Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

"Rituals are established by people, and can be changed if they are no longer appropriate for the times."

Ying Xuan's tone was calm, yet it carried a certain flavor.

"It's lonely in the deep palace. Having something to do is better than being idle all day and creating discord. If you can achieve something, it will be good for the country and the people. As for rumors and gossip, I don't care, and you don't need to care either. If anyone attacks you on this, I will take care of it for you."

He glanced at the women and saw that although their eyes showed interest, they were also full of concerns, so he added another sentence.

"If you really have this intention, you can start with some less conspicuous professions, or cooperate with the Imperial Household Department and use the name of the government."

With the emperor's assurance, the women's minds immediately began to stir. Empress Lü pondered for a moment, her eyes gleaming sharply.

"If Your Majesty grants permission, I am skilled in needlework and embroidery. Perhaps I could try to run an embroidery shop and introduce the exquisite embroidery techniques from Jiangnan and Shu to Qin. I could also recruit folk embroiderers and teach them the skills."

Qu Ruo also became excited.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is quite interested in cooking and has studied some... some novel recipes from other places. Perhaps opening a restaurant or eatery would be popular."

Ying Xuan nodded.

"Alright. You can discuss the specifics of how to proceed yourselves. If you encounter any difficulties, you can seek assistance from the Minister of the Imperial Household Department. The funds can be drawn from my private treasury."

As they spoke, the group had unknowingly left the most bustling urban area. The terrain gradually rose, and the outline of an imperial city, which appeared even more majestic and imposing in the night, came into view.

The towering palace walls and the palaces with their flying eaves and brackets, illuminated by the sparse starlight and the huge lanterns at the palace gates, exude an aura of majesty and grandeur.

The palace gates were already wide open, and a dark mass of people knelt on both sides of the road. These were tens of thousands of eunuchs and palace maids who had been arranged there beforehand. There was no sound, and the order was impeccable.

A chief eunuch dressed in the attire of a high-ranking eunuch trotted forward, knelt down, and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome all the ladies! The new palace has been thoroughly cleaned and prepared; we humbly invite Your Majesty to enter the palace!"

Ying Xuan nodded slightly, and instead of riding in a palanquin, he led the concubines inside on foot.

Upon entering the palace gates, the sight before them immediately caught everyone's eye.

Beneath our feet lies a wide imperial road paved with smooth, polished blue flagstones, stretching into the distance towards the numerous palaces.

On both sides of the road are meticulously planned and arranged imperial gardens and rolling hills. With the help of lanterns along the way and the light shining from inside the palaces, you can see that countless rare flower and tree species have been transplanted there.

All the buildings are constructed with the finest hardwoods from the North, featuring intricately carved beams and painted rafters, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. They exude both royal grandeur and elegance.

The only drawback is that the newly transplanted flowers, plants and trees have obviously not fully adapted to the new soil and water, and many branches and leaves look somewhat wilted and lack vitality.

One of the concubines sighed softly.

"The palace is truly magnificent, but these flowers and trees... look rather pitiful."

Ying Xuan stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping over the slightly wilted plants, and smiled slightly.

"It doesn't matter."

He raised his right hand, his fingertips tracing lines in the air.

A complex and mysterious emerald green rune instantly condensed and took shape, emanating an extremely rich and refreshing life aura.

The rune trembled slightly, then transformed into countless tiny green light spots, silently scattering down and covering the entire palace grounds, and even the distant back mountain.

A magical scene happened.

All the flowers, grasses, and trees touched by the green light seemed to be receiving rain after a long drought, unfurling at a speed visible to the naked eye. The withered yellow leaves instantly turned lush and green, and the thin branches became full and strong.

What was originally just a flower bud blossomed brilliantly in an instant.

What was originally fruitless is now laden with abundant fruit.

In just a few breaths, the entire Imperial Garden and the back hill became lush and vibrant, with flowers in full bloom and the air filled with the fragrance of fruit, as if it had instantly returned from early autumn to the most vibrant time of spring and summer.

A rich aura of life energy permeated the air, making everyone present feel completely comfortable and refreshed.

The eunuchs and palace maids kneeling on the ground stared in disbelief, almost forgetting to breathe, and then lowered their heads even more deeply in awe.

The concubines were both surprised and delighted. They knew that His Majesty the Emperor was no ordinary man and possessed unfathomable supernatural powers, but witnessing firsthand such divine means of changing the world and instantly stimulating the growth of all things was still incredibly shocking.

"Your Majesty...this is truly..."

Lü Zhi murmured, unable to find the right words for a moment.

Qu Ruo's eyes were filled with admiration and amazement.

