Gu Chen Sha quietly observed the scene. Not all the princes had arrived yet.
The First Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince were absent.
These three princes had already reached the Dao Realm. The First Prince, Gu Heng Sha, was stationed at the coastal frontier, rarely returning to the capital. His role was to guard against threats from the countless islands offshore, including primitive tribes and cultivation sects that constantly eyed the mainland.
The Second Prince, Gu Xuan Sha, had ventured far into uncharted territories, mapping the Endless Continent.
The Third Prince, Gu Fan Sha, was stationed at the border, engaged in battles with the Lang Man barbarians.
These three were all titled "Princes of the Blood," holding the ranks of Heng Prince, Xuan Prince, and Fan Prince.
Among the remaining princes, the Seventh Prince, Gu Fa Sha, held the highest status.
Gu Fa Sha was the Empress's son, born of the main royal bloodline. By tradition, he should have been the Crown Prince. However, Emperor Tian Fu had refused to establish a Crown Prince, leaving Gu Fa Sha's position somewhat ambiguous. Even so, he held the most prestigious rank among the princes due to his mother's status as Empress.
The Empress's family name was Fa, and the Fa family originated from the Middle Ages, where a Sage known as "Fa Zi" had emerged. Fa Zi was the founder of law and order, creating systems and rules for humanity. The concept of li (ritual) was upheld by fa (law), with the latter serving as the foundation of the former.
Throughout history, the Fa family had been a pillar of orthodoxy and legitimacy. In times of chaos, the Fa family would aid the rightful ruler to restore order. Emperor Tian Fu had relied heavily on their support to conquer a hundred nations and unify the realm.
As a result, Gu Fa Sha, from birth, had been granted the title of "Fa Prince," surpassing all other princes in rank.
Currently, among the princes, only four held the title of Prince of the Blood: the eldest three princes and Gu Fa Sha.
The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Princes, though older than Gu Fa Sha, were only granted the title of County Prince. Even the Tenth Prince, Gu Zhen Sha, known for his martial prowess and many achievements, remained untitled, holding only the rank of Duke of State.
"Bring out the Man tribesmen," Emperor Tian Fu commanded.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
The sound was like that of wild beasts. Soldiers pushed out dozens of large iron cages, each containing a single captive.
The prisoners wore animal hides, their physiques muscular and imposing. Their presence radiated a savage and brutal aura, ferocious and bloodthirsty.
Though they looked human, standing upright and walking like men, their demeanor was worlds apart from civilized people. Where humans carried themselves with grace and composure, these individuals exuded cruelty and primal aggression.
"So much killing intent," Gu Chen Sha thought, his senses sharp. He had seen Man tribesmen before, captured as prisoners of war, but at the time, his perception had been dull. Now, with his heightened awareness, he fully grasped the terrifying presence of these warriors.
"These 40 Man tribesmen are devout followers of their Dark Gods," Emperor Tian Fu explained. "Through sacrificial rituals, they gain power. Each of these beasts holds a high rank among the Man tribe, serving as generals. Every one of them has slaughtered hundreds of our people. The Dark Gods of the Man tribe favor human sacrifices above all else. By sacrificing humans, they can gain immense strength. Sacrificing beasts, however, yields far lesser results, and sometimes none at all. You must understand this: the Man tribe is humanity's mortal enemy. Show them no mercy."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The assembled princes responded in unison, their resolve deepened.
Gu Chen Sha, who had spent recent days studying ancient texts on sacrificial rituals, understood the difference. To gain power from the Dark Gods, one needed to worship them.
However, heavenly sacrifices required no such devotion.
The Dark Gods were emotional entities with desires and moods, whereas the Heavenly Dao was impartial and unfeeling. Worshiping the Dark Gods bound one's fate to their will, leaving no room for disobedience. If the gods ordered you to die, you had no choice but to comply.
This amounted to surrendering your fate to another.
