With a teacup in hand, Qin De's gaze penetrated through the window, taking in the view outside.
"Xu Yuan, Shangguan Hong should have arrived by now," Qin De slowly stated.
Standing behind Qin De and shrouded in darkness, Xu Yuan nodded and said, "According to the intelligence, King Zhenbei, Shangguan Hong, has indeed arrived. Tomorrow will be the day of negotiation. With Shangguan Hong's cunning nature, he would never arrive on the very last day."
Xu Yuan suddenly asked, "Prince, there are still three years before the major event begins. Why the urgency to meet with Shangguan Hong now?"
Xu Yuan was well aware that the members of the Mu Family of Prince Zhen Nan were extremely loyal, firmly standing with the Imperial Family Xiang. Prince Zhen Dong, Qin De, harbored no hope of persuading Prince Zhen Nan, considering only the opportunistic Shangguan Family as possibly swayable. The purpose now was to win over the Shangguan Family.
Qin De put down his teacup, his lips curling slightly upward: "Xu Yuan, there's no choice. From what I know, the head of the Xiang Family's intelligence organization in the Eastern Domain Three Prefectures has been replaced by Zhen Xu."
"Zhen Xu!" Xu Yuan's mind immediately conjured a pair of frosty eyes.
"Yes, Zhen Xu. I am quite familiar with the capabilities of the previous leader; he definitely couldn't determine the true strength of our military forces. However, this Zhen Xu is not his incompetent predecessor. I estimate that in half a year's time, he will uncover the actual number of our military forces in the Eastern Domain Three Prefectures," said Qin De, his expression turning somewhat grim.
Xu Yuan, being exceedingly astute, instantly grasped Qin De's implication.
"Prince, then your bargaining chip for this negotiation is..." Xu Yuan's heart could not help but admire Qin De.
"Exactly that," Qin De's face bore only a smile, "It all depends on the reaction afterward. I must ascertain whose side Shangguan Hong will choose. Of course, we should not pin all our hopes on him."
Xu Yuan nodded, saying, "As long as Shangguan Hong remains neutral, that will suffice."
"Prince, I also have some good news." Xu Yuan's face beamed with a smile as he handed a letter to Qin De.
"Oh!" Qin De took the letter, his eyes lighting up before he burst out laughing: "Yu'er has really helped me a lot this time. With such a large block of ore, and it's Immortal Upper Grade, imagine how many divine weapons can be forged from it. This truly is good news."
The letter was written by Lian Yan, who also wrote to Qin Feng and Qin Zheng, prompting them to rush back to the Prince Mansion. Qin De, however, stayed due to important matters. He was completely unaware that the red crystal was not merely Immortal Upper Grade ore, but a far more precious 'Stone Burning Iron'.
"Good, good, I must reward Yu'er handsomely when I return," Qin De exclaimed in high spirits, "Xu Yuan, go and prepare thoroughly for tomorrow's event. Everything must be flawless."
"Yes, I shall take my leave!" Xu Yuan bowed and then exited the room.
Qin De, holding the letter in his hand, wore a slight fatherly smile on his face.
...
In the Prince Zhen Dong Mansion in Yan Capital City, inside Feng Yuzi's dedicated Artifact Refining Secret Room.
The secret room had a dome top, a square bottom, subtly embodying the 'Heaven is round and earth is square' principle. In the very center of the room, on the floor, there was a gilded Eight Trigrams. Additionally, beams of light flowed between the Trigrams, and a surging aura naturally spread out, enveloping the entire Artifact Refining Secret Room. Outside the Eight Trigrams, there were three cushions; Feng Yuzi was sitting cross-legged on the central cushion, with Qin Yu sitting beside him.
"Go!" With a single gesture from Feng Yuzi, the Stone Burning Iron flew directly into the center of the Eight Trigrams. Feng Yuzi withdrew his True Essence Power, and the Stone Burning Iron actually hovered above the Eight Trigrams, as if the gilded Eight Trigrams held some mystical power supporting the Stone Burning Iron.
Witnessing this miraculous scene, Qin Yu was utterly astonished and became even more curious about the world of the Upper Immortals.
Flying Swords, Golden Core Stage Cultivators, Samadhi True Fire, the magical Eight Trigrams before me...
All of this made Qin Yu curious about what the world of Upper Immortals was truly like.
"Little Yu, this Stone Burning Iron was discovered by you, naturally, it is yours. I would like a piece of it, the size of a fist, I wonder if that is possible?" Feng Yuzi said somewhat sheepishly. For an Upper Immortal to ask a junior for a treasure, he truly felt ashamed.
