Chapter 16

After returning from the mountains, the heavy snow continued to fall, covering the land in a pristine white. At this time of year, even the six ministries of the imperial palace were on holiday, and officials and clerks gathered around stoves to keep warm. Gu Chensha, having returned from the mountains without any hindrance, secluded himself in his small room to meditate on martial arts, while instructing his young servant to go out and contact Long Yuyun's people.

The young servant obeyed and left. Gu Chensha sat alone in the small room, listening to the sound of the snow and his own breathing, feeling the world suddenly become quiet as he entered a profound and mysterious realm.

With each breath, he sensed the subtle energy circulating within his body, flowing through the hundred acupoints.

He used the internal cultivation method of the Sun and Moon Refinement to refine his body, observing his meridians and discovering that many powerful medicinal forces had not yet been fully absorbed.

"Originally, the power I gained from my sacrifices and the medicinal forces from the Dragon Essence Pills had left so much in my meridians. If it weren't for the miraculous cultivation method of the Sun and Moon Refinement, these forces would have dissipated." Gu Chensha took a deep breath, circulating the medicinal forces through his meridians and gathering them in his dantian, the lower abdomen.

Gradually, his lower abdomen began to swell slightly, as if fat was growing.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly opened his eyes and felt his lower abdomen as hard as iron. Lifting his shirt, he saw that it was covered with dense scales.

"Sun and Moon Dragon Scales!" Gu Chensha was overjoyed. "The Sun and Moon Refinement is indeed marvelous. When cultivated to a high level, it can transform excess energy into Sun and Moon Dragon Scales. When in dire straits, these scales can decompose to supply the body's needs."

Bears gorge themselves in autumn, converting the nutrients in their bodies into fat, and then hibernate, surviving the entire winter on the energy provided by the fat without eating or drinking.

The Sun and Moon Refinement, however, stores excess life energy in the body, transforming it into Sun and Moon Dragon Scales, which are far superior to fat. Each scale can sustain life for a month.

Currently, Gu Chensha's lower abdomen had dozens of Sun and Moon Dragon Scales, meaning he could go years without eating or drinking and still remain cheerful and carefree.

Moreover, these Sun and Moon Dragon Scales provided extremely high defense, capable of withstanding sword and axe attacks, even internal energy damage. If they covered the entire body, they would be comparable to the third transformation of the Daoist realm, the Copper Skin and Iron Bones.

Of course, if the Sun and Moon Dragon Scales covered the entire body, it would not look human. In ancient times, this was not a problem, as many emperors had dragon heads and human bodies, human heads and dragon bodies, or even three heads and six arms. But in the present, it was not acceptable.

Therefore, Gu Chensha only used the excess nutrients to form Sun and Moon Dragon Scales on his lower abdomen and some important acupoints that were not visible.

His current martial arts skills had reached their limit. Even if he took more pills or sacrificed more fierce beasts, the energy would accumulate in his meridians, becoming a hindrance and eventually causing illness. Transforming the excess energy into Sun and Moon Dragon Scales for storage was the best solution.

After converting the excess medicinal forces and nutrients in his meridians into Sun and Moon Dragon Scales, he felt a sense of comfort, and his martial arts skills advanced to a new level.

"Unfortunately, my physical strength is sufficient, but my mental strength is far from enough. It seems I really need to go to the battlefield to engage in life-and-death battles and gain insights from the brink of death." Gu Chensha knew his weakness: he lacked practical combat experience, especially life-and-death combat.

He heard footsteps and opened the door to see the young servant just entering.

The young servant's steps were light and graceful, like dancing on lotus leaves, as if he had learned a unique skill.

"Master, I have already contacted the Long Yuyun you mentioned. She has prepared a manor for you by the canal outside the city and trained a group of experts for your use. She herself is stationed there, gathering intelligence. Additionally, she taught me a martial art called the Lesser Yin Cold Ice Technique, saying it is most suitable for me to learn."

"Can you demonstrate it?"

"Master, let me first give you this. Long Yuyun said the thing you wanted is inside." The young servant took out a bundle.

Gu Chensha grabbed it and opened it, revealing a yellow imperial edict with a strong aura of the emperor. Others might not feel it, but for him, who practiced the "Emperor's Divine Sealing Technique," it had a profound impact.

This was an edict issued by the Heavenly Symbolic Emperor, making it even more effective.

"Wonderful." Gu Chensha held the edict and walked into the inner room. "Young servant, guard the outside and do not let anyone in."

"Understood!"

Inside the room.

Gu Chensha took out the "Heavenly Sacrifice Edict" and burned the imperial edict, dripping his own blood into it, using the emperor's aura within the edict to offer a sacrifice to the heavens.

Buzz......

The room was filled with a clear light, and the images in his mind became even more intense, with countless profound concepts and martial arts principles flooding in.

A vast will permeated his heart.

"The second form of Sun and Moon Radiance, the Sun and Moon Transformation. The transformation of the sun and moon, the rotation of yin and yang, all lie within this form......"

The second form was the Sun and Moon Transformation.

Sun and Moon Radiance had ten forms. Gu Chensha was familiar with the Sun and Moon Refinement. The first form was the cultivation of the spirit, while the second form, the Sun and Moon Transformation, harmonized the body with the sun and moon, making the blood, qi, acupoints, and meridians follow the trajectory of the sun and moon, thus aligning his soul and spirit with the light of the sun and moon. This form could give rise to countless martial arts and simulate infinite changes.

