Eternal Life as False Emperor

Imperial Palace, Baiyu City.

Underground chamber, Zheng Yi sat cross-legged, engaging in cultivation with the "Great Five Elements Life and Death Scripture."

The first step in cultivation is to sense the Spiritual Qi.

Only by using the special techniques within one's cultivation method can one sense the elusive yet omnipresent Spiritual Qi of the world.

After sensing Spiritual Qi, the next step follows:

Introducing Qi into the Body.

Absorbing Spiritual Qi into the body, circulating it through the meridians as described in one's cultivation method, and converting it throughout the body.

This allows it to transform into the special magical power produced by the cultivation technique.

Only after reaching the first step, is one truly on the path of cultivation!

Normally, cultivators with four spirit roots, three spirit roots, or even dual spirit roots.

Use specially prepared medicinal baths or Spirit Gathering Arrays to quickly sense Spiritual Qi and introduce it into the body.

This ensures they can sense the Spiritual Qi in the shortest time possible.

According to theory, Zheng Yi's spirit root being a five-attribute pseudo spirit root should have slow cultivation speed.

However, he sensed five faint Spiritual Qi fluctuations converging towards his dantian in less than the time of burning an incense stick.

He suddenly opened his eyes.

"So fast... is it because of the seven Innate Spiritual Qi? Or, perhaps... the 'Great Five Elements Life and Death Scripture' just suits my Five Elements Spirit Root! That's why my cultivation speed is so fast..."

Suppressing his doubts, he continued patiently with his cultivation.

According to the "Great Five Elements Life and Death Scripture," cultivators convert Spiritual Qi of different attributes into magical power, and then condense a magical power vortex in the dantian to enter the first-layer Qi Cultivation stage.

Of course, his current cultivation is at the second-layer Qi Cultivation stage, with two magical power vortices already in his dantian.

What he needs to accomplish now is to use the "Great Five Elements Life and Death Scripture" to transform the two attributeless magical power vortices in his dantian into Five Elements Attribute Magical Power!

The night passed quickly, and Zheng Yi opened his eyes again.

"The first magical power vortex has transformed less than a tenth, the speed is so slow..."

"But the feeling of Spiritual Qi entering the body is incredibly comfortable!"

"It feels like soaking in a hot spring, no wonder the legends say that after enhancing cultivation, some cultivators can seclude themselves for decades, even hundreds or thousands of years!"

"Cultivate, cultivate!"

He murmured to himself as he could not let this opportunity to cultivate pass by.

Influenced by that determination in his heart, Zheng Yi once again immersed himself in cultivation.

Strands of Spiritual Qi permeated his body following the operation of the cultivation method, slowly transforming into magical power.

In the dantian, two attributeless magical power vortices slowly rotated and gradually transformed into rich Five Elements Attribute Magical Power.

His cultivation was steadily improving.

The underground palace under Baiyu City had been transformed into more than a dozen huge silent chambers, built specifically for his cultivation.

Besides his cultivation, Cui Xiabing, Zhuang Yuheng, Yue Chan, along with Jie'er and Yu'er, had also chosen individual silent chambers for their cultivation.

Three months later!

The underground palace doors that had been shut for a long time finally opened.

Zheng Yi's figure slowly appeared, and Liu Cheng'en, waiting outside with numerous eunuchs, quickly knelt down.

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

"Hmm."

He nodded slowly, having cultivated for the first time and secluded for three months, he finally transformed the two attributeless magical power vortices within him into Five Elements Attribute Magical Power.

Simultaneously, using the "Great Five Elements Life and Death Scripture," he condensed a third magical power vortex.

Meaning... his cultivation had advanced to the third-layer Qi Cultivation stage!

Upon reaching the third-layer Qi Cultivation stage, he felt somewhat uneasy, as if something was going to happen, so he specially instructed the eunuchs in Baiyu City.

After stabilizing his realm, he stepped out of the secluded area.

Turning back to look, the other consorts in seclusion had not emerged, indicating that they were still cultivating.

Among these consorts, Cui Xiabing and Zhuang Yuheng were already at the third-layer Qi Cultivation stage, and were currently advancing towards the fourth-layer.

Yue Chan, like himself, was also at the second-layer Qi Cultivation stage three months ago, unsure if she'd made a breakthrough since then.

Most importantly, the three were pregnant, so they wouldn't cultivate here often and would occasionally go outside.

Jie'er and Yu'er, just beginning their cultivation journey, were still gathering magical power and hadn't reached the first-layer Qi Cultivation stage.

Over these three months, besides cultivations, they exchanged thoughts on Qi Cultivation.

Under the guidance of the three senior cultivators, Jie'er and Yu'er stepped onto the path of Qi Cultivation.

As for Yao'er and Huan'er, the two young girls, they were also cultivating here.

However, they only visited occasionally, receiving instruction from Noble Consort Cui.

After all, they were still young, and Zheng Yi couldn't bear to have them away from their mothers in this vast and silent underground palace to cultivate from such a young age.

"Cheng'en, has anything significant happened?"

"In response to Your Majesty, Consort Lan is about to give birth!"

"So that's it, no wonder I've felt uneasy during seclusion these past few days, head to Lanling Palace."

"Understood!"

Traveling by imperial chariot to Lanling Palace, Zheng Yi took careful notice of the people and surroundings along the way.

As they traveled, numerous eunuchs and palace maids knelt and saluted.

Before long, the chariot reached Lanling Palace.

Just as they arrived at the entrance, a loud crying sound came from the sleeping quarters.

"Wah wah wah...!"

