In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

Even Qin Shi Huang was speechless when he looked at that barrel of whale oil and black oil.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaoshan remained so cautious despite such tight defense.

"This is nothing. If I were a traitor to the empire, I would never have come here directly."

The Mohists aren't like the mechanical beast Vermilion Bird; I would simply throw a powerful packet of gunpowder down from the sky and smash it right in the middle.

For a top-tier expert, gunpowder might not be fatal, but for His Majesty…”

Hiss...

Upon hearing about Zhang Xiaoshan's methods, Qin Huangzheng couldn't help but feel a terrifying killing intent flash across his mind.

Zhang Xiaoshan's assassination method was ingenious and applicable not only to this situation but to any other.

Of course, this is all predicated on the ability to fly!

Therefore, the Mo family's mechanical beast, the Vermilion Bird, became the key, which caused Qin Shi Huang's killing intent to surge continuously.

The Mohists cannot be allowed to live!

If Zhang Xiaoshan hadn't been so powerful, Qin Huangzheng would have even eliminated Zhang Xiaoshan, the one who came up with this plan.

After all, Zhang Xiaoshan's unconventional thinking is far too dangerous.

If the Zhang family were to become enemies of the empire one day, Zhang Xiaoshan alone would be enough to severely damage the empire's vital energy.

"Young master, the medicine is ready!"

Murong Jiu personally selected the medicine and spent the whole night tending the fire to simmer it, so Zhang Xiaoshan felt at ease.

Even a grandmaster couldn't poison someone in front of Murong Jiu.

"Your Majesty, the medicine is ready. We may begin."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Young Master Zhang."

Chapter 565 The Ten-Thousand-Year Perfect Tonic Soup

"Young master, this is the cooked turtle soup!"

This is made by stewing a top-grade, century-old turtle with over a dozen kinds of ancient herbs, including 10,000-year-old snow ginseng, 1,000-year-old fire lingzhi, and 1,000-year-old twin-stemmed he shou wu, for a whole night.

"His Majesty!"

The jade bowl, no bigger than a teacup, contained a piece of translucent, tender turtle meat, and the thick broth contained the essence of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup.

Looking at the small bowl of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, Ying Zheng knew how nourishing it was, given the enormous amount of ingredients used.

Just a small sip of soup instantly turned into a burst of scalding heat that filled my internal organs.

One bite of turtle meat made me feel as if my blood was boiling, and my whole body was steaming with heat.

"Your Majesty, take a nap, you'll be fine when you wake up!"

Zhang Xiaoshan suddenly made a move, striking Qin Huangzheng between the eyebrows.

In an instant, Ying Zheng's face turned purple, and his violent aura was suppressed.

After all, this surging and powerful medicinal force would either burn Qin Huangzheng to death or cause him to explode, and Zhang Xiaoshan naturally could not allow such a thing to happen.

The power of the Dragon Balls was poured into him, completely suppressing the medicinal power within Qin Huangzheng's body before releasing it fully.

"Alright, just wait three days!"

At this moment, Qin Huangzheng, nicknamed "450," had stopped breathing and lay down directly on the wooden board beneath him.

If Meng Yi didn't know the profound mystery of the Pure Yang Finger, he might have already shouted "Catch the assassin!" Therefore, he can only wait quietly now.

"Is this the end?"

Meng Yi looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in disbelief. A bowl of medicine, a finger pointing between the eyebrows, and it was all over in less than ten breaths.

"Otherwise what? Have you ever heard of someone killing someone with the Pure Yang Finger technique and then having a spa massage afterwards?"

"This isn't killing... it's Meng Yi being reckless!"

The Pure Yang Finger technique is so simple that a cripple can be rendered useless with just one finger, without any complicated procedures involved.

With a single finger strike, one can kill or induce a state of suspended animation; the Pure Yang Finger is one of the most powerful martial arts techniques in the world.

"Ninth Sister, how much of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup is left?"

"There's still a small pot left!"

"Give Doctor Meng a small bowl; don't waste the rest."

"Meng Yi wouldn't dare!"

