Chapter 297

Chapter 297: As Long as You’re Still in the Wu Kingdom, I Care (4000 Words)

“Come on, open your mouth.”

“Princess, this isn’t proper.”

“What’s improper about it? You’re being shy now? Hurry up and open your mouth!”

“Alright… Ah…”

In the princess’s mansion of the imperial capital of the Wu Kingdom.

Xu Ming, wrapped up like a mummy, lies in bed with only his mouth uncovered. Wu Yanhan holds a bowl of medicine and feeds him a spoonful with a wooden spoon.

To have the princess of the Wu Kingdom personally feed him medicine, Xu Ming feels somewhat indebted.

He probably has the only treatment like this in the entire Wu Kingdom.

But truly, he and Wu Yanhan share a bond forged through life and death; something like this doesn’t mean much. Besides, there’s no one else around in the princess’s mansion, so no one can or will gossip about it.

Xu Ming opens his mouth and lets Wu Yanhan feed him the medicine.

Xu Ming doesn’t know what’s in the bowl, but regardless of its contents, he’ll drink it all down.

Xu Ming trusts that Wu Yanhan wouldn’t harm him, just as he trusts his own mother wouldn’t hurt him.

Still, this medicine is bitter—so bitter that Xu Ming feels his tongue going numb.

“Sheng Sheng, help wipe your Brother Xu’s mouth.” After feeding the medicine, Wu Yanhan stands up with the bowl.

“Oh~”

Shen Sheng Sheng happily steps forward, holding a handkerchief to gently wipe Xu Ming’s mouth.

It’s like she’s undertaking some grand task, wiping his mouth with utmost seriousness.

“Let’s go, Sheng Sheng. Let your Brother Xu rest. I’ll take you to practice boxing.” After tidying up the tray, Wu Yanhan tells Shen Sheng Sheng.

“Okay~” Shen Sheng Sheng nods and then reminds Xu Ming, “Brother Xu, you must rest well~ I’m going to practice boxing~ I’ll come back later to see you~”

Xu Ming smiles, “Go ahead.”

“Okay.”

Shen Sheng Sheng grabs Xu Ming’s hand, gently rubbing it against her head before placing it back down. She follows Sister Yanhan to practice boxing.

The door closes, leaving Xu Ming alone on the bed. The system’s voice echoes in his mind.

【Congratulations, Host survived the Ten Realms Thunder Tribulation. Lightning Attribute Resistance +500, Physical Regeneration +100, Spiritual Energy Recovery Speed +100, Martial True Qi Recovery Speed +100, Physical Toughness +200, Sword Intent Comprehension +100, Spiritual Energy Concentration +100, Tiandao Enlightenment +50, Skin Toughness…】

The system continues to list out over twenty attributes, each boosted by no less than 50 points.

Typically, the greater the difficulty Xu Ming faces, the more attribute points the system grants.

Clearly, this thunder tribulation was an immense challenge for Xu Ming.

Even if the system had consciousness, it might not have believed Xu Ming could survive this trial! Opportunities and dangers are proportional, and surviving this time naturally brings “wealth and honor.”

After reciting a long string of attribute boosts, the system still offers tangible rewards.

【Host achieved the unprecedented feat of “being struck by lightning like no one before.” Reward: The Ten Thunder Heart Sutra.】

【Ten Thunder Heart Sutra: Can suppress demons, drive away evil spirits, kill ghosts, and eliminate wickedness. Upon full mastery, the power of Tiandao’s thunder can be channeled into swords and fists, increasing their potency while imbuing them with lightning attributes. When an opponent is struck by thunder ten times, they enter a stunned state, experiencing paralysis lasting from one second to one minute depending on their cultivation stage.】

【System detected host narrowly escaped death during the thunder tribulation. Reward: Two Thunder Luck Pearls.】

【Thunder Luck Pearl: Contains traces of Tiandao’s fortune. Wearing it bestows a degree of Tiandao’s blessing, enhancing cultivation efficiency for both cultivators and martial artists alike.】

Once the system finishes speaking, the Ten Thunder Heart Sutra appears in Xu Ming’s mind.

