Chapter 309: Chapter 216: After Moving, The Second Stage of the Vajra Realm, Condensing the Silverfish Supreme Body

The Eastern Palace Mansion was located in the eastern part of the Imperial City.

In the dead of night, a magnificent carriage arrived before a rather imposing mansion. Above the crimson-lacquered main gate hung a plaque inscribed with "Eastern Palace Mansion." Flanking the gate were two majestic stone lions, along with armored Imperial Guards standing watch, weapons in hand.

Even at night, two bright, long-lasting palace lanterns fueled by refined jiao-dragon oil adorned the mansion’s entrance—an extravagant display.

’This place is huge.’

Lu Mingyuan alighted from the carriage. As he returned to his new residence, he scanned his surroundings, astonished at how luxurious the renovated Eastern Palace Mansion was. Compared to the space in the Cold Palace, it was like comparing a molehill to a mountain.

Qi Muxue, who had lifted the beaded curtain to one side, walked over gracefully and said with a smile, "The Eastern Palace has been deserted for a long time. It hasn’t been used since the current Holy Emperor was Crown Prince, almost sixty years ago. Although it was swept annually, it still lacked life and felt desolate. Now, thanks to Steward Su’s management, it has regained its former grandeur."

Lu Mingyuan nodded.

He was the current Crown Prince, so naturally, his residence couldn’t be too shabby. The accommodations were truly befitting of a Crown Prince; looking out at night, he couldn’t see the end of it. It was practically a small palace complex in itself.

"Welcome back to the mansion, Your Highness!"

The guards at the gate shouted, their voices full of vigor.

"The Crown Prince has returned."

"We have been waiting for some time."

A man in a Confucian robe holding a feather fan emerged from the mansion to greet them, followed by lines of palace maids, each one of superior beauty.

"These are..." Lu Mingyuan couldn’t help but ask as he saw Su Youhuai, now the Chief of Internal Affairs of the Eastern Palace, approaching.

Su Youhuai smiled and explained, "These Eastern Palace Guards are newly recruited soldiers from the Imperial Guard in the Imperial Capital, dispatched from all over the Great Yan. They are all very willing to serve Your Highness, and I have already investigated their backgrounds. They are all clean.

"As for the palace maids... they were personally selected by Noble Consort Yaoguang, eliminating the possibility of any hidden assassins. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

Lu Mingyuan nodded. This way, they could ensure everything was foolproof.

The Eastern Palace Mansion absolutely could not be like the other Princes’ Mansions, leaky as a sieve and infiltrated by the eyes and ears of various powers.

Lu Mingyuan glanced at these servants and, using Observing the Heart, heard the awe and respect in their thoughts.

He waved a hand at them. "I am weary from today’s outing. You may all go and attend to the Crown Prince Consort. Su Youhuai, you will show me around the Eastern Palace Mansion."

"Yes, Your Highness," Su Youhuai said with a cupped-fist salute.

Next, Lu Mingyuan followed Su Youhuai on a general tour of the Eastern Palace Mansion.

The backyard of the Eastern Palace Mansion was immense, even grander than the former Prince Jin’s Mansion. Its eastern end was backed by two large mountains. On either side, towering pavilions pierced the sky, their carved roofs and embroidered railings all hidden amongst the mountain hollows and treetops.

The perimeter was enclosed by a pinkish-white wall, shaded by drooping green willows. A three-bay hanging-flower gate led to covered walkways on all four sides.

The entire courtyard was magnificent and opulent, filled with clusters of beautiful flowers and exquisitely delicate designs. The backyard featured trellises full of roses and hibiscus, alongside a long pond.

Paved paths connected the courtyards, dotted with ornamental rocks. Above a five-bay reception hall hung a plaque with the four characters "Govern the Country and Manage the Family." It emanated an extraordinary Literary Qi, clearly written by a Confucian Cultivator at or above the Great Scholar realm, capable of protecting the residence and boosting its fortune.

"Is this Mr. Shuijing’s work?" Lu Mingyuan asked Su Youhuai.

"Yes."

Su Youhuai smiled. "The world has given him the title of ’Pure Confucian Scholar.’ His teachings on ’cultivating the self, managing the family, and governing the country’ are very popular among the scholars of the Central Plains World. This is a singular honor. I thought the courtyard was a bit desolate, and with a plaque, it wouldn’t feel so empty."

