The effect of this Dragon Blood Fruit was even better than Xia Wuyang had anticipated—much better.
It had saved him tens of thousands of days and nights of arduous Cultivation. If he could obtain two more, he might just be able to break through the barrier to the Twelfth Floor in one fell swoop, officially stepping into the Two Spirits Body Refining True Monarch Realm and causing his Cultivation and strength to skyrocket.
By then, his Body Refining Cultivation would be on par with his Refining God Cultivation. It might even surpass it, given the sheer power of the Dragon and Tiger Golden Bell Body.
Moreover, he was a practitioner of the All-round Cultivation of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. His comprehensive combat strength would be immeasurable!
However, he also knew that a treasure like the Dragon Blood Fruit was a matter of luck, not effort. Obtaining one was already a heaven-sent opportunity. Getting another would likely require even greater fortune and planning. He had no idea when he might find one again.
’No need to rush,’ Xia Wuyang suppressed the excitement in his heart. ’I still need to solidify my Foundation, and it will take time to fully digest and adapt to this new Power. I won’t be able to consume another one anytime soon.’ He closed his eyes again and began circulating his Cultivation Technique to consolidate his soaring Cultivation.
For the next several days, he immersed himself in Cultivation, focusing on consolidation and adaptation. Only after this was complete could he continue to advance.
Aside from making his necessary daily appearances to maintain the persona of the senile elder Crown Prince and to relax a little, he spent nearly all his time in the Practice Room.
The newly grown Dragon and Tiger Spirit Blood needed to be tamed, the widened and strengthened meridians needed to be stabilized, and his surging physical strength required fine control... Each task demanded time and patience. The slightest carelessness could easily lead to problems.
Just as his Cultivation was steadily consolidating and his strength was steadily increasing, a piece of news from Cining Palace—news that concerned him—shattered the superficial tranquility of Wenhua Hall.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager is gravely ill," Andrew reported in a low voice, standing with his hands clasped outside the Practice Room’s stone door. "Several old Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau have seen her. They say she was overly frightened and has worried herself sick. Compounded by her advanced age and the depletion of her fundamental life force, they fear her days are numbered."
’The Empress Dowager?’
’The old woman who lived in seclusion, constantly praying to Buddha, and seemed uninvolved in worldly affairs... yet was also the one who had schemed against him and his mother on multiple occasions.’
Xia Wuyang’s heart stirred. He stopped his Cultivation, a mocking smile touching the corners of his lips.
He knew exactly why the Empress Dowager was "overly frightened." A while ago, he had used a Southern Barbarian Poison Master to spread various Gu Insects throughout the Imperial Palace.
Although his main targets were the Princes, Princesses, and some irksome Consorts, Cining Palace had not completely escaped the chaos, and quite a few Gu Insects had found their way inside.
While he had deliberately controlled the Gu Insects to be non-lethal, the bone-deep discomfort and subsequent panic were undoubtedly a huge shock for a pampered, elderly, and frail old woman. After all, the Empress Dowager was only a Middle Three Grades Martial Artist, and a very old one at that.
What’s more, he had later paid a visit to the hidden chamber in Cining Palace’s Buddhist hall, taking the Bodhi Branch and several other Spiritual Objects she had accumulated over many years.
For the Empress Dowager, it wasn’t just a loss of property; it was a ruthless violation of her personal domain and sense of security, which had left her feeling anxious and unsettled these past days.
The combination of the scare and the heartache and fury of losing her treasured collection was enough to be the last straw for an old woman who was prideful, hedonistic, and in reality, quite narrow-minded.
"Have you found out for sure? Is it really because of the Gu incident and the theft?" Xia Wuyang asked, opening the stone door to look at Andrew.
Andrew lowered his voice. "Yes. According to our informant in Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager has been restless ever since that day. She often wakes up startled at night, her appetite has diminished, and she’s been eating less and less. A few days ago, while taking inventory of her treasury, she discovered that several of her most cherished treasures were missing. She fainted from anger on the spot. After waking up, she fell ill and hasn’t recovered since. She refuses medicine and can’t eat anything. The Imperial Physicians say her heart is heavy with grief and her spirit is wounded by fear. It’s a sign that her lamp is running out of oil; she doesn’t have much time left."
Xia Wuyang was silent for a moment. As the Crown Prince, he was obligated by both sentiment and duty to pay her a visit, even if it was just to go through the motions.
This was especially true given that the Empress Dowager was his grandmother. Although their relationship was poor, her seniority was undeniable.
"I understand. Make the preparations. I will go to Cining Palace to see her shortly," he instructed faintly.
「About half an hour later」
Xia Wuyang changed into a slightly worn, apricot-yellow robe befitting his status as the downtrodden elder Crown Prince, his clothes saturated with the scent of cosmetics.
His hair was tied back carelessly. Beneath his senile Disguise, he looked even more haggard and listless. If he stood next to the Empress Dowager, people might mistake them for husband and wife.
Supported by Andrew and a few Palace Attendants, he hobbled toward Cining Palace.
Cining Palace was located in the northwest corner of the Imperial Palace. With its tranquil environment and lush gardens, it was meant to be a fine place to live out one’s golden years—one of the best locations in the palace, in fact.
But at this moment, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung before its gates. The Palace Attendants all kept their heads down, their steps hurried. They dared not speak to one another, their faces etched with worry.
The air was thick with the heavy scent of medicine, mixed with the sandalwood incense characteristic of a Buddhist hall. It created a strange and unsettling odor that made one feel ill just by being there.
After being announced, Xia Wuyang was led into the main hall.
The hall was dimly lit, its windows shut tight, with only a few ever-burning lamps providing light.
The intense smell of medicine, combined with the distinct odor of old age—a mixture of decay and fragrances—assaulted his senses, nearly making him gag.
Several Imperial Physicians were conferring in low voices. Upon seeing Xia Wuyang, they hastily bowed and stepped aside, but made no other significant gestures.
On the Phoenix Couch, behind layers of half-drawn brocade curtains, one could vaguely make out a gaunt, sallow-faced old woman lying beneath a heavy quilt, her breathing faint and intermittent.
This was the current Empress Dowager. Born into a great clan of the Jiangnan Gentry, she was Emperor Xia’s birth mother. She had already reached the rank of Noble Consort during the late Emperor’s reign and was honored as Empress Dowager after Emperor Xia ascended the throne.
For many years, she had held a respected and influential position in the palace, especially due to her close ties with the Jiangnan Gentry and certain Harem factions, which gave her considerable sway.
Xia Wuyang stopped a few paces from the couch and bowed slightly. In a deliberately weak and hoarse voice, he said, "Your grandson, Wuyang, pays his respects to the Empress Dowager. Hearing that Your Majesty was unwell, I came especially to visit. I pray for the Empress Dowager’s swift recovery and return to her former health."
There was a moment of silence from within the curtains before the Empress Dowager’s voice, feeble yet still laced with a caustic edge, drifted out. "So it’s the Crown Prince. How kind of you to remember this old woman. I thought you had already forgotten all about me."
Her voice was halting, but every word was clear. "I used to think you would go before me. Who would have thought that I would be the one to go serve the late Emperor first? But you shouldn’t have much time left either."
Her words were utterly impolite, even laced with obvious malice, revealing her true attitude toward her grandson.
’It’s truly ironic that an old piece of trash like you, who should have died long ago, is still alive, while I, the noble Empress Dowager, am the one who has to die first.’

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