In the square, Xiao Mo had just withdrawn his consciousness from the Book of a Hundred Lives when a string of text appeared in his mind:

[The host has fully adapted to the hundred-fold time ratio between the Book of a Hundred Lives and the real world.

The time ratio lock between the Book of a Hundred Lives and reality has been unlocked.

The time ratio between the Book of a Hundred Lives and the real world can be increased to 1000:1.

One thousand years in the Book of a Hundred Lives equals one year in the real world.

The host can use their own consciousness to select different time ratios.

Note: The Book of a Hundred Lives has limited protection for the host. Please decide based on your actual situation. If the host selects too high a time ratio, when withdrawing from the Book of a Hundred Lives, you may experience a trance-like sensation of a thousand years passing in the blink of an eye, which will cause tremendous impact to your soul.]

The text in his mind dispersed.

Xiao Mo felt joy in his heart.

The increased time ratio between the Book of a Hundred Lives and the real world meant he could obtain rewards faster.

Of course, the flow of time within the Book of a Hundred Lives remained unchanged, just like daily life.

So the Book of a Hundred Lives was concerned that after experiencing a thousand years within it, he would return to reality to find only one year had passed. This impact on the soul would indeed be great, possibly even driving someone mad on the spot but regardless, the increased time ratio was beneficial to him.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Mo stood up and began practicing sword techniques.

Over these days, Xiao Mo had already entered the first level of Qi Refinement.

Although his cultivation wasn’t slow, it couldn’t be called exceptionally gifted either.

After some more time, he should be able to enter the second level of Qi Refinement.

After all, the Qi Refinement realm was the easiest to cultivate. As long as one had spiritual roots, most cultivators could practice to the ninth level of Qi Refinement but going further, wanting to achieve Foundation Building, that was difficult.

Foundation Building was a major hurdle for cultivators.

After Foundation Building, even with Foundation Building Pills, they could only increase the success rate of Foundation Building by twenty to thirty percent. More still depended on oneself.

Moreover, there was only one chance at Foundation Building.

If one failed the first time, trying to build a foundation again later was not impossible, but it was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

If Xiao Mo were to make a comparison, it would be like his previous life’s national football team making it to the World Cup.

After Foundation Building came Opening Cave Mansion.

Qi Refinement, Foundation Building, and Cave Mansion were called the Lower Three Realms.

After Cave Mansion came Dragon Gate.

The Dragon Gate realm was the first realm of the Middle Three Realms and another difficult barrier.

"How exactly did Yan Shan’ao reach the Dragon Gate realm?" Xiao Mo felt somewhat helpless.

Xiao Mo felt that if he called him to the palace and secretly assassinated him, no matter how unexpected the attack, he would need to reach the Dragon Gate realm himself but compared to heavenly prodigies like Qingyi and Ruxue, Xiao Mo felt that with his cultivation talent, he truly didn’t know how many years it would take.

"Moreover, this world has even lost imperial techniques."

Thinking of this point, Xiao Mo sighed even more deeply.

When Xiao Mo left the Book of a Hundred Lives, he had gone to the palace’s book tower to look at some ancient texts.

Legend had it that in the very distant past, there were vague records that although emperors couldn’t use official arts, they could use imperial techniques but now emperors didn’t even have imperial techniques.

If that wasn’t just legend, if emperors truly could use imperial techniques in the past, then it must have been due to certain events that caused changes in the laws of heaven and earth, restricting emperors.

However, official arts still existed in this world.

By dismissing officials from their positions, emperors could strip away their mountain and river fortune.

The problem was that Yan Shan’ao had cultivated to the Dragon Gate realm through his own efforts, which had little relation to mountain and river fortune. While the Zhou Kingdom called itself "Great Zhou," it was actually just an ordinary dynasty.

Compared to the Qi Kingdom in the Book of a Hundred Lives, it was a small country.

Not to mention that the Zhou Kingdom’s national fortune was currently plummeting, showing signs of imminent collapse.

So even if Xiao Mo appointed a new prime minister, his realm would at most reach Cave Mansion perfection.

And if he dared to appoint a new prime minister, he feared that the next day palace maids would be strangling him.

"Forget it, I won’t think about these things. I’ll take it one step at a time, practice swordsmanship well, and try to get more rewards from the Book of a Hundred Lives."

Xiao Mo began focusing on sword practice.

An hour later.

Xiao Mo was drenched in sweat and planned to bathe at the neighboring Clear Spring Palace.

The spring water at Clear Spring Palace had the effect of relieving fatigue. Although it couldn’t compare to the spiritual springs of those sects, it was better than nothing.

"Your Majesty..."

Just then, Wei Xun’s voice came from outside the door.

"Come in." Xiao Mo placed the peach wood sword on the rack.

