I've announced that I'm destined to have many children, and my father has bestowed upon me

The night was as dark as ink, but the imperial study was brightly lit.

Li Qingcang, dressed in military attire, strode into the hall, the cold armor making a slight clanging sound in the silent palace.

He knelt on one knee, his head bowed.

"Your subject, Li Qingcang, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

On the dragon throne, Zhao Daoting's figure was shrouded in shadow and could not be clearly seen.

Yet there was an aura of profound stillness and imposing grandeur that made Li Qingcang almost unable to breathe.

This aura... is even more terrifying than before His Majesty went into seclusion!

"Rise."

The two simple words rang out, but the mountain-like pressure vanished instantly, as if it had never existed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Qingcang stood up, still keeping his head down, not daring to look directly at the emperor's face.

Zhao Daoting remained silent, and the imperial study fell into a deathly silence.

Every breath felt like an eternity to Li Qingcang.

He was filled with trepidation, completely unable to guess why His Majesty had summoned him so late at night.

Is it for Qingluan's marriage?

Should we reprimand or appease?

Just as he was lost in thought, Zhao Daoting finally spoke.

"Qing Cang, how many years have you fought alongside me?"

Li Qingcang's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty, I have followed you since the day you ascended the throne, and it has been twenty-six years now."

"Twenty-six years..."

Zhao Daoting's voice carried a hint of inexplicable emotion:

"Your Li family has been loyal and virtuous for generations."

"To be loyal to Your Majesty and to die for the Great Zhou is my duty!"

Li Qingcang said decisively.

Zhao Daoting slowly stood up from the dragon throne, walked down the steps, and came to Li Qingcang.

He didn't speak again, but simply extended a finger and gently tapped a table made of millennia-old cold iron beside him.

There were no fluctuations in true essence, and no leakage of spiritual power.

Just a very understated point.

laugh……

A soft sound.

That indestructible, cold iron table, strong enough to withstand a full-force attack from a Dao Palace Realm expert, was centered on the spot his finger pointed to.

It silently transformed into a handful of black powder, finer than dust, which then scattered onto the ground.

Li Qingcang's body stiffened abruptly.

He stared intently at the handful of powder on the ground, feeling as if he had been struck by lightning, his mind reeling with a tidal wave of emotions!

This is not a matter of overwhelming force!

This is... the annihilation of the Tao!

It was a higher level of law power that completely erased the essence of the cold iron!

Such a method is impossible for even a legendary Dragon Transformation Realm expert, let alone someone at the Fourth Extreme Realm!

This...this is...

"A Heavenly-Grade Cultivation Technique!"

The four words were practically squeezed out from between Li Qingcang's teeth. His body trembled slightly from extreme shock.

Only the legendary Heavenly Rank cultivation technique that points directly to the Sendai Path possesses such incredible power!

Your Majesty... Your Majesty has actually mastered a Heavenly-grade cultivation technique?!

No wonder!

No wonder his aura underwent a dramatic change after only six days of seclusion!

But why would His Majesty make me see this?

A terrifying and absurd thought uncontrollably arose from the depths of Li Qingcang's mind.

Could it be...?

Looking at his horrified expression, Zhao Daoting let out a wry smile.

"What you think in your heart is my answer."

boom!

Li Qingcang's mind completely exploded.

His legs went weak.

With a "thud," he knelt heavily on the ground, completely stunned.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty! You mustn't!"

His voice was trembling. This was no longer a reward; it was a death sentence!

"A Heavenly-grade martial arts technique is the foundation of the royal family's survival; it is an absolute secret that is never passed on!"

"To pass this on to an outside official is a grave crime that threatens the very foundation of the nation! I...I would rather die than accept such an offer!"

Zhao Daoting simply looked at him quietly, his deep gaze seemingly seeing through all his thoughts.

"I know what you're worried about."

"But from the moment Qingluan married An'er, your Li family was no longer a purely foreign vassal."

"You and I are ruler and subject, and also... in-laws."

relatives by marriage!

These two words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding in Li Qingcang's mind!

He suddenly raised his head and stared blankly at the emperor before him.

