So what if I have a few billion concubines while I'm cultivating immortality?

Qin Xiao wasn't annoyed, but his expression became more serious. "You think it's impossible simply because your knowledge is limited. The path I've embarked on is called 'Cultivation of Immortality.' Those who succeed in cultivation have lifespans far beyond what mortals can imagine. At the Foundation Establishment stage, one has a lifespan of three hundred years. And if one forms the Golden Core, like me, one's lifespan can reach over five hundred years."

Yu Qingyi's breath hitched slightly.

Five hundred years...

Throughout history, only a few emperors of the Yu Kingdom lived past sixty years old.

Five hundred years—what a long time that is!

"That's nothing."

Qin Xiao continued, "If one has the opportunity to advance further and break through to the Nascent Soul stage, one's lifespan can exceed a thousand years. As for the realms beyond that, living for more than ten thousand years is not an exaggeration."

Do you think that my use of force against you was out of lust for your beauty, or because I covet the kingdom of Yu?

"Mortal power and pleasures are nothing but fleeting clouds to me."

"The concubines I have taken in are all because they possess spiritual roots and can cultivate the Great Dao with me."

"By using the method of dual cultivation, both can help each other improve their cultivation."

"This is my true purpose."

Yu Qingyi stared blankly at Qin Xiao, her mind a complete mess.

Cultivation?

Spiritual root?

Dual cultivation?

These words were both unfamiliar and shocking to her.

Yet, it vaguely matched the ancient, ambiguous books she had read in the royal archives since childhood.

Those ancient texts did indeed mention vague concepts such as "the Qi of Heaven and Earth" and "nourishing life and longevity."

The records were too superficial and scattered, and I always thought they were just the vague fantasies of the ancients.

But what if what Qin Xiao said is true?

"you……"

She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to ask.

question?

The power Qin Xiao displayed had long surpassed the scope of "martial artist" or even "mage".

If they really wanted to annex the State of Yu, why go to such great lengths?

She even went so far as to arrange a marriage between herself and an empress from another country.

Believe?

But this fact is too subversive.

It overturned her understanding of the world that she had held for more than 20 years.

Seeing the mixture of doubt, shock, and confusion in Yu Qingyi's eyes, Qin Xiao knew he needed to give her time to process it. "Whether you believe it or not, the decision is yours."

As he spoke, he stood up, his tone returning to its usual calm, "I have said all I have to say. If you wish to continue ruling the Yu Kingdom, I will not interfere. Those military transfers are indeed for the sake of securing the borders of both countries and guarding against the northern barbarians. If you have any doubts, you may verify them yourself."

Having said that, he didn't linger and turned to walk out of the hall.

As he reached the door, he paused slightly, turned his head, and said, "By the way, I'd like to take a look at your royal treasury."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Xiao's figure transformed into a streak of light and quietly disappeared from the Phoenix Palace.

They headed straight for the most heavily guarded library deep within the palace.

Yu Qingyi sat alone in the empty hall, gazing in the direction where Qin Xiao had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

The soreness beneath her body still reminded her of the humiliation of the previous night.

But what kept echoing in his mind were Qin Xiao's words about "cultivating immortality".

Five hundred years...

millennium……

Ten thousand years...

If someone could really live that long, then what would this world, this land, mean?

A great emperor, who painstakingly managed and diligently governed the country.

All they ask for is a long and prosperous reign and a stable foundation for the nation.

Even the most stable dynasty only lasts for two or three hundred years.

It will eventually collapse.

But what if the emperor himself could live for thousands or even tens of thousands of years?

Then wouldn't this country be truly as solid as an iron fortress, with no fear of ever being overthrown?

Then he recalled Qin Xiao's unpredictable and supernatural abilities, such as flying and disappearing into the earth.

With such power, if they truly wanted to destroy the Yu Kingdom, they wouldn't need to go through such trouble.

There is no need to use marriage as a shackle to bind oneself to someone else.

Could what he said be true?

Do I really possess some kind of "spiritual root"?

Was it really just for cultivation that he... did?

A complex blush rose on Yu Qingyi's pretty face, and for the first time, a slight crack appeared in the icy hostility and humiliation in her heart.

