Yang Hong's cultivation method was extremely simple: he would bestow energy upon plants, especially spiritual plants.
"Ding~ You infused 120 days of true energy into the Pure Heart Lotus, receiving a tenfold return, yielding 1.2 million days of true energy cultivation."
"Ding~ Cultivating the Profound Maiden Spirit Gathering Technique for 1.2 million days, the Profound Maiden Spirit Gathering Technique has been upgraded to level 99."
"Ding~ The Profound Maiden Spirit Gathering Technique has reached max level. Host, please cultivate 10 more techniques of the same level to max before integration and evolution."
Perhaps the bestowal system sensed his urgency, but it gave him a grand opening, a direct tenfold return. The Profound Maiden Technique was directly cultivated to its maximum level, 99. Unlike martial arts techniques with 100 levels, this one was one level short. The system also directly prompted the requirement for evolution: 10 techniques of the same level.
"This is going to be tricky. I only have two techniques in hand so far, and they are both female techniques. Where am I supposed to find more?"
"Besides, I can't easily leave the Cold Palace. Not to mention the old Daoist from the Imperial Observatory is watching me,"
"Even this spatial rift above the Precious Lotus Pond is a danger."
Yang Hong now understood that the female cultivator who appeared eight days ago had emerged from the same rift where the tiger demon had appeared. Since this rift had produced cultivators twice, it was bound to produce more. Yang Hong wasn't worried about the incoming cultivators slaughtering the entire imperial palace, but rather about his own cultivation being exposed.
"I can't leave, but my 'female guards' should be able to leave, right?"
"The problem now is how to do it without being discovered, and how to teach them advanced techniques?"
"Is there no other way but that method?"
Yang Hong furrowed his brow. Although that method was every man's desire, Yang Hong still felt a sense of resistance.
"I'll cultivate Song Yuzhi first, and then have her teach the others. I also need to find a way to increase their loyalty!"
While wrestling with his thoughts, Yang Hong continued to bestow energy upon other lotuses, receiving three thousandfold returns, one five-thousandfold return, and one three-thousandfold return. His luck was quite good. For these five returns of cultivation, he chose to cultivate the "Su Nu Yang Harvesting Technique."
And the Su Nu Technique brought him another surprise. As one of the core techniques of the [Profound Yin Sect], the "Su Nu Yang Harvesting Technique" had a most crucial special effect: it made the person being harvested utterly devoted to the harvester. This effect, refined by the Profound Yin Sect over thousands of years, could make the harvested person willing to sacrifice their life to contribute their essence to the harvester. It was one of the foundations upon which the Profound Yin Sect became a dominant power in the Five Regions. However, it was also a very wicked effect. Every year, no less than eight thousand male cultivators died at the hands of the Profound Yin Sect.
Yang Hong's Su Nu Technique, modified by the bestowal system, was not as overbearing as the original. However, it could significantly increase a woman's affection for him without requiring dual cultivation. This made Yang Hong extremely happy, as he wouldn't have to be a stud. If he were willing to dual cultivate, the new version of the Su Nu Technique could also make women utterly devoted to him, and perhaps even more so than the original.
"With this technique, the loyalty issue of those 'female guards' can be preliminarily resolved."
"I can impart the basic part of the Profound Maiden Spirit Gathering Technique to them, and with the aid of my vegetable plants, they should be able to cultivate successfully and enter the Qi Refining stage quickly."
"Moreover, the four Pure Water Lotuses I've been diligently cultivating have already advanced to grade two lower-tier spiritual plants and have begun to form seedpods. It seems they will yield lotus seeds before long."
Yang Hong's gaze was fixed on the four Pure Water Lotuses. Although the quality of the Pure Water Lotuses was not as high as the Pure Heart Lotuses, they were still quite good, not much worse than the Green Jade Grapes and Moonlight White Tea Trees. Furthermore, they would yield results faster. He then looked at the two Pure Heart Lotuses that had advanced to grade two middle-tier two days ago, which still showed no sign of forming seedpods. Fortunately, the fragrance of the Pure Heart Lotus had a calming effect, otherwise Yang Hong would have given up cultivating them.
