First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

The Imperial Palace, specifically the Zhengxin Hall, was where the emperor routinely summoned his ministers.

The Li sisters were stopped and made to wait aside while Prince Kang led Xu Mu inside to meet the emperor.

The emperor was over fifty years old, with gray hair, but he was in good spirits and had an imposing presence.

Beside him stood an old Taoist priest in a white robe, who was none other than the current imperial advisor.

In this world governed by Taoist principles, it is only natural to appoint a Taoist priest skilled in Taoist arts as the national advisor.

The Imperial Advisor's appearance here was probably to test him.

Xu Mu glanced at him and realized that the person was at most at the third level of Qi Refining, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

That makes sense; how could a cultivator with a higher cultivation level possibly accept staying in the mortal realm and losing thirty or forty years of their lifespan?

Cultivators in the Qi Refining stage typically have a lifespan of 120 years, while ordinary people only live to be 80 to 100 years old. The vast majority of cultivators would certainly not want to waste so much of their lifespan.

Those who are willing to serve as national advisors here have probably given up cultivation and the longevity of a hermit, choosing instead worldly wealth and honor.

The other party also recognized his profound level of cultivation and immediately bowed respectfully, saying, "I am Shang Yi, greetings to the Immortal."

Xu Mu nodded and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such formalities. We can simply address each other as fellow Daoists."

"It's my honor." The old Taoist priest nodded with a happy smile.

When the emperor saw that the imperial advisor was so polite, he understood that Xu Mu's abilities must be extraordinary.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Xu Mu politely bowed to the emperor.

The emperor did not show any disrespect and returned the greeting with a Daoist salute.

"Please sit, sir. King Kang, please sit as well."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After exchanging pleasantries, they took their seats.

"May I take a look at the dragon-patterned jade pendant in the immortal's hand?" the emperor asked.

Xu Mu nodded and handed him the jade pendant.

"It is indeed the dragon-patterned jade pendant that Emperor Xin Hong gave to my great-uncle. Did the immortal descend from the Immortal Sect? Is there any other important matter?" the emperor asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty need not worry. I have only come regarding the matter entrusted to me by my senior brother."

As Xu Mu spoke, he looked at the people around him.

The Imperial Advisor, being quite sensible, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. We shall take our leave now."

"Very well, you may leave." The emperor nodded.

Prince Kang said directly, "If there are no other important matters, I humbly request to return home."

The emperor had no reason to keep him, so he let him go back first.

Prince Kang breathed a sigh of relief, finally free of his burdens, and could go back to being a carefree prince.

In the end, only Xu Mu and the emperor remained in the hall.

"Immortal, please have some tea and tell me your story slowly," the emperor said politely.

Xu Mu nodded and slowly picked up his teacup.

Although he looked young at the time, his every move exuded composure, and his age could not be judged by his appearance.

The emperor also did not believe that he was so young, and naturally felt even more awe and envy.

Although he had elixirs prepared by the imperial advisor to nourish him, his health continued to decline day by day.

He had long understood that he lacked the spiritual root for cultivation, so he could not "cultivate a body resembling a crane"; he also understood that as a mortal emperor, despite possessing a vast territory, he was not particularly remarkable, and therefore had no right to seek elixirs or divine medicines for prolonging life or even achieving immortality.

Because he understands his own boundaries and knows many things that require reverence, all he can do is firmly grasp what he can control.

"Your Majesty should know how much sects value incense offerings?" Xu Mu said.

The emperor nodded and said with feeling, "That's natural. Many things in the court and among the people are caused by this incense offering."

"Does Your Majesty know why cultivation sects place such importance on incense offerings?" Xu Mu asked again.

"This... is just like how our country establishes three provinces and six ministries, and local prefectures and counties, to govern a vast territory. Although immortals do not descend to the mortal world, they govern everything in the mortal realm through incense offerings," the emperor said in a deep voice.

Xu Mu smiled and said, "The Emperor only knows half of it, not the other half."

"Oh? Please enlighten me, Immortal." The emperor bowed and humbly sought guidance.

"It's very simple, it's for cultivation. The incense offerings from the mortal realm can help immortals cultivate, and Senior Brother Yan Qing entrusted me to come here precisely for this purpose."

Upon hearing this, the emperor quickly realized what was happening.

"Could it be that my great-uncle has achieved enlightenment and is about to ascend to the ranks of immortals, requiring us to offer him incense?"

"That's exactly right."

"That's wonderful!" The emperor clapped his hands in celebration.

This was an incredibly good thing for their royal family.

