The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 231 - 206, The Empress’s Private Tutoring

"Six Talismans Treasure Armor?" Zhao Douan mulled over the name.

The archives of the Imperial Court contained records of many famed weapons and Suppressing Objects within the Jianghu.

But this name was not among them.

Yet since it was a gift from the Empress, one could only imagine it was far from ordinary.

Zhao Douan, with eager anticipation, stepped forward to examine this "protective gear," noticing its size and outward appearance resembled a "vest," with a somewhat odd texture.

It seemed to be woven from silkworm threads, with a web-like structure mixed with strange metals. The armor was very light, very soft, and belonged to the kind that could be worn under clothes as an "under-armor."

"So light..." Zhao Douan lifted it with both hands, greatly astonished.

The object felt feathery and almost cloud-like in weight with an odd sensation to the touch.

"As you can see, this is a top-notch protective gear. Don’t be fooled by its delicate and thin appearance; it can actively draw in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Once filled, it can withstand attacks from those in the Worldly Realm... Even if it runs out of mana, the texture alone would not allow common so-called Divine Weapons to leave even a scratch," said Xu Zhenguan as she gracefully glided forward.

My spear can penetrate any shield in the world, and my shield can block any spear in the world... Zhao Douan internally remarked, recalling the paradox, and asked curiously,

"Can it withstand a Golden Crow Flying Dagger?"

Xu Zhenguan replied serenely,

"If you throw the flying dagger, it can. If I throw it, no."

Fine... you’re saying that I’m too weak to fully utilize the weapon’s power... Zhao Douan grumbled to himself:

"Is this also a treasure from the Imperial Palace’s armory?"

Xu Zhenguan, seemingly perceptive of the thoughts within his heart, asked, "Want to know its origin?"

Zhao Douan ingratiatingly boasted eagerness to learn.

Xu Zhenguan’s expression grew wistful as she said,

"This armor indeed has quite a history. Its earliest source traces back to a Magician known as the Artisan God, a figure from hundreds of years ago, immensely powerful in forging, particularly fond of crafting armor.

With every piece he created, he would have his disciples wear it to provoke challengers to attack, testing the defense capabilities. Therefore, those that have been passed down through generations are of the finest quality."

Those that have passed down through generations... Zhao Douan inquired with curiosity, "How many have survived?"

"No more than a handful," Xu Zhenguan said with a deep look in her eyes,

"Thus, most of his disciples were killed during the testing of the armors."

Zhao Douan: "..."

Xu Zhenguan continued,

"In time, the Six Talismans Treasure Armor made its way to Martial Emperor City, becoming the treasured collection of the city’s lord back then. It was later won by the Imperial Family through a wager, and stored in the palace."

"Martial Emperor City? The one near the East Sea shore?"

Zhao Douan hadn’t forgotten. Originally, Eunuch Hai had introduced him to the power players from various regions.

It was said that among the four "Heavenly Realm" powerhouses of the present day, one resided in Martial Emperor City and was a Grandmaster who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts.

"En."

When this was mentioned, Xu Zhenguan’s expression also became sterner as she said,

"Since 600 years ago, under the rule of the Grand Ancestor Emperor, our Great Yu Royal Family formed certain enmities and graces with the lineage of Martial Emperor City. Every hundred years, without fail, a wagered duel would occur.

Haha, this is somewhat similar to the traditions of the Buddhist and Taoist factions who, for over a thousand years, have been sending out outstanding disciples to compete in spell duels, a practice our Royal Family imitated. The Six Talismans Treasure Armor was won in one of those duels.

En, the current lord of the Martial Emperor City’s lineage, named Wu Xiankui, is revered by countless martial artists as the foremost figure in martial arts.

It’s a custom in Jianghu to rank experts, and while other positions often change, the leader has almost always been monopolized by the lineage of Martial Emperor City for hundreds of years.

Although Wu Xiankui hasn’t made a move in many years, he is still recognized as the pinnacle of martial arts."

Zhao Douan perked up his ears.

Buddhist and Taoist spell duels?

Wagers between Martial Emperor City and the Royal Family of Great Yu?

It was his first encounter with such knowledge.

He couldn’t help but yearn for the world of Jianghu.

What youth has never dreamed of wandering the Jianghu in a green robe, sword at the hip?

Vanquishing all the heroes of the world along his journey?

Being high up in the court halls didn’t hinder his longing for the vast Jianghu.

