Chapter 88: Chapter 84: Purple Opportunity, Dragon Sun Golden Peach

Seven days later, in the Great Yan Imperial Palace, the weather was gradually growing warmer.

The Palace Maids and Consorts within the palace walls began to wear less and less. Gauze gowns revealed their arms, and they fanned themselves with cattail fans, yet they were still drenched in fragrant sweat. However, few men were fortunate enough to feast their eyes on such a sight.

Only one man, a handsome youth in a Python Robe, lay atop a garden pavilion, from which he could overlook half of the Harem.

At this moment, Lu Mingyuan had Hong Wan behind him and Zi Yun to his right.

Hong Wan, dressed in a red, patterned palace gown, had a delicate and lovely air, her teardrop mole accentuating her charm. Yet, her expression was one of deep concentration as she kneaded Lu Mingyuan’s shoulders, massaging and rubbing them from time to time.

Lu Mingyuan himself was resting his head on Hong Wan’s firm, shapely thighs, using them as a lap pillow. He kept an arm wrapped around her slender waist for support.

Meanwhile, Zi Yun, clad in an intricate purple gauze dress with cloud patterns, was diligently peeling grapes beside them. Once peeled, she would place the translucent, shimmering fruit into Lu Mingyuan’s mouth.

Hong Wan was as pretty as a peach in spring, incomparably charming. Zi Yun was like a chrysanthemum in late autumn, lovely and elegant. Needless to say, both were stunningly beautiful.

To be attended by two such beauties—this was the pinnacle of a man’s pleasure.

As Lu Mingyuan spit out a grape seed, his thoughts drifted back to the Heart Inquiry Bureau seven days prior.

After that night, things had seemed to calm down considerably.

It was just as the divination had said: the fortune was that the schemer’s Daoxin would be damaged, he would gain Dragon Fortune, earn the favor of a benefactor, and seize the initiative. The misfortune was that he would incite jealousy and that lingering troubles would remain.

And it had all come true.

Ever since Wei the Ninth had revealed himself, Lu Mingyuan had enjoyed a period of peace. It felt as if he had seized the initiative; his opponent no longer dared to act recklessly.

’Could it be that, just as the old man’s divination predicted, his Daoxin was damaged, and now he’s afraid to make a move?’

When his mother awoke that night and asked what had happened, he could only say he’d had too much to drink.

He had inquired about the whereabouts of that strange Palace Maid, but there was no news. His mother’s investigation also came up empty.

Lu Mingyuan guessed that the faction behind the Second Prince must be immense.

To counter them, he first needed to find a weakness.

He had dispatched five Blood Glutton Puppets to infiltrate Prince Jin’s Mansion, but they were blocked by a Household Protection Talisman Array.

This person was incredibly cautious, making him a difficult opponent. Lu Mingyuan could only order the puppets to wait outside the residence for an opportunity.

He had been looking for a way to sneak inside. Only by understanding his enemy could he find the right solution and plan accordingly.

“Your Highness, it’s time for the Great Yan Mansion Report to be distributed. This servant will go fetch it now.”

Zi Yun paused what she was doing and headed downstairs.

The so-called “mansion report,” also known as a “residence copy” or “official dispatch,” had several names but always included the character for “report.” It was an official document and collection of political intelligence used by the imperial court to disseminate government affairs, a sort of precursor to the modern newspaper.

Originally, it was a means for the Court to announce decrees.

But the Mountain and River Mansion Report of Great Yan was something drummed up by the scholars of the Drumming Institute. With little else to do, these men of letters enjoyed writing poems on it, while members of the Heterodox Family or Novelists would record interesting, strange, or supernatural folk tales.

Later, as its readership grew, it began to include a wider variety of content.

For example, it covered everything from palace gossip and street rumors to military reports from the front lines.

As its scale grew, it became something akin to a newspaper.

Compared to the other two institutes, the Drumming Institute was mostly staffed by Confucian gentlemen recruited by the Court. In addition to collecting public remonstrations and scholarly grievances from across Great Yan to report directly to the Emperor’s Cabinet, the Mountain and River Mansion Report gave them another function: controlling public opinion.

Lu Mingyuan took the Mountain and River Mansion Report and saw the large headline on the front.

Champion Marquis Returns Victorious, Will Soon Arrive in the Capital.

’The Third Prince lost?’

’So quickly?’

