“Your Majesty! Good news!”

Within Baiyu City, Chen Liancang uncharacteristically found Zheng Yi, and his expression was very excited.

“Oh Elder Chen, what good news do you have?”

“The Shadow Guards, three more have broken through!”

“Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists!”

“So many?”

Although Zheng Yi already knew that as many as seven paths of Innate Spiritual Qi were gathering in the Capital City, bringing significant changes, he didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.

In just over a month, three little eunuchs from the Shadow Guards have made breakthroughs!

The simple Imperial Palace is like this, so what about the entire palace?

With the Shadow Guards, Imperial Guards, Eastern Depot, Embroidered Uniform Guard, Imperial Guard being settled, what of those with ulterior motives?

It seems an opportunity must be found to establish a department or system specifically for managing martial artists.

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Chen Liancang also said excitedly, “This is Heaven’s blessing on Great Yu; our Great Yu shall rise!”

Zheng Yi nodded and said, “This also relies on Elder Chen’s guidance, so let the remaining Shadow Guards intensify their training and strive for an early breakthrough.”

“The three Shadow Guards who broke through today will be named: Chen Ti, Chen Li, and Chen Zhi.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“There’s one more thing, Elder Chen. You must handle it for me.”

“Please, Your Majesty.”

“With so many in the Shadow Guards breaking through, there must also be breakthroughs among other departments or the forces within the Capital City.”

Zheng Yi continued, “Send someone to investigate. Absorb those from the military and the Imperial Court directly. As for those from other powers, either they join the Sacrificial Institute, or we’ll follow them until I figure out a solution.”

“Understood!”

Chen Liancang quickly left, and Zheng Yi proceeded to the top of Baiyu City, gazing into the distance.

The entire Capital City looked unchanged, showing no visible differences.

But in Zheng Yi’s sight, heaven and earth had transformed!

Or rather… the entire Capital City, heaven, and earth, had transformed!

His spirit once again entered the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror.

The chaos on the mirrors gradually faded, revealing another scene.

The Capital City!

Spread across nearly 30,000 square kilometers of land, seven azure dragons continually twisted and floated!

This was Innate Spiritual Qi!

The gathering of Innate Spiritual Qi filled the entire Capital City with rich spiritual energy.

Non-cultivators could not detect it.

This spiritual energy penetrated the underground, water sources, trees, and mountains within the Capital City, gradually transforming everything.

This change is continuous and permanent; perhaps in a hundred years, there might appear some demons or ghosts in the Capital City’s territory.

Of course, this change is undetectable to mortals and spans an exceedingly long time.

Zheng Yi observed carefully; these seven dragons of Innate Spiritual Qi looked almost identical to over a month ago, with only minimal depletion.

What puzzled him was that these seven dragons of Innate Spiritual Qi were distinctly separate, close to each other, but not merging.

It was as if the very land of the Capital had invisible chains binding them.

They could not escape, could not leave, only remain side by side, waiting for the day to break through.

Spiritual Qi is inherently formless and free.

They flow to their intended place according to their characteristics, geography, environment, and the rules of heaven and earth.

Yet at this moment, Zheng Yi utilized the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror’s powerful capabilities to gather them all together.

“Hoo…”

Zheng Yi exhaled a long breath, once again gazing at the three paths of Innate Spiritual Qi yet to return.

“The retrieval speed is slowing again; what has happened in these three places?”

“Regardless… I must enhance my strength.”

The Yin Yang Treasure Mirror’s surface flashed, and lines of text appeared once more.

[Life Master: Zheng Yi]

[Talent: Yin and Yang]

[Lifespan: 28/5668]

[Spirit Root: Water (Middle Grade 121/1000), Earth (Middle Grade 9/1000), Wood (Lower Grade 60/100), Metal (Lower Grade 21/100)]

[Magical Power: 516/1000]

[Overall Strength: First-layer Qi Cultivation]

[Innate Spiritual Qi Progress (Tier One): 10/10]

[Innate Spiritual Qi Progress (Tier Two): 0/20 (Sealed)]

[Three Thousand Worlds (Tier One): 0/1]

Magical power had reached 516 points, nearing a breakthrough, so time was of the essence.

