Chapter 4: Browsing the Library

Zenki searched through the vast library, scanning through volumes of books, scrolls, and parchments, searching for any detailed information about the kingdom's current situation. As he read through the texts, he also looked for any clues about the past of the body he inhabited, hoping to uncover any secrets that might be of use to him.

"I wish I had that instant memory moment," Zenki muttered to himself with a deep sigh, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information he had to sift through. However, he was determined to learn as much as he could, so he persevered, taking in as much information as possible.

He started with the history of the kingdom, reading about its founding, the various wars and conflicts it had been involved in, and the notable figures who had shaped its history. From there, he delved into the current state of affairs, studying reports on the economy, military strength, and political climate of the kingdom. With each passing moment, Zenki's understanding of the kingdom deepened, and he felt more confident in his ability to navigate this new world.

"Ah, so the Kingdom of Avaloria is situated right in the middle of the United Realms of Ardenia and the Kingdom of Valkoria," Zenki muttered to himself as he scanned through the pages of the book.

He continued reading, "Our main source of food is farming, and our kingdom is renowned for the metals we obtain from our various mines, which we trade with other neighboring kingdoms."

As he delved deeper into the history of the kingdom, his eyes caught a particular piece of information that piqued his interest. "Hmm, interesting. It looks like the only surviving family line of my father is an uncle named Zenki Zhanwang," he thought to himself. "I wonder why Zhang Liang did not mention anything about him."

"Now that I have a basic understanding of my situation, I think it's time to check out the second floor," Zenki thought to himself. He ascended the grand staircase to the second floor of the library, where he hoped to find information about the cultivation practices of this world.

After browsing through several shelves, Zenki found a basic cultivation manual for children. As he began to read the book, he felt his excitement building with every passing page.

"So that's it, there are seven levels of cultivation in this world," Zenki muttered to himself, feeling a sense of clarity and purpose begin to emerge within him.

Zenki continued to read the cultivation manual, his eyes widening as he delved deeper into the details of each stage.

"So the first stage is Body Tempering, which is all about strengthening the body," he murmured to himself. "Next is Core Formation, where one forms a core to cast spells. Then there's Spiritual Ascending, to nurture and strengthen the soul."

He flipped the page eagerly, continuing to read. "And then there's Sky Assaulting, where you can fly through the sky. Followed by Void Interpretation, which allows for teleportation over short distances. After that, there's Martial Initiation, to understand nature. And finally, Martial Master, which allows one to harness the power of nature."

Zenki sat back, his mind reeling with the possibilities. This was a world unlike any he had ever known, full of magic and wonder. He couldn't wait to begin his cultivation journey and see where it would take him.

Examining his current physical state, Zenki couldn't help but mutter to himself, "It seems I haven't even started with Body Tempering yet. What happened to this person's cultivation progress? Regardless, since I am now the owner of this body, I can do as I please and study cultivation while ruling over this land as the emperor."

He looked around the library for more advanced cultivation manuals and found a few that piqued his interest. As he read, he made mental notes and planned out his cultivation journey.

Zenki furrowed his brow as he scanned through the various cultivation manuals. Despite finding many detailed accounts of the first five levels of cultivation, information about the last two, Martial Initiation and Martial Master, seemed scarce.

He wondered why this was the case. Perhaps it was due to the difficulty of achieving these levels, or maybe there were other reasons altogether. Regardless, Zenki was determined to uncover more information and become a true master of cultivation.

"I'll need to seek out other sources of knowledge," he muttered to himself, making a mental note to ask Zhang Liang if he knew of any experts in the field.

After walking back to the first floor, Zenki realized he had spent several hours in the library. "I guess it's time to go," he thought to himself.

As he was leaving, he called for Zhang Liang and asked him about the lack of information on the Martial Initiation and Martial Master stages.

"Sire, as far as I know, even though it is recognized as a level, no one has ever reached the Martial Initiation stage in our Kingdom. Thus, there is not much information we can gather about it," Zhang Liang explained.

Zenki nodded, deep in thought. It seemed that he would have to find other sources of information or perhaps even travel to other kingdoms to learn more about these advanced stages of cultivation.

