Eternal Life: My Lifespan Increases Daily

Chapter 663: Chapter 439: Swimming Against the Current, Emperor’s Rewards and Punishments! (Double Chapter)

A group of Great Kings echoed loudly, and even beside Song Changming, a maid had already prepared wine for him, to drink with the Emperor at this moment.

Clearly, these were part of the established procedures, long set in place.

”May Your Majesty’s lifespan be as long as the heavens, and Yun Province flourish forever!”

The uniform toast, after everyone drank this cup of wine, gradually warmed the atmosphere of the banquet.

”Excellent wine!” Song Changming drank this small sip of wine yet felt his whole body warm, an extraordinary strength surging through him, not only nourishing his physical body but also advancing his original Qi Refining Cultivation by another degree.

It even made the cultivation bottleneck he felt before show signs of loosening!

This greatly shocked Song Changming.

Just with a single opening cup from the banquet, it seems so extraordinary!

Remember, the bottleneck he felt concerned the breakthrough into the Grandmaster Realm.

Theoretically, hardly anything in the world could help him break through into the Grandmaster Realm!

In the past eight years, Song Changming hadn’t obtained anything, yet it was after he vanquished Master Baitian that he got a portion of Earth Core Fire Liquid.

And now, a seemingly simple cup of wine shook this unyielding bottleneck of his, no wonder he felt so overwhelmed.

Unfortunately, this wine is clearly a special provision, although everyone gets a share, there is only this one cup, no more.

”No wonder Prince Cui mentioned that someone once broke through at the Emperor’s banquet, stepping into the Grandmaster Realm in front of all eyes...” Song Changming thought to himself.

Though this was a trivial anecdote from past Emperor’s banquets, it must be said, the food and wine at the Emperor’s banquet, each item is a rare good.

Once out of the Emperor’s banquet, it’s hard to enjoy such top-quality nourishment elsewhere.

If someone happens to be on the brink of breaking through, just short of a final push, this Emperor’s banquet might truly become the last opportunity for breakthrough.

”In the past twenty-five years, having undergone the Celestial Fiend Devouring the Sun Omen, Demon Race invasion, and the subsequent reconstruction and order restoration, everyone has been through a lot, hence this time there will be rewards but no punishments...”

Emperor Yun began to speak of important matters at a composed pace.

Each Titled King started reporting political achievements, if the territories developed excellently, they would be noted and receive imperial praise, rare material rewards, and even an opportunity to make a request to the Emperor.

If the political achievements were unsatisfactory or the territory governance ineffective, they would also be noted, and in previous years, there would be questioning and punishment.

For major mistakes, the most severe penalty could even be Emperor Yun stripping a territory and the title of Titled King!

But this year, Emperor Yun said there would be rewards but no punishments, which relieved some Great Kings whose reconstruction work had been unsuccessful.

Song Changming quietly ate while listening to the many Great Kings’ reports on political achievements.

This segment had nothing to do with him, but through these reports, he gained more insight into the conditions across Yun Province.

He more broadly discovered that the negative impact of the Demon Race invasion had still not been entirely eliminated.

Even years after, remnants of the invading Demon Race continued to act maliciously in various corners, bringing disaster to humans!

When a territory’s Human Race wasn’t strong enough, it indeed couldn’t extinguish this lingering demonic presence.

When these issues were presented at the Emperor’s banquet, it only made everyone have a headache.

Even though Emperor Yun won’t punish the Great Kings of those territories, he couldn’t avoid questioning them a few more times.

While his ministers would offer suggestions and strategies during this process to help resolve issues.

The ministers do this not entirely for the safety of the imperial family or the subjects of the territories.

They also demonstrate their talents in this process, making themselves visible to Emperor Yun.

If their plans and guidelines are adopted, naturally there is their credit in the matter, and it could be said they are also showcasing themselves and seeking numerous benefits and opportunities.

The report of political achievements almost took up most of the banquet and was the most solemn part.

