53: Fake Xia Emperor Night Glass

Half a day later, outside the Cao Family's Listening Rain Pavilion.

Ripples spread through space, and Cao Nie, accompanied by Black Emperor and others, slowly emerged from the void.

The demonic aura around them was fully concealed, replaced by flowing Buddhist light. If they were to enter a Buddhist sect, they would undoubtedly become esteemed monks.

Black Emperor had returned to his original form, circling at Cao Nie's feet.

Despite possessing the bloodline of the Divine Beast Di Ting, he still looked like a scruffy dog.

"Great Elder." Cao Nie turned his gaze to Cao Jian, his voice steady: "These resources are for you to manage and distribute. Ensure that the strength of my Cao Family improves as quickly as possible."

As he spoke, more than a dozen storage rings floated in mid-air.

Cao Jian extended his thick hands to receive them, respectfully saying: "Cao Family Head, please focus on your cultivation. Leave these trivial matters to me."

Cao Nie nodded slightly, having extreme faith in the Great Elder's competence.

He then took out more than a dozen glowing pill recipes: "Third Elder, you have now advanced to Pill Emperor. Carefully study these pill recipes and help my Cao Family reach a higher level sooner."

Cao Feng's eyes lit up, and his hands trembled slightly as he took the precious pill recipes: "Rest assured, Cao Family Head, I will do my utmost to comprehend these pill recipes as quickly as possible, so that my Cao Family's strength can ascend to another level."

Each pill recipe in the Three Thousand Dao Domains was incredibly rare and valuable, and Cao Feng was astonished that the Cao Family Head could produce so many.

These resources and pill recipes were naturally obtained from the North Liang King's cave mansion.

He had forgotten about them earlier and only now took them out.

Cao Nie nodded in satisfaction, waving his hand to signal the three to withdraw.

Black Emperor trotted behind him, and the man and dog entered the Listening Rain Pavilion.

As soon as the door closed, Cao Nie gasped.

Although it was only a minor injury, this exchange gave him a clear understanding of his own strength.

"From Gui Xu Realm Seventh Layer to Asking Dao Realm Third Layer, I can actually fight across five minor realms." He murmured, his eyes gleaming.

During his last battle with the Lingxiao Emperor, he could only fight across four minor realms.

Being able to cross five minor realms this time was thanks to his cultivation of the Nine Tribulation Heaven Burning Extinguishing Dao Palm to the ninth level.

It seems this palm technique is the key to his realm-skipping ability.

In the Three Thousand Dao Domains, challenging opponents beyond one's realm is incredibly difficult.

Those who can cross one minor realm are rare and peerless geniuses, seen once in ten thousand years.

Those who can cross two minor realms are few and far between in the Three Thousand Dao Domains.

As for those who can cross three minor realms, Cao Nie had only seen records of them in ancient texts.

Each time one appeared, they were an invincible existence that suppressed an entire era.

He, Cao Nie, could cross five minor realms.

If this were to spread, it would likely astound the cultivators of the Three Thousand Dao Domains.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

After his injuries healed, Cao Nie felt refreshed and invigorated.

He became more playful with his wives and concubines.

Half a month ago, he attended a morning court session.

He always felt something was off.

Empress Summer Glaze's phoenix eyes would always subtly glance at him, her gaze filled with deep suspicion.

A few days ago, the border situation suddenly changed.

The Lingxiao Immortal Dynasty's million-strong army pressed down, their dark masses enveloping the borders of Great Xia.

Northern King Xia Hao personally led 100,000 elites to meet the enemy. The two armies stood in opposition, their killing intent soaring into the sky.

On the first day of engagement, both sides tentatively launched an earth-shattering battle.

What was strange was that after this battle, minor skirmishes continued, but no major battle occurred again.

Both sides understood clearly.

Once a full-scale war began, it would undoubtedly be a fight to the death.

Ending such a war would inevitably result in the annihilation of one faction.

Even the Tianyan Immortal Dynasty would join in.

At that point, it would be a matter of life and death, with only the victor surviving.

In the Three Thousand Dao Domains, the levels of Dynasties are divided into: Dynasty, Imperial Dynasty, Emperor Dynasty, Immortal Dynasty, Saint Dynasty, and Divine Dynasty.

A Divine Dynasty must possess one Tribulation Extinction Realm expert and ten Asking Dao Realm experts.

A Saint Dynasty must possess one Asking Dao Realm expert and ten Gui Xu Realm experts.

An Immortal Dynasty must possess at least one Gui Xu Realm expert and ten Po Wang Realm experts.

The power levels of Sects and Family Heads are divided into: Third-rate, Second-rate, First-rate, Super, Overlord, and Immortal.