In an instant, everything connected!

My daughter's words, "An incredibly rich and incredibly secure future," still resonate in my ears!

That's it!

So this was His Majesty's true purpose!

The arranged marriage was not intended to humiliate or intimidate!

Rather, it was to break down the barrier between the ruler and his subjects, and to make the bestowal of this heavenly-grade cultivation technique legitimate!

It was to completely and unbreakably bind the Li family to the royal family's chariot!

My daughter... my daughter!

She actually saw through the emperor's schemes hidden deep beneath the nine layers of palace walls the moment the imperial decree was issued!

Li Qingcang felt a mix of shock, elation, and shame.

He prided himself on being a seasoned general on the battlefield, but in terms of vision and perspective, he was far surpassed by his daughter who never left the house!

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace!"

Li Qingcang slammed his head heavily on the ground without the slightest hesitation.

You treat me like a national hero, and I will repay you with the same respect!

Zhao Daoting nodded in satisfaction; what he wanted was Li Qingcang's absolute loyalty.

He extended a finger and touched Li Qingcang's brow.

"Concentrate and calm your mind."

hum!

A vast, boundless, and extremely profound torrent of information instantly flooded into Li Qingcang's mind.

The Great Dao Heavenly Evolution Scripture!

Domineering! Mysterious! Divine!

Countless cultivation concepts he had never imagined, and countless wondrous methods, exploded in his mind.

It completely overturned his understanding of cultivation over the past hundred years.

So this is how Lun Hai (a Chinese online community for people with disabilities) can be developed!

So this is how the Dao Palace can evolve!

He was so engrossed in the profound mysteries of this top-tier cultivation technique that he couldn't extricate himself, and his entire being entered a wondrous state of enlightenment.

After a long while, when he finally broke free from that state, Zhao Daoting had already sat back on the dragon throne.

Li Qingcang kowtowed again, this time with heartfelt reverence and submission.

"Your subject, Li Qingcang, is willing to serve Your Majesty with his life, even unto death!"

Zhao Daoting picked up his teacup, took a small sip, as if he had done something insignificant.

He put down his teacup and spoke casually.

"I passed this cultivation technique on to you for An'er's sake."

"Click!"

Li Qingcang's head, which he had just raised, froze instantly.

He seemed to be frozen in place, his kneeling posture instantly solidified into a sculpture.

What...what?

Who... gave it to me?

An'er?

The Sixteenth Prince?

That Zhao Chen'an, who couldn't escape the sea of ​​suffering and was considered a useless piece of trash by the entire imperial city?!

Although Li Qingcang was simple-minded, he wasn't stupid.

Upon hearing this, he knew that he and the Li family would be completely tied to the Sixteenth Prince from now on!

……

The next day, early morning.

As dawn broke, the entire imperial city was still shrouded in a hazy morning light.

The area in front of the Sixteenth Prince's residence was already bustling with noise and a vibrant, fiery red scene.

Hundreds of imperial guards, clad in bright armor and wielding long halberds, stood solemnly on both sides.

They formed two majestic and imposing long dragons, stretching from the gate of the mansion all the way to the end of the long street.

Following the Imperial Guards were hundreds of musicians dressed in festive red robes, carrying various musical instruments, ready to depart.

The wedding procession stretched as far as the eye could see.

The sedan chair, carried by eight men, had a golden roof and a red canopy, embroidered with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns, and was extremely luxurious.

With this kind of setup and scale, it's hardly like marrying a concubine.

Even when the Empress entered the palace, she was no different!

The entire imperial city was alarmed!

Countless ordinary people and monks poured out of their homes and stood on both sides of the street.

Pointing and gesturing at this incredibly luxurious team, their faces filled with disbelief.

A tall and handsome young man dressed in a bright red wedding robe was riding a magnificent white dragon horse.

The protagonist of this grand wedding was Zhao Chen'an.

He wore a hearty smile, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and toward the General of Chariots and Cavalry's residence.

The master of ceremonies raised the command flag high, took a deep breath, and with all his might, let out a loud shout.

"The auspicious time has arrived!"

"Let's get going! Let's go!"