Chapter 17

After the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict pocketed the hundred-yuan note, he gave him a few deep looks before speaking: "Nineteenth Prince, next year the Emperor will launch his third personal campaign against the barbarians. This hunt, though ostensibly to test martial skills, is actually because Duke Jushi has captured a group of barbarian experts and brought them to the capital. The Emperor has imprisoned these barbarians in the Southern Mountains. This time, he is sending the princes there to have you kill the barbarians, not just for a simple hunt."

"Thank you, Sir."

Guchen Sha knew that this was the effect of the hundred-yuan note. The information was quite important.

"Well, I'll take my leave. It's best to arrive on time and not anger the Emperor." The eunuch turned and left the small courtyard.

"Master, what should we do?" the young eunuch asked. "Should we go to the hunt? In the past, you would pretend to be sick in such situations, but this time..."

"This time, we'll go," Guchen Sha thought for a moment. "My martial arts training is already known, and if I pretend to be sick again, it will give others a handle to use against me. Besides, I have already accepted the imperial edict, and I can't afford to defy it."

"You're right, Master. You will eventually have to face the complex political situation; you can't keep delaying it." The young eunuch was also somewhat excited.

"I'll head to the Southern Mountains hunting ground right away. You stay home and practice your martial arts diligently. Stay in touch with Long Yuyun if anything happens." As he spoke, Guchen Sha took out a sheepskin coat and wrapped himself tightly in it before stepping out into the snow.

He didn't really need the coat, but he had to put on a show.

He moved swiftly through the wind and snow, heading for the Southern Mountains. Once he left the capital, the snow became heavier, and the wind swirled, turning the world white and making it hard to see the path ahead.

Fortunately, his inner strength was profound, and he moved as fast as the wind.

Guchen Sha had already made some progress in the "Sun and Moon Cultivation" technique. In ancient times, there was a giant who chased the sun, and this divine skill was derived from the "Sun and Moon Cultivation."

If one could chase the sun, their speed and agility were naturally extraordinary.

As he traveled, he seemed to merge with the wind and snow, moving effortlessly, using the force of the wind and snow to dart forward.

Gradually, he found himself enjoying the journey, and with a clear whistle, his body grew three feet taller, becoming as mighty as a giant spirit, moving swiftly through the snow and wind. In about half an hour, he reached the foot of the Southern Mountains.

Normally, it would take two hours to travel from the capital to the Southern Mountains, even on a clear day, let alone in such heavy snow.

Stopping at the foot of the Southern Mountains, Guchen Sha's breathing was even, and he showed no signs of fatigue. He quietly focused his mind to check his internal organs, muscles, bones, acupoints, and meridians, and found that his vitality was still thriving. He couldn't help but marvel, "I have thoroughly digested the great strength of the wolf, bear, and python, turning it into my own power."

The wind and snow subsided slightly, but the ground was already covered with several feet of snow. Anyone who stepped on it would sink in, making it difficult to move.

However, at the foot of the Southern Mountains, many troops and ceremonial guards had already gathered, and the snow on the official road had been cleared. Dragon flags fluttered, and the scene was bustling.

The road was lined with obstacles, and large tents had been set up. Many nobles and officials arrived in carriages and on horseback.

When the Emperor traveled, he was accompanied by many officials, and the ceremonial procession stretched for miles. This was not just for show but to maintain the Emperor's dignity and authority, which was necessary to awe the nation and cultivate the Emperor's aura.

All the dignity and authority were cultivated through ceremony.

On the road, someone set up an obstacle and, seeing Guchen Sha approaching, immediately shouted, "Who is it?"

"It's me." Guchen Sha showed his prince's identity token, which was used for daily entry and exit from the palace. After he came of age and established his own household, he would have to return this token and seek permission to enter the palace.

"Ah, it's the Nineteenth Prince. Please come in. The Emperor hasn't arrived yet. We are the vanguard responsible for security. Some of the princes have already arrived and are resting in the camp at the foot of the mountain. The Nineteenth Prince can join them there." The guard was very polite and immediately led the way.

In the center of the camp, there were many large tents, heavily guarded, but many nobles and officials were moving about, interacting with each other, using this opportunity to build connections.

Some princes were also forming alliances with ministers to consolidate their positions and gain support.

Throughout history, emperors had forbidden princes from forming factions with ministers to prevent them from becoming too powerful and challenging the emperor, leading to a loss of power. However, in the Tianfu Dynasty, the emperor encouraged princes to form close relationships with ministers, making it easier to handle official duties and not establishing a crown prince, allowing princes to serve the country and the one who performed best would take on the responsibility.

Guchen Sha, well-versed in history, knew the drawbacks of this system, which could lead to the formation of various factions within the court. However, the Tianfu Emperor's absolute control over the court and his confidence in his own strength made this possible.

The Tianfu Emperor's cultivation was unfathomable. In his youth, he had led campaigns to the east and west, destroying countless sects and even evil deities and demons that had misled the people and harmed the nation.

Without absolute power, it would have been impossible for him to seize the throne from his illegitimate status.

"Ha ha, isn't this the meat-eating Nineteenth Prince?" A voice boomed, shaking the ears of those nearby. The speaker was clearly a formidable cultivator.

"Prince Ten."