Xu Ming’s divine consciousness manifests as a small figure practicing the Ten Thunder Heart Sutra continuously.

He soon realizes how swiftly he’s mastering its content.

Although Xu Ming finds the Ten Thunder Heart Sutra difficult to comprehend without assistance, under the system’s aid, after merely two incense sticks’ worth of time, he fully grasps it.

It’s like getting a new item in a game—you want to test its power right away, otherwise, it feels incomplete.

However, he needs to wait at least half a month to recover fully.

Despite undergoing the thunder tribulation, which repaired his wounds and regenerated his flesh, his body remains in recovery mode. That’s why he’s bound like a mummy and sent to the princess’s mansion.

Underneath the bandages lies Black Jade Continuity Ointment specially prepared by a medical cultivator invited by the Emperor of Wu, aiding in his recuperation.

Indeed, the Emperor treats him well.

Creating this ointment requires many rare treasures, even considered scarce in the Four Great Sanctuaries.

For this ointment, the Wu Kingdom treasury was emptied.

The Emperor clearly invested heavily in Xu Ming.

Of course, the Emperor’s kindness comes with intentions. Surviving an unprecedented ten realms thunder tribulation means a bright future awaits Xu Ming.

Even if the Emperor knows Xu Ming might leave eventually, fostering goodwill now is beneficial.

As a Wu citizen, Xu Ming naturally harbors affection for his homeland.

If he grows strong, he can protect the Wu Kingdom for millennia.

Don’t underestimate the power of a single Ascension Realm elder in each of the Ten Great Dynasties.

These elders serve as nuclear deterrents, rarely mobilized. Even if conflict arises, how much effort these Ascension Realm cultivators would contribute is uncertain due to their vested interests rather than deep emotional ties.

Xu Ming heard these Ascension Realm elders agree to assist only three times. For those three interventions, a dynasty must provide countless resources.

Thus, homegrown Ascension Realm talents remain invaluable.

“Fine, let it be.”

Xu Ming closes his eyes again, nurturing his divine soul.

The Emperor treats him generously, providing protection and resources. As a Wu citizen, once grown stronger, Xu Ming should indeed safeguard the Wu Kingdom to repay this favor.

Not to mention, Wu Yanhan might become the Empress of Wu. Xu Ming certainly won’t let anything happen to Wu Yanhan or the Wu Kingdom.

Three days pass, and Xu Ming remains bedridden.

He could return to the Xu Mansion to recuperate, but seeing his mother in such a state might cause her sleepless nights of worry.

So Xu Ming asks Wu Yanhan to report his safety to the Xu Mansion, explaining he’s merely in seclusion and will return in half a month.

During this time,

Wu Yanhan and Shen Sheng Sheng prepare medicine for Xu Ming daily. Several times, when they entered his room with the medicine bowl, Xu Ming could smell the medicinal aroma and the scent of furnace charcoal. Occasionally, Wu Yanhan’s pale cheeks were smudged with ash.

Xu Ming feels deeply moved.

Regardless of Wu Yanhan’s status,

She, as a girl, shows no greed toward him. During his weakest moments, she boils medicine for him, feeds him, and tends to him tirelessly.

A virtuous wife couldn’t do better.

Such beautiful and virtuous girls would be extremely rare, perhaps extinct, on Blue Ocean Star.

As for Sheng Sheng, her feelings resemble a younger sister’s towards an older brother.

On the thirteenth day, a Xiānrén Jìng medical cultivator revisits the princess’s mansion to examine Xu Ming, declaring he can remove the bandages.

After removing the bandages, Xu Ming enjoys a refreshing bath.

Despite already being in the Dragon Gate Realm and having undergone Mystic Thunder Liquid purification, reducing impurities in his body,

The ointment sticking to him felt uncomfortable.

And even if his body wasn’t dirty, prolonged lack of bathing makes one feel unclean.

After bathing, Xu Ming changes clothes and exits the bathroom.

Wu Yanhan and Shen Sheng Sheng are already waiting outside.

