The days of arduous cultivation were somewhat monotonous, but the feeling of his cultivation and strength steadily increasing was deeply satisfying.
Besides, having beautiful women to enjoy from time to time spiced things up, making life even better and keeping the boredom at bay.
This morning, just after having some fun with Su Ling’Er and returning to his Practice Room to rest, he received a message from Cao Zhenghe, the Director of the Imperial Treasury. The message stated that after visiting Consort Zhen last night, Emperor Xia had decided to grant her a bottle of Celestial Water Essence to help her break through her shackles and advance to the Fourth Grade Realm.
But that bottle of Celestial Water Essence had already been consumed by Xia Wuyang and was long gone. Cao Zhenghe had nothing to give Consort Zhen.
Upon receiving this news, Xia Wuyang quietly left Wenhua Hall and went to the Inner Treasury. He quickly put on a Disguise, transforming into a Little Eunuch at Cao Zhenghe’s side, and followed him toward Consort Zhen’s Yu Yao Palace.
Consort Zhen was one of Emperor Xia’s eight Favored Consorts. Her status in the Harem was extremely high, rivaling even that of the favored Princes and Princesses.
It was no surprise that Emperor Xia would grant her the Celestial Water Essence.
Thanks to Emperor Xia’s favor, Consort Zhen had made successive breakthroughs over just a few decades. She was now a master at Fifth Grade Perfection, only half a step away from advancing to the Fourth Grade Realm.
Evidently, Consort Zhen had pleased Emperor Xia well last night, which was why he had bestowed the Celestial Water Essence upon her to help her make a push for the Fourth Grade Realm.
Cao Zhenghe, accompanied by Xia Wuyang and another Little Eunuch, soon arrived at Yu Yao Palace.
Although he carried a Jade Bottle, it did not contain Celestial Water Essence. Instead, it held a Middle Level Mortal Medicine that looked very similar.
Inside Yu Yao Palace, Consort Zhen was attending to her appearance in front of a mirror.
This young Favored Consort was indeed a peerless beauty, with picturesque features and skin whiter than snow.
But at this moment, a hint of anxiety creased her brow. ’Will the power of the Celestial Water Essence be enough to break through to the Fourth Grade Realm? Or should I spend more time polishing my foundation?’
"Your Highness, Chief Steward Cao of the Inner Treasury requests an audience," a Palace Maid announced.
Consort Zhen’s eyes lit up. "Quickly, show him in!" Cao Zhenghe, with Xia Wuyang and the other Little Eunuch, walked into the hall and presented the Jade Bottle. "Your Highness, this is the Celestial Water Essence granted by Your Majesty."
The Enchanting Heart Technique silently extended, settling upon Consort Zhen.
Although she wore a treasure gifted by Emperor Xia to protect her Spiritual Power, it was completely useless against Xia Wuyang’s Enchanting Heart Technique.
Consort Zhen’s gaze shifted. After a careful inspection, she said ecstatically, "It really is Celestial Water Essence! Thank you, Steward Cao."
After sending Cao Zhenghe away, Consort Zhen, who had originally planned to polish her foundation for a while before taking the Celestial Water Essence, suddenly felt that now was the perfect time.
After a brief period of consolidating and polishing her cultivation, she eagerly went to her Practice Room and consumed the bottle of "Celestial Water Essence."
Xia Wuyang had added a few drops of real Celestial Water Essence to the bottle. He had even sprinkled a drop on Consort Zhen herself—a part of his preparations for this very moment.
At that moment, Xia Wuyang was right outside Consort Zhen’s Practice Room, continuously applying his Enchanting Heart Technique to keep her immersed in the Illusion.
She appeared to be consuming the Celestial Water Essence and breaking through her bottleneck, but in reality, she was doing nothing at all.
Even if Xia Wuyang were to do something to her, she would be completely unaware, believing herself to still be in the midst of her breakthrough.
Before long, within the Illusion, Consort Zhen felt a tremor run through her body. At the critical moment, she sensed that her Foundation was still unstable—she had been too hasty.
