"My dear consort, speak."

Cui Xiabing looked somewhat conflicted. She glanced at her tied-up master and then at the calm Zheng Yi.

She could only give her master an apologetic look and began to speak:

"Your Majesty, we cultivators respect the heavens and the Heavenly Dao the most."

"Three thousand years ago, during the Spiritual Qi Tide, the Heavenly Dao gave a warning, leading cultivators to have greater reverence for it."

"All cultivators swear by the Heavenly Dao, gaining absolute constraint."

"If one breaks the oath, one's Daoist Foundation will be damaged, hindering one's cultivation for life, and it may even lead to sudden demise."

"Thus, the Heavenly Dao Oath is made when forming alliances among cultivators, becoming Daoist Companions, or making agreements, rarely broken lightly."

"I see."

Zheng Yi's eyes flashed as he said, "Xuan Jizi, although I may not know the value of a Tier Two Spirit Grass, it certainly isn't as cheap as ten Spirit Stones you've mentioned."

"As for the rest, I couldn't care less. Swear upon your Daoist Foundation to serve me. The term... ten years."

"Ten years?"

Xuan Jizi exploded immediately, shouting, "Why don't you just rob me instead?"

"Ten years! How many ten years does one have in life? I am a cultivator..."

"I don't care about any of that."

Zheng Yi interrupted Xuan Jizi, "You stole my Ghost Spirit Grass and hurt my subordinates. Not killing you is already giving face to Xiabing, don't be so ignorant."

"Ten years is nothing to us cultivators, just a brief passage of time."

"If you're unwilling, then I will have no choice but to imprison you in the underground palace forever..."

"What? You...!"

Xuan Jizi glared at Zheng Yi, gritting his teeth, "Ten years is too long, two years!"

"No, ten years!"

"Five years, how about five years? Within these five years, I can teach you any cultivation knowledge you wish to know."

"No, I said ten years, and you must speak without concealment!"

"Eight years, is eight years acceptable? It's my absolute limit."

"Ten years!"

"You..."

Xuan Jizi conceded, "Ten years it is, but within these ten years, you mustn't force me to do things I dislike."

"Like what?"

"For example... restricting my freedom, or forcing me to do certain things."

"That won't do."

Zheng Yi replied, "In these ten years, I promise not to kill you or send you to your death, but everything else must be agreed to."

Xuan Jizi's expression changed as he instinctively looked at Cui Xiabing.

"Xiabing, is this the husband you've chosen? The Emperor of Great Yu..."

Cui Xiabing said, "Master, I am grateful for your guidance on the path of cultivation."

"But... Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parent, Master, beneath heaven, His Majesty is supreme."

"Alas, it seems I was wrong,"

Xuan Jizi shook his head, "When I took you as my disciple, you were already fourteen, deeply ingrained with royal authority; the path of cultivation couldn't sway you."

"In the subsequent years, I only taught you for two before continuing my travels, so our master-disciple bond isn't strong..."

She bitterly smiled, "Initially, I planned to take you to Xueyun Country."

"Xueyun Country?"

Surprise crossed Cui Xiabing's face, "I'm sorry, Master, but I can't go to Xueyun Country."

"I am already a consort of His Majesty and have borne him a prince, how could I possibly leave for Xueyun Country with you."

"You've had a child?"

Xuan Jizi's eyes widened before shaking her head, "You don't understand, Xueyun Country is experiencing a Spiritual Qi Revival, and Beiji Palace... Forget it."

"Young man, I can swear to serve you for ten years, but you must agree to one thing for me."

"Oh, what is it?"

"When your cultivation reaches late-stage Qi Cultivation, you must accompany me to a certain place."

"To a certain place?"

Zheng Yi frowned, "Is it dangerous?"

"Of course, it's the relic of a sect and certainly dangerous."

Xuan Jizi said, "However, the benefits inside are beyond your imagination."

"Think about it, a relic of a powerful sect from over three thousand years ago, with its cultivation techniques, magical artifacts, elixirs, even the remains of cultivators, how rich could it be."

