W.R. Eternal: Hello. Here is this week's chapters. Two again. As Wei will receive his rewards, the next few chapters will involve more politics than mystical cultivation. I wracked my head for my imagination of how I would portray the dangers of a palace. Enjoy the read.

Chapter 12: The Emperor's Palace

"Wait here for a moment," Qing said as the trio arrived before the palace gates.

"Fifth Princess," the imperial guards bowed their heads and knelt on one knee.

"On behalf of the prime minister, Duke Han Cong Wei is given permission to enter the imperial vault for his rewards and service in the Space Gate Trials," Qing stated.

"Yes," the imperial guards bowed their heads and one approached Wei.

"If the duke would follow me. As per imperial conduct, you will be washed by the maids and ordered to wear a pure white martial uniform. To prevent theft, you will be followed at all times by five palace guards. Do you comply?" one of the gold and red armored guards asked.

"Of course," Wei nodded. He followed the guard into the palace and felt uncomfortable as beautiful palace maids came in and undressed him.

"What are you doing?" Wei cried as one of the women entered the giant bath completely naked.

"I am here to help the duke clean up," the maid smiled and rolled her shoulders back to reveal her bountiful chest.

"I can clean myself," Wei said as a woman began scrubbing his back with something similar to a broom and brush combined. "Stop that!"

"Just try to relax. This is our job. We practice absolute secrecy and quality service," the maid smiled as she reached below. Wei's mind stirred as he remembered the warnings of the imperials and concubines he beheaded.

"Do not get involved with imperial politics. Don't let anyone get an advantage over you."

"The palace maids are all beautiful for a reason."

"They are meant to test the lust and desires of guests to easily manipulate them."

"Succumbing to temptation means weakness. Some of them might even try sleeping with you to become your concubine when they get pregnant."

"Beauties destroy nations. Don't give in boy!"

"My life as a concubine started after I was taken to bed while performing my duties as a maid."

"ENOUGH!" Wei roared, his spirit energy bursting outward. The two maids were blown out of the bath and slammed into the wall. "Get out of my head!"

"Lord duke?" the naked maid began.

"You two get out. Don't think I am like your other guests. Even if you could get a woman into heat with your words, my will cannot be swayed. Who ordered you to do this? Who?" Wei roared as he rushed toward her and lifted her into the neck by her throat. Her legs dangled in the air before he let her go.

"Mercy. Mercy," the maid begged. "It was Princess Ling. It was her. She meant to test you because of the dangerous seductions of the Royal Harem. It was meant to prepare you. Nothing more. Please."

"Get out and bring her here," Wei snapped and sent her flying out the door with a kick. The other maid quickly scrambled afterwards as Wei glared at her. After Wei finished bathing and wore the given martial uniform, he appeared out the bathhouse with Ling and Qing already dressed in lavish dresses.

"That was some sick joke you pulled," Wei growled.

"There is nothing more dangerous than the schemes of the Royal Harem. You needed to be prepared. You weren't tempted. Are you a virgin?" Ling asked. She screamed in pain as Wei held his hand out toward her. Wei's constant devouring of souls had given him the power to drain them from the living. As the guards moved to stop him, Qing held out a hand.

"She learned her lesson, Cong Wei. Please let her go. She was preparing you for tonight. You and your Uncle Han Xin will be joining our imperial family for dinner. The emperor insists," Qing asked, Wei scowling as he released her.

"My uncle will be there?" Wei frowned.

"Yes. You represent your dukedom while your uncle represents the Han Clan and your esteemed grandfather," Qing nodded as Ling slowly recovered her wits.

"Your soul attacks are too terrifying," Ling rasped as the pain went away. "How did you do that?"

"You may be royalty, but only a niece of the emperor. My rank surpasses yours. Do not test me again. On behalf of the princess, I let you go. Know your place," Wei said coldly and turned to the guards. "We can't keep the prime minister waiting. Lead the way."

"Yes, lord duke," the five guards said and went on ahead. Two guards walked on either side of Wei with two guards behind him as the last guard led the way.

"You shouldn't have done that," Qing said to Ling as she helped her up. "Someone previously known as Duke Nevermore all his life suddenly becoming so powerful in a matter of days is not to be trifled with. The Han Clan also has one of the four largest and most powerful private armies."

"I only meant to warn him. To show an example of how dangerous the harem could be," Ling reasoned.

"By taking advantage of him in bed? If he was a woman, I'm pretty sure he would kill you even if it meant torture and execution. You were always the friendly and social one. Why do something so stupid?" Qing frowned and decided to leave her cousin alone. The two had already been to the vault last night.