"Ah—!"
Consort Zhen cried out in alarm, sprayed a mouthful of blood, and collapsed limply to the ground.
In her memory, the breakthrough had failed because she had been too anxious and hadn’t taken the time to meticulously polish her foundation.
Not only had she failed to break through, but she had also wasted the Celestial Water Essence and suffered severe internal injuries. She feared it would be some time before she could attempt to reach the Fourth Grade Realm again.
"My Celestial Water Essence... It’s all wasted!"
Consort Zhen slumped onto the floor of the Practice Room and couldn’t help but burst into bitter tears.
Before long, the Palace Attendants found Consort Zhen and rushed to comfort her, but it was no use. Consort Zhen only cried harder.
"Her Highness failed her breakthrough and is severely injured, but she refuses treatment! What are we going to do?"
"Quickly... go get Your Majesty! Only Your Majesty can convince Her Highness to take her medicine."
"If she isn’t treated soon, what if something terrible happens? Go get Your Majesty, quickly!"
... The Palace Attendants were all in a panic. Xia Wuyang had been about to leave, but when he heard them sending for Emperor Xia, he decided to wait. He wanted to see if he could use this opportunity to probe the Emperor’s true strength.
He couldn’t infiltrate Qianqing Palace, but he could move through Yu Yao Palace as if it were completely unguarded.
She was currently one of Emperor Xia’s most Favored Consorts. ’I wonder if the Emperor will actually come.’
As expected, Emperor Xia rushed to Yu Yao Palace in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
The Emperor, who had ruled Great Xia for decades, was now filled with worry, his concern for Consort Zhen plain to see.
Xia Wuyang carefully hid among the Palace Attendants, pushing his Dragon Storage Skill to its absolute limit. Bolstered by his Extraordinary Spiritual Power, it was unlikely that even a True Monarch could detect anything amiss.
"How is my beloved consort?"
Emperor Xia went to Consort Zhen’s side, cradling her in his arms as he carefully examined her.
Consort Zhen threw herself into Emperor Xia’s embrace, her beautiful face stained with tears. "Your Majesty, I... I have failed to live up to your expectations. Not only did I fail to break through, I’ve been severely injured... *sob*..."
"Don’t cry, please don’t cry. Your tears break my heart," Emperor Xia said, his face filled with concern. "It’s alright. Once my beloved consort has recovered, I will give you another Middle Level Miracle Treasure to help you break into the Fourth Grade Realm. For now, we must get you treated immediately, lest there be any lingering effects."
Soothed by Emperor Xia’s words, Consort Zhen finally stopped crying and allowed the Imperial Physician to treat her. The Emperor stayed by her side the entire time, his attentiveness showing no bounds.
Taking this opportunity, Xia Wuyang carefully probed Emperor Xia’s true strength, and a look of surprise gradually appeared on his face.
Emperor Xia’s Cultivation had shockingly reached Super Grade Perfection, only one step away from the True Monarch Realm. Perhaps with just the right opportunity, he could break through his shackles and advance to the True Monarch Realm.
While Super Grade and Extraordinary might sound similar, the difference between them was as vast as that between heaven and earth.
He also cultivated the Dragon and Tiger Qi Blood. The Qi Blood within his body was as vast as an ocean, yet condensed to an almost solid state.
More importantly, Xia Wuyang could faintly sense the auras of three or more Spiritual Artifacts on Emperor Xia, each one radiating a terrifying presence.
A defensive Spiritual Artifact, an offensive one, and a support-type... as well as some Spirit Talismans. As expected of the Emperor of the Great Xia—he was truly armed to the teeth.
With such assets, even if he faced an ordinary True Monarch, he could easily escape, even if he couldn’t win the fight.
’Even if I manage to advance to the True Monarch Realm in the future, I can’t act rashly. I must be perfectly prepared before I make a move.’
Sensing the faintly suppressed, terrifying aura emanating from Emperor Xia, Xia Wuyang became acutely aware of the gulf between them.

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