"Your Majesty is truly a divine being!"

After the initial surprise and shock, a subtle and oppressive atmosphere quietly spread among the concubines.

They looked at Ying Xuan, their expressions becoming complicated.

His Majesty possesses such godlike abilities that he can bring all things to life with a mere flick of his wrist, while they... are merely mortal beings, still struggling and slowly exploring in the initial stages of cultivation.

A vast gap, like an invisible chasm, suddenly and clearly stretched before them. Today, His Majesty, in a moment of whim, could bring withered trees back to life with a wave of his hand.

What about the future? When His Majesty's supernatural powers grow ever greater and his lifespan becomes longer, while they grow old and their lifespans are exhausted, will His Majesty still show them some gentleness and patience as he does now?
The difference between immortals and mortals is not so easily overcome. At that time, I'm afraid that even the chance to catch a glimpse of His Majesty's back in this deep palace will be slim.

Upon realizing this, the enthusiastic atmosphere immediately cooled down.

The concubines all lowered their heads. The slight joy they had felt from being able to accompany the night tour and admire the beautiful scenery of the new palace quietly dissipated, replaced by an indescribable fear, inferiority, and heavy oppression.

They remained silent, even their breathing became much softer.

This sudden shift and the enveloping collective emotion were so clear and intense that Ying Xuan sensed them almost instantly.

His gaze swept over their suddenly somber expressions and uneasy eyes, and he immediately understood what they were thinking.

Ying Xuan keenly noticed the sudden drop in mood among the concubines behind him, a silent fear and inferiority that permeated the air.

Just as he was about to speak to comfort her, something unexpected happened!

"Hush-hush-"

A chilling hissing sound came without warning from the depths of the Imperial Garden, accompanied by a nauseating, pungent stench.

Two massive, dark shadows, as thick as palace pillars and over ten meters long, suddenly darted out from behind the artificial hill!
Those were two giant pythons, their bodies covered in dark brown scales, their triangular heads topped with cold, vertical pupils!
They were clearly attracted by the sudden surge of life in this new environment. At this moment, they became ferocious, their huge snake bodies crushing over the newly planted flowers and grass, their blood-red mouths opening wide, bringing a stench as they rushed straight towards the crowd!
"Escort!"

"A ferocious beast!"

"Protect the empress!"

Exclamations and screams erupted instantly!

The eunuchs and palace maids who were kneeling on the ground were so frightened that they scrambled backward.

The few concubines who were less timid turned pale and screamed, instinctively shrinking behind Ying Xuan.

But the fastest to react were the Embroidered Uniform Guards and the Eastern Depot's inner guards who were protecting the surrounding area.

Almost the instant the giant python appeared, dozens of figures rushed out, their swords flashing and their shadows instantly weaving into a chilling net of light, slashing at the two enormous creatures without hesitation!
Several imperial guards bravely stood in front of the concubines, forming a human wall. The scales of the two giant pythons were exceptionally tough; ordinary swords and blades could only spit out a few sparks and make a screeching sound when they struck them, but they could not break through them!

The giant python, in pain, became even more ferocious. Its thick tail swept across, creating a sharp gust of wind that sent several of the leading Imperial Guards flying, crashing into the palace wall with a dull thud.

Foul-smelling saliva dripped down, corroding the bluestone slabs on the ground.

The scene became chaotic.

Ying Xuan frowned slightly, seemingly somewhat displeased with this sudden disturbance.

He did not turn around to comfort the frightened concubines, but calmly raised his right hand and made a light tap in the air towards the two giant pythons that were rampaging wildly.

There was no earth-shattering roar, no dazzling brilliance.

An invisible and intangible, yet overwhelming and terrifying force suddenly descended!
"Pfft! Pfft!"

As if struck by an invisible giant hammer, the two giant pythons, which were impervious to swords and blades, suddenly stiffened, and then began to explode inch by inch from their heads!
Hard scales, thick bones, and strong muscles are as fragile as rotten wood in the face of this power.

A series of muffled explosions rang out, and foul-smelling flesh and blood mixed with broken entrails splattered everywhere, instantly staining the ground within a radius of ten feet into a filthy dark red.

One second the ferocious beast was raging, the next it had turned into two unrecognizable piles of rotten flesh.

Dead silence.

All the screams, hisses, and fighting sounds came to an abrupt halt.

Whether it was the terrified concubines, the fiercely fighting guards, or the trembling palace servants in the distance, they all stared dumbfounded at the two huge piles of flesh and blood, as if they had been choked.

Ying Xuan acted as if he had casually swatted two flies, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.

He withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over the pile of stinking python corpses, and gave an order to Chu Yi, who was standing to the side.

"Chu Yi".

"Chen is here!"

Chu Yi immediately bowed, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tension.

“Go tell the head chef of the imperial kitchen,” Ying Xuan said calmly, as if he were arranging a trivial matter.

“Skin and debone these two pythons, take their best meat, and prepare it properly. Tomorrow, when the new palace is completed, we will hold a banquet for our officials, and the meat from these two pythons will be the main dish.”

Chu Yi was slightly taken aback, then responded.

"The minister obeys the order!"

He hesitated for a moment, then asked anyway.

"Your Majesty, this dish has a foul odor and may offend Your Highness's stomach..."

Ying Xuan glanced at him.

"This python was born in a place where spiritual energy gathers, and its flesh and blood contain a trace of spiritual energy. Eating it can strengthen muscles and bones and nourish qi and blood. It is especially helpful for those who are dull-witted and have difficulty drawing qi into their bodies, helping them to cross the threshold of entry."

"Instruct the imperial kitchen to prepare the food with utmost care, removing any fishy smell while ensuring the essence is preserved."

Upon hearing this, not only Chu Yi, but also the concubines behind him who were still in shock, had their eyes light up with an unusual gleam!
Strengthening muscles and bones? Helping others begin their cultivation journey? For those of them, trapped in the mundane world and struggling with the difficulties of cultivation, this was like a godsend!

Ying Xuan's gaze fell on them, and he added.

"Tonight, have the imperial kitchen prepare a small portion of python meat soup for each of the imperial concubines. Then, have a palace maid who knows some massage techniques perform a massage to help the concubines unblock their meridians and reduce the effects of the medicine after they have finished their meal."

"Yes! I will do it immediately!"

Chu Yi's spirits lifted, and he accepted the order and left.

He knew that His Majesty was about to give the ladies a real benefit.

Upon hearing this, the concubines' fear and inferiority were instantly overshadowed by immense joy.

Lu Zhi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and Qu Ruo's cheeks flushed slightly with excitement.

His Majesty not only possesses unparalleled supernatural powers, but also always thinks of them!
The chasm between immortals and mortals doesn't seem to be entirely insurmountable.

After dealing with the giant python, Ying Xuan turned his attention back to the brand-new palace.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes slightly closed, and an invisible divine sense instantly covered the entire palace, permeating every brick, tile, beam, and foundation.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Fancy."

He whispered to himself.

Under the probing of divine sense, those seemingly magnificent palaces and pavilions revealed many problems in their internal structure.

Whether due to rushing the construction or design oversights, the stone lining in many load-bearing areas was not tightly packed, leaving numerous small holes and gaps.

Some of the corridor's support points are subjected to uneven stress.

He even felt that the location of some of the viewing pavilions was slightly out of harmony and failed to perfectly complement the surrounding mountains and water features.

"Bring the stone."

Ying Xuan spoke calmly.

Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot who was standing to the side, immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty, please instruct us on where to obtain the stone? This servant will immediately send someone to do so."

"No need."

Ying Xuan raised his hand, spread his five fingers, and grabbed at the location of an abandoned quarry at the northern foot of Mount Li, dozens of miles away!
Dozens of miles away, in an abandoned quarry, huge piles of waste stones seemed to be seized by an invisible giant hand, instantly rising from the ground and turning into streaks of gray-white light that tore through the night sky and flew towards the palace!
In just a few breaths, dozens of huge rocks of varying sizes and sharp edges floated above the palace, casting enormous shadows and bringing a heavy sense of oppression.

The palace servants and guards below were all horrified.

Ying Xuan didn't even glance at the boulders. His hands moved swiftly, forming intricate and profound hand seals. He uttered a low shout.

"change!"

A gentle yet powerful surge of magical energy, capable of transforming the world, rippled outwards. The suspended boulders began to soften and melt rapidly!
The hard rock transformed into a thick, scorching flow of magma, yet it was precisely restrained by an invisible force, preventing a single drop from spilling.

"go with!"

With Ying Xuan's finger guiding the flow, the molten rock flow was precisely injected into the holes and crevices in the palace buildings that had been detected by his divine sense.

They filled the gaps seamlessly, cooled and solidified rapidly, blending perfectly with the existing stone, becoming indistinguishable from it. The unstable beam and column foundations were reinforced by lava.

The corridor, subjected to uneven stress, has its support points reshaped by lava.

The pavilions, located in slightly off-center positions, were lifted by an unseen force and moved to more suitable locations, their foundations also being reinforced and stabilized by pouring lava again. (End of Chapter)