Silently noting down the name Wu Xiankui, he said with conviction,

"What insight could those mere rogues of the Jianghu possess? I believe that martial arts should rightfully be led by our Great Yu Royal Family."

A flicker of bitterness flashed in Xu Zhenguan’s eyes.

In terms of inheritance, the "Martial God" lineage founded by the Grand Ancestor Emperor was indeed loftier than that of the "Martial Emperor City’s lineage."

But alas, the descendants of the Imperial Family were unambitious. This was why the Empress was in such a rush to advance in rank and eager to find the Dragon Essence to reach the complete "Heavenly Human Realm."

One reason was to stabilize the political situation.

Furthermore, the centennial was approaching.

She was not confident in defeating the old adversary who had stepped into the Heavenly Human Realm many years ago.

But there was no need to share these matters with Zhao Douan, a mere mortal of high rank.

She smirked roguishly,

"Save such words until you enter Jianghu in the future. It won’t be too late then.

"The lineage of Martial Emperor City has three thousand disciples wandering the Jianghu, all longing to reclaim the Six Talismans Treasure Armor. If they knew you possessed this piece, it might attract an attempted theft by people from Martial Emperor City’s lineage."

... I’ll just hide it and not let anyone see it... Zhao Douan took the opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty,

"I merely wish to stay in the Capital to assist Your Majesty with her worries. As for Jianghu, waiting a decade or two before going wouldn’t be too late."

Yes, lying low until the Grand Taoist Master comes out of seclusion was his principle...

Xu Zhenguan looked disdainful, thinking how cowardly he was, and shook her head,

"It’s fine for someone in the Mortal Realm to polish their own skills, but once you enter the Divine Chapter Realm, if you wish to further progress, you must engage in life-and-death battles, comprehend through these fraught encounters.

Most dangers in the Capital are above the temple halls. If you stay too long, it will dull the edge of a warrior’s resolve, which actually hinders cultivation."

Is that so?

So, you can’t become a master just by lingering in the Capital... forcing a low profile just makes you a subpar master... Zhao Douan mournfully mumbled,

"But I’ve seen Priest Jin Jian, who is in the Divine Chapter Realm, wandering about every day without setting out to travel."

The Empress spoke indifferently,

"The key to a Magician’s cultivation does not lie in combat but in communion with the divine, which is different from martial artists."

"..." Zhao Douan suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

Lately, he had been too focused on accruing achievements, bringing down a great number of court officials and investing less time in cultivation.

He thought he could level up slowly just by hanging around, but now it seemed to be not that simple.

"Heh, do you understand now?" the Empress smiled genially,

"Blessing you with the armor is only one part; my personal guidance in martial skills is another."

As she spoke, the Empress stretched her delicate hand into the air and grasped.

"Buzz!"

In the distance.

A long sword on the weapon rack was suddenly enveloped and heavily handed into her pale, soft palm.

Xu Zhenguan turned around, the hem of her skirt swirling in a circle at the spacious martial arts training ground. With a smile that was not quite a smile, she looked toward the utterly confused Zhao Douan:

"Put on your armor, and fight me. I will suppress my cultivation to match yours, to test your mettle."

Zhao Douan’s spirit lifted.

A Half-step Heavenly Realm powerhouse personally sparring with him—who would hesitate? Hastily, he donned his Six Talismans Treasure Armor and picked a blade from the weapon rack, saying with folded hands,

"Your Majesty, forgive my offense..."

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At those words, his body suddenly sank, tense as a bowstring.

The pure Qi flow from the Dragon Essence slumbering within his Qi Sea spiraled up his spine, propelling him into a blurred shadow lunging straight for Xu Zhenguan!

Of course, he was not worried that his meager martial strength could inflict the slightest injury upon the Empress.

So, he attacked with all his might.

Somewhat driven by a desire to impress...

In his view, even if the Empress had suppressed her power to his level, the gap between them could not be very great...

But the next moment, he saw Xu Zhenguan casually extend her sword, devoid of any fanfare.

The tip was already aimed at Zhao Douan’s chest.

A surge of robust force tried to penetrate his chest, instantly, the "Six Talisms Treasure Armor" on his body lit up faintly.

A vague set of full-body armor covered Zhao Douan, shielding his entire body.

Around him, the air vibrated, creating ripples as six ethereal talismans arranged into a "circle" that enveloped him.

At that moment, the circular formation of six talismans spun explosively, reducing the Empress’s sword force by ninety percent in an instant.

