205: Xuanjizi

Chapter 203 Xuanjizi

"Xuanjizi?"

Zheng Yi took a sharp intake of breath and said, "Really?"

"This concubine cannot be certain either, but that trace of heterogenous mana guided out from Chen Li's body is identical to the Su Nü Yin Sha Gong that this concubine Cultivates; it is entirely Yin Sha mana."

Cui Xiabing said, "There are not many Cultivators in the entire Great Yu who Cultivate Yin Sha mana, and to be able to be attracted by this concubine's mana, it must be of the same sect and origin as the Su Nü Yin Sha Gong, otherwise it would not be so simple."

"Xuanjizi..."

Zheng Yi calculated silently in his heart; several years ago Xuanjizi had said she would return to Great Yu, but he didn't expect it to drag on until now.

What he expected even less was that she would actually try to steal his ghost spirit grass, only to be defeated by his subordinates.

Zheng Yi said in a strange tone, "I remember you saying before that your Revered Master's cultivation is around the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, just a step away from stepping into the Late Stage of Qi Condensation?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Furthermore, Xuanjizi has traveled the world for years, is most skilled at patrolling mountains and seeking medicine, and also has extremely rich combat experience?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then why... was she defeated and captured by Chen Li and the others?"

Zheng Yi said, "Also, your Revered Master is currently self-frozen inside a giant ice sculpture; is that your Revered Master's own method?"

"This concubine is also unsure."

Cui Xiabing smiled bitterly and said, "Revered Master and I only lived together for two years before she continued her travels outside."

"As for everything about her, this concubine does not know very much either."

"I only know that Revered Master seems to have several friends in Snow Cloud Country, whom I often heard her mention."

"The Spell to freeze oneself should have also been learned from Snow Cloud Country."

Cui Xiabing said, "Your Majesty, let this concubine go see her. Just in case it really is Revered Master, this concubine can still speak a few words with her."

"There is no need."

Zheng Yi shook his head and said, "You and your Revered Master have been separated for five years. In these five years, both of you have experienced many things; how much Revered Master-disciple affection remains?"

"Beloved Consort, rest first. After I handle her and ensure absolute safety, you can go identify her."

"If it truly is Xuanjizi, then Beloved Consort, you may step forward."

"If not, then I will have to use other methods."

"This concubine... obeys Your Majesty's will!"

After bidding farewell to Consort Cui, Zheng Yi returned to White Jade Capital and began preparing for how to deal with Xuanjizi.

Meanwhile, in Kun Ning Palace.

Head Eunuch Lu Fu walked quickly into the bedchamber and respectfully said, "Empress, the name for Consort Cui's son has been decided."

"Oh? What is it?"

Lu Liner quickly sat up, while a maid behind her was still holding Zheng Chengji and coaxing him to sleep.

"Replying to the Empress, for Consort Cui's son, His Majesty has bestowed the name 'Zheng Chengqian'."

"Zheng Chenggan? Gan? Qiankun? Gan connecting the heavens? He is the Son of Heaven; could it be that His Majesty wants to establish Consort Cui's son as the crown prince?"

"Replying to the Empress, it is not the gan of Qiankun."

Lu Fu quickly said, "It is the qian of latent."

"The qian of latent?"

Lu Liner only then breathed a sigh of relief and slowly said, "This Palace just said, how could it possibly be the gan of Qiankun."

"As for the character qian, it can be considered not bad."

"It seems His Majesty has great expectations for Consort Cui's child, but unfortunately it still cannot compare to this Palace's Ji'er."

"Forget it, this Palace is tired; wait upon this Palace to rest."

"Understood~"

The two personal palace maids behind her hurriedly replied; one held Zheng Chengji and went to the wet nurse's room, while the other supported Lu Liner onto the bed.

"That's right, Lu Fu, pass the matter of Consort Cui's son being named to Grandfather."

"This humble servant obeys the Empress's decree!"