That was an army of three hundred thousand, no paper tiger but the true elite of Great Yan. An army like that could sweep through countless kingdoms in the east or west.

’The Champion Marquis won a great victory and is returning with just fifty thousand Qilin Guards?’

His initial reaction was one of pure astonishment.

’The Champion Marquis is still the Champion Marquis.’

Ten years hadn’t changed him one bit; he was still the same valiant youth from the past.

Toward this number one Marquis, who had nearly become his father-in-law…

Lu Mingyuan felt a great deal of admiration.

Unfortunately, the daughter of the Huo Family had been unwilling to marry him, so that particular fate was missed.

’Now that he’s solved such a huge problem for the Court and achieved such a great merit, I wonder what reward the Court will bestow upon him.’

After all, the Champion Marquis had now transformed into the most dazzling military star of Great Yan.

But it was less of a reward and more of a hot potato.

There would probably be a lot of trouble waiting for the Champion Marquis down the line.

Accomplishments so great they overshadow the master.

It was a phrase that no Martial Artist could ever escape.

He didn’t think his imperial father would enfeoff another Vassal King with a different surname; that would be tantamount to nurturing a tiger that would later bring disaster.

’But none of that has anything to do with me, anyway.’

Lu Mingyuan cleaned his ear with a finger.

“Your Highness, the weather is nice today, but Miss Qi hasn’t come to visit for some time,” Hong Wan said from the side as she continued to rub his shoulders.

It was true.

Ever since his meeting with Qi Xingyan, Qi Muxue had not appeared in his sight.

Lu Mingyuan pretended to be unconcerned. “If she doesn’t come, she doesn’t come.”

“It might be better if Your Highness took the initiative to send an invitation,” Hong Wan suggested.

Lu Mingyuan shook his head. “She’s probably busy with something. After all, with Elder Mr. Qi being reinstated, she has to teach now, too. I’d rather not disturb her.”

The one involved is blind, while the bystander sees clearly.

Zi Yun and Hong Wan exchanged a glance.

Zi Yun spoke up in her delicate voice, “Your Highness must be very fond of Miss Qi. Perhaps Miss Qi is waiting for you to show your feelings?”

“This prince has the two of you, and that’s enough. Why bother trying to guess at such things?”

Lu Mingyuan sat up from the lap pillow and stretched languidly.

“Time to practice my Martial Arts.”

He took his saber from where it hung by the door and headed deep into the back mountain.

Zi Yun and Hong Wan could only look on with helpless expressions.

After Lu Mingyuan arrived at the back mountain…

He held his breath to focus his spirit, grasped his saber to sense the qi, and emptied his five senses.

Only by cultivating the Saber Heart Chapter to Perfection could he reach the threshold for comprehending Sword Intent.

The so-called “Saber Heart Chapter” was focused on Refining the Heart.

The Martial Lineage was not particularly adept at Refining the Heart.

However, his master had personally modified the Thunder Prison Saber Scripture to include a section on Refining the Heart.

The purpose was to make his Saber Technique flawless, so that drawing his saber would be a divine, natural act.

As the saying goes, appearance is born from the heart, and one’s state of being shifts with the mind.

The two words “Sword Heart” represented the “appearance” within the swordsman’s heart.

Whatever form this “appearance” took, that would be the form of the momentum one unleashed.

Some people’s hearts are like the morning sun, full of sincerity, pursuing the endless Martial Dao; the aura they manifest is that of a great sun rising to illuminate the earth.

Others are sharp and ambitious, seeking to challenge all Martial Cultivators under heaven; the aura they manifest is that of a Flood Dragon from a cold pool, soaring to Yunxiao.

He had to find the “appearance” within his own heart.

This was what Zhao Xuanwu had always admonished him about: the realm of dominance.

He had never quite understood it.

It was unrelated to Martial Arts or Cultivation Techniques, something he had to comprehend on his own.

He sat down to meditate. Activating both “Hidden Dragon” and “Calm Heart,” he quickly entered a State of Self-Forgetfulness, an epiphany.

He hoped that through this profound state, he could see his own “appearance.”

He felt as if he were dreaming. He dreamed he was on a golden arch bridge in the sky, a bridge so long its end was out of sight, vaster even than the one where the Cowherd and Weaver Girl meet. He felt like a Flood Dragon weaving through a sea of clouds, walking across the heavens.

