209: Heaven's Oath

Chapter 207: Heavenly Dao Oath

"Beloved Consort, speak."

Cui Xiabing looked conflicted, glancing at her bound master, then at the calm Zheng Yi.

She could only flash an apologetic expression at her master and said:

"Your Majesty, we Cultivators revere heaven and earth the most, especially the Heavenly Dao."

"During the Spiritual Qi tide more than three thousand years ago, the Heavenly Dao issued a warning, which is why Cultivators hold it in even higher respect."

"All Cultivators can swear an oath by the Heavenly Dao to possess absolute restraint."

"Once the oath is broken, one's Dao Foundation will be damaged, cultivation will never progress for a lifetime, and it is very likely that one will perish for no reason."

"Therefore, the Heavenly Dao oath is an oath made when Cultivators form an Alliance, become Dao Companions, or reach a certain agreement. Few Cultivators will break it casually."

"I see."

Zheng Yi's eyes flashed as he said, "Xuanjizi, although I do not know the value of a second-tier Spiritual Plant, it is certainly not ten Spirit Stones as you claimed."

"I couldn't care less about the rest. Use your Dao Foundation as an oath to swear to work for me. The time limit... ten years."

"Ten years?"

Xuanjizi immediately blew up and shouted angrily, "Why don't you just go rob someone?!"

"Ten years, how many decades does a person have in their life? This Immortal Master is a Cultivator..."

"I don't care about any of that."

Zheng Yi interrupted Xuanjizi: "You stole my ghost spirit grass and injured my subordinates. Not killing you is already giving Face to Bing'er, so don't be ungrateful."

"It's just ten years. To us Cultivators, this little time is nothing at all."

"If you are unwilling, then I can only lock you up beneath the underground palace forever..."

"What? You...!"

Xuanjizi glared at Zheng Yi and gritted her teeth: "Ten years is too long, two years!"

"No, exactly ten years!"

"Five years, how about five years? Within these five years, I can teach you any knowledge of the Cultivation World. I will tell you everything you don't know."

"No, I said ten years means ten years, and you must tell me everything without holding anything back!"

"Eight years, how about eight years? Eight years is this Immortal Master's absolute limit."

"Ten years!"

"You..."

Xuanjizi said helplessly: "Ten years it is, but within these ten years, you must not force me to do things I dislike."

"For example?"

"For example... restricting my freedom, or forcing me to do certain things."

"That won't do."

Zheng Yi said: "Within these ten years, I can only promise not to kill you or send you to your death. You must agree to everything else for me!"

Xuanjizi's expression changed as she subconsciously looked at Cui Xiabing.

"Bing'er, is this the husband you found? The Emperor of Great Yu..."

Cui Xiabing said: "Master, this disciple is very grateful to you for leading me onto the path of Cultivation."

"However... Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Kin, and Master. Under the heavens, Your Majesty is supreme."

"Sigh, it seems this master was wrong."

Xuanjizi shook her head and said: "When I took you as a disciple, you were already fourteen years old, and the ideology of imperial authority was deeply rooted, something even the path of Cultivation could not shake."

"And in the few years after that, as your master, I only taught you for two years before continuing to roam the world. Our bond as master and disciple wasn't very firm..."

As she spoke, she smiled bitterly: "Originally, this master was even planning to take you to Snow Cloud Country."

"Snow Cloud Country?"

Cui Xiabing's expression changed as she said: "I'm sorry, Master, I will not go to Snow Cloud Country."

"I am already Your Majesty's Consort, and I have even given birth to an imperial prince for Your Majesty. How could I follow you to Snow Cloud Country?"

"You gave birth to a child?"

Xuanjizi widened her eyes, then shook her head and said: "You don't understand. Spiritual Qi is currently recovering in Snow Cloud Country, and the Arctic Palace... Sigh, never mind."

"Kid, I can swear an oath to work for you for ten years, but you must also promise this Immortal Master one thing."

"Oh, what is it?"

"Once your cultivation steps into the Late Stage of Qi Condensation, you must follow me to a place."

"Go to a place?"

Zheng Yi frowned and asked: "Is there danger?"

"Of course, that is the ruin of a Sect; it is definitely dangerous."

Xuanjizi said: "However, the benefits inside are beyond your imagination."

