Yang Hong also took this opportunity to scrutinize Consort Xiande, Jia Yuanchun, for the first time.
She stood at 1.65 meters, not tall. Her slightly thin, round face appeared very spirited, with painterly eyes, cherry lips, and a jade-like nose. Her snow-white skin and raven hair exuded a serene and elegant aura.
She was the very picture of a virtuous wife and loving mother, which explained why she was ennobled as Consort Xiande.
Sensing Yang Hong's gaze, a faint blush spread across Jia Yuanchun's face, adding a touch of allure to her.
"Ahem, you may all leave now and cultivate diligently."
"Yes, this servant takes her leave."
"We... we shall also depart."
A few palace maids habitually responded in unison, almost dragging the six consorts down the wrong path.
"Go then."
Yang Hong waved his hand with a chuckle, dismissing them.
It was nearing the New Year again. This year promised to be more lively.
He planned to introduce the concept of hot pot, and on New Year's Eve, the people of the [Zhi Ruo Wang Wen Ge] would have a joyous gathering.
With this thought, Yang Hong returned to the study on the second floor and sketched out designs for hot pot, copper hot pot, and鸳鸯 (yuān yāng - mandarin duck) hot pot.
If he was going to do it, he would do it thoroughly.
He even drew designs for accompanying tools such as skimmers, slotted spoons, oil ladles, and dipping dishes.
"Old Wang, take these blueprints and find someone to craft them."
He found the only eunuch remaining, Old Wang, and handed him the blueprints to have the utensils made.
"Your Sixth Highness, please wait a moment. This old servant will go and have them made immediately."
With that, Old Wang turned and left without even looking at the blueprints.
As the end of the year approached, the other eunuchs and governesses had all departed. After the New Year, they would go to the imperial farms outside Daxing City to guide the farmers in cultivating Yang Hong's seeds.
Old Wang was the only one left to run errands.
Of course, his real duty was to protect Yang Hong's wine workshop.
In the blink of an eye, time had come to New Year's Eve.
"Boom! Bang! Boom! Bang!"
Watching the fireworks explode in succession from the direction of the imperial palace, everyone gathered outside Yang Hong's small courtyard, under the glass greenhouse.
They all looked up at the dazzling fireworks, their gazes varied.
Yang Hong's expression was calm, while Consort Zhou and the others showed anticipation and envy,
and... melancholy.
Beside them were two tables, both with hollowed-out centers filled with hot pots, heated by charcoal fires beneath.
The hot pot at Yang Hong's table was bubbling with steam, and the table was already a mess.
"Xiao Cao, take your young ladies and start eating too.
Esteemed Ladies, it is getting late, so I shall take my leave now."
"Your Sixth Highness, please."
Yang Hong glanced at the oil stains on the consorts' clothes and smiled slightly.
At first, these women had been full of disdain and acted reserved, but once they started eating hot pot, they gradually let go.
At this moment, none of them stood up to bow. They simply held their bellies with one hand and waved lightly with the other.
They were all stuffed.
...
After the New Year, the Great Sui Dynasty began to experience turmoil.
Not only did the struggle between the Great Sui imperial family and aristocratic clans intensify, but the border regions of Great Sui also entered a state of tension. Even the martial arts world of the Five Dynasties and Four Kingdoms became lively.
In the Five Dynasties and Four Kingdoms, the prodigies from the other four dynasties began to head towards Great Sui, and the martial arts masters from the Five Dynasties and Four Kingdoms also started making their way to Great Sui.
All for the sake of the Five Dynasties and Four Kingdoms Prodigy Tournament.
Some came to compete, but more came to spectate.
Observing and learning from the fights of masters had always been an important path for martial artists to improve.
Therefore, while Great Sui was embroiled in internal strife, it also had to guard against external pressure.
Whether it was the imperial family or the aristocratic clans, they all feared being conquered by the other four dynasties in a sudden attack.
Consequently, two-thirds of the 3,000 innate guards and 30,000 first-rate martial artist guards in the palace were dispatched.
However, these matters had nothing to do with Yang Hong. He continued to farm peacefully.
"Ding~ You have infused 40 days of True Qi into a common ginseng, receiving a 500x return, returning 20,000 days of True Qi cultivation."
