Chapter 49: Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor
The awakening of the Personal Space lasted a full hour, far longer than that of any of his previous Companion Talents.
It was clear that this Companion Talent truly surpassed the others, both in its supportive capabilities and its practicality.
When the trembling in his body subsided, Xia Wuyang clapped his hands and smiled.
’Just what the doctor ordered.’
He placed some of his precious belongings inside. The very first thing he moved was the Five Hundred Year-Old Monkey Wine, which he had kept Hidden in a secret compartment under the floorboards.
In the meantime, the Mental Force Field formed by his one hundred points of Spiritual Power naturally extended outward, constantly monitoring his surroundings for any issues. That was when he unexpectedly overheard some good news.
"Princess Huanzhu is back in the palace! Let’s run!"
"She killed my father! She killed my mother! She killed my grandfather! Don’t go to the Bamboo Forest Hall!"
"She’s wearing the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor! We have to be careful!"
...
These were the sounds of a flock of birds. Through the Language of the Heart, Xia Wuyang understood the meaning of their calls.
His eyes lit up. The Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor! That was a truly fine item—a Top Level Treasure Armor. Not only did it have astonishing Defense, but it also had the effect of clearing the mind and focusing the Spirit.
Wearing the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor during Cultivation made one less susceptible to Qigong Deviation and allowed one to achieve twice the results with half the effort. It was a treasure coveted by many Martial Artists.
’I never thought my twenty-first sister would be so lucky as to get her hands on something like this. Now that I know about it, how could I not take it?’
Princess Huanzhu was the twenty-first among the Princes and Princesses, was over fifty years old, and had a deep-seated grudge with Xia Wuyang.
This woman appeared carefree and simple-minded, but in reality, she was utterly sinister and vicious. Back then, in order to seize certain resources and treasures from the Eastern Palace, she had not hesitated to act ruthlessly against Xia Wuyang’s trusted confidants.
One of his Guards, who had followed Xia Wuyang for many years and remained loyal even after he was crippled, was killed by Princess Huanzhu. To eliminate the problem at its root, she even had the Guard’s parents killed as well.
Princess Huanzhu made little effort to hide her involvement, and Xia Wuyang quickly discovered the truth. However, there was nothing he could do about her.
Although the princess’s mother, an imperial consort, was not particularly favored, she had several influential maternal uncles. They held considerable power both in and out of the court, securing her a decent standing among the Princes and Princesses, consistently ranking in the top ten.
With her vast influence and high-level Martial Arts, although she could never become Crown Prince due to being a woman, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to become a princess with real authority in the future.
She was reasonably diligent in her practice and insatiably greedy, but the two of them hadn’t crossed paths in a very long time.
The reason was simple: the valuable industries and resources of the Eastern Palace had already been mostly snatched up by the various Princes and Princesses. Princess Huanzhu simply looked down on what was left.
Furthermore, Xia Wuyang appeared to be on his last legs, not far from death and posing no threat. Princess Huanzhu naturally couldn’t be bothered with him, merely waiting for him to die so a new Crown Prince could be instated.
’She’s probably forgotten the grudge from decades ago, but I still remember it crystal clear. We haven’t had any contact or conflict recently, so if I were to kill her, no one should suspect me.’
’However, Princess Huanzhu has the same Fourth Grade Perfection Cultivation as I do, not to mention the protection of the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor. I’ve also heard her old Nanny, an Upper Third Grade Martial Artist, never leaves her side.’
’Under these circumstances, it would be extremely difficult for me to assassinate her, and I wouldn’t be able to get the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor either.’
’So, I’d better put this aside for now. I’ll deal with it after I break through to the Upper Three Grades. It’s the same situation with the Fifth Prince’s Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. I’ll have to wait until I reach the Upper Three Grades before I go after that, too.’
’When the time comes, I’ll prioritize getting the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, and then I’ll go for the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor.’
’The Fifth Prince could eat the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit at any moment, so I must get it quickly. The Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor, however, can wait. It’s not something that can be easily destroyed.’
’Princess Huanzhu would never sell such a treasure. She’ll definitely keep it for herself.’
Having considered everything thoroughly, Xia Wuyang focused on his Cultivation, not daring to waste a single moment.
Time waits for no man. His Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit could be eaten by the Fifth Prince at any moment. He had to break through to the Upper Three Grades as quickly as possible.
He cultivated bitterly for most of the night. As dawn approached, he returned to the brocade couch. On the surface, he was sleeping soundly under the covers, but beneath the blanket, his body continued to practice the Dragon Tiger Fist, constantly consolidating and refining his Foundation.
Only Xia Wuyang, who had successfully improved the Dragon Tiger Fist, could do such a thing. Any other Prince or Princess wouldn’t dare to practice this way, as it could easily lead to Qigong Deviation. Not only would their power fail to increase, but they would also inflict damage upon their bodies.
The next day, he unexpectedly received more news from the birds: an old eunuch in the Eastern Palace had accidentally obtained a Body-Strengthening Pill. The eunuch was currently struggling with how to sell it for the silver taels he needed.
Although the Body-Strengthening Pill was a Middle Level Elixir, it was one of the most difficult Middle Level Elixirs to refine. Its value was not much less than that of some ordinary High Level Elixirs.
Its effects were to consolidate one’s Foundation and strengthen the body—precisely the kind of Elixir Xia Wuyang urgently needed at this moment.
If he took the Body-Strengthening Pill, it would allow his Foundation to become completely stable, with no remaining points of instability. It would also help improve his physical constitution, which would allow him to consume the Five Hundred Year-Old Monkey Wine sooner and make a push for the Upper Three Grades.
Faced with such a fortuitous opportunity, Xia Wuyang naturally would not miss it. Besides, this Elixir had appeared right under his nose. To refuse a gift from the heavens is to invite disaster.
That very night, Xia Wuyang quietly sought out the old eunuch, who was still hovering in the Lower Three Grades, and took his Body-Strengthening Pill. At the same time, he left behind silver notes worth one thousand taels as compensation.
This old eunuch was not a hidden spy or inside agent for any of the other Princes and Princesses. He had served in the Eastern Palace for many years, and though he couldn’t be called fiercely loyal, he was hardworking and uncomplaining, having dedicated most of his life to the Eastern Palace.
It was just that his Talent and Qualification were average, and he wasn’t skilled at reading people. For all these years, he had remained at the bottom of the hierarchy, only hoping to leave the Imperial Palace soon to be with his family.
Xia Wuyang, of course, had no intention of taking advantage of him. After all, this was an old man who had served him. That was why he left behind the silver notes worth one thousand taels, a price even higher than the market value of a Body-Strengthening Pill.
If this type of Elixir weren’t so rare, and if it weren’t inconvenient for him to have someone procure it given his current status, Xia Wuyang would have tried to obtain a Body-Strengthening Pill long ago.
With this Body-Strengthening Pill, he could consolidate his Foundation as quickly as possible and make a push for the Upper Three Grades.
With a faint smile, Xia Wuyang went to the Practice Room and consumed the Body-Strengthening Pill without hesitation.
Soon, a gentle stream of medicinal power flowed into his body. Like a spring breeze and a soft rain, it continuously nourished every part of him, stabilizing his Qi Blood and Foundation while also improving his physical constitution.
Xia Wuyang felt his body transforming, as if loose mud were being compressed into a solid brick. It grew firm and dense at an incredible speed. Areas that had once been somewhat unstable were rapidly consolidated...