"He’s even more advanced than you?" Lin Qian stood there, dumbfounded upon hearing Zhuge Ming’s words.
"The Empress is quick-witted, often able to draw inferences from one example. Furthermore, she can spot in the shortest time the complementary aspects between the Empire’s cultivation civilization and the present world’s cultivation civilization."
"It seems that in this regard, the Empress has a natural, keen perception. In this matter, I am ashamed to say that I am inferior."
"However, I am delighted. Should the Empress keep pace or even surpass me in this area, it will be a great assistance to Your Majesty. It would be an immense boon to Your Majesty, the Empress herself, and the Huaxia Empire."
Saying this, Zhuge Ming’s eyes also shone brightly, "Therefore, I teach the Empress without reservation, but only in a way that does not affect her advancement in realm."
"Such worries are superfluous after all, given the Empress’s talent. Even devoting just a bit of time, she is not someone ordinary people can compare with. Of course, Your Majesty, you are not included in those ordinary people. While there are specialties in learning, Your Majesty’s talents lie in cultivation..."
Seeing the smile in Zhuge Ming’s eyes that wasn’t quite a smile, Lin Qian narrowed his eyes, "There’s no need to beat around the bush. Besides cultivation, in areas like Artifact Refining and Alchemy, I know I’m a blockhead. Teach the Empress well. If anything goes wrong, I’ll hold you responsible!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," said Zhuge Ming, bowing deeply, and their dialogue box vanished.
"Getting cheeky, poking fun at me as if I can’t understand," Lin Qian muttered irritably, but there was no anger in his eyes.
Instead, Zhuge Ming’s vivid behavior delighted him, for it was something he had long dreamed of,
To truly come to life and banter with him.
After finishing, Lin Qian turned his head and saw the puzzled looks from Ye Xin and Wei Wushuang. He explained with a light laugh, "I have a secret technique that allows me to speak directly to people of the Empire. It’s just that you can’t see it; only I can."
Upon hearing Lin Qian’s explanation, Ye Xin and Wei Wushuang finally came to a realization.
"Since the Prime Minister places such high value on your talent, you should learn earnestly from him. Don’t hesitate to ask him anything. There’s no need to worry—his level is far beyond your imagination," Lin Qian then looked towards Ye Xin and spoke with a smile.
Ye Xin also nodded seriously, "These past days, I have truly felt that there seems to be nothing that can stump him. No matter how fast I progress, I can’t reach the Prime Minister’s limits."
"At first, many times, I thought I was beginning to approach the Prime Minister’s level, perhaps not every question would be answered accurately."
"But now, whatever I don’t understand and ask the Prime Minister, I can always get an accurate answer. It’s as if there’s nothing he doesn’t know."
As Ye Xin spoke these words, her eyes radiated a sincere respect.
Not only her, but Wei Wushuang beside her also let out a long sigh and looked at Lin Qian, "Disciple, even I have to admit that your Prime Minister is truly extraordinary. Perhaps little Ye doesn’t understand, but I do—just how formidable is your Prime Minister?"
"After all, her vision is still limited to the Coastal State; once she steps outside into the wider world, she’ll gradually understand just how fearsome this Zhuge Ming really is."
Seeing Wei Wushuang so moved, Lin Qian wasn’t surprised.
In his past life’s game, Zhuge Ming was the most powerful intellectual general; if Lin Qian’s guess was right, after the Huaxia Empire had come to this world, he was still the strongest.
Because even when given the texts from the Dangyuan Sect’s treasury to study, Zhuge Ming could learn them at a glance, without any difficulty at all.
What concept? The texts obtained from the Dangyuan Sect’s treasury, when shown to the elders of the Wanxiang Sect, were beyond their comprehension, except for the basic parts.
And yet, for Zhuge Ming, it was as simple as taking a single look; the difference was like night and day.
"By the way, Little Qian, since you have a way to directly summon these soldiers and scholars from your empire, why can’t you summon the Prime Minister directly?" Suddenly, a question emerged in Ye Xin’s mind.
Wei Wushuang was also curious and looked at Lin Qian, wanting to know the answer.
They had already understood that Lin Qian had received a very mystical legacy and had become the Emperor of an empire, able to summon subordinates from it.
In that case, why not summon Zhuge Ming.
Glancing at Ye Xin and then at Wei Wushuang, both of whom were his closest and most trusted people, there was no harm in speaking the truth.
"Xinxin, Master, could we not spread word of this matter, please?" Lin Qian solemnly asked the two after a moment of silence.
Ye Xin and Wei Wushuang exchanged a look and made a solemn promise, as strange fluctuations emanated faintly around them.
The oath to heaven, once taken, must be followed; should it be broken, one would suffer divine retribution. To put Lin Qian’s mind at ease, they had actually taken such a heavenly oath.
One should know that after making such an oath, it would have a certain burden on the soul, but both seemed unconcerned.
A warmth filled Lin Qian’s heart, and he said with a resigned expression, "It’s not that I don’t want to summon Prime Minister Zhuge Ming; it’s that my strength is too weak to do so."
"Exactly. The strength of the one being summoned is related to my own power. If they are too powerful, trying to summon them would cause my body to explode."
Ye Xin nodded silently, then curiously asked, "Little Qian, what level do these soldiers and warships belong to in your empire? Are they middle to upper level?"
Lin Qian slowly shook his head, his face showing a proud look, "These soldiers are merely the lowest level of troops in the empire."
Saying this, Lin Qian pointed to the ground and continued, "This warship, only the size of a city, is the lowest level of warship in the empire. I have as many as you want. Xinxin, didn’t you want to study warships? If it’s convenient, I can give you a few to play with and dismantle."
"The lowest level of troops, the lowest level of warships?" After hearing this, Ye Xin touched her forehead, feeling slightly dizzy.
Next to her, Wei Wushuang was also wide-eyed, "These are the lowest level warships, and there are as many as you want? Apprentice, don’t make empty boasts. If your Master asked you to get me ten thousand of them, could you manage it?"
"Ten thousand? Since I’ve already made it clear, and you, Master, have taken the heavenly oath voluntarily, there’s no reason for me as your disciple to fear telling you that I can produce a hundred million of these low-level warships, and I’m not just bragging."
Wei Wushuang could no longer contain himself and plunked down on the ground, staring at his disciple dumbstruck; his understanding of the world was crumbling.