Chapter 56 - 55: Mother Consort, I’m Desperate to Improve

Chapter 56: Chapter 55: Mother Consort, I’m Desperate to Improve

Wangshu Palace.

Gu Xiangzhu walked quietly ahead, with Zhao Ci following obediently behind.

Once they reached the Practice Room, Zhao Ci asked cautiously, "Mother, please don’t be angry anymore. Who was targeting you this time? I’ll go deal with them. It’s just too outrageous."

"Why would I be angry over two minor Pill Workshops like Xun Mo and Lingyun?"

Gu Xiangzhu shook her head, the malice in her eyes having vanished at some point. She smiled faintly. "Their orders have already been squeezed to a pathetic state by us.

We have the National Pill Golden Plaque, which will only attract more and more unaffiliated Alchemists. Each Alchemist can refine six times the amount of pills, and our Middle-Grade Qi Cultivation Pills are cheaper than their Low-Grade ones. Driving them to ruin is only a matter of time.

Today, we kindly offered to share our profits, but they refused. When they come begging to be acquired in the future, the terms won’t be nearly as generous."

"Exactly!"

Zhao Ci nodded. "They really don’t know what’s good for them."

To be fair, Gu Xiangzhu wasn’t exaggerating. It was only a matter of time before the National Pill Golden Plaque created a siphon effect.

Xun Mo and Lingyun must be under immense pressure for refusing the merger proposal.

It was foreseeable that as long as Zhao Huan didn’t pull any major tricks, the rise of the Xingyu Pill Association was inevitable.

The only question was who would end up controlling the core technology.

Zhao Ci glanced up, a sense of unease creeping into his heart.

[Gu Xiangzhu’s Current Wish]: Completely control the entire Xingyu Pill Association. Wish Fulfillment Reward: +1000 Comprehension Value, Stealable Skill: Demon Palm of the Eight Desolates.

His premonition of impending disaster grew stronger.

Gu Xiangzhu pressed her lips together. "Of course, all of this is contingent on our alcohol being able to supply the entire Pill Association. Ci, how is the Alcohol Refining Technique coming along? When can it be put into mass production?"

"Right now!"

Zhao Ci said, his voice firm and decisive.

Gu Xiangzhu’s eyes lit up. "Oh? What is the technique? Write it down for your mother."

’Write it my ass!’

Zhao Ci looked troubled. "Mother, the technique is quite complex, and it involves too many diagrams. Even my own Wine Refining Equipment is a complete mess. It might take me half a day just to organize everything. How about you come with me to the Tenth Prince’s Mansion tomorrow?"

"Very well!"

Gu Xiangzhu nodded. Although she was anxious, she wasn’t so impatient as to lack this little bit of restraint.

She was certain that Zhao Huan had sent a voice transmission to Zhao Ci during the conference today. She didn’t know the content, but it was definitely related to the Alcohol Refining Technique.

’This is mine.’

’What right does Zhao Huan have to see it?’

Therefore, she hadn’t given Zhao Huan any chance to see Zhao Ci. She wouldn’t allow the father and son to meet until she had the technique in her hands.

And she was also certain that Zhao Huan hadn’t gotten the technique yet.

As for whether Zhao Ci was playing tricks...

She had her suspicions.

But she quickly discarded the thought. Besides being a bit secretive about the process of optimizing the technique, Zhao Ci had done almost nothing wrong.

He hadn’t deliberately tried to build relationships with the Alchemists in the workshop.

Nor had he interfered with the Pill Workshop’s operations.

He hadn’t even shown his face at the Pill Workshop for half a month in the middle of all this.

Even with that little girl who controlled the Yu Xin Flame, he hadn’t tried to take any credit. Instead, he had passed the favor onto her, causing Zhu Li to treat her with the affection one would show a mother or older sister every time they met.

One could say that, apart from this technique, the entire Xingyu Pill Association was under her control.

’It’s clear this boy relies on me.’

Besides.

The boy knew she liked Dian Nan cuisine and even went out of his way to cook various dishes for her. Was that something a person with ulterior motives would do?

If she had to be suspicious even of this, then there was probably no one in the world worth trusting.

Gu Xiangzhu even found herself admiring the boy. Although he didn’t always think things through completely and acted with a youthful temperament, he was truly a promising talent worth nurturing.

’I can’t be too eager for quick success right now. The most important thing is to cultivate this "mother-son" relationship.’

’In any case, I’ll get the technique tomorrow. Only by managing our relationship well can I prevent Zhao Huan from interfering at any moment.’

"Ci!"

Gu Xiangzhu pointed to a meditation cushion to the side. "Sit! Prepare for your breakthrough. In this world, strength reigns supreme. Since you’ve already chosen to establish your own mansion, you’re destined to face countless threats. Today, I will act as your Dharma Protector, which will also make it easier for you to catch up in the future."

