76: Chapter 76 At this time, the court appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging.

Zhang Songxi calculated in his heart and was startled; this transaction would require at least a hundred bottles of lesser reverting pills!

Even the Shaolin Temple of the Great Song probably couldn't produce so many. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, this quantity is truly too much."

Zhao Fangcai smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. What I just mentioned can be considered my personal support for the development of the School."

Zhang Songxi stared dumbfounded at the calm Zhao Fangcai and admired him from the bottom of his heart, "Your Highness is truly a generous hero!"

Zhang Songxi couldn't make the decision on such a large business deal; he had to go discuss it with Zhang Sanfeng and his Senior Brothers.

After he left, A Rong brought the organized register to Zhao Fangcai: "Your Highness, this is the list of items exchanged today."

Zhao Fangcai nodded slightly, didn't look at the list, and said, "Take it and let Miss Mu have a look."

"Understood!" A Rong replied and walked into the inner room.

Liang Qing and Zhou Hui walked over, and Liang Qing took a booklet from his robe: "Your Highness, we found this Xuanming Divine Palm Secret Manual on the Two Elders of Xuanming today."

Zhou Hui added, "There were many people at the time, and they were all members of the Righteous Path, so there was no chance for this news to spread."

Zhao Fangcai took the booklet. The Xuanming Divine Palm was an Earth Rank Medium Grade technique. It was a set of internal palm techniques that required two people to practice together; one would Cultivate Xuanming Internal Energy, and the other would Cultivate Frost Poison Internal Energy. When the two cooperated, the power was extremely formidable.

He flipped through a few pages and closed the Secret Manual, saying to the two, "Liang Qing, Zhou Hui, you have worked hard escorting me all the way."

"Being able to follow Your Highness is our good fortune!" Liang Qing said sincerely.

Zhou Hui nodded in agreement, "Indeed, this is much better than staying in the government office with nothing to do all day."

"Although there were many disturbances along the way, it has also broadened our horizons and allowed us to witness many subtleties of martial arts cultivation."

The two spoke earnestly. Zhao Fangcai didn't express his stance, only saying, "Then tell me about the situation you've learned!"

Liang Qing and Zhou Hui glanced at each other and said, "The Imperial City Directorate of the Great Song holds immense power. On one hand, it manages speech censorship and palace guard affairs; on the other hand, it is responsible for gathering intelligence and monitoring the hundred officials."

In the Great Song's intelligence system, the number of top experts hidden within the Imperial City Directorate is far greater than that of the Six Doors.

The current Grand Commander of the Imperial City Directorate is Madman Yan. He founded the Power Gang and later handed over the Gang's affairs to his beloved daughter to manage.

The Great Song's Imperial City Directorate's fame among the various countries in the Dragon State is inextricably linked to Madman Yan.

Even after the new Emperor ascended the throne, he was still entrusted with heavy responsibilities.

However, Madman Yan has a peculiar and eccentric personality and thinks very highly of himself, never concerning himself with the daily trivialities of the Imperial City Directorate.

In reality, the actual power of the Imperial City Directorate is held by the seven Commanders of the Seven Constellations.

Among these seven Commanders, two are eunuchs who are confidants of the new Emperor, two come from meritorious noble families, and the other three are martial arts experts from the Jianghu.

Zhao Fangcai nodded gently. After listening to their introduction, he had a general understanding of the Imperial City Directorate, so he didn't continue to probe, understanding the principle of knowing when to stop.

He handed the Xuanming Divine Palm martial arts Secret Manual to the two and said, "Merit should be rewarded; this Secret Manual belongs to you now!"

Liang Qing and Zhou Hui were stunned at first, then said with faces full of surprise, "Your Highness, this gift is truly too precious!"

Although Zhao Fangcai often came into contact with Earth Rank and Heaven Rank Martial Arts now, it was because his level of contact had broadened as his authority increased.

But for Liang Qing and Zhou Hui, Earth Rank martial arts were undoubtedly extremely rare treasures.

One only needs to think about Murong Fu's situation to understand how high the value of Earth Rank martial arts is.

"What? Do you not want it?" Zhao Fangcai smiled faintly and said, "If you are promoted within the Imperial City Directorate in the future and hear any news or movements, remember to tell me."

