Chapter 76

"Eliminate evil thoroughly. For the great cause of a thousand autumns and a peaceful world for ten thousand generations, I am willing to bear any sin." Gu Chensha had no intention of being a do-gooder. The princes' education from a young age, besides being dignified and grand, also included the ability to discern right from wrong.

"Your mission for this offensive is this route." Lou Baoyue pointed to the route on the map after the pass: "This tribe, and this one, and finally here, this is a temple. There are many barbarian gathering points centered around this temple. As long as you occupy this temple, it will be like having a solid fortress, and you will have established your territory. Guard it for two or three months, then continuously transport people over to develop it into your fief."

"I understand." Gu Chensha clapped his hands: "Brilliant. Father is not only testing the princes' combat abilities but also their administrative skills. If you don't have the means to govern, you won't be able to hold the temple, let alone develop your fief."

Sending the princes on a campaign to establish their fiefs is a way to entice them with benefits.

Building the fiefs is a test of governance.

Emperor Tianfu's methods are truly unpredictable.

Gu Chensha felt that after this war, not only would he grow, but the other princes would also grow to a terrifying degree.

"The Emperor has given his orders. Rest for ten days, mobilize the troops, and the princes will all pass through the gate together to enter the wilderness. Use this time to prepare supplies and gather experts," Lou Baoyue said. "Your route is close to mine, which is specially arranged by the Emperor."

"There are dozens of routes on this map, advancing layer by layer. Each route is for a prince. Father is truly thorough. If not divided like this, the princes would fight among themselves, weakening their combat power." Gu Chensha began to calculate the routes and formations, planning how to occupy the barbarian temple as a fortress, stabilize, and then recruit talent.

The land you conquer will be your fief, which is like an independent small kingdom.

Currently, all princes, dukes, and nobles only have mansions and estates, no fiefs. The fief system was abolished long ago to unify the country. Now, this is an opportunity. Whoever can seize the lead can establish a vast and powerful force.

Within the fief, you can make your own laws and rules, as long as they are not too extreme and cause the people to suffer, the court will not interfere.

"Here is the information I have prepared. You can look at it when you return." Lou Baoyue took out a leather bag, filled with maps and official documents, clearly with detailed plans for this campaign: "This attack on the wilderness is no small matter. Although we have many princes, the barbarians are even more numerous, thousands or tens of thousands of times more. Since our routes are close, we need to support each other. I have Si, Mei, and Xue follow you to maintain contact with me."

"The barbarians have many experts. Last time, a barbarian king tried to pass through the portal. It is said that King Karo's realm is the twelfth transformation of Dao, capable of capturing souls and spirits. Even if I am strong, I would be instantly killed if I encounter him." Gu Chensha was somewhat wary.

"There's no way around it. Military orders are like mountains. The Emperor is determined to test the princes in the process of blood and fire. It's not surprising if some princes fall in this battle. It all depends on your skills and luck." Lou Baoyue looked Gu Chensha up and down, "Your strength is too low. You haven't even reached the Dao realm, which will be very difficult."

"Actually, the difference between the Grandmaster realm and the first five transformations of Dao is not significant. Killing enemies is done with flesh and blood. Only at the sixth transformation, when innate qi is born, is there a fundamental leap. Don't underestimate me. Even though I am just a Grandmaster in the Mortal realm, it's not easy for a third transformation Daoist to kill me." Gu Chensha's tone was calm, but he didn't want Lou Baoyue to underestimate him. He always hid his strength, but now, in a cooperative situation, showing weakness might lead to a disadvantage.

Moreover, the current situation is that Emperor Tianfu wants the princes to display their strength and push their potential.

"Is that so?" Lou Baoyue's expression suddenly changed. She plucked her fingers like picking flowers, lightly capturing.

Buzz............

The air in the room seemed to collapse, contracting inward with her as the center, creating a huge suction force, trying to pull Gu Chensha over. Just this light grab gave a sense of the sky collapsing and the earth cracking. Her martial arts were terrifying.

Without hesitation, Gu Chensha moved his feet, floated sideways, and struck with two palms, targeting the weak points in Lou Baoyue's martial arts field. With a bang, the room trembled slightly, and he escaped the range of the attack.

"Good!" Lou Baoyue slightly praised, her steps light, moving as if shrinking a yard into an inch, her fingers already pointing at Gu Chensha's chest acupoints.

Gu Chensha felt a slight tingling in his chest and instinctively retreated, spinning again, his feet not touching the ground, like willow fluff, moving to the other side of the room.

But Lou Baoyue was already there, seemingly predicting his escape. She lightly tapped with three fingers, blocking all his escape routes.

Don't underestimate Lou Baoyue's delicate hands, as soft as young onions. If hit, even steel could turn to dust.

"Too fast, anticipating the enemy's move." Gu Chensha immediately judged that he could only block this move by using the Sun and Moon Killing technique, otherwise, he was no match for Lou Baoyue.

But he was not one to give up easily. His cultivation was nearing perfection, with a sense of divine agility.

At the moment the three fingers approached, he expanded his arms, leaving the center wide open, inviting the attack, while his two wings attacked Lou Baoyue's temples.

