"Your Majesty, my daughter has a strong temperament. Competing with the princes might be seen as inappropriate in terms of propriety..." Lou Zhong Xiao said with a hint of apprehension.
"I admire Bai Yue's personality," Emperor Tian Fu interrupted. "So what if she competes with the princes? To me, she surpasses many of them. If she continues to excel and improve her martial arts, I may even grant her the title of princess, outranking you in rank."
The gathered officials and nobles couldn't miss the clear favoritism Emperor Tian Fu showed toward Lou Bai Yue.
As the Man tribal generals fled into the forest, many of the princes began their pursuit. Meanwhile, Emperor Tian Fu and his high-ranking officials observed the chase from a distance, quickly gaining insight into the martial prowess of each prince.
Lou Bai Yue stood out immediately. Her body seemed to blur as she accelerated, moving with the speed of a whirlwind. In just a few movements, she caught up to one of the slower Man tribal generals.
The general, startled, turned and lashed out with brutal ferocity, attempting to tear Lou Bai Yue apart with his bare hands.
However, Lou Bai Yue didn't dodge. Instead, she lunged directly at him. In a moment of fierce impact, the tribal general was torn apart mid-air, reduced to nothing more than a bloody mess.
The nobles and officials watching were in awe, their eyes gleaming with admiration.
"Lou Bai Yue's martial arts are terrifying," one whispered.
"How could her skills be so formidable? Look at her strength—it's unmatched, even by most grandmasters. Her movements are so refined, as if perfectly attuned to the Dao. Her killing techniques are ruthless," another commented.
"Indeed, her abilities are at the pinnacle of mastery. She seems to have touched upon the energy of the heavens. Could she be on the verge of stepping into the Dao Realm?"
"Look! She's killed another Man tribal general!"
"Is she aiming to overshadow the princes during this hunt? Even many of the royal princes seem outmatched by her."
"What about the Nineteenth Prince? He doesn't seem to be doing too poorly either."
While Lou Bai Yue showcased her prowess, Gu Chen Sha had also caught up to a Man tribal general. Determined to defeat his opponent, he saw this as his first opportunity to "kill."
At first glance, the Man tribal general didn't look much different from an ordinary human. However, this particular general had tattoos covering his body, including a coiled venomous serpent and a howling wolf beneath the moon. His rough skin resembled that of a wild boar, impervious to blades. His ferocious glare, combined with his bloodthirsty aura, made him a truly formidable opponent.
The general roared and attacked. His massive mouth exhaled a foul stench, his blade cut with deadly precision, and his relentless kicks came from deceptive angles, striking with incredible force.
This Man tribal general was a grandmaster of martial arts in his own right. His style, savage and unrefined, was steeped in ancient traditions. His techniques embodied the characteristics of the Man tribe's martial arts: wild, ruthless, and drenched in the essence of primal beasts. It was a style devoid of humanity, focused solely on predation and survival.
"Turning River Stance!"
Gu Chen Sha dodged the attack and countered with several palm strikes. His movements resembled turbulent waves stirring a great river, trapping the general within layers of flowing strikes.
The Giant Spirit Divine Art's palm techniques consisted of three forms: Mountain Bearing Stance, Turning River Stance, and Ocean Overturning Stance.
Previously, Gu Chen Sha had used Mountain Bearing Stance to counter the Five Demons Capture. Now, his Turning River Stance unleashed even greater power.
He executed 99 strikes in rapid succession.
The Man tribal general couldn't withstand the overwhelming assault. At least 40 to 50 strikes broke through his defenses, targeting his weak points with devastating precision.
Bam! Bam!
The general's bones and meridians shattered completely. His body collapsed into a lifeless heap in the snow, his vitality extinguished.
As Gu Chen Sha killed the Man tribal general, he felt a subtle shift in his spirit, a sense of life slipping away. It was a feeling he had never experienced when hunting beasts. The difference was clear: killing another human, with their intellect and ability to manipulate the world, was fundamentally distinct from killing a mere beast.
