He felt a bit numb hearing the prompt.
He hadn't expected to hit a bottleneck again, and it had only been half a year.
This was too fast.
[Yang Hong: Sixth Prince of the Great Sui Dynasty.
Daily灌顶 (guàn dǐng) count: 0/6.oγg
Lifespan: 22/300
Cultivation: 1 Million Years of True Qi (Foundation Establishment Realm, 220,000 jin of strength, 200 zhang of divine sense)
Cultivation Techniques: Intermediate Breathing Technique Level 114, Basic Body Tempering Technique Level 52
Martial Skills: Savage Ox Fist Level 100, Xuan Nü Spirit Gathering Skill Level 99, Su Nü Yang Gathering Skill Level 99...etc.
Special Abilities: Eidetic Memory, Farming Mastery.]
Although he had encountered a bottleneck, it was slightly better than last time, with hints for a breakthrough direction.
The time had only advanced to June 22nd.
Yang Hong had been consistently灌顶 (guàn dǐng) the lotuses in the Treasure Lotus Pond, receiving cultivation returns no less than a thousandfold, and occasionally ten thousandfold,
Causing his cultivation to skyrocket.
Thanks to his dedication, in just half a year, two Clear Heart Lotuses had reached Grade 2 High-tier.
Their fragrance made one feel even more detached from worldly desires, and they seemed poised to advance again.
The four Pure Water Lotuses remained Grade 2 Low-tier, clearly showing that Pure Water Lotuses had less potential than Clear Heart Lotuses.
Yang Hong was already planning to re-灌顶 (guàn dǐng) the Jade Green Grapes and Moonlight White Tea Tree.
The potential of these two spiritual plants might not match that of the Clear Heart Lotuses, but it was definitely higher than that of the Pure Water Lotuses.
Therefore, Yang Hong built two small islands at the edge of the Treasure Lotus Pond.
To transplant the two spiritual plants.
"Husband, why are you transplanting these grapevines and tea trees here?"
"Heh, it's for my convenience.
When the grapes bear shade and the tea trees form a forest, the scenery here will be even more beautiful."
Under Yang Hong's direction, Jia Yuanchun was leading seven young ladies from the Jia family in transplanting the tea trees and grapevines.
To prevent the Jade Green Grapes and Moonlight White Tea Tree from being too conspicuous, Yang Hong directly transplanted five grapevines and five tea trees each.
He also utilized the Grade 1 Spirit Locking Array he had just learned.
The Grade 1 Spirit Locking Array required 13 array nodes, arranged in specific positions to form a special force field.
This force field would create a unique constraint, confining the spiritual energy generated by the numerous spiritual plants in the Treasure Lotus Pond within a two-mu area.
This area was exactly twice the size of the Treasure Lotus Pond.
The core of the array was three Demonic Qi Blood Lotuses.
These three Demonic Qi Blood Lotuses had evolved to Grade 3 Low-tier after absorbing the innards and waste blood of a tiger demon.
Although he knew that Demonic Qi Blood Lotuses were potent and tiger demons were nourishing, he hadn't expected them to evolve to Grade 3 without Yang Hong's 灌顶 (guàn dǐng).
This was unexpected.
To restrict the growth of the Demonic Qi Blood Lotuses, they served as the suppressing core of the entire Spirit Locking Array.
Not only could they not absorb spiritual energy, but their own emitted spiritual energy would also be converted into the array's power.
As for the Jade Green Grapes and Moonlight White Tea Tree, which were to be cultivated with priority, Yang Hong planted them within the Treasure Lotus Pond's vicinity.
The moment the array formed, Yang Hong, from the Treasure Lotus Pavilion, could clearly feel the spiritual energy outside the Treasure Lotus Pond plummeting.
Even the faint fragrance in the air slowly dissipated.
"Huh~ Husband, I notice the air here doesn't seem as fresh."
Song Yuzhi, who had cultivated to the middle stage of Qi Refining, around the fifth or sixth level, had very sensitive senses and could feel some changes in the spiritual energy.
"Heh, let's walk a few steps forward."
Yang Hong didn't explain, rose, and pulled Song Yuzhi forward.
