Chapter 516: Xuan Huang!

The Baishili from the King of Xu Yue!

The senior and junior brothers and sisters all leaned forward, eager to witness something extraordinary.

When Liang Qu once paid his respects to Yang Yang Dongxiong, he brought only some snacks, worth no more than three taels of silver.

Back then, he was poor—couldn't scrape together a hundred copper coins; the three taels were borrowed from Brother Xiang.

Who is the King of Xu Yue?

The Wu Sheng!

It certainly won't be meager.

Liang Qu set down Wen Wen Shi Yun, then turned and instructed: "Long Yao, go to the kitchen and check if the frozen milk is ready—bring it out for everyone to taste."

"Yes."

As Long Yao carried out a crystal basin filled with ice cream, Zhang Xu returned, both hands holding a three-tiered purple sandalwood chest.

Wen Wen Shi Yun had no interest in the Baishili; she picked up a small spoon, scooped a mouthful of the icy "frozen milk," her pupils dilated, her whole body shivered, then she stretched her neck and gulped it down.

Long Yao quickly poured a small bowl, lest the child eat too much and get a stomachache.

Zhang Xu withdrew his gaze and pulled open the sandalwood drawer.

"Please, Master Liang Shui, take a look."

The first layer was piled high with six exquisite items.

Dried meat, celery, red beans.

Dates, lotus seeds, dried longan.

All six traditional gifts of Baishi were complete.

The etiquette was thorough.

The Princess Consort said: "The six gifts were prepared hastily, so they are merely common precious plants—Master Liang Shui, please don't take offense."

"I dare not," Liang Qu bowed deeply. "I have taken your heir as my disciple, and the King of Xu Yue has taken me as a nominal disciple—how could a disciple blame his master?"

The Princess Consort looked toward Zhang Xu.

Zhang Xu slightly shifted his stance and pulled open the second drawer.

A golden glow seeped from the seam; as the treasures within were fully revealed.

A five-petaled golden lotus came into view.

The golden lotus shimmered with a clear golden radiance, reflecting upon the box like rippling water—extraordinarily divine.

"A fifth-rank Soul Golden Lotus!"

Liang Qu's pupils contracted slightly.

He recognized this object.

Soul Golden Lotus!

Like the longevity peach, only the Great Shun imperial court has a stable method of producing it, using it to reward meritorious ministers.

Two major merits per leaf, yet even the lowest-grade Soul Golden Lotus—with three leaves—requires six major merits to exchange.

The one before us has five petals—that is fifth rank. In other words, what lies before me is a flower worth ten major merits!

Its effect is simple and brutal.

Enhances the strength of the spiritual soul!

Smoke of War is fundamentally the stage where will and body unite, guiding the "essence" to evolve and transform.

Vein-Marrow Jade Fluid has miraculous effects on opening meridians—it temporarily boosts the will and spiritual soul, like adding lead weights during meridian condensation.

The Golden Lotus, however, is a permanent, fundamental enhancement!

Its effect may not be as dramatic as temporary boosts—perhaps not even half as strong—but merely a permanent increase is priceless!

Xu Xu Yue stepped back half a pace and covered his eyes with his hand.

The Golden Lotus's glow was so gentle, yet he felt it blindingly brilliant, impossible to stare at!

The other senior and junior brothers and sisters were all stunned.

What generosity!

The Wu Sheng's gift—truly extraordinary.

Taking a disciple is much like raising a child—this younger brother's son hasn't even grown up, yet he's already reaping returns!

"Master Zhang, continue."

The Princess Consort waved her sleeve gently, reminding him.

Xu Xu Yue swallowed hard, remembering the purple sandalwood chest had three layers.

The second layer already held a Soul Golden Lotus worth ten major merits.

What could the third layer hold?

Everyone grew even more curious.

Zhang Xu didn't drag it out—he pulled open the drawer.

Sunlight flooded into the wooden box, dispelling shadows.

Inside lay a metal plaque, curved like a crescent moon, neither quite gold nor quite copper, resting still, gently swaying as the drawer slid open.

Two grand characters danced across its surface.

"Xuan Huang."

This…

Liang Qu and his senior and junior brothers and sisters exchanged glances, none understanding what it was.

Only Yang Yang Dongxiong, standing behind them, trembled inwardly.

Zhang Xu bowed and smiled: "This is half a portion of Xuan Huang Long Qi. The King of Xu Yue specifically instructed me to present it to Master Liang Shui."

Half a portion… Xuan Huang Long Qi?

Hu Qi and Xiang Xiang Zhangsong, with their shallow cultivation, did not know what Xuan Huang Long Qi was.

Xu Xu Yue nearly lost his balance, stepping back two full paces.

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong whispered: "Senior Xu, what is Xuan Huang Long Qi?"

"An item for ascending to the Patriarch realm," Xu Xu Yue replied succinctly.

An item for ascending to the Patriarch realm?

Xiang Xiang Zhangsong stared, dumbfounded: "Is our master going to become a Patriarch?"

