Waking from the bed, Xiao Mo groggily opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was those familiar bed curtains.

“Did I make it back to the sleeping palace?”

Xiao Mo’s mind gradually cleared.

He tried to sit up, only to feel a sharp pain surge through his body.

It felt as if every bone in him had been shattered, then forcibly pieced back together.

Turning his head, Xiao Mo looked down at himself and found his body wrapped in bandages, to the point he couldn’t move at all.

Lying there, Xiao Mo recalled what had happened during his tribulation.

He remembered the Heavenly Way giving him absolutely no face. Tribulation lightning taking form was one thing, but it had even produced three tribulation strikes at foundation establishment.

But at the final instant, he had swung his sword with the resolve to die.

After that, he lost consciousness.

“Did I... succeed?”

Xiao Mo closed his eyes and used divine sense to examine his body.

His body was too weak, so when he first woke, he hadn’t felt much.

But once he carefully probed with divine sense, he could clearly perceive his spiritual apertures and meridians—like they had been opened and widened.

The spiritual power within him was more than five times as abundant as it had been in the Qi Refining Realm, and the quality of that spiritual power was even more outrageous.

It had even seeped into his flesh and blood.

Spiritual power no longer merely stayed in the spiritual apertures and meridians—it actively nourished every inch of his body’s flesh and blood. That was the most basic hallmark of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

He could even feel that his upper limit of lifespan had increased by quite a lot.

If nothing went wrong, Xiao Mo figured living to two hundred and forty or two hundred and fifty shouldn’t be a problem.

Beyond that, he felt hunger—but he only needed to feed on the spiritual power in his surroundings.

In other words, from this day on, he could go without grain. He wouldn’t need to eat or drink, or even deal with bodily functions.

Next, Xiao Mo extended his divine sense outward and found that its range had expanded to more than four times what it was before.

And as for the hidden resonance of the great Way within the air, Xiao Mo now had a kind of indescribable sensitivity to it.

It was as if he’d risen by a dimension, able to see things ordinary people couldn’t.

Only, his realm was still too low, so what he saw remained indistinct.

“So this is the Foundation Establishment Realm...”

Xiao Mo felt deeply moved.

No wonder so many cultivators—even if it meant their bodies perished and their Ways fell apart—would still gamble everything for that sliver of a chance to break through.

And no wonder so many wandering mountain-and-marsh cultivators would sell out their brothers, even sell out their dao companions, all for a scrap of opportunity.

It wasn’t only that it extended one’s lifespan.

The rise in realm truly gave people the illusion that they were gradually gaining control over the world, driving them into a mad yearning for the scenery of higher realms.

And just as Xiao Mo was slowly experiencing his Foundation Establishment Realm, his divine sense detected someone walking toward his room.

A short while later, Bai Ruxue entered, carrying a bowl of medicine.

“Your Majesty is awake.”

Seeing Xiao Mo awake, Bai Ruxue smiled softly, her expression filled with sincere joy.

“Mm.” Xiao Mo nodded. “How long was I unconscious?”

“Your Majesty was unconscious for a full twenty days.” Bai Ruxue set the bowl at the bedside. “When Your Majesty was undergoing the tribulation, you nearly frightened this consort to death. Thankfully, Your Majesty is safe and sound.”

Just thinking back on it left Bai Ruxue shaken even now.

But thankfully, Xiao Mo had only been injured. His life had been preserved—and he had even succeeded in establishing his foundation.

“This consort will serve Your Majesty the medicine.”

Gathering her thoughts, Bai Ruxue leaned down. A strand of her jet-black hair brushed the tip of Xiao Mo’s nose, carrying the faint scent of her body.

Because she bent so close, Xiao Mo could also see that pale, deep curve.

But Bai Ruxue didn’t care in the slightest.

To Bai Ruxue, everything she had was his to begin with. What did it matter if he saw?

Bai Ruxue gently helped Xiao Mo up, letting him lean against the headboard, as if afraid he might be bumped or hurt.

She lifted the bowl, scooped a spoonful, and softly blew with fragrant breath to cool it. After touching it lightly to her lips to make sure it wasn’t hot, she finally fed it to Xiao Mo.

Though her motions were a little intimate, Xiao Mo treated it as nothing at all and quickly finished the bowl.

Once the medicine went down, Xiao Mo felt it spread swiftly through his organs and into his meridians and spiritual apertures, slowly nourishing him.

“This medicine...” Xiao Mo knew it was not ordinary.

“It’s just a common thing. It’s nothing worth mentioning.” Bai Ruxue shook her head, used a scented handkerchief to wipe the corner of Xiao Mo’s mouth, then eased him back down onto the bed.

She didn’t explain further, and Xiao Mo didn’t press about how precious it was—he simply kept the favor in his heart.

“During the days I was unconscious, did anything happen?” Xiao Mo asked.

“Your Majesty can rest assured. After this consort brought Your Majesty back to the imperial palace, it was this consort and Sister Mujiu taking turns to care for Your Majesty. National Preceptor Jiang also came to visit often.”

“As for the Palace of Spiritual Heart, this consort used the excuse that Your Majesty is cultivating in seclusion. The Empress Dowager was somewhat displeased—she felt you were neglecting us—but it was still fine. She didn’t grow suspicious.”

“And that Eunuch Wei truly is loyal to Your Majesty. In the front hall, he handled Yan Shanao very well.”

“Now Your Majesty only needs to rest and recover. In about five or six more days, Your Majesty should be able to get out of bed.”

“Thank you, Consort Yan.” Xiao Mo offered a word of thanks.

“Your Majesty, please don’t say such things. Caring for Your Majesty is something this consort ought to do.” Bai Ruxue smiled gently, rose with the medicine bowl in hand, and said, “Then Your Majesty should rest well. This consort won’t disturb Your Majesty any longer.”

“Mm.” Perhaps because the medicine had taken effect, Xiao Mo felt drowsy as well, and slowly closed his eyes.

Bai Ruxue left the room quietly and returned to the Hall of Congealed Snow.

But just as Bai Ruxue reached the gates of the Hall of Congealed Snow, she saw Spring Swallow hurry over.

“Miss, Miss! Madam sent someone to fetch us—she wants us to return to the Yan Residence for a moment. Madam said she already spoke with the Empress Dowager. We can leave the palace directly.”

“Back to the Yan Residence?” Bai Ruxue asked, puzzled. “Did Mother say what it’s about?”

“It seems the Confucian Academy heard of Miss’s talent and sent a gentleman over. He wants to meet Miss.” Spring Swallow answered truthfully.

Hearing the words “Confucian Academy,” Bai Ruxue’s brows knit.

“Miss, what’s wrong with the Confucian Academy? You don’t seem to want to meet them?” Spring Swallow asked in confusion.

The Confucian Academy was the place all scholars in the world longed for.

Miss was widely read as well—she was a scholar. By all logic, she should yearn for the Confucian Academy, too.

So why did Miss look so displeased?

“It’s nothing.”

Bai Ruxue smiled faintly, a trace of coldness flashing through her eyes.

“Since a gentleman from the academy has come, then we’ll meet him.”