Xia Liu nodded pretentiously.

This time, I'm the Prince Consort of Chen Kingdom, but who will be next?

Watching Chen Ye's figure gradually fade away, Xia Liu fell into deep thought.

"Xia Liu, have you discovered anything?"

Bai Jue's voice echoed in Xia Liu's mind.

"Seems like I have."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Bai Jue showed interest, Xia Liu's mind was quite sharp.

He was curious about what answer Xia Liu would give.

"The recruitment of Prince Consorts by Chen Kingdom is just a facade; what they probably need is a cultivator with Dual Origin!"

"Hmm, your speculation aligns with mine. Among the thousands of evil cultivators in the world, the previous Prince Consort had Dual Origin; as a result, he died after just a few days. I feel like his origin was devoured."

Bai Jue said coldly.

"Hmm? Could it be Princess Qingwu's doing?"

"This cannot be determined yet; it might be Princess Qingwu or the Master of Chen Country!"

Regarding these evil cultivators who deprive others of their talents and fortunes...

At his peak, Bai Jue wiped out no less than a hundred of them.

Encountering them again this time, it must be fate!

"Elder Bai, when will they choose to make a move?"

Xia Liu was concerned about the timing.

If they give him the opportunity to advance to the Foundation Establishment...

Then the filthy Chen Kingdom is about to undergo a change!

"Didn't the announcement remind you? Those who have not reached Foundation Establishment Cultivation but have the confidence to achieve it in a short time are eligible to participate in the Prince Consort selection."

"Hmm, this is very interesting. Let me reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and I will make those wicked cultivators pay the price!"

Xia Liu clenched his fists, vowing silently.

"You will! I believe you can do it; just wait patiently from now on."

As per Bai Jue's suggestion, in the days that followed, Xia Liu didn't step out of the courtyard.

Regarding Chen Ye's inquiries, Xia Liu claimed that he was striving for a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment.

Chen Ye was a straightforward person.

He asked Xia Liu about the resources he needed; as long as the prince's residence had them, he would retrieve them.

After numerous rejections, Xia Liu couldn't refuse Chen Ye, so he asked for Gilding!

"Gilding? What does Young Friend Xia need Gilding for?"

Gilding wasn't a rare item in Chen Kingdom.

But hearing someone suddenly request a large quantity of Supreme-Grade Gilding...

This instantly piqued Chen Ye's interest.

"Frankly, the reason my energy body has stalled at Qi Cultivation Level 15 is that the Golden Origin within hasn't improved. Once it reaches Level 2, I can succeed in Foundation Establishment within half a month!"

Xia Liu said confidently.

He had previously discussed it with Bai Jue.

Before he reached Foundation Establishment, Chen Ye and others shouldn't act against him.

They might even fulfill all his conditions.

Such a good opportunity shouldn't be wasted by Xia Liu.

He wanted to test Chen Ye.

If things turned out as he thought...

Once he entered the royal palace and became the new Prince Consort, the resources there should allow him to do as he wished!

"Young Friend Xia, are you serious?"

Chen Ye stared at Xia Liu, asking earnestly.

Xia Liu's Foundation Establishment was crucial for him.

If Xia Liu could succeed before becoming Prince Consort...

Chen Kingdom would undoubtedly reward him greatly.

At that time, he might even get a chance to form a Golden Core!

"Absolutely!"

The truth didn't matter; Xia Liu was convinced that before his Foundation Establishment...

These evil cultivators would serve him graciously!

"Alright! There are five days left before departing to the royal palace; I will send some Supreme-Grade Gilding to your courtyard shortly."

"Sixth Prince! You are so kind to me! Xia Liu cannot repay this kindness enough..."

"Let's put those words aside for now. Once you become the Prince Consort, you must look out for this young prince in court."

Chen Ye attributed his care for Xia Liu to the future when Xia Liu becomes Prince Consort and then shelters him.

"Rest assured, Sixth Prince, when I become Prince Consort, I will have the power to help you, and I will not hesitate!"

"Good, good! It's worth nurturing you. Wait here! I'll go get you the Gilding!"

"I'm immensely grateful!"

Xia Liu cupped his fists in symbolic gratitude.

"Haha! This old guy indeed has his uses!"

Bai Jue transmitted his thoughts.

"Hehe, if they target me, they'd better be ready for my counterattack!"

At night, Chen Ye indeed brought a small storage bag.

He didn't linger, offering a few blessings to Xia Liu before leaving.

"Elder Bai, how do I use this stuff?"

Peering into the storage bag with his Divine Sense, Xia Liu was puzzled by the golden sand.

"It's really good stuff! The quality is absolutely Supreme-Grade Gilding! But there's a little less of it."

Bai Jue remarked in admiration.

If Chen Ye heard this comment...

He'd probably spit blood.

He only received three or two Supreme-Grade Gilding per year.

And the Supreme-Grade Gilding in the storage bag amounted to three pounds!

He had saved it up for ten years!

"Elder Bai, let's focus! This has nearly reached the amount I expected!"

Xia Liu assessed.

He was so excited he almost jumped up.

"Don't rush. Though you have Supreme-Grade Gilding, the amount of Golden Origin you can refine depends on your fortune!"

"I understand, these Supreme-Grade Gilding may not yield a single trace of Golden Origin, but they might also yield enough Golden Origin to promote me!"

Bai Jue briefly responded, then transmitted the detailed refining process to Xia Liu.

By the afternoon of the next day, in the locked room...

Xia Liu's Divine Sense surged, drawing out five ounces of Supreme-Grade Gilding.

When the golden Gilding was exposed to the air...

There was an immediate faint yet enchanting sound.

Like the gentle rain outside continuously pattering on the tiles, incessantly impacting everything.

"What a fascinating Gilding!"

Xia Liu marveled.

"Gilding is indeed fascinating, especially a variant of Peerless Gilding that is formless, odorless, and tasteless. Even if a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator inhales it, their energy body is suppressed by three layers."

"Oh? Then letting them inhale more would directly seal all their cultivation?"

Bai Jue hesitated before transmitting, "It's not impossible, but that form of Peerless Gilding was long exhausted ages ago."

"Alright, I'll focus on the Supreme-Grade Gilding at hand and hope it brings me some surprises."

"Yes, follow my method, refine it slowly, without haste, or the Gilding will be wasted."

"Understood!"

After responding, Xia Liu activated the Refining Immortal Formula within him.

Immediately, the Heavenly Gang Holy Fire roared out.

Refining Supreme-Grade Gilding with the Transcendent Heavenly Gang Holy Fire was truly marvelous!

The resources were abundant, and Xia Liu was filled with confidence.

Just when the sky was gradually covered by darkness, Xia Liu found himself in a quandary.

Despite refining about a pound of Supreme-Grade Gilding, he hadn't succeeded in extracting even a trace of Golden Origin Force!

"Could it be a method error?"

"No, it's your fortune problem."