We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 417: Perhaps His Majesty Likes That Sort of Thing

Xiao Mo's consciousness swam briefly before he snapped back to reality.

He attempted to recall the fifth life from the Book of a Hundred Lives, but the memories remained elusive, no matter how much he strained.

Any effort to force the recollection brought a searing, guilty ache to his heart, a relentless gnawing that made breathing difficult.

Wiping a bead of cold sweat from his brow, Xiao Mo steeled his mind.

Simultaneously, the voice of the Book of a Hundred Lives echoed within his head:

[The Book of a Hundred Lives: Fifth life experience concluded. Host's experiential journey is complete.]

[Task One: The host assisted her in conquering other nations and unified all realms within the book. She subsequently ascended as Emperor—standardizing carriages, script, and speech across the lands. Her diligent governance ushered in an era of prosperity.

Task Progress: Accomplished.

Task Reward: Art of Marching Armies; Forge the Dao Through War.

Art of Marching Armies: This technique encapsulates all the host's strategic insights gained from military campaigns in the fifth life. When leading troops, the host possesses an enhanced probability of deciphering enemy formations, distinguishing truth from deception, and boosting troop morale by thirty percent.

Forge the Dao Through War: The battlefield is a crucible of karma. For many cultivators, it serves as a place to achieve breakthroughs by comprehending life and death. Henceforth, when the host engages in combat, slays enemies, or participates in lethal sparring, improvement in cultivation realm can be accelerated, with a greater likelihood of gaining enlightenment on the cycle of life and death.]

[Task Two: The greater the host's renown in this life, the more substantial the settlement reward.

Task Progress: Renowned throughout the myriad arts world and the demon-race domain, with fame extending even to the Outer Sea.

Task Reward: Renown.

Renown: The more individuals who know of the host and the higher their esteem, the greater the feedback the host shall receive from the Great Dao (applicable after reaching the Golden Core Realm).]

[Task Three: Cultivation must not be neglected, regardless of path—be it sword, Confucian, or martial. By the conclusion of the fifth life, a higher cultivation realm yields a richer reward.

Task Progress: Jade-Polished Realm, perfect completion.

Task Reward: Godslayer Spear Intent; martial physique.

Godslayer Spear Intent: The Godslayer Spear Art originated from an ancient human progenitor. Its forms number nine, the ultimate exponent. Attaining the ninth form allows one to slay gods!

This spear intent encompasses the Heaven-Splitting Fist and crucial cultivation insights.

Note: This spear art exists in reality with an unbroken lineage. Extreme caution is advised if the host intends to employ it publicly.

Martial Physique: Upon tempering the body and refining the physique, the host can maximize the efficacy of tempering medicines. The physique's strength will be further augmented in proportion to the host's current physical prowess.]

[Rewards have been disbursed.]

[The Book of a Hundred Lives: Preparation for the sixth life is underway. The duration of preparation is unknown. Notification will be provided immediately upon completion.]

[Addendum: Due to the host's low cultivation realm and relatively ordinary mental fortitude, the Book of a Hundred Lives has temporarily sealed the host's memories from the fifth life to ensure protection.

Otherwise, after enduring five lives, the host risked losing their sense of self.

As the host's realm escalates and their mental strength and soul mature, this restriction will gradually be lifted by the Book of a Hundred Lives.]

As the Book of a Hundred Lives' final words faded, Xiao Mo felt a flood of knowledge—both familiar and strange—permeate his being.

It was entirely composed of tactical information for commanding armies and waging war.

In mere moments, Xiao Mo grasped it all, integrating the information seamlessly.

This was no mere intellectual understanding; it transcended surface-level reading.

Xiao Mo felt as if he had truly commanded armies throughout an entire lifetime.

He even sensed that

He could now lead a vast force and engage the renowned generals of this era in battle.

Subsequently, a spear intent materialized within Xiao Mo's body seemingly from nothing.

Just as the Book of a Hundred Lives had stated,

This intent contained the Godslayer Spear Art, along with profound insights.