The immediate need to enhance strength required not only dual cultivation to break through to Second-layer Qi Cultivation but also two other methods.

Blood Moon Gu.

Three Thousand Worlds!

Since the Blood Moon Gu expanded to over a hundred, it had stagnated, not reproducing until now.

What was strange was that when Zheng Yi reclaimed those seven paths of Innate Spiritual Qi, the hundred-plus Blood Moon Gu entered slumber, with no knowing what had transpired.

He speculated that the increase in Innate Spiritual Qi led to these Blood Moon Gu undergoing evolution.

Who knew when this evolution would succeed?

Then there was Three Thousand Worlds.

Three Thousand Worlds represents other worlds containing spiritual energy, which he must open.

However, activating Three Thousand Worlds required a Prince’s birth.

This past month, he had been secretly pondering whom to have the Prince with, subtly seeking advice from several Cabinet ministers, Xu Mujun, and several Imperial Uncles.

Ultimately, he made a decision.

The first-born Prince, and the future Crown Prince’s mother… will be Lu Lin’er!

As for why he chose Lu Lin’er, Zheng Yi had his considerations.

Among the many consorts, he surprisingly found that Lu Lin’er was undoubtedly the most fitting.

The reason was simple, she was the Empress, rightful and proper.

A wife officially wedded with formal rites.

Her grandfather was the Vice Chief Minister of the Cabinet, supported by the Fan Yang Lu Clan.

The Prince born from her would not only be legitimate but also inevitably made the Crown Prince.

If another concubine first bore a Prince, it would inevitably trigger harem disputes and conflicts in the front court.

If he had chosen Xu Qingluan for the first Prince, Lu Lin’er would certainly cling to him daily, and even Lu Xiangqing would contend with Xu Mujun behind the scenes.

The struggle for the Throne is bound to cause turmoil in the Imperial Court.

Zheng Yi no longer wants to handle so many matters.

He wants to cultivate immortality!

He wants to enhance his strength!

So isn’t it better to legitimately give birth to a Prince and establish him as the Crown Prince?

How many troubles would that save?!

After making up his mind, Zheng Yi planned to go to Kunning Palace.

“Zhi zhi zhi…”

At this moment, sharp insect cries suddenly echoed.

Then, to his astonishment, the Blood Moon Gu hidden around Baiyu City, which were supposed to be still asleep, suddenly all rushed out.

They began to slaughter each other!

Scarlet phantoms and scarlet moon blades clashed in the air, locked in a fierce battle.

Whenever a Blood Moon Gu was killed or severely injured, several other Blood Moon Gu would rush up, tear it apart, and devour it completely, not leaving a drop of blood or a single wing behind.

Zheng Yi watched these Blood Moon Gu in surprise, quickly retreating.

“These Blood Moon Gu have gone mad… No! They’re feeding!”

“Blood Moon Gu are inherently feuding insects that cull the weak or defectives, leaving behind only the elites, the finest seeds!”

Zheng Yi descended from the top of Baiyu City like a giant eagle, appearing somewhat embarrassed.

“Protect Your Majesty!”

The Imperial Guards had also noticed the upheaval and rushed over.

Zheng Yi raised his hand and said, “No worries, everyone stay around, no one is allowed near.”

“Understood!”

Over a dozen Imperial Guards quickly scattered and stood guard around.

Meanwhile, around the Imperial Palace, several figures quickly approached.

The Shadow Guard.

Seeing Zheng Yi was fine, these Shadow Guards submerged back into the shadows.

Zheng Yi looked at the turmoil above Baiyu City and immediately ordered, “Summon Noble Consort Cui, Yue Chan, and Consort Yu to an audience.”

“Understood!”

