In the Practice Room, candlelight flickered. Dozens of bronze lamps were scattered about in disarray.
Xia Wuyang moved like a blur, weaving between the dozens of bronze lamps. Astonishingly, as he passed, the flames didn’t stir in the slightest. It would have been one thing if they hadn’t been extinguished, but they didn’t even flicker, as if nothing but air had passed by.
If anyone from the Jianghu were to witness this, they would surely be aghast. This was clearly the sign of a Lightweight Body Technique having reached the supreme realm of "Snow Stepping Traceless."
In just over a month, Xia Wuyang had cultivated this Top Level Body Technique to the Great Success Realm. He had even modified it to suit his body, making its power no less formidable than the Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique cultivated to Perfection by others.
At the same time, a clear phoenix cry echoed from his Qi Blood. Xia Wuyang was delighted to discover that after reaching Great Success in the Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique, it had formed a wondrous resonance with his Dragon Tiger Fist.
Right now, waves of draconic roars echoed within his body, accompanied by the sound of a phoenix beating its wings.
From now on, when cultivating the Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique, he wouldn’t just be improving the technique itself, but also refining and strengthening his body—a truly multifaceted benefit.
This was something Xia Wuyang hadn’t expected. But on second thought, it made sense. His Cultivation Technique, Combat Techniques, and Secret Techniques had all been modified to suit his physical condition. They were tailored to him, so naturally, his body was at the core of it all.
Under these circumstances, many commonalities would naturally appear. In the future, these commonalities would continue to grow, resonating with and complementing one another, gradually forming a complete system.
Once this system was formed, Xia Wuyang’s Cultivation speed, overall strength, and his ability to escape and preserve his life would all see a meteoric rise.
At that time, he would have no rivals within the same realm. Even fighting opponents in higher realms would not be out of the question.
When he advanced to the Celestial Human Realm, he might even become the number one Celestial Human in the world. As for Emperor Xia, he would be nothing but a pushover.
A smile touched Xia Wuyang’s lips as he thought, ’The future is full of promise.’
His Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique grew smoother, its rate of improvement accelerating as it neared Perfection.
His Spiritual Power, Cultivation Realm, Combat Techniques and Secret Techniques, and overall strength... all were growing at an astonishing rate. It wouldn’t be long. With just a few more years, he would surely possess the strength to handle anything.
Whether it was his Imperial Brothers and Imperial Sisters, or the Powerful Ministers and Vassal Kings outside, the only thing he lacked now was time.
He needed to continue hiding himself well and avoid any problems. Only then could he keep developing and amass sufficient strength.
There was a major trial coming in a few months. After all, in everyone’s eyes, this elder Crown Prince was on the verge of death and could only hold on for a few more months at most.
If he wasn’t dead in a few months, things would get ugly. Someone would surely be unable to resist making a move—be it an inspection, a test... or even an impatient, vicious attack.
He had to think of a plan in advance, a way to survive this ordeal and buy himself more time for Cultivation, allowing him to grow stronger before then.
Just after midnight, Xia Wuyang returned to his Sleeping Palace. A peerless beauty from the Fox Race was about to wake up, just in time for another round of "morning exercise."
The next few days were peaceful and quiet for Xia Wuyang. The outside world had also learned that Lady Xingyan had only given him around a hundred bottles of Dragon and Tiger Elixir and a single portion of Celestial Water Essence for the time being.
The elder Crown Prince wasn’t a fool; he had consumed the Celestial Water Essence immediately. Though much of it was wasted, it was better than having it stolen by others.
This undoubtedly led many to curse the elder Crown Prince for his profligate waste. Had anyone else obtained the Celestial Water Essence, who knows how many realms they could have ascended? They might have even charged directly from the Lower Three Grades into the Middle Three Grades, or perhaps even higher.
As for the Dragon and Tiger Elixir, according to news from the Eastern Palace, only a portion reached the elder Crown Prince’s hands. The rest was divided up by Wei Xianren and Liu Jun, and even some Palace Maids and eunuchs got a share.
The outside world looked down on the elder Crown Prince even more. It was one thing for the Chief Eunuch and the Ceremonial Nanny to bully him, but now even common eunuchs and Palace Maids could apparently do so.
This evening, having grown tired of the Qiuci Dancers and the peerless beauties of the Fox Race, Xia Wuyang decided to summon a group of the Palace Maids who had previously accompanied him. Not forgetting old companions for new ones—this was one of his "fine qualities."
As it happened, among these old companions was Lian Xing, the one who had noticed his unusual behavior.
Today, the young woman wore a goose-yellow gauze dress. Her almond-shaped eyes were as clear as water, her nose was elegantly shaped, and her lips were coated with a fine layer of rouge, making her look quite captivating.
Her pale little face, far from detracting from her beauty, added a touch of moving, fragile charm. No wonder she was given the name Lian Xing; she truly inspired affection and pity.
Xia Wuyang couldn’t help but be the first to pull her into his embrace. Amid their playful intimacy, he noticed a strange look in Lian Xing’s eyes.
His brow furrowed slightly. He silently sent out his Soul Capturing Technique to probe her and soon relaxed.
Lian Xing didn’t know much. She had only accidentally discovered that he often left after the Palace Maids had fallen asleep, though she didn’t know what he was doing.
Moreover, Lian Xing wasn’t a hidden mole for anyone else, nor did she have any intention of spying on him. ’Otherwise, for safety’s sake, I’d have no choice but to resort to some drastic measures.’
For anyone who betrayed him, even if he didn’t kill them, Xia Wuyang would never let them off easy, much less allow them to remain in the Eastern Palace.
Over the past few days, using the Soul Capturing Technique, he had already discovered quite a few spies and moles. Although he hadn’t moved against them yet, he was already on his guard.
At the same time, he had Wei Xianren and Liu Jun quietly make arrangements to eliminate the more threatening spies and moles one by one. If they couldn’t be eliminated, he would find a way to have them transferred away, or even directly use the Soul Capturing Technique to alter their memories and thoughts.
However, unless absolutely necessary, Xia Wuyang didn’t plan to use the Soul Capturing Technique to forcibly alter memories too often. It could be easily discovered, and the Soul Capturing Technique was not omnipotent.
If any problems arose and the outside world discovered that he, the elder Crown Prince, had actually mastered the Soul Capturing Technique, things would become dire.
Wei Xianren and Liu Jun were the Chief Eunuch and Ceremonial Nanny of the Eastern Palace. They held high positions and great power, controlling most of the authority in the Eastern Palace. They were worthy of him taking the risk to use the Soul Capturing Technique for the specific purpose of controlling and coercing them.
But other people were not worthy of him expending so much effort.
As for the Little Palace Maid, Lian Xing, in his arms, considering she hadn’t told anyone and wasn’t a spy or a mole, Xia Wuyang decided to use a gentler approach.
Having made his decision, Xia Wuyang felt much more at ease. He continued to embrace the Little Palace Maids, drinking and making merry, enjoying a life of pleasure—not the final days of a dying man.
Soon, all the Palace Maids were fast asleep, dead to the world. Only then did Xia Wuyang embrace Lian Xing, looking with a hint of fondness at the touchingly beautiful Little Palace Maid in his arms.

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