Chapter 2, The Incarnation of the Primordial Spirit
It is a pity that such a powerful royal family, the number one force in the world, will also fall apart in five years, plunging the Central Plains into the most chaotic period!
The founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, obtained the world through his military prowess. In light of the historical lesson from Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han, and to safeguard his descendants, he emulated the great achievements of Qin Shi Huang by collecting all weapons from the realm, casting the Twelve Golden Men, harnessing the nine great miraculous fires of the world, and gathering the supreme Flame Dragon
As they sped along the way, a courtyard shrouded in a faint glow of sunset soon came into view, covering an area of several acres. Pavilions and towers adorned the landscape, with slender bamboos swaying gently. Within the courtyard, streams of crystal-clear water flowed everywhere, goldfish frolicked, kingfishers flitted about, and an ethereal atmosphere enveloped the scene
Seeing Gu Cheng run away without looking back, exerting himself in a mad dash, indifferent to the slaughter behind him, Zhang Yu nodded in approval and gestured with his hand.
These words left Gu Cheng feeling a chill in his heart, and what was even more terrifying was the following: "Yet, nine years ago, the stars shifted and the heavenly secrets became obscure, raising suspicions of an external demon entering our realm"
Gu Cheng was not jealous of that cheap younger brother, after all, Liu Xie was in a precarious situation among the feudal lords, and in some ways, he was even worse off. However, if he could awaken the Dragon Spirit, he would be able to leap into the ranks of the masters, gaining the strength to protect himself. At that time, if chaos erupted in Luoyang, he would at least have a chance to escape
Refining essence leans towards martial arts, with the initial realm consisting of nine levels: Nourishing Qi, External Strengthening, Body Forging, Aperture Condensation, Spiritual Valor, Subtle Entry, External Barrier, Spirit Accumulation, and Heavenly Connection
Zhang Yu raised his eyebrows, and his face suddenly transformed like rippling water, revealing the visage of an ancient and unique old man, with a yellow scarf tied around his head and white hair and beard.
In the early stages, the practice of refining the spirit is divided into five realms: entering meditation, the five senses, the six consciousnesses, wish fulfillment, and transcending to the heavens
The prince is about to leave again, and the young eunuch quickly follows. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yu, who usually takes care of his daily needs and serves him closely, remains in place and suddenly laughs: "How did you find out?"
The underage prince does not have his own residence; he lives in the Eastern Palace with the Empress Dowager
Zhang Jiao said softly: "The great trend of the world is that what has been divided for a long time must unite, and what has been united for a long time must divide. The Han dynasty rose after Emperor Gaozu slayed the White Serpent, enjoying a reign of four hundred years. The flow of humanity is inevitable. The Three Immortals have conferred, and we shall follow the mandate of heaven..."
This Flame Dragon not only has the ability to suppress the fortune of a nation, but also infuses spiritual power into the princes of successive generations, establishing an unparalleled foundation
In order to help his son acclimate, He Hou commanded the divine and demonic power to construct this courtyard within the span of one hour, a scene that was a tremendous shock for Gu Cheng.
Gu Chengyi stood with his hands hanging down and his limbs relaxed
The Seven Apertures Exquisite Elixir, a spiritual pill refined from the Dragon Cauldron, the foremost mystical artifact of the Han royal family, can only be consumed once a month by direct descendants of the royal family. Since my return to the palace, I have taken it daily; had it been anyone else, they would have soared to great heights by now, yet I still cannot awaken the Dragon Spirit
Gu Cheng glanced at the old eunuch, made a sound of acknowledgment, and waved his hand, prompting everyone to step aside.
The eunuchs lay prostrate on the ground, and Gu Cheng stepped down upon their backs, feeling the grandeur of imperial power, with a look of emotion in his eyes
A gentle breeze brushed by, accompanied by the melodious chirping of birds and the fragrance of flowers. He suddenly arched his body, his limbs moving rhythmically, his back flexing, his waist and legs extending and contracting, his abdomen rising and falling, his lungs rumbling, and visible streams of air bursting forth from his nostrils. As he unleashed his punches, his entire being resembled a divine dragon stretching its body, poised to soar into the sky.
