Chapter 11 Potential Believers

Chapter 11: Prospective Believers

Seeing his uncle head to the barrel, Baili Hong scurried to follow.

He was almost as tall as the wooden barrel itself, and had to stand on tiptoe to just glimpse the smaller wooden basin nestled inside.

The basin, at this moment, was sparkling clear, filled to the brim with ice!

The little boy's eyes widened in an instant, his face—bearing a five-point resemblance to Qin Xiao—filled with utter astonishment.

Chu Jiubian watched Qin Xiao's expression with keen interest, taking in the well-hidden surprise that flickered across his face.

He had thought this man truly mastered the art of concealing his emotions, but it seemed he was still green; hadn't a hint of feeling just slipped out?

Sensing the gaze from beside him, Qin Xiao finally pulled his eyes away from the basin of ice.

Deep within his dark pupils, unreadable emotions stirred as he gazed directly into Chu Jiubian's eyes.

Chu Jiubian, at 183 cm, was considered tall among men, but Qin Xiao was half a head taller, likely around 190 cm.

In this situation, Qin Xiao’s height advantage and sharp demeanor instantly exerted immense pressure on Chu Jiubian.

Yet Chu Jiubian neither flinched nor evaded. He simply raised his eyes slightly, offering Qin Xiao a knowing smile, and asked, "Prince Ning, is this thing amusing?"

Before Qin Xiao could respond, a clear, childish voice piped up from below: "It's fun!"

Baili Hong, clutching the barrel's edge and straining on his tiptoes, looked up at the two "giants" beside him, exclaiming excitedly, "Chu Jiubian, you have so much ice! It's so cool!"

Children naturally handle heat less effectively than adults, and with the summer heat currently at its peak, it was true that Baili Hong had been kept awake by the heat at night—though he hadn't cried about it.

Now, seeing such a large block of ice, he couldn't resist wanting to touch it, but his arms were too short to reach.

The little boy chattered excitedly about how much he loved this "toy," but being clever, he soon noticed the strange tension between the two adults and gradually fell silent.

Qin Xiao gently rotated the thumb ring on his finger, a smile appearing in his eyes, instantly dissipating the tense atmosphere between them.

"It's fun," Qin Xiao said, his deep voice tinged with amusement. "Truly delightful."

Chu Jiubian was quite satisfied with his answer and said, "This should certainly ease your worries, my lord. Now, what about the matter you promised me?"

Qin Xiao replied smoothly, "This palace is Young Master Jiu's home. You may make yourself comfortable here however you wish."

"Young Master Jiu?" Chu Jiubian's eye twitched slightly—what an odd title.

Qin Xiao chuckled. "Young Master Jiu's reputation has now spread throughout the capital. Even those who curse me have grown fewer. I must thank you."

Although the Qin family was renowned and highly regarded among the populace, ever since he had executed spies at the Shenwu Gate for three days and nights, public sentiment had shifted, with more criticism than praise.

Especially among the noble families and powerful officials, who privately condemned him as ruthless and ambitious.

But now, these people were all scrambling to curry favor with Chu Jiubian, the "immortal," and had no time to curse Qin Xiao.

Chu Jiubian guessed what was happening and said, "If Prince Ning truly wishes to thank me, perhaps you could do me another favor."

It would be even better if he could leave the palace again—he wondered if this ancient world was similar to the sets he used to act on.

"It's dangerous outside the palace," Qin Xiao declared shamelessly. "When this prince has some free time, I'll personally take you out for a stroll. How does that sound?"

This meant he still intended to keep him under watch, though allowing him free movement within the palace was already a significant step forward.

Chu Jiubian had only been testing the waters casually. Seeing that it wouldn't work, he didn't argue further.

Noticing his silence, Qin Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Then let's make it three days from now. I'll take you out in three days."

This time, Chu Jiubian was genuinely surprised. He eyed the other man suspiciously—was he really so agreeable?

He probably planned to renege later.

Qin Xiao, however, changed the subject. With rare seriousness, he clasped his hands and bowed slightly to Chu Jiubian, saying, "Please, Young Master, instruct me in ice-making."

He didn't outright demand the method, but Chu Jiubian had no intention of being secretive. He said plainly, "I promised to give you the method, and I won't break my word."