The news of Consort Cui giving birth to an imperial prince once again stirred up a wave of disturbance in the imperial court, and many people were whispering and discussing it.

Although the Cui Family had been suppressed quite a bit, a centipede dies but never falls stiff.

Within the entire imperial court, there were still quite a few officials and factions related to the Cui Family.

With the birth of Zheng Chengqian, another faction of people secretly gathered together.

Passive, or perhaps active.

Under these circumstances, Zheng Yi also began to make preparations concerning Xuanjizi.

First, she was escorted to the depths of the underground palace and imprisoned there.

This place was a dungeon specially prepared by Zheng Yi for Cultivators. Abbot Fayuan was imprisoned here and spat out all the intelligence he knew.

At this moment in the underground palace, Xuanjizi, still frozen inside the ice sculpture, was locked up by layers of iron chains.

At the same time, a circle of grenades was tied around the ice sculpture, connected together with a fuse.

Around the dungeon, on the ceiling, and even on the ground, there were apertures, inside of which powerful crossbow mechanisms were set up.

As long as the target made any unusual movement, hundreds of sharp crossbow arrows could be shot out instantly.

Even if she was a Cultivator, without the protection of a protective mana shield, she would undoubtedly die!

Aside from grenades and crossbow arrows, there were also mechanisms like poisonous gas and rolling logs, waiting for the imprisoned person.

In addition to these basic preparations, Zheng Yi also awakened Chen Liancang, as well as six Innate Shadow Guards, to guard the surroundings.

Finally, Zheng Yi had six Blood Moon Gu crawl onto the ice sculpture, poised and ready for action.

Xuanjizi, a sixth-layer Qi Condensation Cultivator.

Her protective mana shield had been broken, and her Magical Artifact had also been confiscated. Even if she were released, with so many preparations, Xuanjizi would not be able to stir up any waves.

After finishing these preparations, Consort Cui had also recovered almost completely.

Choosing a warm day, Zheng Yi brought Consort Cui to the depths of the dungeon.

Upon seeing the ice sculpture for the first time, Consort Cui immediately walked over quickly.

"Revered Master!?"

"Your Majesty! It really is this concubine's Revered Master... Although her appearance has changed somewhat, there is no doubt she is this concubine's Revered Master!"

Cui Xiabing said in a strange tone, "She is a Middle Stage Qi Condensation Cultivator, how could she be captured by Mortal Martial Artists?"

Zheng Yi had carefully inquired about the scene of the battle between Chen Li and Xuanjizi at that time over the past few days, and explained, "I asked Chen Li, restored the battle scene at that time, and came to a conclusion."

"The reason why Xuanjizi was defeated and ultimately had to use this method to freeze herself has two reasons."

"First, she underestimated the enemy."

"She thought Chen Li and the others were merely ordinary Martial Artists who could be wiped out with a flick of her hand. At the first instance, she did not use a Magical Artifact to kill Chen Li and the others, but instead fought with ordinary Spells."

"In this battle, she lost the initiative."

"As for Chen Li and the others, knowing that Xuanjizi was a Cultivator, the moment they met it was a life-or-death struggle, leaving no trump cards behind."

Zheng Yi said, "Second point, grenades."

"Grenades?"

"Mn."

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "In order to have the Jinyi Guard focus on protecting those Spiritual Plants, I equipped all of them with grenades."

"Chen Li was forced back by Xuanjizi during close-quarters combat, but took advantage of that opportunity to throw two grenades at Xuanjizi's feet."

"Xuanjizi at the time did not know what those things were, causing the grenades to explode close to her and directly shattering her protective mana shield."

"This was also the most fundamental reason for her failure."

"Had it not been for her underestimating the enemy, had it not been for Chen Li and the others being equipped with a large number of grenades, Xuanjizi could have completely massacred Chen Li and the others."

"Even if Chen Li is an Innate Realm Martial Artist, he is by no means Xuanjizi's match!"

