Chapter 974: Meeting the Emperor (Part 2)

In Daye City, at the Yiluan Directorate Inn.

Upon returning to his residence, Wang Chen closed the door and eagerly retrieved the jade box from his storage space.

He truly hadn’t anticipated such a reward from his trip to the imperial capital.

As he lifted the lid of the box, Wang Chen swiftly brought together his sword finger and sliced off a long, thin ginseng root.

While retracting his hand, he resealed the lid and returned the box to his storage space.

The optimal way to utilize such heavenly materials and treasures is to refine the entire plant into a pill, thereby maximizing its medicinal properties.

If refining isn’t an option, the next best choice is to swallow it whole for immediate absorption.

Of course, using a cutting method isn’t entirely without merit, but the spiritual energy of cut heavenly materials tends to dissipate rapidly. Storing it in a jade box wouldn’t help much, though it would fare better in a storage space, but some losses are still inevitable.

Wang Chen sliced off a ginseng root to test its medicinal properties.

Next time, he would need to consume the entire plant to avoid waste!

As soon as the freshly cut ginseng root entered Wang Chen’s mouth and mingled with his saliva, it instantly transformed into medicinal liquid, flowing silently down his throat.

The potent essence released within Wang Chen’s stomach was immensely powerful.

[Potential +1]

His potential points immediately increased by 1, and just ten breaths later, it rose by another 1 point.

By the time Wang Chen fully absorbed the effects of the ginseng root, his potential points had increased by an astonishing 17 points.

To think this was just a single root!

Wang Chen estimated that if he refined the entire thousand-year-old ginseng, his potential points would increase by at least several thousand.

That would far surpass the total he had gained over the past year!

Not only that, but he also felt an additional surge of spiritual energy within his body.

From the moment he arrived in Cangqing Realm, Wang Chen had known that this world possessed spiritual energy.

However, the spiritual energy here was quite weak, and due to the different rules, the techniques he had mastered were not applicable, so he chose to cultivate the martial arts of Cangqing.

But Wang Chen was aware that Cangqing had Heavenly Merit, along with legal symbols, spells, and magical artifacts.

Even mortals could cultivate these practices.

Yet, the spiritual energy within Wang Chen quickly clashed with his Xuantian surge of energy, dissolving and vanishing almost instantly.

The two were entirely incompatible.

Although Wang Chen could control the surge of energy within his body and separate it from the newly obtained spiritual energy, he chose not to do so.

Through this test, Wang Chen gained clarity and developed new ideas.

The next morning, a carriage escorted by six knights quietly stopped at the inn’s entrance.

The carriage door opened, and a young eunuch with a pale, beardless face, dressed in a bright red robe, stepped down. Once on the ground, he stood still and asked in a sharp, delicate voice, “Is Wang Chen or Wang Qiandu here?”

“I am here.”

Stepping across the threshold, Wang Chen cupped his hands and greeted, “I pay my respects, Eunuch.”

Having learned the proper procedures for meeting the emperor beforehand, he had risen early to change into his new official attire and waited.

“My surname is Yu.”

The young eunuch smiled widely as he surveyed Wang Chen, nodding in satisfaction. “Indeed, you are a talented young man. His Majesty will surely like you.”

Wang Chen remained calm. “So it is you, Eunuch Yu. I am truly honored.”

In truth, his rank was higher than that of this young eunuch in a bright red robe, but the eunuch served the emperor directly and had come to escort him to the palace, so it was natural to show him extra respect.

“Hehehe.”

The young eunuch laughed like a castrated pig, his eyes narrowing into slits. “The time is getting late. Let’s go.”

“Thank you, Eunuch.”

Wang Chen climbed into the carriage, and together with Eunuch Yu, they headed towards the royal palace.

The young eunuch showed great interest in him, bombarding Wang Chen with endless questions along the way, to the point that Wang Chen felt an impulse to slap him.

Of course, Wang Chen had enough energy cultivation skills to appease him, handling the conversation with pleasantries.

Daye, being an ancient capital of six dynasties, had a grand palace built upon the foundation of an ancient royal residence, significantly renovated and expanded over time, with palace buildings arranged in a neat and orderly fashion, ancient and majestic, exuding the dignity of a ruling house.

Wang Chen dismounted from the carriage at the palace gate and, guided by Eunuch Yu, went through multiple checks and searches before finally arriving at the inner hall of the emperor’s study.

Inside, a man dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe was fully focused, sketching with a brush.

He appeared to be in his thirties, handsome in demeanor, but his complexion seemed somewhat pale.

It was the Liang Emperor, Shaowu!

Shaowu was his reigning era name, and the emperor had been on the throne for seventeen years, with mixed reviews from the people.

Wang Chen had heard some tales about this Liang Emperor.

It was said that Emperor Shaowu favored culture over military affairs, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and he also enjoyed composing poetry, having written a considerable amount. Moreover, he favored the Consort Yi in the inner palace, often neglecting state affairs.

After Shaowu ascended to the throne, the Confucian scholars, initially suppressed by the former emperor, regained power and held substantial influence, which stirred discontent among the military officials and led to constant struggles in the court.

Over the years, the Da Liang Kingdom had weakened, partly due to Shaowu’s actions.

Of course, the inherent faults within Da Liang also played a significant role.

But nonetheless, Emperor Shaowu remained the supreme authority in Da Liang, and he was the one who commanded the Blood Guard!

As the Shaowu Emperor was painting, Eunuch Yu did not dare to disturb him, instead standing respectfully in the corner, waiting patiently.

Once the supreme ruler finished his painting and set down the brush, he stepped forward and offered a deep bow, saying, “I report to Your Majesty, Qiandu Wang Chen has arrived.”

The Blood Guard was the external title; within the palace, they were formally known as cavalry.

“Hmm.”

Emperor Shaowu turned to look at Wang Chen.

Wang Chen immediately knelt on one knee and bowed, saying, “I am Wang Chen, here to greet Your Majesty. Long live our emperor!”

As a member of the emperor’s personal guard and a Qiandu officer, he was not required to perform the full kneeling bow.

“Rise, my minister.”

Emperor Shaowu raised his hand to gesture, “Take a seat.”

Wang Chen bowed again, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“My minister need not be overly polite.”

Emperor Shaowu’s smile was warm and gentle, appearing nothing like a supreme ruler controlling the fates of millions, but more like a cultured scholar—a completely harmless demeanor.

However, if one thought he could be easily harmed, that would be a serious mistake!

The moment Wang Chen stepped into the study, he instantly felt three entirely different auras lock onto him.

One of these auras emanated a significant sense of threat.

In what seemed to be an unguarded study, there were actually several powerful experts hidden within; any slight movement from Wang Chen would surely result in a thunderous response!

Yet, Emperor Shaowu seemed quite interested in Wang Chen. Once he took his seat, the emperor initiated a pleasant conversation.