"When are we leaving this time?"
Huang Qingyue wiped her slightly reddened eyes dry, stopping her sad emotions, and hurriedly asked this sentence, afraid that Chen Xia would suddenly disappear again without taking her along.
Chen Xia put down his hand that was propping up his chin. Both hands were placed on his knees, and his whole person looked casual. He laughed lightly and said,
"I don't plan on leaving this time. I'm just going to cultivate in the imperial city."
Huang Qingyue was startled, then twitched her delicate nose, and said in a tone that she could not stop feeling extremely delighted, "Really not leaving?"
Chen Xia smiled and nodded, "I'm tired of traveling everywhere. There's no good place to go anyway, so I might as well just stay in the imperial city and cultivate with peace of mind."
"Great, great, great!" The corners of Huang Qingyue's mouth curled up. She said "great" three times in a row, obviously unable to restrain her happiness. There was even a silly smile on her face.
Chen Xia stood up, pinching his chin with one hand, looking at Huang Qingyue in her goose yellow skirt, thought for a moment, and laughed,
"You don't seem to have changed much."
The corners of Huang Qingyue's mouth smiled coyly and said shyly, "How is that possible? If it was according to normal human lifespan, I would be a granny already."
Chen Xia shook his head. "According to the lifespan of cultivators, you are still just a young girl."
"Hehe." Huang Qingyue laughed again and said with her hands holding her perky bottom while nodding her little head,
"I hope that's the case."
Chen Xia jumped down from the wall, nodded affirmatively, "That's how it is originally."
Huang Qingyue's current age was not even a hundred years old. She was indeed still a young girl among cultivators with long lifespans.
After all, that senior cultivator who had just built his foundation was already over two hundred years old.
Thinking of this, Chen Xia curiously asked again: "To what level have you cultivated the Profound Primordial Scripture I left you?"
Huang Qingyue scratched her cute face, somewhat embarrassed to reply, "I've only condensed fifty strands of Profound Primordial Qi, and haven't started transcribing the chapters yet."
Fifty strands?
Chen Xia was slightly surprised. Relying on his own cultivation base, he had only condensed thirty strands of Profound Primordial Qi. Huang Qingyue had cultivated from nothing to now and was actually able to condense fifty strands.
It was evident that Huang Qingyue's talent was not bad.
Seeing Chen Xia not speaking, Huang Qingyue became nervous at heart. She grabbed the hem of her skirt with her other hand, stammering,
"But...maybe I'm too stupid and always have trouble comprehending things. My cultivation progress is also slow, and my current strength is not strong yet..."
Speaking to this point, Huang Qingyue gradually lowered her voice and pursed her lips dejectedly,
"Am I very useless?"
Chen Xia was dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond. After a pause, he shook his head and said,
"It's fine, at least you are a good person."
Huang Qingyue pouted, not willing to admit defeat, and retorted,
"You are too."
"Thank you." Chen Xia politely nodded and smiled, "I am indeed a good person."
Huang Qingyue rolled her eyes, rendered speechless.
The two then began to stare at each other.
Chen Xia discovered that although Huang Qingyue's cultivation level was not high, her appearance had not changed much. This meant that Huang Qingyue had a long lifespan, at least starting from two hundred years.
Low cultivation level, but long lifespan.
This was a bit strange.
Chen Xia thought for a while and felt that it should be the effect of the Profound Primordial Scripture.
Some cultivation techniques not only can strengthen one's abilities, but also increase one's lifespan. Even the common martial arts techniques of Jianghu knights have such effects.
Therefore, Huang Qingyue must have increased so much of her lifespan due to cultivating the Profound Primordial Scripture.
Thinking of this, Chen Xia had to sigh with emotion - some cultivation techniques when practiced could lead to longevity, while other cultivation techniques when practiced would lead to short lifespan.
What he was cultivating now, the Great Turtle Breathing Art, was the best example.
It was because Chen Xia this problematic person encountered the problematic Great Turtle Breathing Art, so the two matched peculiarly well.
Negative and negative became positive.
The Profound Primordial Scripture was the proper cultivation technique for orthodox cultivators, so Chen Xia this problematic person was a bit slow cultivating it.
The early spring weather was extremely good, with the warm sun rising early and hanging high in the sky.
Huang Qingyue had a smile on her face the entire day as she followed Chen Xia, not saying much, just following him with a smile.
This scared the imperial eunuchs terribly. A person of such high status like Consort Huang was following this young man around with a delighted expression on her face.
These eunuchs had all entered the palace in the last two years, considered the younger generation.
Although Chen Xia was renowned throughout the world, if you look closely, he was already a figure from fifty or sixty years ago.
Even though images of him were still circulated around the world, those images from fifty or sixty years ago did not resemble him too much, let alone now.