"Wait, cousin. Don't you want to hear more about Lu Mang?" Ling asked.

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"His actions disappointed me in the Space Gate. And now, you did too," Qing said coldly and walked away without so much as a glance backwards.

"Qi~ng. Don't be like that. Forgive me, okay?" Ling begged and quickly rushed after the princess.

"Most people fear the emperor and princes outside the palace, but many people fail to realize that the empress and harem rule the palace," Wei thought silently as he appeared before a fifteen foot high black door.

"This is the entrance to the imperial vault. Many hidden experts and the prime minister are already inside with others receiving their reward. When you've made your selection report it to the prime minister and we will meet you out here," the guards stated and vanished without a trace. Wei's eyes widened as he touched the cold black door, some magical force pulling him through the door before he could shout in alarm.

"Hello Duke Han. You are permitted four items. Should you wish one of them to be gold, you will obtain ten million gold coins for only one of your four options," the prime minister smiled as Wei appeared.

"As a mage, I know Earth Spike, Fireball, Thorn Blade, and Lightning Arrows. Is there some kind of spell equivalent for warriors?" Wei asked.

"Yes and no. Spells are something that can be easily cast, only requiring control and more spirit energy for improvement. For warriors, they take the harder route and use what we call martial scriptures. They consist of a martial arts form with many stages of mastery. As soon as you master one stage, will your martial art gain a magical effect. In simple terms, a high kick cannot have fire explode from the feet unless the first stage is completed," the prime minister answered.

"Then, what about my Woeful Poison Blade skill from the immortal ruins?" Wei thought and simply nodded to indicate he listened.

Wei walked around the gigantic vault. Mountains and plains of gold coins stretched all over what looked to be an underground, hallowed mountain. There were also book shelves and weapons laying about. Wei noticed men and women in black, hooded cloaks appear from time to time like ghosts. No doubt, these individuals were the overseers of the vault.

Deciding to risk it, Wei put his hand on the gold coin hill he stood upon and closed his eyes. Thousands of gold coins stealthily entered his hidden body space as he stopped from time to time on other coin hills. Meanwhile, he was also using his powerful soul to sense magical energy.

Wei paused as he dug through some gold coins to find a purple metal sword. He dropped the sword in fear as he heard a dragon's yell inside the sword. Suddenly, a purple dragon sword spirit rose up from the sword and howled, alarming the other guests in the vault while the vault guards pressed on.

"So you found a sword with a spirit inside," the prime minister noted as he appeared next to Wei. "You're pretty lucky. Magical weapons with spirits inside are able to evolve even further. I'll assume it is your first choice. You may bind it with your spirit energy and put it away.

"It felt so real. It really is a great find," Wei smiled as he bound the sword and placed it in his black spatial ring. As Wei walked north, he appeared before the stone walls of the vault with rows and rows of books. Each book was a scripture and it was actually organized. He also noticed that the security was heavier in the area.

Wei studied the Indestructible Golden Body to the second stage, so he didn't need a defensive martial scripture. Wei stops browsing as he picks up the first volume of a martial scripture known as the Dancing Dragon. It was a fire attribute martial arts that was both elegant and ruthless. In later stages, Wei could incorporate the light attribute to make the technique more lethal.

"The Dancing Dragon?" the prime minister noted curiously as Wei took the nine volumes. "That is a pretty old martial scripture. Really old. Well, I suppose it would be powerful if you had a decent flame essence. You have two choices remaining."

"Is there something like a magical artifact that can allow you to store spirit energy inside. Once activated, it would use that spirit energy to protect you?" Wei asked.

"No. However, there is one magical bracelet I would recommend. It is suitable for sneak attacks. It creates a needle of poisonous green energy. For those with the lightning attribute, they can use their magical energy to make the needle soar as fast as lightning," the prime minister suggested.

"Let's do that. Oh, and the last item will be the ten million gold. I humbly request that part of it is used as advanced payment for the tax to the empire. The remainder is to be sent to my grandfather," Wei said after a moment.

"Smart boy. Using the reward option to pay the tax so as to not use the ones you earned already. Very well. Now that you are done, I must remind you that there will be a dinner with the emperor. I suggest you wear your best clothes for the occasion," the prime minister said and Wei vanished from the vault after being given the bracelet.

"The Han Clan is certainly on the rise. Their dukedom is prosperous and their army is mighty. Now that their duke is a great genius, I'm sure the emperor invited Han Xin and Han Cong Wei to remind them that they are vassals of the empire. The princes might also make their moves to have Wei and the Han Clan under their wing. What really worries me is that Oscar Ji cares for this boy," the prime minister sighed and moved on to the next guest.