Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

Immediately afterwards, the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and the top-grade Qi Cultivation Pill transformed into two streams of cool energy, merging into his dantian. His cultivation, originally only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, shot upwards like a rocket!

Mid-Foundation Establishment... Late-Foundation Establishment... Peak Foundation Establishment... Boom! An invisible barrier was broken through, and the Golden Core was formed!

Early stage of Golden Core... Middle stage of Golden Core... Late stage of Golden Core!

In just a few breaths, his cultivation level soared from the mid-Foundation Establishment stage to the late-Golden Core stage!

"Ding! Host's cultivation level has increased to the late Golden Core stage. Current number of days in a 'lying-in-place' state: 30. Power increase: 30 years. It is recommended to continue in a 'lying-in-place' state." The system's voice sounded again.

Li Zhi slowly opened his eyes and clenched his fist. A powerful sense of strength filled his limbs and bones, making him feel as if he could kill a bull with a single punch! Late Golden Core stage! The realm that his brothers, who had once mocked him, had cultivated for over a decade or even decades to reach, he had achieved in just thirty days! This system is practically a bug!

He could clearly feel the insidious poison within his body slowly melting away like ice and snow meeting the sun in the face of powerful true essence. With his current cultivation at the late Golden Core stage, expelling the poison completely from his body would be a matter of minutes.

But he didn't rush into doing so. He wanted to continue playing dumb, to continue being the "useless seventh prince." Revealing his strength too early would only bring about his death.

He lay back down, pulled the blanket over his head, and pretended to be still half asleep. Soon, Xiao Luzi brought in breakfast.

In the days that followed, Li Zhi continued his life of leisurely living. He ate, slept, daydreamed, and occasionally pondered the meaning of life.

Another month has passed.

"Ding! Host has accumulated 60 days of inactivity. Power has increased by 60 years. Current inactivity days: 60. Monthly reward has been credited to your account. Claim it?"

"receive!"

"Rewards are being drawn... Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Saint-level cultivation technique 'Chaos Technique', Saint-level martial skill 'Ancestral Dragon Fist', 10 top-grade Foundation Building Pills, 10 top-grade Qi Cultivation Pills, and 10 cultivation technique learning experience pills."

Li Zhi was delighted. It was like a pillow delivered to someone who was sleepy! The Chaos Technique was a perfect match for his Chaos Sacred Body! The Ancestral Dragon Fist was a perfect match for his Ancestral Dragon Bloodline! Perfect!

He immediately swallowed a cultivation technique learning experience pill, and then silently recited the "Chaos Technique" in his mind. Instantly, a massive flow of information flooded into his mind. Every word, every syllable, and every energy path of the "Chaos Technique" was imprinted deep within his soul like a brand, as if he had cultivated for a lifetime.

He subconsciously began circulating the Chaos Technique. The true essence in his dantian seemed to have found an outlet, frantically circulating according to the Chaos Technique's pathway. Nourished by the chaotic true essence, the original golden core began to change, growing larger and its color deepening.

Peak of the Golden Core stage... Boom! Another breakthrough!

Early Nascent Soul stage... Mid-Nascent Soul stage... Late Nascent Soul stage!

In just a few breaths, his cultivation level soared from the late Golden Core stage to the late Nascent Soul stage!

"Ding! Host's cultivation level has increased to the late Nascent Soul stage. Current number of days inactive: 60. Power increase: 60 years."

Li Zhi's lips curled slightly upward. Late Nascent Soul stage! His current strength probably surpassed that of his emperor father! Keep in mind, even the emperor was only at the early Divine Transformation stage.

But he remained unmoved. He continued to lie in bed every day, eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating.

The outside world, however, is becoming increasingly lively. The struggle for the crown prince position is escalating, reaching a fever pitch.

The eldest prince's mother is the Empress, wielding immense power and influence, and has always been considered the undisputed choice for crown prince. The second prince's mother is a favored concubine, holding military power and harboring great ambitions. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth princes have all cultivated their own power bases by court officials, engaging in open and covert struggles with various tactics. Today you trip me up, tomorrow I'll dig a pit for you; they attack each other in the court, and chaos reigns in the harem.

Some people also wanted to win over Li Zhi, this "useless prince," after all, even a small mosquito is still meat. The people sent were of all kinds: some brought gifts, some promised benefits, and some tried to coerce or entice him. Li Zhi pretended to be stupid in all of them, either drooling over his pillow or spouting nonsense, leaving the visitors both amused and exasperated, and in the end, they could only slink away in disgrace.

