Caelus realized this was the Imperial Family placing a heavy bet on him.
From accommodation and money to servants, they had comprehensively provided the most top-tier initial resources, solely to invest in his future.
He was not someone who failed to appreciate kindness, nor was he an ungrateful wretch.
Since he had accepted this gift, then in the future, once he grew powerful, he would certainly repay the Star Luo Imperial Family and settle this Karma.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Caelus sincerely thanked her.
Xu Jiujiu waved her hand. She was likely rushing to report the sudden changes in the Star Dou Great Forest to Xu Jiawei:
"No need for formalities. Just settle in comfortably. If you encounter any difficulties, you can use the token I gave you to enter the Imperial City and find me. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
Having said that, she quickly boarded the carriage she had arrived in, taking Nebula Douluo Man Yi with her, and sped toward the Imperial City nearby.
Caelus stood at the entrance of the detached residence, looking at the cold, heavy black-gold card in his hand, then at the elegant and valuable mansion before him, and finally thought about the one hundred thousand pocket money and the fully equipped servants... The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and a subtle, indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.
'Does this... count as being kept?'
A strange thought uncontrollably popped into his head.
Although his rationality told him this was a political investment and an initial outlay, the tangible material provisions before him—far exceeding his social class—still gave him a strong sense of déjà vu that he was 'living off a woman's generosity.'
'Forget it. Eating soft rice with a hard backbone is a skill in itself.'
Caelus quickly adjusted his mindset, cast aside these unnecessary distractions, and his gaze became firm once more.
Regardless of the form it took, power was the fundamental truth.
He lifted his foot and stepped into this new starting point that belonged to him—the Listening to Snow Pavilion.
Stepping through the vermillion gate, what greeted his eyes was not an accumulation of extreme luxury, but a subtle and profound elegance.
This detached residence, named "Listening to Snow Pavilion," was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside. Although it was not as magnificent as an Imperial Palace, it was an exceptionally rare private mansion.
The front courtyard was paved with white stone, simple yet grand. Clumps of emerald bamboo dotted the corners, swaying gently in the wind and rustling softly.
A winding corridor connected the front courtyard to the inner residence. On both sides of the corridor were meticulously maintained gardens with rockeries and flowing water. A few koi leisurely swam in the pond. Although several old plum trees were not yet in bloom, their branches were strong and gnarled, possessing an ancient grace. One could imagine what a wonderful Concept it would be to appreciate the plums and listen to the snow falling here during winter.
The entire residence was exquisitely designed, offering a different view with every step, isolating the noise outside and forming its own tranquil world.
The main house was a three-story pavilion with upturned eaves, its wooden structure radiating a gentle luster.
The interior furnishings were elegant yet tasteful, mostly crafted from precious woods and spiritual jade. The walls were adorned with landscape paintings of profound Concept, and the curio shelves held unusual stones or porcelain pieces that, while not spirit tools, contained faint elemental energy. Clearly, every item had been carefully selected, serving both to delight the senses and slightly benefit a Soul Master's quiet Cultivation.
Grandpa Hui, guided by the servants, went off excitedly yet somewhat awkwardly to arrange specific matters and inventory the items.
Caelus, meanwhile, was led by a respectful maid to the private room prepared for him on the second floor.
His room was extremely spacious, divided into two sections: an outer room and an inner room.
The outer room resembled a small study combined with a parlor. The bookshelves were already stocked with numerous books, covering everything from Continental History and Soul Beast Illustrated Guides to basic Soul Master theories.
A large desk and a comfortable chair were placed by the window.
The inner room was the bedroom, featuring a carved four-poster bed draped with elegant curtains, a soft animal hide rug covering the floor, and a wardrobe and a large crystal mirror standing against the wall.
What satisfied Caelus the most was that one side of the room also contained an independent bathroom equipped with a Formation to maintain a constant temperature.
The entire room had excellent ventilation and lighting. The window faced the tranquil courtyard in the back, and the light streaming through the thin window gauze was warm and soft.
The air was filled with a faint sandalwood aroma that helped concentration and calmness.
The Imperial Family's meticulous attention to detail was evident.
"I am very satisfied. You may leave now."
Caelus instructed the maid.
After the maid bowed, retreated, and gently closed the door, Caelus let out a long breath.
He walked to the window, looked at the exquisite courtyard scenery outside, and felt a rare sense of peace in his heart.
This place would be his home for a long time to come, and the starting point on his path to becoming a powerhouse.
Without wasting time on sentiment, Caelus walked to the animal hide rug in the center of the bedroom and sat down cross-legged.
The most pressing matter was improving his strength.
He focused his mind and began circulating his Soul Power.
However, he was not using any meditation technique that the Star Luo Imperial Family might possess, but rather the Death God Meditation Technique, personally passed down by Ye Xishui to Castorice in the distant Evil Demon Forest.
Although Xu Jiujiu had promised to provide resources, a top-tier meditation technique was incredibly precious. It would certainly require stricter evaluation or greater merit to acquire, and it was impossible for her to bestow it upon him immediately upon meeting.
Before acquiring a more suitable meditation technique, Caelus naturally wouldn't just wait idly.
This Death God Meditation Technique was the crystallization of Ye Xishui's life's work and was a truly top-tier meditation method.
Although its attributes leaned towards death and destruction, and were not perfectly compatible with Caelus's time attribute—even having a slight conflict—a top-tier meditation technique was still a top-tier meditation technique.
A meditation technique is fundamentally not an Internal Skill Mind-Cultivation Technique from Wuxia novels. It does not directly generate energy; it is more like an efficient guide for Soul Power Cultivation.
Its primary functions are to enhance the efficiency of Soul Power absorption, temper mental force, purify and compress Soul Power, or provide other peculiar effects.
In contrast, the lowest-level meditation techniques might only possess the most basic Soul Power absorption function, and their efficiency would be low, lacking any other additional effects.
Even without a meditation technique, an ordinary Soul Master can rely on instinct to absorb Soul Power and Cultivate, but the speed will be several or even dozens of times slower, and the Soul Power quality will be impure, limiting future potential.
Caelus held his breath and focused his attention, the information regarding the Death God Meditation Technique appearing in his mind.
Although they were both Cultivating the Death God Meditation Technique, Caelus's Cultivation efficiency was only seventy percent of Castorice's.
However, this seventy percent efficiency still far surpassed the speed at which he previously absorbed Soul Power based on physical instinct and his Martial Soul, and it was vastly superior to ordinary Advanced meditation techniques.
'I'll make do with this for now. It won't be too late to switch Cultivation methods once I obtain a more suitable meditation technique. After all, meditation techniques aren't permanently bound; one can switch at any time.'
With the plan settled in his heart, Caelus stopped thinking and completely immersed himself in the state of Cultivation.
Silence descended upon the room, broken only by Caelus's steady breathing and the faint golden glow gathering around him.
Depending on the Martial Soul, the color of everyone's Soul Power differs, and Caelus's Soul Power color at this moment was gold.