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Entering the grand hall, all the officials were already standing within.
Shi Quan and Zhu Zhuqing followed Xue Qinghe to stand below the imperial throne, but Dugu Bo did not stand beside Shi Quan; instead, he stood beside Xue Xing, opposite Shi Quan.
This action also showed the civil and military officials present that Dugu Bo did not support Xue Qinghe.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Soon, Emperor Xue Ye arrived and sat in the hall. Shi Quan also bowed to Emperor Xue Ye with the others.
Emperor Xue Ye smiled and looked at Shi Quan, "Master Shi, long time no see. I heard from Qinghe that Master Shi will be heading to the Star Dou Great Forest soon to acquire a spirit ring. The Empire can prepare a hunting party for you here to fully assist you in hunting Spirit Beasts. I wonder if Master Shi needs it?"
Shi Quan smiled, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty's kindness is appreciated by Shi Quan. This time, when I go to the Star Dou Great Forest, Grandpa Dugu will accompany me, so I won't trouble Your Majesty."
Emperor Xue Ye nodded, "Good. Master Shi has contributed the Zhou Tian Cultivation Method to the Empire this time, making a huge contribution. I wonder what kind of reward Master Shi desires?"
Shi Quan smiled and said, "Your subordinate has recently become very interested in spirit tools. spirit tools are widely used, and if we can research combat-type spirit tools specifically for Spirit Masters, I believe it would be of great benefit to Spirit Masters and even the entire Empire."
Emperor Xue Ye burst into laughter upon hearing this, "Master Shi is truly a pillar of the nation! All his actions are for the country and its people. Since Master Shi is interested in spirit tools, I naturally cannot be stingy. There are many spirit tools within the Empire Treasure Vault; Master Shi, you may borrow and research all of them. All necessary consumables will be provided by the Empire."
"Your subordinate thanks Your Majesty." Shi Quan's lips also curved into a smile upon hearing this.
"In addition, Master Shi Quan is enfeoffed as a Duke, awarded ten thousand gold coins, and will not need to bow in the future."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shi Quan bowed again upon hearing this.
After Shi Quan's rewards were concluded, the rest of the court proceedings were just trivial matters. As the saying goes, if there's something to report, report it; otherwise, the court is dismissed.
The morning court quickly ended.
"Little Brother Shi, please follow me."
Understanding Shi Quan's gaze, Xue Qinghe naturally knew what he meant and led Shi Quan towards the Empire Treasure Vault.
Under Xue Qinghe's guidance, the group of four quickly arrived at a heavily guarded hall.
"Little Brother Shi, please wait a moment. I will have someone retrieve it for you."
Even Crown Prince Xue Qinghe could not freely enter and exit the Empire Treasure Vault. Those who could enter and exit the Empire Treasure Vault were absolutely loyal individuals, absolute death knights of the Heaven Dou Empire.
To take something out of the Empire Treasure Vault, one needed either Emperor Xue Ye's presence or his personal order.
Even with the order, one could not enter the Empire Treasure Vault; only the guards of the vault could enter.
They could only wait outside.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, a servant finally came before Shi Quan and the other three, carrying a brocade tray covered with a red cloth.
Shi Quan looked at the brocade tray with burning eyes and lifted the red cloth.
Immediately, the entire chamber was enveloped in a strong, precious light.
It was an extremely peculiar object, completely transparent blue and in a three-dimensional triangular shape. The whole thing seemed to be carved from a sapphire, only palm-sized. Within the crystal blue light, a precious aura wafted, and peculiar energy fluctuations continuously emanated from it. On this blue triangular body, there were ripple-like patterns. These patterns did not seem to be carved but rather alive, with circles of blue light flickering, reflecting a faint precious glow throughout the chamber.
"Is this the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?" Shi Quan narrowed his eyes, examining it up and down.
Dugu Bo beside him also showed a hint of admiration. He had heard of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, but this was his first time seeing it. Such a sight, truly worthy of being a national treasure.
The reason Emperor Xue Ye agreed to let Shi Quan borrow the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, apart from Shi Quan's personal strength, was primarily Shi Quan's terrifying wisdom.
The Cultivation Technique created by Shi Quan was too astonishing; the "Minor Circulation Cultivation Method" and Zhou Tian Cultivation Method would bring a level of improvement to the entire Empire's strength.
To be able to successively establish the new ultimate spirit ring theory at such a young age, plus these two Cultivation Techniques...
It made Shi Quan's influence reach a terrifying level within the entire Spirit Master's world.
If Shi Quan could truly research combat spirit tools, then the Empire would directly possess the power to contend with any force.
Moreover, these spirit tools were just sitting there. Using these spirit tools to win over Shi Quan's future potential was absolutely worth it.
And for now, it was only a loan. If Shi Quan were to fall silent or perish in the future, he could reclaim it under the pretense of it being a loan.
For the Empire, there was no loss.
Shi Quan raised his hand and grabbed the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. The familiar voice of the System sounded in his mind.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the special item Sea God's Heart, triggering a Plunder Treasure Chest."
"Ding, it is detected that the host has successfully confined Xiao Wu, and can trigger another Plunder Treasure Chest. Do you wish to integrate and trigger the Plunder Treasure Chests?"
"Yes!"
Shi Quan answered without hesitation.
"It really succeeded." Shi Quan thought to himself.
Soon, he would know what good things the integrated treasure chest could open.