“Brother Xu~~~” Seeing Xu Ming emerge, Shen Sheng Sheng joyfully runs forward.

Wu Yanhan looks at Xu Ming, her eyes sparkling.

Xu Ming picks up Shen Sheng Sheng.

Hugging Xu Ming’s neck, Shen Sheng Sheng says, “Brother Xu smells of medicine, but you look better than before~”

Xu Ming chuckles, ruffling Shen Sheng Sheng’s head, “Marinated for over ten days, it’s bound to soak in.”

“Am I really better-looking?” Xu Ming jokingly asks Wu Yanhan.

Children don’t lie; if Shen Sheng Sheng thinks he looks better, then he does.

“Average,” Wu Yanhan huffs, turning her head, brushing her hair behind her ear, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

Actually, Wu Yanhan didn’t expect Xu Ming to look better after the thunder tribulation, but indeed, he does, just a little.

“How’s your body feeling?” Wu Yanhan asks.

Xu Ming nods, “Feels okay, mostly recovered to about seventy or eighty percent.”

Truthfully, Xu Ming has another concern: after this realm breakthrough, his Martial True Qi and Spiritual Energy show signs of clashing again.

This issue persists. If he wants to resolve it, he may need to visit the Western Regions and discuss thoroughly with Mo Zhu’er to find a way to completely solve it.

If the cost is too high, he might abandon one path.

“If you’re doing alright, follow me to the palace.” Wu Yanhan says.

“Summoned by Your Majesty?” Xu Ming asks.

Wu Yanhan nods, “Father knows you’re fine and that you’ve survived ten heavenly thunders. He definitely wants to see you, likely to reward you.”

As she speaks, a hint of guilt flashes across Wu Yanhan’s face, “Sorry, nearly everyone in the imperial capital knows about your ten thunder tribulations, and the news is spreading quickly.”

“It’s fine, understandable.” Xu Ming isn’t bothered by this.

Naturally, he knows the quick spread of information is thanks to the Emperor’s efforts.

The Emperor’s purpose is undoubtedly to enhance the Wu Kingdom’s reputation.

Compared to the other nine human dynasties, the Wu Kingdom was established relatively recently and needs to build its name internationally to establish itself firmly.

Otherwise, ordinary people would only know that someone underwent a tribulation with many thunder strikes, but who knows who it was? However, even without the Emperor spreading the word, knowledge of Xu Ming surviving ten thunders would gradually reach the masses.

His thunder tribulation was so intense that anyone within a thousand miles could see it.

Other dynasties investigating and deducing the event would lead them to him.

If someone wanted to kill him and stifle him in his infancy, whether the Emperor spreads the news or not, those people would eventually learn of him.

Instead, the Emperor’s loud promotion gives off a vibe of “Whoever dares to harm Wu Kingdom’s future will be seen as an enemy of the Wu Kingdom.”

Though the Wu Kingdom has a poor image, perceived as “barbarians” by other dynasties, barbarians don’t argue when provoked—they fight.

“Or you could go home and see Aunt Chen first? I’ll tell my father, no need to rush.” Wu Yanhan suggests.

“No need.” Xu Ming shakes his head, “Since it’s your father’s summons, we should go. Otherwise, he might think I’m disrespecting him, and future ministers might criticize me for ignoring the sovereign.”

Wu Yanhan smiles, “You’re practically a celestial being now, do you care about such things?”

Xu Ming nods, “That’s true, as long as you’re still in the Wu Kingdom, I care.”

“What nonsense!” Wu Yanhan steps forward, kicks Xu Ming lightly, turns around, and walks away, “If you’re coming, hurry up!”

“This girl’s blushing…” Xu Ming laughs and follows her.

Meanwhile, in the Wu Kingdom’s Imperial Palace, the Emperor has already set up a banquet with various dishes on the table.

Seated in the main position, the Emperor waits for Xu Ming and his daughter to arrive.

“Your Majesty.” Wei arrives before the Emperor, presenting several bags of powdered pills, “Spring Wind Pills have been ground into powder.”

The Emperor nods, “Mix it into the wine.”

Wei replies, “Understood.”