Wei Xun pushed open the door and walked to Xiao Mo with small steps, bowing, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister came earlier. This old servant said Your Majesty was cultivating the Way and shouldn’t be disturbed, so the Prime Minister left, asking this old servant to convey a few words to Your Majesty."

"What words?" Xiao Mo picked up a cloth to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"The Prime Minister said that Elder Huang from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect is expected to arrive at our Great Zhou imperial capital in about ten days. He hopes Your Majesty won’t forget to stop cultivating in a few days and personally welcome that Elder Huang."

Wei Xun said carefully.

Xiao Mo frowned, "Go tell him that I understand."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Xun was about to quickly withdraw.

"Wait."

"What are Your Majesty’s instructions?"

"Go find out what kind of person this Elder Huang is."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Lingxin Palace.

A woman with a graceful figure stepped forward and curtsied to the Empress Dowager, who sat in front with mature charm, "Subject Yan Ruxue pays respects to the Empress Dowager."

"We are of the same clan, no need for such formality." The Empress Dowager smiled and stepped forward to help Yan Ruxue up.

Looking at this talented woman from her clan whom she hadn’t seen for years, the Empress Dowager’s face was full of affection for the younger generation, "When you were small, you only reached my knees, but I never expected that Ruxue, you would grow up to be so graceful and beautiful."

The Empress Dowager pulled Yan Ruxue to sit beside her, "Speaking of which, when you were eight years old, Ruxue, you fell into the Canglang River. When I learned of it, I was nearly scared to death, but fortunately heaven protected you and kept you safe."

Yan Ruxue nodded with a smile, "I made the Empress Dowager worry."

"Great hardships bring great fortune." The Empress Dowager patted the back of Yan Ruxue’s hand, "Now you are the greatest talented woman of our Great Zhou. In the future, you will be our Great Zhou’s empress, and your children will be Great Zhou’s emperors."

Yan Ruxue smiled shyly, her cheeks showing hints of bashful red.

Seeing this charming and lovely appearance of the woman before her, the Empress Dowager liked her even more.

"Unfortunately, according to our Zhou Kingdom’s protocol, before marriage, you and His Majesty cannot meet. Otherwise, I would have His Majesty come over right now to see how you look. He would surely be completely enchanted by you.

What cultivation of the Way would he need? He would definitely focus all his thoughts on you."

Yan Ruxue still just smiled gently without saying much.

"What does Ruxue usually do at home?"

"This subject usually just reads books, occasionally cooks some food, trims flowers and plants, sometimes..."

Yan Ruxue answered honestly.

The Empress Dowager listened while nodding.

The two first chatted about everyday matters.

Then the Empress Dowager taught Yan Ruxue some palace rules.

Mainly about how to manage the inner palace, how to conduct oneself as the future Great Zhou empress, and so on.

These things could only be taught by the Empress Dowager, no one else could teach them.

Originally, the Empress Dowager wanted to test Yan Ruxue’s court etiquette as well but from the moment Yan Ruxue walked into Lingxin Palace, her every word and action, every gesture, made the Empress Dowager know that Ruxue was already qualified.

Finally, the Empress Dowager took Yan Ruxue to Chunhe Garden to admire flowers and fly kites.

For the Empress Dowager, besides consolidating the Yan clan’s position through Ruxue’s entry into the palace, having a woman from her own clan in this deep palace with whom she could chat from time to time would make things less boring.

"Oh! The kite string broke..."

In Chunhe Garden, just as the Empress Dowager and Yan Ruxue were chatting while flying kites, the kite broke free from its string and fell toward a nearby courtyard.

"Please forgive us, Empress Dowager." All the palace maids of Lingxin Palace knelt down.

"I was the one who broke it, not you." The Empress Dowager looked toward where the kite had fallen, which seemed to be in the direction of Leisure Heart Palace.

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, "Ruxue, could you please make a trip and help me retrieve that kite?"

"This subject obeys."

Yan Ruxue curtsied and went to fetch the kite with her personal maid, without asking for reasons.

After Yan Ruxue left, Huang Shangyi softly said beside the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, His Majesty is cultivating at the Inquiry Platform next to Leisure Heart Palace. Miss Yan hasn’t entered the palace yet. If His Majesty and Miss Yan meet, it might not be proper according to protocol. If word of this gets out..."

The Empress Dowager’s lips curved upward, "I only asked Ruxue to fetch the kite, I didn’t deliberately arrange for her to meet His Majesty. If they happen to encounter each other, it can only be called fate. What could the ministers say?"

Huang Shangyi: "..."

"Alright, don’t worry about this matter."

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager sighed.

"Ruxue is an excellent woman who understands the greater good. Her entry into the palace is for the prosperity of our Yan clan. When I entered the palace thirty years ago, my heart was anxious and uncertain, not knowing what kind of person the late emperor was.

Now, letting this child see her future husband first will at least give her peace of mind when she marries later."