He wouldn't act like Qin Xiao had earlier, losing a bet and then trying to renege.

Qin Xiao bowed without hesitation, saying, "Then, on behalf of the people and His Majesty, I thank you, Young Master."

Although noble families and powerful officials currently had ice cellars for storage, none were located in the capital—the closest were in the suburbs.

The roads were difficult, and with such hot weather, much of the ice would melt during transport to the capital.

Now that Qin Xiao had the method to make ice, manufacturing it directly in the capital and selling it would be far more convenient. The nobility lacked neither money nor willingness to spend on comfort, making the ice business immensely profitable.

The issue of the depleted state coffers would naturally be resolved as well.

Chu Jiubian hadn't expected Qin Xiao to express gratitude so earnestly, let alone mention "on behalf of the people and His Majesty."

Could a scheming, ambitious villain truly be so upright?

He probably planned to pocket most of the earnings from the ice business.

But that had nothing to do with Chu Jiubian. His goal was simply to gain freedom.

He had considered mentioning that saltpeter could also be used to make fire starters and fireworks, but decided it wasn't urgent. If Qin Xiao truly kept his word and took him out of the palace in three days, he could bring it up then, treating it as another transaction.

"First, bring out that basin of ice. I'll show you how to do it," Chu Jiubian told Qin Xiao.

Eunuch Hong, knowing Qin Xiao had matters to discuss with Chu Jiubian, had led Xiao Xiangzi and the others to wait outside the main room, leaving only the two adults and the three-year-old emperor inside.

Chu Jiubian didn't want to do the work, and the young emperor couldn't, so Qin Xiao had to step in.

He didn't hesitate. Upon hearing Chu Jiubian’s words, he immediately retrieved the basin full of ice and placed it on the ground.

Baili Hong, who had been unable to reach it earlier, could now touch it and examine it closely.

"Chu Jiubian, can I touch this ice?" the child asked pitifully, squatting beside the basin and looking up.

"This is for you, Your Majesty," Chu Jiubian replied.

Baili Hong immediately grinned, showing his small white teeth. "Thank you, Chu Jiubian!"

"You're too kind, Your Majesty," Chu Jiubian said, almost reaching out to ruffle the little protagonist’s head. Such an adorable child—how did Qin Xiao raise him to become so decisive and formidable in the future?

Baili Hong carefully touched the ice with his small hand, shivering at the cold before quickly pulling it back and pressing it against his chubby cheek.

The cool sensation against his flushed, overheated face felt incredibly soothing.

Delighted by the relief, Baili Hong’s eyes sparkled as he repeated the motion, cooling his cheeks again and again.

Meanwhile, not far away, Chu Jiubian was directing Qin Xiao to pour the remaining saltpeter into another water-filled barrel and stir it with a wooden stick.

When the stirring was nearly done, he had Qin Xiao fill a smaller basin with water and carefully place it inside the larger bucket, ensuring it was fully surrounded by the water in the bucket.

"Is that it?" Qin Xiao asked.

Chu Jiubian nodded. "That's it."

Qin Xiao was somewhat surprised.

Could something so simple have gone unnoticed by everyone until now?

He had touched the water with saltpeter earlier and felt it was somewhat cool. If the imperial physicians had accidentally dropped saltpeter into water, surely they would have noticed something, right?

Had such an accident never occurred, or had no one ever thought to investigate?

Chu Jiubian saw through his thoughts almost instantly. "The method is simple, but the key is that the saltpeter needs to be purified."

"Purified?" Qin Xiao had noticed earlier that the saltpeter Chu Jiubian used was different from what he had seen before, but he had assumed it was just finely ground.

"Xiao Xiangzi and the others know how to do it. You can ask them."

"Alright." Qin Xiao lowered his gaze to the basin in front of him; the water inside hadn't changed yet.

"How long will it take?" he asked.

"At fastest, a quarter-hour; at slowest, half an hour."

Qin Xiao nodded; this was much faster than he had expected.

"This saltpeter is truly remarkable," he remarked.

"It has more uses than just this," Chu Jiubian hinted deliberately.

Qin Xiao turned to look at him and saw the young man give him a faint smile.

Qin Xiao smiled in return.

It seemed the full potential of saltpeter would have to wait for the future.

