Chapter 145: Winds Rise in the Imperial Palace

Yin Qi sat cross-legged, his eyes tightly shut.

As he circulated his energy, strands of blood continuously seeped out from the pores all over his body, quickly staining him into a bloody figure and forming a thick, hardened shell of blood.

The blood shell grew thicker and thicker, while the blood inside Yin Qi's body grew less and less.

If not for his powerful physical body and the Peiyuan Pill he held in his mouth, he would have long since died from excessive blood loss.

By nightfall, he finally drained all the blood from his body.

At this moment, Yin Qi felt unprecedented weakness; his consciousness was blurred, and illusions flickered incessantly in his mind.

He hurriedly visualized the Past Amitabha Buddha, quickly swallowed five Peiyuan Pills, and urged his bone marrow to produce blood.

As strands of new blood were continuously created, his physical body was like a withered tree meeting spring, once again radiating vigorous vitality.

…………

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, seven days had gone by.

Having consumed fifty Peiyuan Pills, Yin Qi finally completed his blood exchange and became a Martial Saint.

After the blood exchange, he felt he had undergone a transformation; when he opened and closed his eyes, even in the dark secret chamber, brilliant light flickered, reaching the level of "generating electricity from the void."

At the same time, his physique tended toward perfection; his muscles were firm but not protruding, presenting elegant lines.

His essence, energy, and spirit were restrained, lacking the previous sharpness.

At this moment, he seemed to have returned to the past; looking at him from the outside, he was just a scholar with no cultivation.

Yet, within his body, he contained a terrifying power.

He looked inside his body and discovered that the blood within was flickering with a silvery-bright radiance, just like flowing mercury.

His bones were as white as jade, his spinal marrow like frost, incomparably pure.

Marrow refining like frost, blood refining like mercury.

This was a Martial Saint.

Moreover, compared to ordinary Martial Saints, Yin Qi was stronger in both foundation and combat power, because the Martial Dao he practiced was created by synthesizing three worlds, making his cultivation more comprehensive and profound.

The Fengshen Martial Dao was merely rough, but it stood on high ground, and his cultivation was more profound.

"Finally cultivated into a Martial Saint."

Yin Qi whispered to himself, his face overflowing with a smile.

In the early stages of the Yang God plot, a Martial Saint was enough to sweep across the world, not to mention that he was not comparable to an ordinary Martial Saint.

In terms of combat power, he did not fear even high-level Martial Saints.

Compared to cultivation, it was equivalent to a Ghost Immortal who had passed one Thunder Tribulation.

Walking out of the practice room, Yin Qi called for Caiyun and Cai Yu, asking them to prepare bathwater.

Caiyun reported: "Young Master, the Grand Steward came yesterday and said the Duke was looking for you. Because you had instructed not to be disturbed, the Grand Steward said that after you came out of seclusion, you should go to the Xinwu Pavilion."

"Mm, I know."

Yin Qi nodded.

Soon, the bathwater was prepared.

Yin Qi took a hot bath, changed into new clothes, and pinned his hair with a jade hairpin.

Standing before the bronze mirror, his appearance was handsome, his eyes bright, his demeanor elegant—he looked like a refined young master.

………

Xinwu Pavilion.

Yin Qi bowed: "This child greets Father. You were looking for me?"

Yin Tiancheng gave a hum, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes as he couldn't help but size Yin Qi up.

He always felt Yin Qi was different, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Unable to figure it out, he didn't dwell on it and asked: "I heard you were in seclusion these past few days. Did you have any gains?"

Yin Qi nodded and said: "Some gains; I have thoroughly consolidated my cultivation. However, wanting to break through to the Marrow Refining Realm will likely take some time, and it might even take a long while."

Yin Tiancheng said: "You are still young; you must not be too hasty with breakthroughs. By the way, I called you here this time to tell you something. Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival; His Majesty will hold a grand banquet in the palace at night for all officials and their families, as well as envoys from various countries.

Your eldest brother has already gone to the military camp, so tomorrow you will accompany me into the palace.

Firstly, to see the world, and secondly, to build some connections."

Yin Qi raised an eyebrow and said: "Father, bringing this child into the palace might be somewhat inappropriate."

In previous years, Yin Tiancheng would either bring Yin Xuan, or Yin Hao, or at the very least, other legitimate sons.

