Checking In for Sixty Years, From Puppet Emperor to Heavenly Emperor – Chapter 57

Ch 57: Amazing Immortal Pill

Zhou An sat above the Great Hall, looking at the swordplay notes given by Divine Beggar, combining them with the Body-Sword Fusion Method taught by Drunken Taoist, first learning to take the Son of Heaven Sword into his body.

Before long, a white light flew from outside, landing on the Great Hall, revealing Hua Wuyue.

She curiously sized up the place, asking with a surprised expression, “Zhou An, what kind of lucky encounter have you had this time?”

Zhou An put down the book, looking at her with a smug expression, and said, “My fortune is deep, are you convinced?”

Hua Wuyue rolled her eyes, feeling somewhat helpless at Zhou An’s strange way of speaking, but she had already accepted it, and couldn’t help but marvel at how good Zhou An’s fortune was.

Any cultivator with some insight could see that this palace was a true Immortal Palace, capable of gathering the Spirit Energy between Heaven and Earth, making cultivation here much better than outside.

“Quickly tell me what happened to you this time.” Hua Wuyue was now impatiently eager to hear his experience.

Zhou An had her sit next to him, while having Hua Wuyue brew him flower tea, and then recounted his experience this time.

After listening, Hua Wuyue became silent instead. Of course, she was happy that Zhou An had obtained the Ethereal Abode inheritance, but the events at Heavenly Path Sect gave her a bad feeling.

Zhou An smiled and said, “Worried that the situation at Heavenly Path Sect will affect this place?”

“Ever since the news of the Sun Moon Universe Pearl came out of the Imperial Palace, the Immortal Cultivation World has been in constant turmoil. The destruction of Hundred Flowers Valley, and now Heavenly Path Sect, were both once top-tier sects.

I feel like there is a pair of hands controlling all of this in the dark. Will this Righteous-Demonic War also cause the Righteous Oneness Sect and Jian Sect to follow in their footsteps? If that’s the case, then the Qianyuan Empire will really be in great chaos. Without the suppression of the Righteous Path, the Demons, Devils, and Heretical Path will definitely wreak havoc in Qianyuan without restraint.” Hua Wuyue said.

Zhou An also put away his joking attitude and said, “Indeed, the destruction of Heavenly Path Sect was too sudden and silent. Logically speaking, just a pair of Sun Moon Universe Pearls, even if they are Immortal Treasures, shouldn’t have caused the Righteous Path, Heretical Path, and Demonic Path to converge. We have to be wary.

This is the Ethereal Immortal Pill I obtained this time. I have increased my cultivation by almost 600 years.”

Hua Wuyue took the pill and showed a surprised expression, then shook her head and said, “No, if I take this Immortal Pill now, I can immediately reach the peak of Innate Sixth Level, and I’m afraid it will quickly attract Heavenly Tribulation.

I’m not ready for the Sixth Heavenly Tribulation yet. I’m still comprehending the Hundred Flowers Flying Picture. I’ve had many insights recently and need to wait a little longer.”

“Well, you keep it. This Immortal Pill doesn’t require you to circulate your energy to absorb it. Your body will automatically absorb it. After you’re ready, eat it, and I’ll protect you then.

By the way, have the workers find a place far away from the palace and build a Tribulation Platform for our people to use for tribulation in the future,” Zhou An said.

“Okay, take me to see this place.” Hua Wuyue said, taking Zhou An’s hand, and the two of them strolled around together.

He introduced her to Qin Yu, Qi Hui, Shu Yao, and Xing Yan.

Seeing Hua Wuyue chatting with the four women, seeming to be very compatible, looking at their beautiful figures, his heart was full of joy and satisfaction. Such beauties placed on Earth were something he wouldn’t even dare to imagine, and he marveled at the wonder of fate.

Suddenly thinking of the problem of the Star River Twin Swords, he asked, “The Star River Twin Swords need to be used together by lovers to unleash their true power. Why don’t we cultivate together?”