"The Empress Dowager’s consideration for Miss Yan is Miss Yan’s good fortune."

"What good fortune is this?" The Empress Dowager smiled, "Whether they’re fated to meet remains to be seen."

Meanwhile, after bathing at Clear Spring Palace, Xiao Mo changed into fresh Daoist robes and immediately felt much more refreshed.

As for dragon robes, Xiao Mo hadn’t worn them in who knows how long.

To play a role thoroughly, his character couldn’t change.

Xiao Mo walked alone through the palace.

He didn’t have palace maids or others follow him.

Xiao Mo wanted to walk around by himself and clear his mind.

However, when Xiao Mo came to a garden next to Leisure Heart Palace, he saw two women standing under a tree, looking up.

One was dressed like a young lady from a noble family, the other like a maid.

Following their gaze upward, there was a kite hanging in the tree.

Just as Xiao Chun was at a loss, wondering how to retrieve the kite, she turned around, saw Xiao Mo, and said joyfully, "That Daoist master, could you please help us get this kite down?"

Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment before realizing the maid was talking to him.

At this time, Yan Ruxue also turned around and looked in Xiao Mo’s direction.

The moment Xiao Mo gazed into the woman’s eyes, his heart couldn’t help but tremble.

The woman’s oval face was as white as snow, so delicate that not a trace of texture could be seen, as if carefully carved from the finest mutton-fat jade.

Her nose bridge was graceful and small, below which were naturally red lips, with slightly upturned corners that, even without smiling, carried three parts gentle warmth.

Her neck was slender and fair, with elegant lines like a swan extending its neck. The curves beneath her collar, accentuated by her cinched waist, appeared quite striking but what made Xiao Mo’s heart tremble was not her appearance.

It was the woman’s pair of peach blossom eyes.

These peach blossom eyes were like two newly blooming peach petals gently floating on spring water, with eye corners that seemed carefully drawn, slightly upturned, containing a trace of moist rouge color.

Xiao Mo thought of a woman.

Their eyes really looked so similar.

The only difference was that Ruxue’s peach blossom eyes revealed playfulness and purity within their charm but this woman’s eyes seemed to have experienced thousands of years of vicissitudes.

Just one glance would inspire pity in people’s hearts.

As if she had endured thousands of years of loneliness, alone bearing countless nights of despair.

"Daoist, why do you keep staring at my young lady? How rude!" Xiao Chun frowned.

"Sorry, sorry, this poor Daoist was impolite." Xiao Mo smiled and bowed with hands clasped, "I’ll help you two get the kite down."

Xiao Mo stepped forward, leaped up, and in a few steps climbed the tree branches to retrieve the kite.

Although Xiao Mo was only at the first level of Qi Refinement, he could still handle such small matters.

As for exposing his cultivation, it was common for emperors to cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Even if Yan Shan’ao knew, he wouldn’t take it seriously, because in his view, emperors could never achieve Foundation Building.

"Here." Xiao Mo handed it to them.

"Thank you, Daoist master." Xiao Chun joyfully received the kite, "Young lady, let’s go back."

"Mm." Yan Ruxue nodded and curtsied, "Thank you, young master."

"Just a small favor."

Yan Ruxue raised her head, glanced at Xiao Mo, then turned and left.

Watching the two gradually departing figures, Xiao Mo couldn’t help but shake his head, "Those eyes, they really look so similar..."

On the way back to Chunhe Garden, Xiao Chun, holding the kite, suddenly realized something and asked puzzledly, "Eh? Young lady, why would there be a Daoist in this imperial palace?"

Yan Ruxue covered her mouth and laughed softly, "This is the palace’s inner court. Without His Majesty’s permission, ordinary men cannot enter. Even when His Majesty summons someone, they cannot move alone but must have palace maids accompany them. This person walks openly and alone in the inner palace, and since His Majesty currently enjoys cultivating the Way, why do you think there would be a Daoist in the palace?"

"!!!"

Xiao Chun stopped in her tracks, as if struck by lightning, her face extremely pale.

"Then young lady, this servant was just... was just rude to... to His Majesty. This servant..." Xiao Chun spoke incoherently, as if about to cry.

"It’s fine." Yan Ruxue smiled, "His Majesty isn’t that petty. He won’t hold it against you."

"Really? But young lady, how do you know?"

"Of course I know." Yan Ruxue’s eyes curved like crescents as she turned to continue walking forward, "I’ve known for a long time."

"Eh?" Xiao Chun hurried forward to follow beside her young lady, "Does young lady understand His Majesty well?"

"I suppose so," the woman nodded.

"Then what else does young lady know about His Majesty?"

"Emmm," Yan Ruxue thought for a moment, "He doesn’t look good in Daoist clothing."

Xiao Chun tilted her head, "Then young lady, what does His Majesty look best in?"

"Blue robes." The woman smiled like a blooming flower.

"He looks best in blue robes."