She rubbed her lower back, her expression somewhat gloomy. The Qingming Ancient Country’s Imperial Family back then wasn’t the Qingming family, nor was the dynasty even called by that name. Recalling the great war of those years, the strength of the Jiang Family’s Direct Lineage truly sent a chill down one’s spine!
Fortunately, those direct descendants of the Jiang Family were driven away. These foolish collateral branches are easier to control. Yin Yang Deer, hahaha, my Qingming family will certainly rise! Qingming Jing laughed, somewhat losing her composure.
Jiang Xueyao had just exited the back courtyard. The joy on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a sullen expression—a stark contrast to her previous demeanor in the backyard!
Gazing deeply at the location of the backyard, Jiang Xueyao, surrounded by a Spirit Light invisible to ordinary people, thought with hatred in her heart, Qingming family, you will pay the price sooner or later.
Chen Jiuge was unaware that he had inadvertently stepped into a vortex; the slightest misstep might pulverize him!
"CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP, come here." Holding a piece of spiritual beast meat, Chen Jiuge beckoned to a newly born Guardian Beast pup in front of him.
This Guardian Beast pup had terrifying potential. Having mutated once already within a month of its birth, Chen Jiuge was certain that this little fellow’s future was boundless.
The roar contained a hint of Yin Qi. A piece of spiritual beast meat, half the size of the Guardian Beast pup, froze and was then swallowed. The pup still looked unsatisfied!
Patting the tiny head of the Guardian Beast, Chen Jiuge no longer teased it and directly threw out a large amount of spiritual beast meat, letting it eat to its heart’s content.
In the void, an invisible gaze continued to observe everything in the Treasure Pavilion.
Qingming Jing’s eyes revealed urgency as she muttered to herself, What’s with Qingming Zhao? Becoming a Heavenly Immortal, becoming King, and he doesn’t recognize me, his aunt?
"What are you saying, Aunt?"
A burly young man in a Dragon Robe appeared silently behind Qingming Jing.
"Your Majesty." In Qingming Zhao’s presence, Qingming Jing naturally dared not call him by his name.
Qingming Zhao, unconcerned, waved his hand and looked at the screen in the great hall, where Chen Jiuge was feeding the Guardian Beast pup, "Is this the person, Aunt, you said could make our Qingming Ancient Country rise? A half-crippled Divine Storage Realm cultivator? An ascended being?"
Qingming Jing cleared her throat and switched the view on the screen to a graceful, calm-spirited Taiji Deer slowly chewing on Spirit Grass in a meadow.
Yin and Yang as one, a Yin Yang Deer? No, this aura is too weak; it only shows signs of atavism towards the Yin Yang Deer. As expected of a Heavenly Immortal, he completely understood the Taiji Deer’s transformation with just a casual glance through the screen.
"So, this Taiji Deer was bred by that ascended being you mentioned? Aunt, do you think he can breed a Yin Yang Deer?"
Qingming Jing, smiling, nodded and said, "This man was saved by Jiang Xueyao several years ago. In just over three years, he has bred this Taiji Deer and also two variants of white Spiritual Mice, the Green Jade Mouse and the Fire Spirit Mouse."
"His ability in Spirit Beast Breeding is extremely strong. Given sufficient resources and time, I believe breeding a Yin Yang Deer is not impossible."
Qingming Zhao shook his head slightly, "This isn’t the Age of Chaos; breeding a true Yin Yang Deer is almost impossible. However, what Aunt says makes sense. As long as he can breed something close enough, it will suffice. We are not short of resources."
Though the Qingming Ancient Country was not very strong, its location was advantageous. The three neighboring Alien Races—the Mountain people, Wild Men, and Barbarians—were all quite average in strength and no match for the Qingming Ancient Country. They hadn’t been completely eliminated yet only because they were being treated like leeks, to be fattened up before being harvested.
"Your Majesty, would you be interested in going to see him?" Qingming Jing invited.
"No need. I came here secretly just to have a look; the Imperial Palace is far too boring." Qingming Zhao shook his head; a mere Divine Storage cultivator was not worth his personal appearance. Orıginal content can be found at N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
After brief consideration, Qingming Zhao inscribed three edicts in the void. Massive immortal power and Divine Power forcefully condensed into three imperial decrees in the void.
"Aunt, please issue these. I will be heading back."
"By order of His Majesty! Chen Jiuge, Manager of the Snow Concubine Hall’s Treasure Pavilion, has performed a great service by breeding rare Spiritual Beasts such as the Green Jade Mouse, Fire Spirit Mouse, and Taiji Deer. He is hereby awarded 100,000 pounds of Top Grade Spiritual Stones, 1,000,000 pounds of Top Grade Pearl Rice, 12 Divine Martial Guards, a six-courtyard mansion in the Imperial City, and is appointed as Fifth-Rank Assistant Minister of the Beast Control Department!"
He Lan read the imperial decree with slight trembling, her face flushed as she looked at Chen Jiuge and said, "Jiuge, you’ve made it big this time! You’ve really struck it rich!"
"Little Lan, mind your image. Manager Zhu is still here," Chen Jiuge cautioned as He Lan nearly burrowed into his arms.
"I didn’t expect you to be so talented," Zhu Ying said, looking at Chen Jiuge with a complex expression, though her gaze lingered more on the Taiji Deer nearby.
"Get ready. Thanks to your merit, Lady Snow Concubine will also be returning to the Imperial Palace. Moreover, according to Lady Snow Concubine’s wishes, you are now an additional official of the Snow Concubine Hall."
"Two posts?" Chen Jiuge asked, somewhat astonished.
It was not uncommon in the dynasty to hold two posts, but the roles of an official of the Snow Concubine Hall and an Assistant Minister of the Beast Control Department were quite different in nature.
Officials under a Noble Concubine are primarily loyal to her; even those assigned externally maintain a certain degree of loyalty. Now that I’ve been appointed Assistant Minister of the Beast Control Department, holding an additional official post under the concubine seems somewhat inappropriate.
"Never mind, Chen Xingguan. You’ll be responsible for security. The other official post usually involves handling miscellaneous affairs, but I’ve been managing them. Your dual role won’t be an issue. Just make sure to come back and take care of the Spiritual Beasts in the Treasure Pavilion whenever you find the time."