Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 185 Imperial Palace Martial Arts Drill

After Guan Yu and Li Bai left, Lin Chen hummed a little tune as he walked back.

As soon as I entered the garden, I saw a blue figure standing by the pavilion.

Lan Fenghuang changed into a light blue long dress today, with a slender waist that accentuated her graceful figure.

In the morning light, she turned her head to look at the fish swimming in the pond, her eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her cheek.

"Good morning, Miss Lan." Lin Chen strolled over. "Watching the fish?"

Lan Fenghuang snapped out of her daze, turned around, and gave a graceful bow: "Your Highness."

"No need for formalities." Lin Chen sat down on the stone bench and patted the seat next to him. "Sit down and let's chat."

Lan Fenghuang hesitated for a moment, but still sat down, just a little further away from Lin Chen.

Lin Chen didn't mind and took out a tea set from his storage ring, slowly starting to brew tea.

"Your Highness also knows the art of tea?" Lan Fenghuang was somewhat surprised.

"I know a little." Lin Chen skillfully warmed the cup, rinsed the tea, and brewed it.

"I learned it from Shuyan when I was bored. She said tea can calm the mind, and I thought... it was pretty pretentious, so I learned it."

Blue Phoenix: "..."

Lin Chen always speaks in such a...unique way.

The aroma of tea gradually filled the air.

Lin Chen poured a cup of tea and pushed it over: "Try it, it's this year's new tea from Jiangnan, my brother-in-law specially had it brought over."

Lan Fenghuang picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and her eyes lit up slightly: "Good tea."

"Right?" Lin Chen also took a sip, comfortably squinting his eyes.

"So, you see, life is short, so we should enjoy it while we can, don't you agree, Miss Lan?"

Lan Fenghuang sensed the hidden meaning in Lin Chen's words, put down her teacup, and said seriously:

"Your Highness, about that day..."

"No rush," Lin Chen interrupted Lan Fenghuang, and poured her another cup of tea.

"You want to use my influence and power to go to the Zhongzhou Gu God Palace to recognize your ancestors and restore their glory. That's a good ambition, and I admire it."

"The prince has agreed to help me?" Lan Fenghuang's eyes lit up.

"I'm considering it!" Lin Chen looked at Lan Fenghuang and suddenly said seriously:

"Blue Phoenix, you're a smart person, you should understand what I mean."

What I want is not a transaction, but loyalty. Once you enter the Lin family, you belong to me, Lin Chen. Your honor and disgrace, your rise and fall, are one with mine.

Lin Chen paused, then softened his tone: "Of course, I won't treat you unfairly."

I can help you with the matter of the Gu God Temple, and I can even make the Nanzhao Holy Temple the number one sect in the Eastern Region.

But the prerequisite is—you have to be truly loyal to me.

Blue Phoenix remained silent for a long time before speaking:

"Your Highness, if I agree... will you believe me?"

"I believe you," Lin Chen smiled.

"I'm a simple person. If you're sincere to me, I'll be sincere to you. But if you're disloyal..."

He picked up the teacup and lightly tapped the rim with his finger.

With a soft "snap," the teacup remained intact, but the tea inside evaporated instantly, leaving no steam behind.

Blue Phoenix's pupils contracted slightly.

What kind of tactic is this?!

"You saw it?" Lin Chen put down his teacup.

"Killing you would be easier than evaporating this cup of tea, but I don't want to kill you because I think you're a smart—beautiful woman, and I can't bear to see you die young!"

Lin Chen stood up, walked to Lan Fenghuang, and bent down to look at her:

So don't let me down.

Lan Fenghuang looked up at Lin Chen, and from this angle, she could clearly see the domineering and possessive look in his eyes.

And... a touch of appreciation.

Her heart suddenly skipped a few beats.

"I..." Blue Phoenix took a deep breath, "I need time."

"Okay." Lin Chen straightened up, reverting to his lazy demeanor.

"I'll give you three days. Give me your answer in three days."

After saying that, he waved his hand and walked away unsteadily.

Lan Fenghuang sat there, staring at the empty teacup, unmoving for a long time.

The aroma of tea still lingers in the air.

Just like that man's aura, domineering yet strangely attractive.

She touched her chest, where her heart was pounding wildly.

"Blue Phoenix, oh Blue Phoenix..." she murmured to herself, "This time... you're really going to be in trouble."

……

The Imperial Palace, the Martial Arts Hall.

Zhao Wuji and the five royal retainers had been waiting for a long time.

Upon seeing Guan Yu and Li Bai enter, everyone bowed in unison, saying, "Greetings, esteemed seniors!"

Guan Yu stroked his beard: "No need for formalities."

Li Bai, carrying a wine jar, casually sat down in the main seat:

"Sit down, everyone. Stop with the formalities. Old Zhao, do you have any snacks to go with your drinks? Just drinking isn't fun."

Zhao Wuji's lips twitched, and he quickly ordered, "Quickly prepare wine and dishes!"