All transformations of the sun and moon were contained within this form.

Especially this form, which could conceal one's cultivation, change in multiple ways, and simulate various martial arts for one's own use.

The soul is the moon, the spirit is the sun.

When the soul and spirit are united, the sun and moon shine brightly, illuminating all, and nothing is impossible.

How great it would be for one's own radiance to be as brilliant as the sun and moon?

Without the sun and moon, how could there be all things? Without the transformation of the sun and moon, how could there be countless martial arts?

"Excellent!" After a long time, Gu Chensha opened his eyes, his face filled with joy. "The Sun and Moon Transformation is a martial art that conceals one's aura, making it difficult for anyone to detect. In addition, it has the functions of nurturing qi, concealing qi, hiding qi, and transforming qi. By using this transformation to simulate the Giant Spirit Power, the power becomes even greater, and no one can tell."

He activated the Sun and Moon Transformation, and indeed, his aura became unpredictable and indistinct.

"Heaven is helping me, heaven is helping me!" Gu Chensha laughed. "My martial arts skills are now at the peak of the grandmaster level, but I cannot use them, or I will be caught. Now, with the divine power of the Sun and Moon Transformation, I can simulate the Giant Spirit Bloodline and have immense strength. I can claim to be the first person in a hundred years to activate the Giant Spirit Bloodline, greatly increasing my value to the court."

He closed his eyes and meditated, the Sun and Moon Transformation circulating within his body, following the cultivation method of the Giant Spirit Power. Suddenly, a mysterious force emerged in his limbs and bones.

"The Giant Spirit Bloodline, when initially condensed, grants immense strength to the limbs and bones, stimulating the organs, making one's breath like thunder and one's power like a giant wave......" This was recorded in the Giant Spirit Power scripture.

Now, Gu Chensha's use of the Sun and Moon Transformation to simulate the Giant Spirit Bloodline was seamless and indistinguishable from the real thing.

The Giant Spirit Power was an ancient martial art. Once the Giant Spirit Bloodline was activated, its power was immense, far surpassing other martial arts. However, the "Emperor's Divine Sealing Technique" was of a higher grade than the Giant Spirit Power, and when simulating the Giant Spirit Bloodline, it was not only indistinguishable from the real thing but also far more powerful.

"Congratulations, Master, your cultivation has advanced to a new level." Seeing Gu Chensha emerge from the room, the young servant was shocked. "Master, you have just practiced a divine martial art. I feel your aura is like a deep abyss, impossible to fathom."

"I have gained significant insights." Gu Chensha asked, "By the way, has Long Yuyun found any information about Lou Baoyue? Although she is close to me by the emperor's command, she looks down on me and even intends to harm me. Before I reach the Daoist realm, I must guard against her schemes. Knowing both oneself and the enemy is best."

"Here are the records, Master, please look." The young servant took out a ledger-like document and opened it, revealing detailed records of recent activities in the capital, such as which noble families visited each other and who was entertained at banquets.

"The Dragon Sword Island, a dying insect that refuses to die, has such a vast influence in the capital?" Gu Chensha was alarmed. Flipping through the records, he found only one entry about Lou Baoyue: "Prince Ten, Gu Zhensha, invited Lou Baoyue to his manor, but Lou Baoyue refused, claiming she was in seclusion."

"Lou Baoyue is good at avoiding suspicion. The emperor ordered her to be close to me, and she immediately distanced herself from Prince Ten." Gu Chensha saw through the political machinations.

"What should we do now?" The young servant's eyes darted. "Master, your martial arts skills have improved so much that it will not escape the notice of the princes in the capital. Before, when you had no power, they did not deliberately target you, but now that your cultivation is so profound, they will......"

"I have been prepared for this. Those princes and nobles are not good people. They have long known that I have been diligently practicing martial arts, and their plots will follow. That is why I plan to leave the capital and go to the border to engage in life-and-death battles with the demons. With enough time, I can grow stronger." Gu Chensha suddenly threw a punch, and although there was no sound, the air seemed to be cut like butter, followed by a muffled thud as it closed again, like a dam blocking a river.

Seeing this punch, the young servant was so impressed he almost vomited blood.

"Is my punch so powerful?" Gu Chensha was surprised himself. Using the power of the Sun and Moon Transformation, even ordinary punches became extraordinary. How much more powerful would advanced martial arts be?

"Hmm, someone is coming." He wanted to teach the young servant some boxing techniques, but his ears picked up faint sounds from a distance.

Creak, creak...... Soon, several eunuchs stepped into the courtyard, the lead eunuch shouting, "Imperial edict, Prince Nineteen, receive the edict."

"Your humble servant receives the edict."

Gu Chensha was slightly startled and quickly prostrated himself in the snow, while the young servant knelt beside the corridor.

The eunuch stood facing south: "Imperial command: This afternoon, a snow hunt will be held at the Southern Mountain Hunting Ground. All princes are to gather there quickly, and I will test your martial arts skills." The eunuch read the emperor's command.

"Your humble servant obeys the command." Gu Chensha took the edict, stood up, and said, "I will prepare immediately. Young servant, give the eunuch some money to buy wine."

"Of course." The young servant took out a banknote and handed it over.

The eunuch initially wanted to refuse, but upon seeing it was a hundred-dollar bill, he was both surprised and delighted, quickly clutching it tightly.

A hundred-dollar bill could buy several strong oxen and was equivalent to a year's salary for the eunuchs, so they were naturally pleased.

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