The Eastern Palace of this world covers an area of tens of thousands of acres, larger than the entire imperial city on Earth. Fortunately, there is a grand carriage made of the ethereal golden material known as 'Floating Moon Feather'; otherwise, a frail youth like Gu Cheng would be exhausted to the point of near death just from the journey.
This elixir is quite extraordinary, featuring seven holes arranged in a pleasing manner, with a stream of bright yellow gas swirling about, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance. Just a single whiff invigorates the spirit and fills one with boundless energy
Oh? How did you guess?
A grand current of energy suddenly spread from the abdomen to the limbs and bones, yet in an instant, a flash of red light appeared, and the medicinal effect vanished as if nothing had been consumed
There is no need to mention figures such as Lü Bu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun; however, it is estimated that the top-tier generals of the Three Kingdoms period were likely all formidable warriors of unparalleled strength
"Your Highness has returned!" An elderly eunuch led two teams of palace maids to greet him, bowing with hands down.
On your body
But unfortunately, Gu Chenglian did not even reach the threshold, for as he walked, the stones beneath his feet were as smooth as a mirror, leaving not a single footprint behind
In his childhood, he was frail and sickly. To prevent him from dying young like the previous princes, the Empress entrusted him to the Taoist master Shi Zimiao, where he resided in the Taoist temple until he was brought back a few years ago
Hello
I knew it wouldn't work!
Ah! The originally cruel face of the little yellow gate suddenly revealed an expression of horror and despair, letting out a shriek, for his body was actually being dismembered inch by inch starting from the hands that were releasing the external vital energy, and in an instant, it turned into powder and scattered away
Once ascended to the throne, with a mere gesture, one possesses an overwhelming power that none can resist. No matter how many extraordinary individuals there are in the world, those who wish to emulate Jing Ke's assassination of the Qin Emperor are merely moths drawn to a flame, destined to meet their demise.
This sudden scene caused both the palace maids and eunuchs to exclaim in shock, while the young attendant who had escorted Gu Cheng suddenly raised his head, his hands claw-like, and ten fingers unexpectedly emitted a pitch-black aura, reaching out to grasp the frail body of Zhang Yu.
Call! Call! Call! Call!
In the midst of the swirling chaos, Gu Cheng discovered that he had returned to the place where he had practiced before. He no longer ran, and gazing at that familiar yet strange face, he spoke in a hoarse voice: "Zhang Jiao?"
Gu Cheng sighed, gazing at the distant palace, and stepped outside the courtyard: "Zhang Yu, stay behind to organize the family register for me!"
At the same time, those screaming maidens also fell softly to the ground, blood flowing from their hearts, trickling along the tiles, defiling the array. Just as the divine demon warrior had arrived before Zhang Yu, it unexpectedly vanished like a dream or an illusion.
"Is it really you?" Gu Chengmu was dumbfounded, not expecting that he had wanted to meet Zhang Jiao not long ago, and this guy actually appeared on his own.
Zhang Jiao looked at Gu Cheng, his indifferent gaze seemingly penetrating his soul, scrutinizing all secrets: "Thus, the Master has commanded me to come here to investigate, to see if this variable is indeed the prince born at that time..."
Please, Your Highness, take the elixir!" The old eunuch clapped his hands, and immediately two palace maids presented a brocade box, within which lay a crystal-clear elixir.
Gu Cheng could not understand: "I am not yet the crown prince, why are you capturing me?"
He is certainly not the kind of master who returns to simplicity; the fact that he leaves not even a single footprint indicates that no matter how impressive his performance may be, it is merely a facade
This is the "Eight Parts of the Dragon Canon," which cultivates flesh, tendons, bones, membranes, organs, blood, marrow, and intent. If released, it would undoubtedly incite countless individuals to fight fiercely, resulting in bloodshed, yet it is merely a foundational technique for the Han imperial family.
A wisp of smoke and mist swept in, swirling around his body. The ceremonial robes he had previously worn to meet the emperor were no longer in sight, replaced instead by a dark red long robe, the dragon patterns on it accentuating his not particularly strong physique, making him appear tall and imposing.