"Think about it, the ruins of a powerful Sect from over three thousand years ago—how abundant the Cultivation Techniques, Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and even the corpses of Cultivators inside must be!"

Zheng Yi said: "I refuse."

"W-What? You refuse?!"

"Correct."

Zheng Yi nodded and said: "However, I can promise you that I will dispatch a Late Stage Qi Condensation Cultivator to accompany you there when the time comes."

"A Late Stage Qi Condensation Cultivator?"

Xuanjizi frowned and said: "What do you think a Late Stage Qi Condensation Cultivator is? Chinese cabbage? You can get as many as you want?"

Zheng Yi said: "You don't need to worry about that. Just tell me whether you agree or not."

After pondering for a few breaths, Xuanjizi could only nod and say: "Fine, I agree."

"Then swear your oath."

"Then you have to untie me first!"

"Untie her."

Two Shadow Guards immediately stepped forward and untied the iron chains on Xuanjizi.

"Kid, you really are a qualified Emperor..."

Xuanjizi rubbed her somewhat sore arms, shook her head, raised her right hand, and said in a solemn tone:

"Cultivator Yu Xuanji, birth name Yu Xuan, swear by my Dao Foundation to serve Zheng Yuan...?"

"Wait a moment!"

Zheng Yi interrupted Yu Xuanji and said: "Change it to 'Great Yu Emperor'."

"Great Yu Emperor?"

Yu Xuanji found it baffling, but she still said: "Serve the Great Yu Emperor for ten years. Within these ten years, I shall not harm the lives of the Great Yu Emperor and his family and friends, and I must..."

A few breaths later, the Heavenly Dao oath concluded, and Zheng Yi and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You can return my Storage Pouch now, right?"

Zheng Yi puckered his lips, and Chen Liancang threw the Storage Pouch over.

Xuanjizi caught it in one swift motion and subconsciously swept her gaze over Chen Liancang.

"Another Cultivator?"

Chen Liancang nodded slightly, still remaining on guard in his heart.

After getting the Storage Pouch, Xuanjizi made a backhanded grab, and a wooden box appeared, which she placed on the table.

"Here, this is that ghost spirit grass. This can be considered returning it to its rightful owner."

Only then did Zheng Yi smile and say: "Since Fellow Daoist likes it, I'll gift it to you."

"Gifted it to me?"

Xuanjizi widened her eyes: "Do you know what this is? A second-tier Spiritual Plant, and it's one of the main ingredients for refining breakthrough pills. Just like that—"

Zheng Yi shook his head; he didn't care about any ghost spirit grass or breakthrough pills.

Nourished by seven streams of innate spiritual energy, things better than the ghost spirit grass would sooner or later grow within the Capital Region. Why would he care about a ghost spirit grass that had already been plucked and lost most of its medicinal properties?

"Fellow Daoist Xuanjizi."

Zheng Yi said: "As long as you loyally work for me, I will never treat you unfairly."

Cui Xiabing at the side also quickly nodded: "That's right, Master, His Majesty is a very good person!"

"In that case..."

Xuanjizi nodded and said: "Then please arrange a place of cultivation for this Immortal Master—one with relatively heavy Yin Qi."

"Relatively heavy Yin Qi?"

Zheng Yi subconsciously looked at Chen Liancang: "Old Chen, Xuanjizi will be left in your hands."

Chen Liancang immediately said: "This old servant obeys the decree!"

"Fellow Daoist Xuanjizi..."

Xuanjizi corrected him: "In the Cultivation World, those who achieve mastery first are teachers; you must address me as Senior."

"That's fine in front of this Immortal Master, since we are already our own people, but in front of other Cultivators, forms of address often tend to cause conflicts."

Chen Liancang was slightly startled, then nodded and said: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior."

Xuanjizi looked at Zheng Yi again and said: "You don't need to. You are the Great Yu Emperor, and your status speaks for itself."

"In this world, I'm afraid only Foundation Establishment Cultivators can firmly suppress you by a head!"

Zheng Yi said: "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Xuanjizi."

Chen Liancang led Xuanjizi away, and Zheng Yi's gaze finally relaxed at this moment.

"Beloved Consort, do you think this master of yours is reliable?"

Cui Xiabing said: "Your Majesty, although Your Chenqie has only coexisted with Master for two years, I know Master's character well—she is a person of her word."

"Furthermore, she has sworn a Heavenly Dao oath, so she surely will not break it."