Lu Mingyuan nodded lightly and asked another question, "And Shen Yuanxi?"

Of the Hidden Dragon and Phoenix Chick, only the Hidden Dragon was present; the Phoenix Chick was nowhere to be seen.

"After recruiting some of the Eastern Palace Guards, Shen Yuanxi went to find his old colleagues from the Confucian Temple to see if he could invite a few Tributors to the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince’s Mansion has just been established, and there’s still no one willing to serve as a Tributor. It’s mainly because this isn’t in place... so..."

Su Youhuai opened his feather fan, spoke in a very low voice, and held up two fingers, looking a bit embarrassed.

Lu Mingyuan understood instantly.

’The money isn’t right.’

After all, Tributors also need to eat. If you want a Counselor Tributor, the benefits must be sufficient. Otherwise, why would they serve you?

The status of a Tributor is similar to that of a Sect Honored Guest Elder, perhaps even more peripheral.

To put it bluntly, they’re mercenaries.

Back when he was in the Cold Palace, he never had to think about expenses. His mother and the Wang Family provided for all his food and drink.

Now, to establish the vast Crown Prince’s Mansion, it couldn’t be just a ragtag group. If he wanted to invite some powerful Immortal Influences to hold the fort, even the Wang Family would have a hard time supporting it.

’With my performance so far, how could no one be willing to join me?’

Lu Mingyuan found it very strange.

When he first secured the position of Crown Prince, so many people had sworn they would pledge allegiance to the Eastern Palace.

Now, two days had passed. Why was there no sign of them?

It was indeed a bit strange.

’Could it be because of what happened yesterday? I threw most of the senior ministers of the Cabinet into prison, causing many powers to remain on the sidelines, observing?’

Lu Mingyuan rubbed the bridge of his nose.

’I am the dignified Crown Prince, how could I have no money?’

’Tributors... forget it.’

’Even if Tributors joined, they probably couldn’t be relied upon.’

’They’re not as good as my Shadow Warrior Corps.’

Lu Mingyuan felt that no Tributor could be as reliable as his Heavenly Shadow Warriors.

His Blood Glutton Shadow Warriors would never betray him. Plus, they were always on call.

Seeing Lu Mingyuan’s contemplative expression relax, Su Youhuai thought he had come up with an idea and took the initiative to ask.

"Your Highness has a solution?"

Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. "Tributors? We’ll have them in the future. There’s no rush."

Hearing this, Su Youhuai was puzzled, not understanding why the Crown Prince was so optimistic.

After their conversation, Lu Mingyuan found he had arrived at a place perfect for secluded cultivation.

Before him was a low, wide building with its main doors tightly shut. In front of it was a small field, around which were placed various weapons, stone locks, and stone piers. This must be the Martial Arts Hall.

It was the middle of the night, so the place was deserted.

"This place was specially built for Your Highness to practice martial arts. It’s quite spacious and should meet all your needs," Su Youhuai said with a smile, noticing Lu Mingyuan’s eyes light up.

"Perfect. I’ll give this Martial Arts Hall a try." Lu Mingyuan was eager to go inside and take a look.

Just then, a palace maid walked over gracefully and reported to Steward Su:

"Lord Su, the Crown Prince Consort is asking about the bathing place. She wishes to know how to activate the hot springs from the mountain forest, but none of us know how."

"Alright, I’ll be over in a moment." Su Youhuai nodded, then said apologetically to Lu Mingyuan:

"Your Highness may explore on your own for a bit. This subordinate will return shortly."

"It’s fine, you go ahead," Lu Mingyuan said with a wave.

Watching Su Youhuai walk away, Lu Mingyuan sat on a stone platform and gazed at the bright moonlight, overcome with a sense of emotion.

He never thought he would one day truly become the master of the Eastern Palace.

To enjoy such a luxurious mansion.

Lu Mingyuan walked onto the Martial Arts Stage. As he brushed his hand over the sabers on the rack, a natural sense of affinity welled up in his heart.

BOOM!

His aura surged rapidly.

A terrifying wave of energy belonging to the Vajra Realm swept out.

Lu Mingyuan extended a finger and wiped the dust from a saber’s edge.

’Reaching the Vajra Realm is an unattainable goal for other Martial Artists, but for me, it is just the beginning.’