Guchen Sha looked up and saw that the prince speaking was a full head taller than him, wearing bronze armor, with a belt that resembled a fierce snake. His aura was as imposing as a mountain, and his appearance was fearsome, exuding a thunderous presence.

This was Prince Ten, Gu Zhen Sha.

A few years ago, Gu Zhen Sha had injured Guchen Sha's head, and it took a long time to recover, thanks to Lou Baoyue's instigation. Recently, Prince Ten had even declared that he would cripple him. Meeting now, Guchen Sha knew there would be trouble.

"Little Nineteenth, I hear you've been working hard lately, practicing your martial arts?" Prince Ten Gu Zhen Sha strode over, his aura intense, and the people around him scattered. His movements were like a wolf's and an eagle's, exuding a captivating presence that could make even ordinary experts tremble.

Several princes and royal relatives watched with smiles on their faces.

Guchen Sha stood firm, not retreating. The oppressive aura had no effect on him. In the past, he would have been terrified and retreated, even falling to the ground. But now, with his immense strength and deep cultivation, he remained calm.

"Seems like you've made some progress." Prince Ten Gu Zhen Sha's expression darkened. He was shocked that Guchen Sha had not budged under his oppressive aura.

The surrounding nobles and officials exchanged glances.

"Let me test how well you've trained."

Prince Ten Gu Zhen Sha extended his large hand, and a wave of energy surged forth. His long arm broke through the air, creating a piercing whistle, and his fingers enveloped the surrounding air, forming a cage that prevented escape.

This move was accompanied by a faintly bloody and ghostly aura.

"Five Ghosts Great Seize!"

The experts who recognized it called out.

The five fingers represented the five ghosts, moving and seizing, driving the air currents. A single strike could dislocate bones and even tear flesh.

According to legend, this technique was a supreme skill of the Ghost King Sect, a forbidden ritual that had been practiced for thousands of years. Despite being banned by successive dynasties, it was finally suppressed in the Tianfu Dynasty, and the ancient "Ghost King Scripture" was seized and added to the imperial library.

Although the "Ghost King Scripture" was an evil sect's supreme skill, it contained valuable content. Prince Ten's foundation was the "Thunder Slash Technique," which was fierce and powerful, and he combined it with the "Ghost King Scripture," creating a balance of yin and yang, good and evil, making it easier to reach the Dao realm.

Guchen Sha's eyes suddenly shone brightly, like the brilliance of the sun and moon. He had practiced the "Sun and Moon Cultivation" and "Sun and Moon Transformation" from the "Emperor's Divine Technique," giving him a sense of the sun and moon in the sky. Faced with this move, he was not afraid and took a step forward, his arm visibly thickening, and his skin taking on a bronze hue.

Bang!

The two arms collided, and both Guchen Sha and Prince Ten were forced back, leaving deep footprints on the ground. The shockwave from their clash blew the surrounding snow into the air, blinding the onlookers.

"What?"

The onlookers were almost speechless.

"What's going on? They're evenly matched? Prince Ten has divine strength, is a martial genius, and has extensive combat experience, having suppressed many evil cults and demons. The Emperor has praised his ability to strike down demons with thunder. He is bound to reach the Dao realm soon, yet he can't defeat the Nineteenth Prince, who is a mere nobody?"

"Is it the Giant Spirit Technique? The Mountain Lifting Stance?"

Lou Baoyue was also present, her face serious. She thought rapidly, "Prince Ten's move was no small feat, yet it was blocked? Guchen Sha used the 'Mountain Lifting Stance' from the Giant Spirit Technique. Could he have truly awakened the Giant Spirit bloodline? Even in the Xian Dynasty, it was a rare occurrence every few hundred years. This is a miracle."

The royal family of the Xian Dynasty was said to have the bloodline of the ancient Giant Spirit. However, by now, the bloodline had become very diluted, and it was rare to see it. Each time it appeared, it was a sign of the Xian Dynasty's prosperity.

This was secondary. Once the Giant Spirit bloodline was awakened, through sacrifice, one could communicate with the Giant Spirit!

If this news spread, the old loyalists of the Xian Dynasty and the people who still worshipped the Giant Spirit would consider Guchen Sha the true emperor of the Xian Dynasty.

Although the Xian Dynasty had fallen, the faith in the Giant Spirit remained.

The Giant Spirit was an ancient deity, and the Tianfu Emperor could not abolish its status. If he did, it would provoke divine retribution, causing chaos and damaging the nation's fortune.

"Prince Ten's martial arts are very strong, especially his fierce aura and combat experience, which I cannot match." Guchen Sha calmed his internal energy. In Prince Ten's "Five Ghosts Great Seize," there were five layers of tearing force. A slight mistake could result in serious injury. If not for the three days of practice with Long Yuyun and the basic understanding of the second form of the "Sun and Moon Transformation," he would have been defeated.

The "Emperor's Divine Technique" was indeed a supreme method, but he had only practiced it for less than a year and had barely grasped a fraction of it. If he had three to five years or even ten years of practice, he could dominate the world.

From this clash, he immediately analyzed his gains and losses, calculating that in a life-or-death battle with Prince Ten, he might not have a sure victory, especially since Prince Ten likely had hidden techniques.

Indeed, each prince was not to be underestimated. Even with his extraordinary encounter, he could not be complacent.