King's eyes, along with that stubbornness of his.
He was like the lead goose, the one that showed the way. As soon as he finished speaking, the other ministers all bowed to Di Xin as well.
"Great King, the realm must come first, and the world of Yin Shang must come first!"
Their voices rang out with force and surprising coordination. Anyone who didn't know the truth might really have thought the Great King had done something shamefully outrageous!
Perhaps, in their eyes, it was fine if the Great King acted a little outrageously. But for him to stop being a proper king and take up Daoist cultivation—that was something they absolutely could not accept.
Di Xin frowned. "My lords, I am a man of supreme importance. Can just anyone examine me? What if he's an assassin?"
Now that he had his doubts, how could Di Xin let anyone touch him? He couldn't afford to take that risk.
"Great King, rest assured. The person we've found is definitely not an assassin. If he so much as harms a single hair on your head, we'll gladly have our entire clans executed."
Bi Gan stepped forward and thumped his chest as he made the promise.
Di Xin shook his head. "Deputy Prime Minister, you're my uncle. To execute your entire clan would be to execute my own. If an assassin harmed me, should all our clans be implicated as well?"
He had finally found a reasonable excuse to refuse. He seized on it, hoping to use it to dismiss the ministers' proposal outright.
But just then, two lines of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Option One: Refuse to have your body examined. Quest reward: Immortal Beast Azure Ox.] [Option Two: Agree to have your body examined. Quest reward: One Spirit Pill, equivalent to ten years of cultivation.]
Seeing the two lines, Di Xin was momentarily dumbfounded.
Why was the system urging him to accept the examination? Could this not be a scheme by the Daoist Sect?
In his previous life, Di Xin had dreaded medical checkups. What if they found something wrong?
This situation was so much like his previous life.
While he hesitated, Bi Gan spoke up. "Great King, my family is willing to bear the consequences. The other ministers can have their clans executed."
At this, all the court officials looked at Bi Gan. Their eyes seemed to be speaking for them.
Bi Gan looked from one to another, opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.
Di Xin took the opportunity to nod slightly. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Who is this highly accomplished Daoist you're recommending? Surely you should tell me that first?"
Seeing that Di Xin was wavering, Shang Rong hurriedly replied, "He's a renowned Celestial Master named Zhang Changfeng. He can spit fire, break a boulder on his chest, and take the point of a spear to his throat without suffering so much as a scratch."
Di Xin exclaimed, "A man with such profound Magic Power! Why haven't you invited him in already? I want to take him as my master!"
Shang Rong stroked his beard. "If Celestial Master Zhang considers the Great King suited to the Dao, whether you take him as your master will be entirely up to you. We ministers absolutely won't interfere."
"Very well, summon... no, invite Celestial Master... no, I'll personally go and welcome Celestial Master Zhang..."
Di Xin rose at once, looking every bit like a man eager to take good advice.
"Very well... Celestial Master Zhang is waiting outside the palace!"
After speaking, Shang Rong turned and gestured for them to proceed. His eyes met Bi Gan's, and a sly smile flickered across his face.
Di Xin did exactly as he said, treating the accomplished Daoist with great respect. He left Longde Hall and headed straight for the palace gate.
The gates opened once more. Guided by Shang Rong, an old man with snow-white hair and beard stepped inside with an elegant, drifting gait. He truly looked like an immortal descended from the heavens.
This time, they did not enter Longde Hall.
Instead, they went to the Nine Rooms beside Longde Hall, where the court officials usually waited and rested before the morning audience.
Di Xin was exceptionally warm and courteous. He ushered the old man to a seat, bowed to him first, and then said, "Please examine me, Celestial Master."
The old man nodded slightly and calmly placed two thin, withered fingers on the pulse in Di Xin's right wrist. He looked utterly absorbed, his brows faintly furrowed as he pondered in silence.
Di Xin sensed the old man's fingers. They felt ordinary, and no Magic Power seemed to be seeping into his body. They were withered, too, and the pressure was just right. It was no different from an old doctor taking a woman's pulse to see if she was pregnant.
He stood there cooperatively, but said, "If I'm suited to the Dao, that would be a cause for great celebration. I'll certainly reward you with five hundred gold, Celestial Master."
"Two thousand gold? Is that truly what the Great King said?"
The old man had seemed like an immortal moments ago, but at Di Xin's words, his eyes immediately lit up as he looked at him.
"Of course. A king never breaks his word. But I'll have to be pleased with you!" Di Xin nodded and replied solemnly.
"Ahem..."
Shang Rong coughed softly beside them. "Celestial Master Zhang, just examine the Great King honestly. There's no need to worry about the reward."
"Ten thousand gold!"
Di Xin suddenly turned to Shang Rong again. "Your reward is yours to give. Can't I give more if I'm pleased?"
What did ten thousand gold mean?
A thousand gold could already buy a very decent home, while five thousand gold was enough for a luxurious estate.
The homes of those court officials were worth no more than five to ten thousand gold at most. That meant Di Xin was effectively giving Celestial Master Zhang a top-tier mansion outright.
Celestial Master Zhang's fingers trembled sharply against Di Xin's pulse. He glanced at Shang Rong, then lowered his head and fell into thought.
"Great King, this old man can tell that although your aptitude isn't exceptionally high, you are still suited to the Dao."
A few breaths later, Celestial Master Zhang gently lifted his fingers and smiled as he nodded at Di Xin. He even remembered to stroke his white beard.
"Celestial Master Zhang, you..."
Shang Rong was stunned.
Di Xin burst out laughing. "Celestial Master Zhang truly is a master! I'm overjoyed! Ten thousand gold as your reward!"
"Thank you for your generous reward, Great King!"
Celestial Master Zhang excitedly bowed deeply to Di Xin, without even glancing at Shang Rong.
[Host made the correct choice. Quest complete. Received system reward: One Spirit Pill, equivalent to ten years of cultivation.]
When he saw the line appear before his eyes, Di Xin turned around and left the Nine Rooms, thoroughly pleased with himself.
Celestial Master Zhang tried to follow the Great King, but King Wucheng clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him aside, glaring at him.
"Celestial Master Zhang, have you forgotten our agreement?"
Only after Di Xin had gone far away did Huang Feihu release Celestial Master Zhang and demand an explanation.
"Your Highness... spare me! This old fool was blinded by greed. I'll never do it again. Please be magnanimous and forgive me!"
Celestial Master Zhang was no longer the image of an ethereal immortal. Trembling, he kept begging Huang Feihu for mercy.
"Enough, King Wucheng. Since it's come to this, punishing him won't change anything. Just send him far away from Chaoge!"
Seeing Huang Feihu raise his fist as if to hit the old man, Shang Rong sighed and stopped him.
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