Chapter 12

Guchen Sha's cultivation became increasingly profound, and he gradually gained new insights into the "Sun and Moon Refinement" technique of the Emperor's Divine Art. He was now a master at the fourth level of the Mortal Realm, "Peak of Perfection," but ordinary masters were no match for him.

The Emperor's Divine Art was unparalleled, its divine cultivation method connecting with the heavens, penetrating the sun and moon. Even just learning the basics far surpassed other divine arts.

Moreover, he no longer needed to practice in secret but could do so openly, which removed a significant mental barrier, accelerating his progress even more.

Puff!

He stood up in the heavy snow, slightly shaking, and the accumulated snow flew off like stones, hitting the walls with a pattering sound, leaving small holes as if from a musket.

Then, he blew, and the snow in the courtyard was swept back by the wind.

"Good, good, your cultivation has advanced." Guchen Sha flickered, and he was back under the eaves of the courtyard, moving so fast that no trace was left in the snow.

This was the skill of leaving no trace on the snow.

Xiao Yizi's martial arts had also improved rapidly, his gaze focused, his movements agile, his strikes powerful, and his speed like an arrow.

Loubaiyue's Fundamental Pill, Essence Pill, and Bone Washing Pill had been taken in small amounts, improving his constitution. The power of the Tiger and Wolf Pill was fully unleashed, and he was now approaching the "Mastery" level. Unfortunately, he lacked a superior cultivation method.

Xiao Yizi was not suitable for the Giant Spirit Art, and the Emperor's Divine Art was even less appropriate.

But his strength was already on par with a martial arts master.

"Master, no one came to spy on us practicing today, right?" Xiao Yizi went out to check. There was only heavy snow, a biting cold, and a howling north wind. Where could anyone be?

"Everyone has pulled back today. After all, it's freezing, and everyone wants to stay warm by the fire. Who would be out in the snow to spy?" Guchen Sha used his mental senses, and no movement escaped his perception. "It's said that after reaching the Dao Realm, one of the transformations is called the Heavenly Eye, which can perceive even ants within a few thousand miles. I wonder when I will reach that level."

"Master, the snow is beautiful today. Would you like to go out for a walk?" Xiao Yizi, having recently improved his martial arts, was no longer afraid of the cold.

"Sure, you stay at home, and I'll go out. I'll go to the Southern Mountains to check things out." Guchen Sha loved the snow, and with his recent cultivation, he was restless and wanted to go to the Southern Mountains to hunt tigers and wolves to obtain more Tiger and Wolf Pills.

The Tiger and Wolf Pill was an ancient elixir, each one extremely valuable. If he could sell them on the market, he would no longer lack money.

"Master, go out and enjoy the snow. I'll stay at home." Xiao Yizi knew that Guchen Sha's martial arts were strong and his movements fast, and he couldn't keep up, which would only be a burden.

Guchen Sha nodded, his body flickering, and he left the courtyard, disappearing into the vast snow in a few leaps.

Outside the capital, to the south, there was a mansion covering four or five hundred acres, with high walls, deep forests, and flowing streams, backed by a mountain shaped like a gold ingot, a place of excellent feng shui, rarely seen in the world.

Deep within this mansion, at its core, was a bronze hall.

Indeed, the entire hall was made of pure copper, with gold and silver inlaid on the eaves. From the air, it looked resplendent, like a temple of the gods.

The hall covered several acres, and on the square, there were many copper pillars arranged according to the stars, forming a vast array.

Logically, a hall made of so much metal could not be inhabited, as it would attract lightning during thunderstorms, leading to certain death. Moreover, the cost of such a large copper hall would be astronomical.

On the plaque above the hall were two large characters: "Thunder Hall."

A man in his twenties sat in the hall, muscular, with a fierce aura, wearing a brocade robe with golden embroidery, his hands broad and thick, the face of a supreme tyrant as described in physiognomy books.

He moved like a wolf and an eagle, exuding a captivating aura. Even the slightest movement was intense, making people shiver.

"Prince Ten." A man suddenly rushed to the bronze hall and knelt down.

"Hmm? Leimeng, have you come to report on the matter I asked you to investigate?" Prince Ten stood in the center of the vast bronze hall, his voice metallic.

He was Prince Ten, Gu Zhen Sha.

Zhen means thunder.

Practicing the "Thunder Strike" in the pure copper Thunder Hall had a significant effect on mental fortitude and gradually changed one's aura.

Prince Ten's mother came from the ancient Lei family. With the Lei family's wealth, building such a mansion and bronze hall for Prince Ten was effortless.

Leimeng, kneeling, wore black armor, was strong and brave, exuding a killing aura, a seasoned warrior skilled in stealth and assassination.

"Prince Ten, we bribed a eunuch in the palace and learned that Prince Nineteen practices martial arts diligently, has made some progress, and is feeling quite satisfied. Today, he went straight to the Southern Mountains, seemingly to hunt." Leimeng had a grasp on Gu Chen Sha's every move.

"Does he think that mastering the Giant Spirit Art will make him stand out?" Prince Ten, Gu Zhen Sha, had a blank expression. "Even if you activate the Giant Spirit bloodline, you are no match for my Thunder God bloodline."

"Prince Ten, have you already activated the Thunder God bloodline?" Leimeng looked up, his face full of surprise.

