Chapter 503 The Limit of the Middle Grade

Wuning Palace.

This place is the palace of Queen Wu, and it has a transcendent status among the other palaces in the West Palace.

Empress Wu was lying leisurely on a rocking chair at this time, her eyes slightly closed, her beautiful and cold face exposed to the winter sunlight that filtered in through the window.

Wuning Palace was quiet and quiet, and Queen Wu seemed to be enjoying the tranquility.

At this moment, a young palace maid silently walked into Wuning Palace, came to Empress Wu's side gently, and said in her ear:

"Mother, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has informed me that starting from next month, the monthly salary of Wuning Palace will be reduced to ninety-nine taels."

Empress Wu did not open her eyes, but frowned slightly and asked, "Can you tell me the reason?"

"The war is about to begin, and the national treasury is empty. The new Royal Princess Ankang has decided to allocate finances from her private treasury to support national affairs. He also said that members of the royal family should lead by example, reduce expenditures, overcome the current difficulties, and express their gratitude to all concubines and concubines. We set a monthly upper limit according to the grade, and this will be the rule from now on," the palace maid replied.

Empress Wu's frown suddenly relaxed, and she couldn't help but smile softly. Under the sunlight, the maids on the side couldn't help but be stunned.

"knew."

Empress Wu raised her hand slightly, and the palace maid immediately stepped back knowingly.

Unlike Empress Wu who accepted it calmly, there was a lot of commotion in other parts of the harem.

"Presumptuous, what is she?"

"It's all my fault!"

"Damn, damn!!!"

In Qingshu Palace, Concubine Zhang was furious again.

The three brothers and sisters of the eldest prince danced and tried their best to persuade Concubine Zhang.

"Concubine, please calm down, concubine, please calm down—"

The eldest prince and his younger brothers and sisters kept on persuading her earnestly, and their hands were also busy, trying their best to pick up the various porcelain and antiques that Concubine Zhang threw on the ground.

Although what Zhang Guifei is smashing now are all fakes that the Fourth Prince replaced a long time ago, their Qingshu Palace monthly balance now only has fifty taels of silver left. If the Fourth Prince makes up for the fakes in the future, this account will not be right. .

Now that all the porcelain vases in Qingshu Hall have been smashed, they really can't replenish them with new ones.

At least until new sources of funding are found.

The eldest prince and the sixth prince also knew about the civet cat-for-prince trick played by the fourth prince before because of this business deal.

Today, in order to cover up the Fourth Prince, the three brothers and sisters were here to pick up the porcelain vase that Concubine Zhang had smashed.

Otherwise, with their dignified status as princes and princesses, there would be no need for them to do such ridiculous things.

Concubine Zhang has an extremely bad character. If another servant were to pick up the porcelain vase here, Concubine Zhang would inevitably be angered and severely punished.

Everyone in Qingshu Palace is their cronies, there is no need to chill the hearts of their own people.

Therefore, the three brothers and sisters of the eldest prince could only accompany Concubine Zhang until she was completely relieved.

These concubines, who were already enjoying high monthly payments, were naturally very dissatisfied with Princess Ankang's reforms.

Many people even think that this is Princess Ankang's villainy, and she now has power in her hands to take revenge on them.

But some people are worried and some are happy.

Although many concubines are dissatisfied with Princess Ankang's move to reduce monthly routines, there are also people who are satisfied with such a move.

They were those low-level concubines whose original monthly salary was barely enough to survive.

Originally, their monthly income was only enough to live a tight life, but this time their monthly income has been increased. Even if it is not much, it is enough to make their tight life a little easier.

No matter what Princess Ankang was doing, at least they got real benefits.

And compared with those high-level concubines who have luxurious lives, the difference of these few taels of silver is a world of difference for these low-level concubines, which is enough to change their current embarrassment.

The same is true for the palace ladies and eunuchs.

Although these low-level concubines, maids and eunuchs do not have much say or even a sense of presence in the palace, they are the majority in the palace.

Regardless of whether anyone will remember Princess Ankang's kindness, Li Xuan thinks it is worth a try.

Since the high-ranking concubines cannot change their dislike for Princess Ankang, perhaps the attitude of the people at the bottom towards Princess Ankang can change.

After all, popularity is necessary everywhere.

…

In the next few days, the entrance of Jingyang Palace was quite lively.

Many people came to visit and wanted to settle accounts with Princess Ankang.

After all, their originally generous monthly salary was completely deducted by Princess Ankang.

Even the empress, whose monthly salary was nine hundred and ninety-nine taels, suddenly became ninety-nine taels, a total of nine hundred taels less.

Although it still sounds like a very auspicious number, it is obviously not worth spending.

But among the figures who came to settle accounts, no one from Wuning Palace was seen.

Li Xuan lay leisurely on the courtyard wall, looking at the bustling Jingyang Palace gate.

