Imperial Scepter

On that scorching day, the golden sunlight shone on Gao Chun's small courtyard paved with bluestone slabs.

Gao Changhe stood with his hands behind his back under the eaves, his blue robe swaying gently in the breeze. His gaze was as calm as a deep pool as he slowly swept over the four teenagers in the courtyard.

Gao Chun was just over twelve years old, with his back ramrod straight, exuding the air of a little adult, and he perfectly embodied the aura of a team leader.

He was handsome with delicate features and a certain charm. His eyes held an irrepressible anticipation, but his small hands were clenched tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.

He had never been to the Southern Wilderness Forest before, and as the captain of the four-person team, he had to consider many trivial matters, so he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Li Daoqiu, who was the same age as Gao Chun, simply stood quietly to the side.

His eyes and brows revealed a calmness far beyond his years. His eyelids were lowered, and his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the hem of his clothes, clearly deep in thought.

He and his father had come from the southern wilderness forests, so they were not unfamiliar with that land.

But it was precisely because he was familiar with it that he knew the dangers better than anyone else. It wasn't just the unpredictable and harsh environment of the forest and the lurking monsters, but also the diverse people living in the forest that were impossible to guard against.

The human heart is unpredictable; the scheming and vigilance in the shadows are far more chilling than the dangers on the surface.

Fourteen-year-old Wang Hu was the oldest of the four. He was naturally proud, and even when standing in front of Gao Changhe, the strongest man in Gaojia Village, he could not hide his innate arrogance.

His eyes burned with the most intense desire, and he looked forward to the journey to the Southern Wilderness with the utmost anticipation.

He will come of age in two years, at which time the village will no longer provide cultivation resources, and hunting mystical beasts and earning resources in the Southern Wilderness Forest will be his only way out.

The youngest, Gao Chengzhi, was only ten years old. He leaned lazily against the courtyard wall, his hands tucked into his little clothes, his little mouth pouting so much that it could hold an oil bottle.

His short legs kept kicking forward, his eyes drifting towards the outside of the courtyard wall, and he kept thinking to himself: It's so much better to stay at home, why go to suffer in the wilderness?

But he had no room to argue. His mother said that everything was up to his grandfather, so it seemed that he couldn't avoid this trial in the southern wilderness.

Gao Changhe took in the reactions of the four people and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

These four children each have their own personality, and it is precisely the time when they need to be tempered and refined.

They were all top-tier young geniuses in Gaojia Village, but they would never achieve great things if they only stayed behind closed doors to cultivate.

"The four young men are in good spirits; they seem quite eager to train in the Southern Wilderness Forest!"

Gao Changhe spoke cheerfully, adopting the demeanor of an elder as he greeted the four.

"The goal of this training is to hunt down a nest of black boars."

He paused, then continued, "In this litter of black boars, there is one adult second-grade black boar and six or seven first-grade cubs. Your mission this time is to kill or capture them alive."

These words immediately caused an uproar among the four children in the yard.

We looked at each other, staring at each other with wide eyes, our faces filled with undisguised disbelief.

With one second-grade Xuan beast and six or seven first-grade Xuan beasts, how could the four of them, low-level Bronze Xuan practitioners, possibly handle it?

Moreover, none of them had learned any magic, and they didn't even have any means of ranged attacks; they could only rely on close-quarters combat with their fists and feet.

This isn't training; it's sending them to their deaths!

Gao Chun was also stunned, looking at his father Gao Changhe with disbelief.

Although he was actually at the four-star Bronze Realm level, deliberately hiding one star, he had never practiced any magic techniques.

With this lineup of four, can they really accomplish this seemingly impossible task?

The four were filled with questions and were about to ask when they were firmly suppressed by the calm aura suddenly released by Gao Changhe.

"Let me finish speaking first." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable force.

"I will buy the second-grade Xuanbo that you hunted during this training for five hundred Xuanjing, whether they are alive or dead," Gao Changhe offered as bait.

"As for the first-grade cub Xuan pig, a live one will be given fifty Xuan crystals, and a dead one will be given twenty Xuan crystals."

This reward once again left the four children speechless.

Although they are young, they are not novices in the cultivation world; they are very clear about the grade and value of mystical objects.

Mysterious items range from grade one to grade nine, with each grade having a value difference of tenfold.

A first-grade Xuan item can be purchased for a single-digit number of Xuan crystals, a second-grade item for a two-digit number, a third-grade item for a three-digit number, and so on, with a ninth-grade item requiring a nine-digit number of Xuan crystals.

A second-grade Xuan Pig, with its entire body including fur, bones, flesh, and blood, would fetch at most two hundred Xuan Crystals. Now, Gao Changhe is offering five hundred—more than double the original price!

The four children's eyes immediately turned red, and their breathing became rapid.

Especially for Wang Hu, who is about to come of age, all his future cultivation resources will depend on his own efforts, making these five hundred Xuan Crystals extremely tempting.

Even if they can't deal with the second-grade Xuanbo, they can still make a lot of money by capturing those first-grade cubs.

Their eyes gleamed with golden light, their minds filled with the thought of earning Xuanjing (mystic crystals).

Even Gao Chengzhi, who was originally lazy and listless, instantly perked up.

He also needs Xuanjing (mystic crystals) to buy storybooks, and his parents are extremely strict about controlling his Xuanjing, so his monthly allowance is never enough.