Xu Xu Yue shook his head: "Ascending to Patriarch requires several steps—our master still lacks some, but it's not impossible."

All the senior and junior brothers and sisters in the hall deepened their breaths.

What a grand gesture!

Yu Dun and Lu Gang exchanged glances—they knew more, and a few suspicions arose in their minds.

This gift,

probably wasn't meant for the junior brother.

Xuan Huang Long Qi is the most balanced and harmonious Long Qi in the world, yet it is only a middle-grade Qi.

Given that the junior brother, already at Smoke of War, has shown potential for at least Patriarch, even Wu Sheng, why would the King of Xu Yue send a middle-grade Qi? It almost feels like suppression.

But for our master to use it—perfectly suited!

From both timing and cultivation level, it makes perfect sense.

Liang Qu steadied his turbulent thoughts, then noticed Zhang Xu's phrasing and asked respectfully: "Master Zhang, what is… half a portion of Xuan Huang Long Qi?"

Zhang Xu said: "Many special items of the court cannot be measured in major merits—or rather, cannot be exchanged solely by major merits.

The myriad laws of the world cannot be said to have no loopholes; the court can only try to set limits and make up for them, mostly through two methods.

First, designate specific exchange groups—for example, last year, Master Liang Shui received an imperial edict, and this year's list of virtuous talents entering the Ministry of Personnel—certain treasures are reserved exclusively for those on that list. The Soul Golden Lotus is one such treasure.

Second, keep them in separate records, allowing the Emperor to grant special rewards—for instance, the right of selection. Those who earn the corresponding rank of selection right may enter the Scripture Hall and choose one corresponding technique.

Long Qi of Heaven and Earth falls under both categories.

For ordinary people, exchanging for it is extremely difficult, fraught with obstacles. But when the King of Xu Yue ascended to sainthood, the court issued five Xuan Huang plaques all at once.

One Xuan Huang plaque plus ten major merits can be exchanged for one full portion of Xuan Huang Qi.

Today, only the Xuan Huang plaque is given to Master Liang Shui; in the future, he must still gather ten major merits himself to obtain a complete strand of Xuan Huang Long Qi."

No wonder it's called half a portion!

Everyone understood.

It's much like a special medium required to consume Long Qi.

Without the medium, even the finest Qi is useless—wasted.

If we truly consider it half a portion,

then this "half" of the Xuan Huang plaque must be worth far more than half of ten major merits!

The latter can be saved up; the former cannot be accumulated at all!

Liang Qu stepped quickly past the threshold, turned toward the direction of the Light-Flow Boat docking, and bowed deeply.

"This gift is too precious—I am overwhelmed with awe and fear."

"Master Liang Shui, no need for such formality," the Princess Consort comforted him. "Master Liang Shui must see clearly—this Qi is nominally given to you, but in truth, it is meant for Yang Zhanggu."

Master Liang Shui, you have only just established your Smoke of War bridge—you still lack two major realms before becoming a Patriarch; discussing consumption of Long Qi is premature. But Yang Zhanggu has reached the peak of his tiger-hunting—his door is right before him."

Yang Yang Dongxiong had no choice but to stand and thank them: "I am ashamed…"

The Princess Consort raised her hand to stop Yang Yang Dongxiong's words.

"If Yang Zhanggu fails to break through, then this strand of Xuan Huang Long Qi may still serve as a medium for Master Liang Shui to consume later—still well worth it."

Liang Qu froze: "Xuan Huang Chang Qi—as a medium?"

Consuming the long qi of heaven and earth requires a medium.

How can the long qi itself serve as a medium?

Matryoshka?

Zhang Xu bowed and explained: "For any other long qi, it is impossible to act as a medium. But Xuan Huang Chang Qi is the most balanced and harmonious qi under heaven, naturally suited to human physiology, and revered as the righteous qi of humanity.

The vast majority of people who consume Xuan Huang Chang Qi require no medium to guide it, still achieving top-tier results—eighty percent success rate, even higher.

Because top-tier is the peak, according to imperial research and verification, success rates reach at least ninety percent, and even failed consumption causes minimal damage to the foundation.

Thus, precisely because of this trait, Xuan Huang Chang Qi can itself serve as a medium for consuming other long qi, and its quality far surpasses ordinary mediums."

So it is!

Yu Dun and Lu Gang heard this secret for the first time.

The Princess Consort added: "A single strand of Xuan Huang Chang Qi can be divided into roughly three portions as medium. Many geniuses, even if they do not consume it themselves, still crave it deeply."

The small bowl was empty.

Wen Shi Yun had milk fat all over her mouth; seeing no one was watching, she jumped off her chair and sneaked over to the crystal basin to scoop another bowl.

Long Yao moved to stop her, but then saw the young heir clutching the bowl and handing it to the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort smiled, pinched Wen Shi Yun's cheek, and took the small bowl to savor it slowly.

Long silence.

Liang Qu faced the Flowing Light Boat, bowing deeply.

"Disciple thanks Prince Xu Yue."