The eunuchs in colorful clothes politely asked these visitors to leave one by one.

These were sent by other concubines to pay their respects to Princess Ankang. Some of them wanted to visit and say hello to Jingyang Palace in advance, and some of them asked Princess Ankang to pay homage to them.

But no matter which one they were, they were all turned away by the eunuch in colorful clothes guarding the door. Princess Ankang also avoided seeing them.

Under the current circumstances, Princess Ankang's appearance would not do any good.

And judging from the fact that these people only dared to cause trouble for Jingyang Palace, it seems that they could not change the fact that the Ministry of Internal Affairs reduced the monthly allowance, so they could only vent their anger on someone.

As long as the purpose of saving the royal private treasury was achieved, this was not a big problem.

After all, half of the money saved would go into the pocket of Jingyang Palace.

Li Xuan yawned, and after watching the excitement, he went to the backyard to find Princess Ankang and Yu'er.

The two girls were having fun here, Yu'er was practicing on the open lawn, and Princess Ankang was reading with relish in the pavilion.

The turmoil caused by the reduction of the monthly allowance did not affect them. Anyway, the three little ones were used to living in Jingyang Palace, and the little noise from the outside world really did not affect them.

Li Xuan saw that the two girls were enjoying themselves, so he did not disturb them, but quietly slipped out of Jingyang Palace.

He first went to inspect the Imperial Garden.

The Imperial Garden is now ruled by Mao Ba and his friends. There are almost no small animals that can threaten them, and the cat brothers are also living a very chic life.

But now that the weather is getting colder, the wild wormwood originally planted in the imperial garden is also sparse.

Compared with gathering here to suck cat grass when the weather is good, in winter, these cats in the palace will have fun in the imperial garden by parkour, crawling and rolling in the snow, having a lot of fun.

The ground that just snowed last night was full of small cat paw prints, which made me feel healed just by looking at them.

And the lazier ones will find a warm place to sleep in.

Since the renovation of Jingyang Palace, the wild cats in the palace finally have a home, at least they don’t have to starve and suffer from the cold weather.

After the winter, every night, there is a group of cats sleeping in the pond in the backyard of Jingyang Palace, and it is crowded.

There are also many wild cats near the pavilion where Princess Ankang was reading just now.

After all, Jingyang Palace opens a cat canteen every day, and wild cats who can’t find food in the palace will also come to Jingyang Palace for a feast.

After a while, these wild cats regarded Jingyang Palace as a gathering point, knowing that they would go there when they were cold and hungry.

And Mao Ba and the other three were always there. When the wild cats encountered problems, they would come to Jingyang Palace for help.

In the Imperial Garden, Mao Ba was practicing hard in the snow, humming and hawing as he performed the Blood-Slaying Tiger Claw.

But Mao Ba played very slowly, as if he was comprehending something.

On the other side, the cow was having fun with a group of wild cats, almost swimming in the snow.

Among them, Li Xuan also found the figure of Little Cheese.

Compared to when he just found Little Cheese, this little guy has grown a lot, and his body is almost as big as the cow.

Li Xuan saw that the cow and Little Cheese were having fun with a group of wild cats, and he couldn't help shaking his head.

"Forget it, cats have their own ambitions, just be happy."

Seeing that the cats were all living well, Li Xuan was relieved and went straight to the Qianxing Pavilion of the East Palace.

He has been busy recently, and has never found a chance to ask Master Ye about his questions about cultivation.

It happened that he had some free time today, so Li Xuan planned to ask him quickly.

When Li Xuan arrived at Qianxing Pavilion, Master Ye was sweeping snow in the yard.

The leaves had all fallen off at some point, leaving only bare tree trunks.

As soon as Li Xuan climbed over the wall, Master Ye turned his head and looked over.

"Ah Xuan, today is not the day to return the book, why are you here?"

Master Ye's voice was not loud, but it rang clearly in Li Xuan's ears.

Li Xuan meowed and ran to Master Ye.

Master Ye put the broom aside, opened the door of Qianxing Pavilion, and invited Li Xuan to go in together.

Li Xuan jumped onto the table skillfully, and Master Ye also slowly came to the chair behind the table and sat down.

"Ah Xuan, but what problems did you encounter in cultivation?"

Master Ye asked straight to the point.

In addition to matters about cultivation, Master Ye could not think of anything else that Li Xuan would come to him for.

Li Xuan nodded immediately and expressed his desire to understand the fourth-grade realm.

"Oh?"

Although Ye Lao was puzzled, he still said: "The fourth grade is called the Qi-calming realm."

As Li Xuan expected, the fourth grade is also related to true qi.

The entire middle three grades are based on true qi as the core of cultivation.

"The sixth grade Qi-sensing realm uses the power of one's own qi and blood as a guide to comprehend the five elements of heaven and earth and cultivate true qi."

