Chapter 171: Boss Wake Up! Someone Is Breaking Your Window! (3/4)

The eyes of Prime Minister Zhang flared with instant brilliance, and his entire frame trembled slightly. "This spiritual artifact... can actually aid an old soul like me in cultivation?!"

"To think it possesses such an effect?!" Initially, he had merely assumed that the games in this shop were akin to the Lingyun Academy’s Martial Arts Tower—implements designed to quicken the pace of cultivation, and nothing more.

Yet he now discovered that this artifact, dubbed a 'computer,' surpassed his wildest imaginings. It had actually allowed a commoner like him, devoid of natural talent and having scarcely touched martial arts his entire life, to induce a spark of internal qi after a mere two days!

Such an artifact was by no means comparable to a place like the Lingyun Martial Arts Tower, which merely accelerated existing cultivation. If this were true, did it not imply that every single soul in the Great Jin Kingdom could cultivate?

Though their natural aptitude might remain an issue, and these literati, even upon gaining qi and strength within their bodies, would still fall short of true, gifted martial artists and cultivators, they could at least attain robust health and sufficient strength for self-defense. They might even match those martial artists and cultivators in lifespan!

If nothing else, such civil officials could dedicate themselves to their talents and ambitions with far greater peace of mind. Those profound regrets—of men rising to high office only to be forced into retirement by old age before they could ever spread their wings—might they gradually vanish from this day forward?

In an instant, Prime Minister Zhang thought of many things. What manner of supreme master had forged these artifacts? He could not begin to guess. For what purpose had this master opened a shop in this specific locale? He had no way to fathom that either.

Yet he knew with absolute certainty that this shop, established within the borders of Great Jin, held immense benefits for the kingdom.

As for claiming it as his own...

Greed was a universal impulse, and Emperor Ji Wu’s motives in dispatching him to Jiangnan had undoubtedly carried a hint of such intent. However, the moment Zhang beheld nearly the entirety of Jiangnan’s nobility gathered here, he knew that fostering goodwill was the far wiser path.

First, there was the terrifying might required to overawe so many people; second, the whole of Jiangnan was highly likely to forge itself into an impenetrable monolith because of this. This little establishment had already begun to form a collective of shared interests with the Jiangnan nobility, making it an entirely open question whether it could even be touched.

Though rumors of trouble at the shop had been absent for a long time, he had still caught wind of how all the Shadow Guards had been instantly subdued in the past.

One could infer from the fact that Nalan Hongwu had not dared to strike that even he held the place in fearful reverence.

After weighing the matter repeatedly, he finally dispatched a message at twilight to Emperor Ji Wu, far away in the imperial capital.

At this moment, Ji Wu was in the courtyard garden, having just finished a brief practice session with his blade. Sheathing the long weapon, he muttered, "Prime Minister Zhang?"

Though his communication jade connected him to all his high ministers, it was traditionally never employed unless a matter of grave import arose.

"For the time being, it appears harmless to our realm?"

"A miraculous artifact capable of allowing an ordinary person with zero talent to cultivate?"

Message after message arrived. Aside from suspicions and anxieties regarding the identity of the person behind the shop, the rest appeared to be nothing but tidings of good fortune.

"Can it truly be so...?!" Ji Wu’s gaze narrowed slightly. "If this is indeed the case, it may well prove to be a tremendous blessing for Us..."

"Only..."

Only there were certain matters that one would never rest content with until testing them firsthand!

For instance, whether this shop truly had a supreme master holding the fort, and whether that master's strength was genuinely as miraculous and divine as the rumors proclaimed.

Or perhaps...

It was merely because that youth had chanced upon some miraculous treasure?!

Though the likelihood of such a scenario was minuscule, a necessary probe could by no means be omitted!

The strongest figures Great Jin had ever known had already faded into history, yet they had left behind no shortage of formidable forces to safeguard the realm. The Star-Gazing Tower was one; this grand, magnificent palace was another. Yet few knew that at the dawn of the Great Jin Kingdom’s founding, in order to enforce imperial decrees and implement the rule of law, a faction hidden entirely within the shadows of Great Jin had been established by the throne's own hand.

The moment anything obstructed the execution of an imperial decree, they would strike. In the past, no small number of imperial relatives, nobles, and high ministers had been utterly obliterated at their hands.

"Whether it possesses the tyrannical strength to truly stand firm in this world, or whether it is merely playing ghosts and gods..." Ji Wu clenched his fist slightly and said in a cold voice, "Hui, go investigate for Us."

A light breeze stirred, sweeping a flurry of dust into the heavens. Within this garden, it seemed as though someone had departed.

...

By the time a profound darkness shrouded the earth, midnight had already arrived.

Fang Qi’s little shop had finally reached its closing hour once more.

Just as Fang Qi finished securing the doors and windows, extinguishing the lights to head upstairs, a figure as deep and bottomless as the blackest night suddenly manifested like a dark nightmare in the center of the street, right before Fang Qi’s shop door.

"Is it such a minor establishment... that causes the Emperor anxiety?" that profound silhouette murmured in a low voice. The tone was deep and raspy, indistinguishable as male or female, yet imbued with an icy detachment that disregarded all living things.

In the next instant, within the mere blink of an eye, the figure on the street had vanished without a trace.

It was precisely like a midnight specter!

In the heat of the summer, the night ought to have been exceedingly lively. Yet the chirping of insects and the croaking of frogs seemed to have utterly ceased at this moment, leaving nothing but an empty, hollow desolation all around.

The surrounding residents seemed to sleep in a deathly stillness; not even a hint of snoring could be heard.

By the second-floor windowsill, through the unclosed curtains, one could faintly discern that Fang Qi, having played games for yet another day, had already drifted off to sleep fully clothed.

"To think he sleeps so deeply; truly an ant completely lacking in worldly experience..." By the windowsill, a dark shadow had appeared at some unknown juncture. He stood right outside Fang Qi’s window, yet Fang Qi remained entirely oblivious.

In truth, no one would have been able to perceive him.

If anyone were to look toward Fang Qi’s windowsill from the outside at this moment, they would behold this figure standing directly in midair!

It was as though an invisible platform rested beneath his feet!

Treading upon the void was by no means something an ordinary person could achieve!

A martial artist of such a realm was exceedingly rare, even within the entirety of the Great Jin Kingdom!

"We shall begin with you, then, you ant," the figure muttered to himself, before extending his right hand with a light flick.

The window...

Ought to have burst wide open!

That was how it should have been!

But he suddenly froze, for the window before him showed absolutely no sign of opening!

"Hmm?" The brow hidden beneath the darkness seemed to furrow slightly, and he flicked his left hand once more!

The window still offered no response.

"Hmm...?" He seemed to feel a bizarre sense of astonishment. This was immediately followed by a third flick, and a fourth!

After that, he pounded with his fist!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

He kicked with his foot!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

He smashed with the hilt of his blade!

Clack! Clack! Clack!

Ultimately, one could see a figure outside Fang Qi’s windowsill, frantically battering the glass!

One faint sound after another rang out. The seemingly fragile glass trembled as if about to shatter, yet it did not loosen in the slightest! Even the noise itself seemed to be utterly absorbed...

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Author's Note: Chapter four might be after 11 o'clock. Additionally, the term 'week' did exist in ancient times.

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