Among them, Immortal corresponds to Divine Dynasty, Overlord corresponds to Saint Dynasty, Super corresponds to Immortal Dynasty, and so on.

Half a month later, outside the Golden Luan Hall.

"Lord Cao, His Majesty wishes to see you." A eunuch hurriedly stopped Cao Nie, who had just left the morning court.

Cao Nie raised an eyebrow, saying in a deep voice: "Lead the way."

Upon arriving before the Imperial Study, the eunuch bowed and gestured: "Lord Cao, please."

Cao Nie nodded and stepped into the Imperial Study.

He saw "Summer Glaze" diligently reviewing memorials, her imperial brush strokes exuding regal majesty.

Cao Nie sneered inwardly; he had already noticed during the morning court that this "Summer Glaze" was an imposter.

As for the purpose, Cao Nie had already guessed most of it.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty." Cao Nie bowed, a subtle smile flashing in his eyes.

If you want to play, this Cao Family Head will play with you.

【A Night Lapis Lazuli with a comprehensive rating of 92 has been detected. Please make the following choice, Host:】

【Choice One: Find a suitable opportunity to suppress this woman in the Golden Luan Hall. Reward: Barrier Breaking Pill Recipe.】

【Choice Two: Mind your own business. Reward: Three spirit stones.】

【Choice Three: Incite the other party to oppose Summer Glaze. Reward: Ten Heaven-tier high-grade martial arts techniques.】

A wicked smile curled at Cao Nie's lips: "System, I choose one."

【Congratulations, Host, you have obtained: Barrier Breaking Pill Recipe.】

With this Barrier Breaking Pill Recipe,

All thirty-six stewards of the Cao Family could become Po Wang Realm experts.

The dozen or so stewards who were already in the Po Wang Realm would all have their cultivation increase by one minor realm.

Choosing it was beyond doubt.

"Cao, my beloved subject, rise."

Night Lapis Lazuli imitated Summer Glaze's tone, engaging in a seemingly ordinary conversation between monarch and subject with Cao Nie.

With every gesture, she mimicked Summer Glaze's majesty perfectly, even the small movements when reviewing memorials were indistinguishable.

Cao Nie was vigilant; he had never heard of this Night Lapis Lazuli.

Thinking about it now, his guess was very close to the truth.

Summer Glaze had secretly cultivated someone in the Gui Xu Realm.

And this near-perfect imitation must have taken a lot of time.

Last time, even if he hadn't mentioned it, Summer Glaze would probably have found a time to go into seclusion.

Half a quarter of an hour later, the real Summer Glaze gracefully emerged from the side hall.

"Your, Your Majesty." Cao Nie feigned shock, taking half a step back and rubbing his eyes hard, as if he had seen a ghost.

Seeing this, Summer Glaze secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Even Cao Nie, an expert whose strength was comparable to the Gui Xu Realm Ninth Layer, couldn't see through the deception, meaning the plan was half successful.

Summer Glaze slowly walked towards the dragon throne, and Night Lapis Lazuli immediately rose and left.

She took off the jade pendant from her neck, and her face rippled, instantly transforming into a charming and lovely countenance.

"This... this is?" Cao Nie pointed at the two in disbelief.

Night Lapis Lazuli curtsied gracefully: "This servant is Your Majesty's personal palace maid, Night Lapis Lazuli. I was ordered to impersonate Your Majesty. I hope Lord Cao will offer much guidance."

The shock on Cao Nie's face gradually faded, replaced by an expression of admiration: "Your Majesty's trick of 'substituting the plum for the peach' is truly marvelous beyond words."

Upon hearing this, Summer Glaze's lips curved slightly: "Cao, my beloved subject, I plan to go into seclusion tonight to break through the barrier to the Asking Dao Realm. Affairs of the court will be entrusted to you and Lapis Lazuli."

Cao Nie clasped his fists: "Your subject will not shirk even if it means death."

Summer Glaze nodded: "Since that is the case, you may withdraw."

"Your humble servant takes his leave."

Cao Nie bowed and turned to depart.

It wasn't that he didn't want to make a move on Summer Glaze.

During the morning court a month ago, he had specifically used the system's Eye of Truth to investigate before acting.

Who would have thought he would discover an eighth-grade Soul Shattering Talisman on Summer Glaze?

Once activated, this talisman could annihilate the primordial spirit of anyone below Asking Dao Realm Fifth Layer, and those above Asking Dao Realm Fifth Layer who were hit would suffer severe primordial spirit damage.

Such a talisman was enough to make him utterly disappear.

He had no choice but to suppress the urge to suppress her.