Chapter 245: The gap between people is truly too vast

"Old Fourth? Why are you here?"

Li Ran had stopped in his tracks while passing through the bustling central district of the Imperial Capital.

This made Li Ji feel somewhat strange; the place was deafeningly loud, so how had the blind Fifth Brother discovered him when he hadn't even sensed the Fifth Brother nearby?

"I started a fruit planting project a while ago, and I'm here observing the market."

Li Ji, this kid, had his heart set entirely on making money. After earning military merit, he had exchanged it for a considerable fortune.

Then he began developing his own industry. This time, he wasn't doing long-cycle spiritual herb planting; having learned from his previous lesson, he prepared to plant fruits with higher yields.

According to Li Ji's investigation, this type of fruit was a best-seller and a hot commodity all over the country.

He had inquired through many channels and also learned a great deal of experience.

Moreover, if the planted fruits were of top grade, their value would be even more substantial.

If the economic benefits were good, he could even encourage the people in his fief to plant them as well.

Li Ji even asked Li Ran if he had any suggestions, after all, Li Ran was extremely intelligent—everyone knew that.

But this stumped Li Ran. Li Ran had been blind for many years; how would he know about market changes? He only understood some cultivation and military strategy.

He could only wish Old Fourth great wealth. However, he was very puzzled: Old Fourth had a fief and could collect taxes from it, so he could be said to have no worries about food or clothing, so why was he working so hard to make money?

Speaking of this, Li Ji sighed. He had lost too much on the spiritual herb venture last time and owed quite a bit of money.

Hearing this, Li Ran became even more puzzled and said, "Then why don't you use the reward money you got from your military merit to cover the debt?"

Li Ji smiled slightly and replied, "Since I have money, why not continue to develop and earn even more? If I used it to pay off the debt, wouldn't these past few years have been for nothing?"

Now Li Ran understood; this kid had a gambler's mentality—when he had money, he thought about earning more to win back the principal and interest, rather than paying off the debt.

If he earned, that would be fine, but if he lost, wouldn't he be even deeper in debt?

However, Li Ran didn't say this out loud, lest Li Ji lose money later and call him a jinx.

Seeming to see through Li Ran's thoughts, Li Ji said with an indifferent face, "Don't worry, I've accumulated experience and won't go into those crooked industries. Look here, the fruit sells so well, and the price isn't low either. This time I definitely won't lose. When the time comes, I'll invite you to a three-day banquet in my fief."

Since he had said so, Li Ran didn't dampen his spirits and waited for the banquet in advance.

Li Ji looked at Li Ran and asked what he was doing here.

Li Ran indicated that His Majesty had asked him to find something. He had already found it now and was going to present it to His Majesty. As for what it was, he advised Li Ji not to ask.

Li Ji was also a person who listened to advice. He knew that His Majesty Li Chen was easy to talk to, but the premise was that one hadn't offended him. If one offended him, there was only one path to death.

He didn't know why, but ever since Li Chen became Emperor, Li Ji felt the entire country seemed to have begun to transform. It wasn't as dull as before; whether in the imperial court or the Imperial Capital, everyone was performing their duties, a scene of a prosperous age.

As he spoke, Li Ji also asked Li Ran if he wanted to take the orbital train. He had bought two tickets, and these were "scalper tickets" bought at a high price.

It was said that the price of scalper tickets had been hyped up to five times the original ticket price.

First-class cabins were even harder to get, and the service in first-class was super first-rate, not only with chefs preparing gourmet food but also beautiful attendants providing thoughtful service.

Generally, those who sat in these seats were all nobles; without some status, one couldn't sit there.

Because the train track was a novel thing, the powerful and wealthy in the Imperial Capital were all keen to experience it.

This left those who wanted to travel unable to buy tickets.

The Ministry of Works was also running the trains overnight, day and night without stopping, and they were all packed with people.

Li Ji was a Prince, after all, and had bought a first-class ticket, preparing to go to Yunhai City to see how the market was over there.

After all, Yunhai City was a major economic hub in the central part of the May Tian Ce Dynasty, with roads extending in all directions.

Hearing him say this, Li Ji politely declined. What was the point of a blind man taking a train?

Many people who took the train did so to see the scenery, which he couldn't see at all.

"Sorry, my fault. I didn't think of that," Li Ji said, full of apology.

"It's fine, I've been blind for too many years, I'm used to it," Li Ran said dismissively.

Li Ji asked curiously, had he never thought about curing his eyes?

Li Ran had certainly thought about it, but the materials were extremely hard to find; he needed the essence blood of an Undying Phoenix.

Creatures like the Phoenix were rarely seen on the continent; they were all ancient creatures, so he felt the hope was slim.

Actually, as long as Li Chen started the Myriad Races War, it would be easy to find, but at the current stage, it was indeed very difficult to find a Phoenix, let alone an Undying Phoenix.

The two chatted for a while and then parted ways at this place, with Li Ran continuing toward the Imperial Palace.

On the way, he encountered another familiar "aura." The owner of this aura was Li Ling.

It seemed someone was secretly following Li Ling, but Li Ran and Li Ling weren't very familiar, and Li Ling was busy with something and hadn't seen him, so the two didn't greet each other.

When Li Ran arrived at the Imperial Palace, Li Chen had just finished the morning court session and was reading memorials in the Imperial Study.

The popularity of the orbital train was something Li Chen hadn't expected. This was originally just a measure he intended for the benefit of the people, but now the frequency was already in short supply.

Just the operation of these few days could be described as exaggerated in terms of income.

Not to mention those scalpers—were there really suckers buying at five times the price?

Li Chen felt it was absurd. Which sucker would buy them?

Actually, this sucker was Li Ji.

Li Chen also implemented the one-person-one-ticket system to prevent such things from happening as much as possible.

