The next day, at dawn, nine people were already standing at the door of Imperial City.
Everyone seemed calm, but in fact they were a little nervous.
Zhao Wuji glanced around at the people sitting there, suddenly raised the corners of his mouth and let out a slight "chi".
Seeing everyone looking over, Zhao Wuji said, "Chen hour is almost here, is there anyone yet?"
"It would be too much to have everyone waiting for him."
A Foundation Establishment, Sixth Layer monk also nodded in agreement. "How come this person has no sense of time?"
Su Wenyuan also frowned slightly.
Xiao Huo snorted, "Why are you so anxious? It's not time yet."
The Foundation Establishment, Sixth Layer monk looked up and saw that the master who defeated Su Hongyuan was the one who was talking back to him. He didn't dare to say anything and smiled angrily.
But Zhao Wuji said, "Even if the time has not yet arrived, you should know the etiquette and propriety in dealing with the world."
No one answered anymore.
Seeing that time is getting closer and closer to Chen Shi.
Zhao Wuji muttered a few words again, "They are all in the top ten, who is nobler than who? Let so many of us wait for him..."
At this moment, the side door of Imperial City opened with a "squeak" sound.
A eunuch came out.
The eunuch was in his forties, with a fair face and no beard. He was wearing a blue python robe, his back was straight, his eyes were not squinting when he walked, and he walked calmly.
He walked to the steps and stood still, his eyes swept across the faces of the nine people, and he nodded slightly.
"Everyone has gathered, my lords, please follow the Za family into the palace."
Zhao Wuji was stunned and subconsciously said, "Everyone is here? Isn't there one person missing?"
The eunuch glanced at him, nodded and responded:
"Mr. Zhao doesn't know that Mr. Zhou was admitted to the palace yesterday by Eunuch Chen, and he is already waiting in the palace at the moment."
As soon as these words came out, the nine people were startled at the same time.
Xiao Huo stood at the back of the crowd, his face unchanged, but his eyes were shining, as if he knew something inside.
Everyone looked at each other in shock, and their hearts were filled with turmoil.
Being taken into the palace to live?
What kind of treatment is this?
The eunuch didn't say any more and turned sideways to lead the way, "Everyone, please."
The nine people followed the eunuch in silence, passed through the side door, walked through the long palace passage, bypassed several corridors, and walked deeper into the palace.
After walking for about a stick of incense, a palace appeared in front of me.
The door of the palace is open, and a plaque with gold letters on a black background hangs on the lintel - Hall of Martial Valor.
The eunuch stopped at the door, stepped aside, and bowed. "Everyone, please come in."
Nine people filed in.
The inside of the temple is much wider than the outside.
The ground is made of green bricks, the golden pillars are towering, and the caisson on the top of the palace is painted with auspicious clouds and cranes, which is lifelike.
In the center, there is a dragon table with all the tea sets on it and the steam is rising.
There is a person sitting behind the dragon case--Emperor Xianwu.
He was not wearing court clothes, only black casual clothes, his hair was tied with a hosta, leaning on the back of the chair, holding a cup of tea in his hand, and was smiling and saying something.
Opposite him, there was a person sitting, Zhou Qi.
Wearing a gray robe, holding a tea cup, he responded to the chat with the same smile.
There was even a black knife on the table, with the armor still on.
Several people walked into the temple and were shocked by the scene in front of them.
But everyone is a human being. They pretend not to notice on their faces, but there is already a huge wave in their hearts.
Did the emperor arrive first?
Still laughing and drinking tea and chatting with Zhou Qi?
What is the relationship between the two?
Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer shouldn't be treated like this either?
Could this Zhou Qi be the illegitimate son of Emperor Xianwu?
Emperor Xianwu heard the footsteps, raised his head, glanced across the faces of the nine people, smiled and waved his hands.
"Here you come? Everyone, please sit down. No need to be formal."
Although his face was still smiling, his attitude had switched to a businesslike one, which was completely inconsistent with his previous chatting attitude.
Chen Fu appeared out of nowhere and directed the little eunuch to bring nine chairs and place them on both sides of the dragon case.
The chair is an ordinary Taishi chair with no dragon table and no tea. It is in sharp contrast with the table and chair Zhou Qi is sitting opposite.
One handful has tea, and nine handfuls have no tea.
One is on equal footing with the emperor, and nine are arranged on both sides.
Everyone had mixed feelings in their hearts, but no one dared to show it on their faces.
Emperor Xianwu put down the teacup, glanced at everyone, his smile softened a bit, and he put on a serious look.
"You are all among the top ten in this year's selection. You are the most outstanding talents among the younger generation of our Great Yong Dynasty. I have called you here today, firstly to give you a reward, and secondly to send you a farewell."
He paused, his tone a little more emotional.
"In half a month, you will set off to the Primordial Immortal Sect to participate in Immortal Path Selection. From now on, the sky is high and the sea is bright, and the future is limitless. I am here to wish you all smooth sailing."
Everyone responded in unison, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Xianwu nodded and raised his chin towards Chen Fu.
Chen Fu understood and walked out from the back of the palace, followed by two young eunuchs, each holding a tray in their hands.
The tray was covered with red silk, and there was something bulging under the red silk. I didn't know what was there.
Chen Fu walked up to the crowd, stood still, and read loudly:
"Your Majesty has decreed that each of the top ten selected this year will be given one Golden Core Early-Stage Cultivation Method, one Upper Profound Grade Foundation-Nurturing Pill, and one Upper Profound Grade Rejuvenation Pill."
The little eunuch stepped forward and uncovered the red silk on the tray.
There are ten small cloth bags on each tray, and the bags are embroidered with numbers from one to ten.
Chen Fu personally distributed the bags to everyone one by one.
Su Hongyuan took the bag and couldn't wait to open it and took a look. Inside was a thin booklet and two small porcelain bottles.
She immediately took out the pamphlet, opened it, and saw the words <Golden Core Cultivation Manual·Part 1> written on it.
Su Hongyuan's eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.
Golden Core Early-Stage Cultivation Method, this is the secret of the royal family, Cultivation Method that even she Jiangbei Su Family can't get.
With it, you can hit Golden Core Realm.
The only ones sitting here are Su Hongyuan and Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer Peak, and he is the one who yearns for this booklet the most.
Xiao Huo took the bag, weighed it, and stuffed it into his arms without looking at it, as if he didn't like the reward.
All nine people received rewards.
Only Zhou Qi got nothing.
He was still sitting opposite Emperor Xianwu, holding a teacup and drinking slowly, as if this matter had nothing to do with him.
Zhao Wuji rolled his eyes and understood.
The emperor wants to give it alone.
Sure enough.
Emperor Xianwu waited for everyone to collect the rewards, and then said a few more words.
"When it comes to the Immortal Sect, we will win glory for Great Yong."
"Don't let the dynasty's reputation fall."
Everyone responded one by one.
After Emperor Xianwu finished speaking, he waved his hand and his tone returned to a casual tone. "Okay, let's all go down. Go back and prepare well. We will set off in half a month."
Everyone stood up, bowed, and filed out of Hall of Martial Valor.
Zhou Qi still sat where he was and didn't move.
Zhao Wuji walked at the end and couldn't help but look back when he reached the door.
In the hall, Emperor Xianwu and Zhou Qi have started chatting again.
Emperor Xianwu smiled with a kind and kind face, and said something again.
Zhou Qi also smiled and nodded.
The palace door slowly closed behind him.
Zhao Wuji looked away, took a deep breath, and no longer dared to say Zhou Qi in a weird way.