If he could earn enough Xuanjing (mystic crystals), he could buy more storybooks.

Seeing the four children's eyes gleaming like hungry wolves, Gao Changhe couldn't help but laugh, a sly glint in his eyes.

The saying "A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men" holds true everywhere.

When they first heard about the second-grade Xuan Pig, the four little ones were full of worry. But now, as soon as they heard about Xuan Crystal, they immediately changed their expressions. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

"Alright, if you have any further questions, please feel free to ask, and I will answer them one by one."

Gao Changhe remained smiling, his tone gentle.

"Uncle Gao, we are all children. There is still a long way from Gaojia Village to the Southern Wilderness Forest. There must be many dangers on the way. I'm afraid we..." Li Daoqiu was the first to ask.

Gao Changhe nodded in satisfaction. This child was indeed mature and steady, and his considerations were thorough. No wonder he came from the Southern Wilderness Forest.

"I will personally take you to your destination, directly to the habitat of that black boar," he explained.

"But how to deal with the Xuanzhu and how to solve problems is entirely up to you. After I drop you off, I'll go take care of other things. Wait for me at the agreed time, and I'll come back to pick you up."

"So, how should we divide the Xuan Crystals we earn after hunting Xuan Boars?" Ten-year-old Gao Chengzhi raised his little hand and asked his question.

Gao Changhe was somewhat dissatisfied with this issue.

Why would you ask him about something as trivial as dividing Xuanjing?

But then I thought, this kid has always only loved storybooks, so it's a good thing that he's now interested in Xuanjing.

"I don't care about the distribution of the Mystic Crystals," he said. "You're a team, so you can decide how to divide them yourselves."

Seeing that no one was asking any more questions, and with the four children's eyes still gleaming with green light, clearly eager to hunt the Xuanbo, Gao Changhe simply waved his hand.

"Since there are no problems, let's set off."

Gao Changhe's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable calmness, like a deep and steady stream in a mountain ravine, possessing its own weight.

He took the lead and stepped out of the courtyard, his blue robe swaying gently in the wind, his back straight and resolute.

The four children behind him had burning eyes; their previous doubts had long been dispelled by their desire for the Mystic Crystal and their excitement for the adventure. They skipped and hopped along, their steps as light as deer in the forest.

The chattering whispers were full of excitement.

Seeing the children's innocent and joyful expressions, Gao Changhe's lips curled into a playful smile again, but deep in his eyes lay a hidden meaning.

Hunting down that den of black boars is no easy task.

His true purpose was never to have them hunt black boars, but to teach them to cooperate during the hunt and to see each other's true intentions when they were injured or in danger.

Will we help each other, or betray each other? Will we join hands, or run away separately? These are the core questions of this trial.

No matter how promising a talent is, if they only show off their skills in the village and don't experience the trials and tribulations of life, they will ultimately remain just flowers in a greenhouse and will find it difficult to achieve great things.

Gao Changhe knew that in life and work, one needs not only courage but also composure. Many principles, no matter how much you explain them, are useless; only by putting them in dangerous situations can they truly understand the hardships involved and learn to respect and help each other.

He knew perfectly well that the relationship between the four children was intricate and complicated.

Gao Chun and Li Daoqiu are childhood friends who grew up together and share a deep bond; Gao Chun is also Gao Chengzhi's maternal uncle, so they are naturally bound by blood ties.

Wang Hu, however, was not close to the other three, appearing as if he were detached from the core.

This bond, interwoven with kinship and deep friendship, coupled with the subtle distance within the team, makes it impossible to know how they will integrate and harmonize.

It can become the strongest support when everyone stands shoulder to shoulder, gathering an invincible force.

However, once a crack appears, this complex relationship could become its most fatal weakness, causing the entire team to fall apart.

He couldn't help but wonder: what would they do when the black boar's tusks actually charged? Would they instinctively protect those around them? Would they panic and run away in disarray? Or would they push their companions out to save themselves?

These questions have no standard answers, but they can most truthfully reflect the choices children make based on their nature.

What Gao Changhe wanted was not to turn them into fearless little warriors, but to make them understand in dire straits that their companions were each other's support.

Betrayal and retreat will only put everyone in danger; only by looking out for each other can we survive together.

He thought that they might get lost and need to comfort and encourage each other; perhaps a child might accidentally fall and get injured and need someone to help them move forward; perhaps they would face a surprise attack from the Black Pig and someone would need to bravely stand up and block them.

These are all tests for them.

It tests their family ties and friendships, as well as their courage and sense of responsibility.

This will further test their choices, teamwork, and tacit understanding as a team.

Only through these real-life experiences can they truly understand what brotherhood and responsibility mean.

The "live and die together" pledges made in ordinary times can only be tested for truth in the moment of life-or-death decision.

Gao Changhe's gaze fell on the four children again, and the playful smile gradually faded, replaced by a deep expectation.

He knew that this trip to the southern wilderness was destined to be anything but smooth sailing, and might even cause the children some hardship.

But he believes that as long as the four children stay true to themselves and hold each other's hands, they can grow up slowly through trials.

They will understand that doing things is never a one-person job. The most precious treasures are the partners who have gone through dangers and sweated together, and the friendships that encouraged each other when they were afraid.