fifth form

Chapter 3626 Gathering Together

In Changxin Palace.

Langguan Hu then held a scroll in front of the screen and slowly read it.

Just like the Empress Dowager back then, the Empress Dowager also lay behind the screen, relying on ambergris to refresh herself.

Unlike the Grand Empress Dowager who knew her fate and awaited death, the Empress Dowager was still fighting for her life.

No one survives a strike from Daojun's flying dagger, let alone one that pierced the Empress Dowager's head.

If it weren't for the supreme tonic pills that kept her alive, the Empress Dowager would have been dead long ago.

The Empress Dowager's initial way of seeking survival was to treat her illness, eliminate the effects of Daojun's flying knife that corroded bones and devoured souls, and restore her injured head. However, after undergoing various treatments, the Empress Dowager's way of seeking survival had shifted to relying on her Yang Soul Body to survive.

This is the current way to maintain the life of the soul even after the physical body has died, and it can even retain a physical form.

However, there was still a major obstacle in front of the Empress Dowager: the subjects of the repeated tests were either dead or insane, and none of them possessed a complete sanity.

The Empress Dowager attributed the cause to the loss of her cultivation and continued to study in this direction.

Zhang Xuezhou once reminded that the method of fusion and transformation of infants might have a positive effect. The Empress Dowager did not initially focus her research on this aspect. It was only when she found it difficult to find a method that she devoted all her attention to it. She even personally promoted Huo Qubing to enter the realm of supernatural powers as a reference case.

"No, that's not how you melt it!"

The sound of things being smashed echoed, accompanied by the Empress Dowager's painful wails. The new emperor, who had accompanied Zhang Xuezhou to Changxin Palace, couldn't help but quicken his pace.

"Dongfang Shuo, do you think the Celestial Court can cure Mother's illness?"

The new emperor asked the question with great seriousness.

The fusion of infants and the creation of Huo Qubing are things that can be done later, but the Empress Dowager's life is gone forever.

If possible, the new emperor hopes to treat the Empress Dowager first.

“Laojun is still mentally unstable, and there probably isn’t much they can do about his brain symptoms,” Zhang Xuezhou said.

“The Primordial Celestial Venerable bestowed upon me a portion of the Three Lights Divine Water. This divine water contains the Sunlight Divine Water, which can erode blood essence, bones, and flesh; the Moonlight Divine Water, which can corrode the primordial spirit and soul; and the Starlight Divine Water, which can dissolve true spirit consciousness. When the three are combined, they become a holy medicine for healing,” Zhang Xuezhou said. “If the Empress Dowager dares to take it, I am willing to give up the divine water!”

"This kind of holy medicine that uses poison to fight poison should only be suitable for damage when the body is in a balanced state. Once the body is out of balance, the curative effect is hard to say, and I'm afraid the Empress's body will not be able to withstand it!"

"The best healing medicine in the Celestial Court is the Life-Creating Pill, which I have also obtained. If you are not at ease with the Three Lights Divine Water, you can try taking this pill!"

"I've seen this pill at the Empress Dowager's place. I know it's a top-tier healing elixir for cultivators. It's a pity the Empress Dowager used it all up. This pill is excellent!"

The new emperor took a deep breath.

He knew that Zhang Xuezhou was shrewd and resourceful, and would surely gain something from the Celestial Court, but he never thought that Zhang Xuezhou could get his hands on the Celestial Court's best healing pills.

Even if he carried the Empress Dowager to the Celestial Court to seek medicine, the best he could obtain would be no more than this.

"Mother, Dongfang Shuo has obtained a divine medicine from the Celestial Court for you!"

He strode into Changxin Palace. Wherever the new emperor went, no one dared to raise their heads. Even the court official Hu Sui stopped reciting as required and lowered his head deeply.

The appearance of the crowd was not unusual. The Celestial Court arrived on a dragon with an imperial decree. The Great Han Dynasty no longer had the reasons for the Qin Dynasty's illegitimate succession. Dong Zhongshu's instigation made the new emperor's prestige unprecedented.

What appears to be merely a treaty of peace and mutual assistance concluded in the Celestial Court has provided assistance far beyond imagination, even though Zhang Xuezhou had never anticipated the extent of the change in mindset.

In the current court, he is the only one who can still joke and banter with the new emperor; it is almost impossible for others to maintain their previous mindset.

