Chapter 706 - 211: Hidden in the Palace, Withered Fire United

Chapter 706: Chapter 211: Hidden in the Palace, Withered Fire United

After a long while, the Empress finally calmed down, sighed softly, and said, "I don’t know when my brother-in-law can go see my poor sister..."

...

...

A few days later.

Li Yuan moved to the "Qingxin Hall" in the rear palace to recuperate.

The surroundings of Qingxin Hall were elegant, the woods were deep, and it was connected to the former Fourth Grade Meat Field, now the Third Grade Meat Field, so it was an excellent location for cultivation.

Therefore, there were many martial arts fields and secret chambers within.

Li Yuan stepped into the secret chamber and began to circulate his power.

He could feel the Talisman Seed drawing in Yang Qi, causing vibrations, and could also feel the explosion brought by Yang Qi and the Celestial Eye formed by Yin Qi.

Yet these three cut off further cultivation paths.

He turned his attention to Xiaozhao, listening to Xiaozhao’s daily descriptions to understand the dynamics of the "Wu Ya."

Day by day passed...

A month later.

Li Yuan sat quietly in the secret chamber, murmuring in his heart:

"Yin Qi and Yang Qi attract each other;

Yang Qi then draws material to form a completely new body.

This is what Wu Ya is experiencing."

"But the Ancestral Talisman within me doesn’t match fire, so although both are quite powerful, they cannot attract each other.

This is why I cannot cultivate the Celestial Soul, nor can I break through the Shadow Blood Fourth Grade."

Li Yuan thoroughly understood.

In short: his Yin Qi and Yang Qi were both abundant, but they were mismatched and holding each other back. As a result, his talent for "adding to Shadow Blood Skill" couldn’t add a point.

Yet recalling the path he took, he realized even if he did it over again, he still had no solution.

The entire Great Zhou was cultivating the "Fourth Grade to the end" skill, what could he do?

"Actually, there is another way."

"Once I wield the White Snake Blade, I can temporarily break through to Fourth Grade using the Celestial Thunder within the blade, which might become my opportunity to pursue the Fourth Grade. As for how to proceed, it requires experimentation."

"Then..."

"I should first enhance both Yin Yang Qi."

"As for the Yin Qi, the Talisman Seed can be continuously provided by Wendao Palace."

"And Yang Qi, it can have fire.

Since the fire of the Frozen Soil has grown stronger, maybe I... can devour another wave."

Li Yuan was contemplating this when he suddenly sensed something, for he saw a Phoenix Carriage arriving outside Qingxin Hall.

He exited the cultivation and went out to greet it.

A moment later...

Xie Wei dismissed everyone, sat opposite him with a weary face, and magically produced a pot of fine wine from her sleeve, pouring for them both.

Li Yuan took the wine cup and smiled, "Busy like this?"

Xie Wei drank one mouthful after another, then sighed, "Today, for the first time I held Hu’Er while sitting on the Dragon Throne..."

Then, she fell silent and continued drinking.

Li Yuan didn’t ask more.

This situation, he could imagine.

Those four words "Demon Queen ruling" might as well be written on Xie Wei’s face, which of those "complicated ingredients" among the ministers would agree?

"In all fairness, I do wish for power over the world, but I am indeed also thinking of the land, thinking about restoring normalcy as quickly as possible, allowing the people to live and work in peace...

I wish to rebuild the Six Ministries, hence I have sought out many talents, most of whom were previously talented but only doing menial transactions, not utilized properly.

They are involved in the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice...

I have conversed with some among them for a long time, even willing to respectfully address them as ’Sir.’

But those ministers wouldn’t agree.

They think that I am placing my own people, so they all recommend their people instead."

Li Yuan, not knowing much about the court, poured drinks for himself and Xie Wei, accompanying the Regent Empress, drinking cup by cup.

And the Empress, perhaps too exhausted, did not seek intimacy with Li Yuan after drinking, but left slowly.

Li Yuan turned away to the forest behind Qingxin Hall, continuing to ponder his path of cultivation.

For several days afterward, the Empress did not appear.

Li Yuan quietly used a Flying Bird to check, discovering the Empress would sleep in various places out of exhaustion, with the Imperial Study being her most frequent resting place.

The Empress had too many concerns, and having just ascended the throne, she had very few trusted aides to support her.

However, this was Xie Wei’s own path, and Li Yuan had no intention of helping her take action.

The bamboo forest was tranquil, and amidst his busyness, he felt a desire for a moment of peace within it.

Hence, he transformed into a common appearance, wearing ordinary clothes, and quietly left the Imperial Palace to the recovering streets of the Imperial Capital.

Under the clear breeze and bright moon, a night of intoxication ensued.

As March began, peach blossoms bloomed.

Li Yuan staggered lik>>e a drunkard down the bluestone alleyways of the street, suddenly seeing peach blossoms ablaze magnificently, with fragrance filling the air.

He halted, sipped his wine, smiled, and continued on.

Upon approaching, he looked up and found it was an abandoned temple.

That temple’s plaque hung half in the air, vaguely displaying the words "Celestial Master’s Mansion."

Alas, it was desolate inside, not a Daoist in sight, likely having been vacated and relocated after the Lotus Sect chaos.

But despite being unclaimed, the temple was in the prime of peach blossom season.

"Wonderful!"

Li Yuan raised his wine jug, praising aloud.

Unexpectedly, a voice responded from within the temple.

"Wonderful!"

Li Yuan looked over and saw a disheveled young man in the Peach Blossom Forest raising a cup towards him.

He paused, then thought and guessed that this must also be someone drawn by the enchanting spring scene.

The two looked at each other from a distance, neither thinking to become acquainted, merely raising their wine jugs, laughing heartily, before each turned away, departing.

...

...

Time flew by, and it was mid-March again...

Li Yuan calculated, feeling that his grandson or granddaughter at the Western Pole Permafrost was about to be born, so he returned to the White Deer Clan at the Western Pole.