Hua Wuyue stopped, facing him and shaking her head, “No, I have already refined the Ten Thousand Flowers Mystic Light Sword. I don’t have that much energy to cultivate two Immortal Swords at the same time. I am the Hundred Flowers Master, and the Ten Thousand Flowers Mystic Light Sword cannot be abandoned.

Aren’t there still the Empress and three Imperial Concubines? You can choose one among them. I think Ziyan, Ziqiong, and Zixuan have very good talent and are the best candidates.”

Zhou An thought for a moment and said, “Okay, then I’ll choose someone else.”

Hua Wuyue continued to discuss cultivation matters with the four women. Many things about cultivation seemed like she had suddenly met a kindred spirit, leaving Zhou An aside.

Now, there was no one among the Hundred Flowers Valley disciples who could discuss the Dao of cultivation with her. Shu Yao and the other three had already existed for over a thousand years, and their cultivation knowledge was naturally incomparable to ordinary people, so naturally they couldn’t wait to discuss more.

Zhou An was bored alone and returned to the Great Hall to study the Heavenly Path Sect’s swordplay.

In the evening, the Empress came here alone with a plate of wine and dishes. She was naturally surprised to see this Immortal Palace, but her expression management was very good. She walked in and bowed, saying, “The Emperor.”

Zhou An admired Shangguan Rong’s demeanor. In terms of deportment and doing things, she was indeed more like an Emperor than himself. This was the advantage of growing up in an environment since childhood. He was just an ordinary peasant, and some habits were already engraved in his heart and could not be learned.

Moreover, what cultivators wanted was to follow their heart, without deliberately imitating others. There were ten thousand different images of the Emperor in the hearts of ten thousand people.

“Empress, come and sit next to me.” Zhou An pointed to the side of the chair. This recliner was enough for two people to lie down, and it was still very spacious for two people to sit down.

The Empress placed the dishes on the table and sat down. Zhou An hugged her in his arms. He just liked the feeling of having a beauty in his arms. While eating, he asked, “What’s been happening in the Imperial Court these days?”

The Empress knew that Zhou An liked this, leaning on his shoulder and saying, “Everything else is just trivial matters that Your Subject can solve. It’s just that the Western Sorcery Poison is getting more and more serious. Many Sorcerers and Heretical Path cultivators have appeared, and even Demons. Left Prime Minister is already personally commanding there, and has invited local cultivators to help, but those are just Houtian Martial Artists who have learned a little magic.

Very few true Innate Realm cultivators will help the country. Your Subject thinks that this matter should be told to Great Ancestor Emperor and ask him to come forward.

Another thing is that Right Prime Minister is suddenly critically ill and has not attended court for many days. In addition, Left Prime Minister has gone to the Western Border, and most of the older generation of ministers have already retired and returned to their hometowns. Currently, the Imperial Court lacks great talent.”

Zhou An frowned, thought for a moment, and said, “When Ziyan and the other three leave seclusion, they will also be Innate cultivators. Let them go to the Western Regions to assist Left Prime Minister. Right Prime Minister is seriously ill, have you gone to see him?”

“During this time, Your Subject has been busy with state affairs and really couldn’t find the time. If Left Prime Minister was here, Your Subject would be much more relaxed. I had the Imperial Physician see him, and he said that he may not live long.”

A hint of sadness appeared in Shangguan Rong’s eyes. After all, he was her own uncle, but now she was the Empress and couldn’t just visit him whenever she wanted.

Zhou An patted her hand and said, “If you want to go, go and see him. By the way, see if there is anyone in the Shangguan Family who is suitable to take his place.”

“Thank you, The Emperor.” Shangguan Rong was happy and wanted to get up to thank him, but was stopped by Zhou An.