Elsewhere in the forest, the other princes were hunting fervently, striving to kill as many Man tribesmen as possible to claim the greatest credit—and win the prized Golden Pill of a Hundred Tribulations.
This pill was no ordinary reward. Consuming it could save decades of painstaking cultivation, strengthening both the foundation and energy needed to step into the Dao Realm.
If such a pill were to appear in the martial world, it would undoubtedly trigger a bloodbath, as countless experts would fight to the death over it. However, within the royal court, such treasures were surprisingly commonplace. No force in the world could compare to the wealth and power of the Great Yong Empire.
"The Nineteenth Prince has mastered the Turning River Stance?" Some nobles exchanged astonished looks.
The Giant Spirit Divine Palm, with its three forms—Mountain Bearing Stance, Turning River Stance, and Ocean Overturning Stance—required immense physical strength. In the ancient Xian Dynasty, only the most exceptional members of the royal family could execute the Turning River Stance consecutively.
The Giant Spirit Divine Palm was undeniably powerful, but it was also incredibly taxing. Each strike drained enormous energy, exhausting even seasoned grandmasters. Most martial artists could only manage a few dozen strikes at most. For Gu Chen Sha to deliver 99 strikes while remaining composed was extraordinary.
"Your Majesty, it seems the Nineteenth Prince has truly awakened the Giant Spirit Bloodline," Lou Zhong Xiao remarked cautiously. "If he can communicate with the Giant Spirit God, you may be able to locate the Giant Spirit God's Divine Domain within the chaotic currents of space and time. Sealing this god would prevent its resurgence, eradicating the remnants of the Xian Dynasty and extinguishing faith in the Giant Spirit God among the commoners."
"It's good that you can speak so insightfully," Emperor Tian Fu praised lightly. "It seems you are gradually beginning to understand the profound meanings of the gods, and your cultivation is deepening."
He continued, "Recently, I have channeled 99% of my True Spirit into the chaotic currents of space-time, locating the lair of the Great Maha God of the Man tribe. Once this god is severely wounded, we can annihilate the Man tribe's nation by early spring, eradicating the border's perennial threat and accomplishing what even the ancient heavenly emperors could not achieve."
"Your Majesty, has your Grand Divine Slaying Technique reached its pinnacle?" Lou Zhong Xiao immediately knelt down. "Does this mean your True Spirit is currently present at the Great Maha God's lair?"
"That's correct," Emperor Tian Fu said, glancing at the gathered nobles and princes. Many followed Lou Zhong Xiao's example, kneeling deeply.
"While I focus entirely on the divine conflict, there are bound to be those who catch wind of this and plot sabotage," he warned. "This winter and early spring, you must remain vigilant and ensure the nation does not fall into chaos. Have the provincial governors and generals strengthen patrols and reorganize their troops."
"Yes, Your Majesty," they replied in unison.
"I am merely reminding you," Emperor Tian Fu said, his gaze distant, "as this hunt will allow me to evaluate the abilities of the princes."
Although his imposing presence filled the area, 99% of his spirit was elsewhere, manipulating the chaotic space-time. Yet his perception remained sharp, and he detected subtle changes in Gu Chen Sha. Despite Gu Chen Sha's mastery of Sun and Moon Transformation, which allowed him to conceal his aura perfectly, he could not entirely hide from this sovereign of the ages.
Meanwhile, the forest was alive with the sounds of combat.
Gu Chen Sha had just slain a Man tribesman when he heard a chorus of cries nearby. It was clear the other princes were achieving victories as well.
"Lou Bai Yue's martial prowess is remarkable," Gu Chen Sha thought, watching from a distance. "She has already killed five Man tribal generals. The Tenth Prince, the Eighteenth Prince, the Fourteenth Prince, the Eighth Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the Thirteenth Prince have each killed two or three. Am I going to be at the bottom?"