Seeing that they had finished their business, Baili Hong finally seized the opportunity to speak. He hurried over to Chu Jiubian, looked up, and asked, "Chu Jiubian, have you met my mother?"

Chu Jiubian was taken aback and crouched down to his level. "Your mother?"

"Yes," Baili Hong said, his eyes full of hope. "My mother also went to the heavens and became an immortal. Have you seen her?"

He had never seen anyone make ice before, so Chu Jiubian must be a deity!

Qin Xiao looked down at his nephew's round little head, wanting to say something but holding back.

He glanced at Chu Jiubian, curious about how this "deity" would respond.

Chu Jiubian recalled the description of the late empress from the original story—a woman who was intelligent, brave, gentle, and beautiful.

"I haven't met her," he said.

The little emperor visibly deflated.

"But I've heard of her," Chu Jiubian added.

Baili Hong froze.

"She was very strong. She must have wanted you to be as brave and resilient as she was."

These weren't Chu Jiubian's words but the dying thoughts of the empress in the original story. She had hoped her child would grow into a righteous and wise ruler, capable of ushering in a golden age for Great Ning.

Baili Hong's eyes reddened, but he fought back his tears.

"I remember," he said. "Mother said one must be brave."

"Congratulations, Host! Your Faith Points have accumulated over 100 points. The Divine Realm function is now unlocked. You may enter at any time and invite one believer."

Chu Jiubian's heart skipped a beat.

Before Qin Xiao and the others arrived, his points were at 98 and hadn't increased for a while. Now, they had suddenly surpassed 100.

Right, both the Divine Realm and space functions were based on cumulative points. Chu Jiubian had previously spent 1.5 points, meaning he had just gained another 0.5 points, bringing his total to 100.

He looked at the little emperor, who had held back his tears, and knew where that 0.5 point had come from.

What a good kid, he thought.

Time passed slowly. The three in the room fell silent, and the water in the basin gradually cooled, slowly freezing into ice.

Qin Xiao stood by, watching as the water turned to ice. It was impossible not to be amazed.

Once the ice had fully formed, he reached out and gently touched it.

The cold sensation made his fingertips tremble slightly.

He looked at Chu Jiubian, his eyes deep and pensive, lost in thought.

But Chu Jiubian was already eager to enter the Divine Realm. Meeting Qin Xiao's gaze, he immediately said, "If there's nothing else, perhaps you should get back to your duties?"

He was clearly urging him to leave.

Qin Xiao chuckled softly and, without further ado, left Yaotaiju with the little emperor.

The two basins of ice were left behind, but Xiao Jinzi and Xiao Yinzi, who had learned the saltpeter purification process, were taken away.

After they left, Xiao Xiangzi and Shuiqing Shuiyun entered the main room to attend to Chu Jiubian.

Regardless of how shocked they were upon seeing the two basins of ice, Chu Jiubian had already slipped into his bedroom. After instructing them not to disturb him, he eagerly lay down on the bed and opened the system interface.

The previously dim "Divine Realm" section was now lit up. Without hesitation, Chu Jiubian clicked on it.

In an instant, he felt light-headed and weightless, a sensation of freefall overwhelming him. It took two or three seconds for him to regain control of his body, and his feet finally felt solid ground beneath him.

Steadying himself, he slowly opened his eyes.

Ethereal mist swirled around him, flowing gently, making it hard to distinguish between reality and dream.

[Greetings, Host. The Divine Realm has been activated. Within the Divine Realm, you and your believers exist in the form of "thoughts." Your physical bodies remain in the original three-dimensional space, appearing as if asleep.]

[As the one true deity of the Divine Realm, you have the authority to alter the form of any object within it. To protect your privacy, you may also choose to change your appearance or attire.]

The system stated matter-of-factly and never wasted words, explaining the Divine Realm's functions concisely.

The one true deity.

Chu Jiubian pondered this phrase, then with a thought, the white mist around him instantly dissipated, replaced by an endless, pure white space.

The space was utterly empty.

Only the ground beneath his feet felt solid; in every other direction—forward, backward, left, right, or upward—he saw only an infinite expanse of boundless, blindingly bright void.

This was the Divine Realm’s primordial state.

A faint smile curved Chu Jiubian’s lips as he turned to glance behind him.

The pristine white void trembled—and from the ground surged several colossal jade pillars entwined with dragons.

