"Father need not blame himself; Lin Junsheng ambushed me, and I will repay the debt. Even if I enter Chang Chun Temple, I will have ways to deal with him. It would be counterproductive if you were to disturb your mind and hinder your cultivation because of this." Seeing his father's guilt-ridden face, Yuan Ming spoke to comfort him.

Yuan Zuochong looked at Yuan Ming with relief, "Heh heh, who would've thought that there would come a day when I would be comforted by Ming'er. A gentleman's revenge is not too late even after ten years. You mustn't act rashly."

"Father, don't worry, I have my methods. I have already waited for three years; what's another ten?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Zuochong exhaled in relief.

Suddenly, Yuan Ming took out a wooden box and handed it to his father.

Yuan Zuochong instinctively took the wooden box, somewhat puzzled, he looked up at Yuan Ming. Seeing that Yuan Ming was smiling without speaking, he opened the lid of the box.

A faint aroma of elixir wafted out immediately, and in the center of the box, there lay a pill radiating star-like blue light.

"This, this is a Foundation Establishment Pill! Where did you get this from?" Yuan Zuochong abruptly stood up, his eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming nodded calmly, "The Southern Border has its risks, but it also has many opportunities. This Foundation Establishment Pill was acquired through a fortunate coincidence. Since father has the heart to cultivate, this item will surely lend you a helping hand."

Yuan Zuochong hastily closed the wooden box and pushed it back to Yuan Ming, "No! Ming'er, you are now officially on the Immortal Path. Such a treasure, you need it more than I do!"

Yuan Ming shook his head, "Please be assured, father, I have more."

"More?" Yuan Zuochong's mouth fell open, at a loss for words, he felt pride for his son too.

Due to restrictions from Sects like Chang Chun Temple, Foundation Establishment Pills were rarely seen in Da Jin's secular world. In fact, even within Chang Chun Temple, the pills were only provided to outstanding disciples.

Yuan Ming took out many more elixirs for his mother to use, to regulate her body, and taught his father carefully how to use the Spirit Incense.

After being busy for a good while, Yuan Zuochong finally sat back down, his expression complex as he looked at Yuan Ming, "I had thought that Ming'er suffered hardships in the Southern Border these past three years. Who would have imagined such gains, you have also become much steadier."

"Father knows you are now highly capable. Nevertheless, in this Capital, All Major Sects have an agreement, no cultivator can act recklessly. Otherwise, they will be pursued jointly by them. You must be cautious," Yuan Zuochong admonished.

"I understand," said Yuan Ming.

Yuan Zuochong continued, "Furthermore, there is another matter. The Emperor's abdication ceremony is imminent…"

Yuan Ming paused, reminded of the secret of the Da Jin Imperial Family he had heard when he possessed his father's body.

But at this moment, he still pretended to be surprised, "An abdication ceremony? The Emperor and I are of similar age; why would he suddenly abdicate?"

"You might not be aware of this, but as they say, there's a separation between the immortal and mortal world. Our Da Jin Cultivation World has a rule, anyone who steps into Foundation Establishment can no longer hold a secular authority, to avoid excessive interference with the mortal world," explained Yuan Zuochong.

"Has the Crown Prince achieved Foundation Establishment?" inquired Yuan Ming.

"Indeed. The Emperor was always exceptionally gifted, and with diligent cultivation and the assistance of elixirs, his Foundation Establishment is imminent. Naturally, the planning of the abdication ceremony is underway," Yuan Zuochong nodded and continued:

"Calculate the time; it should be within this half a year. Not only Civil Servants and military officers, envoys from other nations, cultivators from All Major Sects of our Da Jin will attend. Your cultivation is sufficient now; when the time comes, I will help you connect and pick an appropriate Sect to join."

After listening to his father, Yuan Ming nodded, and just as he was about to reply, he noticed a large group of Armored Soldiers escorting a carriage had arrived outside the General Mansion. He said, "Father, the Emperor has arrived; let us go out to greet him."

Soon after, a shrill eunuch's voice came from outside the door.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Before the words had settled, a figure clad in bright yellow Dragon Robe swept in like the wind, striding through the doorway into the house.

"Haha, Brother Ming, you're finally back!"

Seeing the figure who barged into the room, Yuan Zuochong was startled and quickly bowed in a salute.

"Your Majesty," he greeted.

At his side, Yuan Ming's mouth curled into a smile, and he followed along, shouting while walking towards the young Emperor.

The young Emperor immediately came forward, laughing, "Brother Ming, you've grown so tall."

Yuan Ming responded, "Shall we compare?"

"Sure."

The young Emperor laughed and clapped Yuan Ming on the back, then turned to Yuan Zuochong with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry, General Yuan, for interrupting your reunion with your son. You won't hold it against me, will you?"

Yuan Zuochong quickly responded, "Your Majesty is being considerate. You both talk; please excuse me," knowing he was somewhat superfluous there, he found an excuse to leave.

"General Yuan, there's no need for formalities; please attend to your matters if you have things to do," the Emperor said with a smile, waving his hand.

After Yuan Zuochong left, the Emperor glanced around, winked at Yuan Ming, and said, "This place feels rather uncomfortable. How about we go to our old spot?"

Shortly thereafter, in the backyard garden of the General Mansion.

In the pond, lotus leaves spread like umbrellas, holding up numerous elegant and pale pink lotus flowers, while several red and yellow koi fish swam through the gaps, adding a different touch of color like flowing ribbons.

