Excavation

The matter of the Huai River Water Palace is of great importance. Even though the King of Huainan lost half of his medicine and Crown Prince Liu Qian was captured by Buddha and lost face, the matter of the Huai River Water Palace has overshadowed everything else.

The Water Palace was the residence of the Huai River God, who was appointed by the Heavenly Court long ago, much like the residence of a high-ranking official.

Not only was the King of Huainan curious, but many high-ranking officials in Huainan were also curious about what the Water Palace looked like.

The need to construct cave abode underwater must contain some hidden secrets.

Some of the Dragon Kings' water palaces contain countless treasures of gold, silver and precious materials that they have plundered. These water monsters from different civilizations only know how to collect but not how to use them, while humans know how to use them in various ways.

Many people think Zhang Xuezhou was lucky to discover the Huai River Water Palace, but they certainly didn't uncover its secrets.

After a while, even Zhang Xuezhou began to doubt himself.

"My lords, I think you are absolutely right. I have always been blind to beauty. Even if the most beautiful girl in the world stood in front of me, I might still miss her. It is entirely possible for such a thing to happen," Zhang Xuezhou said self-deprecatingly.

"Don't be sad. Let's dig into the underwater palace together. If we find any treasures that suit you, the King will surely reward you with one!" Tian You comforted him.

"That's right," Li Shangdao said. "If you hadn't met the King, you would never have been able to gain a single benefit from the Water Palace in your entire life. Only by offering the Water Palace to the King will you have a chance to share in its benefits!"

The two men flanked Zhang Xuezhou from the left and right, and their words were not without veiled barbs.

After several twists and turns in the conversation, it became clear that the ownership of this water palace now belonged to the King of Huainan.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't mind this kind of thing, after all, he really didn't dig anything out of the water mansion.

Compared to being buried under the Huai River, he felt that digging out the water palace was a good thing, as it would at least make it easier for him to escape after fleeing for his life.

It's highly unlikely that Zhang Xuezhou could dig the water palace himself; it's a massive undertaking, far beyond what he could decide with just a few shovelfuls of digging.

If the Water Palace is indeed excavated, it could very well involve changing the course of the Huai River. Only someone like the King of Huainan could mobilize hundreds or thousands of people to carry out river construction.

"Dongfang Shuo, you don't look too well. Are you unwilling to present this water palace to Father?"

Crown Prince Liu Qian was still highly regarded and also presided over the excavation of the Water Palace.

His eyes swept over Zhang Xuezhou, who was leading the way. Seeing Zhang Xuezhou's somewhat distressed expression, he couldn't help but feel a little downcast. He frowned and asked a question.

Compared to his previous identity Rogue Person, Zhang Xuezhou's current identity is that of a scholar-official at the Golden Horse Gate of the imperial court.

If Zhang Xuezhou, under pressure, surrenders the Water Palace to the King of Huainan, and then goes to the imperial court in Chang'an City to argue his case, this matter will inevitably cause some trouble.

After comparing his own character with Zhang Xuezhou's, Liu Qian felt that Zhang Xuezhou was also likely to do the same.

"Your Highness, I am more than happy to tell the King the location of the Water Palace," Zhang Xuezhou said. "However, I have injured my body in past battles, and last night, when I sneaked into the Water Palace, I caught a chill, which aggravated my old injuries, leaving me in a very poor condition!"

"I see," Liu Qian said with a sigh of relief.

Hearing Zhang Xuezhou's explanation, which was completely different from his own, Liu Qian breathed a sigh of relief. Then he asked Zhang Xuezhou what kind of injury he had suffered.

Upon learning that Zhang Xuezhou had been cursed and subsequently had his head cut off by the Imperial Hospital, not only Liu Qian sighed in disbelief, but many of the guest ministers also found it hard to believe that Zhang Xuezhou could end up like this.

You could say this young man was lucky, after all, he survived the Incantation Technique of a powerful cultivator.

But this young man's luck was always a bit off; the fact that his head was cut open was hard to accept, and it's no wonder the other person looked so pale.

"Dongfang Shuo, you need to take better care of your health. Don't wander around like that," Li Shang couldn't help but advise.

"I'm just looking for some fortuitous opportunity," Zhang Xuezhou gestured, "If fortuitous opportunity chance I can obtain one or two ancient medicinal herbs that are hundreds of years old, they might not only cure my illness but also help me improve my cultivation!"

"If a great medicinal herb can be unearthed in Ruoshui Mansion, why not give you one?" Crown Prince Liu Qian said. "You can also ask Li Keqing to help you refine elixirs. You may not know Li Keqing, but he is the chief Alchemist in Huainan. Many of his elixirs have the power to turn the rotten into the miraculous!"

"Speaking of which, I recently acquired a medicinal pill. This pill might have a miraculous effect on healing injuries, but it's extremely difficult to refine and takes a considerable amount of time. If you frequently come to Huainan to present it to me, perhaps I can request this pill in the future!"

Li Shang accepted Liu Qian's praise and couldn't help but think of the Life-Creating Elixir made from human medicine.

He felt that Zhang Xuezhou's arrival was somewhat unfortunate. Firstly, the Buddha's disciple had taken away a high-level medicine, and secondly, both the medicine and the people of Zijin Mountain had disappeared.

Li Shang dared not attempt to refine the Life-Creating Pill, which required human medicine, at such a crucial moment. If the pill failed to be refined, so be it; but if it was successfully refined and had miraculous effects, people might suspect that he was secretly hoarding human medicine to refine for himself, which would only make him an enemy of both sides.

After thinking it over, he realized that Zhang Xuezhou's luck was indeed terrible; even if he had a way to save him, he couldn't give it to him right now.

But Li Shang wasn't stingy; he reached into his pocket and pulled out a few pieces of ginseng slices to give away.

"Take two tablets in your mouth if you're okay. Even if they don't cure anything, they certainly won't harm you!"

Recommended by Li Shangdao.

Although the ginseng slices he took out were just something he would take for his daily life, they were still a health-preserving item for cultivators in the Sole Self Realm, and were from century-old ginseng.

This type of ginseng is a good tonic for those who are physically weak.

For some with lower cultivation levels, this is a superior fortuitous opportunity.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't mince words; he simply reached out and took it.

He could tell at a glance that it was a hundred-year-old wild ginseng, a rare medicinal herb that Wei Shao'er had struggled to gather in a short time, even after running himself ragged. The quality of the herb was indeed excellent.

Although Li Shang took it casually, the other party's rank was considerable.

As the foremost Alchemist in Huainan, Li Shang possessed an excellent foundation.

Thinking back to his Dao of Alchemy Li Shang's Sacred Blood Pill had unique medicinal effects, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but wonder if it was possible to learn from him.

But he quickly abandoned the idea.

His voice can change, but his knowledge of Pill Formula is difficult to alter into another style. Once they discuss Dao of Alchemy, the other party may be able to discern his true nature.

Zhang Xuezhou had been thinking things through for a while, and when he led everyone back to the mudflats along the Huai River, he quickly pointed out the direction.

Compared to at night, the mud and shallow water on the mudflats are much deeper, reaching above the knees.

"This is it, just keep digging down!" Zhang Xuezhou drew a large circle on the mudflats.

He pondered the fifteen minutes he had spent using the feathers of the Peacock Great Wisdom King to stealthily travel, and concluded that the group would need to dig at least fifteen zhang (approximately 33 meters) downwards.

This is at least fifteen stories high. The most troublesome thing is that the Huai River bed will inevitably seep water constantly. Without real skills, it's impossible to dig out the Huai River Water Palace.