"Go inside, the Empress is within," Wang Ying lifted the beaded curtain for Chen Mo to enter.
Chen Mo slowly walked into the inner hall.
Inside the hall, the scent of sandalwood lingered, making one feel somewhat drowsy.
Chen Mo slightly raised his eyes and saw a beautiful, languid woman reclining on a soft couch.
One hand supported her rosy cheek, her slender body lay sideways as if about to sleep, with her jet-black hair cascading onto the couch, and her eyes slightly closed.
Cai'Er knelt behind her, massaging her fragrant shoulders.
Upon hearing the sound, the beauty on the couch slightly opened her eyes and spoke in a lazy yet rippling voice, "Little Hong, you're here."
"Servant greets the Empress," Chen Mo respectfully knelt.
However, just as he was about to kneel, Xiao Yunxi waved her hand and said, "No need for formalities."
"Thank you, Empress," Chen Mo immediately straightened his knees.
"The birthday cake you made, both I and Fujin, Chong'Er, and the others liked it a lot. Tell me, what reward would you like?" Xiao Yunxi opened her eyes and glanced indifferently at Chen Mo, who had his head lowered.
"..."
Indeed, they are mother and daughter; their manner of speaking is quite similar.
"Reporting to the Empress, Her Highness the Empress has already rewarded me, so..."
However, before he could finish, Xiao Yunxi interrupted him.
"Fujin's reward is her own sentiment and does not conflict with my own. Go ahead, tell me."
"Uh... Whatever the Empress rewards me with, I am grateful for," Chen Mo replied respectfully.
"Pfft..." Xiao Yunxi couldn't help but laugh, a very pleasant sound, "You're quite clever, little Hong."
"Do you wish to cultivate?" Xiao Yunxi sat up from the soft couch.
Chen Mo already knew in advance that the Empress intended to bestow a cultivation technique upon him, so denying it would surely anger her. He immediately nodded, "Reporting to the Empress, I naturally wish to."
"Do you wish to serve His Majesty?" Xiao Yunxi suddenly changed the topic.
"What brings such words?" Chen Mo was momentarily puzzled but soon recalled that in the palace, eunuchs who attained a rank usually joined the Eastern or Western Factory, serving His Majesty, didn't they?
Moreover, joining the Eastern or Western Factory meant gaining an official status, living without such subservience.
Chen Mo quickly knelt down, saying, "I am willing to serve the Empress my entire life. If the Empress wishes for me to serve His Majesty, then I will serve His Majesty."
Xiao Yunxi nodded, quite satisfied with Chen Mo's response, and immediately said, "In light of your loyalty to me, today I shall bestow upon you a cultivation technique."
After speaking, Xiao Yunxi clapped her hands.
Instructed Cai'Er to leave.
Hearing the sound of the outer hall's door closing.
The Empress took out a small booklet from under the pillow and tossed it to Chen Mo.
"Empress, what is this?" Naturally, Chen Mo was not unfamiliar with the booklet in front of him; he knew this was the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, but he was pretending to ask.
What puzzled him further was whether the Empress's reward for him was actually the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture?
Could it be? Could it be?
He merely made a birthday cake and received a Celestial Tier Lower Grade cultivation technique as a reward.
This birthday cake must be incredibly valuable.
"This is a Celestial Tier Lower Grade cultivation technique, named the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, and today, I reward it to you," Xiao Yunxi said calmly.
"Boom!"
Upon hearing this, there was an explosive sound in Chen Mo's mind.
Something's fishy, there's definitely something fishy.
He didn't believe that merely making a birthday cake could grant him a Celestial Tier cultivation technique.
If that were the case, Celestial Tier techniques would be as common as cabbages.
There is surely some scheme involved here.
Could it be that she has taken a liking to me, intends to nurture me, and in the end plans to extract my essence...
"Empress, this... this is too valuable. I merely made a birthday cake and sincerely feel unworthy," Chen Mo dared not accept and began to politely decline.
"This is bestowed upon you by me, how could you feel unworthy? Or are you saying you wish to defy an order?" Xiao Yunxi frowned.
"I dare not," Chen Mo showed a look of fear, and then could only accept it.
In his heart, he thought to himself, having the Innate Purity Immortal Body, if she asks later, he would claim that he couldn't comprehend it, so she would believe he had no cultivation talent and shouldn't insist further.
While Chen Mo was entertaining such thoughts.
Xiao Yunxi added, "Chong'Er mentioned your root and bone are quite good, and with a Celestial Tier technique, you should be able to draw energy into your body today. You may cultivate in the outer hall; I will protect you."
Chen Mo: "..."
"Thank you, Empress."
...
"There's definitely something fishy."
Upon flipping through the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture given by Xiao Yunxi.
Chen Mo found that this Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture was incomplete.
The Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture has two versions, the Child Fire version and the Mother Fire version, and only together do they form the complete scripture.
If someone cultivates the Child Fire version, no matter how strong they become later, they would be controlled by the Mother Fire version.
The Empress wants to control me...
Chen Mo reached a conclusion.
His heart chilled as he became increasingly certain that Xiao Yunxi intended to extract his essence.
However...
Chen Mo's lips curled slightly into a smile.
If I did not have the complete Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, I would indeed be under your control.
But now I have the complete one.
This changes everything. According to the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, although the Child Fire can be controlled by the Mother Fire, this only applies if the one being controlled only possesses the Child Fire version.
But if the controlled party has the complete version, that changes.
When my strength grows, surpassing yours.
Then it will be I who controls you...
"Let's see who extracts whom..."
Chen Mo began to comprehend.
Seeing Chen Mo earnestly comprehending without noticing any issue, Xiao Yunxi let out a sigh of relief.
Indeed, she had worried too much.
What would a mere eunuch know?
Time passed by steadily.
During this period, the Empress allowed Cai'Er to come in once.
After all, spending too long alone with a eunuch, without anyone else around, could cause a big scandal if it became known.
As the head of the harem, Xiao Yunxi naturally has to consider everything.
As night fell.
Xiao Yunxi saw a wisp of white gas being inhaled by Chen Mo. After sensing an almost imperceptible connection between herself and Chen Mo.
Xiao Yunxi knew, from this moment forth, Chen Mo was under her control.
As Chen Mo opened his eyes, Xiao Yunxi smiled, "Not bad, in just three hours you've drawn energy into your body."
Saying this, she took out a piece of chilling jade from her bosom and handed it to him, "This is Ice Spirit Cold Jade, capable of calming Heart Fire caused by cultivating the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture. As someone without roots, if Heart Fire accumulates without being calmed, you can go mad."
Seeing Xiao Yunxi hand over the Ice Spirit Cold Jade, Chen Mo was taken aback.
As expected, this jade was deliberately passed onto me by her.
"Thank you, Empress," Chen Mo showed an expression of gratitude and reverence on the surface.
"Mm, you may leave; with the Ice Spirit Cold Jade, surely with a night's cultivation, you will become a Ninth Grade Martial Artist, truly embarking on the path of cultivation," Xiao Yunxi said.
"Yes."
...
After Chen Mo left.
Xiao Yunxi called Wang Ying over.
"Servant greets the Empress," Wang Ying said.
"Rise."
"Yes."
"Inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs that from today, Chen Hong will be promoted to Second-Class Eunuch."