Minister of Justice Pang Jin also indicated he would crack down on scalpers to let the orbital train return to normal.

During the morning court, there were also court officials suggesting opening more railways to increase revenue. Li Chen felt it was unnecessary; these guys just felt it was novel for a moment and would be fine after a while, not to mention other roads were also under construction.

At this time, Li Chen was in the Imperial Study reading the memorial written by Lin Yue'e, which was about the investigation of that demon den and the construction of the Sect Affairs Department.

Eunuch Cui walked in cautiously, indicating that the Fifth Prince, Li Ran, requested an audience.

Li Ran, this guy, wouldn't come to the Imperial Palace unless he had something to do, so Li Chen let him in.

After Li Ran entered, he knelt and said, "Your subject has not failed the mission and has found the fifth volume of the 'Imperial Dragon Sacred Scripture'."

As he spoke, he took out a book with a dragon-pattern mark from his bosom.

This made Li Chen very satisfied, lamenting that Li Ran still had efficiency in handling matters.

Li Chen took the classic, his fingertips brushing over the gold-stamped ancient seal script on the cover, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

Li Ran also expressed that he would go through fire and water and would definitely share the worries for His Majesty.

The next second, Li Ran heard a sound of flipping pages coming from the Imperial Study, and the speed of flipping pages was very fast.

Li Ran said with a serious expression, "Your Majesty, this cultivation technique is extremely difficult to practice; a slight carelessness will lead to qi deviation. An ordinary person needs ten years of effort. With Your Majesty's talent, it can be mastered in three to five years, but please, Your Majesty, must proceed step by step and never be too hasty."

!

Perhaps fearing that Li Chen would be eager for quick success, Li Ran also said a lot of his own understanding. When he practiced it back then, he once had a qi deviation and almost died suddenly.

After speaking for about three minutes, the sound of flipping pages stopped.

Li Ran thought His Majesty had listened to his dissuasion, but who knew Li Chen would say, "This isn't difficult either; I've already finished practicing it."

Li Ran: "."

What? Did I hear that right?

It's only been three minutes, and Your Majesty, you say you've finished practicing?

According to the records in ancient books, this technique can't be practiced well without eight or ten years.

Li Ran felt Li Chen's talent was extremely high, and three to five years was definitely possible.

As a result, you say you've finished practicing in three minutes?

For other cultivators, let alone finishing it in three minutes, wouldn't it take more than three or four days just to read it once?

Li Ran felt for the first time that maybe there was something wrong with his ears.

Seeing that he didn't quite believe it, Li Chen slightly demonstrated a move from the "Imperial Dragon Sacred Scripture."

Inside the Imperial Study, the candlelight flickered.

Li Chen slowly stood up, and a faint golden halo suddenly appeared around his body.

That halo was extremely faint at first, like the first light of dawn, gradually becoming rich, as if countless tiny golden dragons were swimming around his body.

"This..." Li Ran felt the aura, and his expression grew even more serious.

Li Chen raised his hand and waved it lightly, and a dragon-shaped qi burst forth from his palm, condensing in the air without dissipating.

That dragon shape was lifelike, with distinct scales and lightly swaying dragon whiskers, and it actually emitted a low dragon roar.

The candlelight in the Imperial Study was stimulated by this dragon qi and suddenly surged three feet, illuminating the entire room.

Li Ran only felt an aura of ancient desolation rushing toward him, and that aura carried a heart-palpitating pressure, as if he were facing an ancient divine dragon directly.

His legs went weak uncontrollably, and he almost knelt to the ground.

"Your Majesty, is this dragon qi?" Li Ran's voice was trembling.

The scene before him made it hard for him to imagine. Who could have thought Li Chen had really succeeded!

Li Chen smiled slightly, his fingertips tapped lightly, and that dragon-shaped qi turned into dots of golden light and merged into his body.

His eyes had now turned pale gold, and it seemed as if golden dragons were swimming in his pupils.

"Not bad, this is precisely the essence of the 'Imperial Dragon Sacred Scripture.' Using dragon qi to temper the body and turning the dragon shape into reality, this technique is indeed profound. Every page contains a trace of the true meaning of the ancient divine dragon. Ordinary people find it hard to comprehend because they cannot withstand the pressure of the dragon qi."

Li Chen's hair moved without wind, and every strand of hair shone with a faint golden light.

What was even more shocking was that dragon-scale-like patterns faintly appeared under Li Chen's skin. Although they vanished in a flash, it was definitely not an illusion.

This was the "True Dragon Body" that Li Ran had mentioned. It was said that once one practiced to this realm, one could be immune to all evil and all poisons!

Seeing that Li Ran had been scared silly, Li Chen, in order to appease him, said, "Actually, I have already practiced the first four volumes. The fifth volume you brought just happens to make up for the deficiency. It's not as exaggerated as you think."

"What?" Li Ran's jaw almost dropped.

It would have been better if Li Chen hadn't said it; once he did, he found it even harder to understand.

You dare to practice an incomplete technique? Your Majesty is really not afraid of qi deviation.

Li Ran's heart was already so shocked he didn't know what to say. The gap between people was truly too vast.

Fearing that if he stayed any longer, he himself would suffer qi deviation, Li Ran took his leave.

Anyway, he knew his "mission" had been completed, and the big boss who issued the mission in the May Tian Ce Dynasty would definitely give him a certain reward.

The so-called reward was to take him on expeditions to gain a certain status, moving from the shadows into the light.

Then he would use his own efforts to take revenge on the Second and Third Brothers.

By then, he would never have to hide in a dark corner again.

After Li Ran left, Li Chen felt the true energy circulating in his body, feeling refreshed and clear-headed; he could finally be uninhibited!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 246 =====