Seeing Zhang Xiaoshan and Murong Jiu preparing to divide the spoils without any hesitation, Meng Yi dared not eat any of it.

Just kidding, everything in this herbal soup is an ancient medicine, thousands of years old.

This turtle is no ordinary turtle; it is a hundred-year-old red-shelled turtle or a hundred-year-old fire turtle, though it is only about the size of an adult's palm.

This was originally food for Qin Shi Huang, how dare he overstep his bounds?

"Ha, Doctor Meng is sure he won't eat it. This Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup is made from ingredients from your Later Zhou Empire."

If you don't eat it, His Majesty the Emperor will realize he's lost out when he wakes up. After all, it might all end up in my stomach soon, and you, who are so close to the source, are clinging to outdated rules and missing this opportunity. I wonder if His Majesty will faint from anger when he hears this.

Moreover, while this bowl of turtle soup won't directly increase your lifespan by sixty years, it's enough to bring about a transformative change.

The Meng family produced three generals: Meng Wu served as Wang Jian's deputy general in this eastern expedition, Meng Tian was a military general in the army, and Meng Yi was a civil general. This family was second only to the Wang family, which produced four generals across three generations!

However, in terms of status, Meng Tian later served as the empire's foremost warrior, guarding the northern border.

Meng Yi rose to the rank of Shangqing and was Qin Shi Huang's right-hand man; both his brothers held high-ranking positions.

Instead, the Wang family wisely withdrew from the limelight and chose to protect themselves!

After all, throughout history, which of the great generals who achieved great merit and overshadowed their lords had a good ending? Wang Jian was considered a mature and prudent one.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan's bowl of the "Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup" was also a calculated move.

After all, the siege of Ghost Street had already given Wang Jian face in Kyushu, so naturally, winning over the Meng family was more in the Zhang family's interest.

The Wang family, to varying degrees, harbored hostility towards the Zhang family.

"Thank you girl!"

Seeing the other jade bowl handed to him by Murong Jiu, Meng Yi knew that this was an opportunity.

He knew exactly what was inside; drinking it could transform one's entire being, without exaggeration.

Coo! Coo! Coo...

Compared to Zhang Xiaoshan's hearty drinking, Meng Yi was filled with admiration.

As expected of a legendary figure in Kyushu, Zhang Xiaoshan actually dared to consume such a potent tonic directly.

Meng Yi chose to drink the soup first and then eat the meat!

After all, the essence of the great medicine is boiled and concentrated in the fire turtle meat.

After eating a small bowl of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, Meng Yi felt as if his body was being burned by a raging fire, and his whole body was boiling with heat, so he had to sit down and meditate to digest it.

Even after Zhang Xiaoshan swallowed most of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, he still sat cross-legged and circulated his internal energy to digest the medicinal power within his body.

Only Murong Jiu lay on Zhang Xiaoshan's lap, staring blankly at him with infatuation.

Qin Shi Huang was recuperating from his injuries under the influence of a tortoise shell, surrounded by an army of 100,000. There were no other entertainment facilities on the tower.

It wasn't until two hours later, at noon, that Zhang Xiaoshan slowly opened his eyes.

The effects of the "Ten Thousand Years of Perfect Tonic" were indeed powerful. It not only brought Zhang Xiaoshan's blood and qi to their peak state in one go, but also directly restored the 'essence' that Zhang Xiaoshan had lost over a period of time, bringing him back to a state of vigorous vitality.

For at least a month, Zhang Xiaoshan will not have to worry about his own losses.

As for the Ten Thousand Year Vermilion Fruit, Zhang Xiaoshan originally planned to take it as soon as he got back, but it seems he will have to wait another three months.

As for not taking it last month?

Zhang Xiaoshan was worried that the medicinal power of the Ten Thousand Year Vermilion Fruit was too great, causing his own vital energy to surge excessively, which might lead to him testing the waters and losing his accuracy. He decided it was better to play it safe.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaoshan's complexion was ruddy and he was bursting with energy.

Moreover, his blood and qi are slowly increasing.

Zhang Xiaoshan estimated that his body would absorb the medicinal power in three days, and he could then go into seclusion to break through to the late stage of the Nine Cauldrons realm.

