"But these Seven Profound Gates..."
Chen Mo tried to sense them.
At this moment, the red patterns on his right arm and the Red Dragon Tattoo began to flicker with a red glow.
Especially the tattoo, at the position of the dragon's head, the eyes suddenly seemed to open.
Then the red patterns appeared to be filled with something, eventually connecting with the Red Dragon Tattoo.
The next moment, Chen Mo felt intense pain attacking fiercely again; starting from his fingers, changes occurred, growing Dragon Scales, beginning to transform toward dragon claws.
At the same time, one of the seven veins on Chen Mo's right arm transformed into something crystal-like, much like magma filling the veins.
Chen Mo fainted directly from the pain.
And as he fainted, his entire right arm transformed into dragon claws, even his whole body grew covered with crimson scales, but soon the scales merged into his body as if it had never happened.
Even the tattoo and veins on his right arm disappeared without a trace.
When Chen Mo woke up.
He glanced at the window; although the night hadn't faded, light was already emerging.
Chen Mo shook his head, experiencing no aftereffects of fainting, not even a slight pain.
Instead, he felt exceedingly energetic and lively, as if his whole body was filled with endless strength.
Seemingly sensing something.
He glanced at himself.
The dragon had already lifted its head.
Moreover, it appeared not so easy to make it lower.
Ahem, quite vigorous...
He quickly checked the Red Dragon Demon Arm.
Discovered that the tattoo and veins could manifest and conceal according to his will.
Not only that...
"Is this the breakthrough of the first Profound Gate?"
Indeed, Chen Mo realized that the seven Profound Gates of the Red Dragon Demon Arm, inexplicably, he had already broken through the first gate.
He hastily got out of bed, took a deep breath, squatted down, did not mobilize True Qi, nor did he activate the Red Dragon Demon Arm, and directly punched the ground with his bare hands.
With a "bang," accompanied by a muffled sound, and the dust rising among the blue stone slabs.
Those hard blue stone slabs.
Smashed into several pieces.
Chen Mo was shocked.
Needless to say, these stone slabs were two centimeters thick, and being the material for Weiyang Palace, naturally very solid, flat-laid on the ground.
Therefore, to smash them would require immense strength.
Just the strength of the right arm transformed by the Red Dragon Demon Arm was overwhelming.
If he activated the Red Dragon Demon Arm along with True Qi, how formidable would that be?
Chen Mo felt a surge of excitement.
He had already seen the dawn of mastering his destiny.
Since feeling energetic, he didn't intend to rest.
Took out the Nourishing Essence Pill bestowed by Xiao Yunxi, intending to make a breakthrough to become an eighth-grade martial artist.
Xiao Yunxi's strength was at the fifth-grade martial artist.
To free himself from her control and fully grasp his own destiny, he needed to swiftly reach the fifth-grade martial artist.
With a Nourishing Essence Pill swallowed, Chen Mo closed his eyes to refine it.
...
Yonghe Palace.
Noble Consort Hu had finished washing and was about to sleep.
At this moment, a shadow appeared outside the pearl curtain, causing Noble Consort Hu to sit up suddenly, her somewhat loose nightgown slid slightly off, revealing shoulders with exceptionally fair skin.
Perhaps a bit startled, her imposing figure moved like stormy waves.
"It's me." Although the voice was low, it was discernible as a woman's voice.
"This is the Imperial Palace, why have you come?" Hearing this familiar voice, Noble Consort Hu was startled.
"The master asked me to inquire how your probing is going?"
"Didn't I say earlier, if there is news, it would be sent out? That dog Emperor has been suspicious of me, if he knows you came, everything will be ruined." Noble Consort Hu lowered her voice to blame the shadow.
The shadow was silent for a moment, then said, "Chaos has started, the master is getting impatient."
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Hu angrily grabbed a handful of hair, then said, "Xiao Yunxi's mind is too difficult to grasp, I couldn't ask anything, but I suspect she doesn't know about the Red Sun Bell?"
"She doesn't know?" The shadow was also taken aback, then said, "She can't not know, the Red Sun Bell was bought by the eunuch from her palace, and according to the news from the master, Fu Mao the Empress took the clues obtained from the Red Sun Bell to the Imperial College..."
"Do you think without Xiao Yunxi's instructions, an Empress would personally go to the Imperial College for a eunuch?"
Listening to the shadow's words, Noble Consort Hu also frowned, then said, "Then Xiao Yunxi's scheming is extraordinarily deep."
"Those who can become Empress all have deep scheming."
"Does the eunuch have any issues?" Noble Consort Hu thought of something, posing the question.
"The master has already sent someone to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to check his files, the result will be known in a few days," the shadow said.
...
Xuanzhou.
This was the third era name Emperor Zhao Ji initiated.
The third year of Xuanzhou.
This has been Zhao Ji's seventeenth year on the throne.
Also, the third year since he initiated reforms.
But the effects are not favorable.
Ever since he insisted on reforms, the Great Song Dynasty experienced successive natural disasters, constantly faced military calamities, was overwhelmed with displaced people, and suffered ongoing unrest.
Although signs of upheaval had appeared long ago, these years, they intensified.
And from the third year of Xuanzhou, the public began spreading the notion that "heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rule," truly rebellious words.
In early August, before dawn, an urgent report was transmitted to the Capital City.
When the messenger entered the Imperial Palace, shouting, "Eight hundred li express," the Imperial Guard dared not obstruct, allowing the messenger direct access to the Emperor at Taihe Palace.
Upon hearing the report, the Emperor didn't even wash and immediately summoned ministers for discussion in the Imperial Palace.
Dong——
Dong——
The deep bell resonated throughout the majestic Imperial City and bustling streets, the previously bright sky now obscured by thick clouds, suspended over Bianliang like a pressing mass.
Rumble!
A thunderclap cut across the sea of clouds, adding a few marks of oppression and solemnity to August's Bianliang.
Dark clouds overshadowed the sky, a storm was imminent.
When thunder crashed outside Chen Mo's window, he suddenly opened his eyes, an invisible wave of energy swept out from his body.
The candles burning all night in the room were completely extinguished at this moment.
"Eighth grade..."
Chen Mo clenched his fist, murmuring.
The eighth grade, previously referred to as the Qi Condensation Realm.
Extracting True Qi from various parts of the flesh, adding to its consolidation, allowing circulation within the body, thus enabling automatic absorption of True Qi without operating a cultivation technique.
Chen Mo's face revealed a subtle smile.
Just as he finished washing up, ready to serve in the Empress's bedroom, there was a knock on the door.
"Brother Hong, are you awake? The Empress has arrived." Little Mirror's deliberately lowered voice echoed from outside the door.
"Awake." Chen Mo sorted himself briefly, went to open the door.
Then Zhao Fujin directly stepped inside.