For these young people, describing it as chaos would be an exaggeration, but it was still a flurry of activity. After all, the emperor wasn't a big shot they could see anytime, and the pressure from that status difference they had known since childhood was immense.
Fortunately, Li Shimin was a shrewd emperor. Regardless of their status, they all succumbed to his gentle words and kind smile, and were subsequently taken aside by their own lord.
"Huai Dao, this is my second time visiting the Six Doors. I never expected to be surprised every time I come!" Li Shimin said to Qin Mu with a smile.
"Hehe! It's all thanks to Your Majesty's good fortune that I'm getting a taste of the good fortune." As soon as Qin Mu saw Li Shimin arrive, he guessed what he meant. Of course, he wouldn't hand over the Moon Pearl, so he decided to see what Li Shimin had to say.
"I would like to ask you to set up this formation in the palace. What do you think?" Li Shimin raised an eyebrow and asked directly.
"They're in the palace!"
What is it?
"This formation! The Three Enclosures and Four Symbols Formation! The entire city of Chang'an, including the imperial palace, is composed of the Three Enclosures and Four Symbols Formation. The Three Enclosures connect Chang'an, and the Four Symbols protect the imperial city!" Qin Mu explained.
"Did Yan Lide tell you this?" Li Shimin asked.
"My senior brother mentioned that Chang'an not only used the Three Enclosures and Four Symbols Formation, but also the Inverted Four Symbols Formation. The Three Enclosures and Four Symbols Formation used in the imperial city is a thousand times stronger than the one I used. I can't understand it, nor can I make it," Qin Mu said, shaking his head.
"Then what's the deal with your spiritual energy?" Li Shimin nodded slightly and asked again.
“Moon Pearl! Legend has it that the Moon Pearl comes from the ocean and has the power to absorb all rivers. It can absorb spiritual energy when any formation is activated!” Qin Mu explained.
"Really!" Li Shimin asked, his breathing quickening and his eyes bright.
"How dare I deceive Your Majesty? However, this thing consumes a lot of resources! It requires nine catties of the finest jade to open once; it is related to the waxing and waning of the moon, and can be opened twice a month!" Qin Mu said with certainty.
"It can only be opened twice a month!" Li Shimin asked, slightly disappointed.
“Yes! Just like the tides rise and fall in the ocean, it can only be used twice a month,” Qin Mu replied.
Li Shimin was somewhat disappointed. He had hoped to use a large amount of materials to cultivate some experts, but twice a month wouldn't be of much use to them. However, thinking about it, it made sense; if they could use it continuously, everyone would probably know about it by now.
"Alright! From now on, just let me know every time you open it, and I'll have the Crown Prince and the others come to cultivate. Is that alright?" Li Shimin sighed.
"Of course, no problem! From now on, it will be held on the first and fifteenth of each month. Your Majesty can just send someone over." Qin Mu readily agreed.
"Hmm! You must have gained quite a bit. I won't keep you any longer." Having received the answer, Li Shimin had no intention of staying any longer and got up to leave. Of course! His mind was mainly preoccupied with what Li Jing had said.
Once Li Shimin left, the others naturally didn't stay either, and they left with their children.
As soon as the person left, Qin Mu couldn't help but reveal a satisfied and excited smile. What he told Li Shimin was, of course, the truth, but he didn't finish. The biggest gain was the Moon Pearl itself.
This time, the spiritual energy gathered for a longer period of time, and the Moon Pearl absorbed more, resulting in some changes. Its radiance was more restrained than before, but the spiritual energy was extremely abundant. Not only abundant, but the spiritual energy was also more refined, as if it had been compressed.
The pure spiritual energy is easier to absorb and doesn't require refining. It can also be used as a battery, directly absorbing and using spiritual energy when it's depleted. The spiritual energy contained within the Moon Pearl could sustain Qin Mu for ten to fifteen days, meaning that today, more than half of the spiritual energy actually entered the Moon Pearl.
Li Shimin might shamelessly ask for something so coveted, so Qin Mu certainly wouldn't say so. What he needs to do now is to absorb and digest the spiritual energy inside the moon pearl as soon as possible. Once he becomes a Grand Scholar and a True Lord, even if Li Shimin finds out, he won't ask for it.
Qin Mu's Ren and Du meridians have been opened, and recently he has also opened the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao meridian. Tonight, he has opened the Hand Shaoyin Heart meridian once again.
The advantage of opening up his Ren and Du meridians has now become apparent: his speed of absorbing and refining spiritual energy is more than ten times faster than before.
On the way home with Qin Mu, Qin Qiong recounted his conversation with Li Shimin. Qin Qiong was very satisfied with Qin Mu's handling of the situation, but he cautioned him not to be ostentatious in the future. He was especially pleased that Qin Mu had brought his younger siblings along.
Qin Mu returned home and continued to absorb the spiritual energy from the Moon Pearl. He had a premonition that it wouldn't be long before he could advance to the rank of Grand Scholar and open up all his meridians, becoming a Taoist True Lord.
In the palace, Li Shimin did not sleep. He was alone in the imperial study, pondering matters, until dawn was approaching when he remembered that he did not have to attend court that day. So he got up to find Changsun.
For external matters, he consulted Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui; for internal matters, he consulted Changsun Zhun. This was one of his habits. Arranging for the Crown Prince to leave the palace was no small matter, as the time and route were fixed, which posed a risk. Fortunately, those he knew were all trustworthy.
Li Shimin gave a few more instructions to the eunuch beside him as he walked, then got into the carriage and headed to the Lizheng Palace.
When Changsun, who was being served by palace maids to wash up, heard that Li Shimin was coming, he hurriedly went to greet him.
"Your Majesty, what brings you here so early?" Changsun asked curiously.
According to palace rules, Li Shimin should have spent the night at his concubine's place and then gone to work after waking up. So, the fact that he came to her place so early in the morning meant that he must have something to say.
"Let's talk about it later! I've already sent someone to fetch Chengqian and the others," Li Shimin said, waving his hand slightly.
"Godson? Has His Majesty not eaten yet?" Changsun paused for a moment, then asked.
"Hmm." Li Shimin nodded slightly. Without Zhangsun's instruction, the eunuch hurriedly went out to have someone deliver the imperial meal.
After waiting for a while, seven or eight of Li Shimin's sons and daughters arrived in a flurry, along with two of his four concubines.
"Sit down, everyone!" Li Shimin waved his hand and said.
Before Li Shimin, all his children sat obediently and upright, listening to his admonitions.
"You are all my children, representing the face of the royal family. Therefore, I require you to be strict with yourselves. Whether in your words or deeds, you must be worthy of your royal status. Do you understand?" Li Shimin asked, scanning his children with the authority of a stern father.
"Your subject understands!"
"Whether you understand or not, you must remember this well! Pu'an and Dongyang did a great job in this regard, and you should learn from them."
"yes!"
Looking at his obedient children, Li Shimin suddenly felt a little dissatisfied. He thought about Qin Mu's younger siblings, as well as Yuchi Huan, Cheng Huaibi, and Luo Tong, and wondered why other people's children were so much more outstanding.
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