Imperial Scepter

January passed in the blink of an eye, a night of gentle breeze and bright moonlight.

Gao Chun sat quietly in his room, contemplating the essence of the wind.

He felt as if he were in the midst of a stormy sea.

He saw the raging wind transform into a giant wave, destroying everything in its path, and then coalescing into a sharp arrow that pierced the sky...

He also saw the gentle breeze disperse the raging flames, quell the thunder, and calm the flood...

The speed, resilience, cutting, and penetrating power of the wind... all its myriad forms are imprinted into my dantian!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A whirlwind surged from his dantian and dantian, and the essence of wind was perfectly realized!

His dantian and qi sea surged wildly... his cultivation level broke through to the third level of the Bronze Realm!

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Gao Chun suddenly opened his eyes, leaped up, and laughed wildly, his ecstasy exploding in his chest.

Finally, my father's request was met, and the house arrest was completely lifted!

Sensing the powerful fluctuations of profound energy, Gao Changhe pushed open the door and entered, feigning anger as he scolded, "What kind of behavior is this! A mere Bronze Three-Star cultivator, still acting so loudly!"

Gao Chun's eyes burned with intensity as he grabbed his father's sleeve and shouted, "Father! I've been promoted to three stars! I can go out now! This confinement is finally over!"

Gao Changhe couldn't hide the smile on his lips. He had comprehended the third realm of intent and advanced to the third level of the Bronze Realm in thirteen months. The power of the Five-Colored Dao Seed was even more monstrous than he had anticipated.

This year-long confinement has definitely made the child feel restless.

He instantly stopped smiling and said in a deep voice, "Come here! Your confinement is lifted, but you must never reveal your three-star cultivation level when you go out. I will seal two stars for you."

Gao Chun's face fell: "Ah? It's such a waste to hide someone who finally got promoted to three stars?"

"What a pity?" Gao Changhe's eyes suddenly sharpened. "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime! You possess the Five-Colored Dao Seed and have already reached the Bronze Three Star level at just over ten years old. This in itself is a fatal calamity! If you don't conceal your abilities, you'll be targeted by villains sooner or later!"

Seeing his son still hesitant, Gao Changhe's tone suddenly turned serious: "Do you really think the stories about the Supreme Bone being stolen, the Precious Eye being gouged out... and the entire family being wiped out are just made up?"

His eyes were sharp as knives. "Stories all originate from reality, but the wickedness of the human heart is often more ruthless and cruel than any words can depict!"

Gao Chun was struck dumb, his heart jolted, and his previous hesitation vanished instantly. He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Father, I'll listen to you!"

Gao Changhe said no more, and his right hand flashed towards his dantian, activating a spell.

"Control Technique: Eight Trigrams Seal"

In an instant, runes surged between Gao Changhe's five fingers, transforming into an ancient and mysterious Bagua formation, steadily suppressing the high-purity Qi Sea.

A gentle yet irresistible force spread out, and Gao Chun felt his cultivation level plummet, dropping straight to the first level of Bronze!

Gao Chun's eyes widened, and he blurted out in astonishment, "Father! This seal is too amazing!"

"This is the Eight Trigrams Sealing Technique, which can seal your cultivation level by up to two stars."

Gao Changhe withdrew his hand, a wisp of light condensing at his fingertips to demonstrate, "Touching this place with mystic power will break one layer of the seal, and your cultivation will immediately show the Bronze II level; touching this place again will completely break the seal and restore your true cultivation."

Gao Chun was astonished. Could there really be such mysterious techniques in the world? Recalling the Four Symbols Seal that sealed his Five-Colored Dao Seeds, he realized that his father's abilities were unfathomable. Could he be a reclusive master?

His curiosity surged, and he subconsciously asked, "Father, just how much skill are you hiding? Is your true strength far greater than it appears?"

Gao Changhe lightly tapped his forehead with his fingertips, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Do you think you can uncover your father's secrets now?"

"I was just curious," Gao Chun muttered, rubbing his forehead.

"Curiosity should have its limits!" Gao Changhe's face suddenly turned serious. He pressed down on his shoulder, his tone as heavy as iron.

"Although you are only ten years old, you are already a Xuan cultivator! The path of a Xuan cultivator is fraught with thorns, and the human heart is more treacherous than any demon beast. This must be etched into your very bones!"