“There are no outsiders here, no need to be so polite. Talented people are hard to come by. We can implement reforms so that truly talented people can enter the Imperial Court, and reduce bureaucracy as much as possible. Those who use connections in the examination hall will be severely punished. What my Qianyuan Empire lacks are truly talented people who work for the country and the people. Those useless parasites, drive them all away if you can. If they dare to rely on their seniority and engage in petty tricks, kill them without mercy.”

Zhou An thought of the various historical books he had read before. The biggest reliance of those corrupt officials and traitors was that they had a background, deep connections, or relied on being favored by the Emperor to be able to act recklessly.

The Empress had actually wanted to do this for a long time, but she couldn’t just kill ministers if she wanted to, especially in the current situation. Although she was in charge of the government, everything was still up to Zhou An, or rather, she still believed in her heart that Qianyuan Emperor was the real Emperor.

Zhou An could see her concerns and suddenly asked, “Empress, are you willing to continue handling state affairs? Or follow me in cultivation?”

Shangguan Rong showed a surprised expression. This time, she hesitated. At first, she craved power, but after this period of time, plus her father being executed and her uncle suddenly becoming seriously ill and unable to visit him, her mentality had undergone great changes.

After thinking for a while, she sighed and said, “Mortals only have a few decades of life. I now understand that power and wealth are just fleeting clouds. It’s just that if Your Subject also goes to cultivate, then this country will temporarily have no one to preside over it.”

Zhou An smiled and said, “After the Western Sorcery Poison is resolved and Left Prime Minister returns, I will appoint him as Prince Regent. Then you can follow me in cultivation.”

“Left Prime Minister does have the talent to govern the country, and he is upright and trustworthy.” Shangguan Rong also agreed.

“Take this Ethereal Immortal Pill and take it. It can directly allow you to reach the Innate Realm. After you’re free, I’ll teach you the method of cultivation,” Zhou An said.

“Your Subject understands.”

The Empress took the Immortal Pill and ate it without hesitation. Now she trusted Zhou An very much, and unknowingly had truly regarded herself as Zhou An’s wife, which was completely different from when she had just entered the door.

The two of them could be considered to have first married by Imperial decree, and then cultivated their feelings.

After the Empress absorbed the Immortal Pill, she really broke through to the Innate Realm in one breath, and her cultivation directly reached Innate Third Level. Fortunately, she did not reach the peak of Innate Third Level.

Otherwise, if Heavenly Tribulation were to descend at this time, the Empress would definitely die.

Zhou An was also startled and would not dare to casually give this thing to his close people in the future. Now he had to let Shangguan Rong comprehend the cultivation method and refine treasures.

Shangguan Rong did not have as strong a body as himself to accommodate cultivation, so an Immortal Pill could allow her to reach Innate Third Level from the Houtian Realm. It was also thanks to the Empress’s poor body that most of the Spirit Energy was used to strengthen her body, otherwise this Immortal Pill would definitely cause her to face the Triple Heavenly Tribulation.

Zhou An explained the situation of Heavenly Tribulation to her in detail, scaring the Empress. She didn’t expect Immortal Cultivation to be so dangerous.

The two of them finished dinner together, and the Empress left in a hurry. She was now anxious to go back and see the Right Prime Minister’s physical condition.

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady Records had theories related to pharmacology and medicine. Zhou An had long seen the Right Prime Minister’s physical problems. This person was the biggest corrupt official in the country, and Zhou An naturally wouldn’t allow him to live too long.

But at that time, the Imperial Court needed him to appease the ministers, and the Right Prime Minister did have talent, otherwise he wouldn’t have become the leader of the corrupt officials in the Imperial Court.

Now he had reached Innate Fifth Level, with a cultivation of 2400 years, enough to deter everything. This person could naturally retire successfully.

Then he continued to comprehend the Body-Sword Fusion Method. The Heavenly Path Sect’s cultivation method given by Divine Beggar was very comprehensive, and there were also many Sword Control Methods, from basic to advanced.