Looking down, he could only glimpse a bottomless black abyss, from which a faint golden light shimmered.

He stared down for a long time.

Suddenly—

A massive eye opened, filling the entire abyss and revealing a golden, amber pupil.

Lu Mingyuan was startled out of his wits.

He was jolted out of the state entirely.

Back in reality, with the sun on his face, he wiped the sweat from his brow and carefully recalled what he had seen.

It had seemed like the eye of a True Dragon.

At that moment, a change occurred before his eyes.

[Luminous Green Fate Grid – Martial Fool, Refinement Level increased to 95%]

[Promoted Life Chart Trait – Calm Heart (Advanced)]

[Calm Heart (Advanced): Allows entry into a deep State of Self-Forgetfulness. When seriously studying Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts, you will surely succeed and comprehend a deeper Realm.]

Seeing this, Lu Mingyuan mused to himself.

’It added a new layer: comprehending a deeper Realm.’

’What kind of realm is considered a deep Realm? It must be above Mastery, at least.’

’Unconsciously, my “Martial Fool” is already about to be promoted. It should happen in the next day or two.’

Because he practiced his martial arts every day, this was his fastest-growing Fate Grid.

“I should have reached the peak of the Seventh Floor by now. It seems I still have a way to go.”

Who knew when it happened, but an ordinary-looking old eunuch had appeared beside him.

He startled Lu Mingyuan yet again. Lu Mingyuan looked up.

It was none other than the elusive Wei the Ninth.

Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan replied without surprise, “The Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture requires nutrients to advance. As its creator, you should know that. In the Cold Palace, the things I can eat are limited. My mother has already done her best to find me some Celestial and Earthly Treasures, but they are finite. Precious Celestial and Earthly Treasures are priceless and rarely for sale. Cultivators hoard them for themselves; why would they sell them? To break through to Grandmaster, I’d need at least ten Treasure Level Celestial and Earthly Treasures, or five at the Hundred Treasures Level.”

The grades of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures were roughly the same as those for weapons, divided into: Treasure Level, Hundred Treasures Level, Thousand Treasures Level, Ten Thousand Treasures Level, Immortal Treasure Level, and Ancient Level.

Wei the Ninth clasped his hands behind his back and shook his head. “First, this one did not create the Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture; I merely passed the inheritance on to you. Second, eating things is the most basic way to use the scripture. It is the limitation of the Abnormal Eating Chapter. You will understand all this when you break through to the second part, the Divine Sensing Chapter.”

“As for the matter of Breaking Realm, you can have this. Consider it a belated introductory gift from this old man.”

Wei the Ninth produced a mouth-watering Golden Dragon Peach from his sleeve, as if pulling it from another universe. Its surface radiated a faint halo of light.

The moment he took it out, Lu Mingyuan smelled an incredibly rich, fruity fragrance, and every cell in his body seemed to come alive.

A white mist floated above the dragon peach, and from it, the faint roars of dragons could be heard.

“For me?”

“For you. It’s of no use to me anymore. It would just be sitting around otherwise.”

Wei the Ninth nodded.

Lu Mingyuan accepted the dragon peach, and a notification flashed before his eyes.

[Purple Opportunity: Dragon Cave’s Ultimate Treasure—Dragon Sun Golden Peach (Acquired)]

[Dragon Sun Golden Peach: Born from a Dragon Vein, it gestates in a dragon cave beneath a Dynasty’s Dragon Wall, absorbing the National Fortune of the country to grow. It takes a hundred years to bear fruit. The fruit comes in different colors depending on the strength of the Dragon Fortune: cyan, purple, red, and gold. The golden fruit is of the Venerable quality. If consumed by a Mortal, it can bring the dead back to life.]

Wei the Ninth smiled faintly. “This little thing should be quite valuable to you. Consider it a Thousand Treasures Level Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasure. One of these should be enough for you to break through to Grandmaster, no problem. It will also help you open up more Acupoints. How many you can open will depend on you.”

“Are there more treasures like this in the Cold Palace?”

Lu Mingyuan’s face was full of hope.

Wei the Ninth shook his head repeatedly. “Counting the Red Bone Sunflower nurtured by that damn Daoist’s lifetime of Cultivation and this Dragon Sun Golden Peach, this one can tell you that all the treasures in this Cold Palace are basically gone.”

…

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