Chapter 3

The Empress sat in the tent below the altar, wearing a golden phoenix crown and a colorful phoenix robe, looking to be around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, elegant and dignified, not as aged as Zhang Ruochen had imagined, but rather exuding a noble aura.

She said, "The Great King is in seclusion at the Hall of Life and Death. This time, the 'Grand Sacrificial Ceremony' is presided over by this Empress. Grand Master, have you determined the grade of the Divine Martial Mark that the Ninth Prince has awakened?"

The Grand Master of Yunwu County, holding a scroll of iron, shook it and said, "The 'Complete Volume of Divine Martial Marks' records all the martial marks that have appeared in the Kunlun Realm since ancient times, from first-grade martial marks to ninth-grade martial marks, all recorded in the book. However, none of the marks match the Divine Martial Mark of the Ninth Prince."

The Empress glanced at Zhang Ruochen with a hint of indifference, "Since no result has been determined, it is likely a gradeless Divine Martial Mark. In other counties, there have been martial practitioners who awakened unknown Divine Martial Marks, but their ultimate achievements were very limited."

The Eighth Prince, also standing in the tent, immediately spoke, "The Empress is right. After all, the Ninth Brother is already sixteen years old, missing the best age for cultivation. For him, even if he awakens a fourth-grade or fifth-grade Divine Martial Mark, it won't lead to any significant achievements."

The Empress nodded, agreeing with the Eighth Prince, "Since the Ninth Prince has awakened a gradeless Divine Martial Mark and is already sixteen years old, to conserve the royal family's cultivation resources as much as possible, we will only give the Ninth Prince one portion of the bone-washing liquid!"

Lin Fei's expression changed, "Empress, the first year after awakening a Divine Martial Mark is the most important. When the Seventh Prince awakened his Divine Martial Mark, he received twelve portions of bone-washing liquid, one each month. Why can Chen only receive one portion of bone-washing liquid?"

The Empress coldly replied, "The Seventh Prince awakened a seventh-grade Divine Martial Mark at the age of three. How can the Ninth Prince compare to the Seventh Prince?"

The Eighth Prince flatteringly said, "The Seventh Brother is the Empress's legitimate son, inheriting the Empress's powerful bloodline and possessing a seventh-grade Divine Martial Mark. Who in the entire Yunwu County can compare to the Seventh Brother? The future prosperity and strength of Yunwu County all depend on the Seventh Brother."

He continued, "I will say something you may not like to hear, but the Seventh Brother's one finger is ten, even a hundred times more important than the Ninth Brother's life. There is no comparison."

Lin Fei bit her lips, continuing to plead for Zhang Ruochen, "But when the Eighth Prince awakened his Divine Martial Mark, he also received four portions of bone-washing liquid."

The Empress, clearly displeased, sternly said, "The higher the talent, the more resources one receives. The Ninth Prince has the lowest talent, so naturally, he receives fewer resources."

"But..." Lin Fei said.

The Empress became even more impatient, sternly saying, "I have made my decision. Lin Fei, if you dare to say another word, do you think I won't have you dragged out and beaten again?"

"Again..." Zhang Ruochen, hearing the Empress's words, suddenly lifted his head.

Could it be that the Empress had beaten his mother before?

Lin Fei, hearing the Empress's words, trembled slightly, as if recalling some terrifying event, and immediately closed her mouth.

At this moment, someone brought a portion of bone-washing liquid and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen took the bone-washing liquid and walked to Lin Fei's side, turning to give a deep look at the Empress sitting above, saying, "Mother, let's go back."

"Okay!" Lin Fei lightly pressed her lips, nodding bitterly.

The Empress stared at the backs of Zhang Ruochen and Lin Fei as they left, saying, "In three months, it will be the royal family's year-end assessment. The Ninth Prince must work hard to complete the 'Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing' within three months and become a true martial practitioner. At that time, the Great King will also come out of seclusion, and I hope you can bring him a pleasant surprise."

