He quietly observed the celestial seedling within his body.
Seeing its branches and leaves stretching, the Lu Yi growing more vibrant, and also slowly growing.
After a long time, he opened his eyes.
Sighâ
Gently exhaled impure energy.
As he expelled this accumulated impure energy, he felt his entire body becoming lighter, as if his mind and body had been cleansed by a certain energy.
"Indeed, the landâs milk essence is priceless."
He looked at the remaining landâs milk essence before him, his heart filled with emotion.
Just from the bodyâs feedback, he knew the value of the land milk essence was extremely high, bringing him a significant amount of Source Energy Points.
In the next moment.
He refined all the remaining landâs milk essence.
His physical condition reached its Peak.
"Next is to continue cultivating the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self method!" he thought, feeling his physical state.
[Skill]: Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self method (small success 322/5000)
His gaze swept over the panel, and then he closed it.
He then sat cross-legged on the spot, closed his eyes slightly, and let his Heart Spirit sink into his body.
Within the Spirit Platform.
A golden phantom sat in the void.
You could see a faint white light at the center of the golden phantomâs eyebrows.
This was the True Spirit mark embedded in the Divine Soul.
At this moment, the darkness surrounding seemed to recede slightly under the shine of the golden phantom.
"Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self method, only when the True Spirit mark is completely integrated with the Divine Soul, can one be the true self, achieving Perfection!"
A thought flashed through his mind.
Then, he fused his Heart Spirit with his Divine Soul.
A moment later, he began adjusting his state.
All things in the world are illusory, only I am true, only I am eternal.
This is the core philosophy of the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self method.
When this cultivation method is perfected, it is spirit and self united.
Integrate the True Spirit mark fully with oneself, fully mastering oneself, mastering the true self.
Thoughts flashed rapidly in his mind, and he soon entered a state of calm.
Then.
Around the Spirit Platform, phantoms of stars appeared, breaking apart and transforming into burning celestial bodies.
After the celestial bodies burned out, everything returned to Gui Xu.
Immediately.
Flowers bloomed in the void, trees and plants grew, all things began competing.
Seasons cycled, day and night alternated.
Everything was endlessly cycling in creation and destruction, with no eternal singular existence.
Only he himself remained the eternal unchanging figure.
In the endless destruction, he felt the True Spirit mark within his Divine Soul emitting a radiant glow.
Feeling the True Spirit mark gradually merging with his Divine Soul.
The True Spirit mark, it is the origin of lifeâs beginning.
The cornerstone of cycles of rebirth.
A moment later.
[Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self method Experience Value +13]
Each hint still bestowed the same amount of Experience Value.
He felt no waves in his heart, continuing to cultivate the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self method.
...
On another side.
Mirror Lake Palace.
"Eighth Prince, do you think so highly of that Patrol Envoy Jiang?"
Next to Ji Minghao, an old man in a grey robe with grey hair showed confusion on his face.
"Teacher, you donât understand!" Ji Minghao shook his head.
"So now Iâm the one who doesnât understand!" The grey-haired, grey-robed elder chuckled, indifferent.
"Father cannot hold out for long!" Ji Minghao calmly shared this news.
In an instant.
Like a boulder crashing into a serene lake, the elderâs heart surged with boundless waves.
"This... how can it be?" The elder showed disbelief: "Wasnât the Holy Emperor much healthier before?"
"Teacher, that was forced life extension!" Ji Minghao shook his head.
"So, the succession struggle is imminent?" the grey-haired, grey-robed elder said.
"Yes, teacher!" Ji Minghao nodded.
"Then your current actions, are they to seek the strength of Patrol Envoy Jiang or the strength of the State Preceptor who is close with him?" the grey-haired, grey-robed elder continued.
"No to both!" Ji Minghao shook his head and continued: "Earlier, I did have thoughts of seeking my brother-in-lawâs strength! Given his trajectory of rise, in another three to five years, the energy he possesses will surely influence the succession struggle! But I underestimated Fatherâs physical condition, his current achievements canât help me!"
