Chapter 1

The construction of canals to connect all directions, the building of the Great Wall to repel barbarians, the conquest of a hundred countries to unify the world, the leveling of a thousand mountains to fill the sea of sin, the eradication of evil cults to correct the hearts of the people, the slaying of demons to pacify the great wilderness, the purging of corrupt officials to rectify the court, the establishment of rites and laws to educate the world, the compilation of great classics to be passed down for generations, and the abolition of licentious worship to seal the gods.

These are the ten great achievements of the "Heavenly Symbol Emperor" of the Great Yong Dynasty.

Heavenly Symbol is the era name.

Heaven is the supreme.

Symbol is the pattern of law.

The emperor used this as his era name, meaning to enforce the law on behalf of heaven, making all living beings and spirits submit.

The Great Yong Dynasty is located on the Endless Continent.

This continent is called "Endless" because it truly has no boundaries, and even those who have achieved the great power of the Thirty-Six Transformations of Dao can only see a tiny fraction of it.

In the fourteenth year of Heavenly Symbol, summer.

In the capital, the Imperial Academy, the royal children were learning in the scorching heat.

"There is a place where water and drought disasters have caused widespread famine. How should we comfort and provide relief? Prince Nineteen, you speak first." The teacher, Liang Tao, had a long beard, white hair, and wore elegant scholar's robes, exuding a calm and composed demeanor. He was a senior statesman and the Prince's Tutor.

"They have no food to eat, they can eat meat." Prince Nineteen stood up.

He was fourteen years old, with a simple and foolish appearance, and his clothes were wrinkled.

"Ha ha ha......"

"Prince Nineteen is indeed a fool! He will be punished again today."

"Common people have no food to eat, but they can eat meat? If this news spreads, the whole world will criticize it, and it will be recorded in history as a great joke for a thousand years."

The class burst into laughter.

"Is this child really foolish, or is he deliberately pretending to be stupid to hide his true abilities?" A woman in red whispered, "Regardless, we must be wary of this child, after all, he is of the Xian Dynasty's bloodline."

Women were not supposed to appear in public, but after the Heavenly Symbol Emperor ascended the throne, he broke old customs and strongly advocated for women to study and practice martial arts. After many years of reform, the customs had become extremely open.

"Gu Chensha, you go stand outside for an hour, and you will be punished to organize books in the library for three days." Prince's Tutor Liang Tao pointed outside.

Gu Chensha, who had just said "eat meat," was the nineteenth prince.

"Yes... yes yes..." Gu Chensha nodded repeatedly, walked out with a foolish smile, and almost tripped over his chair, looking extremely awkward.

"This guy is a lost cause, his foundation is unstable, and his martial arts are weak. It seems he really poses no threat." A few princes exchanged glances.

"Poor martial arts skills." The woman in red sneered, "Our Great Yong Dynasty was founded on martial arts. Whether a prince can stand out and gain the Emperor's favor depends on his strength. Gu Chensha is already fifteen and has missed the best age for martial arts training. It will be difficult for him to achieve anything, which is one less threat to our Lou family."

The princes in the classroom had their own thoughts, while Gu Chensha, standing in the sun, was lost in thought.

The Great Yong Dynasty has been in existence for more than five hundred years. The founding emperor, Gu Yong, unified the world, and each subsequent emperor was a paragon of both civil and military prowess. Especially the current "Heavenly Symbol Emperor" Gu Tashen, with his perfect martial arts, has pushed the influence of the court to its peak. Even the demons and cultivators beyond the borders and seas dare not act rashly, fearing the court's suppression.

There is no familial affection in the royal family.

Fathers doubt their sons, brothers kill each other, and the palace is filled with competition for favor, with no means left untried. Being in such a situation is like walking on thin ice, and a single misstep can lead to ruin.

Gu Chensha has over forty brothers and thirteen sisters, and he has the least background.

The background of the princes mainly depends on the power of their maternal clans. Some of his brothers have uncles who are great generals, holding military power.

Some are high-ranking officials.

Some are supreme masters.

Some are from thousand-year-old families.

Gu Chensha's mother was a princess from the enemy state of the Xian Dynasty, sent for a marriage alliance.

Later, the Great Yong Dynasty launched an army to conquer the Xian Dynasty, and all the princes and nobles were killed, including the Xian Emperor, who set fire to the treasure house and burned himself to death. Upon hearing of the fall of the country, the princess also committed suicide.

This left Gu Chensha without any support in the palace. Not only were other princes bullying him, but even the high-ranking eunuchs and palace maids dared to mistreat him.

Bullying was a minor issue; there were many who wanted to take the opportunity to kill him.

The "Xian Kingdom" and the Great Yong Dynasty had been at war for a hundred years, with deep-seated enmity. It was not until the Heavenly Symbol Emperor ascended the throne that the Xian Kingdom was completely destroyed.