[Gu Xiangzhu’s Current Wish]: Help Zhao Ci refine a Third-Grade or higher Flesh Soul to solidify their "mother-son" bond. Wish Fulfillment Reward: +10 Comprehension Value, Body Suppressing Talisman x1.

’Whoa!’

’She’s starting her charm offensive!’

This, however, started to make Zhao Ci panic. The more Gu Xiangzhu actively invested, the stronger the backlash against him would be.

In his ideal scenario, Zhao Huan and Gu Xiangzhu should have started fighting right after the Gongdan Conference ended, and then presented him with the outcome.

An outcome that most likely wouldn’t be one side achieving a clear victory.

But rather... either the two of them would share the fruits of their labor, or they would continue their tug-of-war, leaving him to temporarily hold onto the technique until one of them came out on top.

He, of course, was hoping for the latter.

But he hadn’t expected Zhao Huan to be so patient, showing no intention of seeking him out after the Gongdan Conference.

Now Gu Xiangzhu had invested both manpower and resources, and she even wanted to solidify their "mother-son" bond. If this backfired, it would be a real pain in the ass.

’That old geezer Zhao Huan.’

’Why isn’t he applying any pressure?’

But since things had already come to this, he might as well go with the flow.

Things were just getting a bit more intense, but they weren’t out of control yet.

"Thank you, Mother!"

Zhao Ci sat down cross-legged.

Gu Xiangzhu lifted the hem of her dress and sat on the cushion across from him, studying him carefully. "You had a weak constitution from birth, so your cultivation has lagged behind quite a bit. But I can see you’ve been training very hard recently. At the very least, the True Qi in your body has become quite solid.

Supplemented by the Emperor Pills your Imperial Father bestowed upon you, your future cultivation won’t be particularly difficult.

I have never cultivated the Imperial Extreme True Qi, but I know it is the most balanced and powerful Physical Cultivation Technique in the world.

The Physical Body Divine Treasure is the foundation for the survival of all living beings.

Your flesh-and-blood shell will always be your most trustworthy defense, as well as the tool with which you exert force upon the world.

If your Primordial Spirit is strong enough, you can feel that every inch of your skin, every fiber of your muscle, and every single pore is a treasure trove.

The Body Refining Stage is the process of unearthing the potential within every fiber of your flesh.

And the tool you use for this excavation is the Imperial Extreme True Qi inside your body.

In terms of sheer physical strength and Qi Power, the Emperor’s Extreme Body Refining Technique is somewhat inferior to our Xiang Family’s Tyrant Body Refining Technique. But that’s because the Overlord True Qi is too extreme, seeking only to wring the ultimate power and defense from the physical body.

The Imperial Extreme True Qi, however, stimulates the vitality of your flesh from the inside out. This is what allows it to be balanced, gentle, and endlessly regenerating.

Once the Physical Body Divine Treasure is opened, it will be of great benefit when opening other Divine Treasures as well.

And the Emperor Pill can increase the upper limit of Imperial Extreme True Qi your flesh, muscles, and bones can contain, allowing you to temper your body to the absolute limit.

Alright!

Now, take out your Emperor Pill!"

GULP!

Without a word, Zhao Ci directly swallowed the Top-Grade Imperial Extreme Pill he had received as a reward.

Gu Xiangzhu’s expression changed. "I only told you to take out the Emperor Pill, not to swallow it immediately!"

’If I swallow it in front of you,’

’wouldn’t I only be able to swallow the low-grade one that old geezer gave me?’

’I can’t stand that injustice!’

’Gotta be quick!’

’Not just swallowing the pill.’

’I also have to slap on a Taotie Talisman.’

’The main principle is to use everything to its fullest potential.’

Zhao Ci scratched his head. "Mother, I’m just so eager to improve!"

Gu Xiangzhu: "Quick, take off your clothes!"

Zhao Ci: "Huh?"

"There’s no time!"

Gu Xiangzhu grit her teeth. With a gust from her palm, she blew Zhao Ci’s clothes clean off him, leaving him in just a pair of trousers.

Zhao Ci: "..."

’Whoa!’

’Such a master of disrobing?’

He hadn’t even had time to react.

When he felt a piercing pain all over his body at once.

It was as if scorching hot needles had pierced the tendons of every single muscle.

In a single instant, the Imperial Extreme True Qi he had spent nearly a month cultivating surged uncontrollably from his Dantian.

It poured frantically into every fiber of his flesh.

"Hiss..."

He couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath, then let out a pained roar.

’It’s too fast.’

’I’m about to be filled to bursting!’

Gu Xiangzhu was also stunned by the scene before her.

’There’s so much!’

’How can this boy have so much Imperial Extreme True Qi stored in his Dantian?’