Meanwhile, the imperial library of the Great Yu Dynasty.

This is a nine-story ancient tower with flying eaves and brackets, and the roof tiles are carved with auspicious beast patterns.

This place is a royal forbidden area, guarded by elite guards year-round.

No one may enter without the Empress's permission.

But at that moment, none of the guards noticed a figure silently descending to the top of the tower.

Qin Xiao stood in the top-floor attic, looking around.

The space here is spacious, with dozens of rows of tall rosewood bookshelves.

Various classic books were neatly stacked on top.

It contains strategies for governing the country, historical records and biographies, and military strategies.

There are also many miscellaneous books on medicine, astrology, and crafts.

Qin Xiao didn't bother to look through the ordinary books; instead, he simply closed his eyes.

The vast divine sense of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator spread out silently.

In an instant, a massive amount of textual and pictorial information flooded into his mind.

He filtered through them quickly.

I don't care about the principles of governing a country.

Historical records are omitted.

Military strategy and martial arts are irrelevant.

……

Suddenly, his divine sense detected something at the bottom of an inconspicuous bookshelf in the northwest corner of the seventh floor.

Qin Xiao opened his eyes, and in a flash, he appeared in front of the bookshelf.

His gaze fell on a few thick books covered in dust and wrapped in the hides of unknown animals at the bottom.

Take it into your hand and brush off the dust.

The animal hide cover has turned dark brown and the edges are severely worn.

The words "A Preliminary Exploration of Qi Cultivation and Guiding Exercises" are written in ancient seal script on the top.

Qin Xiao turned the page of the book.

Despite its age, the writing is still clear.

The opening lines read: "The heavens and earth possess extraordinary energy. A very few gifted individuals can sense this unique energy, drawing it into their bodies to strengthen their constitution, prolong their lives, and perhaps even gain extraordinary power. I have devoted thirty years to this study and have made some discoveries, which I record here in the hope that those with the right affinity will come to understand..."

Qin Xiao quickly browsed through the pages.

The book does indeed record the most basic methods for guiding qi into the body.

However, it is extremely superficial and contains many errors.

It broadly refers to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as "extraordinary energy".

The description of spiritual roots is vague, only saying "gifted talent".

The methods for inducing qi are even more rudimentary, consisting only of simple sitting meditation, breathing exercises, and visualization, which are inefficient.

Furthermore, improper guidance can easily lead to disordered breathing.

Later, some rudimentary "spells" were also recorded.

For example, making a candle flame flicker slightly, or making a light object levitate briefly.

Its power was appalling.

In addition, there are numerous speculations about how "cultivating qi" can make people "light and healthy," "sharp senses," "immune to all diseases," and even "live to the age of 120."

The whole book is more like a notebook written by a beginner who has just begun to perceive the Reiki world, based on his own exploration and imagination, and is full of uncertainty.

Qin Xiao then flipped through several similar ancient books next to him.

"Distinguishing the Subtle Aspects of Different Qi", "Illustrated Explanation of Guiding Qi", "Miscellaneous Treatises on Longevity"...

The content is largely the same, all revolving around the most basic level, and many of the viewpoints are self-contradictory.

"really……"

Qin Xiao closed the book, a look of sudden realization appearing in his eyes.

"What the Great Yu royal family received was only a very rudimentary and incomplete introductory inheritance of cultivation. Yu Qingyi and Yu Fengling relied entirely on their outstanding spiritual roots and talents to glean some insights from these fragmented records and step into the Qi Refining stage."

"Their so-called 'magic power' is just the crudest use of spiritual energy. Their so-called 'mages' are nothing more than ignorant Qi Refining stage cultivators."

"Yu Qingyi is so much stronger than Yu Fengling, partly because of the absolute advantage of her Heavenly Spiritual Root, and partly because she probably deciphered a little more accurate information from these ancient texts, or... she might possess something even more crucial?"

Qin Xiao scanned the entire library with his divine sense once again.

They even infiltrate walls and floors to check for hidden compartments or secret rooms.

A moment later, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

A hidden mezzanine was discovered beneath the floor in the very center of the eighth floor.