Lifelike golden dragons coiled up the emerald-green jade, vanishing into swirling white mist that obscured the endless heights above.

Within the churning clouds and mist, faint golden glimmers drifted slowly, vaguely outlining the silhouettes of immense structures—pavilions, grand halls, upturned eaves—accompanied distantly by low dragon roars and phoenix cries.

Chu Jiubian took a step forward—and white jade stairs materialized beneath his feet, stretching endlessly left and right before dissolving into the clouds.

After twenty-seven steps, he halted—and a new section of floor unfurled beneath him.

A massive, broad white jade throne slowly coalesced: tall-backed, wide-armed, as if naturally forged for divinity.

Chu Jiubian advanced two paces, turned, and seated himself.

Instantly, his attire transformed into the extravagantly ornate robes he’d worn upon first entering this world.

He settled casually onto the throne, crossing his legs; gemstone chains on his boots chimed softly. The throne adjusted seamlessly to his posture.

From this elevated vantage point, twenty-seven steps below, a white jade table appeared—its edges curled upward like scrolls, evoking the low tables common in Great Ning, with cushions placed behind it.

After brief consideration, Chu Jiubian decided kneeling would be uncomfortable for believers—so he reshaped the low table into a high one and replaced the cushions with chairs.

That was the believer’s seat—only one, for now.

A wisp of cloud descended from above, draping like a veil before the long table, within which hazy red plum blossoms swayed gently. The misty curtain billowed softly in the long wind, carrying the faintest trace of plum fragrance.

Were someone seated at the table, they might barely discern the outline of the jade stairs behind the mist—ascending like a celestial staircase.

Yet from Chu Jiubian’s lofty position, everything below lay fully visible.

In theory, believers behind the mist curtain could not see him—but just to be safe, he extended his hand, and a bronze half-mask materialized in his palm.

He donned it, then called out to the system again: “How do I connect with believers?”

“The System Card Library has been updated. Please draw a card to make your selection.”

Hadn’t it said anyone could be summoned?

Chu Jiubian frowned—card draws were inherently unreliable.

Perhaps because they were inside System Space, the system projected six cards directly into the void before him.

“Please draw a Keyword Card.”

Chu Jiubian understood: first select a keyword via card draw, then choose a person associated with that keyword to become a believer.

Since the cards revealed no keywords in advance, he tapped one at random—and instantly, the other five vanished.

The remaining card slowly revealed two traditional Chinese characters: 武装 (Armed Force).

Chu Jiubian raised an eyebrow.

Fortunate—what he lacked most now was self-defense capability. If he could command his own armed force, he’d hold far greater leverage in dealings with Qin Xiao.

“Keyword confirmed. Selecting eligible believer candidates for the host.”

“Selection complete. Four character cards retained. Please make your choice.”

Given the system’s complex criteria for selecting believers, Chu Jiubian hadn’t expected many options—four cards was already quite favorable.

The keyword card withdrew, and four new cards appeared before him.

Unlike the earlier blind draw, these displayed each potential believer’s name, identity, and affiliated armed force.

Chu Jiubian scanned them swiftly.

“Prince Pingxi Baili Zheng, 35 years old, fifth uncle of Emperor Baili Hong, fief in Sichuan. Armed force: 50,000 Sichuan Army.”

“Prince Anhuai Baili Ming, 18 years old, cousin of Emperor Baili Hong (son of the fourth imperial uncle), fief in Henan. Armed force: 30,000 Henan Army.”

“Northern Desert Army Commander Jiang Shuoye, 25 years old, grandson of the late Marquis of Zhenbei, family in decline. Armed force: 80,000 Northern Desert Army. (Recommended!)”

Chu Jiubian couldn’t help but chuckle at the parenthetical “Recommended!”

Was this the system’s bias?

Still, compared to the two imperial relatives, the commander of the 80,000-strong Northern Desert Army seemed both more suitable and evidently stronger.

But the Northern Desert lay too far from the capital—if Chu Jiubian truly needed aid, timely arrival was uncertain.

He’d hold that option for now.

Then he looked at the final card—and his expression froze momentarily.

It read: “Prince Ning Qin Xiao, 25 years old. Armed force: 50,000 Qin Family Army elites, 10,000 [text missing]. (Not recommended!)”