An Imperial Guard quickly went to deliver the message, while Zheng Yi continued observing the chaotic Baiyu City.

The third floor of Baiyu City kept echoing with sharp cries and the sound of bricks and tiles at any moment.

Almost the entire third floor of Baiyu City was about to be torn apart by this swarm of Blood Moon Gu.

Strangely enough.

This chaos came fast and receded faster.

In merely a moment’s time while the overall structure of the third floor of Baiyu City was still intact, the chaos had already ceased.

By the time Cui Xiabing, Yue Chan, and Yuheng Zhenren arrived at Baiyu City, Zheng Yi was already standing amidst the ruins of the third floor.

“Your Majesty?”

“What is this?”

“Spirit Gu?”

Twelve strange insects, the size of a baby’s fist, lay among the ruins before the four people.

Out of over a hundred Blood Moon Gu slaughtering and devouring each other, only twelve were left!

And these twelve looked peculiarly strange.

They were shaped like spiders but with a very bloated abdomen and had three pairs of almost transparent wings on their backs.

Around their bodies, a massive amount of blood misted, exuding a peculiar fragrance.

They laid on the ground, their bellies surging, as if breathing or digesting the brothers and sisters they had devoured.

Zheng Yi asked, “Can you three perceive what kind of change has occurred to these twelve Blood Moon Gu? Can you sense their aura?”

Yue Chan spoke up first, “Your Majesty, based on my experience, these twelve Blood Moon Gu should have advanced. But I’ve never seen this kind of Blood Moon Gu and don’t know what capabilities they may have?”

“Xiabing?”

Cui Xiabing opened her eyes, a glimmer flashed through her beautiful eyes.

“Middle-stage Qi Cultivation!”

“The aura of these twelve Blood Moon Gu is all above the middle-stage Qi Cultivation, and the most important thing is these auras are still rising, not stabilizing yet.”

“I don’t know what will happen once their auras stabilize.”

“Yuheng?”

Zhuang Yuheng shook her head and said, “Your Majesty, I can’t perceive anything.”

“But I know that even if one of these twelve Blood Moon Gu wanted to kill me, I could only stretch my neck and be slaughtered.”

“Middle-stage Qi Cultivation…”

Zheng Yi muttered, suddenly at this moment, the twelve Blood Moon Gu all ceased breathing.

At the same time, twelve very urgent hunger pulses appeared in Zheng Yi’s consciousness.

This is… hunger?

Not a desire of the mouth, but… spiritual.

Essence Blood!

They need essence blood to fill the spiritual hunger caused by their advancement.

Zheng Yi immediately said, “Three dear consorts, I need to deal with these Blood Moon Gu, please go back and cultivate quietly.”

“Now Heaven blesses our Great Yu, several Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists have appeared in the Shadow Guard.”

“I think for you three, this feeling is even clearer.”

Yue Chan didn’t say much, but Cui Xiabing and Zhuang Yuheng’s eyes changed.

“How does Your Majesty know?”

Zhuang Yuheng smiled, “During my retreat the day before yesterday, I felt my bottleneck loosen a lot. Within at most half a year, I can break through to the third-layer Qi Cultivation!”

Cui Xiabing also nodded, “The same for me, middle-stage Qi Cultivation is within sight.”

“By the way, Xiabing, any news from your master?”

“Master sent a letter, she is still within the borders of Xueyun Country. I heard that several cultivators suddenly appeared there, even forming gatherings, and she wants to investigate.”

“The specific situation, I am unaware.”

“Xueyun Country, gatherings…”

Zheng Yi said, “Understood, you three dear consorts may withdraw.”

“Understood!”

“Farewell, Your Majesty!”

The three women departed together, while Zheng Yi, with a thought, caused the twelve Blood Moon Gu to quickly fly to his side, squeaking non-stop.

“So eager? It seems this time I have to make a big sacrifice!”

“I wonder if my more than five thousand drops of essence blood can satisfy you all?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep