Chapter 11

In the courtyard, a whirlwind rose, figures flickered, and the wild grass all lay flat, as if they had been ravaged by a fierce storm.

Many insects in the grass were killed by the strong wind.

This was Gu Chensha practicing martial arts.

He pondered the Emperor's Divine Technique, studied the *Giant Spirit Power*, and gained new insights, achieving a sense of qi, which was no less than that of a martial arts master who had practiced for many years.

Such progress could no longer be described as rapid; it was a miracle.

But he had obtained the "Heavenly Sacrifice Edict," which allowed him to communicate with the heavens, so such progress could be understood.

The essence of martial arts flowed through his mind, and Gu Chensha's entire body was in a state of forgetting both self and objects, with his qi and martial arts cultivation reaching a new level.

Bang!

His body lunged forward, as light as a kite, rising with the wind and landing on a large stone at the edge of the courtyard.

The stone was as hard as iron, but when it met Gu Chensha's palm, it turned to tofu, leaving a palm print three inches deep with clear texture.

The stone did not crack.

Gu Chensha wiped his palm, and the palm print disappeared, the hard stone becoming like mud under his hand.

His skills had reached the realm of "turning stone to mud."

"Master's skills are becoming more and more divine; I think even among the princes, it's rare to find such skill." Xiao Yizi, moved by the sight, kept cheering.

"It's not that miraculous," Gu Chensha was not arrogant, but rather serious: "I'm just practicing in isolation. I haven't experienced bloody battles, so I can't compare to the princes who have fought the barbarians on the battlefield."

Although the world was now peaceful and the hundred countries had been conquered, there were still demons and barbarians causing trouble beyond the borders of the Great Yong Dynasty.

These so-called demons and barbarians were not human.

First, let's talk about the barbarians. They looked exactly like humans, but had the hearts of beasts, not considering themselves human, and worshiped beasts as their ancestors. For example, beyond the border, there was a barbarian tribe that claimed their ancestors were wolves, and their totems and ancestors were all wolf gods. They ate raw meat and even humans, and knew nothing of righteousness, morality, or propriety.

So even though they looked like humans, no one considered them human.

Unlike the hundred countries of the past, such as the Xian Dynasty, which, though opposed to the Yong Dynasty, still governed with righteousness and propriety, and were still considered human.

Understanding propriety, knowing when to advance and retreat, maintaining order, and respecting the will of heaven, that is what it means to be human. Otherwise, one is a beast.

These barbarians often invaded, and their numbers seemed endless. Behind them were evil spirits and demons, hidden deep in the wilderness, always a threat to humanity.

Even with the great talent and strategy of the Heavenly Symbol Emperor, he could not eliminate them all, and could only build the Great Stone Wall to resist the barbarian invasions.

Whenever the world was in chaos, the demons and evil spirits behind the barbarians would appear in human lands, spreading heretical doctrines, corrupting people's hearts, and turning them into beasts.

These are well-documented in historical records.

Whenever he read about these, Gu Chensha felt great pain.

Subduing the barbarians was the top national policy. After coming of age, princes had to go to the border to fight the barbarians, hone their martial skills, and establish their achievements. Every five years, the emperor would personally lead a campaign against the barbarians.

Currently, several princes held high positions and were enfeoffed as dukes, which was because they had followed the emperor on two personal campaigns, killing countless demons and barbarians, and achieving great military honors.

"Master shouldn't undervalue yourself. The court launches a campaign against the barbarians every five years. Next year is the fifteenth year of the Heavenly Symbol era. The emperor will definitely lead a campaign to subdue the barbarians again, and the adult princes will accompany him. At that time, Master can establish great achievements and a grand vision, and secure a dukedom without a doubt." Xiao Yizi was thinking about a bright future: "Don't look at the eighteenth prince, who was showing off the other day. Compared to the princes who have been enfeoffed as dukes, he's nothing."

The eighteenth prince, Gu Hongsha, could be enfeoffed as a national duke after coming of age, but he was still far from being a county duke or a duke.

And the princes who had been enfeoffed as dukes, in Gu Chensha's view, might have already entered the "Dao Realm," which was unfathomable.

Although he had mastered a divine technique, he lacked practical combat experience. True strength was honed through battles, and he knew he still had a long way to go, so he did not dare to be arrogant.

"After the news that the emperor wants me to get close to Lou Baoyue spreads, I will become a target. The capital is already a place of many troubles. I think I should leave here." Gu Chensha thought for a moment: "Later, I will propose to the emperor to establish achievements for the country by going to the border to fight the demons and barbarians."

"Master, isn't this very dangerous? If you don't leave the capital, many people can't harm you, but once you leave, all kinds of plots will follow, and you will be in grave danger." Xiao Yizi was shocked.

"I know, but although the capital is good, it's a place of confinement. Here, my martial arts cannot be fully utilized, and I am restricted in many ways. It's better to go to the border, where, although it's hard and poor, I can hone my martial arts and have the freedom to soar." Gu Chensha had already thought it through.