"A cultivator's information is the foundation of their survival! Revealing someone's secrets is tantamount to murder, exposing one's own strength is like handing over a knife!" He spoke each word with conviction. "Once someone knows your secrets, they will devise a trap and set a specific strategy. Even with extraordinary abilities, you can't withstand a cunning schemer!"

Gao Chun lowered his eyes: "Father, I remember. I will never pry into other people's secrets, nor will I reveal my own information."

"That's not all." Gao Changhe shook his head. "After going out, think more and speak less, observe more and argue less. If you can hide your talents, don't show them off. If you can back down, don't act rashly."

"What if someone deliberately bullies me?" Gao Chun looked up, her eyes full of confusion. "Does that mean we just have to endure it?"

"Patience is not cowardice, it's lying low!" Gao Changhe's eyes were as firm as steel. "If there's no intentional offense, I won't hold a grudge; but if the other party deliberately provokes me and threatens my life, I'll unseal my cultivation and retaliate with lightning speed!"

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "But remember, you must reseal it immediately afterward, leaving absolutely no trace! A true strongman never ruins his long-term path because of a moment of impulsiveness!"

"There's one more thing." Gao Changhe stared intently into his eyes.

"The secret of the Eight Trigrams Seal must never be known to a third party besides you and me, not even your closest relatives and friends! You can't see into someone's heart; today's brothers may turn against each other for profit tomorrow. Only by keeping the secret can you protect your life!"

Gao Chun nodded emphatically, the last trace of confusion in his eyes fading away, leaving only solemnity and complete understanding: "Father, I've remembered it all! Don't worry, I'll be careful in my words and actions after I get out, and I'll protect myself!"

Night fell through the windowpane, filling the entire room. It was late at night, and the conversation between the father and son came to an end.

After Gao Chun finished washing up and lay down on the bed, he tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep.

My father's words of advice still echoed in my ears, but what surged in my heart was an irrepressible excitement.

The anticipation for the future and the confidence in possessing the five-colored Dao seed burned intensely in my chest.

In a hazy state, he drifted into a dream, in which he soared through the heavens and traversed the earth, becoming an all-powerful being...

As dawn broke, Gao Chun jumped up and, following the hand seals his father had taught him the night before, unsealed a layer of the Eight Trigrams seal, firmly locking his cultivation at the Bronze II level.

After washing up and getting ready, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.

Instead of burying himself in hard training today, he's going to the training ground to challenge his genius nephew, Gao Chengzhi!

Gao Chengzhi happens to be a Bronze II star, making him an excellent opponent for honing practical skills.

As for his childhood friend Li Daoqiu, he had already advanced to Bronze Three Star and had completely lost any chance to practice.

Even if Gao Chun possesses five-colored Dao Seeds, the gap in the quality of Xuan Power between two-star and three-star levels is by no means something that talent can easily bridge.

Moreover, Li Daoqiu is a dual-color Dao Seed, and his combat skills and strategies are incredibly formidable. In this confrontation, Gao Chun has no chance of winning.

He knew perfectly well that a duel between cultivators was not just about the number of Dao seeds one could obtain.

Combat awareness, in its deeper sense, is tactics and strategy, which can often be decisive and turn the tide of battle.

such as.

A pure purple single-path cultivator is a born assassin, possessing unparalleled speed among those of the same level. If they employ a "kite-flying" tactic, they can maneuver and wear down opponents, avoiding their strengths and striking their weaknesses, then strike a fatal blow once they find an opening. If a cultivator of the same cultivation level with multiple-colored paths lacks the ability to counter this tactic, they will inevitably be defeated sooner or later.

Another example.

A pure yellow single-path cultivator is a veritable "mobile fortress," with a defense as solid as an impenetrable wall. If they steadily implement a "fortress tactic," avoiding reckless advances and focusing solely on defense while relentlessly pressing forward, multi-colored cultivators of the same level, unable to devise a way to break through, will instead have their cultivation power worn down and be defeated.

This is the power of tactics and strategies.

In addition, attack tactics, control tactics, support tactics... all kinds of tactics are essential subjects for those who study the mystical arts.

On the path of the Xuanzhe (a martial arts master), talent and Dao Seed are the foundation, but intellect and tactics are the keys to breaking through. With skillful strategy, even a single-colored Dao Seed can defeat multiple-colored Dao Seeds at the same level!

Gao Chun clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fighting spirit, and strode towards the training ground.