Moreover, the power gained from the Dark Gods was often impure and came with significant drawbacks. For example, the Lang Man barbarians, who worshipped the Wolf God, would sacrifice tigers to gain power. Yet, they could never fully absorb the tiger's strength—only a fraction, if any at all. It often took hundreds or thousands of sacrifices to gain even a sliver of power.
In contrast, sacrifices to the Heavenly Dao were proportional: whatever was offered, was returned in kind. The Heavenly Dao was just and impartial.
The Dark Gods favored human souls above all else because of their intelligence and warmth, which brought comfort to the gods. This was why the Man tribes went to such lengths to capture humans for blood sacrifices, creating an irreconcilable conflict.
What exactly were gods? Gu Chen Sha mused. Gods were simply beings of immense power. A practitioner of the Dao Realm who reached great heights could summon storms, create worlds, and forge matter from nothing.
In the court, even the most benevolent scholars held only one view of the Man tribe: extermination.
"My father is right. As Saint Gu Chi said when creating the written language, the character for 'Man' combines the symbols for 'above' and 'insect,' indicating that they are no more than superior bugs," Gu Chen Sha thought, dropping all pretense. He had already discerned the Emperor's ambition: to become the eternal ruler of all time. In such a regime, only ability mattered. "I am willing to be the first to step forward and slay the Man tribesmen," Gu Chen Sha declared.
Hearing this, the Eighteenth Prince, Gu Hong Sha, felt a surge of bitterness. "This man is truly cunning!" he thought.
Gu Hong Sha, who was close in age to Gu Chen Sha and about to reach adulthood, yearned for recognition and rewards. Although news from the court suggested he would be granted the title of Duke, it was still only equivalent to Gu Chen Sha's rank. Naturally, jealousy arose.
For others, earning a noble title was a monumental challenge, but as sons of the Emperor, it came much more easily.
"It seems the Nineteenth Prince has been reading diligently, but this time, his ability to hunt the Man tribes will truly show his merit," Emperor Tian Fu declared. "Release the Man tribesmen into the forest! Let them run free! Afterward, the princes will enter the forest to hunt them down. The one who collects the most heads will be rewarded."
As he spoke, a eunuch stepped forward, carrying a tray.
On the tray sat a glass bottle containing golden pills that shimmered with radiant light and emitted a misty glow.
"Golden Pill of a Hundred Tribulations?"
The officials and nobles widened their eyes in shock, staring at the treasure with envy. Even Lou Bai Yue couldn't hide her fascination.
"The Golden Pill of a Hundred Tribulations is made by gathering the energy of Nine Heavens' Thunder, the essence of gold, and the power of a thousand rare herbs," Emperor Tian Fu said, his tone tinged with nostalgia. "It was once a supreme elixir of the Dao Sect of a Hundred Tribulations. A master of the Dao Realm could spend decades to craft just one batch. Such treasures are incredibly rare."
"In the past, the Daoist of a Hundred Tribulations stood alongside me in eliminating the Five Demons Sect."
"Your Majesty, the Dao Sect of a Hundred Tribulations rebelled against the court and even attempted to assassinate imperial officials. Their destruction was well-deserved," said Marquis Ji Ta, his voice cold and severe.
"That's all in the past," Emperor Tian Fu replied. "Over the years, I've eradicated countless sects, both righteous and heretical, all in the name of peace and order. Sectarian forces are the root of chaos. You princes must remember: the sects, whether martial or immortal, are threats to stability.
"The remnants of the Xian Dynasty, at least, understood the principles of governance. But the sects? They disregard the order and laws that bind society. They refuse to submit to the court's authority."
His voice grew sharper. "Many of these sects have fled overseas, biding their time to seek revenge. I know that you princes, in establishing your households, are recruiting talented individuals. Be cautious. Some of these recruits may belong to sects plotting against the court. If you're found harboring such elements, even I won't be able to shield you."
These words carried a heavy weight.
All the princes knelt once again.
"We will obey Your Majesty's teachings!"
"Release the Man tribesmen!" Emperor Tian Fu commanded, waving his hand.
Immediately, soldiers stepped forward and yanked the iron chains holding the cages shut. One by one, the iron cages creaked open with a deafening sound.
