Inside the Black Jade King Cauldron, Zheng Yi first placed a Blood Moon Gu inside.

Who knows if during the blood sacrifice, these twelve Blood Moon Gu would all swarm together and fight for dominance?

Out of over a hundred, only twelve are left; if he loses one more, he would be quite distressed.

“Chirp, chirp, chirp…”

As if sensing Zheng Yi’s intent, the Blood Moon Gu inside the Black Jade King Cauldron crawled around ceaselessly, sniffing about.

With a thought, Zheng Yi extended his right index finger, spiritual Qi surging within him, immediately tearing a small slit on the finger.

A drop of essence blood, slowly condensed along the finger, and with a ‘drip’ sound, fell directly towards the inside of the Black Jade King Cauldron.

“Chirp~!”

The essence blood still airborne, the Blood Moon Gu emitted a piercing shriek. Spreading its three pairs of wings, it flew up into the air, catching the essence blood with one bite!

“Chirp, chirp, chirp~!!!”

The Blood Moon Gu screamed, its three pairs of wings fluttering wildly, appearing manic and immensely excited.

At this moment, Zheng Yi clasped his hands into a seal, guided by the Blood Sacrifice Secret Technique, transforming the essence blood swallowed by the Blood Moon Gu into a special Blood Sacrifice Rune.

Blood mist surged from the Blood Moon Gu, gradually coagulating into a special cloud-like rune, slowly dissipating and then merging into the Blood Moon Gu.

After an unknown period, the blood mist finally completely seeped into the Blood Moon Gu.

The originally blood-red body of the Blood Moon Gu also began to change.

A fine black line appeared within, seeming not very noticeable.

“Chirp, chirp, chirp~!”

Another shrill cry from the Blood Moon Gu, and Zheng Yi slowly opened his eyes.

“Is one drop of essence blood not enough?”

“No worries, I have more!”

“However many you need, I have that many!”

With a thought, the other twelve Blood Moon Gu appeared from the surroundings, flying to his side.

These twelve Blood Moon Gu, fed with his essence blood from birth, were long since connected to his spirit.

Now at his command, the twelve Blood Moon Gu lined up in a row.

With a wave of his hand, twelve drops of essence blood shot out, and the twelve Blood Moon Gu rushed forward, each taking a drop and swallowing it whole.

Essence blood!

Zheng Yi quickly formed his seals again, the chirps of the insects echoing, as the blood mist runes reemerged, enshrouding the twelve Blood Moon Gu.

“Twelve drops of essence blood!”

“Swallow it! Swallow it all!”

“Let me see your limits!”

“Chirp, chirp, chirp…!”

Time passed day by day.

After the twelve Blood Moon Gu devoured the first drop of essence blood, Zheng Yi once more generously poured out twelve drops of essence blood.

The fourth batch, the fifth batch, the sixth batch…

Dense blood mist enveloped Baiyu City, casting an unusual crimson hue over the entire city.

He long ago ordered a seclusion, guarded in shifts by the Shadow Guard and Imperial Guard, forbidding anyone from approaching.

The entire court, with the assistance of Grand General Xu Mujun and the cabinet ministers, operated smoothly.

More than a month later.

Baiyu City.

The dense blood mist gradually dissipated, revealing the true visage of Zheng Yi.

He looked almost the same as a month ago.

His complexion was not even paler.

Only his eyes showed a hint of fatigue.

This past month, dedicating himself to the blood sacrifice for the twelve Blood Moon Gu without rest, he even had the Shadow Guard place meals at the door, often forgetting to eat.

But heaven aids the diligent.

The twelve Blood Moon Gu were now fully refined!

Each Blood Moon Gu, based on its life force, power, and spiritual Qi fluctuation, had fused at least ten drops of essence blood!

The one with the most had fused a full fifteen drops.

Even the weakest had fused eleven drops.

A total of one hundred and forty-six drops of essence blood!

