Queen Mother sat in the tent below the sacrificial altar, wearing a golden phoenix crown and a robe adorned with colorful phoenixes. She appeared to be around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, looking elegant and dignified, far from the aged appearance Zhang Ruochen had imagined. Instead, she exuded a noble aura.
She said, "The king is currently in seclusion, cultivating in the Hall of Life and Death. This 'Grand Sacrificial Ceremony' will be presided over by me. National Preceptor, have you detected the grade of the Divine Martial Imprint that His Highness, the Ninth Prince, has activated?"
The National Preceptor of the Yunwu Commandery, holding an iron book in his hands, shook his head and said, "The Complete Record of Divine Martial Imprints documents all the martial imprints that have appeared in the history of the Kunlun Realm, from first to ninth grade. However, none of the imprints match the Ninth Prince's Divine Martial Imprint."
The Queen Mother glanced at Zhang Ruochen with a hint of indifference. "Since no results were detected, it's likely that his Divine Martial Imprint has no grade. Other commanderies have also seen warriors who activated unknown Divine Martial Imprints, but their achievements have always been limited."
The Eighth Prince, standing in the tent, immediately chimed in, "The Queen Mother is right. After all, Ninth Brother is already sixteen years old and has missed the best years for cultivation. Even if he activated a fourth- or fifth-grade Divine Martial Imprint, his achievements would still be limited."
The Queen Mother nodded, agreeing with the Eighth Prince. "Since the Ninth Prince has only activated a Divine Martial Imprint without a grade and is already sixteen, to conserve the royal family's cultivation resources, he will only receive one portion of Marrow Cleansing Elixir."
Concubine Lin's expression changed as she protested, "Queen Mother, the first year after activating the Divine Martial Imprint is the most crucial. When the Seventh Prince activated his imprint, he received twelve portions of Marrow Cleansing Elixir and could cleanse his marrow once a month. Why is Chen'er only given one portion?"
The Queen Mother coldly replied, "The Seventh Prince activated a seventh-grade Divine Martial Imprint at the age of three. How can the Ninth Prince compare to the Seventh Prince?"
The Eighth Prince flattered, "Seventh Brother is the Queen Mother's direct son, inheriting her powerful bloodline and possessing a seventh-grade Divine Martial Imprint. In the entire Yunwu Commandery, who can compare to Seventh Brother? The future prosperity of Yunwu Commandery rests solely on him."
He continued, "Let me speak frankly, Seventh Brother's little finger is ten, a hundred times more important than Ninth Brother's life. There is no comparison."
Concubine Lin bit her lip and continued pleading for Zhang Ruochen, "But when the Eighth Prince activated his Divine Martial Imprint, he also received four portions of Marrow Cleansing Elixir."
The Queen Mother, clearly displeased, said, "The higher the talent, the more resources one receives. The Ninth Prince has the lowest talent, so naturally, he receives fewer resources."
"But..." Concubine Lin began to argue.
The Queen Mother grew more impatient and said coldly, "I have made my decision. Lin Fei, if you dare say another word, I will have you dragged out and punished again!"
"Again..." Zhang Ruochen raised his head sharply at the Queen Mother's words. Could it be that the Queen Mother had punished his mother before?
Concubine Lin trembled slightly at the Queen Mother's threat, as if recalling some terrible memory, and immediately fell silent.
At this moment, someone handed a portion of Marrow Cleansing Elixir to Zhang Ruochen.
He took the elixir, walked over to Concubine Lin's side, then turned and gave the Queen Mother a deep look before saying, "Mother, let's go back."
"Yes," Concubine Lin replied softly, biting her lip and nodding bitterly.
The Queen Mother watched Zhang Ruochen and Concubine Lin leave and said, "In three months, the royal family's year-end examination will take place. Ninth Prince, you must train hard. Strive to complete the 'Marrow Cleansing and Meridians Opening' in three months and become a true martial artist. At that time, the king will emerge from seclusion, and I hope you can surprise him."
Immediately, the Eighth Prince's mocking voice followed, "Even with three portions of Marrow Cleansing Elixir, it would be impossible to complete the cleansing in three months. It took me half a year to do it. With Ninth Brother's talent, it will take at least a year. Heh heh!"
Zhang Ruochen did not look back. He clenched his fists, his determination unshaken. "Just wait and see. I will not disappoint you!"
Upon returning to the Purple Palace, Zhang Ruochen hurriedly shut the door and began cultivating.
