67: Chapter 67 The entire court is loyal to the emperor, Chu Wuyou

[The dust has settled.]

[The Crown Prince ascends the throne. Chu Sheng stands outside the Golden Throne Hall, watching the man who was once imprisoned walk up to the throne.]

[The new ruler, Ji Yuanzhao, reigns under the era name Yongchang.]

[The purge of the Four Great Families came quickly and ruthlessly.]

[The entire Qian Family was executed, and the brothers Family Head and Second Master Qian were put to death.]

[It is said that the playboy Qian Youcai was trampled into a pulp in the chaos of the army.]

[The Zhao Family, Sun Family, and Li Family, while not exterminated, had their titles stripped, their assets confiscated, and were sent into exile.]

[The three families were severely weakened and will not be able to recover within a hundred years.]

["The entire court is loyal to the Emperor; how could there be any disloyal subjects?"]

[Chu Sheng stands outside the hall, listening to the announcements of rewards coming from within.]

["Commander of the Imperial Guard Zhou Xiong, for meritorious service in protecting the Emperor, is conferred the title of Great General Protecting the Nation, with hereditary succession!"]

["The rogue cultivators, siblings Shadow Thirteen and Shadow Seventeen, for meritorious service in protecting the Emperor, are conferred the titles of Chief Consultants of the Yan Kingdom and granted a residence!"]

["Beast Sect Elder Sun Xing..."]

[The voice paused.]

["Posthumously awarded the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness, his son shall inherit the title."]

[Chu Sheng's heart sank.]

[Sun Xing had died in battle.]

[At the end of that True Transformation Realm battle, the Sun Family Ancestor launched a desperate strike, and Sun Xing blocked it for him.]

[His body was not found, leaving only a broken waist token.]

[Chu Sheng clenches his fists and takes a deep breath.]

[Fairy Yunxia stands not far away, still in her plain white Daoist robe, looking cold and ethereal.]

[She did not enter the hall to receive a reward.]

[The voice announcing the rewards finally called his name.]

["Chu Sheng, for meritorious service in protecting the Emperor and effort in saving the Emperor..."]

[Chu Sheng steps into the hall and stands in the center of the Golden Throne Hall.]

[The new ruler, Ji Yuanzhao, sits high on the throne, his gaze landing on him with a hint of gentle smile.]

[Key choice triggered: How to respond to the reward?]

[1. Since I have merit, I deserve a reward. Take the initiative to ask for it and strive for maximum benefit.]

[2. Accept whatever the Emperor grants. Accept humbly and leave the choice to the Ji Yuanzhao.]

[3. Do not accept the reward. Demonstrate high moral integrity, which might earn long-term trust.]

[4. Want to return to the Tianfeng Kingdom. Request to return to the homeland and stay away from the troubles of the Yan Kingdom.]

Chu Sheng looks at these four options and falls into deep thought.

Take the initiative to ask? Too utilitarian.

Although Chu Sheng wants benefits, he cannot show it.

Not accept the reward? That would be foolish.

What was the point of fighting with his life on the line?

Return to the Tianfeng Kingdom? What is there to go back for now?

Li Zhiyi and his daughter are safe for now.

Returning with his conspicuous identity will likely bring them trouble.

Now is the time to reap the rewards in the Yan Kingdom.

"Choose 2."

Chu Sheng makes his decision, "Accepting whatever the Emperor grants is the safest option."

[Chu Sheng cups his hands in a salute.]

["Your Majesty's great grace, this subject dares not make presumptuous demands. Whatever Your Majesty grants, this subject will accept."]

[Ji Yuanzhao smiles.]

["Good." He nods, "Then I shall choose for you."]

[He takes two items from his sleeve.]

[A bronze mirror and a jade ruler.]

[The two mid-grade profound artifacts from the Old Ancestor of the Li Family.]

["These two items are useless to me. Take them as a token of my appreciation."]

[Chu Sheng is stunned.]

[Mid-grade profound artifacts? Two of them?]

[These are artifacts that only a True Transformation Realm ancestor can fully utilize! He is only at the Ninth Grade of Qi Induction, and with these, is he trusting him this much?"]

["Your Majesty, this is too precious..."]

[Ji Yuanzhao waves his hand.]

["Precious? You blocked a True Transformation Realm strike for me, and the demon refining pot was shattered; what is two profound artifacts compared to that?"]

[He pauses, his voice softening.]

["Take them. Refine them slowly; you will find them useful."]