He put the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud into his hundred treasure pouch.
Since the purpose of this trip had been achieved, Shi Quan did not intend to stay in the imperial palace any longer.
When they left, Xue Qinghe escorted Shi Quan all the way to the palace gate.
"Little Brother Shi, I wish you a smooth journey and a satisfactory spirit ring."
Shi Quan nodded at Xue Qinghe, waving goodbye.
After bidding farewell to Xue Qinghe, Shi Quan, Dugu Bo, and Zhu Zhuqing returned directly to the Sunset Forest.
Upon returning to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the three first went back to the cave at the bottom of the spring to confirm that Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were still absorbing their Spirit Bones, and then returned to the outside of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Shi Quan..."
A gaunt Xiao Wu appeared before the three of them, and upon seeing Shi Quan, she immediately cursed at him fiercely.
Shi Quan's expression was indifferent upon hearing this. He raised his right hand, and the next second, a powerful mental force transformed into an illusory Dragon phantom that appeared behind Shi Quan.
"Phantom Spirit Moon Read!"
Xiao Wu's expression immediately became blank.
Within the bloody illusionary space, Xiao Wu horrifyingly discovered that she had somehow been trapped on a cross, her limbs unable to move.
Countless phantoms appeared all around, each one of them being herself.
And in front of each phantom stood a person, precisely Shi Quan.
Xiao Wu wanted to open her mouth to speak, but found that she couldn't make a sound at all.
Shi Quan held a sharp blade, cutting her flesh and blood. The immense physical and mental pain twisted Xiao Wu's expression. Despite her frantic struggles, she couldn't move an inch.
Outside.
In an instant, Xiao Wu directly lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. Even unconscious, her entire body continued to convulse, as if she had experienced something terrifying.
"In just an instant, he can torment the Soul of a 100,000-year Spirit Beast to the point of collapse?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow slightly.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Shi Quan in confusion, "Shi Quan, did you release Xiao Wu just to torture her?"
"Of course not." Shi Quan shook his head, "Zhuqing, Xiao Wu is the gift I prepared for you."
"Ah?" Zhu Zhuqing looked at Shi Quan in confusion.
"Zhuqing, have you heard of a 100,000-year Spirit Beast transforming into human form?"
Shi Quan then told Zhu Zhuqing Xiao Wu's origin.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were filled with shock and disbelief upon hearing this, "You mean Xiao Wu is actually a 100,000-year Soft Bones Demon Rabbit?"
"Exactly." Shi Quan nodded and said, "And her spirit ring and Spirit Bone are perfectly suited for you."
Zhu Zhuqing quickly calmed down and said, "With my current strength, I'm afraid I can't absorb Xiao Wu's 100,000-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone, can I?"
"Under normal circumstances, you indeed cannot." Shi Quan looked down at Xiao Wu, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, "But as long as she sacrifices herself, you will be able to perfectly absorb her 100,000-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone."
"Xiao Wu almost hates us to death, so why would she be willing to sacrifice herself for me?"
"I naturally have my own methods."
Shi Quan smiled, a phantom appearing behind him, and five spirit rings, four silver and one red, emerged beneath him. "Xiao Meng, assist me!"
"No problem, A Quan." Xiao Meng floated down, landing on Xiao Wu's forehead. At the same time, Shi Quan's fifth spirit ring beneath him suddenly lit up.
"Fifth Spirit Ability, Dream Soul Bewitchment!"
Silver-gold light rose, enveloping Xiao Wu and growing increasingly dense.
"Hmm?" Xiao Wu's pained expression quickly changed; her brows relaxed, and she began to show joy, her eyes slightly closed as she softly called out, "Third Brother!"
Not long after, Xiao Wu's voice turned into a scream, "Third Brother, be careful!"
"No, don't, Third Brother, don't mind me, hurry and go!" Her face showed extreme anxiety.
A moment later, it turned to despair, then back to determination.
"Third Brother, forget me!"
The next second, pink light continuously rose from her body, and the surrounding emerald green light was rapidly dispelled, turning dark red. At the same time, her entire skin also turned dark red, becoming as crystalline and transparent as a ruby, with intense bloody flames burning on it.
"She really sacrificed herself!" Zhu Zhuqing looked at the scene before her in shock.
"Third Brother!" Xiao Wu still had her eyes tightly closed, her expression twisted, completely unaware. The burning pain on her Physical Body had completely fused with the dream, making her unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.
Her mental force was clearly locked onto Zhu Zhuqing, and Zhu Zhuqing, being mentally locked, was also enveloped by the surrounding red light.
And Xiao Wu's Physical Body was gradually turning ethereal.
"Third Brother, I love you..." Xiao Wu, with her eyes closed, leaned forward, then frowned, her eyelashes trembling as she opened her eyes. In her line of sight, the person being enveloped and compressed by the huge red ring in front of her was not the Third Brother she longed for.
It was Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhu Zhuqing!" Her face instantly changed drastically. Everything before her indicated that she had been deceived.
"No, no..." Xiao Wu let out a mournful scream, turning sharply to look at Shi Quan.
"Shi Quan, may you die a horrible death!"
"You won't..." Her voice abruptly stopped, and her figure completely turned ethereal. Her expression remained, but she couldn't make a sound.
"You can only blame yourself for following the wrong person." Shi Quan looked at this scene with a calm expression.
Facing an enemy, pity is acceptable, but being soft-hearted is absolutely impossible...