Zong Shou once again delved into the memory of the secret imperial martial arts texts he had perused in his past life.

The four boxing forms, allegedly created by Zong Weiran, were actually incomplete and their power was not particularly immense. It was only because they shared a lineage with the Wuding Linghuang lineage that he could employ them immediately. Thus, he had temporarily adapted that set of boxing techniques into a sword art.

In truth, it was riddled with flaws. Xue Moyan and Wu Ye, and the others, had not reached the peak realm. Even had they perceived the weaknesses, they would have been unable to exploit them, which is why he had managed to crush them so utterly.

As for Zong Zheng, it was only due to the element of surprise. Should they fight again, once this man saw through his true capabilities, he could, at the very least, retreat unscathed.

Even if he deployed the Royal Martial Arts, granting him absolute superiority in raw power over Zong Zheng, the outcome would likely be the same.

“This is the one, Difeng Yi,” passages of text flowed through Yue Yu’s mind. The imperial cultivation technique he had selected was summarized in just two concise characters: Difeng!

The Cloud Realm possessed few Imperial Martial Arts. Across the Central Continent, spanning a dozen imperial dynasties plus the Five Lands and Twelve Islands, there were barely over a hundred kingdoms qualified to utilize Royal Martial Arts. The number of those preserved in their entirety was even smaller.

However, when including those transmitted from other realms, the quantity was vast.

And the technique Zong Shou chose was not particularly potent, nor was its cultivation speed exceptional.

Its sole advantage was that it was perfectly balanced and moderate, inflicting minimal spiritual or mental taint on one’s true qi.

Having made his decision, Zong Shou hesitated no longer. Harnessing the power of the zither music, he once again entered that profound and elusive state.

The thoughts within his mind were now racing at nearly ten times their usual speed. And the Yuanyijian before him was undergoing subtle transformations.

Using the sword in place of the body to cultivate the Monarch Martial Arts required re-evaluating many aspects.

However, Zong Shou was not seeking absolute perfection or a complete absence of hidden dangers at this moment. All he required was that it yield tangible results within the next few days.

This entire set, Difeng, comprised thirteen layers. It was likely the royal martial art of a grand empire from another realm. Layers one through nine alone corresponded to the nine tiers beneath the Immortal Dao.

Zong Shou’s Yuanyijian already possessed the foundational basis of the Night Roaming realm. The first and second layers were assimilated almost instantaneously.

Obstacles only began to appear slightly around the fourth and fifth layers. After one hour, these too were mastered.

At this point, a character seemed to be coalescing upon the blade. Looking closely, it was vaguely discernible as the character ‘Wang’ (King).

As this character solidified, an immense pressure surged forth, enveloping the martial arts room for hundreds of feet around.

Initially uncontrollable, it surged wildly like a rampaging dragon, crushing stone floors into powder piece by piece. Over a dozen support beams were pulverized, and countless specks of dust rained down from the roof.

Upon reaching the sixth layer, Zong Shou decisively halted.

This Imperial Martial Art differed from common martial arts; its cultivation depended not on innate talent, but on the strength of the state's destiny (Guoshi).

If a practitioner mastered the momentum of the martial path, and the state’s destiny was mighty and its national power flourishing, it was possible to reach the peak of the thirteenth layer within just two or three months.

A mere adolescent successor could, overnight, become a sovereign qualified to slay peak martial cultivators. In some major nations, children as young as three or five, upon inheriting the throne, could command astonishing power through the influence of their bloodline, requiring no cultivation whatsoever.

Given the sheer royal aura concentrated in Qiantian Mountain City, Zong Shou was confident he could reach the seventh layer within a month, and if given several more months, breaking into the eighth layer would not be an impossible dream! This meant that in about a month, he could contend with a seventh-tier Sun Roaming Spirit Master or Heavenly Martial Sovereign.

Of course, this might only manifest its full power within the confines of Qiantian Mountain City. A nation’s destiny, the Royal Aura, was densest only within the capital or specific locations rich in spiritual meridians. The further one moved from the capital, the more attenuated it became.

Therefore, a nation’s capital was always selected at a convergence point of ‘Dragon Veins.’ Any Son of Heaven would never lightly leave the capital, never venture beyond the borders. Once departed, no matter how great their skill, it would be limited and diminished—a dragon stranded in shallow waters.

Having cultivated the seventh layer of Difeng, Zong Shou was confident he could weather this current calamity. But there was no need to rush now; he merely needed to complete it before that Heavenly Martial Sovereign, or perhaps even a Martial Venerable, came seeking trouble.

The immediate priority was to construct a solid dam to obstruct the corrosion of this Royal Aura.

His brow tightly furrowed, Zong Shou contemplated for a moment, then began reconstructing runes within the body of the Yuanyijian.

The first was ‘Ting’ (Thunder), hoping to seal it using the power of lightning. The second was the incomplete ‘Jing’ (Purity). As soon as a few True Talisman Spiritual Seals were imprinted upon it, Zong Shou felt an immensely formidable power instantly crush them. It was the Guoshi, the Royal Aura itself! Ordinary true talismans were utterly unqualified to bind it!

“It seems those few decrees from yesterday have caused the Royal Aura within this sword to surge. It hasn't increased, but it has become more condensed. Have I essentially trapped myself? Annoying! Being a benevolent ruler is impossible…”

Frowning, Zong Shou opened his eyes and looked around. Outside the window, it was already deep night. Then he gave an ‘Eh?’ as he looked at the sword before him, whose form had changed drastically.