That amounts to one hundred and forty-six years of lifespan!

Given so much lifespan, one can imagine the terror in blood sacrificial spirit insects.

If other cultivators nearing their end knew of Zheng Yi’s wasteful use of essence blood, one wonders what they would think?

Yet, one hundred and forty-six years of lifespan for Zheng Yi was not much.

As long as he wishes, he can fully restore it in just a few days!

What extent have these twelve Blood Moon Gu grown under such depletion?

Now, compared to before, the Blood Moon Gu seemed slightly larger.

Their once bloated bellies were gone, now replaced by slender stomachs akin to mosquitoes, with a slightly curved proboscis.

On either side of the proboscis grew two frontal claws, emitting a chilling gleam.

The three pairs of wings were increasingly transparent; although still crimson, the body now bore intricate black lines encircling it.

They appeared more like hornets!

“What abilities will the new Blood Moon Gu possess?”

With a thought, the twelve Blood Moon Gu suddenly moved.

Almost invisible were their wing movements as twelve sanguine shadows instantly darted a hundred feet away, leaving twelve hollow openings in the wall with ease.

Like bullet impacts.

Moreover, one Blood Moon Gu’s frontal claw snapped, sending out two extremely fine blood-colored moon blades, leaving two slender yet obvious slits on the wall.

Speed, attack, moon blades—compared to before, they’ve improved by at least tenfold!

Moreover, the spiritual Qi fluctuations on them were all above middle-stage Qi Cultivation, infinitely close to late-stage Qi Cultivation.

The strongest among them, the one that absorbed fifteen drops of Zheng Yi’s essence blood, was unequivocally late-stage Qi Cultivation!

How they would fare against a cultivator is yet to be seen?

Storing away the Blood Moon Gu, Zheng Yi opened the door and stepped out.

“Your Majesty!”

Chen Liancang’s ghostly figure suddenly appeared before Zheng Yi.

“Elder Chen, how fares the Imperial Court?”

“Everything is normal, Your Majesty, you…”

“It’s nothing, just some insights from my seclusion.”

Zheng Yi waved his hand and said, “Have the Ministry of Industry come and repair Baiyu City.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chen Liancang said, “Your Majesty, this old servant has important matters to report.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“Your Majesty, you previously asked me to investigate the situation of martial artists in the Capital City, and this old servant has completed the investigation.”

Chen Liancang said, “During the more than a month you were in seclusion, another Shadow Guard has broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“Currently, within the entire Shadow Guard, including this old servant, there are three Innate Martial Artists and five Grandmaster Martial Artists, with the rest all being First-grade Martial Artists!”

“Within the Imperial Guard, one person has broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“Within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, two people have broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“Within the Imperial Guard, two people have broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“Within the Martial Arts Hall in the Capital, one person has broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“Within the Imperial Clan Court, a prince has also broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“Outside the Capital City, the abbot of Baiyun Temple has broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“It’s difficult to investigate the other ministers and noble clans, but there must also be some who have broken through.”

“And among those hidden in the Martial World, there are more martial artists than time allows this old servant to fully investigate.”

“Besides these Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists, there are countless First-grade and Second-grade Martial Artists…”

Listening to Chen Liancang’s report, Zheng Yi slightly nodded.

Since recovering the seven strands of Innate Spiritual Qi, he had anticipated this level of development.

Within the domain of the Capital City, the number of high-tier martial artists would definitely multiply several times over in a short period.

The reason is simple: Some martial artists with high talent, constitution, and comprehension were stalled at their bottlenecks for years or even decades due to the lack of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

Once the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi increased, their bottlenecks would loosen in a short time, leading to breakthroughs.

This situation might last for a year or even longer.

But it is foreseeable that as the Innate Spiritual Qi stabilizes, this situation will become less common until it subsides.

“Are there any Innate Martial Artists?”

Among so many martial artists who have broken through, what Zheng Yi valued most were the Innate Martial Artists.