Living in the capital for a long time, with its complex power dynamics and restrictions, made it difficult to do anything.

Of course, the capital was prosperous and comfortable, while the border was hard and dangerous. Many princes actually did not want to go, but for Gu Chensha, the border was much safer than the capital.

In fact, Gu Chensha had more thoughts. At the border, he could fully utilize the Heavenly Sacrifice Edict to obtain a large number of tiger and wolf pills, and at the same time, gather talents and achieve great accomplishments.

"Master has thought it through." Xiao Yizi also pondered: "Should we write a petition to the Imperial Clan Office and submit it to the emperor now? I'm afraid the Imperial Clan Office might interfere."

"No problem, many people would be happy to see this happen. Why would they interfere?" Gu Chensha waved his hand: "Of course, I can't write it now. I'll wait a few months. For now, I need to create the impression that I'm diligently practicing martial arts after receiving the gifts from Lou Baoyue, and that I'm eager to show my achievements."

The martial technique he was practicing, the Emperor's Divine Technique, was a world-shocking art that could not be revealed. Now, he could use this to explain the source of his martial arts, but he could not rush it.

As autumn turned to winter, the cold grew, the north wind howled, and the tree trunks were bare, with a desolate atmosphere everywhere.

Gu Chensha's life became better. He read books and practiced martial arts every day, the weeds in the courtyard were cleared, and he bought a large amount of supplies, making the entire house look brand new.

This created an image of him being spirited and energetic.

But it caught the attention of those with ulterior motives.

Thirty miles outside the capital, in a manor, pavilions and terraces were everywhere, but they were not classical, decorated with new gadgets. A tall tower in the center of the inner lake was entirely made of large glass, shining in the sunlight like a crystal tower.

Inside the tower, the eighteenth prince, Gu Hongsha, was fishing.

He did not use bait, but threw a long line deep into the water, using his mental energy to perceive the bottom of the lake through the hook.

Suddenly, his hand trembled slightly, and the hook darted in the water, directly hooking a large black fish.

This large black fish weighed dozens of pounds, with a mouth full of fangs, lying in the mud, but was pierced by the hook and thrown up.

Others fished by letting the fish bite the bait, but he used his strength like a god, making the hook seem alive, darting through the water.

"Master's Dragon King Strength is truly miraculous." A servant stood beside him, hands hanging, respectfully praising.

"How is Gu Chensha doing?" the eighteenth prince, Gu Hongsha, asked.

"He accepted the pills, ten thousand paper notes, and the *Giant Spirit Power* from Lou Baoyue, and has been practicing martial arts day and night, seemingly making some progress. It seems he was just pretending to be crazy before." The servant had gathered clear information.

"That's real foolishness." Gu Hongsha's face showed a cold smile: "Being tricked by Lou Baoyue, he thinks that pills and techniques can make up for lost time? Martial arts require years of hard training from a young age. Missing the best time, it's too late to make up for it."

"Master, next year is the third major campaign against the barbarians of the Heavenly Symbol era. The emperor will lead the campaign again, and this time the scale will be larger than ever. The emperor has accumulated a huge capital over the past five years, aiming to destroy the Wolf, Snake, and Ape tribes." The servant repeated the information he had gathered: "I heard from the inner court that the emperor plans to reward the prince with the greatest achievements with the Ninefold Life and Death Immortal Pill."

"The Ninefold Life and Death Immortal Pill." Gu Hongsha drew a cold breath: "This is a legendary ancient pill, not of this world. It is said to be a longevity pill obtained by ancient emperors after sacrificing demons to the heavens. My father destroyed the Life and Death Sect and obtained this immortal pill, but I thought he had already taken it, not knowing it was still there."

The servant remained silent, letting Gu Hongsha think.

After a long time, Gu Hongsha waved his hand, "Go, don't keep an eye on Gu Chensha anymore, it's a waste of manpower. Focus mainly on the seventh, tenth, and first princes, understood?"

"Understood, sir." The servant knelt on one knee and withdrew.

At the same time, in the "Yuan National Duke's Mansion," Lou Baoyue was also listening to a report.

It seemed that every move of Gu Chensha was under her control.

"Miss, the situation is as follows: the nineteenth prince practices diligently day and night, and is now at the level of entering the hall and ascending to the room." The female guard held a piece of paper with records, "However, he seems to have not yet activated the Giant Spirit bloodline."

"Activating the Giant Spirit bloodline seems impossible." Lou Baoyue took the paper and read the summary.

"Should I send people to continue monitoring him?" the female guard asked.

"Of course, report any of his movements to me." Lou Baoyue said: "This is a minor matter. How is the major task I assigned you going?"

"We have already found the ancient ruins according to the mysterious map, and no one knows about it. Next, we will further excavate." The female guard said.

"Good, that ancient battlefield is said to be where the ancient emperor 'Xu' fought the demon army. You must prevent the invasion of demonic energy. I will go there in a few days." Lou Baoyue interlocked her fingers, speaking with excitement.

The first