The sliver of Royal Aura within it had suddenly begun to contract and lie dormant, falling silent. The pressure his Yuanyijian was exerting within the hall dissipated unexpectedly, leaving Zong Shou utterly surprised.

Another name for the Royal Aura was Dragon Qi. The Dragon’s might is noble and proud, representing the Emperor. To make it sheath its claws and submit willingly, either the nation’s destiny must have severely declined, or a powerful being acknowledged by heaven and earth must have arrived—at least a level beyond Spirit Martial Venerable, or even the Immortal Dao. Moreover, this presence did not seem malicious towards Qiantian Mountain City; it showed no concealment whatsoever.

A being of that stature could crush the nascent Dragon Qi in Qiantian Mountain City with a mere thought.

After a moment of intense consideration, Zong Shou’s expression turned strange. “Could it be that my future backer has finally arrived? Have the Cangsheng Dao and the Sword Sect settled their scores? Damn it, couldn’t they have done it a moment sooner? Now that I’ve practiced Difeng, regretting it will be difficult…”

He felt a powerful urge to beat his chest and stomp his feet. The five layers of Difeng infiltrating the Yuanyijian would require ten times the previous cost to purge later!

The zither music continued, but Zong Shou had no heart to take further advantage. Dejectedly, he pushed open the large door. He saw Xuan Yunlan still entranced, lost to the world, but her two jade hands were stained with crimson.

A jade beauty playing the zither should be an exquisitely beautiful and pleasing sight. But now, the tips of Xuan Yunlan’s fingers were covered in wounds, the stark white of bone faintly visible beneath. It seemed less beautiful now and rather horrifying.

Zong Shou pursed his lips, then used a spiritual technique to conjure a sphere of cool, clear water, splashing it onto Xuan Yunlan’s head.

She instantly awoke, glaring at Zong Shou. Beside him, several large characters had formed: “Enough! Know when to stop; excess leads to detriment!”

Xuan Yunlan had initially been regretful and unwilling. After a day of playing the zither, the spiritual power within her body had nearly doubled. Perhaps tomorrow she could break through to the peak of the Returning Yang realm. Now, she gave a slight start. After deep reflection, she felt the qi within her body was indeed fluctuating unstably. She couldn't help but look at Zong Shou with admiration and bowed deeply.

“Yunlan thanks the Sovereign for his mercy! I am eternally grateful for the guidance today. Had the Sovereign not awakened me in time, I would have nearly gone astray…”

Zong Shou blinked, finding it impossible to admit that he had woken her with water primarily out of jealousy.

He waved his hand dismissively with an air of nonchalance, letting out a muted laugh as he turned to exit the door. Yet, at that precise moment, a sharp alarm suddenly surged within his heart.

Then, in the very next instant, he heard a tremendous Boom.

The martial arts room collapsed violently. Zong Shou had absolutely no way to evade it; first, bricks and tiles smashed down upon his head, followed by a deluge of dust and smoke.

When the dust finally settled in the surrounding area, Zong Shou was entirely coated in a yellowish-gray film. Only his two eyes remained visible, staring blankly at the sky.

Heaven above, could fate possibly make him any more miserable?

Xuan Yunlan, watching from a distance, was struck dumb. She mused that with Zong Shou’s strength, he should have easily evaded this.

Chu Xue woke up groggily, glanced over drowsily, then let out an unconcerned yawn: “The whole house collapsed this time? Young Master, did you use that Fortune Talisman again?”

At the stroke of midnight, a young man dressed in a full set of azure scholarly robes entered Qiantian Mountain City.

Although the city gates were closed, they posed no obstacle to the robed youth; he regarded them as nothing and stepped directly onto the fifty-foot-high ramparts.

Upon reaching the city wall, he saw Zhao Yanran waiting solemnly to one side.

Seeing the youth arrive, she immediately performed a deep, formal bow: “Yanran greets the Honored Master!”

If Zong Shou or Lei Dong were present now, they would certainly be stunned. Zhao Yanran, who always presented herself as wild and willful, now resembled a refined young lady from a prominent family, her demeanor and speech utterly gentle and proper.

The scholarly youth smiled slightly and waved a hand, helping her up: “You are Zhao Yanran? I know the temperament of the disciples of your Seven Spirits Sect; relax, there’s no need to be so constrained!”

Although patrols of armored soldiers marched nearby, they remained completely unaware of the two people speaking.

The youth then surveyed the entire Qiantian Mountain City, raising an eyebrow: “So quiet! Has Qiantian Mountain City implemented a curfew?”

Zhao Yanran nodded immediately: “Zong Shou imposed a curfew two days after his enthronement. There were several other decrees, such as clearing out and sealing all the brothels in the city. However, Yanran does not understand governance, nor does she know if these matters are good or ill.”

Hearing this, the scholarly youth also shook his head slightly; he paid it no mind. In his view, measures like curfews generally caused more harm than good. Zong Shou had only just taken the throne; there might be other reasons.

“However, the Dragon Qi here shows a tendency to rouse and become vigorous. Heh, he must have frightened it!”

He stepped down once more, landing on the street. The roadsides were quite neat. The architectural style did not resemble that of a savage wasteland; rather, it was similar to the Central Lands.

Just as he was about to proceed directly to the mountaintop, the youth’s gaze was suddenly caught by something in his peripheral vision.

He looked closely and saw a notice board nailed with several pieces of beast hide inscribed with writing. (To be continued)