Chapter 369: Nascent Soul Stage

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!" Zhong Shan bowed respectfully.

A third-class Duke, Third Class Duke of the East? Vice Minister of Rites? With such titles and positions, Zhong Shan would receive more and more of the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty's fortune. With such honors and identity, his cultivation speed, boosted by the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty's fortune, instantly reached eight times its previous rate. Adding the fortune from the Dazeng Dynasty, Zhong Shan's current cultivation speed was equivalent to that of a 'mid-rank being' of the Heavenly Way. Tenfold.

Tenfold cultivation speed. Now, cultivating for one hundred years was equivalent to a thousand years in the past.

While Zhong Shan was grateful to the Emperor, the entire court frowned.

Vice Minister of Rites? The Ministry of Rites? Why did Zhong Shan end up in the Ministry of Rites? Shouldn't he have been assigned to the Ministry of War? The Ministry of Rites was essentially the department of foreign affairs. How could such a military talent be appointed as a diplomat?

The officials in the court were puzzled, and even the four crown princes did not understand. Only Tian Lao glanced meaningfully at Gu Shentong.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's trust from last month. This is the Holy Sword you lent me. I now return it to Your Majesty!" Zhong Shan lifted the Holy Sword respectfully.

"Hmm!" Gu Shentong nodded.

Immediately, an eunuch carrying a tray approached. Zhong Shan gently placed the Holy Sword onto the tray.

"Your Majesty, this Wind God Bow and Arrow, although the murder weapon in this case, should rightly be returned to the national treasury. However, I dare to request that Your Majesty return it to Princess Qianyou to compensate for the grievances she has suffered over the past two months." Zhong Shan presented the Wind God Bow and Arrow.

The Wind God Bow and Wind God Arrow originally belonged to Princess Qianyou's father. Returning them to her was only right, and since Princess Qianyou was almost wrongfully punished because of them, Zhong Shan's request seemed reasonable to all the officials, who nodded in agreement. No one found this request excessive.

"Granted!" Gu Shentong agreed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Princess Qianyou immediately expressed her gratitude.

As Zhong Shan handed over the Wind God Bow and Arrow, Princess Qianyou did not look at the precious ninth-grade treasure. Instead, she looked at Zhong Shan with deep gratitude.

Then, in front of everyone, Zhong Shan slowly drew out the Purple Cotton Kasaya from his chest.

"Thank you, Tian Lao, for your assistance. This is my promise to you." Zhong Shan respectfully handed the Purple Cotton Kasaya to Tian Lao.

Tian Lao looked at Zhong Shan with a frown, then smiled wickedly and took the Kasaya. He glanced at Gu Shentong on the throne, who nodded slightly, as if only the two of them knew a secret.

The four crown princes and Huan Tulong looked at the Purple Cotton Kasaya with curiosity, not understanding why Tian Lao valued it so much.

By handing over the Purple Cotton Kasaya to Tian Lao in front of the entire court, Zhong Shan was telling everyone that this ninth-grade treasure was no longer in his possession. Those who coveted it should not bother him anymore. At the same time, Zhong Shan was indirectly sending a message to Jin Chan that he had been forced to give up the Kasaya.

Tian Lao put away the Purple Cotton Kasaya, bowed slightly to Gu Shentong, and disappeared from the hall.

"Your Majesty, although the southern war has just ended, my heart remains on the battlefield. I would like to request a long leave of absence, two to five years, to adjust myself and be in the best state to participate in the affairs of the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty," Zhong Shan suddenly said.

Huh? A leave of absence? The entire court looked at Zhong Shan with a strange expression. The court could be considered a sacred place for cultivation in the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty. Here, one could sense the Emperor's presence, thus correcting any missteps in one's cultivation and progressing steadily. Through debates in the court, one could understand the principles of heaven and earth, advancing much faster than by sitting in closed-door cultivation. The higher one's cultivation, the more insights one could gain. Moreover, court sessions were not held every day; there was only a morning court session once every ten days!

Zhong Shan wanted a leave of absence? To adjust himself? The entire court broke out in a cold sweat. How could there be such a person?

"Approved! ~~~~~~~~~~~~" The Emperor unexpectedly gave a bizarre approval! "Thank you, Your Majesty! ~~~~~~~~~~~~" Zhongshan immediately exclaimed with excitement. "Dismissed!" the Emperor said calmly. "Dismissed! ~~~~~~~~~~~~" shouted the eunuch beside him. "Long live the Emperor!" ——

Two days later, after Zhongshan had settled matters with Water Without Trace and Willow Without Equal in Dongfang Mansion, he swiftly headed towards Princess Qianyou's residence with Zhihuo.

During these two days, guests filled Princess Qianyou's residence, including many previously aloof members of the Gu clan who now came to apologize and make amends. Princess Qianyou personally received each one. It was only today that the residence finally quieted down.

Upon entering Princess Qianyou's residence, Zhihuo immediately followed Ah Da and Ah Er from a distance, allowing Zhongshan to leisurely walk towards Qianyou Hall.

In front of Qianyou Hall stood Princess Qianyou, looking lively and beautiful.

Today, Princess Qianyou was dressed elaborately, with a delicate face, soft long hair, graceful figure, heaving bosom that rose and fell with each breath, shapely buttocks, and a pair of legs that could captivate all. She was presenting herself to Zhongshan in her most enchanting form.

As Zhongshan approached step by step, Princess Qianyou gazed at him with infatuation.

When Zhongshan came close, Princess Qianyou joyfully exclaimed, "You're here!"

