Chapter 27

The Royal Library is not located within the imperial palace but in the gardens to the east of the palace.

The place where the "Heavenly Sacrifice Edict" was discovered was not the true Royal Library, but merely a place where discarded books were stored. The truly valuable books are kept deep within the secret vaults of the royal gardens.

"Nineteenth Prince, you are a rare visitor. I will lead the way for you." In the garden, several eunuchs followed Gu Chensha, showing great respect, their attitudes markedly different.

The news of the Nineteenth Prince being enfeoffed as Duke of Chensha and receiving the favor of the Heavenly Symbol Emperor spread faster than the wind. Even the eunuchs at the forefront dared not offend him.

"This is my first visit to the Royal Library garden. Indeed, all the books in the world seem to be here." Gu Chensha observed the surroundings, noticing the layers of palaces and halls, all gilded with gold foil, inlaid with jade, and adorned with pearls. Numerous eunuchs and palace maids were busy cleaning and guarding them.

"Nineteenth Prince, each hall is categorized into classics, history, philosophy, literature, astronomy, geography, human culture, climate, secrets, noble families, agriculture, military, Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism... thirty-six categories. You can browse through any of them freely. However, for the high-level martial arts classics, you need an imperial decree to enter the secret chamber and borrow them. What would you like to read, Prince?"

"I am not interested in martial arts. I will look at history and etiquette." Gu Chensha waved his hand. "You can leave now. You don't need to follow me."

"Yes, Prince."

The ancient sacrificial methods are recorded in the history and etiquette sections.

Entering the hall, the ten-zhang-high bookshelves made one dizzy, with countless scrolls stacked layer upon layer. Many eunuchs and palace maids were busy cleaning them all day.

One bookshelf was dedicated to the catalog of all the books in the hall.

The catalog alone had over a hundred volumes.

Gu Chensha picked up a catalog and flipped through it casually, not in a hurry.

After half an hour, he finally selected an ancient history of emperors and began to read it carefully.

The ancient history of emperors recorded the deeds of many emperors, passed down from ancient times, with vast and detailed records. The fragments he had read before were far less detailed than those in the Royal Library.

The ancient emperors' actions, the wars they experienced, the rituals they performed, and the details were all clearly described.

He read one book after another, then browsed through the ancient etiquette, pretending to read many leisurely books. It wasn't until nightfall that he began to search for what he was looking for.

"Hmm? The Dao Virtue Pill!" His heart pounded as he discovered the key item.

In the ancient history of emperors, there was such a passage: "Emperor Yu carved the Yin-Yang Jade Disk, inscribed with patterns, which can gather the essence of the sun and moon. Using the souls of the five fierce beasts—white tiger, black snake, yellow tortoise, blue fox, and red eagle—to stimulate the five elements and perform the emperor's ritual to the heavens, one can obtain the Dao Virtue Pill. This pill is for opening the path and cultivating virtue. If a master in the martial realm reaches the peak and swallows it, they can enter the Dao realm..."

The Dao Virtue Pill!

There was actually such a pill that could help a master in the martial realm break through the barrier and reach the Dao realm.

"Again, the emperor's qi is the foundation." Gu Chensha knew that the book recorded various sacrificial methods, but the core was still the emperor's qi, the essence of the sun and moon, and the souls of the five fierce beasts, which merely changed the nature.

"Entering the Dao realm through the power of a pill is ultimately not a good thing. I must break through the martial barrier with my own will. However, I can use it to cultivate subordinates or even exchange for treasures. If I had a Dao Virtue Pill, everyone would risk their lives to obtain it." Gu Chensha thought. His gaze fell, and he was startled again by an even more shocking ritual.

"In ancient times, the emperor used human blood, burning divination grass, and the souls of the killed to perform the ritual, obtaining the Heavenly Dew. The Heavenly Dew can be consumed by anyone, accelerating cultivation, cleansing impurities, strengthening meridians, expanding acupoints, enhancing potential, and increasing limits. It can also detoxify and has various miraculous effects..." Gu Chensha was shocked: "Killing for the ritual? This is not the way of a benevolent person." He continued reading.

"Killing for the ritual requires the execution of great villains and evildoers. These villains have beastly hearts and souls. Killing one can save a hundred, punishing evil and promoting good, cleansing the world of evil, and thus receiving the Heavenly Dew as a reward."

Reading this, Gu Chensha nodded: "So, it's about killing great villains. These people have evil, malevolent, and violent auras surrounding their souls. Offering such souls to the heavens is like clearing obstacles, and the Heavenly Dew descends."

He also thought of the barbarian generals, each a fierce and cruel beast, deceived by evil gods, killing and eating people. If they were sacrificed, it would be just and righteous, and the Heavenly Dew would be obtained.

The Heavenly Dew cannot enhance one's realm but can increase potential and limits.

For example, a warrior's maximum strength might be to hold a fierce horse, but after consuming the Heavenly Dew, their strength could double or even more, though they would not become a martial master.

"Right, Lou Baoyue, though not yet in the Dao realm, has surpassed the limits. Could he have taken something like the Heavenly Dew?" Gu Chensha suddenly thought.

Lou Baoyue's strength far exceeded that of a master, even surpassing Gu Chensha, who had practiced the Sun and Moon Cultivation. It would be strange if he hadn't taken any extraordinary treasures.

Of course, his cultivation time was also very short.

