The cultivation of Gu Chen Sha grew deeper by the day. His mastery of the "Heavenly Emperor Divine Technique" within the Sun and Moon Refinement manual had taken on an entirely new interpretation. Now a fourth-level grandmaster in the Mortal Realm, known as "Scaling Peaks to the Pinnacle," Gu Chen Sha's strength far surpassed that of ordinary grandmasters.
The Heavenly Emperor Divine Technique, known for its unparalleled power, had no equal. Even a basic understanding of this technique enabled one to surpass most other martial arts by a significant margin. Gu Chen Sha's progress accelerated even further since he could now train openly without psychological obstacles holding him back.
With a swift movement, Gu Chen Sha stood upright in the snow. A subtle shake sent the snow around him flying like scattered stones, striking the walls with a loud thud. The vibrations left small craters in the walls, resembling pockmarks left by gunfire. He exhaled a soft breath, and the snow in the courtyard seemed to clear instantly, swept away by an invisible force.
"Not bad," Gu Chen Sha murmured to himself, flashing briefly under the eaves of the courtyard with such speed that not a single footprint was left behind in the snow. This was the Snowless Step, a skill of extraordinary precision.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yizi, Gu Chen Sha's young attendant, had also shown remarkable progress in martial arts. His movements were swift, his strikes forceful, and his focus sharp. Gu Chen Sha had provided him with various medicinal pills like the Baiyue Pavilion's Foundation Elixir, Essence Restoration Pill, and Marrow Cleansing Pill. These medicines had improved Xiao Yizi's physique significantly. Though he had not yet attained an advanced cultivation method, his physical strength was now comparable to a martial arts master.
"Master, no one seems to be spying on us today," Xiao Yizi reported after a quick inspection outside. The snow continued to fall heavily, and the bitter cold wind howled in the air—conditions that discouraged any would-be observers.
"They've retreated for now," Gu Chen Sha replied, his spiritual awareness scanning the surroundings for any disturbances. "It's not surprising. Who would endure this cold when they can stay warm indoors? However, when one reaches the Dao Realm, it's said their spirit senses can extend thousands of miles. Even a tiny ant wouldn't escape their notice. I wonder when I'll achieve such a level."
"Master, the snow is excellent today. Shall we take a walk outside?" Xiao Yizi suggested, his recent training giving him the courage to face the cold.
"Very well," Gu Chen Sha agreed. "You stay here and watch over the house. I'll head to the southern hills alone." He loved the snow and, with his recent martial breakthroughs, felt an urge to challenge himself. Hunting wolves and tigers in the southern hills might yield more ingredients for refining the Tiger-Wolf Pill—a rare and valuable ancient elixir.
"Understood, Master. Enjoy the snow. I'll keep an eye on things here," Xiao Yizi replied. He knew he couldn't match Gu Chen Sha's speed and would only slow him down if he joined.
With a nod, Gu Chen Sha disappeared from the courtyard in a flash, vanishing into the vast snowfield.
In the southern outskirts of the capital stood a grand estate spanning four or five hundred acres. High walls surrounded tranquil gardens with flowing streams, resting against a mountain glittering like jade. The estate exuded an air of wealth and prestige.
At its heart stood a massive bronze hall, adorned with gold and silver embellishments. From above, the structure shimmered like a divine temple. The hall itself spanned dozens of acres, and its columns, arranged like constellations, hinted at a powerful formation.
Despite its grandeur, the hall defied common sense. Constructing such a building entirely from metal would attract lightning during storms, posing a grave danger. Yet, the resources poured into this estate spoke of astronomical wealth.
Above the hall's grand entrance were two large characters engraved in bronze: Thunder Palace.
Inside the hall sat a man in his early twenties. His robust frame and sharp features exuded an intimidating aura. Dressed in embroidered robes of gold-trimmed silk, his mere presence radiated dominance. His every movement commanded attention, his aura blazing like a flame.
"Your Highness," a man clad in black armor knelt at the entrance, breaking the silence.
"Yes, Lei Meng? Have you returned with the information I asked for?" The man in the hall spoke with a metallic tone. He was none other than the Tenth Prince, Gu Zhensha, known for his ruthless ambition.
"Yes, Your Highness," Lei Meng reported. "We've acquired an informant within the palace. The Nineteenth Prince, Gu Chensha, has been training diligently in martial arts and has made some progress. He even ventured to the southern hills today, possibly for hunting."
"Hmph, does he think mastering the Titan Divine Technique will make him a threat?" Gu Zhensha sneered. "Even if he activates the Titan Divine bloodline, it's no match for my Thunder God bloodline."
"Your Highness, have you already activated the Thunder God bloodline?" Lei Meng asked, his face alight with astonishment.