Therefore, the young eunuchs did not recognize Chen Xia, but seeing Consort Huang's delighted appearance, they did not dare make rash guesses either, only daring to glance over from afar.
"What are you looking at, sneaking around like that?" A reprimand sounded.
The eunuchs were startled, and quickly lowered their heads, respectfully answering, "Your Highness, Consort Huang is entertaining a guest. We were curious to take a look."
"Guest?" The prince frowned. He really could not think of anyone who could be Consort Huang's guest.
Consort Huang was an existence that even his father could only treat respectfully.
Therefore, the prince also started to look over curiously. His expression grew more and more puzzled.
A young man?
And he looked even younger than himself, at most twenty-five or twenty-six years old.
How could a young man make Consort Huang so happy?
Could it be that he was Consort Huang's lover?
But in all these years in the imperial city, he had never heard of Consort Huang interacting so intimately with other men. At most there were just a few polite, perfunctory words.
Just who was this man?
The prince's mind spun rapidly. After a moment, he suddenly widened his eyes, thinking of an idea that even he himself felt inconceivable.
The State Preceptor... State Preceptor?!
This shocking idea burst out from his mind, and became more and more ingrained the more he thought about it, believing it more and more to be true.
So much that the prince's body started trembling.
What kind of existence was the State Preceptor?
He was a figure that even his father, the current emperor of Great Song, had to curry favor with with all his might!
Moreover, he was his father's sworn father. But judging by seniority, he would be his grandfather's generation.
The prince still remembered that when his dignified and majestic father mentioned that the State Preceptor was his sworn father, his expression was one of pride.
It was as if having the State Preceptor as his sworn father was his greatest honor as the ruler of a nation.
Moreover, his father had specially instructed him that in the future if he ascended the throne, if he had the fortune to meet the State Preceptor, he must curry favor with the State Preceptor no matter what.
Thinking to here, the prince became even more excited. He wanted to immediately go tell his father, but he stopped in his tracks and frowned slightly.
If he went and told his father now, then he might not have the chance to speak with the State Preceptor again afterwards.
Therefore, the prince hesitated for a moment before his expression firmed with determination. He wanted to speak with Chen Xia first and at least get acquainted.
"You guys go back. Don't stay here."
He first waved his hand to dismiss the eunuchs around him. Then he tidyed his clothes, suppressed the nervousness in his heart, and let out a breath. With a respectful expression, he walked towards Chen Xia.
When the prince took his first step, Chen Xia had already sensed it, but he did not take much notice and continued chatting casually with Huang Qingyue.
When the prince was thirty steps away from Chen Xia, he did not dare to continue walking. He stopped in his tracks and cupped his fists respectfully. He shouted loudly,
"I, Song Nan, pay my respects to State Preceptor!"
Chen Xia did not look at him, only casually asked, "Guessed it out?"
The prince did not dare raise his head to look at Chen Xia. He sincerely answered, "Seeing Consort Huang so happy, I made this guess. I boldly came to pay my respects to State Preceptor!"
"What if you had guessed wrong?" Chen Xia laughed lightly and asked. Still he did not turn to look at the prince.
The prince quickly responded, "If it was just a guess earlier, now I am certain!"
After all, only the real State Preceptor could remain so calm at this time.
"Mm." Chen Xia nodded. "Then you did guess correctly."
The prince let out a breath. He slightly raised his head and continued, "I often hear Father Emperor mention State Preceptor. To be able to meet you in person today, I was so excited that I boldly came to disturb you."
Only then did Chen Xia turn his head to size up Song Nan briefly. He laughed lightly and said, "You do look quite similar to Song Wei."
"Thank you for your praise, State Preceptor!" Song Nan quickly responded.
Even though Chen Xia did not actually praise anything.
It was natural that he resembled his father. What was there to thank for that?
"So you came just to see me?" Chen Xia said with a smile.
The Crown Prince respectfully said, "Father has missed Imperial Teacher for many years. Now that Imperial Teacher is back, Father must be extremely delighted. I originally wanted to tell Father right away, but was afraid of offending you, so came to ask first."
"Go ahead if you want to tell him," Chen Xia said indifferently.
The Crown Prince hurriedly turned and headed towards Song Wei's residence.
Huang Qingyue had been standing quietly behind Chen Xia the whole time, just listening without speaking.
According to their relationship, Chen Xia was considered her man, right?
Thinking of this, Huang Qingyue's pretty face flushed red again, but her expression did not change, pretending to be calm.
When her man was speaking, it was good enough for her to listen quietly.
Chen Xia stretched lazily, smiling wryly, "More greetings are coming next."
Soon enough.
The elderly Song Wei came rushing over, supported by Song Nan. He looked at Chen Xia excitedly and respectfully called out,
"Master!"
