"Gu Chen Sha, are you at all interested in competing for the imperial throne?" Long Yu Yun asked, her curiosity sparked now that she had confirmed Gu Chen Sha's identity.
"I'm not interested," Gu Chen Sha replied calmly. "But I do want to reclaim a few things that rightfully belong to me." Then, he asked, "But do you want me to disrupt the balance of power in the court and save your Long Jian Island? That's wishful thinking. Right now, my influence is weak, and even if I held great power, it wouldn't be enough to alter national policies. Back then, my dynasty conquered hundreds of nations and wiped out countless sects. Those sects fled overseas and have been quietly building strength, waiting for revenge. That's why the Emperor established one of the three key national policies: to pacify the overseas territories. The court is currently working tirelessly to build ships and craft ironclad warships, all to bring the overseas nations under our control."
"I understand all that better than you do," Long Yu Yun said with a bitter smile. "I have secret businesses in the capital, so I'm well aware of the current situation. Long Jian Island won't hold out for much longer. Worse still, my Long clan members are being captured and having their bloodlines extracted. My only hope is to rescue them from the hands of the Crown Prince, Gu Heng Ge."
"Extracting bloodlines? That's the work of dark sorcery. Has the Crown Prince gone mad?" Gu Chen Sha was taken aback.
"He craves the bloodline of the Dragon God and will stop at nothing, resorting to cruel and heretical practices. He's even using living people for refining rituals. Among his subordinates are former masters of the Blood Fiend Sect, which was eradicated years ago," Long Yu Yun said, her eyes flashing with intense hatred.
"Each prince has their own faction," Gu Chen Sha observed thoughtfully. "But for the Crown Prince to openly recruit the cruel masters of the Blood Fiend Sect—does he not fear the backlash?"
Gu Chen Sha knew well about the Blood Fiend Sect. They practiced forbidden arts to extract vitality from living beings to create elixirs and potions, leaving countless bodies in their wake. Every dynasty sought to eradicate them. Across the martial world and even among commoners, these practitioners were known as 'blood-drinking demons.'
Such knowledge was mandatory for members of the royal family. Princes had to understand the dangers of the martial world, the methods of heretical sects, and the harsh realities of life. Many princes were even sent to eliminate remnants of dark sects as part of their training. That's why every prince in court was cunning, ruthless, and decisive—they were far from being mere figureheads.
Gu Chen Sha had no choice but to play the fool at times. In truth, he worked harder than most princes, studying diligently. His only limitation was the lack of resources, which held back his martial progress.
"Every prince now has ties to both righteous and heretical factions," Long Yu Yun continued. "They all have their skeletons, and no one dares to point fingers recklessly. The Crown Prince has held the coastal defense for years, building immense power and controlling key military posts. Anyone who moves against him risks a devastating counterattack. Even the Seventh Prince, Gu Fa Ge, the Empress's own son, wouldn't stand a chance."
Gu Chen Sha fell silent, deeply aware of the vast resources and influence the princes commanded. Standing against them seemed impossible. Like a wounded tiger surrounded by wolves, he could only remain vigilant, knowing even trusted allies might turn against him.
"I can see your situation is dire," Long Yu Yun said, her tone more serious. "Why don't we work together? I'll help you establish a foothold in the court, and you help me overthrow the Crown Prince and rescue my clan. What do you think?"
"The Crown Prince's collusion with the Blood Fiend Sect makes him a monster," Gu Chen Sha said. "On moral grounds, I can support you. Moreover, he has taken a keepsake left by my mother, so I have personal reasons to deal with him. Very well, let's work together. However, I have my own difficulties right now. You'll need to assist me with many things first." He began explaining his predicament in detail.
"You're truly in a tough spot," Long Yu Yun remarked after listening. "All you have by your side is a young eunuch. The first thing you need to do is establish your own residence outside the capital, train loyal servants, and recruit skilled fighters. I can help with that. I have resources and men who can assist you. When the time is right, you must gain Emperor Tian Fu's favor and use that leverage to expand your influence openly."
"That will have to wait until I step into the Dao Realm," Gu Chen Sha replied. "Right now, my strength isn't enough to handle all these dangers."
"Reaching the Dao Realm isn't something you can achieve through sheer effort," Long Yu Yun said, waving her hand dismissively. "I reached it by chance, stumbling upon the remains of an ancient dragon clan while diving for pearls. That encounter awakened the Dragon God's bloodline in me and allowed me to ascend to the first transformation of the Dao Realm, the Breathing Energy stage. Without that luck, even sixty years of hard training would have been futile."
"It's that difficult?" Gu Chen Sha muttered, deep in thought.
"Of course. The Dao Realm means using your spirit to command the world's energy, transcending mortal needs. It's the ultimate challenge, defying even nature itself. From what I see, your training isn't bad, but you lack real combat experience and the hardened will forged through battles. To fight the heavens, you must first learn to fight people. If you can't outmatch others, how can you hope to challenge the heavens?"
"You're right," Gu Chen Sha admitted. "I have free time in the coming days, so I'll head to the mountains to train. Meeting someone as skilled as you is a rare opportunity. Please guide me."
Boom!
Two figures swiftly separated amidst the snow, as waves of force spread out in all directions, sweeping away the fallen snow and sending it spiraling into the air once more.
Gu Chen Sha gasped for breath, while Long Yu Yun stood firm, calm, and composed.