This was a strategy of mutual destruction. Lou Baoyue's three fingers could certainly pierce his body, but his dying counterattack could severely injure her head, though he couldn't kill her, he could wound her.

This was the best way to break the deadlock in the current situation.

Lou Baoyue, of course, did not want this. Her intention was to test Gu Chensha's cultivation and gauge his strength, not to fight to the death.

She slightly retreated, her palms already raised, appearing and disappearing, hard-blocking Gu Chensha's attack on her temples.

Bang!

Gu Chensha was stopped by the immense force, flying out and crashing into the wall. The solid wall formed a large pit, with debris falling, but his body was tough and not injured, only his qi and blood were churning, and his body was numb, unable to move. It took ten breaths to recover.

"This woman's martial arts are truly formidable. Even if I use the Sun and Moon Killing technique, it would be difficult to harm her. Her strength is even above the barbarian general." Gu Chensha had a sense of Lou Baoyue's strength, but she definitely hadn't used her full power.

"Your martial arts are very strong. A third transformation Daoist barbarian general can't kill you." Lou Baoyue was highly appreciative: "If you reach the Dao realm, your combat power will likely increase again."

"Have you reached the third transformation of Dao, Copper Skin and Iron Bones?" Gu Chensha asked.

"Not yet, but I can break through at any time." Lou Baoyue smiled: "I don't want to break through so quickly. That's not a good thing. Accumulate more, and when the water is full, it will naturally overflow. You may not understand this realm."

"So, Lou Baoyue has also reached this realm." Gu Chensha realized he had underestimated people, thinking only he understood the principle of water overflowing when full.

"Alright, I understand your martial arts." Lou Baoyue said again: "It's hard to improve your skills right now. It's better to recruit more experts to strengthen your forces. The Emperor has entrusted you with the task of pacifying the Jade Treasure Kingdom. I think you should contact the Seventh Princess of the Jade Treasure Kingdom to fight together. Not only is her martial arts extraordinary, but her influence is also strong. With her help, the chances of success are high."

"The most urgent task is indeed to contact all the experts we can." Gu Chensha nodded, taking the documents: "Since that's the case, I'll go back and prepare."

He greeted and returned to the courtyard of the inn with the three fragrances.

Yiming was instructing Liu Yu and the other five in their training.

The five had exquisite sword techniques, achieving oneness with their swords, gradually infusing their essence and blood into the swords, making the five ancient swords seem to regain their former glory.

"Hmm?" Gu Chensha remembered something, "Liu Yu, come over."

"Yes!" The five moved to his side.

"Follow me into the room."

At this moment, the three fragrances also wanted to follow Gu Chensha, but were stopped by Yiming.

Si's face changed slightly, and she lightly pushed, but Yiming remained unmoved, a subtle force preventing the three women from crossing the threshold.

The three fragrances, being discerning, knew they had encountered a great expert. They exchanged glances and did not move.

"Yiming, they are the Princess of the Moon Symbol County's aides, not servants. They should be treated as honored guests," Gu Chensha knew these three women were Lou Baoyue's confidants and could not be treated like maids.

"Please forgive me." Yiming quickly led the way: "I will arrange rooms for the three ladies and discuss important matters."

"Thank you." The three fragrances' expressions softened, and they followed Yiming.

In the room, Liu Yu and the other five stood in a row: "Your Highness, why have you summoned us?"

These five, after long-term training, had developed loyalty. Gu Chensha and Yiming had secretly observed them, finding them sincere and honest. They had also experienced ancient adventures, and perhaps some destiny would align with them in the future, so Gu Chensha felt they could be further cultivated.

However, the five had reached a bottleneck in their cultivation, and forcing growth was not suitable.

Seeing the five practicing with their swords, Gu Chensha felt that the five ancient swords and their essence and blood were almost one. If he used Heavenly Dew to enhance their swords, what changes would it bring to them?

"Place your swords on the table." Gu Chensha instructed.

"Yes."

The five placed their swords side by side without hesitation.

Gu Chensha took out a large gourd and dripped a drop of Heavenly Dew onto each of the five swords.

As soon as the drops fell, the swords seemed to come to life, emitting clear, joyful sounds. Patterns appeared on the blades, absorbing the Heavenly Dew. After a while, they calmed down, silent and still.

Ordinary daggers would become sharp and durable when dripped with Heavenly Dew, becoming powerful weapons. These five ancient swords, due to their age, had lost their spirit and were filled with impurities, gradually becoming ordinary. They needed to absorb more spirit to regain their mystical qualities.

One drop of Heavenly Dew was equivalent to nurturing in a spirit-gathering array for decades.

Gu Chensha continued to drip a total of twenty-five drops, five drops on each sword.

In an instant, the five swords glowed brightly, moving like living snakes, breathing and writhing, almost becoming sentient.

He had seen the power of the Law-breaking Immortal Sword, so he was not surprised by the movements of these five swords, only observing the changes.

After a while, the five swords stopped writhing and became still.

"Still not enough?" Gu Chensha gritted his teeth and dripped ten more drops on each sword, using fifty drops in total, to see what changes would occur...