"Nearly. Lately, I've felt an endless reservoir of power within me—a sign that the bloodline activation has begun," Gu Zhensha replied calmly. "Relay this to the Lei family. Tell the patriarch to send me the Thunder Dragon Scepter. With that heirloom, I will fully awaken my Thunder God bloodline and ascend to the Dao Realm."
"But... the Thunder Dragon Scepter is the Lei family's symbol of leadership," Lei Meng hesitated.
"Rules mean nothing compared to the empire's future. The Lei family needs my protection. I trust the patriarch knows where his priorities lie," Gu Zhensha said, his tone brooking no argument.
"Understood," Lei Meng bowed deeply, not daring to question further.
As Gu Zhensha paced the hall, he smirked coldly. "That useless Nineteenth Prince still dares to dream of rising from the mud? I crushed his ambitions years ago, and yet he lingers. While I care little for him, I won't tolerate anyone using him as a pawn against me. It's time to deal with him once and for all."
"Your Highness, do you want me to take action against that useless wretch?" Lei Meng asked, awaiting orders.
"No need. I want to borrow someone else's hands," said the Tenth Prince, Gu Zhensha, waving dismissively. "Father has arranged for Lou Baiyue to associate with that wretch. It seems he has intentions of grooming him. If I act against him now, it would mean disobeying Father's decree and displeasing him. That would bring me no benefit. Instead, instruct Steward Ji to prepare an invitation. Tonight, I'll host a small gathering with Lou Baiyue to discuss important matters."
"As you wish, Your Highness." Seeing that Gu Zhensha had no further instructions, Lei Meng carefully backed away, turned, and left.
Once the grand bronze hall was empty, Gu Zhensha stood in silence.
"The Dao Realm! I must break through to the Dao Realm!" he muttered fiercely. "The First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Seventh Princes have all advanced before me. If I don't catch up, how will I compete with them in the future?"
Suddenly, he punched forward.
Boom!
His entire body surged with power. Thunder roared within his veins, as if a mighty dragon was about to burst forth, soaring into the heavens.
Meanwhile, Gu Chensha stood in the snowy wilderness, the frigid air filling his lungs with refreshing cold. At times, he longed to abandon the political scheming of the capital and roam the vast lands freely. Yet, he knew that countless eyes were watching him, and every move he made was likely under someone's control.
Deep in the snowy forest, Gu Chensha moved with astonishing speed. Using the Snowless Step, his presence became almost imperceptible, leaving nothing but a gust of wind in his wake.
His martial arts had already reached the level of a grandmaster, and the Heavenly Emperor Divine Technique he practiced was unmatched. Against two or three ordinary grandmasters, he could easily prevail, even if his combat experience wasn't extensive.
After traveling over a hundred miles into the mountains, he found himself surrounded by endless snow, trees, and peaks. Even royal hunters rarely ventured this far.
"By now, no one should know my whereabouts," he thought, scanning his surroundings. "With my current strength, unless a Dao Realm expert is watching, no one can hide from my senses."
Suddenly, he buried himself deep into the snow, completely covering his body. Using the Sun and Moon Refinement technique, he concealed his aura entirely, blending into his surroundings like a lifeless stone.
The technique was incredibly intricate, involving meditation, breath control, pressure points, movement, celestial alignments, and soul focus. Despite practicing for months, Gu Chensha felt he had barely scratched its surface. The deeper he trained, the more vast and profound its mysteries seemed.
For two full hours, he remained hidden, sensing faint movements of people searching nearby. However, they soon gave up and left.
"As expected, those spies are incredibly persistent. Even in this freezing cold, they're still tracking me to report back to their masters. Among them are Lou Baiyue's people, the Eighteenth Prince's agents, and even those loyal to the Tenth Prince..." Gu Chensha thought to himself.
As night fell and the wind howled through the mountains, Gu Chensha emerged from the snow. The harsh conditions had driven all pursuers away, leaving the wilderness eerily quiet.
"This is the perfect time to hunt for tiger wolves and refine some elixirs," he decided. In these conditions, even the fiercest predators retreated to their dens, making them easy prey.
By midnight, Gu Chensha had captured three ferocious wolves and three tigers. Using special herbs and a ritual altar, he refined the beasts into three Tiger-Wolf Pills.
"Unfortunately, the Tiger-Wolf Pill only works once. It won't provide further benefits after the first use. Xiao Yizi will need to rely on his own training to grow stronger. As for selling these pills, it's a hassle. I don't have trusted people to nurture under me, making their distribution troublesome," Gu Chensha mused.
The pills could turn ordinary individuals into formidable warriors, but their value to Gu Chensha was limited. He would have to sell them for resources instead.
While deep in thought, he noticed a sudden flash of light in the distance. A brilliant streak shot into the sky, illuminating the area like lightning tearing through the night.
"What was that? Could it be the emergence of a treasure? Such an intense and fiery aura..." Without hesitation, Gu Chensha darted toward the source of the phenomenon, his figure moving like a streak of light across the snow-covered terrain.