"Very well then."

Zheng Yi nodded, then turned and left: "This matter is settled. Beloved Consort, return to the palace; I am going to go into quiet cultivation."

"Your concubine respectfully sends off Your Majesty!"

Tianshou Mountain.

Xuanjizi had a somewhat strange expression as she looked at the huge cave entrance and said: "Th-This is the Holy Land of Cultivation mentioned by the Emperor... The mausoleum of the Great Yu Grand Ancestor Emperor!"

Chen Liancang glanced at her and said: "I didn't expect you to know..."

"Of course this Immortal Master knows!"

Xuanjizi muttered: "It is rumored that the Grand Ancestor of the Great Yu Zheng Clan was also a Cultivator back then, and when he passed away, he brought all his treasures and cultivation into the mausoleum. It seems it really is true!"

"The reason Emperor Zhengyong was able to step onto the path of Cultivation is precisely because of this Great Yu Grand Ancestor!"

Chen Liancang didn't say anything, but respectfully said: "Senior, please."

"There is a vast underground palace beneath the mausoleum; Senior may choose a place for quiet cultivation as you wish."

Under Chen Liancang's guidance, Xuanjizi quickly understood the structure of the underground palace, as well as the Formations, defenses, and so on, praising them in wonder.

She personally found a suitable palace and began quiet cultivation.

In the battle of the ghost spirit grass, she had also suffered heavy injuries; if not for the protection of the Yin-frost, she would have had an extremely high probability of perishing.

Sitting cross-legged with bated breath and concentrated mind, she took out a Medicinal Pill from the Storage Pouch, tossed it into her mouth, and swallowed it.

Then she formed hand seals with both hands, recited the incantation, and began to Cultivate.

After a few breaths, Xuanjizi suddenly opened her eyes, filled with disbelief.

"Wh-What is going on?!"

"Why is the Spiritual Qi here... why is it so strong?!"

"It's even stronger than Snow Cloud Country, at least several times more!"

"This place... truly is a Holy Land of Cultivation!"

Xuanjizi said in shock: "That Emperor Zhengyong did not lie to me... and neither did Fellow Daoist Tian Xingzi!"

"Could it be that the Great Yu Emperor Zhengyong is truly destined by Heaven?"

Banishing the chaotic thoughts in her heart, Xuanjizi's expression turned solemn once again.

"No matter what, the top priority is to heal my own injuries first."

"Fortunately, it's only superficial injuries; I can recover in at most half a month."

"Last time, it was because this Immortal Master was careless that I was injured by a Mortal Martial Artist."

"Next time, it won't be so easy..."

Just as Zheng Yi, Xuanjizi, and the others were either cultivating quietly or healing their injuries, more than a month flashed by once again.

On this day, Tian Xingzi, bringing his little granddaughter Su Xi, also arrived at the edge of Tianshou Mountain.

At this moment, he was clutching a bronze gossip compass in his hand, its needle continuously shaking and pointing far into Tianshou Mountain.

Tian Xingzi suddenly raised his head and asked in confusion: "Tianshou Mountain... is where the dragon vein of the Great Yu imperial family lies. Could it be that the root cause of the Spiritual Qi recovery is all in this place?"

He continued forward, paying no attention to the surrounding environment.

"Halt!"

Suddenly, a cold shout interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he unexpectedly discovered that a squad of soldiers was standing right in front of him, and the leader had even drawn a long saber.

"This place is a royal Forbidden Ground; idlers are strictly forbidden from entering!"

Tian Xingzi's expression changed slightly, but he quickly reacted, smiling all over his Face as he said: "I-It's this old man who took the wrong turn; this old man will leave right now..."

"Screech...!"

Suddenly, a harsh screeching sound came from behind the soldiers, startling everyone present and causing them to instinctively look back.

Only to see a cyan giant bird circling in mid-air above Tianshou Mountain, which then slowly dissipated into the air.

This sight caused a large number of soldiers around Tianshou Mountain to raise their heads in shock, spreading far into the distance.

In places like the Capital, Wannian County, and Jinghai County, quite a few people also faintly saw it.

Tian Xingzi's pupils suddenly shrank, his hands continuously forming seals as he drew in a cold breath, saying in shock:

"Spiritual Qi surging, transforming into sound—a Spiritual Vein is born here!!!"