Chapter 638 - 202: Red Makeup Evolves Again (Part 2)

Beyond that was the improvement of his Qi.

Inside his body, the fourth bridge was already halfway formed, thanks to his Unhealing Spirit Recovery Skill.

Shen Bai had taken another major step toward the Void Realm.

’So, which Divine Power should I upgrade next?’ Shen Bai began to ponder.

He planned to continue grinding.

For one, the Saint Martial Emperor’s reward hadn’t arrived yet, so he wasn’t going to leave.

’There’s no way I’m leaving empty-handed. I can’t have come all this way for nothing.’

For another, Red Makeup hadn’t finished evolving yet.

He could wait while on the road, but this was a good opportunity to stick around a while longer.

With that, Shen Bai decided to figure out what to grind next.

But just then, the sound of footsteps broke his concentration.

Shen Bai had been keeping his Void-breaking Red Eye active, but he hadn’t sensed anyone outside. That was enough to prove this person was an expert.

Only when a knock sounded on the door did he see a man in an Observatory uniform waiting outside.

This was Xuanjing City. Any random person from the Observatory could be considered a major figure in their own right.

Shen Bai found it perfectly normal that his Void-breaking Red Eye couldn’t detect someone like that.

’He must be here for something.’ Shen Bai walked over and opened the door.

The Observatory member immediately cupped his fist in his palm. "His Majesty requests your presence at the Imperial Palace. He said your rewards are ready."

’If it’s to collect my rewards, then a trip to the Imperial Palace is a must.’

No matter how fierce a warrior-emperor Saint Martial Emperor was, he was still the Emperor, and certain formalities had to be observed.

Shen Bai nodded in understanding.

The Observatory member didn’t linger, departing decisively.

After a moment of thought, Shen Bai temporarily set aside his plans to grind Skill Levels and headed for the Imperial Palace.

That was ten Deceitful Objects. Once identified, they would provide a massive boost to his power.

Before long, Shen Bai had vanished into the streets.

...

「Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.」

Eunuch Chen stood by the window, watching the sky outside grow steadily overcast. "Your Majesty, it looks like it’s about to snow."

Winter had already set in, and with the new year approaching, snow was to be expected.

Saint Martial Emperor glanced up. "Has the silver for this year’s disaster relief been allocated?"

Eunuch Chen nodded. "After we took the heads of a few corrupt officials, the others fell in line. No one dared to embezzle the funds."

Saint Martial Emperor snorted. "Leeches."

Eunuch Chen smiled and said nothing.

The country was vast. No matter how strict the authorities were, some would always be willing to risk everything.

Fortunately, at every critical juncture, the Saint Martial Emperor in Xuanjing City was always swift and decisive, killing without hesitation when necessary.

In the time it took for them to exchange these few words, Shen Bai had already arrived in the courtyard.

Eunuch Chen closed the window and stood to the side.

A moment later, a knock came at the door.

Eunuch Chen then stepped forward and opened the door.

"Eunuch Chen, you’re here as well," Shen Bai said, a little surprised.

Eunuch Chen chuckled. "You’re about to leave. Of course I had to see you one more time."

’He said it as if I were never coming back.’

Shen Bai cupped his fist. "I appreciate the concern, Eunuch Chen, but that doesn’t sound very auspicious."

’It sounded like he was sending me off for good, which of course felt unlucky.’

Eunuch Chen waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t read too much into it. I simply feel that it will be a long time before I see you again, so I will naturally miss you. After all, a young prodigy like yourself is the future pride of our Great Zhou Country."

Having said his piece, Eunuch Chen turned his gaze to the Saint Martial Emperor. He then took two steps back, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, shall we present Shen Bai with his rewards?"

Seated on the Dragon Throne, Saint Martial Emperor nodded, his expression stern.

Eunuch Chen then produced a small pouch.

The pouch looked small, no bigger than a fist, like a money pouch, but a peculiar ripple of energy emanated from within.

Shen Bai glanced at it, his eyes narrowing. "This is the power of Space."

With his Life and Death Storage Skill, a Divine Power, he was naturally sensitive to the power of Space.

He could tell with a single glance.

’To be honest, in all my time since entering this world of cultivators, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a pouch like this. It just goes to show how precious they are.’

Eunuch Chen nodded. "I know you have a Space Type Cultivation Technique, so there’s no need to give this pouch to you."

Shen Bai shook his head and said with great earnestness, "If you insist, Eunuch Chen, I suppose I could take it off your hands."

’This thing is incredibly valuable. If I ever need it in the future, it’d be good to have.’

Eunuch Chen chuckled and admonished him, "Shen Bai, everyone says you’re the number one talent of Great Zhou’s younger generation. But this shamelessness of yours... you must have learned it well from the General Department."

Shen Bai shrugged. "Why turn down a freebie? It’d be a waste not to take it. Besides, I’m already here."

Eunuch Chen said no more. Instead, he opened the pouch and placed ten Deceitful Objects on the table.

’Clearly, the pouch really was precious. Otherwise, Eunuch Chen probably would have just given it to me after I said that.’

Seeing that Eunuch Chen wasn’t giving him the pouch, Shen Bai didn’t think much of it. He stepped forward and carefully examined the ten Deceitful Objects.

There were indeed ten of them.

He didn’t examine them in detail, but a quick count confirmed the number.

Shen Bai then held out his hand.

A rift in space slowly tore open, following the sweep of his fingers.

Shen Bai tossed the ten Deceitful Objects into the space of his Life and Death Storage Skill as casually as if he were throwing out the trash.

The sight made Eunuch Chen’s brow twitch uncontrollably.

After all, in the Jianghu, people would fight to the death over a single Deceitful Object. Yet here was Shen Bai, treating them as if they were nothing.

When Shen Bai had tossed the last Deceitful Object into his Life and Death Storage Skill, he finally sealed the pocket space, turned to Saint Martial Emperor, and asked,