Situated in the middle of the pond was a pavilion with green tiles, where Yuan Ming and the Emperor sat opposite each other, each with a Jade Wine Cup in front of them.

The Emperor dismissed the accompanying eunuch with a wave of his hand and laughed, suddenly producing a jar of fine wine from nowhere and placing it on the stone table.

"Brother Ming, this is a tribute wine from the North Territory that you can't even exchange for a hundred taels of silver in the common world. As soon as I heard you were back, I specifically had someone select an eighty-year-old vintage to welcome you home," the Emperor said.

Yuan Ming broke the seal on the jar, and the intense aroma of the wine hit his nose, invigorating his spirit.

"Excellent wine!"

The Emperor chuckled and said, "Heh, you can't find this kind of good wine in the barbaric land of the Southern Border. You must have been craving it. Today, as we brothers reunite, you must drink freely until we're completely drunk!"

As they talked, they poured the wine, clinked cups, and drank it all in one gulp, immediately feeling a wonderful warmth throughout their bodies.

So, they continued to drink cup after cup, chatting while they drank, and soon enough, they had finished more than half of the jar.

Though they were both cultivators, they did not use mana to dispel the effects of alcohol, and hence they both gradually grew slightly drunk.

After another cup of wine, the Emperor suddenly said, "Brother Ming, did you know? I'm about to reach my Foundation Establishment."

Although he had already known about it, hearing the Emperor say it himself made Yuan Ming truly happy for his friend.

He had gone through many hardships in the Southern Border and had encountered various opportunities before he managed to achieve Foundation Establishment.

Yet the Emperor, who had simply been cultivating in the Capital, was also about to complete his Foundation Establishment. It simply showed that his talent was indeed far superior to his own.

Thinking it over, Yuan Ming began, "Father mentioned this to me when I returned yesterday. But didn't Your Majesty say earlier that you wished to delay cultivating for the time being? How come you..."

"Ah, speaking of that makes me a bit depressed," the Emperor replied. "In the past, we made a pact that I would become a wise ruler and you a virtuous official. After my marriage and the birth of a Crown Prince, we would cultivate together. But during your mission to the Southern Border, I might have agreed to State Preceptor's suggestion to try cultivating the 'Nine Elements Technique' in a half-conscious state due to overwork."

Yuan Ming's heart skipped a beat at those words; this had been an unintended consequence of his own doing.

The Emperor let out a sigh, took a swig of wine, and continued, "You have cultivation too now; surely you understand the euphoria that comes with it. Once I tried it, I couldn't stop myself, and when I finally came to my senses, I realized I was already on the brink of Foundation Establishment."

"Life is unpredictable. Before my envoymission, I never imagined that I would end up in the Southern Border, and that through an unlikely series of events, I would find myself on the Immortal Path," Yuan Ming reflected, not without emotion.

Speaking of this, the Emperor's expression grew somber, "I read the secret letter you sent to General Yuan later on. It's outrageous that it was Lin Junsheng who attacked you."

"Based on what I know of Lin Junsheng, there must be someone else behind this. It couldn't have been his sole decision," Yuan Ming commented.

"I've already arranged for an investigation. I'll make sure you get an explanation before the abdication ceremony," the Emperor assured him.

"I heard from my father that cultivators above Foundation Establishment should not meddle in political power. After Your Majesty abdicates, are you planning to retreat and cultivate in Chang Chun Temple?" Yuan Ming inquired further.

"Indeed, my father and several ancestors are cultivating in the Temple. I will also seek their guidance in cultivation in the future. Brother Ming, you were previously rejected by Chang Chun Temple, but now that you have cultivation, I will make arrangements for you to cultivate there with me," the Emperor confirmed.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Your Majesty, but I still need to give it more thought," Yuan Ming said, declining courteously.

The Emperor, bolstered by the wine, slapped his chest and said, "Brother Ming, are you perhaps resentful because Lin Junsheng was also accepted by Chang Chun Temple? Rest assured, what is Lin Junsheng compared to us? Even if he had to beg and plead to be let in, he's nothing but a low-grade disciple. If you join with me, you will directly become a disciple of the Imperial Family's lineage, far above his standing!"

As if afraid Yuan Ming wouldn't believe him, the Emperor suddenly produced a secret book and slid it across to Yuan Ming, saying:

"This 'Nine Elements Technique' is a secret cultivation technique of Chang Chun Temple, capable of taking one all the way to Core Formation. Brother Ming, take this; the techniques in the Southern Border are mixed and inferior, not a match for the genuine teachings of the Mystical Sect. Once you start practicing this, your cultivation will quickly improve."

"Your Majesty, this is not proper," Yuan Ming said with a slight start, immediately declining.

He was indeed lacking the subsequent techniques of the 'Nine Elements Technique,' but he knew the significance of this item to Chang Chun Temple and feared the Emperor's action might cause issues.

With the Stealing Heaven Tripod in his possession, he had planned to try and obtain the complete technique eventually, confident that he would succeed, although it may require some time. Despite the trouble, every incense burning session could bring about opportunities.

But the Emperor insisted, "If you don't accept it, you are not considering me a brother! Take it with peace of mind; I will bear all responsibility for this. It doesn't matter if you don't join Chang Chun Temple later, as long as you don't share it with outsiders. We cultivators should not hesitate or look back."

Seeing the Emperor so resolute, Yuan Ming had no choice but to accept the technique.

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