"The ’Heavenly Bath’ was finally taken."

Thinking about it, what Emperor Qi promised was a reward, so there wouldn’t be a last-minute recruitment of talent for the palace. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

That old Physician Wen really did have the heart of a child, and Jiang Wang was the only one... who felt some sympathy for Yan Fu.

He did not know what kind of person Imperial Court Adviser Wen Yanyu was, but this uncle of Wen Tinglan’s was certainly not easy to deal with.

Fortunately, the one who came to him last time was Wen Tinglan himself.

If it had been this Physician Wen...

The thought was quite unnerving.

The effects of the ’Heavenly Bath’ were very good. Specifically, it enhanced a physique that had already been tempered by the Four Spirits Body Refinement Technique and the Shimen Grass Hammer by more than 20%.

In addition, it seemed that the innate talent for the Five Elements Yuan Force had also improved somewhat, although not by much. It was only because Jiang Wang now had a more refined control over the fire element that he was able to perceive this subtle change.

These effects were already the best results that Jiang Wang, with his current cultivation and physique, could achieve—after all, he used the best medicines from the national treasury, tailored by the masters of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Of course, this excluded the use of those heaven-sent, incredibly rare treasures.

For its favored sons heading to battle at the Yellow River Gathering, Qi Country had indeed provided ample support.

Looking at it, Jiang Wang thought that the scions of the Royal Family probably all used the ’Heavenly Bath’ to build a solid physical foundation before cultivating ’God Arrives’ and acquiring ’Golden Frame and Jade Marrow’.

In this sense, to say that ’God Arrives’ was hopeful after the ’Heavenly Bath’ was not entirely far-fetched.

When he left the hot spring palace, he did not see Ji Zhaonan or Zhongxuan Zun, and had no idea if they were still soaking or if they had already left.

Stepping out of the palace, Jiang Wang felt the strength coursing through his body in the gentle breeze that met him.

This feeling of growing stronger and stronger... was intoxicating.

He had always won battles through his exceptional martial talent and powerful Divine Skills. But in terms of basic foundations, there was really too much to supplement.

He had been diligently cultivating non-stop, doing everything to the limit of his abilities. But after all, there were many things that required the support of resources.

Like this ’Heavenly Bath’...

In short, the time before the Yellow River Gathering was a process for Jiang Wang to continuously complete his foundation and improve himself.

In another two days, he would go to the Pointing Generals’ Stage for five days of cultivation, unsure of which expert would come to offer guidance.

Jiang Wang thought about it and decided to select one of the secret techniques bestowed by Emperor Qi.

He would pick one that could come in handy, take the next two days to familiarize himself with it, and if there were any issues in his cultivation, he could ask for guidance from the expert sent by Emperor Qi. It was about making rational use of resources.

The location of the national treasury was in the east of the city.

And it was near the north gate on the east side.

This gate was also known as The Gate of The Gods. It was the first gate from the north to the south.

The Gate of The God of Earth and The God of Grains was also among the 108 city gates of Linyi City, the most significant ones.

The God of Earth was for the earth deity, and the God of Grains, for the grain deity. All things are borne by the earth, and all people are sustained by the grains.

Outside the Gate of Grains lies the Under Jixuegong, a place for nurturing the nation’s talents.

Within the Gate of Earth, however, lies the Great Qi Country’s treasury. Saying it was the fundamental cornerstone of Qi Country was no exaggeration.

Besides the treasury’s own guards, the most closely watched location by the rotating troops stationed in the capital was also here.

The Gate of Earth was set in the east of Linzi, welcoming the seas with the land.

The Great Qi Country’s treasury, facing the open sea, also symbolized the clear and firm resolve to guard the maritime borders.

As Emperor Wu of Qi once said—

"But if the enemy comes from the sea, we must exhaust the treasury before we may die!"

Truly a bold statement!

After leaving the hot spring palace, Jiang Wang went to the national treasury alone.

It was almost a city within a city, with high walls and deep foundations, completely sealed off.

After communicating with the guards at the gate and verifying his identity.

He was then permitted to enter through the first gateway... and wait.

Yes, he still had to wait for someone from the Ministry of Rites to come and take him to the "Technique Vault."