Cui Xiabing respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this concubine has an unbefitting request here, and asks Your Majesty to grant it."

"Oh? What matter?"

"This concubine asks Your Majesty... to spare Revered Master, is that alright?"

Cui Xiabing said, "After all, she is this concubine's Revered Master, and has the grace of imparting the Dao..."

Zheng Yi grabbed Cui Xiabing's small hand and said, "What kind of words is Beloved Consort saying?"

"Your Revered Master is naturally also my Revered Master, how could I harm my own Revered Master?"

Zheng Yi said, "It's just that I don't know how this ice sculpture protecting Xuanjizi should be resolved?"

"Should we wait for it to melt on its own, or should I have someone try explosives?"

"Absolutely not, Your Majesty!"

Cui Xiabing hurriedly stopped Zheng Yi and said, "This concubine seems to have heard Revered Master mention this Spell before, let this concubine try."

Saying this, Cui Xiabing walked up in front of Xuanjizi and carefully perceived something.

After a long while, she opened her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, this ice sculpture is condensed from the cold ice of Yin Sha Qi. Not only does it have the function of protecting oneself, but it also has the ability to heal injuries."

"Revered Master sealed herself with this Spell, healing her own injuries while protecting herself."

Zheng Yi shook his head and said, "The person who invented this Spell is a complete fool..."

"Why does Your Majesty say that?"

"Just like Xuanjizi, sealing oneself inside the cold ice might seem safe, but if one falls into the hands of an enemy, life and death will immediately be controlled by others."

Zheng Yi said, "Take myself for example right now, I am fully capable of completely suppressing her."

"And if one wants to kill her, it's even simpler: throw her directly into a volcano."

"I imagine that even if she is a Cultivator, she will undoubtedly die!"

Cui Xiabing could only say, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Can Beloved Consort melt this ice sculpture?"

"Right now?"

"As soon as possible."

Zheng Yi said, "Taking advantage of the time while your Revered Master is still heavily injured, I want to have a good talk with her."

Cui Xiabing could only helplessly say, "This concubine obeys Your Majesty's command."

"However, this concubine has just given birth now, and does not know how long it will take to completely melt it."

"I am not in a hurry; Beloved Consort can slowly perform it, with taking care of your health as the priority."

Zheng Yi said, "In addition, I will order the Shadow Guards to heavily guard this place, and the Blood Moon Gu will also accompany you to suppress this place together."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After arranging how to deal with Xuanjizi, Zheng Yi returned once again to White Jade Capital.

His time was also very tight.

Blood sacrificing the Reincarnation Nine Infant Fruit, refining the Thousand Illusion Glazed Painting, refining Puppet Xuan Ye—these all required a vast amount of time, yet could not be rushed. He could only slowly perform them, like grinding down iron pestles into needles.

Just like this, while cultivating and blood sacrificing these few treasures, time flowed like water and quickly passed.

One month later, Zheng Yi was awakened again by Liu Chengen.

This time Zheng Yi had already prepared beforehand; one month's time happened to be the time when Consort Yu and Consort Chan were due to give birth.

Sure enough, Liu Chengen waking him up was precisely for Consort Yu's childbirth!

"Your Majesty! Consort Yu is on the verge of giving birth, this servant had no choice but to wake you up in advance."

"Oh?"

Zheng Yi did not have any surprise and said, "I also calculated the time of Consort Yu's childbirth; how is it now?"

Within White Jade Capital, Zheng Yi slowly walked out from the underground palace.

Liu Chengen closely followed alongside, cautiously saying, "Replying to Your Majesty, the midwives have already gone in, but there is another matter this servant needs to report."

"What matter?"

"Lord Zhao Su Ling of the Taiyi Sect is waiting outside the hall."

"Zhao Su Ling? What is he here for?"

Zheng Yi's thoughts turned and he said, "Have him enter."

"Understood!"

"Summon the Taiyi Sect's Zhao Su Ling!"