Chapter 7

"Eighteenth Brother, I don't understand what you mean." Guchen Sha lowered his head.

"Resign immediately from your position before the Emperor. Kneel and refuse to accept it, and you might still have a chance to survive. Otherwise, the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Princes, along with many other brothers, won't let you off. Even Lou Baoyue himself might kill you. You should understand this very well." Gu Hongsha snapped his fingers.

"But this was decided by the Emperor. What can I do?" Guchen Sha continued to feign ignorance.

"Stubborn and unyielding." A look of disdain flashed across Gu Hongsha's eyes. "You don't really think that by marrying Lou Baoyue, you can rely on the Lou family's power, do you? If you really think that, you are extremely foolish."

"I haven't received any news yet, maybe it's false. As Eighteenth Brother said, if such a situation arises, I will certainly resign." Guchen Sha was known for his lack of temper, always meek and submissive, a survival strategy that had made him extremely cautious and never impulsive.

"It's good that you understand. I'm giving you a warning. Be careful around the Tenth Prince. After he received this news, he has already spread the word that he will find an opportunity to cripple you." Gu Hongsha, seeing the other's subservience, took out a shiny gold pocket watch, glanced at it, and stood up to board his sedan chair. "Let's leave the palace and see how my new mansion is coming along."

"Sir, I went to supervise it just the day before yesterday. The pond has been dug and filled with spring water. We also installed a water-flushing toilet, a marvel of the Heavenly Engineering Academy. There are also bright glass windows, and the floor is made of Kunshan green jade, it's like a heavenly palace..." The leading eunuch flattered, leading the way.

The sedan chair left the palace gate.

"Sir, I've heard about the Eighteenth Prince's mansion. It covers several acres, and he has three to five thousand servants. The thing he took out just now is called a pocket watch, also made by the Heavenly Engineering Academy. It's very accurate for telling time. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he gathered skilled craftsmen from all over the country, and they seem to have created many new things." Xiaoyizi was quite envious. "Sir, you don't have a mansion yet. I think it's time to start preparing."

"That's impossible. Where would I get the money?" Guchen Sha sighed. "The Eighteenth Prince's mother's family is the Shui family, and they are also trying hard to make him compete for the throne."

"You know that. The Emperor hasn't designated a crown prince, but has allowed the princes to establish their own households and take on official duties. This is indeed a clever move. Each prince is ambitious and eager to perform their duties well." Xiaoyizi said, "I've heard that the Eighteenth Prince has recently advanced to the fifth level of the Dragon King Technique, almost reaching the Master level. But if he were to fight you, you might not lose. With your current cultivation, you could surprise everyone. Why do you still need to hide your abilities?"

"Without reaching the Dao realm, it's all just talk." Guchen Sha looked around to make sure no one was around. "You shouldn't show your skills easily either. Practice in secret. Besides, the Dragon King Technique is a Royal-level technique. Even though I am strong, the basic royal boxing techniques I have learned are only of the Common level. If I were to fight the Eighteenth Prince, I would probably be at a disadvantage."

"Unfortunately, you can't go to the royal secret vault to choose martial arts. By the way, do you still have that pill?" Xiaoyizi asked, "Actually, such a pill is very valuable. Selling it would probably bring in a huge sum of money."

"I have such a pill, but selling it would cause a big stir. The Bone Washing Pill, Essence Pill, and Soul Strengthening Pill, these royal secret medicines are worth millions. My pill is dozens of times more effective. How much would it sell for?" Guchen Sha waved his hand. "For now, we need to be patient. Although I have made some achievements, I am still like a frog at the bottom of a well."

"Right, the Eighteenth Prince said you should be careful around the Tenth Prince. I remember a few years ago, the Tenth Prince almost beat you to death..." Xiaoyizi suddenly remembered this. "That was also incited by Lou Baoyue."

"The Tenth Prince has a violent temper and acts without considering the consequences, but this kind of personality is deeply favored by the Emperor. The key is that his martial arts are profound, and he has innate strength, making him a formidable figure." Guchen Sha frowned.

As they spoke, they returned to the small courtyard.

The sky grew dark, and the small courtyard was gloomy, with no lights. The autumn wind was bleak, and the wild grass in the courtyard swayed like ghostly hands.

Pfft!

Xiaoyizi struck a match and lit a candle, bringing some life to the room.

"Sir, our candles are almost gone, and the Internal Affairs Office hasn't sent any more. It's already autumn, and the autumn clothes should have been distributed, but it seems the Internal Affairs Office is not preparing to supply us with these things," Xiaoyizi checked the supplies in the room. "I heard that the Eighteenth Prince doesn't use oil lamps or candles at night, but instead uses moonstones. These treasures absorb sunlight during the day and emit moonlight at night, very bright."

"Our monthly allowance and various supplies have always been reduced, and now it's even worse. We can't rely on the Internal Affairs Office; we need to find our own sources of income." Guchen Sha poured a glass of water, took a sip, and spat it out because it tasted bitter.

"This water is also bad. They send us bitter water, while they drink water from the Cold Jade Spring." Xiaoyizi was helpless.

The water in the palace is transported from outside.

Water is also divided into different grades.

Ordinary eunuchs and palace maids drink well water, which is somewhat bitter. The princes and noble concubines use water from the "Cold Jade Mountain," which is over a hundred miles outside the capital.

The Cold Jade Mountain is rich in jade mines, and the underground spring water is cold and sweet, refreshing and invigorating. It has long been sealed off as a royal sanctuary, and the Internal Affairs Office fetches water every morning to be delivered to the palace.

As a prince, Guchen Sha should receive three barrels of "Cold Jade Spring" water every day, but he is being shortchanged and can only drink bitter well water like the lower-ranking eunuchs.