After they offer incense to Yan Qing, they can use this opportunity to connect with each other. Since Yan Qing is a member of the royal family, he is essentially one of their own and will surely protect their dynasty and ensure its lasting stability.

Yan Qing can also use the incense offerings to continuously improve his cultivation, and the two complement each other, spiraling upwards.

This was exactly what Yan Qing had planned.

But will things really go as planned?

"Can His Majesty now offer incense to him?" Xu Mu asked.

The emperor paused for a moment, then sighed and said, "To be honest, the current turmoil in the court is probably due to this incense offering."

Xu Mu understood immediately after hearing this.

As he expected, the power struggle among the court factions represented the power struggle between factions within the sect.

This power struggle escalated to the issue of succession to the throne, seriously threatening imperial authority. Therefore, the emperor had no choice but to take action, punishing many people in an attempt to quell this trend.

The emperor would not allow the sects to manipulate him, because he would regularly offer sacrifices to Heaven, worshipping the Great Emperor Haoguang and the Divine Lord Fuyou.

Although these great gods will not respond to him, at least he can establish his legitimacy, maintain order in the mortal realm, and prevent being controlled by sects.

"Speaking of this matter, I have brought two people with me and would like to invite His Majesty to meet them."

As Xu Mu spoke, he introduced the Li family's story, mentioning the love and respect of the people of Shiqi City, and how Madam Li sacrificed herself to prove her loyalty.

The emperor, high above in the imperial court, was naturally unaware of these matters.

After listening, the emperor fell silent and earnestly said, "Please understand, Your Majesty. It is not that I am indiscriminate in distinguishing right from wrong, but the situation is complicated, and I have no choice but to make an example of someone to scare others."

"I understand." Xu Mu nodded calmly.

"I just happened to come across the Li family's situation and promised to give the two sisters some help. I wonder if Your Majesty has any compromise solution?"

Seeing that he was truly determined to stand up for the Li sisters, the emperor naturally couldn't refuse him.

Fortunately, Xu Mu didn't make things difficult for him; he just hoped for a compromise.

Whether Li Shijian was truly wronged is no longer important; this is the greatest cruelty of the matter.

The emperor thought for a moment and said, "I will issue another decree, considering Minister Li's meritorious service in governing Chengtian Prefecture and the people's love for him, to offset his crimes and pardon his family. Afterwards, I will find a pretext to compensate him with a thousand taels of gold. What do you think?"

Xu Mu paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's settled then."

The charge of treason cannot be dropped. Because of the special circumstances, it is no longer a question of whether the emperor will admit that he wrongly killed Prefect Li, but whether the fact that so many people have been killed means that everyone has been wrongly killed. Where is the emperor's authority?

Xu Mu understood this and stopped insisting.

After the emperor breathed a sigh of relief, he returned to the topic and asked sincerely, "The current situation in the court is complex. I wonder if the Immortal has any good solutions?"

"Your Majesty could try to enshrine Senior Brother Yan Qing in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Family incense is still incense, so perhaps we can make contact with him first," Xu Mu said.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" the emperor exclaimed immediately.

"My great-uncle is the only member of our royal family to be enshrined in the celestial ranks, and the only living elder. He has every right to be enshrined in the royal ancestral temple, and no one has the right to obstruct this."

He quickly came up with a specific plan and said sincerely, "This matter may require the cooperation of the immortal."

Clearly, he wanted Xu Mu, this immortal being, to endorse Yan Qing.

Xu Mu shook his head directly: "I cannot stay in the mortal realm for too long. This matter has been conveyed, and I should leave."

Just kidding, how could I possibly get involved in something so troublesome? I'd rather go back to farming.

His task was merely to deliver the message; how to offer incense to Yan Qing was none of his business.

The emperor quickly said, "Immortal, please don't be anxious. If I delay your cultivation, I will also feel uneasy. However, my clan has a cave with a spiritual spring inside. Perhaps you can cultivate there and stay for a while longer."

Xu Mu shook his head: "I've heard my senior brother mention this spiritual spring, but how effective can a spiritual spring from the mortal realm be?"

One spring is clearly not enough.

The emperor quickly added, "Our imperial family has ruled the Sui Dynasty for over eight hundred years and has amassed countless treasures. You may take a look, Immortal, and perhaps find something that catches your eye."

"Perhaps I should summon the Imperial Preceptor. After all, the Imperial Preceptor knows more about cultivation than I do, and he can see where he can help the Immortal."

Seeing his earnest attempt to persuade him to stay, Xu Mu felt that he didn't need to be too definitive and could consider it.