The two had spent three days in the mountains. During this time, Gu Chen Sha sparred with Long Yu Yun daily. Under her guidance, his martial arts skills had improved dramatically. Previously, he was disconnected from practical experience, often struggling to refine his techniques. But now, he was able to correct even the smallest of flaws with her pointers.
As the master of Long Jian Island and effectively its ruler, Long Yu Yun had spent years leading armies in battle and clashing with vicious pirates and bandits. Her extensive knowledge and wealth of martial experience were invaluable. Guiding Gu Chen Sha helped him avoid countless detours.
Gu Chen Sha himself was highly intelligent, well-read in classics, philosophy, and history. His ability to reason and analyze allowed him to progress quickly in martial arts. His rapid improvement even left Long Yu Yun somewhat astonished.
"Your strength is immense—nearly on par with mine. I can't figure out what you've consumed or if some great power has reforged your body. Could it be that your Giant Spirit bloodline has awakened, and some divine force has reshaped you?" Long Yu Yun remarked after exchanging blows. Each time they clashed, she felt a nearly unstoppable force behind Gu Chen Sha's attacks, a power so overwhelming it caused her own meridians to tremble slightly.
It was important to note that Long Yu Yun was a Dao Realm master. Even though she had only reached the first transformation, her strength had already surpassed the mortal realm. Her casual punches and strikes could crush martial arts masters, yet Gu Chen Sha was able to withstand three or four of her attacks without faltering, even counterattacking at times. His only shortcoming was the lack of a sharpened edge, something honed only through countless life-and-death battles.
"I still feel like I'm missing something," Gu Chen Sha said, standing in the snow and pondering. "I can't seem to break through this last, hazy barrier. Everything in front of me feels unclear, as if I'm not seeing things properly."
"You've reached the threshold of martial insight," Long Yu Yun explained, taking a deep breath as her injuries gradually healed. "This is also the key to breaking through to the Dao Realm. It requires enlightenment. Out of a thousand martial arts masters, only one might ever touch the barrier of martial insight. You're truly an extraordinary talent. At this point, there's little more I can teach you. You must find your understanding in the midst of life-and-death battles. When standing at the edge of mortality, one's spirit is pushed to its limits. It's in those moments of overwhelming fear or profound joy that you may glimpse the Great Dao."
"I understand. Thank you for your guidance," Gu Chen Sha said, bowing deeply.
"Since we've made our agreement, we shouldn't delay. You've learned well these past few days, but the rest will depend on you. I'll quietly arrange for a residence near the capital to serve as your base of operations," Long Yu Yun said, her tone turning serious. "If you need manpower, I can provide some as well."
"I appreciate your efforts," Gu Chen Sha replied, nodding. Suddenly, a thought struck him. "I recently reviewed the court's records. In the first year of the Tian Fu era, the Emperor issued an edict conferring kingship upon your Long family of Long Jian Island, intending to integrate you into the empire. But after receiving the decree, your family delayed indefinitely and refused to return to the capital, which angered the Emperor."
"That's true," Long Yu Yun said with a cold laugh. "Did they think a single decree would make the hundred thousand people of Long Jian Island bow to him as subjects? It's not that simple. Why are you asking about this?"
"I'm wondering if that decree is still in your possession," Gu Chen Sha asked directly.
The imperial edict conferring kingship upon the Long family was no trivial matter. It was akin to a treaty between nations, bearing the imperial seal and imbued with the Emperor's authority. If Gu Chen Sha could obtain it and use it in a heavenly ritual, he might gain insights into the next move of the Sun and Moon Harmony Technique.
This was his primary goal.
"Why do you want that decree? It's just a useless scrap of paper now," Long Yu Yun said, puzzled.
"It's far from useless. It serves as evidence. In the future, when we turn against the Crown Prince, it could be valuable. I'll argue that it wasn't Long Jian Island that disobeyed the decree, but rather that the Crown Prince obstructed its implementation," Gu Chen Sha explained, weaving a small lie.
"If it's useful to you, then take it. But I don't carry it with me. We'll need to arrange another meeting later," Long Yu Yun replied. "I'll also relocate the remaining assets of Long Jian Island to the capital. When we coordinate in the future, be cautious. The princes in the capital are far from harmless."
"You can rest assured. After so many years, I've learned a thing or two," Gu Chen Sha said thoughtfully. "By the way, I'll send my trusted eunuch attendant and his adopted son to communicate with you. That boy is loyal to me and would benefit greatly from your martial guidance."
"Whoever you send, I'll make sure they're properly trained," Long Yu Yun said with a smile. With a light leap, she soared onto the treetops like a bird and vanished into the distance, her speed twice as fast as Gu Chen Sha's.
"Her movement technique is fast, but it's still old-fashioned. She hasn't yet achieved true weightlessness or the ability to tread on air," Gu Chen Sha mused. He recalled that in the seventh transformation of the Dao Realm, one could fly freely, treating the sky as firm ground. Only then could one be called a 'celestial being.'
Until reaching that stage, no matter how high one jumped, they would always return to the earth.
Watching Long Yu Yun leave, Gu Chen Sha nodded to himself. His time training in the mountains had clearly paid off. He gained a powerful ally and made significant progress in his martial arts. Most importantly, he now had the chance to obtain the imperial edict. If he could master the second form of the Sun and Moon Harmony Technique, it would become the foundation for his survival and future success.
He had long realized that power struggles and schemes were secondary. True strength lay in personal power. Without the Emperor's unmatched martial skill, how could he have subdued a hundred nations or dared to challenge the gods themselves?