After reaching the early stage of the Huangji Realm, Zhang Ruochen's "Qi Pool" expanded to nearly ten times its original size, now as large as a basketball.
Yet, the true energy within the Qi Pool remained sparse—no larger than a clump the size of an egg, barely one-tenth of the Qi Pool's capacity.
To break through to the mid-stage of the Huangji Realm, he would first need to fill the Qi Pool with true energy.
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged, eyes closed, activating the Divine Martial Seal at his brow. He began cultivating the first layer of the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture: The Supreme Huang Realm.
True energy flowed from the Qi Pool, traveling through the meridians he had opened, circulating throughout his entire body.
As the true energy circulated, Zhang Ruochen's body became like a vortex, gradually absorbing the spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth entered through the Divine Martial Seal on his brow.
The seal transformed this energy into true energy, storing it within the Qi Pool. From there, it flowed back through his meridians, completing a full circulation.
Each complete circulation of true energy through his body was called a "small cycle."
After completing nine full cycles, Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes, sensing that the amount of true energy within him had doubled, now filling one-tenth of the Qi Pool.
If other martial artists knew that he had doubled his true energy in such a short time, they would be overjoyed.
However, Zhang Ruochen was unsatisfied. "After nine cycles, I've only increased my true energy this much? Too slow! If I had a Spirit Crystal, my cultivation speed would double!"
Zhang Ruochen was aware that the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture he practiced allowed him to absorb energy far faster than those who practiced inferior techniques.
But even so, he found this current speed lacking.
A single Spirit Crystal could greatly accelerate his progress.
Spirit Crystals were condensed spiritual energy in stone form.
They could be found naturally in the earth's veins or extracted from the bodies of slain beasts as "acquired Spirit Crystals."
The value of a single Spirit Crystal was equivalent to a thousand silver coins—something only royal descendants or talented martial artists from noble families could hope to possess.
For Zhang Ruochen and his mother, Lin Fei, a thousand silver coins was an astronomical sum, far beyond their reach.
"Spirit Crystal..." Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. He took out a white, oval-shaped stone that he had been wearing around his neck, cradling it in his palm.
Could this be a Spirit Crystal?
With his true energy circulating, the Divine Martial Seal on his brow appeared once again, transforming into a coin-sized halo.
A stream of white energy shot from his brow, striking the white stone.
Swoosh!
Four ancient characters emerged on the stone's surface.
Zhang Ruochen had never seen such characters before, but instinctively, he recognized their meaning: Temporal Spirit Stone.
In his past life, Zhang Ruochen had tried channeling true energy into this stone, but it had never responded, and no characters had ever appeared.
"Last time, I was hundreds of times stronger than I am now, yet the characters never emerged. But now, with just the strength of the early Huangji Realm, it reacts. It's not the strength of my true energy—it's the nature of it."
For example, a martial artist with the Flame Divine Martial Seal would see a triple increase in cultivation speed when using fire-attributed Spirit Crystals, while ordinary Spirit Crystals only doubled the speed.
Ninety percent of Spirit Crystals in nature had no attribute, just as ninety percent of martial artists could only awaken attribute-less martial imprints.
"Could my Divine Martial Seal have a specific attribute that perfectly resonates with this Temporal Spirit Stone? But what exactly is a Temporal Spirit Stone?"
Though Zhang Ruochen was the son of the Emperor in his past life and had seen all manner of Spirit Crystals—flame, ice, lightning, blood—he had never heard of a time or space-attributed Spirit Crystal.
After all, time and space were forces beyond human control. Not even gods could alter them, as they adhered to their own laws.
As Zhang Ruochen pondered this mystery, the Temporal Spirit Stone began to glow, transforming into a vortex of light.
The vortex expanded, enveloping Zhang Ruochen's entire body.
The next moment, he felt the world spin, and he was thrown heavily onto a hard surface.
Luckily, Zhang Ruochen had completed his marrow cleansing and meridian washing, and his body had grown far stronger in the early Huangji Realm. Had this happened before, the fall might have killed him.
Rising to his feet, Zhang Ruochen stretched his sore muscles and surveyed his surroundings.
The space was completely sealed—no doors, no windows. The ceiling stretched ten meters high, with the room's length and width matching.
"How did I get here? Where is this place? Huh, a stone platform!"
In the center of the space was a single stone platform.
Upon the platform lay a rolled-up painting and a thin, silver-colored iron book. Aside from these, the room was empty.
Zhang Ruochen first attempted to pick up the painting, but it was impossibly heavy, as if fused to the platform. No matter how much strength he used, it didn't budge.
Frustrated, he turned his attention to the thin silver book.
On its surface, four words were inscribed: Temporal Codex.
This time, Zhang Ruochen was prepared. He circulated his true energy throughout his body, summoning all his strength as he flipped open the first page of the Temporal Codex.
"So... easy?"
The pages turned with no effort at all, contrary to his expectations.
With a wry smile, Zhang Ruochen stopped using his true energy, holding the book in his hands as he began to read carefully.
The first page wasn't a cultivation technique, but rather a record left by the previous owner of the Temporal Spirit Stone, the sage monk Xumi.
After reading the record, Zhang Ruochen finally understood everything.
"So, my Divine Martial Seal is actually a Temporal Divine Martial Seal. According to Xumi, not even one in a billion could awaken such a seal. In history, only two people had ever awakened one. With me, that makes three."
"Xumi was the second to awaken this seal, but according to his record, he died over a hundred thousand years ago, during the Ancient Era. That was long before the present time."
The space Zhang Ruochen now found himself in was the internal dimension of the Temporal Spirit Stone.
Time here flowed differently from the outside world. Three days of cultivation within this space would only equate to one day outside.
Zhang Ruochen was overjoyed, exclaiming, "I can cultivate here for three days, and only one day will pass outside. This gives me three times more training time than anyone else! Incredible!"
Eager to continue, Zhang Ruochen tried to turn to the second page of the Temporal Codex, but no matter what he did, it refused to open.
"Again?"
Feeling a surge of frustration, Zhang Ruochen resisted the urge to throw the Temporal Codex onto the ground. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of a small line of text at the bottom of the first page.
"Reach the Minor Extremity Stage of the Huangji Realm, and inject true energy into the painting to unlock it."
Zhang Ruochen glanced once more at the painting, speculating that it likely contained some profound cultivation method related to time and space.
"I must cultivate diligently and break through to the Minor Extremity Stage as soon as possible. Then, I can uncover the secrets hidden in that painting!"
The Minor Extremity Stage was the fourth sub-stage of the Huangji Realm. Beyond that were the Intermediate Extremity, Major Extremity, and finally, Great Perfection.
A growl from Zhang Ruochen's stomach pulled him from his thoughts, and he exited the stone's internal space, returning to his room.
Clutching the Temporal Spirit Stone tightly in his hand, Zhang Ruochen felt more confident than ever. With this stone, he was certain he could reach the late stage of the Huangji Realm within three months.
Zhang Ruochen, Lin Fei, and the maidservant Yun'er sat down together for breakfast.
The meal was simple—white rice and steamed buns, with no sign of meat.
For martial artists, who burned through far more energy than ordinary people, their diet was critical.
Other princes and princesses who had awakened their Divine Martial Seals no longer ate regular food, instead consuming Blood Pills made from beast blood.
One pill was enough to sustain them for an entire day, even after rigorous sword or fist training.
Additionally, Blood Pills enhanced one's blood vitality, strengthening the body and increasing physical power.
If Zhang Ruochen continued eating rice and buns, no matter how many meals he had, it would never be enough to sustain his energy needs.
"Chen'er, now that you've awakened your Divine Martial Seal, you can't rely on regular food anymore. Here, take these ten Blood Pills. If you need more, I'll find a way." Lin Fei handed Zhang Ruochen a jade bottle.
Munching on a bun, Zhang Ruochen was shocked. "Mother, a single Blood Pill costs five silver coins. Ten is worth fifty silver coins. Where did you get so much money?"
Lin Fei smiled gently. "Don't worry about it, Chen'er. Mother always finds a way."
Yun'er, the maidservant, chimed in, "Her Highness sold her favorite golden hairpin at the pill market to buy these."
Lin Fei shot Yun'er a mild look, as if to scold her for speaking out of turn. Then she said, "Chen'er, don't overthink it. As long as you can become a true martial artist, I'd sell all my jewelry to support you."
Zhang Ruochen was deeply moved, gripping the jade bottle tightly. His lips trembled with the desire to tell her that he had already become a true martial artist.
But no. He couldn't reveal it just yet.
To have opened his Qi Pool and completed his marrow cleansing and meridian washing in a single night was far too fast. If this news spread, it would inevitably reach the ears of the other princes and queens. That would put both him and Lin Fei in danger.
For now, he was still too weak. He needed even greater power.