Chapter 6: System Reward – Grandmaster
[Ding dong!
Congratulations, Host! For violating the ancestral tradition and abolishing the burial sacrifice system, you have gained the favor of countless palace maids and consorts.
Reward: Grand Eunuch Xuandezi, Manual of the Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique.
Grand Eunuch: Xuandezi
Realm: Grandmaster
Cultivation: Sunflower Manual]
Shen Hao was briefly stunned, then overjoyed.
Not bad—breaking ancestral customs made him stronger. That was indeed powerful.
With a grand eunuch by his side, at least his personal safety would be secured.
Just then, Grand Eunuch Xuandezi cautiously knelt before him.
"Your Majesty, Consort Huang Rong has fled."
Seeing Xuandezi's anxious face, Shen Hao waved his hand, signaling him to rise.
"If she ran, she ran. If the sky wants to rain and a woman wants to marry, there's no need to interfere. What about the other consorts?"
Xuandezi's forehead was drenched in sweat, and he didn't dare meet Shen Hao's eyes.
"The other consorts… have extinguished their lanterns as well."
Shen Hao froze. That clearly meant all of them had hung up their "Do Not Disturb" signs.
He sighed in exasperation. "Alright, you may leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Gazing at the empty imperial study, Shen Hao felt utterly speechless.
He had become Emperor, yet he remained a solitary man.
The only one he could trust now was Xuandezi—the system's reward. Unexpectedly, the system had set Xuandezi's backstory as a childhood companion eunuch who had grown up with him.
Now that Shen Hao was Emperor, Xuandezi naturally became the Chief Steward of the Inner Palace.
Since all the saintesses had chosen to extinguish their lanterns, Shen Hao couldn't be bothered to pursue them.
What he really wanted now was to understand the ancestral laws and traditions of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
If violating them made him stronger, wasn't that the simplest path to power?
He promptly ordered Xuandezi to bring him the historical records of the Great Zhou and secret knowledge of this world—he needed a thorough crash course.
Shen Hao was utterly unfamiliar with this world.
Although he had read quite a few books in the past few days, he was still confused about many things.
What frustrated him the most was that when he had looked upon those peerlessly beautiful women—each one stunning like a celestial maiden—he realized… his little brother wasn't working.
There was no reaction.
That made him start to wonder if something was wrong with him.
Meanwhile, in the rear palace, two shadowy figures danced beneath the hazy moonlight, darting between rooftops, shattering the surrounding tiles wherever they passed.
Moments later, the moonlight revealed the two figures.
On the east side stood a woman in white, as ethereal as a goddess descending to earth.
On the west, a woman in a violet dress stood barefoot on the eaves, two bells hanging from her ankles, a sweet smile playing on her lips.
They were none other than Consort Tang—Shi Feixuan—and Consort Sui—Wanwan.
"Well, well. Who would've thought the pure and chaste saintess of Cihang Jingzhai, Shi Feixuan, would willingly enter the palace as a mere consort? Tsk, what a joke."
Shi Feixuan's face remained unperturbed, as calm as still water.
"Offering oneself to the Devil is, in itself, a form of merit.
Even Guanyin once took female form to enlighten mortals.
As the saying goes: 'Compassion and selflessness—there is no worldly desire that cannot be transcended.'"
Wanwan scoffed. "You hypocrites from Cihang Jingzhai always pretend to be righteous.
Hmph. With your icy demeanor, you think the Emperor will be moved?
When the time comes, I'll have him destroy your whole sect."
Shi Feixuan's expression didn't shift in the slightest. Her voice was still serene.
"Perhaps you're unaware—the new Emperor was tampered with at birth. His dragon qi was severed. He'll never be able to consummate anything in this life.
No matter how skilled you witches are, it's useless. He won't have the slightest interest in you."
Wanwan didn't seem surprised—clearly, she already knew.
She rolled her eyes, then smiled. "So what? You entering the palace is the real mistake.
You're the type of woman least suited to serve a man."
The information exchange between them was staggering.
Shi Feixuan said coldly, "The world is on the brink of chaos. Only the virtuous deserve to rule.
Evil has never triumphed over good. As long as I'm here, don't expect to pull any tricks."
"Since you've chosen to side with the Li Tang, stop wasting your breath. Let's see who's afraid of whom."
With that, Wanwan vanished from the spot, heading straight for the imperial study.
Seeing this, Shi Feixuan's delicate features finally showed a trace of concern. She frowned slightly, then quickly followed.
Cihang Jingzhai had given her three missions:
First, ensure the new Emperor was not manipulated by rival factions.
Second, locate the Imperial Seal.
Third, keep a close eye on her sworn nemesis, Wanwan of the Yin Kui Sect.
Both Wanwan and Shi Feixuan were of the Grandmaster realm—swift as phantoms. In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the imperial study.
But as soon as they arrived, both sensed a deadly threat—a feeling of being spiritually locked onto.
Goosebumps rose instantly, their bodies tensed.
Wanwan exclaimed in disbelief, "This… this is a Grandmaster's spiritual lock? Impossible!"
Shi Feixuan's heart pounded. She never expected a Grandmaster-level expert to be hidden within the palace.
Just then, a sharp, shrill voice echoed gently through the night.
"His Majesty is reading inside. If you have business, return tomorrow.
Do not disturb the Emperor—or don't blame me for being impolite."
As the voice faded, that terrifying sense of spiritual oppression also vanished.
Cold sweat soaked the backs of both women.
Gone was their arrogance—only wariness remained.
So, the Great Zhou still had hidden strength after all.
Who exactly was this mysterious Grandmaster?
They had once thought entering the palace would be like a holiday—who could stop them with their supreme martial arts?
But now… they dared not be reckless.
They only felt the chill of caution.
Exchanging glances, the two women silently retreated.
They had to report this Grandmaster's presence to their sects immediately.
Author's Note:
The system's golden finger has been slightly adjusted for a quicker pace.
If you're not used to it, feel free to review the earlier chapters.