Chen Xia looked over the aged Song Wei and chuckled, "Long time no see."
It had already been fifty years of seasons coming and going since they last met at the martial arts tournament.
Song Wei kept nodding, visibly excited. His whole body was shaking due to old age. He replied,
"Fifty years since we've seen each other, Master."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Chen Xia's mouth as he asked, "Do you really want me to be back?"
Song Wei's expression froze and he was silent for a moment before honestly answering, "I didn't want it when I was young, but did when I grew old."
When Song Wei was young and arrogant, Chen Xia's presence weighed down the entire world.
Although as emperor Song Wei didn't say it explicitly, he must have felt quite unhappy in his heart.
But Chen Xia did have great kindness towards Great Song, which was worth Song Wei's gratitude.
Over time, Song Wei's attitude shifted from initial delight to current nostalgia.
"I didn't miss you much," Chen Xia laughed and replied. He rubbed his neck again and casually said,
"I came back this time to quietly cultivate and go into seclusion. I may stay for a long time. You don't mind, do you?"
Song Wei hurriedly nodded, "Of course I don't mind. You can stay as long as you like. As long as my Great Song exists, make yourself at home!"
"Alright," Chen Xia nodded, having nothing more to say.
Song Wei tactfully bent over, "Then I'll stop bothering you and take my leave first."
The emperor and crown prince left.
Chen Xia yawned. For some reason, he felt vaguely tired.
It was probably because he was about to form his Golden Core.
He could have formed his Golden Core twenty years ago. Because he had an epiphany about the Dao, it was delayed by twenty years.
Now he simply returned to the imperial city. After forming his Golden Core, he would meditate at the same time.
Moreover, the imperial city had one advantage - abundant fortune.
He was originally born fortunate. With his fortune increasing further in the imperial city, forming his Golden Core would be even simpler. Perhaps it would even trigger special effects.
Huang Qingyue stood behind him, blinking her eyes curiously as she asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"Thinking of you," Chen Xia blurted out unexpectedly.
A blush quickly spread over Huang Qingyue's pretty face, like a red apple, bashfulness apparent. She complained coquettishly,
"But I'm standing right here, what's there to think about."
Chen Xia fell silent, trying to find more words to say. He looked at Huang Qingyue twice more before finally thinking of something to respond with,
"It's normal to think about someone when you see them."
Huang Qingyue reacted like a young girl, smiling uncontrollably upon hearing Chen Xia's suggestive words. As if to confirm, she asked again,
"Is it really normal?"
Chen Xia fell silent again for a while.
Someone once said, when you tell a lie, you need to tell countless more lies to cover it up.
So Chen Xia nodded and said, "Really."
Huang Qingyue smiled even more happily.
Chen Xia grinned and suddenly suggested, "How about an exciting and thrilling game of chess?"
Huang Qingyue blinked her curled eyelashes, smiling radiantly as she asked back, "What rules?"
"Whoever can persuade themselves wins," Chen Xia replied.
Huang Qingyue understood then that it was another chess game that relied on imagination.
But she still agreed.
Because the chess game itself wasn't important, but who she played with.
Even if she lost to Chen Xia, she would still be very happy.
What was important had never been winning or losing, but who you were with.
March.
Chen Xia idled with Huang Qingyue in the imperial city for two months before preparing to form his Golden Core on March 2nd.
There were no real preparations.
He just sat in the room, gathering all the qi he had cultivated in his dantian, while circulating the Great Turtle Breathing Technique to form his Golden Core.
When Chen Xia read the Arcane Dao Scripture, he discovered something - Golden Cores take on different forms based on the cultivator's techniques.
They were also divided into Human, Earth, and Heaven categories.
Three colors were Human, four colors Earth, and five colors Heaven.
Reaching five colors meant the supreme Heaven grade Golden Core, with combat power about 20% higher than an Earth grade one. Moreover, the exact combat power depended on the form the Golden Core took.
Chen Xia hoped his Golden Core wouldn't end up as a green turtle.
If so, he would rather destroy his Core.
Forming the Golden Core wasn't difficult, especially with Chen Xia's high fortune value.
Everything went smoothly.
After half a month, his Golden Core finished condensing. It hung in the center of his dantian, at the body's core, connecting to his limbs and organs, controlling all his meridians and acupoints.
Chen Xia opened his eyes with a glint of gold flashing through them.
Having formed his Golden Core, he had officially entered the ranks of cultivators. He just didn't know what grade his Core was.
Three colors, four colors, or five?
Chen Xia's consciousness sank inwards towards his Golden Core and was startled, somewhat at a loss.
Above his dantian was a seven-colored pearl spinning nonstop, emanating light.
What did this mean?
Did he form a glowing disco ball?!