But Feng Yuzi was extremely eager for this Stone Burning Iron. Although his flying sword was also not bad, its material couldn't compare to that of the 'Stone Burning Iron'. For a cultivator, pills and good crystal stones were immensely attractive.
"Of course, Uncle Feng, just take it." Qin Yu was no longer the child he used to be, he understood very well. This Feng Yuzi was an absolute expert on his father's side, and having a better flying sword would also enhance Feng Yuzi's strength. Besides, with the size of the Stone Burning Iron, a piece the size of a fist was nothing to him.
"Of course, by taking this fist-sized Stone Burning Iron, I owe you a great favor. If you have any request, just say it, and Uncle Feng will agree to it," Feng Yuzi quickly said. He, a dignified Upper Immortal, asking someone else for a treasure, naturally had to reciprocate.
"Any request?" Qin Yu's eyes lit up.
Feng Yuzi smiled and nodded, "Yes, anything I can do."
"Then, can you tell me about the world of Upper Immortals, all these things you mentioned about cultivators, Samadhi True Fire, I'm very curious." Qin Yu eagerly said.
"Just this request?" Feng Yuzi was taken aback.
Qin Yu smiled, "Yes, just this request. Actually, what I really want is to make my Dantian normal, to allow me to accumulate inner strength, so that I can cultivate to become an Innate Expert, and even an Upper Immortal. You can choose either of these two requests," Qin Yu chuckled.
Feng Yuzi shook his head and gave a wry smile.
"I have no way of helping with your Dantian. Alright, let me explain the world of cultivators to you in detail." Feng Yuzi mentally organized his thoughts and then said, "Actually, those referred to as 'Upper Immortals' in the Hidden Dragon Continent are not truly immortals; they are merely cultivators pursuing the status of immortals."
"Cultivators?" Qin Yu asked, puzzled.
Feng Yuzi said, "Yes, a mortal who wants to become an immortal will face countless tribulations. First, one must reach the Innate Realm, and upon reaching the Innate Great Success, they will encounter the 'Four-nine Small Heavenly Tribulation'. If one successfully crosses this small tribulation, they step into the ranks of cultivators, becoming a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, like your Uncle Feng, who is exactly at this stage."
"Four-nine Small Heavenly Tribulation?" Qin Yu was completely unfamiliar with these terms.
Feng Yuzi smiled, "Cultivation is an act against the heavens, and naturally it will incur heavenly tribulation. The Four-nine Small Heavenly Tribulation is light compared to the two great heavenly tribulations that follow. The realms for cultivators are divided into: Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Stage, Cave Void Stage, Kongming Stage, Tribulation Crossing Stage, and Great Success Stage. Each realm is further divided into early, middle, and late stages. Only after enduring endless tribulations and reaching the Great Success Stage, can one ascend and ultimately become an immortal. Honestly, I have just stepped into the ranks of cultivators, yet in the Hidden Dragon Continent, I am called an Upper Immortal, which is really embarrassing."
This was when Qin Yu truly understood that these so-called Upper Immortals of the Hidden Dragon Continent were merely Golden Core Stage Cultivators, far from being true immortals.
"The path of a cultivator is full of severe tribulations. Upon crossing the 'Four-nine Small Heavenly Tribulation' and reaching the Golden Core Stage, one's life can extend for over a thousand years, Nascent Soul Stage cultivators can live up to five thousand years. When reaching the late Nascent Soul Stage and approaching that critical point, it will trigger the 'Sixty-nine Great Heavenly Tribulations', only after experiencing these Great Heavenly Tribulations can one enter the Cave Void Stage. At that time, a Nascent Soul can merge with the soul, allowing the Nascent Soul to leave the body, truly achieving immortality." Feng Yuzi's eyes shone with intensity.
"Unfortunately, the Sixty-nine Great Heavenly Tribulation is too terrifying, and moreover, not everyone can encounter it. The Nascent Soul and Cave Void Stages, those are the fundamental transformations of the soul. Many experts reach the late Nascent Soul Stage and, unable to break through after thousands of years, ultimately die without facing the Sixty-nine Great Heavenly Tribulation," Feng Yuzi sighed.
In Qin Yu's heart, however, tumultuous waves crashed.
Thousands of years?
Cultivators' lifespans are measured in thousands of years, and upon reaching the Cave Void Stage, they achieve true immortality. What kind of world is that?