"Shi Ba-ge, I don't understand what you're saying." Gu Chen Sha lowered his head.
"Go to Father Emperor immediately and bid him farewell. Kneel until you can't anymore—only then will you have a slim chance of survival. Otherwise, Lao Qi, Lao Ba, Lao Jiu, Lao Shi, and many other brothers won't let you off. Even Lou Bai Yue herself might kill you. You must realize this by now," said Gu Hong Sha sharply.
"But this was decided by Father Emperor. What can I possibly do about it?" Gu Chen Sha feigned ignorance.
"Foolish and spineless." Gu Hong Sha's eyes glinted with disdain. "Do you actually think marrying Lou Bai Yue will mean her family's power is yours to use? If that's your plan, you're truly naive."
"I haven't received confirmation yet. It might all be fake," Gu Chen Sha replied helplessly, bowing his head. This ancient family rule had shaped his cautious and calculating nature—he wouldn't act rashly.
"It's good you understand. Let me warn you—be careful around Lao Shi. After hearing about this, he's been openly saying he's looking for a chance to cripple you," Gu Hong Sha said as he glanced at the submissive figure before him. He pulled out a golden pocket watch, checked the time, and stood up. "I'm leaving the palace. Let's see how my newly built mansion is coming along."
"Master, I just supervised it the other day. The pond is complete, filled with spring water, and we even installed those flushable toilets designed by the Heavenly Works Institute. There's also polished glass, and the floors are made of Kunshan green jade—it's practically a celestial palace!" The head eunuch fawned, leading the way.
The palanquin made its way out of the palace gates.
"Master, I've heard about the Eighteenth Prince's mansion. It covers a vast area, employs three to five thousand servants, and that golden pocket watch he just took out was also made by the Heavenly Works Institute. It seems His Majesty gathered the best craftsmen after ascending the throne, creating all sorts of ingenious devices." The young attendant sighed enviously. "Master, you don't even have a mansion yet. Perhaps it's time to start preparing."
"There's nothing I can do about that. Where would I find that kind of money?" Gu Chen Sha sighed. "Shi Ba's mother's family, the Shui clan, is throwing their full support behind him to help him compete for the throne."
"Without a Crown Prince, His Majesty letting all the princes establish their own mansions and appoint their own officials is a clever move. It's inciting everyone's ambition and drive," the young attendant remarked. "I've also heard that Shi Ba has recently advanced to the fifth stage of cultivating the Dragon King's Fist, nearing mastery. But if Master fought him, you might not necessarily lose. With your current skills, you could make a name for yourself. Why do you keep holding back?"
"Without reaching the Dao realm, it's all just talk," Gu Chen Sha said, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. "You mustn't show your abilities too soon either. Train in secret. Besides, the Dragon King's Fist is a royal-level technique, while my foundational royal family boxing is just a low-level practice. If I were to face Shi Ba, I'd likely still fall short."
"It's a pity Master can't access the royal family's treasure vault for advanced techniques. Oh, by the way, do you still have that special elixir?" the young attendant asked. "Selling just one could fetch a fortune."
"I do, but selling it would draw too much attention. Cleansing Pills, Essence Pills, and Fortifying Elixirs from the royal collection are already valuable, but my elixir is dozens of times more effective. How much would it be worth?" Gu Chen Sha waved dismissively. "For now, patience is key. Even though I've made some progress, I'm still like a frog at the bottom of a well."
"Speaking of Shi Ba, he warned you about Lao Shi. I recall a few years back, Lao Shi almost beat you to death," the young attendant suddenly remembered. "And it was all because of Lou Bai Yue stirring things up."
"Lao Shi is ruthless, acting without care for consequences. Unfortunately, Father Emperor seems to like that kind of personality. What's worse is his martial skills—innate strength and profound techniques make him a terrifying opponent." Gu Chen Sha frowned deeply.
The two talked as they returned to their small courtyard.
The sky grew dim. The yard, shrouded in gloom, lacked even a single lamp. The autumn breeze was cold, and the overgrown weeds swayed like ghostly hands.
Poof!
The young attendant struck a match, lighting a candle to bring some warmth to the room.
"Master, our candles are almost used up, and the Department of Internal Affairs hasn't sent replacements. With autumn here, we'll also need warmer clothes, but it seems they're not planning to provide those either," the attendant grumbled while checking their supplies. "I heard Shi Ba doesn't even use candles—he uses moonstones. Those absorb sunlight during the day and emit a glow at night, just like moonlight. They're so bright!"
"Our monthly allowance is always embezzled—it's nothing new. It's even worse now. The Department of Internal Affairs barely acknowledges us. We'll just have to find our own way," Gu Chen Sha said, sipping plain water from a chipped cup. Finding the taste bitter, he spat it out.
"This water is undrinkable; they've given us bitter well water while others drink the cold, pure springs of Han Yu Mountain," muttered Xiao Yi, clearly out of options.
In the imperial palace, even water was divided into categories.
Ordinary eunuchs and palace maids drank water from the local wells in the capital, which was slightly bitter. Meanwhile, princes and noble consorts enjoyed water sourced from "Han Yu Mountain," located over a hundred miles outside the city. This spring water, enriched with minerals from jade deposits, was known for its refreshing, sweet taste and had long been reserved exclusively for the imperial family.
Every morning, the palace's internal administration would fetch and deliver this spring water to the inner court. As a prince, Guo Chensha was officially allocated three barrels of this premium water daily. However, his share was embezzled by corrupt eunuchs, leaving him to drink the bitter well water meant for the lowest-ranking servants.