Lu Mingyuan knew his power was not yet invincible. Compared to the true top-tier experts of the Middle Fifth Grade, he was still very weak.

’The next goal is to cultivate the Vajra Supreme Body, then advance to the Eleventh Realm, Feathered Transformation.’

Only a Martial Artist who has cultivated their Flesh Body to the third stage, the Vajra Supreme Body, has a chance to charge for the Twelfth Realm, Celestial Human, and stand at the apex of the Martial Dao.

For a Martial Artist, the Twelfth Realm is already the strongest in the current world.

Across all the great Dynasties, there is basically no sign of any Thirteenth Realm Martial Artists. Those who can cultivate to the Thirteenth Realm are all legends of the Martial Dao, beings who have lived for thousands of years, capable of going toe-to-toe with Human Immortals and Saints.

They are all peerless powerhouses, capable of dominating an entire era.

Although the goal was distant, Lu Mingyuan believed that through his own efforts, he could definitely achieve it.

For the time being, Lu Mingyuan planned to use this spare moment to cultivate.

He had been rather busy lately, and now that he finally had time to cultivate, he naturally couldn’t let it go to waste.

He had been able to advance rapidly from the Early Stage Vajra Realm to the Peak of the Vajra Realm mainly because he had absorbed the massive amount of Destiny from the Golden Qilin Young Dragon Phenomenon.

The power of Destiny, while immense, was not pure.

To give an example: the old Lu Mingyuan was like a short, thin child. After absorbing a large amount of Destiny, he became a huge, fat man. Compared to before, his strength had indeed increased greatly. However, compared to others in the same weight class, he seemed far too bloated.

Now, this huge, fat man had to train with all his might, shedding the fat and forging it into powerful muscle, taking his strength to the next level.

At this very moment, Lu Mingyuan was circulating the Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture to temper the Destiny within his body, condensing it into a solid Martial Dao Body, and allowing the Divine Flame released by the Taotie Dharma Body to completely merge with his own Primordial Qi and Sword Intent.

The Destiny within Lu Mingyuan’s body dwindled, but his Blood Glutton God’s Dharma Body became exceptionally clear and grew stronger, filled with a wondrous Dao rhythm.

This was the wonderful use of the Primordial Spirit Chapter.

It could absorb and nourish the Primordial Spirit, gestating the Dharma Body. It discarded the dross, leaving only the essence.

About Half an Hour passed. Lu Mingyuan felt his control over his internal Primordial Qi, his Dharma Body, and even his Sword Intent become increasingly effortless.

With a slight flicker of his will, a wisp of red Primordial Qi flew from his body and condensed into a blood-red battle saber. HISS!

Lu Mingyuan extended his palm, and the red battle saber decomposed back into a ball of Primordial Qi, disappearing into his hand.

"My Cultivation hasn’t increased in the slightest, but my Cultivation Realm has been completely consolidated, solid as a rock and refined as jade. My combat power has also increased by a small margin."

"Now, I can finally begin to condense the Silverfish Supreme Body."

Behind Lu Mingyuan, the Blood Glutton Divine Aspect manifested.

The body of the Blood Glutton Divine Aspect was immense. It stood in a sea of lava, with dense cracks of Divine Flame crisscrossing its interior, making it look like a Giant Spirit God King.

The Blood Glutton Divine Aspect rapidly shrank, turning into a fist-sized ball of red light that flew between Lu Mingyuan’s two palms.

The seven apertures in each of his hands lit up brightly, and fourteen wisps of Martial Dao Primordial Qi flowed out, forming fourteen crimson bridges that connected to the Blood Glutton Divine Aspect.

As time went on, the Blood Glutton Divine Aspect became more and more solid, transitioning from a gaseous state to a liquid state before rushing into the space between his eyebrows.

HISS HISS.

After the liquefied Dharma Aspect and Primordial Qi entered his Qi Sea, they rapidly solidified, forming an indestructible silver crystal that continuously expanded outward.

It looked even harder than his Jade Bone; even an Innate Treasure born of heaven and earth could not easily shatter it.

"The Qi Sea has been successfully perfected. The initial condensation of the Silverfish Supreme Body is a success!"

The corners of Lu Mingyuan’s mouth curled up slightly. But before he could even celebrate, a world-shaking roar echoed from within his Qi Sea, so powerful it made his head ache and his vision go black, nearly causing him to faint.

...