Liu Cheng'en immediately said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Celebrate, Your Majesty! The child arrived at the right moment; Your Majesty just came out of seclusion, and the child was born~"

Zheng Yi smiled, "You're clever, quickly go have a look."

"Understood!"

Entering the chamber of Lanling Palace, several consorts close to Consort Lan were already waiting outside.

Empress Lu Lin'er, Consort De Li Changle, Consort Duann Xu Qingluan and others were smiling and entertaining a nanny.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The palace maids noticed Zheng Yi's figure and hurriedly knelt to salute.

"Your Majesty is here?"

The consorts awoke and saluted.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise."

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "I sensed Rong'er giving birth and came out of seclusion specially for it. How are she and the child?"

Lu Lin'er said softly, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Best wishes, Your Majesty!"

"Sister Lingrong and the child are both safe and sound, and Sister Lingrong has delivered a prince for you, Your Majesty~"

"Oh? Let me see."

Zheng Yi took the child from the nurse's arms and looked—a chubby little baby with big, dark eyes like two black grapes.

Opening the swaddling clothes, his younger brother was soft and adorable.

"Good, good, good."

Zheng Yi played with the baby for a moment and then handed him back to the nurse.

"You wait here; I will go see Rong'er."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zheng Yi walked into the bedchamber, where the smell of blood had faded considerably.

Upon seeing Zheng Yi, Lan Lingrong struggled to sit up.

"This concubine greets Your Majesty..."

"Rong'er, be careful!"

Zheng Yi quickly stepped forward to support Lan Lingrong, saying, "You just gave birth; don't move about. Resting well is more important than anything."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Lan Lingrong's face was somewhat pale, but her spirit was undoubtedly high.

"This concubine did not disappoint and has borne a prince for Your Majesty."

"With this, this concubine can also feel at ease."

"My beloved consort, you have worked hard."

Zheng Yi gently stroked Lan Lingrong's forehead, feeling a twinge of sympathy.

For a long time, he considered Lan Lingrong merely a favored concubine.

She was indeed beautiful, no less than the Empress or Consort Duann, and possessed a unique allure.

Moreover, she was very clever.

Often suggesting ideas during leisure, she frequently opened his eyes.

Especially the last time when dealing with Xu Xuanwu's scheme, it was her handiwork!

In addition, she was outgoing, often arranging for other noble ladies and him to sleep together, which made Zheng Yi very fond of her.

But now, after Lan Lingrong had given birth to his child, the love for beauty seemed to have changed.

It felt somewhat like... familial affection?

"Your Majesty~"

Lan Lingrong suddenly asked, "Have you and Noble Consort Cui embarked on the path of cultivation?"

Zheng Yi nodded and replied, "Yes."

"I, Noble Consort Cui, Consort Yu, Consort Chan, and Jie'er Yu'er all possess the potential for cultivation."

"Even Yao'er and Huan'er have the potential for cultivation."

"Though they are still young, it can only be taken slowly."

"The potential for cultivation..."

Lan Lingrong held Zheng Yi's large hand and asked, "What is that?"

"Spirit roots."

Zheng Yi explained succinctly, "A special constitution or root bone. Only those with spirit roots can cultivate."

"Your Majesty, does this concubine possess the potential for cultivation?"

"Rong'er?"

"This concubine also wishes to accompany Your Majesty, even if not for long, just hoping for a century."

Zheng Yi gently caressed Lan Lingrong's hair and slowly shook his head, "Rong'er..."

"Your Majesty, no need to say it. This concubine knows."

Lan Lingrong said softly, "I have no spirit roots, so I cannot cultivate, right?"

Zheng Yi sighed deeply and could only nod with resignation.

It's not just Lan Lingrong; even the Empress Lu Lin'er, Xu Qingluan, Yang Huan, Bi He, Li Changle, Princess Consort Wan, Consort Miao—they all have no spirit roots, unable to cultivate!

Regarding spirit roots, not just Consort Lan, but also the Empress and Consort Duann have asked similar questions, and he could only reassure them with resignation.

Their lives, maybe only decades of youth, are all to be spent in the depths of this palace.

Therefore, to compensate for them in some aspects, Zheng Yi has always been compliant with their wishes.

As long as the requests weren't too excessive, he would agree, allowing them to live happily and joyfully through life.

"Rong'er, rest assured, I will make time to come out of seclusion to see you..."

Lan Lingrong covered Zheng Yi's mouth and softly said, "The state's affairs are important, Your Majesty. I still have so many sisters in the palace."

"Besides, haven't I just delivered a prince for you?"

"With him, I won't feel too lonely."

"Has Your Majesty thought of a name for our child?"

"A name, of course, I've thought of one."

Zheng Yi pinched Lan Lingrong's delicate little nose and said, "Rong'er, you are wise and clever, always full of schemes, so I named him 'Rui' for you."

"Rui, it means wisdom, enlightenment, and sanctity."

"Zheng Chengrui, how is it?"

"Rui..."

Lan Lingrong murmured softly, her eyes lighting up slightly, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After more conversation with Lan Lingrong, Zheng Yi stood up and left, "Alright, Rong'er, you've just given birth, rest well. I have some matters to attend to."

"Yes, this concubine respectfully sends off Your Majesty!"

Watching Zheng Yi leave, Lan Lingrong's gaze changed slightly, and she sighed deeply, lying down on the bed.

"Rui, Rui... Though wise, it's just an ordinary word."

"Compared to the Empress's 'Ji' and Consort Duann's 'Wu', my child in Your Majesty's eyes, can only be a smart but ordinary person?"

"Smart people... are not meant for the throne."

"Child, being born into the Royal Family, I wonder if it's your fortune or misfortune..."