After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

As soon as Chen Futu left the inner palace, he ran into Zhuge Liang and Yu Qian. They had come specifically because they had heard of a national advisor.

Chen Futu had no choice but to give a brief account of the situation. Zhuge Liang said strangely, "So it is the strongest expert from Zhongnan Mountain. That's good. It's just a title. With Qingyi in charge of the manor, the young master can rest easy."

Yu Qian deeply agreed. With such a powerful figure in charge of the inner court, even if the heir is not present one day and chaos breaks out in Longcheng, Qingyi's strength would be enough to suppress everything and restore order.

Thus, the northern frontier gained a new national advisor. When the news reached all sides, Zhang Liang, Liu Bowen, and Di Renjie all agreed that it was a good thing.

Zhang Liang even hoped that Chen Futu could persuade Qingyi and Qiwen to take some time to teach the students martial arts at the academy, since even learning just a little bit of the inheritance from a powerful figure would be incredibly beneficial.

Chen Futu also had this thought in mind, but he couldn't rush things now.

As night fell, Chen Futu finished all his work and was about to rest when suddenly Qingyi arrived silently.

"Aunt Qing, why aren't you resting yet?"

"I originally came to the Northern Frontier to keep an eye on you from the shadows, to help you eliminate potential threats and to help you successfully hold the ceremony, thus fulfilling a wish of mine. I never expected that you would actually let me stay, so I changed my mind," the man in green said solemnly.

Chen Futu was slightly taken aback. "I thought you came to the Northern Frontier to deal with me."

"What nonsense are you talking about? No matter what, your father and I have a connection. Why would I harm you just because you are that woman's son? The world is not well governed. If you can become emperor, firstly, you can avenge your father, and secondly, you can restore peace to the world. I would be happy to see it happen."

"Thank you, Aunt Qing. But I wonder what decision you've made?" Chen Futu smiled and stepped forward to pour her a cup of tea.

The woman in green gazed at him. "I wish to take you as my disciple. That way, we will have the status of master and disciple, and I can stay in Dragon City to help you. Otherwise, do you really think that a little aunt who appeared out of nowhere and a nominal title of national advisor are enough to keep me in the royal court?"

Chen Futu was astonished. So she wasn't crazy after all. Then why was her mother so angry that she wanted to hit her? What did she say in her mother's ear that made her usually calm mother so angry?

Qingyi guessed his thoughts and teasedly played with the water glass, "I told your mother that the sins of the father must be paid by the son. I'm going to kidnap you and take you back to Zhongnan Mountain to be my little man and enjoy myself every day."

"Huh? This...this—"

Chen Futu was so shocked that he stepped back, his whole body going numb.

Is this an attempt to make him a kept man?

What's going on in her head? How old is she? They've probably cut off the water and electricity by now!

Besides, she's her father's woman; what does she take Chen Futu for?

Qingyi pursed her lips and chuckled, "Don't worry, I was just deliberately trying to provoke that woman. She did get angry, but I wouldn't go so far as to harm a child like you."

"That's good..."

Chen Futu touched his chest with lingering fear. To be honest, if she used force, who could stop her!

Seeing this, Qingyi was slightly displeased. "What do you mean? Do you think I'm not good-looking?"

"No! Aunt Qing is the most beautiful woman in the world. All the fairies and goddesses can only stand aside in front of Aunt Qing!"

"You know how to talk. Let's become your apprentices."

Qingyi stood up, put her hands behind her back, and suppressed her smile. At this moment, she really did look a bit like a heartless fairy.

Chen Futu hesitated and said, "Aunt Qing, can I not become an apprentice? Can't you just teach me directly?"

"Only by performing the apprenticeship ceremony can we have a bond. Otherwise, since we have no blood relation or gratitude, how can we trust each other? You've always wanted to kill me, haven't you?"

The woman in green had a piercing gaze, as if she could see into a person's soul.

Chen Futu couldn't help but feel guilty. She was indeed the strongest. On the way back to the royal court together today, Chen Futu had indeed wanted to shoot her several times. She had caught even the slightest bit of his killing intent.

Thinking of this, Chen Futu knelt down and kowtowed three times, saying, "Disciple Chen Futu greets Master."

"Get up. As your master, I will pass on the mental techniques of Zhongnan Mountain to you."

The woman in green extended two snow-white fingers and pressed them against Chen Futu's brow. Chen Futu immediately felt a strange power spread throughout his body.

【Ding! 】

[An additional cultivation technique from this world has been detected within the host's body. Automatic fusion desired?]

"I didn't expect you to have this function, fusion!"

[Integrating, please wait—]

Chen Futu sat cross-legged, and with the help of the system, that strange power circulated through his meridians at an extremely fast speed.

The man in green said, "Don't be impatient. What I'm passing on to you is our sect's supreme cultivation technique, the 'Essence of Mountains and Seas.' Normally, it takes at least a year to get started. After reaching the ninth rank, if you want to advance quickly, you usually need to rely on cultivation techniques. But as long as you master this essence, your cultivation will instantly reach the Innate Realm, your Qi will be much stronger, and your combat power will far surpass that of others at the same level..."

Before Qingyi could finish speaking, a powerful gust of wind erupted from Chen Futu's body. The moment he opened his eyes, a bluish-white light spread from his pupils, and his entire demeanor became even more composed and reserved, like an unshakeable mountain.

The woman in green froze on the spot, muttering in disbelief, "How is this possible!"

Even she spent more than half a year cultivating the Essentials of Mountains and Seas. With Chen Futu's talent, it would take at least a year to even begin to understand it. How could he have mastered it in just a few breaths?

[Fusion complete. Congratulations, host, on mastering the Essentials of Mountains and Seas and reaching the early stage of the Innate Realm.]

“Is this what is innate?”

Chen Futu could feel his five senses becoming clearer, as if he could capture the traces of the flow of energy in the air.

"Have you read the Essentials of Mountains and Seas before?" the man in green asked seriously.

Chen Futu shook his head. "I haven't seen it."

The woman in green pressed her hand to the pulse point, and after carefully feeling it, she became even more astonished, "Why is this happening, why is this happening...?"

Looking at her like this, Chen Futu wanted to laugh.

There's nothing he can do; he's a cheater. With the system's help, he can comprehend any profound cultivation technique in no time. It's a pity the system won't help him comprehend the Sword God realm, otherwise he would have broken through to the next level long ago.

"I still don't believe it."

After a moment's thought, the woman in green told Chen Futu to go out.

It was nighttime, and all around was quiet.

The man in green said, "I have the Ruthless Sword, which I will pass on to you. Please watch carefully."

Next, Qingyi demonstrated a sword technique using a small bamboo stick.

【Ding! 】

[New sword technique detected. Automatic learning required?]

"System, well done! I'll give you a bonus later. Start learning now!"

[Begin to integrate and apply knowledge]

Chen Futu only saw it once, but he engraved the figure of the woman in green into his soul, as if he was born with it.

The woman in green tossed over a small bamboo stick and said, "You try it."

"Please give me your guidance, Master."

Chen Futu wielded his bamboo staff, demonstrating his moves with fluid grace.

The woman in green stared in disbelief, "What... what kind of monster is this..."