Opening Meridians, Gathering Qi, Foundation Establishment in Sight

At dawn, the Refining Lake was shrouded in mist as a small skiff drifted toward the islet of waste.

Shen Yue utilized the Heaven Origin Gold-Splitting Hand to snatch up scraps while dredging sand from the lakebed, filtering it through his Qi-gathering technique.

Before long, he successfully sifted out a single grain of golden-hued refined Qi.

It really works! His eyes lit up.

It was in a gaseous state, yet heavier than sand and brighter than earth, resembling a golden grain. The wisp of Qi he had harvested was clearly the Star Flow Sand Qi that condensed into Star Flow Sand.

Just then, the Seventh Prince, Changqin Wuming, rowed his own small boat through the mist and pulled alongside.

"Old Shen?" He blinked in surprise. "Not practicing martial arts today? Why are you here so early?"

Usually, Changqin Wuming was the first to arrive to reclaim waste, while Shen Yue would only arrive mid-morning after finishing his daily martial arts training.

"I am the Son of Heaven; how can I lag behind others in the morning court? I must come earlier tomorrow!"

Changqin Wuming condensed a large hand, grabbing at the waste to get to work.

"But, Old Shen, coming so early—could it be that you want to reclaim more waste to save up spirit stones for the waste-Qi team?"

At this thought, Changqin Wuming's expression darkened.

He had finally managed to scrape together enough spirit stones, but those brats in the waste-Qi team had told him yesterday that one needed at least the fourth level of Qi Refining to join.

Wasn't this just targeting Old Shen?

Fortunately, this Emperor was at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

"I am preparing to join the waste-Qi reclamation team. Shen, my beloved minister, cultivate diligently. Once I have secured my footing there, I will lead you to prosperity, overthrow the Chen Clan, and make you the master of this Chusheng Market."

Changqin Wuming stood at the prow, his robes snapping in the breeze, his imperial aura leaking out from the sides.

"Then, Your Highness, could you issue a salary first?"

Upon hearing this, Changqin Wuming became even more high-spirited.

He was a prince, a future emperor; giving a salary to his minister was only right and proper!

But as he reached into his robes, Changqin Wuming froze.

He didn't have a damn cent of salary; he was still drowning in debt!

"Ahem..." Changqin Wuming coughed twice, feigning composure. "To pioneer a great cause, this Emperor must lead the way. Do not be impatient, Minister Shen; I will certainly lead you to overthrow the Chen Clan. When the time comes, there will be no shortage of rewards for you..."

Before he could finish, a streak of light tore through the sky and hovered above the lake.

The moment Changqin Wuming saw the person, his face turned deathly pale.

The newcomer was Chen Qiaoqian, the direct daughter of the Chen Clan and a prodigy who had been accepted into the Taixu Sword Sect.

If she had heard his previous words, he would be ground to dust.

Chen Qiaoqian, draped in light gauze and standing upon a spirit sword, hovered over the lake. With a wave of her hand, hundreds of streaks of light shot toward the water below.

"The Refining Lake will undergo a bottom-clearing operation. You are required to head to the lakebed to sift for sand. Each of you is temporarily issued a Water-Avoiding Bead; return them once the sand is cleared."

The streaks of light lost their luster, revealing themselves to be beads with a faint blue glow—Water-Avoiding Beads!

Changqin Wuming and the other laborers on the lake were filled with pleasant surprise.

The Water-Avoiding Bead was a treasure for holding one's breath and repelling water, priced at five spirit stones in the market!

Chen Qiaoqian watched their reactions with cold indifference. She could not understand why these people were willing to toil here.

And to be so excited over the temporary use of a water-avoiding treasure—did they have no higher aspirations?

Suddenly, a small boat caught her attention.

With a flicker of interest, she descended onto the boat.

Changqin Wuming, thinking Chen Qiaoqian had overheard his treasonous words, was so terrified he nearly jumped into the lake, but Shen Yue held him back.

Chen Qiaoqian looked at the mud and sand on the boat, her delicate brows arching. "Taking the initiative to clear the sand—very good. What is your name?"

"Shen Yue." Shen Yue bowed in salute.

Chen Qiaoqian nodded slightly. "My Chen Clan has always been generous and benevolent. Though your origins are humble, do not belittle yourselves. Be proactive and strive for improvement; the Chen Clan sees all, and we will certainly cultivate you in the future."

What a massive pie in the sky—exactly like the corporate gaslighting from his past life.

Shen Yue didn't take it to heart, though he remained respectful on the surface.

Chen Qiaoqian extended a slender finger and tapped lightly. The spirit light on the Water-Avoiding Bead in Shen Yue's hand flashed, and the restriction within it dissipated.

"Keep this bead and use it."

