“I understand.” Han Xiao calmly handed over the golden token and asked, “How about with this?”
Ji Ying’s eyes widened as she took the token. Examining it closely, her demeanor shifted from surprise to awe. “This... this is a special access token directly from the Zhou King!” She looked back at Han Xiao, her earlier doubts dissipating. “With this, you can access any room in the palace, including the best one on the seventh floor.”
She handed the token back, her tone now tinged with respect. “Follow me, Young Master Han Xiao. I’ll personally guide you to the seventh floor.”
She led him into a small cubicle, inserting a red crystal stone into a slot. The room began to hum, and Han Xiao could feel it ascending. He thought, 'This is incredible, like a magical version of a lift. Who designed this ingenious piece of equipment? The Tang Clan, perhaps? Now I see why Senior Brother Tang Chen carries such confidence. This all-access token makes sense. His actions seem calculated like he's investing in me. I should cultivate a good relationship with him.'
The cubicle continued its smooth ascent, and Han Xiao marveled at the seamless blend of magic and technology, further solidifying his resolve to understand and master the intricacies of his new environment.
He wasn't the only one experiencing a breakthrough in his thoughts. The mature lady beside him was also navigating a complex web of considerations. ‘The token is genuine! It’s not my first time seeing it. It’s definitely one of the seven Achievement Tokens created under the order of my great-great-grandfather, King Ji Cheng. According to the records, only two have been given out. But the big question is—how did this brat get his hands on one of those two? He’s clearly not as simple as everyone thought. I should try to make friends with him or at least avoid making an enemy of someone like him.’
With a smile, she asked, "Little Han, don't you miss your Han Nation?"
Han Xiao met her gaze, causing her to blush involuntarily. "Hmm, who wouldn't?" he replied.
After merging with the former soul, Han Xiao had not only integrated the memories but also the emotions and aptitudes of the former soul. Feeling slightly nostalgic, he added with misty eyes, "Sister Ying Er, there's no place like home. You’d understand exactly how I feel if I took you to my Han Nation and kept you there for three years, wouldn’t you?" He hid away his most cherished memories of those he missed the most—his two elder sisters and mother. As for his father, he only felt anger.
"Okay, when are you going to take me there?" she asked, winking playfully.
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Han Xiao smiled and replied, "Soon! Maybe after the Martial Arts Meet of the Outer Court. I'll be the best guest you've ever had."
"Then I must return the favor and show you the best places in my Zhou Kingdom, right?" Ji Ying said, handing him a transparent crystal ball. "This is a Level 7 telecommunication crystal ball. I'll use this to contact you."
Han Xiao tucked the crystal ball into his chest pocket and said, "Considering your job here and my busy cultivation schedule, we might not have much time. But who knows? We might cross paths again."
"Now you're just talking nonsense, Little Han. Just check your schedule. As for me, don’t worry—I’ll always make time for you."
"What if you get fired from this fancy place?" he asked, teasingly.
"Get fired? Hahaha," she burst into hearty laughter. "Actually, I'm not really into this receptionist job. It's kind of a punishment for me. So if they want to fire me, I'm looking forward to it."
From this brief exchange, Han Xiao had already guessed the hidden identity of this charming lady. He thought, ‘Either she is a spoiled princess of this place or the daughter of some influential expert.’
The cubicle finally stopped its ascent. As the door opened, the two stepped out and encountered a middle-aged man with a pot belly, drinking wine from his gourd bottle.
The middle-aged man before them had a pot belly and a disheveled appearance that contrasted sharply with his fine silk robe. His hair was curly and unruly, giving him a carefree, almost negligent air. Despite his untidy hair, the silk robe he wore was of high quality, adorned with intricate patterns that hinted at his status. His eyes were half-lidded, and a faint smell of alcohol lingered around him as he drank leisurely from his carafe, exuding an aura of casual indulgence.
Seeing them, his first reaction was anger. The sight of the girl escorting a shabby-looking youth to the forbidden seventh floor made his blood boil. He shouted, "Little girl, do you take me for a fool? Haven't I made it clear that you're not to come here, especially not with some snot-nosed brat?"
Before Ji Ying could respond, a powerful aura, unmistakably from someone beyond the Xiantian Realm, pressed upon the two youths.
Ji Ying managed to keep her composure, but Han Xiao felt as if a mountain was crushing down on him, threatening to turn his bones, muscles, and blood into pulp. Instinctively, his cursed body cultivation technique activated, releasing a surge of curse essence energy to counter the immense pressure. Additionally, his Level 7 Pulse Condensation Realm cultivation caused fifty acupuncture points to release a large amount of qi, countering a quarter of the pressure.
With bones popping and muscles trembling, Han Xiao gritted his teeth and forced himself to remain standing, refusing to kneel despite the overwhelming force, mindful of his identity as the Seventh Prince of the Han Kingdom.
Ji Hao attempted to retract the pressure, but he was stunned by how the shabby-looking youth suddenly erupted with a strange energy, persisting against an aura compression that belonged to someone in the Revolving Core Realm of Qi Cultivation.
His initial thought was, 'Who the hell is this snot-nosed brat? Hmm, I'm not mistaken, he's only at the Level Seven of the Pulse Condensation Realm. Fine, let's see how much you can endure.' With that, he intensified the pressure of his aura, visibly thickening the air around them with a gray hue.