After all, Innate Martial Artists have a chance of injuring cultivators.

“There are.”

Chen Liancang spoke cautiously, “However, the whereabouts of this person are very secretive, and this old servant couldn’t find out.”

“This person broke through seventeen days ago; the location was within Dongling Mountain, east of the Capital City, with an astonishing breakthrough aura.”

“When this old servant sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate, no one was found, and perhaps this person had already left.”

“The identity of this person remains a mystery!”

Zheng Yi commanded, “As long as they are not from those noble clans, but you must still find a way to locate this person, understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

“By the way, are there any movements from the southern noble families and other forces, or from Nanyue County?”

“In response to Your Majesty, no.”

“None?”

Zheng Yi’s eyes showed some confusion; he had dealt with the Wang Family with thunderous methods, and these people still had no reaction?

That shouldn’t be!

Whether it’s the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Shadow Guard unable to find anything, or even Baihua Sect…

Hmm?

Something isn’t right!

After all, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Shadow Guard are agencies of the Imperial Court and are heavily restricted, constantly under surveillance.

But the Baihua Sect is a sect from the Martial World, founded as a brothel, yet it also can’t find anything.

Could it be that Baihua Sect has been bought over?

Or does the Baihua Sect have something fishy?

Zheng Yi stroked his chin, making a decision in his heart.

“Since you all are still not willing to act, I will give you an opportunity, an excuse!”

“I have already prepared; let’s see how you all will respond!”

“Thinking of rebellion? Still preparing? Then I shall force you to rebel!”

“Elder Chen, summon Grand General Xu Mujun, along with Wang Anshi, Yuan Qichang, and Cai Dashi.”

“Yes, sir!”

More than an hour later, Xu Mujun and the others came to have an audience.

With Baiyu City undergoing repairs, Zheng Yi had to meet them in Qiankun Hall.

“We pay our respects to Your Majesty, long live our emperor!”

“No need for formalities, ministers, please rise and take a seat.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

They all took their seats, but Zheng Yi did not speak immediately; instead, he observed them.

There was no need to speak of Xu Mujun; although he’s not the Prime Minister now, his status and power have long surpassed that of the Prime Minister.

He can truly be called second only to one, above all others.

Next to him, Wang Anshi was not only the Vice Chief Scholar of the Imperial Cabinet but also held the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

In just a few years, he reached such a position, surely deserving to be called meteoric rise.

Yuan Qichang, the Left Deputy Imperial Censor and a Cabinet Minister, the number two person in the Imperial Supervision Office.

Cai Dashi, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, a Cabinet Minister, the third person in the Ministry of Rites.

If it hadn’t been for issues with his background, Zheng Yi would have already elevated him to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Unfortunately, opposition from the ministers left him no choice but to have him temporarily hold the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

“I wonder what Your Majesty has summoned us for today?”

Among the four, Xu Mujun held the highest rank, so naturally, he was the first to speak.

“Grand General Xu, Heaven blesses Great Yu; in recent months, our young martial artists in Great Yu have emerged in great numbers; among them, there are already more than a dozen Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists, and even those striving towards the Innate Realm!”

Zheng Yi said, “This is an auspicious sign for Great Yu, and a significant matter.”

“But chivalry disrupts order!”

“Martial artists belonging to our court are easily managed due to the Imperial Court’s prohibitions, able to restrain themselves and serve the public without troubling the common people.”

“However, some martial artists from sects of the Martial World, or those who have fortunately broken through from martial arts halls or gangs, act purely based on passion, and conflicts are easy to arise.”

“Thus, today I have invited Minister Xu to discuss a suitable way.”

“Not only to manage this group of martial artists but also to ensure they serve Great Yu without disturbing the populace, protecting the nation.”

“Are there so many high-tier martial artists now?”

Xu Mujun was also a bit surprised but quickly realized, “What ideas does Your Majesty have?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep