Chapter 3

Queen Wang sat in the tent below the altar, wearing a golden phoenix crown and a colorful phoenix robe, looking about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, graceful and dignified, not as aged as Zhang Ruochen had imagined, but rather exuding a noble aura.

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

The Grand Master of Yunwu County, holding a scroll of iron, shook it and said, "The 'Complete Catalogue of Divine Martial Marks' records all the martial marks that have appeared in the Kunlun Realm since ancient times, from Grade 1 to Grade 9. However, none of the marks match Prince Nine's Divine Martial Mark."

Queen Wang glanced at Zhang Ruochen, with a hint of indifference, "Since no result can be determined, it is likely that Prince Nine's Divine Martial Mark has no grade. In other counties, there have been warriors who awakened unknown Divine Martial Marks, but their ultimate achievements were very limited."

Prince Eight, who was also standing in the tent, immediately spoke up, "Your Majesty, Prince Nine is already sixteen years old, having missed the best age for cultivation. Even if he awakens a Grade 4 or Grade 5 Divine Martial Mark, he will not achieve much."

Queen Wang nodded, agreeing with Prince Eight, "Since Prince Nine has awakened a Divine Martial Mark with no grade and is already sixteen years old, to conserve the clan's cultivation resources as much as possible, he will only receive one portion of the Bone Washing Liquid!"

Lady Lin's face changed, "Your Majesty, the first year after awakening a Divine Martial Mark is the most important. When Prince Seven awakened his Divine Martial Mark, he received twelve portions of Bone Washing Liquid, allowing him to cleanse his bones once a month. Why can Ruochen only receive one portion of Bone Washing Liquid?"

Queen Wang coldly replied, "Prince Seven awakened a Grade 7 Divine Martial Mark at the age of three. How can Prince Nine compare to Prince Seven?"

Prince Eight flattered, "Prince Seven is the legitimate son of Your Majesty, inheriting Your Majesty's powerful bloodline and possessing a Grade 7 Divine Martial Mark. Who in the entire Yunwu County can compare to Prince Seven? The future prosperity and strength of Yunwu County all depend on Prince Seven."

He continued, "To put it bluntly, one finger of Prince Seven is ten, even a hundred times more important than Prince Nine's life. There is no comparison at all."

Lady Lin bit her lips, continuing to plead for Zhang Ruochen, "But when Prince Eight awakened his Divine Martial Mark, he also received four portions of Bone Washing Liquid."

Queen Wang was very displeased, "The higher the talent, the more resources one receives. Prince Nine has the lowest talent, so he naturally receives fewer resources."

"But..." Lady Lin said.

Queen Wang became even more impatient, "I have already made my decision. Lady Lin, if you dare to say another word, do you think I won't have you dragged out and beaten again?"

"Again..." Zhang Ruochen, hearing Queen Wang's words, suddenly raised his head.

Could it be that Queen Wang had beaten his mother before?

Lady Lin, hearing Queen Wang's words, trembled slightly, as if recalling something terrifying, and immediately closed her mouth.

At this moment, someone had already brought a portion of Bone Washing Liquid and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen took the Bone Washing Liquid and walked to Lady Lin's side, turned around, and stared deeply at Queen Wang, who was sitting above, and said, "Mother, let's go back!"

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

Queen Wang stared at the backs of Zhang Ruochen and Lady Lin as they left, and said, "In three months, it will be the clan's year-end assessment. Prince Nine must work hard to complete the 'Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing' within three months and become a true warrior. At that time, the king will also come out of seclusion, and I hope you can bring him a pleasant surprise."

Then, Prince Eight's disdainful voice echoed, "Even with three portions of Bone Washing Liquid, it is impossible to complete the Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing within three months. I spent half a year to achieve it. With Prince Nine's talent, it will likely take more than a year. Haha!"

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

Back at 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 where true qi is stored.

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, however, 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 not enough.

The "Qi Pool" is just a place to store 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 warrior.

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, he 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!

The flame penetrated every meridian in Zhang Ruochen's body, then merged with the meridians.

This was the moment!

"The Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture, First Level, Taihuang Huangjing Tian."

Different cultivation techniques naturally have different meridian routes.

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

The meridian route of the "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture" consists of thirty-six meridians in total.

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 cannot 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 warrior!"

Using his cultivation experience from his previous life, Zhang Ruochen used the only thread of true qi he had to fully charge the meridian, quickly opening the first meridian halfway.

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

If it were anyone else, they would have failed to open the meridian at this point.

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

"Just a... small segment... left..."

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

He must succeed!

Zhang Ruochen gathered all his remaining true qi and charged it forward.

"Boom!"

A loud noise came from inside his body, almost deafening Zhang Ruochen and nearly making him 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 warrior!"

Prince Eight 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 involve opening meridians, filling the body with true qi, and making the physical strength increasingly stronger. Each minor realm's improvement in strength is significant.

Prince Eight is at the late stage of the Huangji Realm, capable of lifting a 300-pound stone disc with his bare hands and throwing it ten yards away. The power of his punch is comparable to that of a wild ox.

Warriors at the late stage of the Huangji Realm can generally cultivate "the strength of one ox."

Above the "late" stage are the "minor peak," "middle peak," "major peak," and "great perfection" stages.

Breaking through the late stage of the Huangji Realm to reach the minor peak stage immediately grants "the strength of four oxen," quadrupling one's strength.

Therefore, a warrior at the minor peak stage of the Huangji Realm facing a warrior at the late stage of the Huangji Realm is like an adult facing a child, capable of fighting ten and winning easily.

The "middle peak," "major peak," and "great perfection" stages are even more terrifying, possessing strength beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

These realms are still far from Zhang Ruochen, and he doesn't need to think too much about them. The key is to focus on steady and solid cultivation, taking one step at a time to go further.

Prince Eight has been cultivating for eight years and has only reached the late stage of the Huangji Realm, which is considered ordinary talent.

"Prince Eight took half a year to complete the Bone Washing and Meridian Cleansing. I only took one night."

"Prince Eight took eight years to reach the late stage of the Huangji Realm. I must achieve this goal within three months. For me, it is not impossible."

In three months, it will be the clan's year-end assessment, where all young warriors of the clan, including the princes, princesses, and royal relatives, will participate to evaluate their cultivation achievements over the past year.

To gain status, respect, and more cultivation resources in the clan, one must prove their strength.

Three months!

Within three months, he must reach the late stage of the Huangji Realm. Even if not for himself, he must do it for his mother, who cares for and loves him, to earn the dignity she deserves.

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