"Ding~ The common ginseng has reached the evolution standard and is beginning to evolve~"
"Ding~ Evolution successful. Common ginseng has evolved into a Rank 1 Lower Grade Spirit Plant: Profound Sun Ginseng."
"Ding~ 'Mountain Bearing Fist' has been cultivated to Level 100."
"Ding~ 300 martial arts have reached max level and met the evolution standard. Shall we begin evolution?"
Hearing the notification sounds constantly ringing in his ears, Yang Hong's eyes lit up.
First, after five months of searching, Yang Hong had found the third plant capable of single-instance evolution, and it was ginseng.
"We already have three top-grade spirit plants. From now on, we will focus all our efforts on nurturing these three top-grade spirit plants. The final infusion of the day will be used to cultivate vegetables."
Jade Green Grapes, Moonlight White Tea Tree, and Profound Sun Ginseng – these were the three top-grade spirit plants, all of which had evolved with a single infusion.
Furthermore, the Jade Green Grapes had already advanced to Rank 1 Upper Grade, and the Moonlight White Tea Tree to Rank 1 Middle Grade.
"But which martial art should I evolve this time? This martial art evolution is truly a pain! The first time consumed 3 martial arts, the second time 30, and the third time requires the fusion of 300 martial arts to evolve.
So the next time will require 3000 martial arts."
Yang Hong felt extremely helpless.
His original idea of evolving low-level martial arts into intermediate ones was immediately abandoned.
"Although the body is the capital of revolution, evolving the Breath Nourishing Technique might increase the number of infusions again."
After much deliberation, Yang Hong still gave up the idea of evolving the basic body-tempering technique and instead selected the basic Breath Nourishing Technique.
Undergoing another bone-shaping and flesh-transforming pain, the basic Breath Nourishing Technique successfully evolved into the intermediate Breath Nourishing Technique.
[Yang Hong: Sixth Prince of the Great Sui Dynasty.
Daily Infusion Count: 2/5
Lifespan: 21/150
Cultivation: 100 years of True Qi (Qi Refining Realm, 180,000 catties of strength).
Cultivation Methods: Intermediate Breath Nourishing Technique Level 1, Basic Body Forging Technique Level 39.
Martial Arts: Savage Ox Fist Level 100, Flowing Wind Movement Technique Level 100, Flying Snow Lightness Skill Level 100.
Special Abilities: Eidetic Memory, Mastery of Farming.]
After finally upgrading to 682 years of True Qi, one evolution brought it down to 100 years again.
However, his physical strength had increased slightly, reaching 180,000 catties.
Yang Hong was unsure how to evaluate this level of strength; at least, he had no comparisons within his existing knowledge.
Moreover, his True Qi had undergone a qualitative change.
If internal energy was air, then his initial True Qi was like mist. The True Qi from the basic Breath Nourishing Technique could be considered dense fog.
Now, he could feel his True Qi as mist and rain, almost liquefied.
"The stronger the Breath Nourishing Technique, the purer the True Qi, and the more powerful its effects."
Feeling the purer True Qi flowing like a gentle stream within his body, Yang Hong's heart became even more excited and fervent.
"With this strength, I should be able to fight even a cultivator."
"Ding~ You have infused 50 days of True Qi into a common ginseng, receiving a 30x return, returning 1500 days of True Qi cultivation."
Another improvement. The True Qi infused per instance had increased from 40 days to 50 days, and his cultivation speed had surged again.
Yang Hong quickly returned to the third floor of the small building. He circulated the Flowing Wind Movement Technique and the Flying Snow Lightness Skill, and then, supported by these techniques, he began practicing the Savage Ox Fist.
The lightness skill and movement technique were specifically kept and not used as materials for martial art evolution, so that he wouldn't create a big disturbance when practicing martial arts.
"Hoo~ Hoo~ Hoo~"
Under Yang Hong's control, the rough, almost wild Savage Ox Fist produced only a gentle rustling sound. If one wasn't paying close attention, they wouldn't even realize Yang Hong was practicing boxing.
However, if a Grandmaster were to witness this, they would surely be shocked to the point of questioning their sanity.
Yang Hong had controlled his strength to within three inches, not leaking a single iota.
This level of control was something even peak Grandmasters could not achieve.
Even peak Grandmasters could only control the power emitted by the Savage Ox Fist within nine inches.
Even so, they could not achieve the effortless grace that Yang Hong displayed.