Elderly Prince: My Spirit Increases by 1 Point Daily

The Spiritual Shackles were now fully effective. Xia Wuyang could clearly feel a special connection established between himself and Zhao Wuji.

Not only could he perceive most of Zhao Wuji’s thoughts, but he could even use them to understand everything happening in the man’s surroundings.

"Tell me." Xia Wuyang sat imposingly in the main seat, looking down at the prostrate Zhao Wuji. "What has the Third Prince been plotting recently?"

Zhao Wuji answered involuntarily, "The Third Prince is secretly contacting court ministers to prepare another move against the Fifth Prince."

’So those two dogs are still fighting,’ Xia Wuyang thought with a faint smile. He was, after all, the one who had started it all.

Through Zhao Wuji’s account, he gained a much clearer understanding of the Third Prince’s forces.

The thirty-thousand-strong Silver Scale Army was the Northern Zhao Family’s most elite private force, tasked not only with protecting Xia Wuchen but also with eliminating his enemies.

They were battle-hardened veterans, many of them Entry Level Martial Artists, completely loyal to the Zhao Family. Not even Emperor Xia could command them.

Although the Northern Zhao Family couldn’t compare to the Celestial Treasure Pavilion, they had plenty of businesses in White Jade County. Their various iron shops, elixir shops, and auction houses alone numbered nearly a hundred. The resources and wealth they generated annually were enough to supply the needs of dozens of Upper Third Grade Martial Artists.

Now, all of this would be at Xia Wuyang’s disposal, becoming his personal wealth and resources.

"Prepare over three thousand bottles of High Level Elixirs and ten sets of High Level Mortal Artifacts..." Xia Wuyang issued his commands. "Remember to be discreet. Don’t let the outside world find out, and above all, do not expose your identity."

Zhao Wuji bowed to accept his orders. "This old servant understands. You may rest assured, Emperor."

Xia Wuyang nodded in satisfaction. With these resources and treasures, things would be much easier going forward.

As he left Wude Palace, Xia Wuyang made a point to check Zhao Wuji’s condition. The Spiritual Shackles were perfectly hidden within his Sea of Consciousness, practically fused with it. Even a Martial Artist whose Spiritual Power far surpassed his own would find it difficult to detect them.

Furthermore, the Spiritual Shackles restrained not only the Sea of Consciousness and Spiritual Power but also other related aspects. After all, Spiritual Power was comprised of seven aspects, of which ordinary people only knew a fraction.

"Keep a close watch on the goings-on in the Imperial Palace, especially the movements of Emperor Xia and the princes and princesses. Report to me immediately if you discover anything."

Xia Wuyang also left him a method to get in touch, ensuring he could be contacted immediately if anything important occurred.

The method was one-way, ensuring his identity would not be revealed.

It was a shame Zhao Wuji didn’t have any Miracle Treasures on him; otherwise, the haul would have been even more impressive.

Back in Wenhua Hall, Xia Wuyang couldn’t hide his excitement.

Controlling Zhao Wuji meant he had planted an important chess piece next to the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen, and also secured a key operative inside the Imperial Palace.

From now on, Xia Wuchen’s every move would be under his surveillance, and the actions of most princes and princesses wouldn’t escape his notice either. He could afford to be much bolder in his own actions.

If he encountered any trouble in the future, he could have Zhao Wuji handle it instead of needing to do everything himself.

This awakened Companion Talent was truly invaluable.

And Zhao Wuji was only his first Spiritual Servant. It was time to enslave a second.

After resting for a day, Xia Wuyang left Wenhua Hall again the following night.

This time, his target was Cao Zhenghe, the Director of the Imperial Treasury—also known as Emperor Xia’s personal moneybag.

Cao Zhenghe’s residence was near the Inner Treasury. It wasn’t heavily guarded, as Cao Zhenghe himself was a First Grade Late Stage Grandmaster with few rivals in the world.

At present, the strongest publicly known experts in the Great Xia Dynasty were Super Grade Celestial Humans. This meant that First Grade Grandmasters already stood at the peak of power. As long as the Super Grade Celestial Humans didn’t make a move, First Grade Grandmasters were revered as the world’s supreme experts.

In recent decades, not a single Super Grade Celestial Human had been seen in combat, not just within the Jianghu but even in conflicts between nations. They were as elusive as mythical dragons, glimpsed but never fully seen.

The Great Xia Dynasty’s ability to strike fear across the lands was precisely because Emperor Xia was a Super Grade Celestial Human—the only one among the various emperors and kings of the surrounding realms.

He slipped into Cao Zhenghe’s residence without a sound, completely undetected.

At that moment, Cao Zhenghe was in his study reviewing ledgers, his chubby face a mask of concentration.

’He’s surprisingly diligent, still hard at work this late at night.’

"Such diligence, Steward Cao."

The voice was androgynous. Xia Wuyang, cloaked and disguised, appeared at Cao Zhenghe’s side.

"The audacity..." Cao Zhenghe’s expression changed. He was about to capture the intruder when his Sea of Consciousness jolted, tightly bound by an invisible chain.

He struggled with all his might, causing the Spiritual Chains to vibrate faintly.

"A loyal dog, aren’t we?" Xia Wuyang sneered, channeling a bit more power into the Spiritual Chains, which tightened abruptly.

Cao Zhenghe felt as if his soul had been cast into Purgatory; the agony surpassed any torture he had ever experienced.

"Kill... kill me..." Cao Zhenghe collapsed to the floor, groaning in agony.

Xia Wuyang remained unmoved, continuing to fuel the chains. "Go. Kill everyone you care about!"

"AHH—" Hearing this, Cao Zhenghe couldn’t stop a scream from rising in his throat, but Xia Wuyang instantly clamped a hand over his mouth, silencing him.

Then, to his utter despair, his body moved uncontrollably, walking out of the room to kill the very people he cherished most.

"No... Don’t..." Tears streamed down Cao Zhenghe’s face, but his body didn’t even hesitate.

Just as he was about to kill his son—his only son, born before he entered the palace, who lived nearby—Xia Wuyang’s indifferent voice rang out. "Stop."

Cao Zhenghe collapsed, gasping for air. His eyes were filled with such terror that he barely dared to look at Xia Wuyang.

He understood Xia Wuyang’s intention. It was a clear demonstration that he was now enslaved and controlled, forced to do whatever Xia Wuyang commanded.

"Kill yourself."

Cao Zhenghe heard Xia Wuyang’s voice again and watched in horror as his hand, once more beyond his control, drew the short sword at his waist and aimed it at his own heart.

No matter how hard he struggled, he was utterly unable to defy the command.

"This... this old servant submits!" As the short sword was about to pierce his heart, Cao Zhenghe finally broke. "I beg you to spare my life, my lord! From now on, this old servant will obey your every command without question."

Zhao Wuji had been afraid of dying, but Cao Zhenghe was not. What he feared was being forced to kill the people he cared about with his own hands—a fate far more terrifying than death.

Seeing that Cao Zhenghe had submitted, Xia Wuyang released his control. "Remember this feeling. If you ever have second thoughts, what just happened will play out for real. Everyone you care about will die by your own hand. From now on, you may call me Emperor."

"My Emperor, this old servant is willing to die for you!" Cao Zhenghe said, kneeling respectfully on the floor and sobbing uncontrollably.