"The fifth grade Qi-controlling realm will further strengthen the true qi cultivated, and strengthen the control, and use the true qi in the body to the outside of the body."

"And the fourth grade Qi-calming realm is also similar to the cultivation of the Qi-sensing realm, further strengthening the control of true qi."

As Ye Lao said, he instructed Li Xuan: "Ah Xuan, attack me at will with the means of controlling qi and transforming into a shape."

Li Xuan was not polite either. Knowing that he could not hurt Ye Lao, he immediately used the icy breath to tear out several frost claw blades and attacked Ye Lao.

The frost claw blades approached Ye Lao's body, and they dimmed and disappeared.

With Li Xuan's eyesight, he could see clearly that all the frost claw blades were swallowed up silently by the shadow.

However, this process was completed in a flash, and the visual perception was just that the light was dim, and Li Xuan's frost claw blades disappeared.

Ordinary warriors don't even have the eyesight to see such changes, and can only see that their attacks have disappeared strangely.

"Is it the icy breath of Shang Wenfu's lineage?"

"I didn't expect you to practice well."

Old Ye said with some surprise.

According to his understanding, the Ice Breath is a special power. Although it can be mixed with the true qi to enhance its power, the total amount of Ice Breath is difficult to increase.

Like Li Xuan just now, using pure Ice Breath to control the qi and transform into a shape, Ye Lao has never seen it in the lineage of Shang Zongguan.

The power of pure Ice Breath is much more difficult to deal with than mixed true qi.

If you encounter an opponent who doesn't understand the Ice Breath, you may be able to freeze the opponent to death with one move.

Ye Lao didn't beat around the bush and asked Li Xuan directly:

"Ah Xuan, why is your Ice Breath so strange?"

"Did you use all the Ice Breath just now?"

Li Xuan shook his head honestly and said:

"Ye Lao, I can increase the volume of Ice Breath through cultivation."

"I heard from the two stewards before that other people can't do this."

Hearing this, Ye Lao immediately understood and was not surprised.

It is normal for the destiny to be special.

Li Xuan has already cultivated Yin-Yang Qi, so it is not so strange that the cold breath can be cultivated and increased.

Ye Lao continued his explanation:

"You can control Qi and transform into a shape now, but you should have discovered it."

"When Qi is applied outside the body, it will be reduced."

Ye Lao's words are not wrong, and Li Xuan deeply agrees with this.

He has never been able to use Ghost Crying God Howl well, which is also a major reason.

The sound wrapped by the Qi will always slowly dissipate, which is also the biggest obstacle for Li Xuan to speak properly now.

"You just used 10% of your true Qi, but only 60% or 70% of it was left on me."

"You have such control when you just entered the fifth level. You are already gifted."

"Most warriors of the same level only have about 50% of it left on others."

"But there is a reason for controlling Qi and transforming into a shape. The power of true Qi far exceeds the power of Qi and blood. In addition, the mutual generation and restraint of attributes, close combat is very dangerous, and if you are not careful, it will be a situation where both sides will suffer."

"So the warriors of the human race gradually evolved a way of controlling Qi and transforming into a shape, and fighting at a distance."

"But this is just a reason that is not worth mentioning."

At this point, Ye Lao's face became solemn.

"Using the true Qi in the body to connect the power of the five elements of heaven and earth is a necessary process for the human race to practice."

When Li Xuan heard this, he couldn't help but feel awe:

"In other words, the ultimate goal is to use the power of heaven and earth?"

Through his recent practice, Li Xuan vaguely guessed it.

Especially the top three masters around him, all of them can display mysterious and magical abilities.

Whether it is the way that Mr. Ye uses shadows or that Manager Shang blocked the perception of others in the downtown area before, Li Xuan cannot understand it.

He can sense the fluctuation of the true qi attribute, but he does not understand how he knows it.

Li Xuan now only knows that Mr. Ye has Yin attribute true qi, while Manager Shang has water attribute true qi.

But how to achieve such a special effect by using these two attributes of true qi, Li Xuan really can't figure it out.

There must be a secret that Li Xuan does not know.

But this secret is most likely related to the top three, and Li Xuan should first figure out the cultivation of the fourth grade of Jingqi.

And then, Mr. Ye did not keep the secret and said the core of Jingqi cultivation.

"The Jingqi state requires the internal Qi to be in sync with the corresponding attributes of heaven and earth, which has extremely strict requirements on the total amount and control of the Qi."

"By then, the Qi in your body will be all over your body, but there will be no leakage. The Qi will be transformed outside the body without any waste, and even 10 points can be used to achieve 12 points of effect."

After hearing this, Li Xuan couldn't help but think about it, and then asked with his tail waving:

"10 points of internal Qi, with the help of 2 points of the power of heaven and earth?"

Old Ye smiled slightly and touched Li Xuan's little head:

"You are a teachable kid!"