Zhang Ruochen's current country, Yunwu County Kingdom, is just one of the thousands of counties and kingdoms in the Eastern Region of the Kunlun Realm.
The term "county kingdom" actually refers to the first county of the First Central Empire, which must pay tribute and taxes to the empire every year.
The lord of the county kingdom is called the "county king".
Zhang Ruochen is currently the ninth son of King Yunwu.
Lying on the cold and hard wooden bed, Zhang Ruochen is still thinking about the Sacrifice Ceremony tomorrow.
"The original owner of this body didn't open the 'Shenwu Mark' until he was sixteen. Obviously, he has been abandoned by the gods. What should I do to increase my chances of opening it?"
In the Kunlun Realm, to open the "Shenwu Mark", one must gain the recognition of the gods.
It is said to be the Mandate of Military Power Bestowed by the Gods.
During the Sacrifice Ceremony, a celestial divine bridge will emerge between the divine world and the Kunlun Realm, connecting the two. After the gods have consumed the sacrifices, they will bestow the "Shenwu Mark" on some talented humans to help them open the door to cultivation.
The higher one's talent, the earlier one can obtain the "Shenwu Mark".
In Zhang Ruochen's previous life, he opened the "Shenwu Mark" while still in the womb, which is a natural talent.
However, in this life, at the age of sixteen, he still hasn't opened it. This basically means he has been forsaken by the gods. Even if he participates in the Sacrifice Ceremony tomorrow, it is highly unlikely that he will receive the "Shenwu Mark".
Zhang Ruochen couldn't fall asleep. He sat up and held a white crystal stone in his hand. The stone was shaped like a jujube seed, with pointed ends and a three-dimensional middle. It was crystal clear and free from any impurities.
He began to study this white crystal stone, hoping that it could help him gain the recognition of a certain god and open the "Shenwu Mark".
This white crystal stone was a gift from Emperor Ming on Zhang Ruochen's sixteenth birthday.
Zhang Ruochen had no idea what this stone was. He just wore it close to his body. Unexpectedly, after eight hundred years, it was still with him.
"Maybe there is a connection between my coming from eight hundred years ago and this stone."
Zhang Ruochen tightly held the white crystal stone and closed his eyes. The image of his father, Emperor Ming, appeared in his mind. He wondered if his father was still alive.
That night, it snowed heavily in the royal city.
The next morning, the entire city was covered with thick snow, and the red palaces, pavilions, and terraces were all wrapped in a layer of ice and snow sculptures, presenting a magnificent sight.
It was the coldest day of the winter solstice.
All the martial artists in the city gathered outside the Royal Ancestral Temple, led by the county king, to offer sacrifices to the gods.
Outside the temple, a huge sacrificial altar was built with massive stones. On the altar, not only were tens of thousands of livestock, such as cows, sheep, and pigs, tied up, but also many powerful monsters were chained with iron chains.
Civil officials, martial artists, princes, and concubines, as well as countless young boys and girls who were waiting to open the Shenwu Mark, and even some babies in swaddling clothes, were also present.
This was a grand national ceremony that was not only held in the royal city but also in every city, town, and village in Yunwu County Kingdom.
"Hengheng! Ninth brother, you are already sixteen years old. Even if you participate in the Sacrifice Ceremony, it is impossible for you to obtain the 'Shenwu Mark'. Why bother to make a fool of yourself?" Prince Ba folded his arms and sneered.
Prince Liu, who was standing beside Prince Ba, had a cold expression on his face and said, "It is said that all the nine sons of the king are different. The king is a heroic figure, but he gave birth to you, a waste. You are sixteen years old and haven't opened the 'Shenwu Mark' yet. You have brought shame to the royal family. What are you still doing alive? Why don't you just die?"
This statement was a bit too harsh, but it was the true sentiment of several princes present.
In a royal family, kinship is often thin, and this was especially evident at that moment.
In the Kunlun Realm, only a few people can open the "Shenwu Mark", and at most, only one out of ten can. It can be said that every martial artist enjoys a high status.
Of course, for martial artists with strong bloodlines, it is a different story. The bloodlines of these martial artists are powerful, and their descendants will also inherit strong bloodlines, increasing the probability of opening the "Shenwu Mark".
King Yunwu has a total of nine sons, and eight of them have opened the "Shenwu Mark". Only Zhang Ruochen, who is sixteen years old, has not opened it yet, and he has become a laughingstock of the royal family.
Many people call him a "son of a tiger father but a dog son".
Even in the court, there are some rumors that Zhang Ruochen is not the biological son of King Yunwu. Although it is just a rumor, it still makes the faces of the royal family members lose color.
Therefore, most of the other princes consider Zhang Ruochen a disgrace to the royal family and don't treat him as a real brother. They even wish he would die sooner.
In recent years, even King Yunwu has become somewhat alienated from Zhang Ruochen and Lin Fei. Under the排挤 of other concubines and princes, last night, Zhang Ruochen and Lin Fei were finally driven out of the main hall and forced to move to the side hall.