Some mocked him, saying he was utterly useless and a disgrace to the Li dynasty. On one occasion, the sixth prince, accompanied by several guards, deliberately passed by his palace and shouted at the door, "Hey, isn't this our seventh brother? Why is he still lying in bed like a corpse? Does he know he's useless and dare not show his face?"

Li Zhi lay on the bed, listening to the mockery outside, without even lifting his eyelids. Seeing that he didn't react, the Sixth Prince got bored, muttered a few more curses, and then left with his men.

Xiao Luzi, standing to the side, was so angry her face turned red: "Your Highness! They've gone too far! How could you let them insult you like this!"

Li Zhi lazily rolled over: "Saying a few words won't hurt me. If he wants to say it, let him say it."

Looking at his prince's carefree attitude, Xiao Luzi could only sigh inwardly. Little did he know that Li Zhi was secretly plotting: "Once I reach the Tribulation Stage, I'll see how I deal with you bunch of clowns."

Lady Liu visited him more and more often. Each time she came, she was filled with worry. The struggles in the palace were becoming increasingly brutal, and she, a powerless concubine, could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything. As she looked at Li Zhi, the worry in her eyes deepened.

"Zhi'er, things aren't peaceful outside. You...you stay in the palace and absolutely mustn't go out and cause trouble," Lady Liu said softly, holding his hand. Her hand was cold and trembling slightly.

"Don't worry, Mother, I won't go out," Li Zhi said with a smile. "Lying down is so comfortable."

Looking at him, Liu suddenly felt that perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing for her son to remain "foolish." At least, he wouldn't have to get involved in those bloody struggles and could live peacefully.

As time went by, Li Zhi's days of lying down continued to increase.

Three months... ninety years of increased power... cultivation reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.

Four months... His power increased by 120 years... His cultivation reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Five months... His power increased by 150 years... His cultivation level reached the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Six months... His power increased by 180 years... His cultivation reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage!

In just six months, he went from a useless Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator to a peak Nascent Soul stage expert! If word got out, it would scare a lot of people to death!

"Ding! Host's cultivation has advanced to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. Monthly rewards have accumulated for six months. Would you like to claim them all at once?"

"I'll accept it!" Li Zhi replied without hesitation. What surprises would the six-month reward hold?

"Rewards are being drawn... Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Saint-level physique 'Time-Space Saint Body', Saint-level bloodline 'Phoenix Bloodline', Saint-level cultivation technique 'Time-Space True Scripture', Saint-level martial skill 'Phoenix Nirvana', several top-grade pills, and several cultivation technique learning experience pills."

Li Zhi was shocked once again! Another Saint-level physique! Another Saint-level bloodline! The Space-Time Saint Body! The Phoenix Bloodline! This is defying the heavens! The Space-Time Saint Body is said to be able to control time and space; just thinking about it is terrifying! The Phoenix Bloodline allows for rebirth and immortality!

He immediately began to integrate the new physique and bloodline. This time, it was more painful than the previous two times, but also more shocking. He felt as if he were at the center of the universe, surrounded by endless spacetime turbulence, his body being torn apart and then reassembled. At the same time, a blazing flame burned within him, as if to incinerate him into ashes, but within the ashes, new life was being conceived.

After an unknown amount of time, the fusion was finally complete. He felt his body had become stronger than ever before, as if he could control the world with a mere gesture.

He circulated the "True Scripture of Time and Space" while swallowing several pills. His cultivation level began to soar once again!

Refining Void Stage... Body Integration Stage... Mahayana Stage!

"Ding! Host's cultivation has advanced to the peak of the Mahayana stage. Current number of days inactive: 180. Power increase: 180 years."

Peak of the Mahayana stage! Only one step away from transcending the tribulation! The entire Li Dynasty, and even the surrounding countries, cannot find a master of the Mahayana stage! Li Zhi is now one of the most powerful figures on this continent!

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyes becoming deep and sharp. But soon, he returned to his languid state and lay back down.

The struggle for the crown prince position outside has come to an end. The eldest prince was found guilty of treason and imprisoned in the imperial prison; the second prince failed in his struggle for military power and was demoted to a commoner; the third prince was killed in an assassination attempt; the fourth prince was exiled to the frontier; the fifth prince could not bear the shock and went mad; the sixth prince was seriously injured and lost all his cultivation.

Overnight, the once-glorious princes were either dead, insane, or rendered useless. In the vast palace, only he, the "useless seventh prince," remained unscathed.

The emperor finally remembered him.