Gu Cheng furrowed his brows
Interestingly, the final realm of both literary and martial pursuits is called "Tongtian," and the greater realms above it are all unparalleled, though they are categorized differently. It is likely that strategists like Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, Guo Jia, and Jia Xu are also among those divine beings who can summon the wind and call forth the rain
Liu Xiu's considerations were undoubtedly thorough, but unfortunately, human plans cannot match the will of heaven. He could hardly have imagined that his descendants would suffer the tragic fate of being unable to withstand the might of the dragon spirit and dying young.
Ultimately, it is still due to the fact that the Dragon Spirit has yet to awaken
Indeed, those distances are too far from Gu Cheng, as he has yet to achieve success in either literature or martial arts. He is still in the process of refining his essence and cultivating his energy, and he has not even reached the state of entering meditation in his spiritual refinement.
"Your Highness, why is it so?" Zhang Yu's gaze remained fixed on Gu Cheng as he waved his hand casually
At that moment, Zhang Yu suggested, "Your Highness, you may want to move your fists and feet to absorb the medicinal power!"
"Enemies are invading, divine and demonic warriors, seal off all directions!" As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Cheng suddenly changed from a leisurely walk to a frantic run, rushing outside while slapping the jade ornament at his waist and shouting.
In this world, the strong are numerous and geniuses are as abundant as rain, but ultimately, there are primarily two paths to follow—refining essence and refining spirit
In an instant, a majestic golden phantom rose, as if guarding the territory, facing the celestial general of the demon, wielding a giant spirit hammer, and striking down fiercely towards Zhang Yu.
If one can break through, it will be an entry into an unparalleled realm, which is the true essence of being extraordinary and transcendent
Zhang Yu, bring me my elixir!" Gu Cheng said as he walked inward
In comparison, Wang Meiren's son Liu Xie, who would later be taken hostage by Cao Cao to control the feudal lords, had already begun to awaken at the age of 3, with his divine power starting to manifest. This left her both angry and anxious, but Liu Xie was protected by Empress Dowager Dong and favored by Emperor Ling, making it impossible for her to harm him.
Under the careful watch of the little yellow gatekeepers, Gu Cheng, who had just been reprimanded by He Hou, sat in the imperial carriage, heading towards the Palace of Daily Affairs
Even though Zhang Jiao, who calls himself the Heavenly General, is an unparalleled peak expert, breaking into the Han imperial palace is still a path to death
The Dragon Spirit is inherently the foremost talent in the world; however, before it awakens, it will spontaneously devour the host's energy. As a result, the elixirs consumed by Gu Cheng are all devoured by the Dragon Spirit within his body, leading to a condition akin to that of a poor family suffering from hunger, where external strength fails to manifest, and the body can only barely endure training, ultimately resulting in an early demise
The palace maids could not help but swallow hard upon seeing it, as this elixir was truly too tempting for ordinary people. However, Gu Cheng casually tossed it into his mouth like a jelly bean and chewed it with a crunch.
But how dare he
The current Han dynasty is by no means a mere shadow of its former self, bullied by feudal lords and reduced to nominal existence in a few years. Even if the fortunes of the state decline, it remains an imperial dynasty that reigns supreme over the world
At such a young age, with a heart of iron and stone, decisive in actions, truly worthy of being a descendant of Emperor Guangwu
Zhang Jiao said: "Do not trouble the prince with concerns, this is my Daoist primordial spirit incarnate. I originally intended to observe where the fate of the Han Emperor would perish, but unexpectedly, due to a fortuitous encounter, I have met you!"
The previous sons of Emperor Ling did not survive past the age of five, while Gu Cheng managed to live on safely; however, the price he paid is that he has yet to awaken the Dragon Spirit, merely obtaining its protection.
Gu Cheng's face turned pale after delivering a series of Dragon Fist strikes, breathing heavily as he looked down at the ground and let out a faint sigh
As for refining the spirit, Gu Cheng knew that the Han dynasty was doomed, just like a cancer patient who has been given a definite time to live; how could he possibly settle into a state of meditation?
Although this courtyard is a temporary construction, the ground is still paved with imperial jade stone, which feels warm and comfortable underfoot. When practicing martial arts, one can leave varying depths of footprints, serving as a testament to the skills learned