As they walked through the halls toward the dining hall, Zenki couldn't help but notice the stunning beauty of the young girl who was staring at him. Her silky black hair was styled in an intricate braid that cascaded down her back, and her skin was as smooth as porcelain. She wore a traditional Chinese dress that accentuated her slender frame and delicate features, with colorful embroidery adding to the elegance of the outfit.

As Zenki approached, the young girl's bright and clear eyes met his, and her lips curved into a shy smile as she bowed respectfully. Even at such a young age, she possessed a regal bearing and an undeniable air of grace and poise.

"Hello there," Zenki said with a warm smile, "and who might you be?"

Zhang Liang stepped forward and introduced the girl, "Your Highness Princess Mengting, second daughter of the Empress Zhenyue and Your Majesty's flesh and blood."

Zenki felt a twinge of surprise and disbelief, but he quickly composed himself. "Ah, of course, my dear daughter. It's good to see you," he said, greeting her with a casual nod.

Princess Mengting looked up at him with wide eyes, clearly taken aback by her father's informal tone. But Zenki knew that as the emperor, he needed to assert his authority, even in front of his own family.

"Shall we proceed to the dining hall, then?" he asked, gesturing for them to continue walking.

Princess Mengting stood there, surprised at her father's warm greeting, as she couldn't remember a time in her 12 years of life when her father had ever been so casual with her. Zenki noticed her surprise and called out to her. "Mengting?"

She quickly walked towards him, still a bit taken aback, and they proceeded to have dinner together. Zenki tried to make small talk with her, asking about her studies and what she had been up to, trying to show interest in her life. Mengting was initially hesitant, but as the conversation went on, she couldn't help but smile a little more.

After dinner, Zenki suggested to Mengting that they take a walk in the imperial garden to help with digestion. She happily agreed and they strolled together, admiring the various flowers and plants. As they walked, Zenki asked Mengting about her interests and hobbies, and they chatted like old friends.

It was a rare moment of closeness and warmth between them, and Mengting felt grateful for her father's attention. As they reached the end of the garden, Zenki turned to her and said, "I hope we can have more moments like this, Mengting. I want to be a better father to you."

Mengting smiled and nodded, feeling touched by his words. She knew that they had a long way to go to repair their relationship, but this was a good start.

When Zenki bid his daughter Mengting good night, he turned to Zhang Liang and said, "Let's head to my room now, I need some rest."

Zhang Liang nodded and led the way down the corridor to Zenki's chambers. The room was spacious, with large windows overlooking the courtyard below. A large four-poster bed dominated the center of the room, and a set of comfortable armchairs were arranged by the windows.

Zenki walked over to the bed and collapsed onto it with a sigh. "It's been a long day," he said to Zhang Liang, who nodded in agreement. "Thank you for all your help today."

Zhang Liang bowed respectfully. "It's my honor to serve you, sire," he replied. "Please let me know if there is anything else you need."

Zenki shook his head. "No, that will be all for tonight. Good night, Zhang Liang."

"Good night, sire," Zhang Liang replied, before quietly leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

As Zenki sat down at the writing desk, he heard a knock on the door. To his surprise, a group of maids entered the room, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, we are here to assist you with changing into your comfortable clothes," one of them said. Zenki nodded, grateful for their help. The maids quickly went to work, undoing the intricate knots and fastenings of his royal attire and helping him into a simple, comfortable outfit. Once they were finished, they bowed again and left the room, leaving Zenki to his thoughts.

He took up his quill once more and began to write, his mind focused on his plans for the future. Despite his weariness, he felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination. As he wrote, his thoughts once again turned to the mysteries of his family's past and the Martial Initiation and Martial Master stages. He knew that he would need to seek out answers and knowledge to fully unlock his potential and protect his kingdom.

With a deep sigh, Zenki finished his notes and blew out the candles. He settled into bed, feeling grateful for the support of the maids and the opportunities that lay ahead. As he closed his eyes, he felt a sense of peace and confidence wash over him, knowing that he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead as the new emperor of Avaloria.