Even so, after bearing the remaining ten percent of the force, Zhao Douan’s body was flung backward, falling like a shooting star and slamming solidly to the ground, feeling a sweet taste in his throat as his blood surged.

"Your Majesty..." he stared, dumbfounded.

The fairy-like empress stood calmly with her sword drawn, emanating the presence of a profound and majestic powerhouse, overwhelming onlookers like witnessing a white waterfall cascading down three thousand feet.

Her black hair brushed past a face of peerless beauty, a slight upturn at the corner of her lips:

"Is this all you have? Seems not quite sufficient."

A man must not be said to be insufficient... Zhao Douan hammered the ground with one hand, using the recoil to lunge a second time at the Empress.

...

Outside the hall.

The palace doors were shut, a group of eunuchs standing by could clearly hear the continuous screams coming from within by virtue of their hearing.

"Ah!"

"Ah, ah!"

"Your Majesty, be gentle..."

"...I can’t keep up..."

"Hmph, stand up, fight again! Unless I allow it, you cannot stop."

"Eunuchs." Suddenly, the eunuchs bowed in greeting.

Dressed in a bright red python robe, Mr. Hai walked over, his face full of deep wrinkles as he looked toward the tightly closed doors, marveling:

"Being young is good indeed... able to endure..."

...

"Mr. Zhao’s leg has been broken! He can’t control his arms and legs anymore, hurry, carry him to his room!"

A eunuch ran out of the martial arts grounds, frantically waking others.

Several eunuchs rushed in, flustered, carrying out Zhao Douan—his face swollen, clothes torn, body covered in bruises and wounds, having lost all strength, collapsed on the floor.

Brought into a prepared room, his outer garments were stripped off.

First they washed his body, then laid him on the bed.

The eunuchs from the palace applied healing ointments prepared for external injuries evenly over his body.

"It hurts... it really hurts..."

Zhao Douan lay on the bed, feeling like his body was no longer his own.

The eunuch applying the ointment grimaced:

"Mr. Zhao, bear with it a bit; these are top-quality healing ointments, instantly effective."

"...You’re pressing too hard, could a palace maid do this instead..."

Even amidst his haze, Zhao Douan writhed, not forgetting to haggle.

Though they were all "men," in his previous life, he wasn’t strangers to frankness with friends in bathhouses, scrubbing each other’s backs.

But the thought of a eunuch groping his body made Zhao Douan uncomfortable.

The eunuch smiled wryly, "We must ask for Her Majesty’s permission..."

"...Then, never mind." Zhao Douan sighed.

But the eunuch’s technique was actually quite good. At this moment, after having been through two hours of the Empress’s merciless teaching,

Zhao Douan felt an overwhelming wave of fatigue and fell into a deep sleep.

But unbeknownst to him, the door quietly opened, a lotus foot stepped over the threshold, and a silent figure entered the room.

"Your... Your Majesty!"

The eunuch applying the medicine was startled and hurriedly stood to bow.

After sweating profusely and taking a bath, the Emperor of Great Yu, her wet hair draped behind her and now in dry attire, nodded reservedly,

"How is he?"

The eunuch replied, "Mr. Zhao is overly exhausted. He has fallen asleep. As per Mr. Hai’s orders, I have applied the medicine."

Xu Zhenguan shook her head, "You may leave. I will inspect the wounds."

"Yes."

The eunuch left, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

Xu Zhenguan approached the bedside, looking at Zhao Douan sprawled on the bed, deeply asleep.

Amidst the plethora of bruises and scars on his well-defined, broad, and robust back was half-applied ointment.

The eunuch’s cultivation was insufficient; he couldn’t use Qi to activate and maximize the medicine’s effect.

"Mr. Zhao?"

Xu Zhenguan called softly. Seeing that he was completely unresponsive like a dead pig, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

Seeing those numerous wounds, she also felt some pity. But how could one rapidly progress in martial arts without getting injured?

Yet, if these injuries were not properly healed, he would likely need to lay in bed for ten days to half a month.

"Well, lucky you."

A hint of helplessness flickered in the eyes of the empress, her face of sculpted jade, and a trace of unnatural blush crossed her neck.

After a moment of hesitation, she ultimately extended her slender, onion-white fingers, scooped a piece of the ointment from a bowl, slowly massaged it in her palm, hesitated briefly, then slowly pressed it onto the back of Mr. Zhao.

A cool force slowly pushed the medicine into the skin.

Bit by bit, inch by inch.

In his slumber, Zhao Douan murmured comfortably and sighed.