"Not to mention Heze City. While its area is much larger than that under the jurisdiction of Iron Stone City, it is nothing but uninhabited swampland. The total population of the entire city doesn't even reach ten thousand, and if you aren't careful while walking, you'll fall into a mire and never climb out again."
"Hmph, so what are we supposed to do now? As long as that little bastard lives, I won't have a single day of peace!" Ye Yingwen roared again.
"Oh, Sister, you’re the Empress now, and the eldest prince is the Crown Prince. What are you worried about? As for that brat, it’s hard to say if he’ll even survive next year’s Beast Tide. When the time comes, I’ll have a word with Ma Yan to prevent him from taking shelter inside Lincang City during the tide. Besides, the Beast Tide happens every few years—it’s been this way for a long time. Who knows, one day he might just end up in the belly of a Demonic Beast. There’s absolutely no need for you to worry. Can 'Qin State’s Number One Trash' really turn his life around?" Ye Huan said dismissively.
"That’s still not enough to ensure he doesn't live well!" After listening to Ye Huan’s explanation, Ye Yingwen said with unabated venom.
"Oh, right. Isn't the Xiongnu State currently attacking the Zhao State? Iron Stone City happens to be on the Zhao border. We can't send troops to aid them, but we can have that little waste go to Zhao himself to assist. Let him die in the midst of a million soldiers. We’ll have fulfilled our duty of supporting the Zhao State!"
"Hmm, Sister, you certainly are thoughtful. Many ministers have been proposing this very thing lately, claiming that since the Qin State and Zhao State are linked by marriage and alliance, we should beg the Qin Emperor to send troops immediately to help them resist the Xiongnu. That way, in times of crisis, the Zhao State would be obligated to help us. My father and I have barely been able to hold them off, but this works perfectly. It fulfills our obligation to the Xiongnu King for his five hundred thousand taels of gold, silences the complaints of the ministers, and lets that brat perish in the chaos of war. At the same time, Father can use this opportunity to rope the pro-war ministers into our sphere of influence. Four birds with one stone—let’s do it. I will return to the manor immediately to discuss this with Father, and we will submit a joint petition for the Qin Emperor’s approval tomorrow!"
"After hearing you analyze it, Brother, that little waste might still have some value after all. Let’s do it. It makes my outburst worthwhile. I just hope that little waste dies in the middle of those armies as soon as possible; I don’t want him to live a single day longer!" Ye Yingwen said, her face grim.
"It won't be that fast. By the time the imperial decree reaches him, at least a month will have passed. Calm yourself, Sister. I’m heading back to the manor to discuss the real business with Father!"
"Hmm. And have those useless servants come back to clean this place up. I don't want to stay in this mess!" Ye Yingwen’s expression softened.
"Very well. In the future, Sister, you really must show me some respect. You can't just scold me whenever you're feeling temperamental." Ye Huan said, offering a conciliatory smile before hurriedly leaving the Cining Palace.
After the banquet for the Prince’s investiture ceremony concluded, Hua Tianxiong rushed back to his sleeping quarters. He could sense that Elder Xuan had awakened within the Star Domain Cauldron. During the investiture ceremony, Elder Xuan had already sent him a mental message, instructing him to enter the cauldron as soon as he was finished with his duties.
Once back in his quarters, Hua Tianxiong ordered the guards at the door not to disturb him under any circumstances. He then hurried into his cultivation room, locked it from the inside, and quickly entered the Star Domain Cauldron, heading straight for the phantom.
"Master, you have recovered!" Hua Tianxiong asked aloud as he reached the phantom.
"Indeed. Helping you repair your meridians last time cost me quite a bit. Oh, your cultivation has progressed significantly—you’ve reached the Ninth-Rank Martial Disciple stage!"
"It is all thanks to Master’s guidance; otherwise, I would never have had such an opportunity!" Hua Tianxiong said with a flattering tone.
"Hmm. You were once a Crown Prince, and now you are the Prince of Shicheng. Do you wish to reclaim your position as Crown Prince?" the phantom asked merrily, as if seizing the throne were as easy as reaching into one’s pocket.
"Before I met you, Master, I only wished to live a simple, quiet life. But now that I have encountered you, I am determined to achieve great things!"
"Good, good. Unperturbed and calm, like still water—you are worthy of one possessing the Star Domain Profound Body! And it is quite impressive that you know how to plant Spirit Medicine inside the Star Domain Cauldron. Those herbs are for refining First-tier Body Tempering Pills and Lesser Restoration Pills. Since when did you learn alchemy?" the phantom asked with some surprise.
"Master, I haven't learned alchemy. I simply read the formulas for Body Tempering Pills and Lesser Restoration Pills in the royal archives. It is very difficult to find such formulas on the market today, and even the pills themselves are rare. The Continent Chamber of Commerce sells some First and Second-tier pills, but in ordinary cities, one rarely even hears of Third-tier pills being sold. I only learned of them during my time as Crown Prince, from the Imperial Tutor and the Imperial Academy," Hua Tianxiong explained.
"I see. Then would you like to learn alchemy? The title of 'Xuanwu Pill God' was not earned lightly!"
"Of course I would! Please, Master, grant me this favor!" Hua Tianxiong immediately knelt and kowtowed.
"Good. Rise. I shall now pass my alchemical knowledge to you!" The phantom, Elder Xuan, extended a finger and pressed it against the center of Hua Tianxiong’s brow. Having experienced this method of transmission before, Hua Tianxiong no longer subconsciously resisted. He endured the pain as he absorbed the massive influx of information. When it was over, Hua Tianxiong’s face was deathly pale, but this time, at least, he did not faint.