Zheng Yi said, "I refuse."

"Wha-what? You refuse!"

"That's right."

Zheng Yi nodded, "However, I can agree that when the time comes, I will send a late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator to go with you."

"A late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator?"

Xuan Jizi frowned, "Do you think late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators are cabbages? Available whenever you want?"

Zheng Yi said, "That's not your concern, just say whether you agree or not."

After contemplating for several moments, Xuan Jizi could only nod, "Fine, I agree."

"Then swear."

"Untie me first!"

"Release her."

Two Shadow Guards immediately stepped forward to untie the chains on Xuan Jizi.

"Young man, you are truly a qualified ruler..."

Xuan Jizi rubbed her somewhat sore arms and shook her head, raising her right hand with a solemn tone:

"Cultivator Yu Xuanji, real name Yur Xuan, swear by my Daoist Foundation to serve Zheng Yuan...?"

"Wait a moment!"

Zheng Yi interrupted Yu Xuanji, "Change it to 'Emperor of Great Yu'."

"Emperor of Great Yu?"

Yu Xuanji found it strange but nonetheless said, "To serve the Emperor of Great Yu for ten years, during which I will not harm the Emperor of Great Yu or his family and friends, and must..."

After several moments, the Heavenly Dao Oath concluded, and Zheng Yi and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Now, may I have my storage bag back?"

Zheng Yi nudged, and Chen Liancang tossed the storage bag over.

Xuan Jizi caught it with one hand and instinctively glanced around Chen Liancang.

"Another cultivator?"

Chen Liancang nodded slightly, still on alert in his heart.

After getting the storage bag, Xuan Jizi flipped her hand, and a wooden box appeared, which she placed on the table.

"Here, this is the Ghost Spirit Grass. Consider this returning it to its rightful owner."

Zheng Yi then smiled and said, "Since Fellow Daoist likes it, I shall gift it to you."

"Gift it to me?"

Xuan Jizi widened her eyes, "Do you know what this is? It's Tier Two Spirit Grass, and a main ingredient for refining the Tier-breaking Pill, and you're just…"

Zheng Yi shook his head. Ghost Spirit Grass, Tier-breaking Pills—he didn't care about such things.

With seven strands of Innate Spiritual Qi nourishing him, the Capital Region would eventually grow something far better than Ghost Spirit Grass. Why would he care about a Ghost Spirit Grass that had already been picked and lost most of its potency?

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Jizi,"

Zheng Yi said, "As long as you serve me with dedication, I will not treat you unfairly."

Cui Xiabing also nodded hurriedly, "Indeed, Master, His Majesty is very good to us!"

"In that case…"

Xuan Jizi nodded, "Please arrange a cultivation ground for me, preferably one with heavy Yin Qi."

"Heavy Yin Qi?"

Zheng Yi instinctively looked at Chen Liancang, "Elder Chen, Xuan Jizi is in your hands now."

Chen Liancang immediately said, "This old servant obeys the order!"

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Jizi…"

Xuan Jizi corrected, "In the Cultivation Realm, those who reach mastery are teachers; you should call me Elder."

"In front of me, it's permissible, since we are on the same side, but in front of other cultivators, even a title might cause conflict."

Chen Liancang was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Thank you for the warning, Elder."

Xuan Jizi glanced back at Zheng Yi and said, "You don't need to; you're the Emperor of Great Yu, after all."

"In this world, only Foundation Establishment cultivators may overshadow you!"

Zheng Yi said, "Thank you for the advice, Fellow Daoist Xuan Jizi."

Eventually, Chen Liancang led Xuan Jizi away, and Zheng Yi finally relaxed.

"My beloved consort, do you find your Master reliable?"

Cui Xiabing replied, "Your Majesty, although this humble wife and Master have been together for only two years, I know her well; she is true to her word."

"Furthermore, she also swore a Heavenly Dao Oath, so she's unlikely to break her promise."