The stolen spring water would often be sold secretly in the city's top-tier teahouses and taverns, fetching a high price.
Princes were supposed to enjoy significant monthly stipends, fine clothes, perfumes, tonics, weapons, jewels, seasonal fruits, ice blocks for summer, and smokeless coal for winter. Recently, the Imperial Craft Institute even began producing advanced items like glass, pocket watches, luminous stones, and magical heating or cooling gems. For example, luminous stones absorbed sunlight by day and emitted moonlight-like glow at night, while fire pearls provided warmth in winter without the need for charcoal.
But for Guo Chensha, such luxuries were a distant dream.
"In the past, the palace administrators weren't so blatant with their corruption. At least they left us a little dignity. But now, under Li Ke's command, they're relentless," sighed Guo Chensha. "Still, there's no point in dwelling on these injustices. Focusing on self-improvement is the only solution. Xiao Yi, how is your martial arts training coming along?"
"Master, I've been diligently practicing the foundational fist techniques you taught me. I've gained some insights and might now qualify as a beginner martial artist," Xiao Yi replied while tidying up the room and boiling water. "But Master, surely your martial skills have already reached the level of a Grandmaster?"
"Becoming a Grandmaster is no simple feat," Guo Chensha said, deep in thought. "While my strength is sufficient, I still lack that final breakthrough, likely due to the limitations of my training methods. The foundational martial arts I've been practicing are good for building a solid base, focusing on physical conditioning and internal strength. However, to make real progress, I need access to advanced techniques—ideally, King-grade martial arts. Those techniques go beyond mere physical conditioning; they refine the mind, cultivate spirit, and tap into the essence of life itself."
He paused before continuing, "Without these higher-grade techniques, I'll remain stuck at this threshold."
Martial arts in this world were classified into six levels: Common, Rare, King, Emperor, Immortal, and Heavenly. While basic techniques built the body and honed muscle memory, higher-tier techniques transcended mere physicality, unlocking greater potential through spiritual and mental refinement.
"Master, couldn't you report your progress to the Imperial Archives and request advanced techniques? If they believe you're on the verge of breaking through to the Grandmaster level, the Emperor might even reward you with rare royal techniques. I heard that the Tenth Prince is currently mastering Thunder Strike Gale and is already preparing to ascend into the Dao Realm!" Xiao Yi, ever curious, shared the latest rumors he had gathered.
"That would be unwise," Guo Chensha replied. "Revealing my strength too early might provoke accusations of treason or conspiracy. There are plenty of people eager to drag me down, and the Imperial Records Bureau is no friend to powerless princes like me."
"True," Xiao Yi nodded. "Still, without access to Rare or higher-level techniques, breaking through to the Grandmaster level is nearly impossible. Without that breakthrough, even considering the Dao Realm is a pipe dream."
"I'll have to think about this carefully," Guo Chensha muttered, rubbing his temples. "Time is not on my side. The Emperor's recent suggestion to pair me with Lou Baiyue was like throwing me into a pit of fire. The only way to survive this trial is to grow stronger."
As the night deepened, Xiao Yi quietly retreated to his quarters, leaving Guo Chensha alone with his thoughts. He picked up an ancient history book and continued studying.
The vast records of the Endless Continent spanned countless millennia. From ancient times to the present, myths intertwined with historical accounts. Reading through them was a daunting but enlightening task.
"Huh?"
Something caught his eye. A passage in the book described an ancient Celestial Emperor who had deduced the "Will of Heaven" through the Heavenly Sacrifice Ritual and mastered a martial art called the Celestial Emperor's Divine Seal.
This technique, it was said, allowed its wielder to banish all evil, maintain the cosmic order, and even appoint celestial spirits. According to the record, all martial arts in the world were derived from this supreme technique.
"The Celestial Emperor's Divine Seal..." Guo Chensha's eyes gleamed. "Such a martial art exists? And it's derived from deciphering the Heavenly Sacrifice Ritual? If I could unlock its secrets, breaking into the Dao Realm would no longer be a distant dream."
The same level of martial arts could differ vastly in power depending on its grade. For example, while Guo Chensha's physical strength was formidable, his reliance on basic techniques put him at a disadvantage against his brother Guo Hongsha, who was mastering Dragon King's Gale. Even though their raw strength might be comparable, the versatility and profound nature of Hongsha's technique would inevitably secure him victory.
Basic martial arts built the body, tendons, and skin, whereas higher-level techniques like Dragon King's Gale intertwined mind, spirit, and energy, enabling supernatural precision and power.
"First, one must master the basics," Guo Chensha mused, "but only advanced techniques can truly unlock potential."
His current foundation was impeccable, yet without access to advanced knowledge, he couldn't push open the door to greatness. The Celestial Emperor's Divine Seal, however, wasn't just advanced—it represented the pinnacle of martial understanding, transcending even Immortal and Heavenly grades to touch the essence of the Dao itself.
"But how does one decipher the Heavenly Sacrifice Ritual to acquire this technique?" He scanned the text but found no clear guidance.
"The historical records are so vast. Finding specific details is like searching for a needle in a haystack. If only there were an index or guidebook! No wonder the Emperor values the compilation of the Grand Compendium of Heavenly Scripts. If it's completed, accessing information will be so much easier."
Frustration gnawed at him. For now, the mysteries of the Celestial Emperor's Divine Seal remained tantalizingly out of reach.