In this war, the Great Yong Dynasty also lost a prince and several grand marshals, along with dozens of generals. The two countries fought with intense hatred, and after breaking through the capital of the Xian Kingdom, the army massacred the city for three days, killing all the civilians.

To this day, there are still Xian Dynasty civilians rebelling in the countryside, with the blood feud not forgotten.

Because of this, many court officials who had a hand in the destruction of the Xian Kingdom were hostile towards Gu Chensha.

The imperial throne is far from his reach, and even keeping his life is uncertain.

Fortunately, he has endured hardships since childhood, knowing how to hide his true abilities and pretend to be foolish, which has allowed him to survive.

The class was still continuing.

"Lou Baiyue, what do you think about how to provide relief?"

Prince's Tutor Liang Tao pointed to the woman in red.

Lou Baiyue stood up, "First, execute the local officials, accusing them of withholding relief supplies to comfort the famine victims."

"But what if the local officials are clean and the people are rioting due to natural disasters?" Liang Tao asked.

"I remember in the historical records, a great emperor led an army that lacked provisions, causing widespread discontent. The commander then executed the supply officer, accusing him of withholding supplies, which stabilized the troops." Lou Baiyue's eyes flashed with cold light.

"That seems rather unkind." Liang Tao frowned, "Governance should be based on benevolence and righteousness."

"If the local officials are not executed, the starving people might be incited by villains and rebels, leading to widespread chaos and the loss of many lives. My brother went to Yin Province to provide relief, and there were fires in every village and smoke from every tree. Among them were members of evil cults and bandit leaders inciting the people. At that time, there were no provisions left, and the situation was precarious. If my brother had not executed the county official to calm the people and later executed hundreds of troublemakers, the chaos would have spread to several provinces, damaging the foundation of the court." Lou Baiyue's voice was firm, "If a local official fails to maintain order, no matter how clean they are, they must die to atone."

The woman in red is named Lou Baiyue, not a royal child, but the daughter of the court's senior minister, Duke of Yuan, Lou Chongxiao.

Most of the students in the imperial academy are royal children, but there are also some children of meritorious officials.

The Lou family has been a loyal supporter of the founding emperor, and has enjoyed the favor of several generations of emperors. In the Heavenly Symbol era, their glory is even more prominent.

Lou Chongxiao is the "Duke of Yuan," his two younger brothers, Lou Chongtian, are the "Marquis of Weiling," and Lou Chongyun is the "Marquis of Wuan." In addition, many members of the Lou family serve as generals and high-ranking officials, earning the nickname "Half the Court" in the official circles.

Such power makes even ordinary princes give the Lou family a wide berth.

"Your brother's relief efforts in Yin Province were commendable and received personal praise from the Emperor." Prince's Tutor Liang Tao nodded, "However, the principles of governance are based on benevolence. Excessive killing not only damages one's moral standing but also fosters a cruel disposition, which is detrimental to one's cultivation. I hope you will convey my words to your brother."

"Of course, I will." Lou Baiyue did not argue, just nodded and sat down.

Chirp... chirp...

The cicadas in the forest were making a lot of noise, and the eunuchs were using bamboo poles with spider webs to catch them one by one. The midday sun was already making people drowsy, and the cicada noise added to the irritation. After a while, Gu Chensha could hardly hold on.

While he was standing in punishment, the royal children had already finished their literary studies and moved to the martial arts hall to practice.

"Lou Baiyue, Liang Tao is the leader of the clean stream in the court and has impeached your father. This time, he gave us a lesson on relief efforts, emphasizing benevolence and righteousness. I think there is a deeper meaning. The local official your brother executed was his student." A prince approached Lou Baiyue, wearing silver clothes, looking rather dashing, unlike the foolish Gu Chensha.

"Who doesn't know how to talk about principles?" Lou Baiyue just sneered, "There are too many clean stream officials in the court, talking big but doing nothing for the people and the state."

The silver-clothed prince was not offended, and he looked at Gu Chensha standing in punishment outside, "Do you think this guy is really foolish or just pretending? I heard that he became like this after you hit him on the head when he was ten, and you were confined for ten months for that."

"Prince Fourteen, don't talk nonsense. The one who hit him was Prince Ten, and you were there at the time." Lou Baiyue's face turned cold.

Prince Fourteen, named Gu Yunsha, smiled, "Wasn't it you who incited it? You said this guy was badmouthing Prince Ten, who is also impulsive and beat him without asking. Your father knew the truth, which is why he confined you, and Prince Ten was also punished by the House of Princes."

"So what?" Lou Baiyue was indifferent, "My elder brother died attacking the Xian capital, and two of my uncles died in that battle. My cousin was also poisoned by the remnants of the Xian Dynasty. The Xian Dynasty's descendants are still causing trouble, and my father was even attacked last year. Do you think I would have any good feelings towards this guy?"