These eunuchs take the Cold Jade Spring water they have withheld and sell it secretly in the capital, where it can fetch a good price.

In addition to a large monthly allowance, the princes also receive clothing, fragrances, tonics, weapons, jewels, fruits, ice in the summer, and smokeless animal charcoal in the winter, truly living in luxury.

In recent years, the Heavenly Engineering Academy has produced glass, clocks, moonstones, cold pearls, and fire pearls.

Moonstones are used for lighting, while fire pearls, when hung in a room during winter, make the room as warm as spring, eliminating the need for burning charcoal. Cold pearls are hung in the summer to create a cool and pleasant environment.

Of course, he cannot enjoy any of these things.

"Before, the people in the Internal Affairs Office didn't dare to be so excessive, leaving some face. Now they are cutting us off completely." Guchen Sha shook his head. "For now, we shouldn't worry about these things. Diligent study and hard practice are the fundamentals. Xiaoyizi, how is your martial arts practice going?"

"Sir, I have been diligently practicing the basic royal boxing techniques you taught me and have gained some insights. I am now roughly at the level of a warrior." Xiaoyizi was quick and efficient, tidying the room and boiling water. "Sir, your martial arts should have reached the Master level, right?"

"Reaching the Master level is not easy." Guchen Sha thought carefully. "My strength is sufficient, but my cultivation is still lacking. It's probably due to the technique. I am currently only practicing basic royal martial arts, which involve the use of force, integration of strength, and breathing. The foundation is solid, but I need to learn more advanced techniques. For example, Royal-level techniques have the effects of gathering energy, focusing the mind, meditation, contemplation, refining essence, cultivating the origin, penetrating the mysteries, and comprehending the Dao. Even lower-level precious techniques can also advance one to the Master level."

Guchen Sha knew that to break through to the Master level, he needed to practice precious-level techniques.

Martial arts are divided into Common, Precious, Royal, Imperial, Immortal, and Heavenly levels.

The Sacrificial Heaven Technique only enhances his strength. To perfectly utilize his strength and change his life form, he needs more advanced techniques.

"Actually, it wouldn't be difficult for you to learn advanced martial arts. Just submit a petition saying your martial arts are about to break through to the Master level. The Clan Office will report to the Emperor, who will certainly grant you advanced royal martial arts. I heard that the Tenth Prince is now practicing the 'Lightning Slash Technique' and is at a very high level, trying to reach the Dao realm." Xiaoyizi was good at gathering information.

"That wouldn't be appropriate. I can't reveal my current strength." Guchen Sha said, "If someone accuses me of being a remnant of the previous dynasty, and others stir up trouble, the Clan Office's demons will torture me in ways I can't imagine."

"That's true, you are very thorough in your considerations." Xiaoyizi said, "The problem is that if you don't obtain precious-level techniques, no matter how strong you are, you won't be able to break through to the Master level, let alone the Dao realm."

"I need to think carefully..." Guchen Sha touched his forehead. "This can't be delayed. Originally, I could have taken my time, but the Emperor has now made me close to Lou Baoyue, which is like putting me on a hot stove. I can only survive the disaster by improving my strength."

The night was deep and quiet.

Xiaoyizi tiptoed out and went to sleep in the adjacent room, while Guchen Sha picked up a history book and began to read it carefully again.

The history of the vast continent's dynasties is vast, spanning countless years, with endless myths from ancient times. Reading through them is quite exhausting.

"Hmm?"

While reading, he discovered a passage about the ancient emperors.

"The ancient emperors deduced the essence of the heavens from the sacrificial heaven symbols and could cultivate the Emperor's Divine Technique. When this technique is perfected, it can sweep away all evil spirits, enforce the will of heaven, suppress the land, control the stars, and appoint the gods. All martial arts in the world are derived from this technique..."

"The Emperor's Divine Technique..." Guchen Sha's eyes sparkled. "This martial art is powerful. How can I deduce it from the sacrificial heaven symbols?"

If he could obtain the method to cultivate the "Emperor's Divine Technique" from the sacrificial heaven symbols, reaching the Dao realm would be no problem.

At the same level, the combat power of martial arts of different grades can vary greatly.

For example, the Eighteenth Prince, Gu Hongsha, is almost breaking through to the Master level with the "Dragon King Technique." Although he may not be as strong as Guchen Sha, who combines the strength of bears, wolves, and pythons, in a fight, Gu Hongsha would definitely win.

The Dragon King Technique is unpredictable and mysterious, and using basic martial arts to fight it is like courting death.

Basic martial arts focus on the cultivation of the body, muscles, and skin.

The Dragon King Technique, on the other hand, combines the cultivation of the mind, spirit, and aura, making one fight as if possessed by a deity.

Of course, anyone must first diligently practice basic martial arts to a high level before they can learn higher-grade techniques. Otherwise, forcing the cultivation will lead to mental confusion and certain death.

Now, Guchen Sha's foundation is probably unmatched, but he lacks the key to unlock advanced techniques.

The level of the Emperor's Divine Technique is absolutely beyond Royal, Imperial, Immortal, and even Heavenly levels, being the essence of the Dao.

"How can I deduce it? How can I make the sacrifice to obtain the Emperor's Divine Technique?" He carefully flipped through the pages but found no specific records.

"The history books are vast, and trying to find clues in them is like searching for a needle in a haystack. If only there were a catalog, it would be perfect. No wonder the compilation of the Heavenly Symbol Canon is a great achievement. If you want to find information, you can simply look it up in the catalog, which would be perfect." Guchen Sha now realized that the compilation of the Heavenly Symbol Canon was a monumental task.

To find the information you need, just look it up in the catalog.

Unlike now, where you have no idea where to start to learn something.