Without a word, Zhongshan reached out and embraced Princess Qianyou, gently bringing his face closer. Princess Qianyou's eyes flickered with a hint of panic, her face blushing, then she closed her eyes, allowing Zhongshan's lips to meet hers.

A long, deep kiss followed, with Zhongshan domineeringly silent throughout.

"Mwah ~~~~~~~~~~~~" As they parted, a strand of saliva connected their flushed faces like a cupping mark.

Princess Qianyou's face was completely red. As her eyelashes fluttered, she saw the strand of saliva still linking their mouths. She immediately closed her eyes in embarrassment.

"Hahaha!" Zhongshan burst into laughter, bent slightly, and effortlessly lifted Princess Qianyou in his arms.

"Ahhhh ~~~~~~~~~~~~" Princess Qianyou was startled, but in her confusion, she instinctively clung to Zhongshan's neck.

Carrying Princess Qianyou, Zhongshan walked into Qianyou Hall. The doors thunderously closed behind them.

"Boom ~~~~~~~~~~~~"

Inside Qianyou Hall, Zhongshan gently placed Princess Qianyou on a jade bed. Sensing what was to come, Princess Qianyou blushed even deeper, closed her eyes, and waited as Zhongshan's body pressed firmly against hers.

The next day, in Princess Qianyou's chamber, sunlight streamed through the skylight, casting a warm glow on the jade bed where Zhongshan and Princess Qianyou were entangled. Zhongshan lay there with his eyes closed, as if asleep.

Princess Qianyou lay on Zhongshan's chest, gently stroking his face while gazing at him, feeling content. She nestled her face against his chest in happiness.

Her legs, as beautiful as jade, wrapped around Zhongshan's left leg, revealing a hint of her inner thigh. Princess Qianyou blushed inexplicably and reached over to lightly cover them with a clean sheet. She then took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the traces of her blood from Zhongshan's lower body with tenderness.

Resting against Zhongshan's chest, Princess Qianyou inexplicably felt a wave of peace. At the same time, she knew Zhongshan wasn't sleeping but breaking through.

Zhongshan had achieved a breakthrough. Since receiving more qi from Daluo in the ancient capital, there had already been signs of breakthrough. On that day, if it were anyone else, they would have broken through long ago. Only Zhongshan's constitution could withstand the flood of breakthrough.

However, in the instant of intimacy with Qianyou, Zhongshan finally broke through. Perhaps it was due to the nature of being solitary yang and not growing solitary yin, that Zhongshan finally felt a surge of yin energy entering his body at the last moment, finally condensing his primordial infant. Of course, the most crucial factor was Qianyou's pure and unadulterated body.

The body of the Nine Cauldrons was the pinnacle sacred object for dual cultivation. Especially for the first time. The shackles of the Golden Core stage finally broke through because of this.

In the moment Zhongshan sensed it in the Purple Mansion, his mind sank into his body.

Inside the Purple Mansion, a large amount of pure yang energy rapidly gathered. It was already at the critical point, and at this moment, it seemed to just break through that critical point, rapidly converging towards the center. It formed a growing jelly-like mass.

In an instant, it all gathered at the very center and guided Zhongshan's body parts, slowly transforming, gradually forming a small figure the size of a fist that was identical to Zhongshan.

As Zhongshan's consciousness entered, the small figure slowly opened its eyes and looked at the vast world of the Purple Mansion through Zhongshan's perspective.

Yuanying! This was Yuanying. With the formation of Yuanying, Zhongshan felt connected to heaven and earth, connected to the energy of heaven and earth. No wonder those in the Yuanying stage could ride clouds and mist, because Zhongshan could already sense the energy of wind and water vapor around him. With just a slight gathering of Yuanying, he could condense water vapor into a white cloud.

Although it was only the most basic spell, the wonders of it were something that could never be described in the Golden Core stage. From this moment on, Zhongshan truly stepped into the era of "Dao".

Yuanying stage, he had finally reached the Yuanying stage!

As all the pure yang energy completely transformed into Yuanying, beside Yuanying, the ink jade talisman suddenly trembled.

Zhongshan was slightly stunned. With a gentle gesture, the ink jade talisman appeared in the hand of Yuanying. It was held firmly.

Yuanying attempted to study it, but no matter what, it couldn't be activated, and even the spell was blocked by the ink jade talisman.

Perhaps the ink jade talisman had been in Zhongshan's Purple Mansion for too long and had established a faint connection with the pure yang energy. Although Zhongshan couldn't fully control the talisman, it was as if he and the talisman had a tacit understanding. With a gentle wave of Yuanying's hand, countless phantom talismans suddenly appeared around the ink jade talisman, similar to the sealing talismans used in Sealing Spirit City, sealing heaven, earth, gods, and spirits.

Zhongshan opened his eyes.

"Whoosh ~~~~~~~~~~~" Suddenly, the entire hall was filled with endless phantom talismans. Talismans covered everything, even Princess Qianyou's forehead.

Everything in the hall was immobilized. Even Princess Qianyou was sealed?

Zhongshan's eyes widened. He called out to Princess Qianyou, but there was no response.

Zhongshan tried to retract these talismans, but no matter what, he couldn't. Zhongshan only knew how to release, not to retract.

An hour passed. After waiting for an hour, the numerous talismans turned into faint shadows and completely disappeared.

PS: He had reached the Yuanying stage, finally reached the Yuanying stage. The fourth volume has also officially ended. Tomorrow, we will officially enter the fifth volume, 'Heaven and Earth'. Zhongshan's bold era is coming. By the way, guess what Zhongshan will do on his long vacation? o(∩_∩)o~

(To be continued)