The Man tribesmen roared ferociously, their cries echoing like the howls of wild beasts. They charged forward, but seeing the heavily armed soldiers, they hesitated, clearly wary from the suffering they had endured on the journey.
Roar! Roar!
One of the Man tribal leaders tore off his animal hide garment, revealing a powerful, muscular body. A savage wolf head was tattooed across his chest, exuding a bloodthirsty aura.
Grabbing hold of the cage's iron bars, he tore them apart with sheer force, ripping the steel and seizing a metal rod as a weapon. With astonishing speed, he charged toward the central camp, aiming directly at Emperor Tian Fu.
The Man tribesmen were not mindless brutes—they had intelligence. This leader recognized Emperor Tian Fu as the most important figure and decided to launch a desperate assassination attempt.
The towering figure barreled forward with the strength of a thousand soldiers, seemingly unstoppable.
Yet, none of the gathered nobles or officials showed even the slightest panic. No one shouted for guards; instead, amusement flickered across their faces.
"Your Majesty, allow me to handle this minor disturbance," Lou Zhong Xiao said, bowing.
"Very well," Emperor Tian Fu replied.
Lou Zhong Xiao extended his hand, and suddenly the charging Man tribal leader froze mid-stride. It was as if he had been encased in amber.
An invisible force enveloped the Man tribesmen, lifting them into the air and suspending them mid-flight.
"Go!"
Lou Zhong Xiao flicked his wrist, sending the tribal warriors soaring like shooting stars into the distant forest. They landed heavily in the snow, scattered and disheveled.
"Impressive," Emperor Tian Fu said approvingly. "Zhong Xiao, your mastery of Celestial Wind Demon-Suppressing Energy has advanced significantly."
"This minor skill is thanks to Your Majesty's guidance," Lou Zhong Xiao replied, kneeling. "Your Majesty's power, capable of harmonizing with the sun and moon, is unparalleled. Even the legendary Heavenly Emperor of the Xian Dynasty could not compare."
"Haha, harmonizing with the sun and moon, living as long as heaven and earth—such feats are not so easily achieved. Even gods cannot escape the Five Decays of Heaven and Man," Emperor Tian Fu said with a laugh. "But your praise comes from the heart, and I am greatly pleased."
Roar! Roar!
As Emperor Tian Fu spoke, the remaining Man tribesmen fled into the forest, abandoning any thoughts of assassination.
"Now, you may go," Emperor Tian Fu ordered, waving his hand.
"Yes!"
The princes rose to their feet, activated their movement techniques, and sped into the forest.
"Fa Sha, why haven't you moved?" Emperor Tian Fu asked, noticing that Gu Fa Sha remained standing.
Gu Fa Sha knelt. "Your Majesty, I have already reached the Dao Realm. If I act, it will overshadow my younger brothers and make it difficult for them to demonstrate their abilities before you. Therefore, I forfeit the chance to compete for the Golden Pill of a Hundred Tribulations."
As the Empress's son, Gu Fa Sha held a lofty status. Although he wasn't officially the Crown Prince, his position was effectively equivalent. His pride prevented him from lowering himself to compete for rewards alongside the other princes.
"Very well," Emperor Tian Fu said. He understood his son's pride and saw no reason to push him.
"I am honored by Your Majesty's understanding," Gu Fa Sha said, retreating to the side and standing quietly.
"Cao Linh, bring a chair for the Seventh Prince," Emperor Tian Fu ordered.
The surrounding nobles exchanged glances, nodding in acknowledgment of the Emperor's favor toward Gu Fa Sha. Even small gestures like this reflected the deep affection Emperor Tian Fu had for his seventh son.
"Bai Yue, you should join the hunt as well," Emperor Tian Fu said, turning to Lou Bai Yue. "Show me your martial skills. Do not be afraid—be bold. If you surpass the princes, you won't just win the Golden Pill of a Hundred Tribulations; there will be even greater rewards."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Lou Bai Yue responded. With a graceful leap, she soared into the forest, her movements as elegant as a swan gliding over snow.