Cultivation of immortality begins with an eighty-year-old eunuch.

Chapter 452 Respect! Leisure!

Chen Fan then looked at Emperor Jianwen: "What about your obsession?"

Emperor Jianwen did not hesitate: "Make the Great Abyss strong, let the people live in peace and prosperity, let everyone be equal, and let them not be oppressed by the Immortal Sect."

"This is your Dao heart." Chen Fan nodded. "When you break through, remember this firmly. No matter how tempting or tormenting your inner demons are, they must not waver. Remember, you are the emperor of the Great Abyss, and you carry the hopes of hundreds of millions of people on your shoulders."

Emperor Jianwen solemnly replied, "Your disciple will remember this."

Chen Fan then explained a few more points about the circulation of spiritual energy during a breakthrough, as well as some tips on how to stabilize one's mind.

Although he followed the orthodox path of cultivating immortality, the principles are the same, and many of his experiences are still of reference value to Emperor Jianwen.

"The best place to break through is where fortune converges," Chen Fan concluded. "Your Fengtian Hall is quite good, as it gathers the fortune of the Great Abyss Kingdom and can help you suppress distracting thoughts. In addition, prepare protectors in advance. The two guest elders, Qingmu and Chiyan, are quite useful, but you also need another trusted confidant to guard outside the hall, just in case."

"This disciple understands." Emperor Jianwen noted it down one by one.

After saying this, Chen Fan said no more.

He stood up, put away his stool and fishing gear, and patted off non-existent dust from his robes.

"That's all I have to say. The rest is up to you."

Emperor Jianwen quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Chen Fan waved his hand and turned to leave.

In the darkness of night, his gray-blue figure quickly disappeared into the shadows of the palace walls, as if he had never been there.

Emperor Jianwen stood by the pond, gazing in the direction his master had left, remaining motionless for a long time.

He felt a slight vibration on the fishing rod in his hand; a fish had taken the bait. But he didn't lift the rod, letting the fish escape, leaving only ripples spreading across the water.

"Live on...live well..." he murmured, repeating his master's words, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

After a long while, Emperor Jianwen took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

"I not only want to survive, but I also want to lead Da Yuan to carve out a bloody path in this world where immortals and mortals are opposed."

In the bowl.

The sunlight was just right, shining warmly on the bluestone slabs in the courtyard.

It was afternoon when Chen Fan returned to the bowl.

In the courtyard, Eunuch Wei was lying on a rattan chair, basking in the sun.

The old man squinted, fanning himself with a tattered palm-leaf fan. A teapot sat on a small stool beside him, steam still rising from its spout.

Hearing footsteps, he lazily opened one eye, saw it was Chen Fan, and then closed it again.

"You're back?"

"Hmm," Chen Fan responded, dragging a chair over to sit down next to Eunuch Wei.

The two lay side by side, neither of them speaking, simply enjoying the afternoon sun.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the occasional birdsong from afar and the soft creaking of Wei Gonggong's palm-leaf fan.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Eunuch Wei finally spoke: "Have you finished dealing with everything outside?"

"That's all for now." Chen Fan said with his eyes closed. "We'll be exchanging hostages with the Wang family patriarch in three days, so I'll have to go out again then."

"The Wang family..." Eunuch Wei clicked his tongue. "The people of Tiannan Region are quite different from us natives. Eunuch Chen, you need to be careful."

"I know," Chen Fan replied.

There was another moment of silence.

Suddenly, Eunuch Wei asked, "Is that young Emperor Jianwen about to attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul stage?"

Chen Fan opened his eyes and turned to look at him: "Who told you that?"

"Why should we listen to anyone?" Eunuch Wei scoffed.

"That kid's aura has been getting weirder lately; the smell of incense is so strong you can smell it from far away. Plus, the white hair at his temples... anyone with eyes can see he's fighting desperately."

Chen Fan closed his eyes again and didn't reply.

Eunuch Wei, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, said slowly, "Becoming an immortal through incense offerings may be quick, but it has endless consequences. That kid probably won't live long."

Chen Fan was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Everyone has their own path."

"That's true." Eunuch Wei sighed. "If our family had his courage back then, we could be a Core Formation cultivator by now. It's a pity he was afraid of death and didn't dare to take the risk."

Chen Fan laughed: "Isn't it great for you the way you are now? Sunbathing, drinking tea, living a leisurely life."

"That's good." Eunuch Wei smiled as well. "That's why people should be content. Our family is able to retire peacefully now, all thanks to Eunuch Chen."

"Don't give me that." Chen Fan waved his hand.

The two chatted for a while, mostly about trivial matters inside and outside the palace.

Eunuch Wei mentioned that a few days ago, Ling Huanzi had grown a new spiritual plant in the field. It looked like a radish, but tasted like an apple.

Wu Yuezi tried using it to brew wine, but the resulting wine was so sweet it was cloying, almost killing Zhu Ping.

Chen Fan listened with a smile on his lips.

These mundane daily routines gradually relaxed his tense nerves.

As the sun gradually sets in the west, the sunlight changes from golden to orange-red.

Eunuch Wei climbed up from the rattan chair and stretched. "Are you hungry? Ling Huanzi sent over some fresh spiritual vegetables today. We made a few side dishes. Want to eat some?"

Chen Fan nodded: "Okay."

The two went inside.

Sure enough, four side dishes were laid out on the table: stir-fried spirit vegetables, cold spirit melon salad, braised spirit mushrooms, and a dish of pickled spirit radish. The dishes were simple, but they exuded an enticing aroma.

Eunuch Wei then brought out a pot of spirit rice porridge, with chopped spirit vegetable leaves added. The porridge was thick and the aroma of rice mixed with the fragrance of vegetables, making it very appetizing.

"There's no meat, so please make do with this." Eunuch Wei served two bowls of porridge.

Chen Fan took the bowl and, without any hesitation, picked up a piece of spiritual vegetable and put it in his mouth.

The spiritual vegetables are crisp and refreshing, with a subtle sweetness. They melt in your mouth, transforming into a gentle spiritual energy that flows into your limbs and bones.

"Your skills have improved," Chen Fan remarked.

Eunuch Wei said proudly, "That's right. Our family studies cooking methods every day now. This bowl is full of spiritual energy, so the vegetables we grow are already delicious. With just a little effort, they become a delicacy."

The two ate and chatted.

Chen Fan talked about what happened outside a few days ago, about the cooperation with Baicaotang, about the Wang family patriarch coming to redeem people, and about Emperor Jianwen's determination.

Eunuch Wei listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with his own comments or reflections.

"Those people at Baicaotang are quite shrewd," Eunuch Wei said, taking a sip of his porridge. "They're after your spiritual plants. As long as there's profit to be made, they'll naturally protect you. But that kind of relationship is the most unreliable. Once the profit is gone, they'll turn on you faster than flipping a book."

"I know." Chen Fan nodded. "That's why we've prepared a backup plan."

"That's good." Eunuch Wei picked up a piece of lingzhi mushroom.

"As for that Jianwen Emperor... well, how should I put it, he's got more guts than us eunuchs."

Chen Fan didn't reply and silently ate his food.

Eunuch Wei glanced at him and suddenly asked, "You've already tried to persuade him?"

"I tried to persuade him," Chen Fan said calmly, "but it was no use."

"Indeed," Eunuch Wei shook his head. "That kid has the same temper as his father; once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it. Back then, he insisted on implementing new policies and went against the Eight Great Sects, and the result was..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Chen Fan understood.