With 100 Destiny Points, he could condense a red Fate.
At Fang Heng's thought, the Fate Map trembled slightly and began to vibrate.
A vast current of air swept toward him.
It gathered from all directions, surged into the center, and condensed into one.
Then, within that storm of air currents,
a dazzling streak of scarlet suddenly leaped forth, clearly visible.
The red radiance grew ever more brilliant, as though it were about to illuminate the entire night.
Amid the boundless darkness, it condensed into a red star.
Compared to the golden sun that resembled a blazing heavenly orb, this red star was clearly much smaller.
Its light was far dimmer as well, like a planet orbiting a star.
The hierarchy was clear.
Nobility and inferiority were distinct.
Awakening of Insects Master (Red): A messenger who commands the vitality of vegetation and understands the laws governing the growth of all things.
A torrent of information flooded into Fang Heng's mind.
Before long, Fang Heng understood the wondrous uses of the Awakening of Insects Master Fate.
"The Awakening of Insects Master Fate can actually control the vitality of vegetation and transfer it."
After reading its information, Fang Heng blurted it out.
An indescribable delight filled his brow.
Although Awakening of Insects Master was merely a red Fate and could not compare to the golden Innate Immortal Seed Fate,
it still possessed endless wondrous uses.
Its abilities were of no benefit to cultivation, but to a Spirit Farmer, it was a supreme Fate.
Controlling and transferring the vitality of vegetation.
This ability was nothing short of miraculous.
Fang Heng stepped outside and entered the bamboo grove. He pressed his palm against a stalk of purple bamboo and activated Awakening of Insects Master's ability.
Green light enveloped Fang Heng's palm.
In the next instant, he clearly sensed the bamboo's vitality being continuously drawn out by him.
In less than ten breaths, the lush purple bamboo turned ashen white, withered away, and died completely.
Within the purple-green sea of bamboo, that patch of gray-white stood out starkly.
Fang Heng carefully experienced the entire process.
The vitality of this purple bamboo had been completely extracted by him.
That trace of vitality brimmed with life, giving Fang Heng the sensation of a spring breeze brushing his face.
"What a pity—"
Fang Heng sighed.
The vitality extracted from the purple bamboo could not nourish his own body. It could only be transferred into other plants.
Fang Heng passed through the covered walkway framed by red tiles and dark walls, arriving at the peach blossom grove within the prince's manor.
It was the depths of winter. The peach blossoms had long since fallen, the leaves had drifted away, and only bare branches remained, bleak and desolate.
Fang Heng walked up to a peach tree and pressed his palm against its trunk.
Green light appeared again, flowing like water into the peach tree.
A startling sight unfolded.
The withered peach tree actually grew against the season, sprouting buds and blooming flowers.
In less than ten breaths,
a delicate flush of peach blossom pink appeared before Fang Heng's eyes.
The entire tree burst into blossoms, each vying in beauty and splendor.
It was as though, in the snap of a finger, time had leaped into the third month of spring.
"The ability of Awakening of Insects Master truly is miraculous."
"It transfers the vitality of vegetation, thereby changing the growth of plants."
Making vegetation bloom in the depths of winter was something even great experts of the Daoist School could accomplish. It was not particularly extraordinary.
But to possess such an ability at the Feasting on Rosy Clouds Realm, like Fang Heng did, was simply inconceivable.
Fang Heng nodded slightly. After pondering for a moment, he thought of many uses for Awakening of Insects Master.
For example, cultivating plants.
Accelerating plant growth—it was comparable to an artificial version of a little green bottle.
For example, selecting and breeding seeds.
Hybrid Rice, octoploid wheat.
All these superior crops could be cultivated.
The people regarded food as their heaven.
Increasing crop yields per acre could greatly strengthen Great Qian's national power.
This remained true even though Great Qian possessed supernatural power.
These crops were the most fundamental productive force.
If Hybrid Rice and octoploid wheat were promoted throughout Great Qian's Seventy-Two Commandery, they could feed another billion commoners.
Most importantly...
His Destiny Points would certainly not be lacking.
"First, I'll cultivate Hybrid Rice."
"To cultivate Hybrid Rice, I'll definitely need the Ministry of Agriculture's help."
Fang Heng stroked his chin as he considered his next move.
According to the rules of the Great Qian Dynasty, princes did not directly receive noble titles upon reaching adulthood.
Adult princes had to enter the court to observe state affairs and earn promotions in rank through their achievements.
Logically speaking, Fang Heng should have entered the court to observe state affairs long ago.
