National Division

Chapter 88 Shen Xian: Martial Arts Acquired Seventh Level!
Xuanzheng Hall, side hall —

The night was hazy, and the lights were glowing.

Xue Zhihua said, "You will stay here for today. I will stay in the outer hall to protect you."

As he spoke, he took the Sumeru bag from Shen Xian, opened it with his consciousness, took out several bottles of pills, and handed them to Shen Xian.

Shen Xian thanked him, went to the bed, took off his shoes and socks, sat cross-legged, and the candlelight on the high table illuminated his face, which was sharply defined and almost like a knife.

He removed the stopper from the elixir bottle, poured the contents into his palm, and a small, red elixir, about the size of his little finger, rolled in his warm, white hand, releasing a fragrant aroma that contrasted beautifully with the red.

This is the Lesser Rejuvenating Pill.

Xue Zhihua looked at the young man in the blue robe, and her clear, melodious voice came: "There are many martial arts masters in the palace. You will be serving the Empress in the future. If you want to learn martial arts, you can ask them for advice. Martial arts and immortality are all about practice and verification. You can't just study behind closed doors."

For some reason, the young man who spoke freely about the world in front of the Empress felt a sense of contrast and... a strange sense of accomplishment under her protection.

Shen Xian said, "There should also be martial artists in the Qilin Pavilion, as well as some martial arts techniques and skills."

The most urgent task is to quickly improve both martial arts and immortal cultivation.

Otherwise, demons and monsters won't listen to his reasoning.

Shen Xian put the pill into his mouth, and the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill slowly dissolved.

Shen Xianmo channeled his inner energy, and the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill transformed into a warm current that flowed into his limbs and bones.

The originally abundant internal energy in the dantian surged forth like oil poured into a furnace, rushing towards the eight extraordinary meridians and the twelve-tiered structure, further expanding the meridians and strengthening the tendons and bones.

This was Shen Xian's first time using elixirs to aid his cultivation.

Xue Zhihua sat down on the pear wood chair beside the screen, and looked at the young man's face, which was very rosy due to the surge of internal energy, and her gaze was somewhat lost.

At such a young age, he possesses extraordinary talent; it seems he has devoted the time he spent practicing martial arts to learning strategy.

Thinking this, Xue Zhihua released her divine sense in the Danxia realm to guard the surroundings and protect Shen Xian.

In this way, half an hour passed.

Xue Zhihua's heart stirred, and in a flash, her beautiful figure left several afterimages in mid-air before she suddenly arrived at the corridor in front of the palace.

"Eunuch Gao." Xue Zhihua looked at Gao Yanfu and his party who were carrying lanterns, her eyes filled with surprise.

Gao Yanfu smiled and said, "The imperial wine we had with dinner earlier was ordered by the Empress Dowager to be sent over."

"I'll take the bus," Xue Zhihua said.

Gao Yanfu smiled slightly, then, as if he had caught something, asked with interest, "Mr. Shen, are you cultivating?"

As a martial arts master, Gao Yanfu had exceptionally keen hearing, which allowed him to clearly hear the sound of internal energy surging through his meridians.

Xue Zhihua said, "Mr. Shen's martial arts cultivation is at the first level, and he is currently cultivating."

Gao Yanfu smiled and said, "My family also has some knowledge of martial arts. If Mr. Shen is willing, he can come to my house to spar and exchange ideas on a regular basis."

It's right that his martial arts cultivation isn't high; otherwise, someone of his age with unparalleled strategy and profound martial arts cultivation would be a prodigy.

However, the Xuanwu Platform should also conduct a secret investigation to prevent it from being some old fogey trying to bewitch the saint.

Xue Zhihua responded with an "Mmm," and then took the imperial wine from Gao Yanfu's attendant.

Gao Yanfu smiled and said, "Then Miss Xue will protect Mr. Shen. I will report back to the Empress Dowager and select martial arts experts from the Thousand Bull Guards tomorrow to protect Mr. Shen."

Xue Zhihua nodded and said, "Please take care, Father-in-law."

As they spoke, they watched Gao Yanfu and his eunuchs leave with lanterns.

Inside the main hall, in the inner warm pavilion, Shen Xian had also reached a crucial point in his cultivation.

At this moment, as the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill dissolves within the body, abundant martial arts essence flows through the muscles and bones, tempering them.

The tendons are flexible, and the bones are strong.

The essence of martial arts stretches the tendons, making them more flexible, and tempers the bones, making them more rigid, until one day, the tendons are like pine vines and the bones are as pure as gold and jade.

The first realm of martial arts: the first three stages of acquired cultivation refine the skin and flesh, the middle three stages transform the tendons and bones, and the last three stages temper the internal organs.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Xian exhaled a deep breath, the medicinal power of the three Lesser Rejuvenation Pills gradually being exhausted.

Martial Arts Acquired Level Six!

It is truly a good way to cultivate oneself while serving in public office.

Shen Xian sighed, picked up another bottle of pills, took out a pill, and swallowed it.

The medicinal properties dissolved quickly in the mouth, flowing into the body to continue repairing the muscles and bones that had just been expanded.