"If thatâs the case, why did the prince send those precious items over?" The grey-haired, grey-robed elder said: "As far as I know, the prince isnât someone who contributes without return."
Upon hearing the elderâs direct words, Ji Minghao didnât get angry but instead smiled.
"Teacher, you see people accurately!"
Upon hearing this, the grey-haired, grey-robed elder stroked his own beard.
"Although my accomplishments in Martial Arts are limited, I have read books for many years, met many people, and my eyes see a bit more clearly than the average person."
Ji Minghao nodded: "Teacher is right, I am indeed not the type to give without seeking return. In my view, people value the exchange of benefits! Emotions change easily, only benefits are eternal!"
Then he continued: "What I seek is for Shiqi."
"The Seventeenth Princess?" The elder asked.
"Yes!" Ji Minghao nodded and continued: "As the Eighth Prince, whether I like it or not, whether I wish or donât, I canât escape this vortex! If I bow my head and stop vying, perhaps after one of my brothers rises to power, he might leave me the identity of a wealthy man! But teacher also knows I am not this kind of person."
Looking at Ji Minghaoâs calm demeanor, the elder nodded: "Eighth Prince indeed isnât this kind of person."
Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao smiled lightly and looked up at the sky above.
"If I strive and fail, thereâs only death awaiting me! I am fine with this, Iâve long prepared for facing death, but I donât want Shiqi to be caught up in my issues!"
"With his strength, if he can advance further, coupled with the influence of status, he will naturally be able to protect Shiqi well."
"The stronger he becomes, the better Shiqiâs future will be!"
Upon hearing this, the grey-haired elder said: "Does the Eighth Prince trust him so much, trust his character, trust his potential?"
"Certainly!" Ji Minghao nodded: "Iâve thoroughly investigated his past, his character isnât bad, returning kindness for kindness, exacting revenge for grudges, neither does he let those around him suffer!"
"Should anything happen to me, Shiqi is with him, he surely wonât neglect her!"
"Now, I lend him a helping hand, allowing him not to waste time accumulating resources, so I can entrust Shiqi fully to him in the future. He ought to remember these kindnesses for Shiqi."
Looking at Ji Minghao, the grey-haired elder suddenly revealed a touching expression.
"Eighth Prince, you are a good brother!"
Ji Minghao chuckled: "The Imperial Family is ruthness, my only true relative is Shiqi. I can neglect anyone, but I cannot neglect Shiqi!"
"Eighth Prince, doing this makes your chance of success slim. After all, as you know, that person has always held the Seventeenth Princess in his heart!" The grey-haired elder said.
Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao frowned and then shook his head: "Shiqi doesnât like the Beicang Kingâs son, I respect Shiqiâs wish in that."
"Is the prince perhaps being overly friendly to the Seventeenth Princess?" The elder said.
Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao suddenly looked at him.
"Teacher! I call you teacher out of respect for your guidance!"
"I donât like the teacher saying things I donât want to hear and being someoneâs mediator here!"
At this moment, the elder looked into Ji Minghaoâs calm eyes, feeling an inexplicable tremor.
Dragon and snake are dormant.
A word appeared in his mind.
After contemplating for a moment, he slowly opened his mouth, "The prince, the Beicang King lineage has supporters in the court, and members in the Forbidden Army."
"I said I donât want the teacher to be a mediator!" Ji Minghao said softly.
"Eighth Prince, if you canât win this person over, the Beicang Kingâs son, with his pride, will surely become your enemy." The elder said.
At this moment, Ji Minghao turned and left.
"Eighth Prince... sigh!!" Watching Ji Minghaoâs departing figure, the elder couldnât help but quietly sigh, his eyes filled with contemplation.
In the next moment.
His gaze turned firm.
"The prince, since you wonât take counsel, donât blame me! Without the Beicang King lineageâs support, you have less than a ten percent chance of winning!"
"As you said, my death doesnât matter!"
"But I have family! A wife and daughter! Grandchildren! Hundreds of family members!!"