"The Young Lady is like a golden phoenix descending upon the world, with such magnificent bearing. In the future, I shall certainly hone my skills and serve with utmost loyalty." Shen Yue bowed with both hands.

Chen Qiaoqian merely smiled faintly and departed on her sword.

Changqin Wuming's eyes turned red instantly. He grabbed Shen Yue by the shoulder, pointing at the mud and sand on the boat as he demanded repeatedly:

"The Water-Avoiding Bead! Did you know the Chen Clan was going to clear the lake ahead of time?"

He had been wondering why Shen Yue went to the trouble of getting a whole boatload of sand; so this was what he had been waiting for!

"Mhm, that's right. Miss Chen told me herself." Shen Yue toyed with the Water-Avoiding Bead, pondering whether it would be more efficient to dive straight to the bottom of the lake to collect sand rather than dredging it.

Changqin Wuming could no longer stand still.

"So, you didn't show your face for a whole day and night yesterday because you went to find the eldest Miss Chen?"

"Fine, General Shen. You're living the high life, eating and drinking well, but you won't bring this Emperor along, eh? I've been saving up for your dowry, and this is how you repay my imperial sister!"

Shen Yue tucked the Water-Avoiding Bead into his robes and laughed, "How about I put in a good word for you with the eldest Miss Chen?"

"To think you would utter such rebellious words! It breaks this Emperor's heart. I have decided: from this day forth, I am severing all ties with my imperial sister!"

"Beloved Minister Shen, you must put in a good word for me!"

The words had barely left his lips.

"Changqin Wuming!" A woman hovered in mid-air, glaring at him fiercely.

It was over!

The moment Changqin Wuming saw the woman, he let out a miserable wail.

That woman was none other than his imperial sister, Changqin Wuxuan.

However, Changqin Wuxuan seemed well-acquainted with her imperial brother's character; after a brief moment of anger, she flicked two rays of spiritual light toward them and flew off on her sword.

The rays of light wrapped around jade slips that drifted down. As Shen Yue and Changqin Wuming examined them, their expressions changed drastically.

"The one who suppressed my army with a single hand during the struggle for the throne in the imperial capital was actually Chen Yunxi of the Chen Clan!"

The Chen Clan had three contemporary prodigies, and this Chen Yunxi was even more formidable than the aforementioned Chen Qiaoqian, already preparing for Foundation Establishment.

"I, Changqin Wuming, swear an irreconcilable hatred against the Chen Clan!"

High above.

"The first to finish at Refining Lake will be rewarded with a Foundation-Condensing Pill." Chen Qiaoqian's voice rippled across the surface of the lake.

Changqin Wuming, who had been full of hatred just a moment ago, clutched the Water-Avoiding Bead and dove headfirst into the lake, leaving Shen Yue unable to catch up.

"Your Highness, didn't you say you held an irreconcilable hatred for the Chen Clan?"

"This is called biding my time and enduring humiliation!" Changqin Wuming cast a cautious glance at Chen Qiaoqian, who was hovering over the lake to supervise the work.

"We eat the Chen Clan's food and drink their wine. Once we grow strong, we shall execute the Chen Clan to the ninth degree. The men will be turned into laborers, and the women will all be sent to the Ministry of Rites, with you, Beloved Minister Shen, as the Director."

"Reasonable."

The Water-Avoiding Bead was truly a remarkable tool; the lake water could not come within ten feet of them, and they quickly descended to the lakebed.

The mud and sand at the bottom were mixed with iron filings and copper dust, crunching loudly underfoot.

In some places, the sand had hardened into clumps, baked by fire veins until they were like pottery shards that shattered at the slightest touch.

The fire poison within Changqin Wuming's body began to ache faintly, and he dared not touch the bottom.

"Your Highness, the eldest Miss Chen is watching from above."

"I am merely mobilizing my spiritual power!" Changqin Wuming gripped the Water-Avoiding Bead and dove into the mud and sand, "Charge with me!"

The words had barely faded.

"Beloved Minister Shen, save me!"

Changqin Wuming had picked up a clump of sand baked by a fire vein, and his feet had caught fire.

"..." Shen Yue was speechless. He temporarily put away the Water-Avoiding Bead and drew in lake water to extinguish the flames.

He then began clearing the sand, secretly circulating the Star Sand Return-to-Store Technique to gather Star Flow Sand Qi.

The speed of collecting Star Flow Sand Qi at the bottom of the lake was indeed much faster than dredging.

If it weren't for these fire-vein-hardened sands, it should be even faster, Shen Yue mused to himself.

The fire-vein-hardened sand was troublesome; he couldn't use the Water-Avoiding Bead, or he would end up just like Changqin Wuming, catching fire.

"Wait! Flowing sand... fire... Fire Flowing Sand!"