On this day, an unfamiliar eunuch came to his palace and said respectfully, "Seventh Prince, His Majesty requests your presence in the Imperial Study."

Li Zhi knew that what was coming had finally arrived. He got out of bed, and Xiao Luzi hurriedly came forward to help him dress and wash. Dressed in a clean prince's court robe, Li Zhi looked at himself in the bronze mirror. His face was handsome, and his eyes were calm. The foolishness of the past was gone.

He followed the eunuch through the long palace corridor. Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs all looked at him with surprise. The Seventh Prince hadn't left his palace for over half a year; why was he suddenly out today? And he seemed…different?

The imperial study was large, but somewhat dimly lit. Bookshelves were filled with various classic texts, and the desk was piled high with memorials. The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his hair already gray, his face etched with weariness and age. When he saw Li Zhi enter, a complex glint flashed in his cloudy eyes.

"Zhi'er, you've come." The emperor's voice was a little hoarse.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Li Zhi knelt down and bowed, his movements precise and neither humble nor arrogant.

"Get up." The emperor waved his hand, signaling the eunuchs to leave. Only the father and son remained in the imperial study.

The emperor remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "I know you've been pretending to be stupid. You've suffered all these years."

Li Zhi raised his head, looked at the emperor, and remained silent. He did not understand what the emperor meant by those words.

"Your brothers are all useless," the emperor sighed, his tone filled with disappointment and helplessness. "They fought tooth and nail for the position of crown prince, only to end up disgraced. Now, the position of crown prince is vacant, and I need an heir."

Li Zhi looked at the emperor and calmly asked, "Father, do you want me to be the crown prince?"

The emperor looked at him, a hint of expectation in his eyes: "You have the ability. I know you're not stupid, you just don't want to fight. I'm old, and the Li dynasty needs someone who can stabilize the situation."

Li Zhi was silent for a while, then suddenly laughed.

"Father, I don't want to be the crown prince."

The emperor was stunned: "Why?"

"Because I want something bigger." Li Zhi's tone was calm, but his eyes shone with an undeniable light.

The emperor frowned: "Something bigger? What is it?"

Li Zhi stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. Sunlight streamed in, dispelling the gloom of the imperial study. Looking at the distant, sprawling palaces and the sky beyond, he slowly said, "Father, do you know how vast this world is?"

The emperor looked at him, puzzled.

"The Li Dynasty is merely a small country on this continent." Li Zhi turned to look at the emperor. "To the east of the continent lies the Qingyun Sect, with over ten thousand disciples and countless experts; to the south, there is the Canglang Holy Land, which controls the endless seas; to the west, there is the Qinglian Holy Land, with an ancient heritage; and to the north, there is the Demon Beast Forest, where danger and opportunity coexist. This world is vast."

The emperor stared at him blankly, as if he were seeing his son for the first time.

"I don't want to be trapped in this small palace, a mere crown prince, a mediocre emperor." Li Zhi's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a penetrating power. "I want to unify this continent, to establish an unprecedented unified empire. To make all sects, all nations, all races submit to my feet!"

The emperor was completely stunned. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself unable to utter a single word. He looked at the son before him, the son he had once regarded as a good-for-nothing, a fool, but now he was like a dragon about to awaken, his eyes filled with ambition and an aura of dominance over the world.

"You...you're insane," the emperor murmured, a hint of fear in his voice.

"Maybe," Li Zhi smiled, "but I don't want to be a good-for-nothing for the rest of my life."

He turned and walked out of the imperial study.

"Father, please take good care of yourself. I will take over the Li Dynasty. But not now, and not as the Crown Prince."

After saying this, he strode out of the imperial study, leaving the emperor alone on the dragon throne, lost in thought for a long time.

The sunlight outside was dazzling, yet warm. Li Zhi looked up at the azure sky and took a deep breath. The air of freedom felt wonderful.

"System," he called out in his mind.

"I am here."

"Keep lying down."

"Ding! Current number of days spent lying down: 180. It is recommended that the host continue to lie down. Next goal: Tribulation Transcending Stage."

Li Zhi smiled. The Tribulation Transcending Stage? Soon. Once he reaches the Tribulation Transcending Stage, that will be the time for him to truly emerge from seclusion. At that time, he will make the whole world remember his name—Li Zhi!

He turned and walked towards his bedchamber. Bed was still the most comfortable. He'd go back and lie down first, and finish his Tribulation Transcending stage later. As for unifying the continent… no rush, he could take his time. He had plenty of time. After all, he was a man with a system; he could conquer the world while lying down.