Although he did not know what kind of Divine Martial Imprint he had activated, since he possessed one, it meant he could cultivate true qi.
The first step was to create a "qi pool" beneath the Divine Martial Imprint.
A "qi pool" is a reservoir for storing true qi. The larger the pool, the more qi it can hold. As one's cultivation advances, the qi pool expands.
Generally, opening a qi pool requires guidance from a senior. However, with Zhang Ruochen's experience from his previous life, creating the qi pool was not difficult. It took him only half an hour to successfully open one.
For most cultivators, it would take several days of attempts to open a qi pool.
Zhang Ruochen, however, needed just half an hour.
"This body is indeed weak. The qi pool is only the size of an egg, too small to hold much true qi!"
Opening the qi pool was only the beginning. True qi must flow throughout the body, which requires opening one's meridians.
Next came the second step: Marrow Cleansing and Meridians Opening.
Zhang Ruochen uncorked the small jade bottle of Marrow Cleansing Elixir, sniffed it to confirm its authenticity, then drank it in one gulp.
The elixir was icy cold at first, but after a moment, the cold vanished, replaced by a searing heat.
It felt as if flames were burning inside his body!
Tiny threads of fire seeped into every meridian, merging with them.
Now was the time!
"Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture, First Layer, Taishang Huangji Realm."
The meridian pathways for each cultivation method are different, with more advanced methods having more intricate routes.
The Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture required 36 meridian pathways.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen didn't need to open all of them right away—just one meridian would complete the cleansing.
"They said it would take me three months, but I will prove them wrong. I'll complete the cleansing tonight and become a true martial artist!"
With his previous life's experience, Zhang Ruochen directed all his true qi into the meridian, quickly opening most of the first path.
A sharp pain coursed through his body, as if his meridians were being torn apart, making him tremble.
Most would fail at this point, but Zhang Ruochen gritted his teeth, his willpower strong, even as sweat dripped to the floor.
"Just a little more..."
Success was within reach—he had to succeed!
Gathering the remaining true qi, he made a final push.
"Boom!"
A loud sound reverberated inside him, almost knocking him unconscious. But as the pain subsided, a cool sensation spread through his meridians, bringing an unprecedented feeling of comfort.
"Haha! Success! I've completed Marrow Cleansing and Meridians Opening. I'm now a true martial artist!"
The Eighth Prince had required four portions of elixir and six months to reach this stage.
Zhang Ruochen, however, had done it in one night with just one portion.
Completing the Marrow Cleansing and Meridians Opening marked his entry into the Early Stage of the Huangji Realm.
In martial cultivation, there are four major realms: Huang, Xuan, Di, and Tian, each divided into seven smaller stages: Early, Middle, Late, Minor Extreme, Intermediate Extreme, Major Extreme, and Great Perfection.
Zhang Ruochen was now at the early stage of the Huangji Realm.
The more meridians opened, the stronger the true qi and the greater the body's strength. Each advancement in stage significantly increased power.
The Eighth Prince, at the late stage of the Huangji Realm, could lift a 300-pound stone disc and throw it ten feet. His punch was as powerful as a bull's.
A late-stage Huangji Realm martial artist typically possessed "one bull's strength."
Beyond that lay the Minor Extreme, Intermediate Extreme, Major Extreme, and Great Perfection stages.
Breaking through the late stage to the Minor Extreme would grant "four bulls' strength," multiplying one's power fourfold.
Therefore, a Minor Extreme Huangji Realm martial artist could easily defeat a late-stage counterpart as if an adult were fighting a child.
The higher stages were even more terrifying, with unimaginable power.
But those stages were far from Zhang Ruochen's current reach. For now, he needed to cultivate steadily, step by step, to go further.
The Eighth Prince had spent eight years reaching the late stage of the Huangji Realm—a mediocre talent at best.
"The Eighth Prince took half a year to complete the Marrow Cleansing. I did it in one night."
"He took eight years to reach the late stage of the Huangji Realm. I must achieve the same in three months, and I know I can."
In three months, the royal family's year-end examination would take place, with all the young martial artists, including the princes, princesses, and nobles, competing to display their progress.
In the royal family, gaining status, respect, and cultivation resources required proving one's strength.
Three months!
In three months, Zhang Ruochen had to reach the late stage of the Huangji Realm—not only for himself but also for his mother, to win back her dignity.