As for the other lotuses and water lilies in the pond, although Yang Hong had cultivated two grade one lotuses and five grade one water lilies, their quality was not as good as the Pure Heart Lotuses, so Yang Hong did not focus on cultivating them. Now that the Pure Water Lotuses were beginning to form seedpods, it proved that Yang Hong's judgment was indeed sound.
"This is still not enough. I'll have to put more effort into brewing the alcoholic beverages. I shouldn't waste my true energy. Brewing wine with true energy seems like a good idea."
Although the wine recipes Yang Hong obtained did not include methods for brewing with true energy or internal power, he had already figured out a way to infuse true energy into alcoholic beverages. It started when he tried to help Yang Zixuan cultivate. He infused his true energy into the "Smoke and Fire" that Yang Zixuan used for bathing, and the effect was indeed three times stronger than without the true energy infusion. Now, he planned to infuse all the fine wines used by the women in the Pavilion of Oblivion with his true energy.
He acted as soon as he thought of it, which was always Yang Hong's style. He instructed the eunuch Old Wang to procure a large quantity of alcoholic beverages and utensils, while simultaneously mobilizing the people in the "small courtyard" to commence full-scale planting.
There were still nine types of vegetables, all from ordinary grade seven seeds. Wheat and rice were also planted, ten mu of each. From now on, the people in the small courtyard would only consume these special foods. The Red Meat Water Peach trees planted in the corner had also begun to grow and could now be bestowed energy upon. Of course, to avoid wasting bestowal opportunities, Yang Hong only cultivated the nine peach trees to ordinary grade nine and did not continue to nurture them further. Even so, it consumed eight days of Yang Hong's bestowal opportunities, which pained him for quite some time. However, seeing the girls happily picking peach blossoms under the trees, Yang Hong felt it was worth it.
"Your Highness is truly amazing. It's still snowing outside, yet our peach blossoms have already bloomed."
"Yes, such beautiful peach blossoms, pink and lovely. These are the most beautiful peach blossoms I've ever seen!"
"Hehe~ I've seen more beautiful peach blossoms, vast expanses of them. But that was in March, unlike these that bloom in the first month of the year."
"Your Highness is truly miraculous. With just a few pieces of colored glaze, you can possess such a great power to alter the seasons."
Song Yuzhi and the group of girls paused here, finding a moment of leisure amidst their rigorous training. She was truly training these girls as if they were her family's elite guards. In the past, Yang Hong might have felt a pang of sympathy for a couple of seconds. But with the threat of an eighth-tier tiger demon looming, even seeing Lin Daiyu being supported by her sisters as she walked, he felt no pity. He only ensured that in their daily meals, Yang Hong would appropriately add some of the wine infused with his true energy, allowing these individuals to recover faster and increase their stamina and strength more quickly.
"Train well. For every minor realm you advance, you will be granted the honor of serving me in my chambers once."
Seeing the girls' lack of enthusiasm for training, even showing a hint of aversion, Yang Hong suddenly offered a reward. The girls' eyes widened, filled with anticipation, including the sickly Lin Daiyu.
"Your Highness, can we too?"
Suddenly, a small voice quietly asked. Yang Hong looked closely and saw Qingwen, who, despite looking very similar to Lin Daiyu next to her, was much healthier.
"You can too. All of you have equal opportunities."
Seeing the anticipation and fervor in Qingwen's eyes, Yang Hong smiled and nodded in agreement. In his view, these maids' loyalty would be higher than that of the young ladies, making them more worthy of cultivation.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness!"
Upon hearing Yang Hong's agreement, Qingwen immediately let go of Lin Daiyu, whom she was holding, and knelt down.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness!"
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness!"
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness!"
Before the other maids and attendants could react, Consort Zhou, Jia Yuanchun, and the other seven had already knelt down, directly securing their qualification for imperial favor. The other maids also reacted, kneeling to express their gratitude first, followed by the young ladies. Yang Hong's mouth twitched, but considering his true plan, he did not object. He raised his hand, signaling them to rise.