Bringing a concubine-born son went against the rules.

Yin Tiancheng said: "There is nothing inappropriate. You possess the cultivation of the Innate Peak, which is enough to compare to a legitimate son. You are also fifteen years old and about to come of age; you need to cultivate your own connections. A good man needs three helpers; no matter what you do, the most taboo thing is to fight alone and fall into a situation of fighting a lone battle."

Since Yin Tiancheng had said so, Yin Qi naturally would not refuse.

He also wanted to enter the palace to see the Emperor of Gan and see Hong Xuanji.

………

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

The Lantern Festival.

Before nightfall, every household had hung up various lanterns.

Especially the merchants, in order to attract customers, hung up all kinds of lanterns, competing to see whose lanterns were better looking.

Watching lanterns and competing with lanterns were one of the programs of the Lantern Festival.

Clatter! Clatter!

The crisp sound of horse hooves had a rhythmic feel.

Yin Qi rode a Fire Cloud Horse, following beside a luxurious carriage, inside which sat Yin Tiancheng and Princess Xuanling.

Princess Xuanling and the female relatives of these officials were hosted separately by the Empress.

Not long after, the Imperial Palace was already in sight.

……

Yujing City was the center of the Tianzhou Continent and had always been the capital of various dynasties.

Although the Imperial Palace had gone through the flames of war, after generations of continuous construction, it had become very vast.

Just the rooms alone numbered over thirty-six thousand, with two or thirty thousand palace maids and eunuchs.

The main palace alone had thirty-six halls, including the Gangang Hall, Kunyuan Hall, Yangxin Hall, Rihua Hall, Yuehua Hall, Ziwu Hall, and Fengxian Hall; if there was no one to lead the way, ordinary people could walk in and never walk out.

Walking past the moat and through the city gate tunnel, they finally entered the Imperial Palace.

Everywhere the eye could see were golden and magnificent buildings; even the floor bricks were dark gold.

These dark gold floor bricks were not simple; during the firing process, the essence blood of fierce beasts had to be added, so that after firing, they could prevent spirits from drilling into the Imperial Palace through the ground.

After entering the Imperial Palace, Princess Xuanling was taken away by palace maids.

Yin Qi followed Yin Tiancheng toward the Gangang Hall; along the way, people continuously greeted Yin Tiancheng, and Yin Tiancheng responded familiarly, showing that he managed his interpersonal relationships quite well.

Whether it was civil officials, military generals, or powerful nobles, Yin Tiancheng could chat with them all.

As for Yin Qi, the crowd was extremely curious.

"Duke, which son is this? Why have I never seen him before?"

"Truly worthy of being the Duke's son, handsome and extraordinary; he will surely have great achievements in the future."

Facing the inquiries, Yin Tiancheng laughed and said: "This is my thirteenth, Yin Qi. Although he is only fifteen, he already has the scholarly title of Xiucai and will participate in the upcoming imperial examination. Everyone, please take care of my thirteenth in the future."

Although the crowd was puzzled as to why Yin Tiancheng would bring a concubine-born son, they still had to go through the motions on the surface and nodded one after another.

Yin Qi also, under Yin Tiancheng's introduction, kept greeting and calling people.

……

Gangang Hall.

When Yin Qi and Yin Tiancheng arrived, the inside and outside were already full of people.

Among them, only those of the fifth rank or above could enter the hall.

As one of the eight great Dukes, the position of the Yin Duke was very far forward, only below the many Princes.

"Brother Yin!"

The heir of the Li Duke, Jing Yuxing, was very surprised and stepped forward to greet him.

Yin Qi returned the salute: "Brother Jing, thank you for sending someone to inform me last time, allowing me to be prepared."

Jing Yuxing said shamefully: "Brother Yin, you are too kind. Last time at the Xishan hunt, we even owed you a debt of gratitude for saving our lives, but Yang Tong insisted on framing you, and we really couldn't persuade him. Fortunately, Brother Yin is fine, and it looks like your father also values you highly."

Yin Qi smiled and said: "It's alright, better than before."

Jing Yuxing said: "Come, Brother Yin, since it's your first time here, let me introduce you to some friends."

Yin Qi did not refuse: "Good. Then thank you, Brother Jing." ===== CHAPTER 146 =====