Hearing the Emperor's words, Lin Xue blushed slightly but quickly regained her composure and began to cultivate diligently as the Emperor instructed.
Alice, however, was less content. She opened her eyes, got off the bed, and her bare feet padded across the carpet to Xu Mo. With great boldness, she threw herself into his arms.
"Your Majesty..."
Her voice was seductive and husky. Coupled with the warmth of her embrace and the soft press of her breasts against his chest, Xu Mo's heart was stirred.
"I... Your concubine does not wish to cultivate right now. I only want to be with Your Majesty." Alice looked up, her eyes languid as she gazed at Xu Mo.
After more than a week of getting to know him, her admiration for Xu Mo had deepened.
His Majesty cared for them deeply, unlike the cruel and heartless emperors of historical records.
It was just that he hadn't acted on their affections yet, which made Alice a little unhappy. She had been looking forward to it!
Especially after once seeing His Majesty's well-proportioned physique and smooth skin, her anticipation had grown.
Xu Mo raised an eyebrow, wrapped an arm around Alice's slender waist, and chuckled, "If you don't cultivate, you can only be with me for a hundred years. If you wish to accompany me forever, then you must cultivate diligently."
In the end, Alice did not get her way and obediently went to cultivate with Lin Xue.
Both of them had entered the Qi Refining stage a few days prior. Their cultivation talents were exceptional, and with the aid of the numerous heavenly treasures within the imperial palace, the two women's cultivation paths would be incredibly smooth.
Chen Xi and the other two women were cultivating in their dedicated chambers.
Xu Mo went to the cultivation room to check on them.
Upon seeing His Majesty visit, the three women were overjoyed!
Xu Mo offered some guidance on cultivation junctures and then departed, returning to his own sleeping quarters.
Nearly ten days had passed since the concubine selection ceremony.
He had originally planned to depart for Earth immediately after the selection. However, he then considered that abandoning his newly chosen concubines to lie to people on Earth would be too irresponsible.
Even without an emotional foundation, he shouldn't do that.
Thus, Xu Mo remained in the imperial palace, intending to spend a few days with his concubines before setting off.
He hadn't expected that this "few days" would stretch into ten.
"No wonder so many people are lost in the gentle embrace of women. It is indeed comfortable and nostalgic," Xu Mo mused.
Next, he began to attend to state affairs.
Gongsun Rou had already departed for the Northern Region to take over the Great Jin Dynasty. With no one to handle his affairs, he was now swamped.
Fan Cheng had also arrived at the western front to monitor the situation in the Monster Beast Mountains.
If the old Demon Emperor were to undergo his tribulation to become a Saint, Fan Cheng would immediately notify him. Upon receiving the news, Xu Mo would then set off for the Western Region to intercept the old Demon Emperor's heavenly tribulation!
Of course, this was assuming the old Demon Emperor had seven tribulations of heavenly lightning or more. If it were too low, Xu Mo wouldn't be interested.
However, based on Xu Mo's estimation, the old Demon Emperor had accumulated power in the Half-Saint realm for many years and possessed a strong foundation, so he should have seven tribulations of heavenly lightning.
After finishing all these state affairs, Xu Mo went to the Great Qian Academy in the imperial capital to check on the Earthlings studying and cultivating there.
He did not reveal himself, however, observing from the shadows.
Lin Zihao, his brother-in-law, was the most diligent in his cultivation, but his talent seemed to be lacking. Despite the resources of the Great Qian Academy, he had yet to enter the Qi Refining stage.
A white-haired old man surprised Xu Mo; it was Professor Sam, who had actually broken through to Qi Refining!
"Grandpa Sam, how did you cultivate? You've actually become a cultivator!" Lin Zihao, who had been unable to enter Qi Refining for a long time, said enviously.
Sam, having successfully entered Qi Refining, looked as if he had become twenty years younger. His white hair was gradually decreasing, and the wrinkles on his face had also faded considerably. He laughed heartily,
"Perhaps Grandpa Sam has very good talent. The academy's instructors also said that Grandpa Sam's talent is superior!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zihao's envy grew. He then resolved to stay up late at night to cultivate, vowing to catch up to Grandpa Sam eventually.
Lin Wencheng's talent was also average, though slightly better than Lin Zihao's. He, too, envied his old friend's talent.
"Old friend, after entering Qi Refining, how do you feel your body is?" he asked, this question being very important.
"Very good. I feel I can live another forty years!" Sam stated confidently.
This made Lin Wencheng's breathing quicken. Entering Qi Refining could extend one's life by forty years? This was an immense temptation for an old man of his age.
He stopped speaking, turned, and continued to cultivate.
Xu Mo watched from the shadows. The Earthlings with talent had not left. They had paid their tuition fees through their respective country representatives and successfully entered the Great Qian Academy, becoming the first batch of 'international students.'
They were all diligently cultivating now, their hearts filled with motivation!
After watching for a while, Xu Mo departed.
He informed his personal palace maids that he would be leaving the imperial capital for a period, entrusting the affairs of Great Qian to the ministers.
Great Desolation and Great Qian were currently unrivaled, with no threats, so he was at ease.
After making all the necessary arrangements, he set off directly, leaving the imperial capital and heading towards the Endless Sea in the east.
Half an hour later, Xu Mo's figure appeared on the eastern front.
Bai Zhan, who had been waiting there, eagerly stepped forward to greet him upon seeing His Majesty.
"Bai Zhan greets Your Majesty! May my Emperor live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years!!"
The soldiers in the military camp also knelt down excitedly, welcoming their Emperor!
Xu Mo nodded faintly, telling everyone to rise, and then asked, "Are there any recent developments in the Endless Sea?"
"No major movements," Bai Zhan replied, shaking his head. He added, "However, ships from Earth occasionally sail into the waters of the Endless Sea. From my observation, they are not warships, but likely merchant vessels."
He explained that many merchant ships and fishing boats from Earth were extremely curious about the Great Desolation and wanted to explore it further.
Some had even successfully landed, hoping to explore this new continent of the Great Desolation.
However, they were promptly driven away by the guards, and those carrying firearms were even taught a lesson!
"Your Majesty, this barrier on the Endless Sea only blocks us and not the people of Earth. This puts us in a very passive position!" Bai Zhan said with a grave tone.
While Earth posed a threat, this ancient barrier was like a sharp sword hanging over Great Qian's neck, making Bai Zhan feel very uncomfortable.
"Rest assured, I already have a method to break this ancient barrier. I will let you witness it shortly," Xu Mo said with a smile.
The Crossing Mark could be infinitely shared with others, rendering the ancient barrier merely a decoration.
Moreover, he himself was from Earth, so the ancient barrier had no effect on him.
He had already tested it with his spiritual power; it could pass through the ancient barrier freely without any obstruction.
Bai Zhan rejoiced, thinking that His Majesty was indeed His Majesty, to have found a way to break the ancient barrier.
Subsequently, Xu Mo and Bai Zhan set off together towards the Endless Sea.
After sharing the Crossing Mark with Bai Zhan, the latter was instantly able to pass through the ancient barrier freely, which Bai Zhan found incredibly miraculous.
However, Xu Mo did not have Bai Zhan accompany him to Earth, instructing him to continue guarding the eastern front.
He passed through the ancient barrier alone, without using the function of the Crossing Mark, and simply passed through. The ancient barrier showed no reaction.