In the meditation room, the Dragon Pearl was placed back into its box, and the golden waves subsided.
Chen Ke sat cross-legged, looking at his right hand in surprise.
"So, the dragon breath has entered my meridians, and I can use it to enhance my attacks?"
A hint of joy flashed in Chen Ke's eyes.
He roughly understood that the so-called dragon vein actually referred to his meridians being compatible with dragon breath.
Undoubtedly, after the dragon breath entered his meridians, it would enhance his attack power and also improve his defense.
Even more so, the dragon breath would grant him some kind of powerful might.
However, with his current level, he could only open one dragon vein, but that was enough.
If he were to unleash a punch, its power would at least increase by one energy level, right?
The only regret was that dragon breath was, after all, an external aura, a consumable, and needed to be replenished frequently.
The value of the Primordial Dragon Pearl was thus further highlighted.
As dawn broke, Chen Ke stopped cultivating and walked outside, full of energy.
What's going on?
Looking at the eight female guards standing side-by-side in the courtyard, Chen Ke was dumbfounded.
The female guard captain, Zichai, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Young Master Chen, we are here on orders to protect you."
As she spoke, Zichai gave Chen Ke a defiant look, as if to say, "Hmph, let's see how you manage to philander now!"
Well, Chen Ke nodded helplessly. Including the eight guards granted by his noble title, he now had a sixteen-man escort.
Four or five days passed quickly in a flurry of activity.
During this time, Chen Ke only went out once to inspect the Chen family's caravan and check on the construction progress of the Death Swamp at Jigong Mountain.
The Chen family's caravan's journey had sped up considerably; it was estimated that they would arrive at Xianxia Pass in another seven or eight days.
The situation at the Death Swamp was also good; two hundred warriors had already established a stronghold at White Bone Village and improved their rudimentary defense system.
The first batch of grain that Liao Changhe had purchased from the Purple Eagle Dynasty was already on its way to Jigong Mountain.
On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, at dawn,
Xia Yuncheng, the twenty-third king of the Great Xia Dynasty, led his civil and military officials in a grand ceremony to worship Heaven.
Following this, the new emperor issued an edict that during his campaign, the Crown Prince would oversee the state, with three cabinet ministers assisting in governance.
After the ceremony, the army set off!
Thirty thousand imperial guards and ten thousand imperial personal troops, their banners obscuring the sky, marched in a mighty procession from the north gate, leaving the Great Xia city.
Chen Ke stood at the very back of the court officials' ranks, watching the army depart, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Finally, they were gone.
Suddenly, a sharp gaze fell upon him, and Chen Ke's heart skipped a beat. Crown Prince Xia Shijie, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a crown, turned around, his gaze beneath the tassels sharp as a knife!
Chen Ke smiled bitterly; the days to come would likely be difficult.
Sure enough, as the Bureau of Distillery improved, the Crown Prince's first edict dismissed Chen Ke from his position as "Distillery Envoy."
This was a classic case of discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose. Chen Ke didn't actually care about the position, but the problem was that without it, he couldn't manage the grain.
Orders for high-proof liquor and alcohol from the Western and Northern armies were also cut by more than half, distributed to other distilleries.
Fortunately, the Chen family distillery had shifted its focus to the private sector and still held a significant market share.
But this was only temporary. Under pressure from the other six distilleries and the Crown Prince's deliberate suppression, the Chen family distillery's market share was bound to decrease further.
The Crown Prince's second edict ordered Chen Ke, the head of the agricultural settlements, to be diligent in his duties and remain at his post.
This was a ruthless move.
Chen Ke's life instantly became miserable. Every morning he clocked in for work, then idly tended his chili fields until dusk before finally going home.
He tried several times to visit the Emperor Emeritus and, incidentally, the Princess of Qin, but each time he failed.
This was due to both the Crown Prince's interference and the Emperor Emeritus and the Princess of Qin's deliberate avoidance of suspicion.
Fortunately, at night, Chen Ke could completely let loose.