"That's very good."

Zheng Yi nodded, then turned and left, "Now that this matter is resolved, my beloved, return to the palace; I must continue my secluded cultivation."

"This humble wife bids farewell to Your Majesty!"

Celestial Longevity Mountain.

Xuan Jizi's expression was somewhat peculiar as she looked at the giant entrance, "Is this the cultivation sanctuary the Emperor mentioned… the mausoleum of the Great Yu Dynasty's ancestor emperor!"

Chen Liancang glanced at her and said, "Who would have thought you actually knew…"

"Of course, I know!"

Xuan Jizi murmured, "It's rumored that the Great Yu Zheng Clan's ancestor was also a cultivator back then, bringing all his treasures and Cultivation into the mausoleum at his demise. So it's true!"

"Emperor Zhengyong's ability to embark on the path of cultivation was all thanks to this Great Yu ancestor!"

Chen Liancang said nothing, but respectfully added, "This way, Elder, please."

"Underground there is a vast underground palace. Elder can choose any place for secluded cultivation."

Under Chen Liancang's guidance, Xuan Jizi quickly understood the structure of the underground palace, including arrays and defenses, marveling repeatedly.

She found a suitable palace herself and began her secluded cultivation.

In the battle for the Ghost Spirit Grass, she had also been seriously injured; if not for the Yin Evil Cold Ice's protection, she would have been at great risk of falling.

Sitting cross-legged, concentrating and holding her breath, she took out a pill from the storage bag and swallowed it.

Then she formed hand seals and chanted spells, starting her cultivation.

After a few breaths, Xuan Jizi suddenly opened her eyes, filled with disbelief.

"Wha–what's going on!"

"Why is the Spiritual Qi in this place so abundant!"

"Stronger than in Xueyun Country, by at least several folds!"

"This place… is indeed a cultivation sanctuary!"

Xuan Jizi exclaimed in shock, "So Emperor Zhengyong did not deceive me… and Fellow Daoist Tianxingzi too!"

"Could it be that Emperor Zhengyong of Great Yu truly is destined?"

Clearing away chaotic thoughts, Xuan Jizi's expression turned solemn once more.

"No matter the case, the urgent need is to heal my injuries first."

"Fortunately, it's only superficial wounds, which will heal in no more than half a month."

"Last time, it was my complacency that led to injury by a mortal martial artist."

"Next time, it won't be that easy..."

While Zheng Yi, Xuan Jizi, and others were either cultivating or healing.

More than a month passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Tianxingzi arrived at the edge of Celestial Longevity Mountain with his granddaughter, Su Xi.

At this moment, he held a bronze trigrams tool in his hand, its pointer constantly shaking, pointing towards the depths of Celestial Longevity Mountain.

Tianxingzi suddenly looked up, puzzled: "Celestial Longevity Mountain... is the dragon vein location of the Great Yu Imperial Family. Could it be that all roots of Spiritual Qi revival lie here?"

He continued forward without noticing the surrounding environment.

"Halt!"

Suddenly, a stern shout interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he found a squad of soldiers standing in front of him, the leader having already drawn his long sword.

"This place is a Royal restricted area; unauthorized persons are strictly forbidden to enter!"

Tianxingzi's face slightly changed, but he quickly reacted and said with a smile, "I–I took the wrong path; I'll leave immediately..."

"Screech...!"

Suddenly, a piercing screeching sound came from behind the soldiers, startling everyone, who instinctively turned around.

They saw a large azure bird circling in the midair above Celestial Longevity Mountain, then slowly dissipating into the sky.

This scene caused a large number of soldiers around Celestial Longevity Mountain to look up in shock, the sight spreading far and wide.

In the Capital City, Wannian County, Jinghai County, and other places, many people also vaguely saw it.

Tianxingzi's pupils suddenly shrank; he continually formed hand seals, then took a deep breath, astonished:

"The Spiritual Qi is surging, turning into sound; this place – a Spirit Vein is being born!!!"