Before long, the wine and dishes were served.

Li Bai nodded in satisfaction: "That's right. Come, let's drink and chat."

Guan Yu sat down on the other side, his expression solemn:

"Today's sermon will begin with the fundamental principles of martial arts realms."

He paused, his voice booming like a great bell:

"Martial arts training, from the first to the ninth rank, involves tempering the physical body and refining the qi and blood."

The Grandmaster realm allows one to glimpse the power of heaven and earth, using true qi to draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Grandmaster, true qi transforms into a protective aura, used to defend the body and attack enemies.

Although everyone already understood, they all held their breath and listened quietly.

"And the celestial beings..." A glint flashed in Guan Yu's eyes, "are those who comprehend the rules of heaven and earth and integrate themselves into them."

What is the unity of heaven and humanity? It doesn't mean becoming a part of heaven and earth, but rather using the power of heaven and earth for your own benefit!

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and made a pressing motion.

The air in the entire martial arts hall seemed to freeze.

Zhao Wuji and the others were horrified to discover that they were unable to move!

It wasn't their imposing aura that oppressed them, but rather the surrounding power of heaven and earth that completely locked them in place!

"This...this is the power of a terrestrial deity?" a worshipper asked in a trembling voice.

Guan Yu stopped, and everyone regained their freedom, each one drenched in cold sweat.

"A terrestrial immortal is one who has comprehended the rules of heaven and earth to the extreme; with every gesture, the rules follow them," Guan Yu said calmly.

"Zhao Wuji, you've been stuck at the peak of the Celestial Realm for many years, do you feel there's no way forward?"

Zhao Wuji smiled bitterly: "That's right. I have reached the limit of my understanding of the rules of heaven and earth, but I still can't touch that barrier."

"Wrong." Guan Yu shook his head. "It's not that you can't touch it, it's that you dare not touch it."

Zhao Wuji was taken aback: "You dare not?"

"To comprehend the rules is like walking on thin ice," Guan Yu said slowly.

"Your lifespan is coming to an end, and you are filled with fear. You are afraid that if you take the wrong step, you will die and your soul will perish. This fear has become your greatest inner demon."

Zhao Wuji was struck dumb, standing there as if by lightning.

On the other side, Li Bai took a swig of wine and looked at the several retainers with hazy, drunken eyes:

"You guys have a bigger problem."

One of the worshippers immediately bowed and said, "Please enlighten me, senior!"

"Give me pointers my ass," Li Bai scoffed.

"You guys are all like wooden blocks in your cultivation, all you know is to follow the steps."

What is martial arts? It is the Way! The Way follows nature, do you understand?

He stood up and staggered to the center of the hall: "Watch closely."

After saying that, he casually took the wine gourd from his waist and tossed it into the air.

The gourd spun in the air, and a drop of wine dripped from its mouth.

Li Bai pointed his fingers like a sword and gently touched the drop of wine.

"Have you not seen the Yellow River's waters come down from the sky—"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the drop of wine suddenly transformed into a surging, illusory river, roaring and raging through the hall! The sound of the water was deafening, its momentum overwhelming!

"The river flows to the sea, never to return!"

The illusory image of the river exploded with a roar, turning into a sky full of water mist.

Within the mist, the faint glint of sword light could be seen; each wisp of water vapor was a sword aura!

The five worshippers were dumbfounded.

"Is this...is this poetry? Or swordplay?" someone murmured.

"Yes, all of them." Li Bai put away his wine gourd and took another swig.

"When martial arts reach a high level, all methods are interconnected and not bound by any single thing. You are too attached to form."

He swayed back to his seat and let out a burp.

That's enough for today. Let me digest this a bit, and we'll continue tomorrow.

Guan Yu also stood up: "Zhao Wuji, come to the bamboo forest of the Prince's mansion at midnight tonight to find me."

After they finished speaking, the two drifted away.

Zhao Wuji and the five retainers were left standing there, each looking dazed, yet their eyes gleaming.

The guidance they received in one day was equivalent to a hundred years of arduous cultivation!

Unbeknownst to them, two jade slips on the beams of the Martial Arts Hall were faintly glowing, recording everything.

……

Wangfu.

Lin Chen received the jade slip containing Guan Yu's image, scanned it with his divine sense, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, not bad, that guidance was spot on."

He summoned Yuan Tiangang:

"Mr. Yuan, make several copies of this jade slip and send them to those in the manor who are hoping to break through to the Celestial Realm, so they can see if they can find any inspiration."

"Yes." Yuan Tiangang took the jade slip, hesitated for a moment, and said:

"My lord, is this kind of assistance to the royal family... going too far?"

Lin Chen smiled: "Mr. Yuan, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. A stronger royal family will only benefit us. Besides..."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes:

"Do you think that just because the royal family has a few more terrestrial immortals, they can pose a threat to us?"

Yuan Tiangang thought it made sense, so he said no more, bowed, and left.