However, the biggest takeaway was far more than that.

Snow ginseng has the effect of strengthening the body's foundation and nourishing the vital energy, while thousand-year-old snow ginseng has the effect of prolonging life.

Therefore, the preciousness of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng goes without saying, and Zhang Xiaoshan felt that he could increase his lifespan by at least a hundred years.

This is the 'Heavenly Way' of the world that I comprehended after achieving the primordial spirit.

With a lifespan of a hundred years, plus the fact that Zhang Xiaoshan didn't do anything reckless before, he should have a lifespan of at least three or four hundred years, five hundred years is a sure thing.

As for Qin Huangzheng and Meng Yi, they only underwent a complete transformation.

After all, their blood and energy couldn't fully absorb the medicinal power of this ancient elixir.

As the sun set, Meng Yi opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them.

At the same time, a powerful and surging aura emanated from his body, indicating that his cultivation had broken through and entered the peerless realm!

Meng Tian practiced his family's martial arts techniques, while Meng Yi pursued a civil career, thus choosing the path of internal martial arts.

With his exceptional talent and abundant cultivation resources, he became a master of the highest level before the age of thirty.

With the help of the Ten Thousand Years of Perfect Tonic Soup, he broke through again and entered the peerless realm, becoming one of the top masters of the world.

Congratulations, Dr. Meng!

"Meng Yi thanks you for your kindness, young master!"

Although the empire's resources were used, it was Murong Jiu who made the perfect tonic soup.

Just like alchemy, this Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup cannot be brewed simply by following the recipe. Moreover, it contains many thousand-year-old spiritual herbs and a ten-thousand-year-old divine herb, so brewing it requires the most skilled pharmacists.

"Borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha, especially since they are His Majesty's resources."

However, if Dr. Meng wishes to express his gratitude, I, Zhang, have a small favor to ask of him.

"Please give your orders, young master!"

Meng Yi looked at Zhang Xiaoshan, wondering what kind of favor Zhang Xiaoshan needed him for.

"Recently, Luo Wang has set its sights on an old friend of Zhang's—Guo Jing, who previously used the alias Guo Bujing and was one of the Six Doors' divine constables."

Originally, he was just a minor constable, so the Luo Wang (a secret police organization) wouldn't go to great lengths for him. I think the Luo Wang's purpose was to seize the various secrets that the Six Doors (another secret police organization) had previously controlled.

So I gave him a suggestion: persuade Zhuge Shenhou to join the empire. Once he became one of the empire's own, the Luo Wang's targeting would naturally be hampered from within, thus resolving his crisis.

However, to join the Empire, one needs a recommender/guarantor!

"Is the young master referring to Zhuge Liang, or just Guo the Constable?"

Meng Yi showed no sign of difficulty; on the contrary, he was full of interest.

After all, he had heard of both of them before, and recommending talents for the empire was his duty.

Even if it were Zhuge Liang, Meng Yi wouldn't find it difficult.

After all, this was a renowned family that had already made a name for itself throughout the land. They were true masters of the Legalist school, high-end talents needed by the empire, and could be ranked among the Nine Ministers.

"Zhuge Shenhou, the Four Great Constables, plus Guo Shenbu!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Yi 2.0's eyes lit up with excitement.

Unexpectedly, the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) did something good this time, forcing Zhuge Zhengwo to join the Empire.

Given the capabilities of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven), if Zhuge Zhengwo hadn't joined the Empire, he would undoubtedly have been one of Luo Wang's top targets.

"Rest assured, young master, His Majesty is eager to find talented individuals. Zhuge Shenhou is a renowned Legalist master throughout the land, and His Majesty has long been aware of his reputation. He will certainly not disappoint your expectations!"

"Then I'll have to trouble Dr. Meng."

"Once His Majesty awakens, I will instruct them to go to the Mongol Palace within three days and join the Empire!"

Night is falling, and the full moon hangs high in the sky!

It is unclear whether the celestial phenomena indicating Qin Shi Huang's supposed death were a mere coincidence or simply a case of the moon being fullest on the 16th of the lunar month.