Chapter 200: Chapter 137: Without a Spirit Root, Is Cultivation Immortality Really Impossible?

Of course.

Besides Cultivation Immortality, ordinary people had another path they could walk: that of a Body Cultivator.

Body Cultivators polished their qi and blood, constantly refining their tendons and bones to increase their strength.

The great generals of every country were, for the most part, Body Cultivators.

Unfortunately, the upper limits for Body Cultivators were far too low. Even the most supremely talented among them couldn’t match the strength of someone with a Spirit Root after just one year of cultivation.

That was why, in the major Immortal Sects, Body Cultivators could only serve as menial laborers.

’This is just surface-level information. If I want to understand the deeper secrets of this Heaven and Earth, I’m afraid I’ll have to make contact with the legendary Immortals.’

’I wonder how long I can stay in this Heaven and Earth this time.’

Wang Xiao connected to the Book of Space-Time in his mind.

In an instant,

lines of text appeared.

[Controller of the Book of Space-Time: Wang Xiao]

[Current Realm: Tier Zero Life]

[Current Status: Consciousness Travel (Soul Projection)]

[Activated Talent: Analyze All Things]

[Residency Time: 240 years]

A glint flashed in Wang Xiao’s eyes.

His residency time was double that of the last world.

He had more than enough time to explore and uncover the secrets of this world!

As Wang Xiao was lost in thought,

he found himself being carried by the eunuch named Chen Fang into a vast courtyard in the northern part of the Imperial Palace.

Here, female prisoners in coarse linen clothes bustled about.

They hurried along, performing all sorts of menial tasks—some were sweeping, some were sewing, and others were gathering mulberry leaves.

There were also eunuchs stationed all around, managing these female convicts and supervising their labor.

The female prisoners assigned to the Imperial Harem were mostly unfavored Concubines, Palace Maids, Daughters of the Criminal, and Concubines who had made mistakes.

They were, in turn, all managed by various high-ranking eunuchs.

One of the eunuchs saw Chen Fang and hurried over to greet him.

"This servant greets the Old Ancestor. May the Old Ancestor be blessed with good fortune."

As the Chief Eunuch of the Rituals Department and concurrent Chief of Internal Affairs, Chen Fang was revered by all the eunuchs in the palace as the Old Ancestor.

Chen Fang nodded slightly.

"Go and summon the Imperial Court Order."

The Imperial Court Order managed the entire Imperial Harem. All matters concerning the registers of palace staff and sericulture fell under his purview.

Since Wang Xiao was being exiled to the Imperial Harem, he naturally had to be registered by the Imperial Court Order.

"Yes, Old Ancestor!"

The young eunuch didn’t dare to delay and rushed off.

A moment later,

a slightly chubby eunuch scurried over and bowed to Chen Fang.

"I was unaware of the Old Ancestor’s arrival and failed to greet you from afar. This lowly one deserves ten thousand deaths for this crime."

Chen Fang waved his hand.

"Enough. This is the Ninth Prince. From now on, he will live in the Imperial Harem. Arrange a private courtyard for him, and find a personal Maid to serve him. You must ensure he is cared for meticulously. If anything goes wrong, this one will hold you accountable!"

The Imperial Court Order quickly said:

"Yes, yes! This lowly one would never dare to neglect the Master."

He was a little puzzled. ’Why would a Prince be exiled to the Imperial Harem?’

However, having navigated the treacherous court for many years, he naturally knew not to ask questions he shouldn’t ask.

"Go on."

Chen Fang handed Wang Xiao over to the Imperial Court Order.

He sighed inwardly. ’This is all I can do for him.’

What happened next would depend on the Ninth Prince’s own fortune.

Wang Xiao glanced at the departing Chen Fang, his eyes flickering slightly.

This Chen Fang had received a favor from his mother, the Empress, in his early years, which was why he had just saved him from the Emperor.

Wang Xiao silently committed this favor to memory.

’For now, I must first recover my strength and then find a way to leave this place.’

Wang Xiao pondered.

The Imperial Harem was a place where female convicts were imprisoned.

Once you entered the Imperial Harem, it was like being lost at sea. Without the Emperor’s permission, escaping was harder than climbing to the heavens.

’Of course, as long as I recover my strength, everything will be solved easily.’

Wang Xiao silently closed his eyes and began to circulate his qi and blood, working to recover his strength.

Although he currently lacked medicinal baths or Elixir Pills to aid him, his Divine Soul was abundant and his constitution was strong. It wouldn’t take long for him to recover to the level of a Tier Four Life form.

Of course, with Elixir Pills, it would be even faster!

Unfortunately,

he was now exiled to the Imperial Harem. He was incredibly lucky just to be alive, let alone have access to Elixir Pills.

