Mu Chen arrived at the palace.
He was now very welcome in Zhou Qing’s eyes, having shown kindness to his entire family.
Zhou Qing’s internal injuries had been healed, but his cultivation, which had declined, had not recovered.
The incident from back then had always been a demon in his heart.
Unless he could overcome that demon, Zhou Qing’s cultivation would never advance for the rest of his life.
“So you’re Mu Chen.
Aunt Qin thanks you for the medicine.” The beautiful woman in palace attire sitting beside Zhou Qing had a dignified bearing.
As the queen, such grace was natural.
Gratitude was also written on her face.
Mu Chen nodded and accepted her thanks.
Qin Yu hadn’t appeared last time.
Her complexion looked quite healthy now, but he knew that was only on the surface.
Her lifespan was still only about ten years left.
The Ancestral Stone Spirit Liquid had no effect of replenishing lifespan.
“Nephew, let’s not talk about other things first.
Uncle will toast you.” Zhou Qing poured himself a glass of wine and downed it in one go.
“Royal wine really does taste different.” Mu Chen took a small sip, then downed it all at once.
This was the first glass of wine he had drunk since coming to this world.
Though Emerald Brew was a strong liquor, it was different from the high-proof grain distilled liquor.
The quality of the ingredients created this strong wine, allowing one to taste the flavor of the materials themselves.
“If you like it, you can take some back with you later.” Zhou Qing said casually.
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Mu Chen nodded.
The delicacies on the table were mostly Genesis Foods.
Only the food in front of Zhou Yuan was what ordinary people could eat.
Because he couldn’t open his meridians, his body couldn’t handle Genesis Foods.
Besides containing pure Genesis Qi, Genesis Foods were very delicious.
Even the rice made from Mysterious Crystal Rice was softer, sweeter, and more fragrant than ordinary rice.
When he ate it, he could feel a pure Genesis Qi entering his body, flowing toward the blockage of his second meridian.
It was quite miraculous.
Normally, only the royal family and noble houses could afford to eat this regularly.
Commoners might have it once or twice at most.
“Tsk tsk tsk.
Little Marten, do you want some?” Mu Chen said inwardly, his tone tempting.
“It’s useless to me.
In my current state as a spirit, how could I eat this kind of thing?” The little marten’s exasperated voice came back.
He wasn’t human; he was a Celestial Marten.
But Mu Chen was truly a dog.
Mu Chen smiled.
Teasing the little marten was a hobby he had recently developed.
“Nephew, how many meridians have you opened now?” Zhou Qing asked casually.
“I’ve opened one.
The second will take some time.” Mu Chen said.
He didn’t feel the need to hide anything.
Those with higher cultivation wouldn’t care how many meridians a Channel Opening Stage cultivator had opened.
Zhou Qing nodded and looked at his son with a sigh.
This was in line with what he had expected.
When Mu Chen had asked for a Qi Drawing Technique earlier, he probably hadn’t opened any meridians yet.
He had only started recently.
He also didn’t know when Zhou Yuan’s eight meridians would manifest.
This was also a source of worry for him.
If he couldn’t cultivate, there would be no hope.
The Dragon’s Resentment Poison would eventually claim Zhou Yuan’s life.
Zhou Yuan clenched his fists.
Knowing the grudge with the Wu family, he was more desperate than ever to open his meridians.
To find heavenly treasures that could replenish lifespan, and to settle old scores and reclaim what was his.
But he had tried for so many years, and his eight meridians still hadn’t appeared.
With no other choice, he could only place his hopes on Genesis Runes.
“Zhou Yuan’s eight meridians haven’t manifested.
Uncle Zhou, have you found any solution?” “I’m actually looking forward to Zhou Yuan opening his meridians.
He can be my rival.
We can compete and push each other to improve.” Mu Chen said.
A true friend in life is enough to soothe the weariness of the world.
Someone like Zhou Yuan wouldn’t betray you.
Though you still had to watch out for being dragged down by him.
Zhou Yuan glanced deeply at Mu Chen.
If he could open his meridians and cultivate, he would look forward to sparring with Mu Chen.
No enmity, just friendly exchanges between friends.
Zhou Qing nodded with relief.
Yuan’er usually stayed deep in the palace and didn’t have many friends.
He was glad to see him make a friend like Mu Chen.
“There is one last resort.
The Great Zhou Ancestral Sacrifice is coming up soon.
Yuan’er, you might be able to find an opportunity to open your meridians there.
As for whether it will succeed, it really depends on your luck.” Zhou Qing sighed.
Zhou Yuan’s eyes lit up, filled with eager anticipation.
He looked at Zhou Qing with surprise and joy.
Mu Chen took all this in and thought to himself, ‘You don’t know if it will succeed, but I, as a transmigrator, do.’ Soon he would be able to take a Double Lotus Saint as his master.
And Cang Yuan would become the fourth Triple Lotus Saint of the Lower Five Heavens in the future.
His senior brother would also be a Saint.
He wondered if Zhou Yuan still had some residual Sacred Dragon Blessing on him.
No, it must be the protagonist’s halo.
Without it, Zhou Yuan might not have even survived the day the Python and Sparrow Swallowed the Dragon.
“Uncle Zhou, I’m an outsider here.
You’re being so direct with me.
You really don’t treat me as an outsider.” Mu Chen teased Zhou Qing.
The Zhou ancestral land, let alone the royal ancestral land, even commoners wouldn’t let outsiders know about their ancestral grounds.
Only the royal family could enter.
Every ancestral sacrifice, the imperial guards Zhou Qing brought would stand guard outside the ancestral land.
They weren’t qualified to enter.
“Haha, I’ve been calling you nephew.
We’re family.
So it’s fine if you know.
Even I don’t know if it will succeed.” Zhou Qing smiled bitterly.
If there were any other way, he wouldn’t pin his hopes on some secret message passed down from his ancestors.
Before him, including his predecessors as Great Zhou emperors, they had all tried the ancestral land.
None had succeeded, but it was also Zhou Yuan’s last hope of opening his meridians.
Zhou Yuan calmed down.
This method was highly uncertain, but he had no other choice.
He could only take the gamble.
Mu Chen didn’t think much of it.
The Zhou ancestral land wouldn’t let him in anyway.
Only a few members of the royal family were qualified to perform the ancestral sacrifice.
After Yao Yao was brought out by Zhou Yuan, there would be plenty of chances to meet her and get on her good side.
He might even get some good things out of it.
After dinner, Mu Chen left the palace.
He also took some leftover food with him, which left Zhou Qing and the others stunned.
Zhou Qing naturally had no objections to him taking food.
Leftovers were usually given to the maids and soldiers to take home anyway.
Those without wealth wouldn’t normally eat Genesis Foods.
As an emperor, he had seen many things.
But someone as unconventional as Mu Chen, he had met for the first time.
However, he didn’t find it off-putting.
In fact, he found Mu Chen quite straightforward.
(End of Chapter) —