[Chu Sheng takes a deep breath and accepts the two artifacts.]

[The bronze mirror feels slightly cool in his hand, its surface shimmering with dim light; the jade ruler is warm and smooth like jade, with runes faintly visible on its body.]

[Two mid-grade profound artifacts are enough for him to use for a long time.]

["This subject thanks Your Majesty for your great grace!"]

[Ji Yuanzhao nods and adds, "Furthermore, for your great meritorious service, you are hereby conferred the title of Marquis Dingyuan, granted a residence, and given a fief of one thousand households."]

[Marquis Dingyuan?]

[Chu Sheng's mouth twitches.]

[Why does this title sound like he's being sent off to guard the frontier?]

["Chu Sheng, why have you not yet accepted the conferment?"]

[He dares not say more and thanks him again.]

[The reward ceremony ends, and the crowd disperses.]

[Chu Sheng walks out of the Golden Throne Hall and runs into Fairy Yunxia.]

["Fairy." He cups his hands in a salute.]

[Fairy Yunxia looks at him with complex emotions in her eyes.]

["Sun Xing..." She pauses, "Have you been to pay your respects?"]

[Chu Sheng shakes his head: "Not yet."]

[Fairy Yunxia nods, takes a jade pendant from her sleeve, and hands it to him.]

["This is what he asked me to give to you before he passed away. He said to keep it so that when you go to the Beast Sect in the future, someone will look after you."]

[Chu Sheng takes the jade pendant and holds it in his palm.]

[The jade pendant still carries a faint warmth, as if it were the body temperature of Sun Xing when he was alive.]

["Fairy Yun, do you really not want a reward?" he asks.]

[Fairy Yunxia shakes her head.]

["I came for Yue Jianli, and also for Li Chunfeng's entrustment. Now that it is done, it is time to go back."]

[She turns around, her white clothes fluttering as she walks out of the palace gate.]

[Chu Sheng watches her back for a long time without speaking.]

[One year later, at the Marquis Dingyuan's residence.]

[Yue Jianli has given birth.]

[A boy, with a loud cry and full of vitality.]

[Chu Sheng holds the child, smiling from ear to ear.]

["Low-grade profound rank."]

[Yue Jianli leans against the headboard, smiling weakly, "Not bad."]

[Chu Sheng nods.]

[Low-grade profound rank, in a place like the Yan Kingdom, is already at the genius level.]

[Many of those playboys from the Qian Family didn't even reach the yellow rank.]

["Many Children, Many Blessings" entry feedback: Cultivation base improved, alchemy skills enhanced.]

[Chu Sheng feels the spiritual power growing within him, as well as the alchemy insights that have appeared out of thin air in his mind, feeling emotional.]

[Although he still hasn't been able to break through to Condensing True Essence.]

[The threshold of the Ninth Grade of Qi Induction has blocked him for a whole year. But his alchemy skills have already touched the threshold of the second-tier high-grade.]

[His sword techniques haven't fallen behind either.]

[The Sixteen Swords of Yan Yun have been completely mastered, and combined with those two profound artifacts, he is almost invincible among those at the Ninth Grade of Qi Induction.]

["Give him a name," says Yue Jianli.]

[Chu Sheng thinks for a moment.]

["Chu Wuyou," he says softly, "I hope he lives a life free from worry."]

[Yue Jianli repeats it twice and nods: "Good name."]

[Chu Sheng holds his son, suddenly thinking of his daughter far away in the Tianfeng Kingdom.]

[Chu Qinglian.]

[low-grade earth artifact spiritual root, Azure Lotus Sword Immortal Body.]

[That is his first child, whom he has never met, but often thinks of.]

["When the Yan Kingdom is completely stable, I will go back to pick them up," he murmurs.]

[Yue Jianli hears this, says nothing, and just holds his hand.]

Chu Sheng looks at this scene and sighs deeply.

"Two children now. One earth rank, one profound rank. The "Many Children, Many Blessings" entry is truly getting stronger the more I have."

He looks at his son, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.

"Although that hurdle of Condensing True Essence hasn't been crossed, there's no rush. He's only in his early twenties, and there's plenty of time."

"Besides, with these two children, the feedback will increase in the future, and breaking through is just a matter of time."

"Marquis Dingyuan, two profound artifacts, a Dao companion, two children... This time can be considered complete."

"Let me see how far this simulation can go?"

"Continue simulation."

Chu Sheng watches himself in the screen, entranced.