Song Changming noticed that compared to other territories, Cui Bai Dao, being the southern gateway of Yun Province and the first line of defense during the Demon Race invasion.

While supposed to rebuild amid ruins, Cui Bai Dao’s situation was much more favorable than many other Great Kings’ territories.

Thus, when Prince Cui discussed political achievements, he showed no signs of fear, maintaining composure from beginning to end, simply because he had restored order, the indicators in various aspects of his territory were excellent, and even showed slight growth compared to pre-invasion.

In terms of comprehensive prosperity, Cui Bai Dao might not rank among the top few of Yun Province’s thirty-six territories, but it’s still above average.

Because of this, Prince Cui received Emperor Yun’s positive commendation and gained the assistance of three hundred Imperial City Artisans, along with a batch of rare material for territory construction.

Don’t underestimate these three hundred Imperial City Artisans.

Artisans are the master craftsmen of the Imperial City’s Divine Craftsman Bureau, their skills are outstanding, and there are hardly any mediocre hands.

These three hundred Artisans, in the coming years, would be enough to elevate the craftsmanship of Cui Bai Dao to another level, the value is clear.

As for the batch of rare materials, they are exclusive to Cloud Emperor City, whether consumed or sold for profit, their value is indeed substantial.

Receiving these two Imperial rewards, Prince Cui was beyond satisfied, almost slapping his thigh and exclaiming it was worth the trip.

After the reports concluded, Prince Cui looked at Prince Xia beside him and raised his eyebrows.

”This fellow...” Prince Xia shook his head irritably.

Although the development of his territory, Purple Mist Dao, is still higher than Cui Bai Dao, the gap between them is narrowing.

And he hasn’t received as substantial a reward as Prince Cui this time, his performance can only be considered average.

Though he is angry at his friend’s smugness, he also admires how under the impact of a major event like the Demon Race invasion, Prince Cui could rise against the current and efficiently manage his territory.

No matter what, Prince Cui’s political achievement is certainly worthy of Emperor Yun’s praise and reward.

Once the political achievements of the thirty-six Titled Kings concluded, it was sunset.

Song Changming spent the day with nothing else, mainly on eating and drinking.

He managed to eat until his Qi Blood surged, Spiritual Light glowed, and his breath inexplicably grew stronger.

”This day’s consumption almost equals months of my cultivation...”

Song Changming muttered in his mind as he grabbed a translucent prawn, eating it with shell and all.

The maid beside him was already dumbfounded, even doubting life.

She couldn’t understand how Song Changming could keep eating.

Even though Martial Artist’s digestive ability is extraordinary, there is an upper limit after all, the stomach can only hold so much.

Like Prince Xia’s entourage, Hong Zhen had already stopped eating.

Though tempted by the rare materials at the Emperor’s banquet, continuing to eat no longer allows his stomach to hold, his physical strength also reached the limit, unable to absorb any more.

Continuing to eat, he’d either burst his stomach or harm his Martial body, not worth the cost.

Seeing Song Changming continuously eating beside him, Hong Zhen was puzzled.

He prided himself as a big eater among Martial Artists, but compared to Song Changming, he was a mere weakling.

His gaze kept drifting to Song Changming’s stomach, which showed no abnormality.

”What skill is this that allows such rapid digestion...”

He naturally didn’t think it was accomplished by normal digestion capabilities, he believed Song Changming must have a unique Secret Technique in this aspect, allowing him to quickly digest the food in his stomach.

”Changming, take it easy, remember there’s still the Cloud Fighting tonight.” Even Prince Cui couldn’t bear it, transmitting his voice to the gluttonous Song Changming.

He wasn’t worried about Song Changming eating himself to death but feared such binge eating might affect Song Changming’s combat readiness.

He counted on Song Changming to show his face again tonight.

”Great King, rest assured, I am in the best condition ever right now!”

”Hmm.” Prince Cui scrutinized Song Changming, confirming he wasn’t forcing himself, then turned his head to continue listening to Emperor Yun’s subsequent arrangements.

Soon, the Cloud Fighting segment arrived.

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