I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

The six inner states of the Jiuli Dynasty are less than ten thousand miles from the Imperial City, and the Saint Emperor along with the royal family’s Hidden Guard can reach these areas instantly via the teleportation array in the Imperial City, marking them as safe zones for the Princes.

Once outside the six inner states, however, it takes time for the strong from the Imperial City to provide support, during which many things could happen.

Li Jizhou had no desire to leave the inner states. Although his current position didn’t warrant assassination by the Crown Prince or the Ninth Prince, he could easily be framed by those with ulterior motives, so he had to be cautious.

There was also a chance that the Ninth Prince might be assassinated upon leaving the inner states.

At the very least, on the surface, the Ninth Prince, bestowed with innate essence, was the Crown Prince’s biggest rival.

If nothing happened to him, then he, by ninety percent chance, would also remain unharmed.

If assassination occurred, he too would have a reason to swiftly return.

After some instructions, Li Jizhou first went to bid farewell to his birth mother, Consort Zhen.

A son traveling a thousand miles brings worry to his mother, and Consort Zhen had a profound love for her only son.

This past year, while Li Jizhou focused on cultivating at the Daoist School, she continually reached out to her maternal clan to gather cultivation resources for him.

Now, as he was about to leave the Imperial City, she was particularly anxious.

“Qian’Er, as you journey this time, I have no great expectations. I only wish for your safe return. I don’t have a powerful natal family like Consort Rong, and apart from the four maids, I can’t arrange for strong protectors to guard you on your path.

Take this storage bag. It’s filled with protective items I prepared for you, though with your current cultivation, you can’t fully utilize them. Distribute them to the four maids; they will protect you with their lives.

Also, take these Spirit Stones and don’t shortchange yourself.

When you bid farewell to your father, don’t appear timid. After you topped the Daoist School examination, your father started to pay more attention to you, which is a good sign…”

Consort Zhen gave numerous instructions, somewhat naggingly, but Li Jizhou listened silently, feeling neither annoyed nor burdened. Instead, he found it warm and fulfilling.

In his first life on Earth, he lost his mother early. After transmigrating, he struggled on the brink of life and death, awakening to Innate Wisdom without the presence of parents in his past, which left him indifferent to familial affection.

In this life, Consort Zhen’s actions over the past year and the deep love from his memories made him feel this profound familial bond anew.

Mystically, even someone like Li Jizhou, who didn’t want such ties to hinder his path to attaining the Dao, was deeply moved.

Over the past year, Li Jizhou occasionally pondered this, finally confirming that Consort Zhen’s feelings for him were pure, rooted in blood; intense love!

No demands for benefit, no expectations of repayment, nor any hopes for return; she genuinely wished him well with all her heart!

To this, Li Jizhou accepted gladly and held it close to his heart.

“Mother, I remember all that you said, so don’t worry about me. I will send messages to you often.” Li Jizhou smiled and gently tidied his mother’s hair.

After bidding farewell to his mother, Li Jizhou went to Yangxin Hall to take leave of the Saint Emperor.

In contrast to Consort Zhen’s pure affection, the Saint Emperor Li Yuan’s feelings for the Princes were not so pure. After all, as a ruler of a nation, he couldn’t afford such delicate emotions, nor could he, like Consort Zhen, bestow all emotions upon one person.

Li Jizhou understood this well and reciprocated with a similar sentiment.

The Princes, after perfecting Qi Cultivation, travel the world seeking opportunities to establish their Dao Foundation, which is an unspoken rule of the Jiuli Dynasty.

Of course, this mainly applies to those with ambition to attain the Dao and talent to match, further implying potential royal competition.

Li Yuan had seventeen children: twelve Princes and five Princesses, but only the Crown Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the Seventh Prince had such talent and hope.

The other Princes and Princesses, mostly below Celestial Spirit Root, lost the hope of key cultivation efforts from birth. Whether they entered the Daoist School or traveled bore little significance.

“Your son greets Father Emperor, and wishes for your immortal path to prosper and your life to remain as eternal as heaven!” Li Jizhou paid his respects sincerely to the Saint Emperor.

“Rise!” Li Yuan nodded slightly, increasingly pleased with his seventh son.

He still remembered when Old Qi was first detected with the innate Wood Spirit Body, and he had high hopes for him.

But later, with Old Jiu’s myriad Thunder Spirit Body, his focus on Old Qi waned, and as Old Qi’s temperament revealed issues, his satisfaction diminished.

Yet, after last year’s king conferment ceremony, the Jiuli Daoist School entrance exam, and the year’s complete Qi Cultivation progress, Li Yuan once again harbored hope for Old Qi.

“Old Qi, are you ready to journey and reflect on your Dao?”

“In response to Father Emperor, your son is determined to establish a Top-Grade Dao Foundation and wishes to admire how the dynasty passed down from our ancestors has been splendidly managed by you.” Li Jizhou said with pride on his face.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan paused slightly, examining Li Jizhou’s eyes for a moment, and boldly said, “Hahaha, very good. As a son of the Li family, it’s right to see the vast land shaped by our Immortal Ancestor!”

“Old Qi, tell me, do you have any requests for this journey? Feel free to ask, and your Father Emperor will grant them!”

Li Jizhou hurriedly kneeled respectfully, “Father Emperor, you have already done your utmost by stabilizing the dynasty for us descendants; that is the greatest gift, and I require nothing else.”

Primarily, Li Jizhou knew that Li Yuan couldn’t provide a Celestial Venerable Dao Fruit. To ask for it would only embarrass him.

“You boy… hahaha, good, good, go, see for yourself.”

With that said, he shook his hand, and a Jade Talisman radiating golden light appeared before Li Jizhou.