Gathering Together

Inside Changxin Palace.

Langguan Hu then held a scroll in front of the screen and slowly read it.

Just like the Empress Dowager back then, the Empress Dowager also lay behind the screen, relying on ambergris to refresh herself.

Unlike the Grand Empress Dowager, who knew her fate and awaited death, the Empress Dowager was still fighting for her life.

No one survives a strike from Daojun's flying dagger, let alone one that pierced the Empress Dowager's head.

If it weren't for the supreme Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill that kept her alive, the Empress Dowager would have been dead long ago.

The Empress Dowager's initial way of seeking survival was to treat her illness, eliminate the effects of Daojun's flying knife that corroded bones and devoured souls, and restore her injured head. However, after undergoing various treatments, the Empress Dowager's way of seeking survival had shifted to relying on her Yang Corporeal Soul Body to survive.

This is a way to maintain the life of the soul even after the physical body has died, and it can even retain a physical form.

However, there was still a major obstacle in front of the Empress Dowager: the subjects of her repeated tests were either dead or insane, and none of them possessed a complete sanity.

The Empress Dowager attributed the cause to the loss of her cultivation and continued to research in this direction.

Zhang Xuezhou once reminded that the method of fusing infants might have a positive effect. The Empress Dowager did not initially focus her research on this aspect. It was only when she found it difficult to find a method that she devoted all her attention to it. She even personally pushed Huo Qubing to enter the Divine Ability Realm as a reference case.

"No, that's not how you melt it!"

The sound of things being smashed echoed, accompanied by the Empress Dowager's painful wails. The new emperor, who had accompanied Zhang Xuezhou to Changxin Palace, couldn't help but quicken his pace.

"Dongfang Shuo, do you think the Immortal Court can cure Mother's illness?"

The new emperor asked this question with great seriousness.

The fusion of infants and the story of Huo Qubing are things that can be done later, but the Empress Dowager's life is gone forever.

If possible, the new emperor hopes to treat the Empress Dowager first.

"Laojun is still mentally unstable, and there's probably not much they can do about his brain symptoms," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"The Celestial Venerable Yuanshi bestowed upon me a portion of the Three Lights Divine Water. This divine water contains Sunlight Divine Water, which can erode blood essence, bones, and flesh; Moonlight Divine Water, which can corrode the Primordial Spirit and soul; and Starlight Divine Water, which can dissolve True Spirit consciousness. When the three are combined, they become a holy medicine for healing," Zhang Xuezhou said. "If the Empress Dowager dares to take it, I am willing to give up the divine water!"

"This kind of miraculous medicine that uses poison to fight poison should only be suitable for damage when the body is in a balanced state. Once the body is out of balance, the curative effect is questionable, and I'm afraid the Empress's body will not be able to withstand it!"

"The best healing elixir in the Immortal Court is the Life-Creating Fortune Pill, which I have also obtained. If you are concerned about the Three Lights Divine Water, you can try taking this pill!"

"I've seen this pill at the Empress Dowager's place. I know it's a top-tier healing elixir for powerful cultivators. It's a pity the Empress Dowager used it all up. This pill is excellent!"

The new emperor took a deep breath.

He knew Zhang Xuezhou was shrewd and resourceful, and would surely have gained something in the Immortal Court, but he never imagined that Zhang Xuezhou could obtain the Immortal Court's best healing pills.

Even if he carried the Empress Dowager to the Immortal Court to seek medicine, the best he could obtain would be no more than this.

"Mother, Dongfang Shuo has obtained spirit medicine from the Immortal Court for you!"

He strode into Changxin Palace. Wherever the new emperor went, no one dared to raise their heads. Even the court official Hu Sui stopped reciting as required and lowered his head deeply.

The appearance of the crowd was not unusual. The Immortal Court arrived on Dragon Riding with an imperial decree. The Great Han Dynasty no longer had the reasons for the Great Qin Dynasty's illegitimate succession. Dong Zhongshu's instigation further enhanced the new emperor's prestige.

What appears to be merely a treaty of peace and mutual assistance concluded in the Immortal Court has provided assistance far beyond imagination, even though Zhang Xuezhou had never anticipated the extent of the change in mindset.

In the current court, he is the only one who can still joke and banter with the new emperor; it is almost impossible for others to maintain their previous mindset.

Even when she was seriously ill and sullen, the Empress Dowager had someone help her to her feet to bow.