When he had been conferred the title of Lord of Qingyang Town, he had also been granted a national secret technique of the lowest grade of class-A, "Envy Fire," which was quite peculiar in its uses. Of course, it was no longer sufficient for Jiang Wang’s level of combat...

However, secret techniques designated as [Imperial Secret Techniques] were among the very top within the treasury’s secret techniques.

A large portion of the treasury’s secret knowledge came from Qi Country’s campaigns across the world, including items confiscated from Sects, tributes from various places, and, of course, spoils of war.

Among these various gains, it was naturally only those from conquered nations that could be named Imperial Secret Techniques.

Of course, the secret techniques accumulated and passed down by generations of Qi Country cultivators were also central to the treasury.

Han Ling said to find him once he had made his choice and that he would be waiting with incense burning.

But that was just a formality, something to be heard and not taken seriously.

Han Ling, the chief eunuch and head of the Ministry of Rites, how could he possibly come personally to assist them in choosing secret techniques?

So there Jiang Wang stood waiting, for a qualified eunuch from the Ministry of Rites to lead the way into the treasury, a mere check of identity and it would all be settled.

Even as Jiang Wang, the nation’s prodigy, bearer of the Fourth Grade Green Badge, and Lord of Qingyang Town, he had to wait his turn.

And without even a place to sit, he could only wait between the first and second doorways.

The treasury guards wouldn’t afford him any personal feelings either; each one was like a stone figure with an iron face, without exchanging even a glance.

Luckily, Jiang Wang had grown accustomed to cultivating anytime and anywhere—being ignored was perfect for him. He simply found a spot to stand, and began to deduce the techniques of the Fire Realm on his own.

...

...

After leaving the Hot Spring Palace, Zhongxuan Zun squeezed into the large sedan chair awaiting him outside the palace gates.

He actually preferred to walk down the streets with his long sleeves fluttering, carefree and unrestrained.

But after the battle held as part of the master’s ceremony, his fame had grown too great; wherever he went, a crowd of people clamored around him.

The effect of the Divine Bath wasn’t as good as he had anticipated.

During the five glows of Tianfu, whatever needed to be strengthened had been strengthened. To advance further, he could only rely on the starlight tempering from the Starlight Holy Tower.

As for the so-called Imperial Secret Techniques and Son of Heaven’s inner treasury magic artifacts, they were of little significance to him. His five Divine Skills were already sufficiently developed, and possessing top-tier secret techniques, he didn’t need to distract himself with other techniques. As for magic artifacts, those in the Son of Heaven’s inner treasury didn’t catch his eye; perhaps only those in the Son of Heaven’s secret treasury might do... but that was unlikely,

So, he simply lowered his standards and, according to his father’s wishes, selected two items suitable for someone at the Inner Mansion Realm for his father to show off.

Speaking of which, his recent breakthrough to Tianfu cultivation level and suppressing Linyi City at the External Building Environment went just as he had envisioned, without a single error.

However, the actual gains were not as substantial as expected...

The main issue was that his cousin’s dear friend, Jiang Qingyang, managed with his three-mansion cultivation to grab quite the spotlight at the master’s ceremony,

The entrance he had imagined—crushing the opposition effortlessly and making his chubby little brother move aside obediently—did not exist.

Many seemed to believe that Zhongxuan Sheng, supported by Jiang Qingyang, could contend with him.

Of course, what surprised him the most was that Wang Yiwu had suffered such a terrible defeat, barely waiting for him to leave the academy before losing his entire fortune and needing the War God to save the day...

Oh, it’s not right to say he lost everything.

As his own father said, "Fortunately, your father kept an eye on things."

Yes...

Zhongxuan Mingguang indeed retained some property, but those were the core assets of Zhongxuan Zun that couldn’t possibly be seized, whose overseers were all deeply loyal to Zhongxuan Zun and would never betray him to the opponent.

And with a stroke of a pen, Zhongxuan Sheng transferred them to Zhongxuan Mingguang.

For the son to take over the assets personally overseen by Grandpa Zhongxuan was proper, hence now, they had nearly lost it all...

Thinking of these things,

Even Zhongxuan Zun, famed for his elegance in Linyi City, couldn’t help but press his forehead, feeling somewhat of a headache.