These insights promised to guide Xiao Mo, helping him bypass numerous future challenges.

Training the fist must precede the spear.

The Heaven-Splitting Fist was a fundamental requirement for mastering the Godslayer Spear Art, and thus, it was included.

This discovery brought considerable delight to Xiao Mo.

Beyond the intricate art of mastering the Godslayer Spear, the Heaven-Splitting Fist alone possessed the power to ascend to the higher realms, and its practice yielded considerable benefits for the physique.

For an ordinary individual, even a diligent emperor practicing this fist art would find themselves capable of selecting five or six consorts in a single night, an effect far surpassing any conventional aphrodisiac. Moreover, the Heaven-Splitting Fist demanded significantly less effort compared to the Godslayer Spear.

Presently, he could dedicate his focus to the Cursive Sword Formula, while in his spare time, he would practice the fist art.

Once the opportune moment arrived, he would recommence his cultivation of the Godslayer Spear.

And at the very moment Xiao Mo was immersed in the experience of the Godslayer Spear—

A wave of intense agony coursed through Xiao Mo's entire body.

It felt as though his muscles, tendons, bones, and skin were being compressed into a single mass, then violently crushed and subsequently reformed.

Xiao Mo quickly reached for a soft pillow and bit down fiercely, fearing that an audible cry might alert Wei Xun to his presence.

After the duration of a single incense stick burned away,

Xiao Mo lay sprawled on the cushioned daybed within the Imperial Study, his garments thoroughly drenched in sweat.

This time, no impurities seeped from his pores. Xiao Mo perceived a distinct enhancement in his body’s resilience.

Not a rigid, stone-like hardness, but a sturdy toughness—an enduring fortitude.

In simpler terms, his defenses had been bolstered, and the upper limit of his vitality had demonstrably increased.

Xiao Mo changed into fresh attire and exited the Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty.”

Upon witnessing His Majesty emerge, Wei Xun immediately offered a respectful bow.

Wei Xun subtly observed His Majesty and found himself momentarily stunned—why did it appear as though His Majesty's presence was more striking than before?

“Wei Xun, ready the imperial procession.”

Xiao Mo addressed Wei Xun, a subtle undercurrent of eagerness coloring his tone.

“Where is Your Majesty intending to go?” Wei Xun also noted the noticeably improved disposition of His Majesty.

“To the National Preceptor’s Residence.”

Xiao Mo offered a smile.

In the preceding days, he had been continuously outmatched and overpowered by that Immortal Lady Jiang—overpowered even when they were within the same cultivation realm.

Now that his physique had experienced significant strengthening,

He was confident he could reclaim a measure of his dignity.

“Yes, Your Majesty. This humble servant shall immediately make arrangements for the imperial palanquin.”

Despite Wei Xun's lack of understanding regarding His Majesty's persistent visits to the National Preceptor’s Residence—or why His Majesty would still venture there even after occasional returns bearing livid bruises—

He surmised that His Majesty might simply possess a peculiar inclination for such encounters.

However, after taking only a few steps, Wei Xun promptly turned back.

“Ah, Your Majesty—may this old servant be forgiven for his forgetfulness. A dossier has been forwarded from the Palace of Spiritual Heart on the Empress Dowager’s behalf, requesting Your Majesty’s review.”

Xiao Mo accepted the dossier and proceeded to open it. It contained details pertaining to the Empress Dowager's selections for new palace maids, along with the compiled list of those chosen. Today marked the final confirmation stage.

“There are no issues. Inform Mother that she need not trouble herself with reporting such matters to me,” Xiao Mo stated.

As for palace maids, Xiao Mo held no particular vested interest.

He felt he could barely manage the two future consorts appropriately.

However—

Xiao Mo cast his gaze towards the palace maids standing guard outside the entrance to the Imperial Study.

Xiao Mo was aware that these individuals were all informants secretly placed by Yan Shanao.

With a new contingent of palace maids recently having arrived,

He contemplated the possibility of quietly cultivating a few loyal confidants of his own.