From the Qin Kingdom and Jigong Mountain to Mingzhu City, and even the Purple Eagle Dynasty and the Red Lion Dynasty, Chen Ke's footprints were everywhere, and he quietly acquired several new identities.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
Whoosh!
In the meditation room of the West Suburb Manor, the golden waves slowly subsided.
Chen Ke let out a long breath, slowly opened his eyes, and a smile appeared on his lips.
Just now, he had successfully activated his second dragon vein, the one in his left hand.
Now, left hand fist, right hand sword, both at the same time.
In the blink of an eye, Chen Ke opened his attribute panel.
Name: Chen Ke
Realm: Fifth Level of Refining Mansion
Spiritual Value: Death: 1075/1075; Wood: 1600/1600
Soul Value: 3200/3250
Profound Skills:
"Withered Tree Reborn," "Death Devouring," "True Dragon Protection"
Entry-level: "Beast - Swallowing Mountains and Rivers"
Skills:
Divine Mastery: "Photographic Memory"
Proficient in: "Great Return to Emptiness Scripture," "Willow Gate Medical Techniques," "Divine Movement Illusion," "One Sword of Heaven and Earth"
Mastered: "Haotian Divine Fist," "Haotian Divine Sword," "Free and Easy Wandering," "Ghost King Escape Technique"
Entry-level: "Thousand-Faced Guanyin Technique," "Fish and Dragon Dance"
Not bad, not bad. His cultivation level has increased by two levels, reaching the fifth level of Refining Mansion.
His profound skills and abilities have also improved significantly, with fewer and fewer entry-level ones.
Chen Ke put away the Dragon Pearl, gracefully stood up, and walked outside.
He was running out of spirit stones again. Calculating the days, it was time for him to make a trip to Pearl City.
Two female guards watched Chen Ke walk towards the path leading to West Mountain but did not follow.
Her Highness the Princess had instructed them not to disturb Chen Ke while he cultivated.
Chen Ke's entry into West Mountain was also part of his cultivation.
Or perhaps Chen Ke had been suppressing his emotions for too long during the day and was going to West Mountain to relax by hunting.
Deep within West Mountain, the Fuyou Divine Boat flashed a green light and instantly disappeared into the night.
On the southern slope of Jigong Mountain, Chen Ke landed and, using his movement technique, drifted towards the mountainous area.
"Fourth Master!" Scout Wang Xiaowu poked his head out excitedly from a patch of weeds. In just over half a month, Wang Xiaowu had grown a head taller, his body had become stronger, and his face had clearly regained its color.
It was evident that Liao Changhe and his Southern Mountain bandits had recovered well after resolving the food crisis.
Seeing the boy's expectant gaze, Chen Ke couldn't help but smile, took out a large bag of food from his ring space, and tossed it over.
Smelling the aroma of the braised meat, Wang Xiaowu caught the oil packet and said with a beaming smile, "Thank you, Fourth Master!"
"Fourth Master!"
"Fourth Master!"
"Fourth Master!"
As Chen Ke walked into the valley, the warriors along the way bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with awe.
How could eight hundred warriors not revere someone who could appear and disappear without a trace, who could wipe out White Bone Village in one fell swoop?
Fourth Master was not only Liao Changhe's savior, but also their savior, and they were deeply grateful.
In this chaotic world, survival was difficult enough, yet they were able to eat their fill and drink fine wine, all thanks to Fourth Master.
To be loyal to such a master was a blessing, even unto death!
Chen Ke whispered to Liao Changhe for a moment, left behind two large barrels of strong liquor, and drifted away.
Outside Pearl City, a heavy snow fell from the sky.
Chen Ke, wearing a bearskin cloak, walked proudly along the frozen iron chain bridge towards the city gate of Pearl City.
The city gates opened, and the orc squad leader guarding the city, looking rather simple-minded, ran forward and bowed obsequiously, saying, "Master Ximen, you've finally arrived! The city lord has been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"