"Quickly, quickly, Dongfang Shuo, look, Mother, this is the Life-Creating Fortune Pill!"

A pill the size of a longan was taken out of the porcelain bottle, and a blush appeared on the Empress Dowager's pale face.

"This elixir's radiance is restrained and subtle, almost reaching the level of a top-grade elixir, far superior to the Empress Dowager's Life-Creating Fortune Pill!"

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath of the medicinal fumes from the bottle.

The enticing aroma of the medicine invigorated her, and she no longer needed to distinguish between different types of pills.

Yi Shuo, who was standing nearby, handed over some warm water, and the Empress Dowager swallowed the pill in one gulp.

Cough cough cough!

She coughed incessantly, spitting out several pieces of bloody foam, and then the Empress Dowager was able to stand up without support.

"This elixir is truly miraculous!" the new emperor exclaimed joyfully. "Mother, how are you feeling?"

"Just a moment ago I felt my end was near, but now my condition has stabilized," the Empress Dowager gasped. "The Daoist's flying daggers were too dangerous; I'm afraid the elixirs won't be enough to keep Mother alive!"

The effects of the Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill and the Life-Creating Fortune Pill are similar. The Empress Dowager had taken the Tenfold Complete Great Tonic Pill many times, and she was well aware of the results of taking the Life-Creating Fortune Pill.

Moreover, Zhang Xuezhou and the others certainly did not go to the Immortal Court to ask for medicine to cure her illness, so the Empress Dowager did not insist too much.

"It's been a long time since Mr. Dongfang visited Changxin Palace!"

The Empress Dowager sighed and looked at Zhang Xuezhou again.

Although the Empress Dowager and Zhang Xuezhou met infrequently, she knew Zhang Xuezhou very well.

Zhang Xuezhou would never come to Changxin Palace unless there was a reason; if he did come, it must be for a specific purpose.

A single Life-Creating Fortune Pill was presented directly, and the Empress Dowager's many complaints Wuyou.

Zhang Xuezhou doesn't do any work, but when Zhang Xuezhou does, no one can replace him, so there's no need to look at his daily performance or investigate his minor mistakes.

For the Great Han Dynasty court, as long as a person has the ability to bring merit, such a person can occupy a unique position for a long time. If they cannot bring benefits, even if they are diligent every day, it will not make any difference.

The Empress Dowager's many thoughts ultimately culminated in a nostalgic remark.

"My wife often accompanies the Empress Dowager in the palace. If the Empress Dowager cannot find me, she can have Yi Shuo on a message to me. I will come to Changxin Palace immediately upon receiving the message," Zhang Xuezhou said politely, clasping his hands in greeting.

"You're busy, aren't you? Your wife often can't find you either," the Empress Dowager said.

"The capable should do more!"

The new emperor's interjection immediately extinguished the Empress Dowager's sentimental attachment to the past.

"You're not the kind of person who comes to my place for no reason. Did you find some trick to the Yang Corporeal Soul Transformation Technique today?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"It can be considered a success," Zhang Xuezhou nodded. "If it can proceed smoothly, there shouldn't be any problem in helping the Empress Dowager achieve success in her Yang Corporeal Soul cultivation!"

"I have already exhausted all my elixirs and efforts to push Xiao Huo into the Divine Ability Realm, and I have no other means to help him!"

The Empress Dowager was aware of Zhang Xuezhou's intentions and cooperated with him.

To be honest, the Empress Dowager didn't gain anything from this cooperation, but her efforts were genuine.

If it weren't for Zhang Xuezhou's Life-Creating Fortune Pill, she might have cursed Zhang Xuezhou a few times in her heart.

"I've invited some friends to help Xiao Huo, and I hope the Empress Dowager can step in to oversee the situation and see where Xiao Huo needs to fill vacancies!"

Dong Zhongshu could refine the Confucian School art of infancy transformation, Ren Anran could transform it into a cultivation method suitable for the Yin-Yang School, Zhang Xuezhou and Liu Xuan provided the conditions for cultivation, and Lei Bei and the new emperor could provide the pressure of sparring and verification, but the one who could truly create Realm Technique suitable for Huo Qubing's breakthrough was this Empress Dowager.

Zhang Xuezhou was thankful that he had returned in time; the Empress Dowager still had some strength and was of sound mind.

The gathering of so many people provided the perfect opportunity for Huo Qubing to reach the realm of the Sole Self Realm.