Liang Qing and Zhou Hui immediately reacted, their faces showing joy as they hurriedly said, "Thank you for your cultivation, Your Highness!"

They had seen with their own eyes Mu Wanqing enter the Innate realm in just a few days under Zhao Fangcai's cultivation.

Even if they couldn't achieve a Breakthrough within a few days, achieving one within a few years was not hopeless, and their hearts were filled with gratitude.

Moreover, Zhao Fangcai was so generous, giving away Earth Rank martial arts just like that, without any air of superiority.

As for having their own faction from now on and working hard in the future, that wasn't a difficult problem at all.

At this time, the imperial court appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging.

It was precisely because they hadn't joined any faction that they were sent to Suzhou to serve as bodyguards.

Those who had a faction and stood on the right side lived very comfortably; while those who stood on the wrong side being demoted, exiled, downgraded, or even executed was a common occurrence.

[Ding! You have gifted the Xuanming Divine Palm to Liang Qing and Zhou Hui!]

[Ding! You have triggered the Tenfold Critical Strike Return mechanism!]

[Ding! You have obtained the Earth Rank High Grade martial arts Yin and Yang Divine Palm!]

"Tenfold return? This hasn't happened in a long time; these two really have good luck!"

Zhao Fangcai thought to himself.

The reason he could trigger a tenfold return and even increase the grade was that the Yin and Yang Divine Palm was a pure Martial Skill, whereas the Xuanming Divine Palm came with an Internal Skill Mind-Cultivation Technique; this set of palm techniques could be integrated into their martial arts systems.

A sudden gleam flashed in Zhao Fangcai's eyes as he instructed Liang Qing and Zhou Hui, who were holding the Xuanming Divine Palm Secret Manual with both hands, "Perform your duties diligently, and future rewards will certainly not be lacking!"

"As you command!" the two replied in unison.

After the two left the room, Zhao Fangcai turned and walked into the inner room, just as Xu Yujiao had finished her game of chess; she stood up to bow and then took her leave.

The next morning.

Among the Wudang Mountains, Zhao Fangcai accompanied Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanqing to climb the mountain to watch the sunrise, enjoying the mountain and water scenery along the way and visiting various temples and buildings.

Time flew by, and three days passed in a flash.

Within the Southern Zhao Kingdom, at the westernmost border of the Great Song, the back mountain of Sword Lake on Wuliang Mountain was lush with vegetation, and the mountain paths were rugged and difficult to traverse.

A clear and resonant crane cry came from the sky as a majestic Golden-Crested Immortal Crane broke through the clouds and soared out.

A waterfall rushed down from the top of a cliff more than ten zhang high, with silvery-white waves rolling endlessly, its Aura grand and spectacular.

Below the waterfall was a wide deep pool, and beside the pool stood a huge rock with clear characters carved on its surface.

The immortal crane landed steadily on the giant rock; this must be the "Langhuan Blessed Land."

The cascading waterfall crashed against the rocks, and amidst the turbulent water, seven-colored rainbows flashed from time to time.

The immortal crane spread its pure white wings and landed leisurely, its posture elegant and composed.

A young man of about twenty years old flipped down from a high place, his figure tall and straight, his appearance handsome and outstanding, exuding an air of elegance—this person was exactly Zhao Fangcai.

Since leaving his hometown and traveling a long distance, he had been out on this journey for more than a month.

A hint of homesickness quietly rose in Wang Yuyan's heart.

Coupled with the encounter with falling rocks and the attack by Yuan Thirteen Limits during the journey, thinking about the reactions of various forces after their deaths, the development of the story added more variables.

Therefore, Zhao Fangcai took her to Wudang Mountain: first, to exchange for Medicinal Pills; second, with Zhang Sanfeng presiding here, their safety could be reliably guaranteed.

After touring with everyone on Wudang Mountain for a day, Zhao Fangcai traveled alone by boat to the Southern Zhao Kingdom region.

The purpose of this trip was clear: to find the peerless martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect circulating in the Southern Zhao Kingdom, the Northern Darkness Divine Art and the Buoyant Steps of the Spirit.