In the sleeping chamber, Xiao Mo opened his eyes.
Every time Xiao Mo's consciousness emerged from the Book of a Hundred Lives, his divine consciousness would be momentarily dazed, and his head would even experience tearing pain.
However, Xiao Mo had learned to be smarter during this period.
He no longer used an eight-hundred-fold time ratio like last time, instead choosing a time flow suitable for himself.
Then, according to his realm advancement and adaptability, he gradually increased the time ratio bit by bit.
Within the Book of a Hundred Lives, Xiao Mo felt that the third life was also approaching its final stage.
At most in four or five years, he would be able to help Ruxue dissolve the baleful qi, then coax Ruxue to undergo tribulation and transform into a dragon, using his sage's heart to pave the way for her.
Besides entering the Book of a Hundred Lives, Xiao Mo also spent considerable time on daily cultivation.
Because the Dragon Thunder Liquid had improved his physique, Xiao Mo's cultivation was indeed faster than before.
Now that three months had passed, Xiao Mo had reached the fifth level of Qi Refinement.Once he reached the eighth level of Qi Refinement, he would need to consider Foundation Building Pills in advance.
Moreover, he still had to think about how to secretly undergo tribulation without being discovered by Yan Shan'ao.
Additionally, what gave Xiao Mo a headache was that in a little over a month, he would have to marry Yan Ruxue.
As the empress, Yan Ruxue would definitely have to serve him daily, and he would even have to work hard for offspring at night.
When she was with him all the time, his cultivation time and time entering the Book of a Hundred Lives would certainly be reduced significantly.
So he also had to think about how to make Yan Ruxue go somewhere cool and stay there.
"Your Majesty."
Outside the sleeping chamber came Wei Xun's voice.
"Come in." Xiao Mo got off the bed, sat at the table, and poured himself a cup of tea.
Wei Xun entered the sleeping chamber and respectfully bowed, "Your Majesty, this old servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Just tell me what's the matter." Xiao Mo put down his teacup.
Under normal circumstances, Wei Xun wouldn't disturb him if there was nothing important.
"Your Majesty, our Zhou Kingdom's National Preceptor's residence has been built, and that fairy named Jiang Rou is about to enter the imperial palace. Would Your Majesty like to go welcome that Fairy Jiang?"
When saying this, Wei Xun looked at his own emperor with some concern.
Under normal circumstances, even if a dynasty became a sect's subsidiary, to give the dynasty some face, the National Preceptor would visit the emperor in the imperial study.
But having His Majesty personally go to welcome her was indeed somewhat inappropriate.
"This is probably the Prime Minister's idea again, isn't it?" Xiao Mo said calmly, "To curry favor with the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, the Prime Minister really spared no effort, not missing any opportunity."
Xiao Mo poured himself another cup of tea.
Having the National Preceptor's residence set up in the rear palace was already against protocol, even if the National Preceptor was a woman but Yan Shan'ao had directly agreed, and he hadn't even symbolically asked him, the emperor.
From this, it could be seen that the neighboring Yan Kingdom had indeed put considerable pressure on Yan Shan'ao.
Hearing His Majesty's words, Wei Xun dared not say anything and could only bow his head in tacit agreement.
"Fine, let's go welcome her." Xiao Mo stood up. He would endure for now, then later blow that old thing Yan Shan'ao's head off.
When he invited him to a banquet, he'd better wear several helmets.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Xun quickly responded, "This old servant will prepare the dragon carriage for Your Majesty."
"No need." Xiao Mo shook his head, "I want to take a walk, so I'll go on foot."
"Yes."
Wei Xun quickly called in several palace maids waiting outside the door to help His Majesty change clothes, then accompanied His Majesty to the National Preceptor's residence.
Along the way, Xiao Mo asked Wei Xun if there were any movements from neighboring dynasties, and whether Yan Kingdom had temporarily calmed down after Zhou Kingdom became a subsidiary sect of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
"In response to Your Majesty, Yan Kingdom has indeed calmed down considerably, but it doesn't seem entirely due to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect." Wei Xun answered, his expression carrying a hint of schadenfreude.
"Oh? Elaborate." Xiao Mo became somewhat interested.
"Has Your Majesty heard of Qin Kingdom?"
"Are you keeping me in suspense? Speak quickly."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wei Xun organized his thoughts, thinking about how to better explain to His Majesty.
"Qin Kingdom was initially just a small country in the Ten Thousand Laws Realm, with territory only half the size of our Zhou Kingdom. Qin Kingdom even had powerful ministers controlling the court. However, after that ten-year-old Qin Kingdom ruler ascended the throne, his methods were extremely shrewd and ruthless, completely unlike a ten-year-old child.
Within two years, he purged the entire court, gathered military power, reorganized officials, and personally trained the army.
Five years ago, Qin Kingdom began annexing other neighboring small countries.
Qin Kingdom's black-armored cavalry won battle after battle. That Qin ruler also used various methods to digest the annexed territories, while continuously expanding and sustaining war through war.
Just two months ago, Qin Kingdom annexed Wei Kingdom, with its territory now bordering Yan Kingdom.
Current Qin Kingdom's territory is only slightly smaller than Yan Kingdom.
With Qin Kingdom's wolfish ambitions, they will surely set their sights on Yan Kingdom. Yan Kingdom now has no mind to covet our Zhou Kingdom and must deal with Qin Kingdom."
"I never expected that what was once a small Qin Kingdom would become like this in just ten years. That Qin ruler is truly remarkable."
Xiao Mo felt quite emotional and the other party was still a ten-year-old child.
In comparison, how did Xiao Mo feel like he was useless?
"Indeed extremely remarkable."
Wei Xun nodded.
"This old servant has heard that in every major battle, the Qin ruler must personally charge into battle. However, because the Qin ruler's appearance is truly too delicate and beautiful, rumored to be more beautiful than women by far, and feeling that being too beautiful lacked intimidating power, the Qin ruler always wears a fierce demon mask when charging into battle arrays to conceal his extremely beautiful appearance.
In the most recent major battle, the Qin ruler took an enemy general's head among ten thousand troops. That song 'King of Qin's Battle-Breaking Music' has gradually spread, and the morale of Qin Kingdom's great army has reached its peak."
As he spoke, Wei Xun realized this wasn't quite appropriate and quickly corrected himself, "Of course! No matter how that Qin King is, compared to Your Majesty, he's nothing worth mentioning."
"..."
Xiao Mo's eyebrow twitched.
If he didn't know this old fellow was absolutely loyal to him, Xiao Mo would think he was being sarcastic.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Xiao Mo arrived in front of a palace.
This was originally a palace courtyard where a concubine lived, but now it bore the sign of the National Preceptor's residence.
Xiao Mo stood at the entrance, looking at the three characters "National Preceptor's Residence" hanging there.
Just as Xiao Mo was about to enter the National Preceptor's residence to take a look, a gentle breeze blew past, lightly caressing his robes.
Xiao Mo felt something and turned to look.
Not far away, a woman wearing a veil stood gracefully, gazing at him.