"He is still the Emperor's son, and now he is a fool. Some things shouldn't be taken too far." Prince Fourteen Gu Yunsha smiled.

"Prince Fourteen, don't pretend to be kind. Over the years, you haven't spared him. You instructed the eunuchs to withhold his monthly allowance and even the medicinal pills he should have received for martial arts practice, leading to his current state of being neither literate nor martial." Lou Baiyue tapped her nails, "When his mother was alive, she competed with my mother for the Emperor's favor, using many schemes. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot."

Gu Yunsha glanced outside, "Baiyue, I heard your martial arts have improved a lot recently. Why don't you show us?"

Lou Baiyue did not speak, just gently placed her palm on the large wooden post used for practice. Crack! The post suddenly exploded, and wood chips scattered on the ground.

It was a simple and unadorned move, but it caused devastating damage.

"Pure Yin Divine Palm, have you reached the Master level in martial arts?" Prince Fourteen Gu Yunsha's eyes twitched.

"Martial arts have four ordinary levels: initial understanding, mastery, divine skill, and supreme mastery. They are all human levels. Only the Thirty-Six Transformations of Dao are the true essence." Lou Baiyue was always sharp.

"Reaching the Dao level is not easy. Even with the resources and techniques of our royal family, which are considered the best in the world, only four princes have reached the Dao level." Prince Fourteen Gu Yunsha frowned, "The key to breaking through the Dao level is talent and fortune. If you have the talent but not the fortune, it is in vain."

Lou Baiyue looked at the sky, "The first transformation of Dao, serving the breath and abstaining from food, allows one to live on air, drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. At that time, the body is free from impurities, truly something to aspire to."

"Baiyue, the Pure Yin Scripture you are practicing was created by the ancient Pure Yin, and Father subdued the Pure Yin Sect and granted you this scripture. It seems Father favors you more than the other princes." Prince Fourteen Gu Yunsha's tone was somewhat envious, "This Pure Yin Scripture is an imperial-level technique. The ancient Pure Yin was an empress of an ancient emperor. The Cloudy Strength I practice is only a royal-level technique."

"I heard that Prince Seven has recently reached the eighth transformation of Dao, the Three Pure Fires. Once he passes the trial of the Three Pure Fires burning his body, he can achieve the ninth transformation, the Crystal Jade Body. This level of cultivation is the best among the princes." Lou Baiyue asked with deep meaning, "The first nine transformations of Dao: serving the breath and abstaining from food, the strength of nine oxen and two tigers, copper skin and iron bones, swallowing gold and transforming stones, gathering the spirits of a hundred channels, refining qi into a powerful force, flying through the air, the Three Pure Fires, and the Crystal Jade Body. Each step is crucial, laying the foundation for the path to immortality. Once the Crystal Jade Body is achieved, one is free from disasters and diseases, pure and flawless, living for three to five hundred years."

"Hmph! Prince Seven is the Empress's son, a legitimate heir. He has received many extraordinary opportunities and the guidance of powerful mentors, so it's natural for his cultivation to surpass ours. But the trial of the Three Pure Fires is extremely dangerous, and many talented individuals have been reduced to ashes." Gu Yunsha's face was grim, "I don't believe he will succeed."

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(Regarding the book "Dragon Symbol," I have always had a unique fondness for feudal unified dynasties, as they represent two thousand years of Chinese culture, with the court, officials, generals, scholars, and the three teachings and nine streams. In addition, there are legends of immortals, demons, and monsters. Personally, I enjoy reading books like "Yuewei Caotang Notes" and "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." Integrating the supernatural and fantasy into the court is my preference, as seen in the book "Yangshen." However, upon reflection, that book had many flaws, and I have always wanted to make up for these flaws, which led to the creation of "Dragon Symbol." The cultivation system in "Dragon Symbol" is the Thirty-Six Transformations of Dao. I put a lot of effort into this system, reading many Daoist and Buddhist cultivation materials, and finally formed a theoretical framework. From the initial serving the breath and abstaining from food to later stages like the soul leaving the body, immortality, and self-liberation, each stage is clearly defined, and the principles are explained step by step. I hope to add to the cultivation system of fantasy and make it more in line with classical culture. Since childhood, I have watched "Journey to the West" and thought the seventy-two transformations of the Monkey King were about changing into people, stones, birds, and animals. Later, I learned that transformation means change. Calling wind and rain, turning stones into gold, flying through the air, subduing dragons and taming tigers, moving mountains and filling seas... I won't go on. I will carefully refine "Dragon Symbol," removing the previous impatience, making the book smoother and more comfortable. Additionally, I will write new content on my WeChat public account. The previous "Fist of the Mountain and River" has been stopped, but I may pick it up again later. You can follow my Weibo and WeChat public account by searching for "Meng Roushen" with a V. Follow me there.)

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