If he had practiced the Sun and Moon Cultivation for ten or even several decades, his meridians and blood would be strengthened, forming a Sun and Moon Dragon Body. Even without entering the Dao realm, he would far surpass Lou Baoyue.

"It's dark, and you're still reading here?" Gu Chensha, engrossed in his reading, suddenly felt something and looked up. A woman had entered the hall.

Lou Baoyue.

She had changed into a light blue dress, without makeup, her face smooth and clean, exuding a pure and gentle aura, bringing a refreshing breeze that made people feel close. Previously, she was aloof and cold, making people respect and avoid her, but now her demeanor was calm and distant.

"Have you entered the Dao realm?" Gu Chensha's face changed.

"Your eyesight is good." Lou Baoyue said casually, "If I couldn't break through after obtaining the Hundred Tribulations Golden Pill, what face would I have to continue cultivating?"

"Entering the Dao realm is a transformation of the mind, spirit, and soul, not much related to pills." Gu Chensha probed.

"Indeed, breaking through with the help of a pill doesn't count as a true breakthrough." Lou Baoyue agreed, "However, in ancient times, there was the Dao Virtue Pill, which could break the martial barrier. You came here today to read history, didn't you want to learn the sacrificial methods?"

"I'm just browsing." Gu Chensha sensed Lou Baoyue's growing depth and became cautious. This woman was not to be underestimated. Although she had shown signs of protecting him recently, her overall behavior suggested she was more of an enemy than an ally. "Are you here to read books today?"

"No, I came specifically to find you." Lou Baoyue waved her hand, and the eunuchs cleaning the hall retreated far away. By right, she had no authority to command the eunuchs in the royal garden, but now everyone knew she was the favorite of the Heavenly Symbol Emperor, and the emperor's favor for her even surpassed that for any prince. Who would dare offend her?

Gu Chensha listened quietly.

"The Emperor has ordered me to assist you in recruiting the remnants of the Xian Dynasty and pacifying the hearts of the Xian people. This must be done with results." Lou Baoyue had already planned: "You know, in three months, it will be spring, and our army will launch a campaign against the barbarians, thoroughly eradicating them. The base for the army's encampment will be Xian Province. The people here are fierce, and the worship of the Giant Spirit God is strong, with every household paying homage and many temples. The Emperor has given me a secret edict to inspect the area, pacify the people, and eliminate evil. In three months, we must provide a stable rear for the army."

Gu Chensha understood immediately.

This was indeed a crucial task.

Xian Province, formerly the Great Xian Empire, was annexed by the Great Yong Dynasty after its fall and became Xian Province.

The Great Xian Empire bordered the barbarians and had been in constant conflict with them, making the people here extremely fierce. They valued strength over etiquette, which is why the worship of the Giant Spirit God could not be eradicated.

The location of Xian Province was very important. To turn this area into a base against the barbarians, the Heavenly Symbol Emperor dared not forcibly destroy the temples and eliminate the gods but had to pacify the people.

Gu Chensha, the son of a Xian Dynasty princess, had recently "activated the Giant Spirit God bloodline." Sending him to inspect and pacify the people was the best choice.

If he could pacify Xian Province within these few months, preventing unrest when the army encamped, and ensuring a stable base, the Giant Spirit God's worship could be eradicated after the barbarians were defeated.

Gu Chensha's political awareness was high, and he immediately understood this.

At the same time, he realized this was a great opportunity for him. Even if he didn't achieve great deeds, it was a chance to step out of the cage, like a dragon returning to the sea. In the capital, with countless eyes watching him, there was no room for expansion.

Seeing his serious and thoughtful expression, Lou Baoyue knew he had grasped the key points and was secretly surprised: "When I gave him the Giant Spirit God technique, I thought he was young and arrogant, not knowing the limits. I didn't expect him to transform so quickly, even able to match the Tenth Prince. It seems he has many secrets and is not as simple as he appears on the surface."

"In that case, the imperial edict should come soon." Gu Chensha said, "Inspecting Xian Province, preparing provisions, and pacifying the area are major national affairs. We need to prepare well."

As he spoke, a voice came from outside the hall: "Imperial edict, Lou Baoyue and Gu Chensha, receive the edict."

A group of eunuchs entered, led by a eunuch with thick eyebrows and a broad face, looking very amiable. The other eunuchs held the imperial edict and other items.

Gu Chensha and Lou Baoyue quickly knelt down.

"The imperial decree: Lou Baoyue and Gu Chensha are ordered to go to Xian Province to prepare provisions for the army, pacify the area, inspect the troops, and eliminate barbarian spies to prevent chaos. They are granted the imperial envoy's token, sword, and dragon banner." The eunuch read the edict and then took out another: "By the Heavenly Symbol Edict, Lou Baoyue has repeatedly performed well in her duties. Although she is not of the imperial family, I will not be bound by convention and hereby enfeoff her as the Lady of the Moon Symbol."

"What? Enfeoffed as a Lady? Isn't that the same rank as her father, Lou Chongxiao?" Gu Chensha was shocked: "Father, what is your intention with these layers of favors? Even for someone you favor, such excessive favoritism could cause controversy in the court."

Ladies are only enfeoffed to daughters of the imperial family.

By right, if an emperor's daughter is favored, she can be enfeoffed as a princess, and a prince's daughter can be enfeoffed as a Lady. Now, Lou Baoyue, being of a different surname, being enfeoffed as a Lady is a groundbreaking event.

But no one dared to oppose the Heavenly Symbol Emperor's edict and could only "thank the emperor for his great favor."

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