Even when she was seriously ill and sullen, the Empress Dowager had someone help her to her feet to bow.

"Quickly, quickly, Dongfang Shuo, look, Mother, this is the Life-Creating Pill!"

A pill the size of a longan was taken out of the porcelain bottle, and a blush appeared on the Empress Dowager's pale face. "This pill's radiance is restrained and subtle, almost reaching the level of a top-grade pill, far better than the Life-Creating Pill that the Empress Dowager used to have!"

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath of the medicinal fumes from the bottle opening.

The enticing aroma of the medicine invigorated her, and she no longer needed to distinguish between different types of pills.

Yi Shuo, who was standing nearby, handed over some warm water, and the Empress Dowager swallowed the pill in one gulp.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

She coughed incessantly, spitting out several pieces of bloody foam, and then the Empress Dowager was able to stand up without support.

"This elixir is truly miraculous!" the new emperor exclaimed joyfully. "Mother, how are you feeling?"

"Just a moment ago I felt my end was near, but now my condition has been stabilized," the Empress Dowager gasped. "Daojun's flying daggers are too dangerous; I'm afraid the elixirs won't be enough to keep Mother alive!"

The effects of the Supreme Tonic Pill and the Life-Creating Pill are similar. The Empress Dowager had taken the Supreme Tonic Pill many times, and she was well aware of the results of taking the Life-Creating Pill.

Moreover, Zhang Xuezhou and the others certainly did not go to the Celestial Court to ask for medicine to cure her illness, so the Empress Dowager did not insist too much.

"It's been a long time since Mr. Dongfang visited Changxin Palace!"

The Empress Dowager sighed and looked at Zhang Xuezhou again.

Although the Empress Dowager and Zhang Xuezhou met infrequently, she knew Zhang Xuezhou very well.

Zhang Xuezhou would never come to Changxin Palace unless there was a reason; if he did come, it must be for a specific purpose.

A single Life-Creating Pill was presented directly, and the Empress Dowager's many complaints vanished.

Zhang Xuezhou doesn't do any work, but when he does, no one can replace him, so there's no need to look at his daily performance or investigate his minor mistakes.

For the Han Dynasty court, as long as a person has the ability to bring merit, such a person can occupy a unique position for a long time. If they cannot bring benefits, even if they are diligent every day, it will not make any difference.

The Empress Dowager's many thoughts ultimately culminated in a nostalgic remark.

“My wife often accompanies the Empress Dowager in the palace. If the Empress Dowager cannot find me, she can have Yishuo pass on a message to me. I will come to Changxin Palace immediately upon receiving the message,” Zhang Xuezhou said politely, clasping his hands in greeting.

"You're busy, aren't you? Your wife often can't find you either," the Empress Dowager said.

"The capable should do more!"

The new emperor's interjection immediately extinguished the Empress Dowager's sentimental attachment to the past.

"You're not the kind of person who comes to my place for no reason. Did you find some trick to the Yang Soul Transformation Technique today?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"It can be considered a success," Zhang Xuezhou nodded. "If it can be progressed smoothly, there shouldn't be any problem in helping the Empress Dowager achieve success in her Yang Soul cultivation in the future!"

"I have already exhausted all my elixirs and efforts to push Xiao Huo into the Divine Power Realm, and I have no other means to help him!"

The Empress Dowager was aware of Zhang Xuezhou's intentions and cooperated with him.

To be honest, the Empress Dowager did not gain anything from this cooperation, but her efforts were real.

If it weren't for Zhang Xuezhou's Life-Creating Pill, she might have cursed him a few times in her heart.

"I have invited some friends to help Xiao Huo, and I hope that the Empress Dowager can step in to take charge and see where Xiao Huo needs to fill in the gaps!"

Dong Zhongshu could refine the Confucianism of the Nascent Soul Technique, Ren Anran could transform it into a cultivation method suitable for the Yin-Yang School, Zhang Xuezhou and Liu Xuan provided the conditions for cultivation, and Lei Bei and the new emperor could provide the pressure of sparring and verification, but the one who could truly create a realm technique suitable for Huo Qubing's breakthrough was this Empress Dowager.

Zhang Xuezhou was thankful that he had returned in time; the Empress Dowager still had some strength and was of sound mind.

The gathering of so many people provided the perfect opportunity for Huo Qubing to reach the realm of selflessness.