Then, the Eighth Prince's disdainful voice echoed, laughing, "Even with three portions of bone-washing liquid, it's impossible to complete the Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing within three months. It took me half a year to do it. With the Ninth Brother's talent, it will likely take more than a year to have a chance. Hehe!"

Zhang Ruochen did not turn back, clenching his fists, his resolve firm, "Just wait and see, I will not disappoint you!"

Returning to the Ziyi Pavilion, Zhang Ruochen eagerly closed the door and immediately began to cultivate.

Although he did not know what Divine Martial Mark he had awakened, since he had a Divine Martial Mark, he could definitely cultivate true qi.

First, the first step was to open a 'Qi Pool' below the Divine Martial Mark.

The 'Qi Pool' is a reservoir for true qi.

The larger the pool, the more true qi it can hold. As one's cultivation improves, the 'Qi Pool' will gradually expand.

Generally, to open a 'Qi Pool,' one must do so under the guidance of an elder.

For Zhang Ruochen, who had rich cultivation experience, opening a 'Qi Pool' was not difficult. In just half an hour, he successfully opened a 'Qi Pool.'

For other cultivators, it would take at least several days of attempts to open a 'Qi Pool.'

Zhang Ruochen only took half an hour.

"This body is indeed weak, only opening a 'Qi Pool' the size of an egg, which can hold very little true qi!"

Opening a 'Qi Pool' was far from enough.

The 'Qi Pool' is just a storage place for true qi.

To make true qi circulate throughout the body, one must open one's own cultivation meridians.

Only by completing this step can one possess true qi and become a true martial practitioner.

The next step was the second step, Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing.

Zhang Ruochen took out the small jade bottle containing the bone-washing liquid, sniffed it lightly with his nose, and after confirming it was genuine, directly poured the entire bottle of bone-washing liquid into his mouth.

The bone-washing liquid was very cold as it went down his throat, but in just a moment, the coldness disappeared, replaced by a scorching heat.

It was as if a flame was burning inside his body!

Threads of flame drilled into every meridian in Zhang Ruochen's body, then merged with the meridians.

It was at this moment!

"The Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture, first level, Taihuang Huangjing Tian."

Different cultivation techniques naturally have different meridian routes.

The more profound the technique, the more numerous, complex, and astonishing the meridian routes.

The meridian routes of the "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture" total thirty-six.

Of course, Zhang Ruochen did not need to open all the meridians at once; he only needed to open the first meridian to complete the Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing.

"They say I can't complete the Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing in three months, but I will prove with my actions that I can complete it tonight and become a true martial practitioner!"

Zhang Ruochen, using his cultivation experience from his previous life, utilized the only thread of true qi he had to fully open the meridian, quickly opening more than half of the first meridian.

A sharp pain came from inside his body, as if the meridians were about to tear, making Zhang Ruochen tremble.

If it were anyone else, they would have failed to open the meridian in such a situation.

However, Zhang Ruochen gritted his teeth, using his strong willpower to persist, allowing sweat to continuously drip to the ground, but never giving up.

"Just a... little more..."

Hope was within reach; he must succeed in opening the meridian!

He must succeed!

Zhang Ruochen gathered all his remaining true qi and pushed it forward with all his might.

"Boom!"

A loud noise came from inside his body, almost making Zhang Ruochen faint.

After the pain subsided, he felt a cool flow of qi moving through his meridians, the pain gradually disappearing, and an unprecedented comfort spreading throughout his body.

"Ha! Success! Successfully completed the Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing, becoming a true martial practitioner!"

The Eighth Prince took half a year and four portions of bone-washing liquid to complete this step.

Zhang Ruochen only took one night and one portion of bone-washing liquid.

Completing the Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing means reaching the initial stage of the Huangji Realm.

Martial cultivation is divided into four major realms: Huang, Xuan, Di, and Tian, which are: Huangji Realm, Xuanji Realm, Diji Realm, and Tianji Realm.

Each major realm is divided into seven minor realms: initial, middle, late, minor peak, middle peak, major peak, and great perfection.

Four major, seven minor.

Zhang Ruochen is now at the initial stage of the Huangji Realm.

The initial, middle, and late stages of the Huangji Realm