Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 201: Invitation

Fang Hao held the two bottles of warm, freshly refined golden spirit pills, his heart swelling with joy. It felt as refreshing as drinking iced plum soup on the hottest day of summer, comfortable from the inside out. Twenty-two High Grade and Medium Grade pills! This was enough for him to feast on for quite a while! He calculated that with this batch of Medicinal Pills, plus the other Spirit Medicine and Spirit Stones he had scavenged from the Secret Realm, he could go into seclusion for six months to a year. Reaching the Late Golden Core Stage in one go was practically a sure thing, wasn’t it? By then, he would be a person of status in the Heavenly Capital. Who would dare to look down on him?

The more he thought about it, the more delighted and energized he became. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to get to work. He adjusted the Spirit Gathering Formation in the quiet room to its strongest setting, set aside a few High-Grade Spirit Stones for backup, and even fished out a small bottle of "Heart-Condensing Dew" from his storage ring to assist with the Breakthrough. Everything was ready; all that was left was to sit on the meditation mat and then... charge, Breakthrough, and reach the Peak of his life!

Just as he was rubbing his hands together, preparing to announce his seclusion and tell everyone not to disturb him, a soft "knock, knock, knock" came from outside.

Fang Hao’s brow furrowed, feeling a bit annoyed. Who was it? Who was so lacking in situational awareness? Couldn’t they see he was about to go into seclusion? He sent his Divine Sense out to look and saw it was that Steward, Old Man Wang, standing outside the door rubbing his hands with a troubled expression.

"Senior Ning, are you resting?" Old Man Wang asked cautiously.

"Steward Wang, is something the matter?" Fang Hao opened the door irritably, thinking that there better be a good reason, or he’d definitely give him a piece of his mind.

"Uh... well..." Old Man Wang stammered with a forced smile. "Senior, I apologize for disturbing your Cultivation. It’s like this: Her Highness the Grand Princess... has sent someone. They said... she would like to invite you to her residence."

"Who? The Grand Princess? Princess Mu Yijing?" Fang Hao gave a start, and his annoyance vanished instantly. In its place, a chill shot up from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head! Her? Looking for me? It’s only been a few days. Could it be she still hasn’t moved past that business at the Hundred Flower Ruins? Or rather... is she coming to settle the score?

"It’s... it’s Nanny Li, who stays by the Grand Princess’s side, who came personally. She’s waiting in the front hall," Old Man Wang added quickly, seeing Fang Hao’s face change colors. "She said... Her Highness has some ’private’ matters she wishes to ’consult’ you on." When Old Man Wang said "private" and "consult," he emphasized them slightly, his eyes flickering.

Private matters? Consult? Fang Hao’s heart skipped a beat. Why did those words sound so ominous? What "private" things did he have to talk about with the Grand Princess? Aside from that murky, inexplicable business at the Hundred Flower Ruins... could it be...

His mind raced. Not go? What a joke! When a Nascent Soul Great Expert looks for you, do you dare not go? That’s seeking death! If he went... what if she really wanted to settle the score or silence him? With his current small frame, he wasn’t even enough for her to crush with one finger.

"Senior Ning, you see... this..." Old Man Wang grew anxious seeing him remain silent for so long. Nanny Li was still waiting, and she was a favorite of the Grand Princess; she couldn’t be slighted.

Fang Hao took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. If it’s a blessing, it’s not a curse; if it’s a curse, it can’t be avoided. Judging by Princess Mu Yijing’s previous behavior, she didn’t seem like the type to turn hostile on the spot, otherwise she would have acted at the Listening to Rain Pavilion. Perhaps... there really was something else? Or maybe she wanted to give him a warning?

"I understand. I’ll go now." Fang Hao tried to make his voice sound as calm as possible. He went back inside to change into clean, proper clothes, tucked his newly refined Medicinal Pills and valuable belongings into the deepest part of his storage ring, and checked the protective Talismans and life-saving items on his person. Then, he followed Old Man Wang toward the front hall.

Along the way, his heart felt like it was being hauled up and down by fifteen buckets—completely unsettled. Countless thoughts, both good and bad, flashed through his mind. At the entrance of the front hall, he paused, took another deep breath, forced a somewhat natural smile onto his face, and then stepped inside.

In the front hall, there indeed stood an elderly Nanny dressed in dark palace attire, her hair combed meticulously, her face solemn, and her eyes sharp. It was indeed Nanny Li, who had been by Princess Mu Yijing’s side that day. Her aura was restrained, but when Fang Hao took a peek with his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes, his heart skipped a beat—Late Golden Core Stage! This Nanny was also a hidden expert!

"Junior Fang Hao greets Nanny Li."

Nanny Li looked Fang Hao up and down. Her gaze was flat and expressionless as she gave a slight nod. "Young friend Ning is too polite. Her Highness the Grand Princess requests your presence. Please come with this old servant." Her voice, like her face, was devoid of emotion.

"Yes, I’ll trouble Nanny to lead the way." Fang Hao felt even more uncertain. With this attitude, he couldn’t tell if she was happy or angry.

Nanny Li said no more and turned to leave. Fang Hao followed quickly, his grand ambitions of going into seclusion to reach the Late Golden Core Stage instantly doused by a bucket of cold water. Well, the seclusion plan was completely ruined! He had to figure out how to get through this first!

He followed Nanny Li out of the Listening to Rain Pavilion. At the door stood a green carriage that looked unremarkable, but the two spirit horses pulling it were exceptionally majestic. The two of them boarded, and the carriage started soundlessly, heading toward the depths of the Imperial City.

Inside the carriage, there were only Fang Hao and Nanny Li. The atmosphere was so quiet it was a bit oppressive. Fang Hao sat upright, focusing on his breathing and keeping his eyes down, not daring to make a sound. Nanny Li rested with her eyes closed, as still as a wooden statue.

The carriage moved quickly and steadily through streets and alleys, finally entering the Imperial City through a secluded side gate. Inside the Imperial City, security was tight, with guards every five paces and sentries every ten. The patrolling guards all had strong auras. However, seeing this carriage, they all bowed and made way, showing the extraordinary status of Nanny Li and the carriage’s owner.

After another fifteen minutes, the carriage stopped in front of a quiet and elegant palace with a plaque that read "Serenity Court."

"Young friend Ning, please. Her Highness is waiting for you inside," Nanny Li said as she got off the carriage first.

Fang Hao stepped down and looked up at this "Serenity Court." The palace wasn’t large, but it was exquisitely and elegantly arranged, with small bridges, flowing water, and exotic plants. The Spiritual Qi was also much denser than outside; it was clearly a good place for Cultivation. However, the excessively quiet environment made his heart beat even faster.

He followed Nanny Li through the corridors to a small pavilion by the water. The pavilion was open on all four sides with thin gauze curtains hanging down. Inside, a slender figure could be faintly seen, leaning against the railing and looking at the fish in the lake.

"Your Highness, young friend Ning has arrived." Nanny Li stopped outside the pavilion and reported with a bow.

"Mhm, let him in. You may leave." Princess Mu Yijing’s cold voice came from within.

"Yes." Nanny Li responded, glanced at Fang Hao, gestured for him to enter, and then silently withdrew, disappearing into the depths of the garden.

Fang Hao stood outside the pavilion, looking at the hazy figure, his heart racing. He steadied himself, lifted the gauze curtain, and walked inside.