It was only because of his poor health that his mother consort had declined on his behalf.
Every position at court was like a carrot in its hole.
Having missed that opportunity, it would not be easy for Fang Heng to observe state affairs again.
"To observe state affairs in the Ministry of Agriculture, I'll need Mother Consort to lend a hand."
"Aunt Yun, come with me to the palace to visit Mother Consort."
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
It stood upon a foundation of white marble.
Exquisite dragon-shaped stone carvings and vermilion wooden pillars displayed the majesty and grandeur of the imperial family.
The gilded decorations on the doors glittered brilliantly beneath the sunlight.
Inside the hall, incense smoke curled upward as mist lingered in the air.
Three stacks of memorials sat atop the red sandalwood desk, piled like little hills.
Emperor Yuanchu lowered his head and carefully read the memorial in his hand.
For twenty years since ascending the throne, he had burned the midnight oil without interruption.
Emperor Yuanchu's diligence was renowned even among the emperors of Great Qian throughout the ages.
Eunuch Su, the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stood respectfully at the side with lowered brows and submissive eyes, displaying the utmost deference.
After Emperor Yuanchu finished reviewing a memorial, he raised his head slightly and asked,
"Old companion, what is it?"
"Your Majesty, news has come from Princess Anyang's side."
"She says she has caught a cold and must rest for several days before setting out for the capital."
The Princess Anyang mentioned by Eunuch Su was Shang Hongye, the only daughter of Prince Zhenbei.
The moment Shang Hongye was born, Emperor Yuanchu had bestowed upon her the title of Princess Anyang, rewarding Prince Zhenbei for his achievements in guarding the Northern Border.
"A cold?"
"She is a Martial Artist in the Dragon-Elephant Realm. Can she still fall ill?"
Emperor Yuanchu snorted coldly, deep dissatisfaction appearing in his eyes.
At Shang Hongye's level of martial cultivation, she had long become immune to all illnesses.
Let alone a cold—even deadly poisons to ordinary people could not harm her in the slightest.
This so-called cold was nothing more than an excuse to delay.
"Your Majesty, Princess Anyang has rendered service to the state. Now that she is coming to the capital, all under heaven are watching. We must not slight a meritorious subject."
"Old companion, you speak reasonably."
"Hongye is my fine daughter-in-law. We cannot delay her recovery."
"Send imperial physicians north to treat her. They must take excellent care of my fine daughter-in-law."
"Your servant obeys, Your Majesty."
Eunuch Su answered respectfully. Yet after receiving the order, he did not immediately leave.
"Is there something else?"
"Your Majesty, there have been some strange movements at the Ninth Prince's Manor these past few days."
"Heng'er?"
"Have the Ten Absolute Poisons flared up again?"
Emperor Yuanchu's expression changed slightly, and a trace of guilt flashed through his eyes.
During that assassination attempt years ago, Consort Ning had taken a palm strike for him.
Had that not happened, Heng'er would not have been afflicted by the Ten Absolute Poisons from the moment he was born.
In the end, he had wronged Consort Ning and her son.
"Your Majesty, it is good news."
"You old dog, stop beating around the bush. Speak quickly."
Hearing that it was good news, Emperor Yuanchu relaxed and teased him.
"Yes!"
"A few days ago, all the flowers in the Ninth Prince's Manor bloomed in fierce competition, a most peculiar sight."
"Was it Daoist Xuanqing?"
"At first, this servant also believed it was Daoist Xuanqing's doing. Later, I had Black Ice Platform spies investigate Evergreen Temple."
"Only then did we learn that Daoist Xuanqing had been beaten by his wife until he could not get out of bed, all because of a courtesan house's top courtesan."
Hearing of Daoist Xuanqing's misfortune, Emperor Yuanchu smiled knowingly, his interest piqued.
"Continue!"
"This servant was curious. If the unusual occurrence at the Ninth Prince's Manor was not Daoist Xuanqing's doing, what else could have caused it?"
"Over the past few days, Black Ice Platform spies gathered every clue and finally arrived at a conjecture."
"The Ninth Prince has most likely entered the Dao."
"The blossoming of a hundred flowers in the depths of winter was the phenomenon of the Ninth Prince breaking through and entering the Dao."
Emperor Yuanchu's breathing paused slightly, and two dim divine lights bloomed in his unfathomable eyes.
"Breaking through and entering the Dao."
"So Heng'er has condensed a Post-natal Immortal Root."
"It seems the methods of Evergreen Temple do possess some profundity."
Before you continue