The cultivator lost track of time until late at night, when the moon sank in the west and the sky turned pitch black. Only the orange glow of the lamps in the hall illuminated the scene, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

Shen Xian opened his eyes, calming the surging internal energy in his dantian, and feeling the flexibility and strength of his muscles and bones.

He clenched his fist, feeling power accumulating in his palm, enough to shatter stone with a single hand. Inside his internal organs, he felt his heart beating strongly and rhythmically, like a resounding bell, and he felt no fatigue whatsoever.

It can be described as a great achievement that has been built up over time, breaking through two major barriers!

Martial arts, seventh level of acquired skill.

With the backing of the royal family, his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

Of course, it is also related to the solid foundation he has built in the past.

Xue Zhihua's voice rang in Shen Xian's ears, her concern flowing like water: "It's getting late. You broke through two levels of cultivation today, although they were only minor realms, but you are still a bit weak. Tomorrow, practice martial arts to consolidate your cultivation. I've asked the palace servants to prepare hot water. Take a bath and rest."

"Thank you."

Shen Xian thanked him.

Although he hasn't reached the level of cleansing his marrow and removing impurities at this point, his body is still covered in filth and miasma, so he needs to wash it off.

Arriving at the warm pavilion next door, where the lights were on, Shen Xian removed his clothes, entered a wooden tub filled with water, and began to ponder the day's gains.

He met the Empress Dowager, submitted three memorials, and had his first encounter with the cruel officials such as Zhou Liang of the Dali Temple. His martial arts cultivation reached the seventh level of the Acquired Realm.

The merit increased by another 20,000.

While taking a bath, Shen Xian pondered the structure of the Qilin Pavilion. He first met with the twelve judges of the Qilin Pavilion to see how they selected the three lists: A, B, and C.

……

……

The next day, as dawn broke, sunlight streamed through the vermilion-lacquered window frames and shone on the bronze mirror, reflecting a tall, slender young man tidying his clothes.

Shen Xian dressed and went to the front hall, where he looked at Xue Zhihua, who was sitting on a pear wood chair with her eyes down, reading a book.

Hearing the noise, Xue Zhihua looked up from her book and at the boy, asking, "You're up?"

Shen Xian asked, "What time is it?"

"It's past 9 AM." Xue Zhihua smiled and said, "I thought you had just broken through to a higher realm, so you should sleep a little longer."

Immortals cultivate their spirit through essence, and even if they go without sleep for a month, they will be fine. Martial artists are much less adept at this.

At this moment, several eunuchs entered the hall, carrying basins filled with clean water and towels, among other things.

Xue Zhihua said, "First wash up, then eat, and call Eunuch Gao to select a few guards to accompany you."

After washing his face, Shen Xian took a towel and wiped the water droplets from his face, then asked, "How is the cultivation level of the Thousand Ox Guards?"

“The guards who are selected must be at least at the peak of the Acquired Realm, and most of them are at the Innate Realm,” Xue Zhihua said. “However, I guess you should be assigned a Grandmaster Realm or Innate Realm warrior. Grandmaster-level warriors usually hold important positions and are rarely assigned to serve as attendants.”

Only someone of the rank of prime minister, prince, princess, grandmaster, or even martial god would serve him.

Shen Xian nodded and said, "Second and third realm martial artists are enough."

His most pressing task now is to break through to the Innate Realm as soon as possible, and even to the Grandmaster or Great Grandmaster level.

Then, the eunuch served breakfast. Shen Xian wiped his hands with a cloth and invited Xue Zhihua to eat.

Xue Zhihua smiled and said, "I've already eaten. When are you going to write 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes'? I'm still waiting to read the second chapter."

"I'll try to finish the manuscript as soon as possible," Shen Xian said. "I'm thinking of writing a new book recently, but I'll be busy with other things in the future, so it won't be good for me to do everything myself."

Xue Zhihua said, "You can have Qilin Pavilion find some students from the Imperial Academy, give them an outline and a story, and have them write it down."

Shen Xian said, "I originally had this intention. To start a newspaper and simplify Chinese characters, I need people to help me with these things."

At that moment, the voice of an eunuch greeting him came from outside the hall: "Greetings, Eunuch Gao."

A moment later, Gao Yanfu, holding a silver whisk, entered the hall accompanied by several eunuchs, and said with a smile, "Mr. Shen is awake, isn't he?"

Xue Zhihua put down her book, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Eunuch Gao, we've just had breakfast."

Shen Xian stood up and went to greet him, bowing and saying, "Eunuch Gao."

Gao Yanfu smiled and nodded, saying, "The Empress has just woken up and is summoning Mr. Shen to the Qian Yuan Hall for breakfast."

Such favor from the Empress is truly the envy of everyone.

I couldn't help but recall the scene last night when, though it was late, the Empress repeatedly looked at those three memorials.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

He thought to himself, "The Empress is really an impatient person."

Gao Yanfu smiled broadly on his fair face and said, "Mr. Shen, I'll bring back the official robes. Please change into them first. Today, the Empress Dowager will be summoning several prime ministers from the Council of State and Prince Zhao to discuss matters. She may need Mr. Shen to accompany her."

Behind him were several young eunuchs carrying two sets of official robes, one for civil officials and one for military officials, as well as waist tokens, official documents, fish-shaped bags, and other items.

(End of this chapter)