Chapter 975: Meeting the Emperor (Part Two)

For Wang Chen, the experience of meeting the emperor was quite intriguing.

Emperor Shaowu did not embody the imposing aura typically associated with royalty; he lacked the aloofness expected of an emperor and instead resembled a scholarly teacher from a private school.

In fact, Wang Chen even questioned whether the man before him was truly the emperor!

Emperor Shaowu was remarkably talkative, and it was evident that he held a genuine fondness for Wang Chen, engaging him in conversation for an extended period.

Interestingly, their discussion did not delve into matters of state or topics related to the Blood Guard.

The emperor inquired about Wang Chen’s background, expressed sympathy for his past, and listened with keen interest to his tales of eliminating demons. He even sought to learn about the customs and culture of various regions.

After listening, he appeared deeply satisfied.

“If the opportunity arises, I would truly like to travel and witness the majestic landscapes and the lives of the common people of Da Liang,” Emperor Shaowu remarked wistfully. “What a pity…”

He left his thought unfinished, shaking his head with a touch of melancholy, as if some personal concerns weighed on his mind.

However, the emperor’s mood shifted swiftly, and he soon smiled again, saying, “Wang Chen, at such a young age, you have achieved so much. What reward do you desire?”

Wang Chen’s spirits lifted immediately.

It was customary to receive a reward after such an audience, and after conversing with Emperor Shaowu for so long, he had been eagerly awaiting this very question!

“Your Majesty, I have a deep interest in Daoism and would humbly request permission to study the Daoist scriptures housed in the palace library.”

Having obtained the thousand-year-old ginseng brimming with spiritual energy the previous day, Wang Chen’s curiosity about the Dao’s path had grown immensely, and he was eager to explore the path of Dual Cultivation.

Under normal circumstances, enrolling in a Dao Palace to study would be the ideal path for someone with his aspirations.

However, such secrets are not easily shared, and a Dao Palace would not readily impart their true methods to him.

Wang Chen also lacked the time to invest in such pursuits.

Thus, he chose the most direct approach: to study and gain insights by immersing himself in a vast collection of Daoist texts.

As a Golden Core true master from a higher realm, Wang Chen believed that, despite the differences in the rules governing the two worlds, his innate understanding would guide him to the most suitable path for his cultivation.

Requesting access to the palace library was a decision he had carefully considered.

His request seemed to catch the Daye Emperor off guard; the emperor initially appeared surprised but soon smiled and said, “Since you have such an interest in Daoist scriptures, I grant you permission to study in the palace library for three days.”

Wang Chen was overjoyed and promptly bowed, saying, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“Rise.”

Emperor Shaowu gestured for Wang Chen to stand, his eyes reflecting a glimmer of admiration. “To be young and eager to learn is like the rising sun; to be in one’s prime and eager to learn is like the midday sun; to be old and eager to learn is like the light of a bright candle.”

“It is a good thing that you enjoy reading. Our great Da Liang embraces all schools of thought—martial arts, Daoism, military strategy, Confucianism, law, and the teachings of Mozi. There is boundless knowledge to be gained. Familiarizing yourself with various disciplines can only be beneficial.”

As he spoke, the Daye Emperor picked up a dragon-shaped jade pendant from the table and said, “This is a gift for you. Keep it with you always.”

Wang Chen accepted it respectfully with both hands, saying, “Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty!”

Though the dragon-shaped jade pendant was not a rare treasure—merely an exquisite and valuable ornament—its significance was immeasurable, as it was a gift bestowed by Emperor Shaowu himself.

It symbolized the Daye Emperor’s appreciation and favor towards Wang Chen, effectively marking him with a seal of distinction.

【Fortune +99】

A striking notification flashed across Wang Chen’s vision instantly.

His fortune surged dramatically in that moment.

Yet, Wang Chen was acutely aware that this deepened his karmic ties with Da Liang; the stronger his fortune grew, the more severe the backlash would be if he ever severed those ties in the future!

There are no free lunches in this world, and nothing comes without a price.

With a calm demeanor, he fastened the dragon-shaped jade pendant, which bestowed such formidable fortune, to his belt.

Observing this, Emperor Shaowu appeared even more satisfied and suddenly inquired, “Wang Chen, you are seventeen this year, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Wang Chen responded, “By traditional reckoning, I am already eighteen.”

Emperor Shaowu nodded, “Good.”

He did not elaborate on what “good” signified, merely massaging his temples.

Wang Chen understood that the imperial audience had concluded.

He apologized and requested permission to depart. Once granted, he left the study under the guidance of Eunuch Yu.

Just a few steps outside, he heard Eunuch Yu murmur, “Master Wang, the emperor holds you in exceptionally high regard. I have never seen him engage in such a lengthy conversation with a newcomer from the Blessed State.”

The eunuch’s tone carried a hint of envy, and Wang Chen smiled, replying, “His Majesty’s deep affection fills me with both gratitude and trepidation.”

Eunuch Yu gave him a meaningful look, his expression complex.

The eunuch led Wang Chen through a maze of corridors and over bridges, traversing the vast palace for quite some time before finally arriving at the palace library.

The palace library was a complex of numerous buildings, meticulously organized to house texts on various disciplines, functioning much like Da Liang’s national library, with its countless treasures of books.

However, this grand library was not open to the public; access was granted only through special permission or imperial favor.

Moreover, the allotted time was exceedingly brief.

Eunuch Yu’s remark that Emperor Shaowu treated Wang Chen exceptionally well was neither an exaggeration nor mere flattery.

Wang Chen was permitted to read there for three full days!

All Daoist scriptures were housed within the method hall of the library, where hundreds of shelves were densely packed with books, totaling tens of thousands of volumes, collectively known as the "Ten Directions Daoist Collection."

Given only three days, it was clearly impossible to read all the books.

“Eunuch,”

Wang Chen discreetly slipped a silver note into the hand of the young eunuch managing the method hall, whispering, “Do you have an index of the Ten Directions Daoist Collection?”

With such a vast array of texts, finding the specific books he needed within just three days would be a daunting task.

The young eunuch quickly glanced at the silver note in his hand, and an instant smile spread across his face: “Please wait a moment, sir.”

After a brief pause, Wang Chen held a thick index of the Daoist collection in his hands.

This self-compiled catalog listed the names of all the books in the Ten Directions Daoist Collection along with their respective shelf locations.

Under normal circumstances, it should have been prominently displayed for visitors to see.

But in this world, such straightforward conveniences are rare!

For Wang Chen, spending one hundred taels of silver for this index was an incredible bargain.

Over the next three days, he immersed himself in the method hall, scarcely eating, drinking, or sleeping, entirely focused on reading the meticulously selected Daoist scriptures.