Soon,

the Imperial Court Order, still holding Wang Xiao, ordered his men to bring all the female prisoners in the Imperial Harem under the age of thirteen before him.

His tone was severe as he announced:

"Next, this one will select a person to serve our Master here. Whoever is willing, step forward."

The crowd of female prisoners looked at each other, but no one made a sound.

They were already exhausted from their own daily chores.

How could they have any energy left to take care of someone else?

Besides, anyone exiled to the Imperial Harem was considered to have no future. Even if the person in question was a Prince, they couldn’t be bothered to curry favor.

After all, barring any accidents, this Prince would most likely live out his days and die in the Imperial Harem.

’A bunch of short-sighted, foolish women!’

The Imperial Court Order couldn’t help but shake his head.

’This Prince was brought here by the Old Ancestor himself. It’s not entirely impossible that he might make a comeback in the future.’

’The hope is faint, but what if?!’

He was just about to pick a sharp-witted and deft-looking female prisoner to take care of Wang Xiao.

Just then,

a frail-looking female prisoner in tattered linen clothes timidly stepped out from the crowd and raised her hand.

"Lord Commander, please let me take care of the Master."

The Imperial Court Order couldn’t help but look at the female prisoner and ask:

"What is your name?"

There were five or six hundred female prisoners in the Imperial Harem; naturally, he couldn’t remember all of their names.

The female prisoner curtsied and said, "This guilty one is named Shangguan Xiyue."

"Shangguan? Is your grandfather Shangguan Jing?" The Imperial Court Order’s eyes flickered.

He remembered that twelve years ago, their Wenchang Country had a prime minister named Shangguan Jing who was executed by order of His Majesty for having offended him.

Shangguan Jing’s entire family had been exiled to various places, either sent to the Music Bureau or into the Imperial Harem.

"Yes," Shangguan Xiyue said, somewhat nervously.

The Imperial Court Order looked at the young girl before him, who had not yet fully blossomed but had a hint of delicate beauty, and nodded.

"Very well. The Master is in your care from now on. You must serve him properly. If anything at all happens to the Master, this one will hold you responsible!"

Shangguan Xiyue quickly knelt. "Yes! This guilty one will definitely take meticulous care of the Master!"

The Imperial Court Order nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. From now on, you are exempt from all other menial tasks. You have only one duty now: take care of the Master. If the Master lives, you live. If the Master dies, you die. Do you understand?!"

"Understood," Shangguan Xiyue said, swallowing hard.

Hearing this, the other female convicts couldn’t help but show looks of envy.

’She gets to be exempt from labor? If I had known, I would have taken the job myself!’

’That damn girl got lucky!’

The Imperial Court Order waved his hand, dismissing the crowd of female prisoners. He then carried Wang Xiao to a small courtyard in the north corner of the Imperial Harem.

He said coolly:

"From now on, you and the Master will live here. You are not to step outside this courtyard without this one’s permission. As for food, someone will bring it to you!"

"Yes," Shangguan Xiyue nodded.

The Imperial Court Order then had a room prepared, had Shangguan Xiyue move in with Wang Xiao, and then left directly.

Shangguan Xiyue held Wang Xiao, a small smile gracing her lips as she looked at his soft, adorable face.

"My Lord, this servant will definitely take good care of you. This servant will be waiting for the day you soar to the heavens."

She knew that it was nearly impossible to escape from the prison of the Imperial Harem on her own.

Therefore, she needed to seize any opportunity she could to leave.

That was why she had bravely volunteered for the task of caring for Wang Xiao when the Imperial Court Order brought him over.

After all,

a fallen Prince was still a Prince.

If, by some chance, the Emperor showed great mercy one day and recalled the Prince, she would be able to leave with him.

Wang Xiao looked at the ten-year-old girl before him, and a faint light flashed in his eyes.

[Analyzing...]

[Analysis Successful]

[Shangguan Xiyue: Suffered a great disaster in her youth and was exiled to the Imperial Harem with her grandmother. After her grandmother’s death, she grew up alone, struggling to survive in the Imperial Harem... ]

[Future Trajectory: At age twenty, she will be noticed by Princess Wencheng and chosen as her personal Maid. At twenty-one, she will follow Princess Wencheng into the Vast Immortal Sect. At twenty-five, her Hidden Spirit Root will awaken, and she will begin her journey of Cultivation Immortality. At thirty, she will form a Spiritual Embryo, and from then on, her progress will be meteoric, until she finally achieves the status of Immortal King.]

[In the year 109,600 of the Great Immortal Calendar, when the Celestial Gate opens, she will be killed on the Invincible Road by Mu Tiange of the Taiyi Holy Land.]

’Huh?’

Wang Xiao blinked his large eyes as he looked at the information before him.

’This Shangguan Xiyue seems to be quite special.’