Zhang Ruochen just stood there silently and ignored Prince Liu and Prince Ba.
Before he has sufficient strength, any verbal disputes will only make him look more despised.
Lin Fei stood with other princesses and was heartbroken when she saw Zhang Ruochen being squeezed out. However, there was nothing she could do.
"The Sacrifice Ceremony begins!"
The national teacher of Yunwu County Kingdom stood above the sacrificial altar and held a scroll of congratulatory messages in his hand, reciting them aloud.
After that, above the altar, the great conch and the big horn were blown, and a group of colorful and graceful palace maids played sixteen kinds of musical instruments, such as chime stones, bells, and bronze bells.
Next, the livestock were slaughtered, and their blood was sacrificed to the heavens.
"Whoa——"
The thick bloody air rose up like a thick column and pierced the clouds, shattering them and rushing into the vast sky.
Suddenly, a starlight fell from the sky and landed on the center of a six-year-old boy's eyebrows. It merged with the boy's body and turned into a red "Shenwu Mark".
There was an exclamation from the crowd, "The youngest son of General Xue has opened the Shenwu Mark at the age of six!"
"The Scarlet Flame Shenwu Mark is a fourth-grade mark. It's so powerful. He has a great future!"
The Shenwu Marks are also divided into grades, from the first grade to the ninth grade.
The first-grade Shenwu Mark is the weakest, while the ninth-grade mark is the strongest.
Everyone looked at the six-year-old boy with envy.
Opening the fourth-grade Shenwu Mark at the age of six is a true genius. His future achievements are definitely remarkable.
Among the many generals in Yunwu County Kingdom, a burly man patted his chest and laughed loudly, excitedly saying, "Good! My son Xue Liang is worthy of it. Tonight, the general's mansion will hold a banquet. Everyone must come to attend. Haha!"
"Whoa!"
Countless starlights fell from the sky again and landed on the eyebrows of a group of young boys and girls, turning into Shenwu Marks.
Among them, the first-grade Shenwu Marks were the most common, and very few young boys could open the second-grade marks. The most powerful person was still the youngest son of General Xue, who had the fourth-grade mark, making everyone else pale in comparison.
After all, only a small number of people can open the Shenwu Mark, about one-tenth of the total number. Everyone was extremely excited. They finally received the recognition of the gods and opened the door to martial arts.
Those young boys and girls who haven't opened the Shenwu Mark are all very disappointed. Some of them even burst into tears. It can be said that while some people are happy, others are sad.
As the sacrifice was coming to an end, Zhang Ruochen still hadn't opened the Shenwu Mark.
It is almost impossible for a sixteen-year-old to open the Shenwu Mark. In the future, he may only become an ordinary and mediocre person.
Everyone ignored him, as if he were a grain of dust in the corner, and he was completely overlooked.
Lin Fei originally held a glimmer of hope, hoping that her child could create a miracle and open the Shenwu Mark. Even if he couldn't become a powerful martial artist, at least he could strengthen his body and avoid being tortured by diseases.
As the sacrifice was approaching the end, Lin Fei's hope turned into disappointment and even despair.
Just when Zhang Ruochen thought he couldn't open the Shenwu Mark, the white crystal stone tightly held in his hand gave a faint glow.
At the last moment before the sacrifice ended, a starlight fell from the sky and landed on Zhang Ruochen's eyebrows, turning into a white circular Shenwu Mark.
"Whoa!"
A hot feeling spread from his eyebrows and quickly spread throughout his body.
It's opened!
Zhang Ruochen was extremely excited. He finally opened the Shenwu Mark.
As long as he opened the Shenwu Mark, it didn't matter if it was only a first-grade mark.
Originally, no one paid attention to Zhang Ruochen, but at the moment he opened the Shenwu Mark, he attracted everyone's attention.
"That's not Prince Nine. He is already sixteen years old and has a weak constitution, but he can still open the Shenwu Mark!" Many people stared at Zhang Ruochen with incredulous eyes, thinking it was unbelievable.
Prince Liu and Prince Ba standing beside Zhang Ruochen also widened their eyes and showed surprised expressions.
How could this be possible?
Lin Fei looked at Zhang Ruochen and, after seeing the Shenwu Mark on his eyebrows, she was overjoyed and shed tears. She immediately rushed to Zhang Ruochen and hugged him tightly, "Chen'er, you have finally made it! You have finally made it!"
An old eunuch beside King Yunwu walked up to Zhang Ruochen and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Princess Lin and Prince Nine for opening the Shenwu Mark! The queen has asked this servant to invite Prince Nine to come over. She wants to personally test the grade of the Shenwu Mark that Prince Nine has opened!"
"The queen!"
Lin Fei's smile immediately froze, and she was a little nervous as she protected Zhang Ruochen behind her.
"Mother, let's go to see the queen!"
Zhang Ruochen noticed Lin Fei's subtle changes and thought to himself that the queen might not be a kind person and he had to be more careful.