He glanced around and saw that every prince was showcasing their skills, trying their best to eliminate as many Man tribal generals as possible and secure the Golden Pill of a Hundred Tribulations. Even among the princes, this pill was an immensely coveted prize.
For the first time, Gu Chen Sha fully realized the strength of the other princes.
Each Man tribal general was equivalent to a martial grandmaster in terms of cultivation, enhanced by their wild ruthlessness and extensive combat experience. Even a typical grandmaster would struggle to defeat them.
In the martial world, battles between grandmasters of similar levels often lasted for hundreds of exchanges before a victor could be determined. Killing an opponent of the same level was even harder.
But the princes, all of whom were also grandmasters, could slay these generals with surprising ease.
For example, the Eighteenth Prince, Gu Hong Sha, had cultivated the Dragon King's Power. His strikes carried a majestic roar that seemed to seize his opponent's mind. His punches were like rainbows, fluid and overwhelming. Against a Man tribal general, he broke his opponent's chest within just a few moves.
The Tenth Prince, Gu Zhen Sha, was even more formidable. His body crackled with lightning, radiating an aura of immense power. Chasing down a Man tribal general, he decapitated the opponent within three moves. Only when surrounded by three or five tribal generals working together did his advance slow.
In this forest, over a hundred Man tribal generals had been released. Each prince was tasked with dealing with at least seven or eight, if not more.
Even a martial grandmaster would struggle to face seven or eight opponents of equal skill. There's a saying: "Two fists cannot block four hands," let alone ten or more.
The younger princes displayed impressive strength, slaughtering their enemies. However, as the tribal generals realized that fleeing meant certain death, they shifted tactics. Gathering into small groups, they counterattacked with ferocious desperation, forming encirclements to overwhelm the princes.
In terms of sheer numbers and brute force, the Man tribal generals held the upper hand, applying significant pressure on the princes.
This, of course, was deliberate. Emperor Tian Fu had no intention of making the hunt easy. Securing the Golden Pill of a Hundred Tribulations required true skill and perseverance. This was meant to be a practical lesson in survival and combat, a trial to rapidly sharpen their abilities.
The Yong royal family trained its princes with relentless rigor. Each one emerged with unique talents, supported by the dynasty's unmatched resources, far surpassing the capabilities of most martial artists in the wider world.
Gu Chen Sha observed the other princes and Lou Bai Yue's performances, marveling at their strength. But soon, he found himself surrounded.
Six Man tribal generals had formed a deadly formation around him.
Their positioning resembled the Six Harmonies Formation, closing in tightly and leaving Gu Chen Sha no room to escape.
This tactic was adapted from ancient battlefield strategies, where smaller units formed coordinated attack-and-defense formations, increasing their chances of survival and effectiveness amidst chaos. However, the Man tribe's version was more brutal: a Six Beast Formation. Modeled after feral predators—tigers, wolves, leopards, lions, jackals, and serpents—it was designed for ruthless, coordinated hunts.
The six generals moved with precision, their combined aura creating an oppressive chain-like effect that made Gu Chen Sha feel immobilized.
No matter which direction he tried to break through, he would face relentless strikes from all six simultaneously.
"If I use the Sun and Moon Refinement or Sun and Moon Transformation techniques, defeating these six generals would be simple," Gu Chen Sha thought, analyzing his predicament. "But if I reveal these techniques in front of the nobles and princes, my secrets will be exposed. Father is a master of celestial studies and will undoubtedly investigate the origins of my martial arts. That would lead to trouble."
"Kill!"
The six Man tribal generals roared, their bloodlust igniting. With terrifying speed, all twelve of their arms launched an onslaught of attacks—punches, kicks, strikes, and claws aimed at every vulnerable point on Gu Chen Sha's body.
"Ocean Overturning Stance!" Gu Chen Sha shouted, unleashing the most dominant move of the Giant Spirit Divine Palm. His goal: to find and break through a weak point in their formation.