Inside the boudoir, her breathing gradually calmed.
Jiang Yuechu was not in a hurry to get up.
Instead, she settled her mind again, carefully sensing the changes within her body.
And whether there were any unexpected pleasant surprises.
After a long while.
Jiang Yuechu opened her eyes, a hint of helplessness flashing within them.
Although the two black dog demons had provided a vast amount of vital Qi sufficient to break through her Bottleneck.
Beyond that, she hadn't plundered any innate Divine Abilities.
Neither the bloody wind nor the shower of blood.
None of them appeared on her panel.
"As expected..."
Jiang Yuechu shook her head, not overly disappointed.
The description of Myriad Demons Devour the Heavens had already stated it clearly: an extremely low probability.
Before her Transmigration, she was an absolute jinx.
How could her luck suddenly improve just by changing the timeline?
Aside from these, what truly frustrated Jiang Yuechu was the cost of the Breakthrough.
From first entering the Ink Dot Realm to now, Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm.
How many demons had she devoured in between?
Previously, devouring a single demon of the same Realm could significantly boost her Realm.
But now... "The further one goes, the harder the path becomes..."
Jiang Yuechu sighed inwardly.
If she reached Seed Lotus, or even Mountain Gazing... the number of demons required would likely be an astronomical figure.
However, on second thought, it was normal.
Even with her cheat-like ability, she found it somewhat troublesome.
For a normal person, it would be even more difficult.
No wonder there were countless Martial Artists in the world, yet only a handful could reach the peak.
However... Jiang Yuechu clenched her fist.
Although the consumption was terrifying, the improvement was equally substantial.
Ten-Pattern Perfection.
Jiang Yuechu's eyes narrowed slightly, and a thought involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
If her current self were to Face her self from half an hour ago.
That is, Jiang Yuechu in the Late Stage of the Ink Staining Realm.
What would be the outcome?
The deduction only took a moment in her mind before yielding a result.
Annihilation.
A crushing defeat without any suspense.
Without resorting to underhanded methods like burning her Dao Cultivation.
Victory would be decided within ten moves.
If it were a life-and-death struggle, she could probably take her opponent's life in five moves.
Just the difference of Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm was already a world apart.
Let alone the chasm between Realms beyond the Ink Dot Realm?
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuechu gave a self-deprecating smile.
She had originally thought that by burning thousands of years of Dao Cultivation, facing a Mountain Gazing great demon might not be without a chance of victory.
But now it seemed... she had been ignorant of her own limitations back then.
Even the most incompetent Mountain Gazing great demon couldn't have the gap closed by merely relying on Dao Cultivation.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuechu gained some understanding of the outside world's reaction.
To slay a Seed Lotus expert with the body of an Ink Dot Realm cultivator.
This was indeed something that defied common sense in the eyes of ordinary people.
While she was pondering.
"Creak—"
The door was pushed open from outside.
A gust of cold wind, carrying a few withered leaves and someone's boisterous voice, rushed in together.
"Yuechu! Yuechu!"
Wei Qing, holding up her skirt, rushed to the soft couch like a joyful magpie, like a gust of wind.
"Guess what I heard outside?"
Jiang Yuechu reined in the pressure that hadn't completely dissipated around her, leaning back lazily on the soft pillow, and casually picked up half a chestnut cake from the side.
"Heard what? Are they discussing again that I'm a Heavenly Immortal Reincarnation?"
"Go, go, go, it's not that outrageous."
Wei Qing plopped down on the edge of the soft couch, reached out, snatched the pastry from Jiang Yuechu's hand, stuffed it into her own mouth, and mumbled:
"But it's close enough."
"Now, in the teahouses and taverns of Chang'an City, the storytellers' spit is almost flooding the tables."
"Even that bunch of old scholars are arguing over your matter."
"One group says you are the good fortune of the Great Tang, while another insists you are too bloodthirsty and harm the natural order..."
At this, Wei Qing rolled her eyes dramatically.
"If you ask me, those old fogeys are just full of themselves."
"Demons have already come to our doorstep; what 'natural order' are they still talking about?"
"If they were made to stand by Taihu Lake and watch those monstrous waves crash down, they'd probably piss themselves in fear; how could they still have the leisure to babble on?"
Jiang Yuechu listened to these idle rumors with a calm expression.
Reputation, for her, could neither be eaten nor used to improve her Cultivation.
It was merely fleeting clouds.
"Let them talk."
Jiang Yuechu clapped her hands, brushing off crumbs, her tone calm.
"Their mouths are their own; I can't control them."
Wei Qing looked at her unperturbed demeanor, her eyes filled with admiration.
"Tsk, tsk..."
"Indeed, it's our Lord Jiang; this composure is truly different."
"However..."
Wei Qing changed the subject, a mischievous smile appearing on her Face.
"Although you don't care for these empty reputations, there's one piece of news you'll definitely be interested in."
"What?"
"I heard... His Majesty is also going to the Liushang Banquet this time."
Jiang Yuechu's previously calm eyes narrowed slightly.
The Emperor is also going to the Liushang Banquet?
In her previous life, she had read plenty of history books.
Since ancient times, if a prince only knew how to indulge in pleasure, bullying men and defiling women.
Then the one on the Dragon throne would mostly turn a blind eye, granting him a life of wealth until old age.
After all, raising a pig was always more reassuring than raising a wolf.
But this Prince Jing was different.
He wasn't greedy for wealth, nor was he lustful.
He particularly enjoyed befriending scholars and refined gentlemen, composing poems and couplets, earning himself the reputation of a 'Virtuous Prince' among the literati.
Now, he was even making a grand show of it, widely distributing invitations to host a Liushang Banquet.
This was seen as elegant by ordinary people.
But in the eyes of the imperial family... this was practically sticking one's head under the executioner's blade.
And asking the executioner if the blade was sharp.
Now, the Emperor was also going... the deeper meaning behind this was interesting.
"Yuechu, what are you thinking about?"
Wei Qing saw her spacing out and waved her hand in front of her eyes, "Why that expression?"
Jiang Yuechu snapped back, shaking her head: "Nothing."
"I just feel that this Liushang Banquet might turn into a Hongmen Banquet."
Wei Qing shivered, lowered her voice, and nervously glanced out the window.
"You shouldn't say such things... After all, with so many people watching, Your Majesty... wouldn't go that far, would he?"
"Alright, let's not talk about this."
Jiang Yuechu stood up, walked to an ancient zither, and casually plucked a string.
"Didn't you say you were going out today to borrow musical scores? Where are they?"
Wei Qing chuckled.
She carefully took out a brocade box from her bosom.
She pushed the brocade box towards Jiang Yuechu, raising her chin as if seeking praise.
"I specifically went to the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices, talked myself hoarse, and promised that old worship who had dedicated his life to this art several jars of my father's treasured fine wine before I could get this."
Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow slightly.
The old worship of the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
Those were top musicians who specialized in playing elegant music for the imperial family.
Normally, they were arrogant and wouldn't even give Face to princes and nobles.
Anything extracted from such a person's hands must be extraordinary.
"A unique copy?"
"Not just a unique copy."
Wei Qing lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously: "That old man said this musical score is a relic from the previous dynasty, too full of killing intent. Ordinary musicians can't control it at all; the tunes they play are soft and weak, turning into a botched imitation instead."