"Huh~ The air here hasn't changed, it seems, it seems..."
"More vibrant, right?"
Yang Hong smiled and finished the sentence that Song Yuzhi couldn't articulate.
"Yes, it's vibrant."
"Husband, you're amazing! This must be an array, right?"
"Haha, this isn't much of an array, just some simple arrangements and intercropping."
Yang Hong wouldn't reveal too much too soon, for which he had studied many agricultural books.
"Yuzhi, as my principal consort, you should also read some agricultural books.
Although you're not required to work in the fields now, you should still be somewhat familiar with various cultivation techniques."
As he spoke, Yang Hong began to cite classics, explaining the method and principle behind this Spirit Locking Array.
He spoke not only to Song Yuzhi but also to Jia Yuanchun and the others.
And also to Eunuch Old Wang, who always followed him, ostensibly to serve but actually to monitor.
Although the entire world was certain that Yang Hong did not cultivate and had no cultivation, that old Daoist priest surnamed Yuan from the Imperial Observatory had always been wary of him.
Yang Hong had also unexpectedly discovered that this Old Wang would disappear from time to time.
Upon trailing him, he learned that Old Wang would periodically report Yang Hong's situation to Old Daoist Yuan.
This also made Yang Hong decide to quickly build his own power.
Armed forces!
After nightfall, Yang Hong returned to the Elegant Abode early to rest.
The others also returned to their respective abodes.
Old Wang returned to a small room at the entrance of the [Unheard Pavilion] to rest.
Knowing that Yang Hong had no cultivation, many people believed that as long as the gate was guarded, Yang Hong couldn't leave.
Little did they know, Yang Hong had already learned simple wind-riding flight. Although it could only last for an hour, it was true flight.
That night, Jia Yuanchun, Zhou Fengzhi, Li Xuefeng, Hu Qingyi, Zhang Lengyue, Lu Xun, and Wang Jing, the seven concubines who were the first to enter the Unheard Pavilion, all came to the Elegant Abode.
They were all dressed up to the nines.
In their view, Song Yuzhi secretly informing them to come to the Elegant Abode late at night must have been for that matter.
That is, the matter that both men and women enjoy.
So all seven showed their most beautiful selves.
Seeing the seven women who were stunningly beautiful, Yang Hong was also taken aback.
"You... um, you are very beautiful."
As soon as he saw their display, Yang Hong knew they had misunderstood.
However, he wouldn't explain too much.
Yang Hong first released his divine sense to confirm that Old Wang and no one else were nearby, then looked at the women with a stern expression.
"You were the first to enter the Unheard Pavilion and are considered the ones who know me best. I have something important to tell you now."
"This matter carries the risk of death. I will give you a quarter of an hour to consider."
Yang Hong's opening statement about the risk of death stunned all seven.
However, Jia Yuanchun was the first to react.
She decisively knelt down, raised her right hand, and swore:
"I, Jia Yuanchun, swear to the heavens that I am willing to go through fire and water and face death without regret for Yang Hong. If I go against this, may lightning strike me.
May heaven and earth bear witness to this oath!"
Jia Yuanchun's tone was resolute, and her attitude was sincere.
She was the smartest among the seven. Although she appeared unassuming, she was best at understanding Yang Hong's intentions.
"I, Zhou Fengzhi, swear to the heavens, I am willing..."
"I, Li Xuefeng, swear..."
"I, Hu Qingyi, swear..."
"I, Zhang Lengyue..."
"I, Lu Xun..."
"I, Wang Jing, swear to the heavens...
May heaven and earth bear witness to this oath!"
The seven knelt and swore one after another.
Although their intentions might not have been entirely pure, their determination was exceptionally firm.
"Very good, very good."
Yang Hong nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly unleashed his aura. The seven who were kneeling on the ground were directly pressed to the ground.
The seven, along with Song Yuzhi, looked at Yang Hong in terror.
They all knew Yang Hong could fight, but they hadn't expected his martial arts to be so formidable.
"I believe that given your status, you must also know about immortals, right?"
"I will teach you true cultivation, the true cultivation beyond the human realm."
Under their astonished gazes, Yang Hong announced a shocking piece of news!