"Almost. Recently, I've felt an endless surge of power, a prelude to the activation of the bloodline..." Gu Zhen Sha stood with his hands behind his back. "Send a message to the Lei family, and ask the old patriarch to bring the Thunder Dragon Scepter to the capital. I need to use the Lei family's heirloom to fully activate the Thunder God bloodline and reach the Dao Realm."

"But..." Leimeng hesitated. "The Thunder Dragon Scepter is a symbol of the family head, and the old patriarch won't easily agree."

"There is no 'but.' I am a prince, and the Lei family will need my protection in the future. Compared to the entire empire, what are the Lei family's rules? The old patriarch knows what is important." Prince Ten, Gu Zhen Sha, spoke with a tone that brooked no argument.

"Yes, yes, yes..." Leimeng nodded repeatedly, not daring to say more.

Prince Ten, Gu Zhen Sha, took a few steps. "As for that waste of space, Prince Nineteen, he thinks he can turn things around? I damaged his brain years ago. Among the princes, he probably hates me the most. Although I don't care about this waste, he is still a prince, and if someone uses him against me, it could cause significant trouble. I need to deal with him now."

"Prince Ten, should I take action against that waste?" Leimeng asked.

"No, I need to use someone else's hands." Prince Ten, Gu Zhen Sha, waved his hand. "Father has already shown favor by letting Loubaiyue get close to him. If I act now, it would go against Father's wishes and make him unhappy, which would not be good for me. Have the steward write an invitation for me. I want to invite Loubaiyue to a small gathering tonight to discuss important matters."

"Understood." Leimeng saw that Gu Zhen Sha had no more orders, so he carefully backed away, turned, and left.

The vast bronze hall was left with only Gu Zhen Sha.

"Dao Realm! I must break through this barrier and reach the Dao Realm! Eldest, Second, Third, Fourth, Seventh, you all have taken the lead. If I don't break through, how can I compete with you in the future?" Gu Zhen Sha suddenly punched.

Bang!

He exerted his full strength, a wave of energy rolling out, with the sound of wind and thunder inside his body, as if a great dragon was about to break free and soar into the sky.

Creak, creak...

Gu Chen Sha's feet stepped deep into the snow, breathing the cool air, feeling incredibly refreshed and at ease. Sometimes, he really wanted to abandon all the mundane affairs of the capital, no longer care about the intrigue, and wander alone across the vast continent. Of course, this was just a thought. He knew that many eyes were on him, and his every move might be under someone else's control.

In the deep snow of the dense forest, he ran swiftly, leaving no trace. To an ordinary person, it would seem like the wind had just passed.

After all, his martial arts had reached the master level, and he had cultivated the Emperor's Divine Art. Even if he lacked combat experience, he could still defeat two or three masters of the same level.

Gradually, he traveled over a hundred miles, reaching deeper into the mountains. All he could see were mountains, snow, and dense forests, places where even princes would not venture for hunting.

"By now, no one should be following me. With my current strength, only Dao Realm experts can remain undetected. Everyone else is within my perception." Gu Chen Sha looked around and suddenly buried himself deep in the snow, completely covered.

He used the "Sun and Moon Refinement" technique to completely conceal his aura, like a stone buried deep, not even a hint of his presence leaking out.

The "Sun and Moon Refinement" technique, though a single method, included meditation, energy circulation, acupoints, breathing, movements, true intent, time, space, celestial stars, earth patterns, and divine soul... Gu Chen Sha had practiced for months, only grasping the basics. The more he practiced, the more he realized its vast and profound nature, encompassing everything.

He stayed buried in the snow for two hours, sensing several groups of people searching nearby, but they found nothing and moved on.

"Indeed, those spies are loyal. They followed me in such cold weather, reporting my every move to their masters. Among them were Loubaiyue's people, Prince Eighteen, Prince Ten..." The sky turned dark, and Gu Chen Sha emerged from the snow. Everything was silent, the north wind howling, and the snow falling heavier. The people who had been tracking him had completely disappeared.

On such a dark, windy, and snowy night in the wilderness, even a master could not last long, and ordinary experts would freeze solid.

Shedding these persistent followers, Gu Chen Sha felt even more relaxed, ready to capture tigers and wolves to refine the pills.

At this time, the tigers and wolves in the mountains were hiding in their dens, making them easy to capture. By midnight, he had caught three fierce wolves and three fierce tigers, using the Five-Colored Earth Altar and medicinal herbs to obtain three Tiger and Wolf Pills.

"Unfortunately, the Tiger and Wolf Pill can only be used once. The second time it has no effect. Xiao Yizi will have to rely on his own hard training to improve. Selling three Tiger and Wolf Pills is also troublesome. I don't have the right people to cultivate, which is a problem." Gu Chen Sha pondered how to use the Tiger and Wolf Pills.

The Tiger and Wolf Pill could transform a weak person into a fierce warrior, but that was all. For wealthy families, it was a hot commodity, but for Gu Chen Sha, it could only be sold for money, as he had no trusted people to cultivate.

As he was thinking, suddenly, a beam of light shot into the sky in the distance, then disappeared. For a moment, it was like a lightning bolt illuminating a vast area.

"What was that? Could it be a treasure emerging? What a powerful aura." Gu Chen Sha's body shot out like an arrow, heading toward the place where the light had shot into the sky.

PS: I will try to update in the afternoon and evening every day, with at least two updates daily. If I have three updates, I will let everyone know in advance.