Imperial Scepter

As dawn broke, Gaojia Village was still shrouded in the quiet darkness before daybreak, but Gao Chun had already quietly gotten up.

The lamp in his room lit up in response, its soft yet firm light piercing through the night, standing out prominently in the silent village.

Today marks the day he officially embarks on the path of magical cultivation.

After careful consideration and weighing of the options yesterday, Gao Chun finally selected two techniques: "Level Three Thunder Shadow" and "Finger Flick Golden Sword".

After careful consideration, he decided to first cultivate the "Level Three Thunder Shadow".

He carefully took out the ancient magic manual.

Before he could begin his cultivation, he had to memorize the contents of the manual thoroughly. He not only had to recite the words and phrases word for word, but he also had to memorize the complex diagrams of acupoints and their locations, ensuring that he could remember them perfectly.

As his fingertips traced the pages, Gao Chun once again read and memorized the book word by word, carefully pondering every key point.

"To successfully cultivate the third level of Thunder Shadow, the first step is to mobilize the light purple Xuan Power to open up the 36 closed acupoints around the body, and then fill them with Xuan Power."

"The second step is to connect these 36 acupoints one by one, following the route described in the manual."

The paths connecting the acupoints vary, some straight, some curved, some arc-shaped, and some requiring numerous turns. The techniques must be followed precisely; the slightest error can cause the acupoints to shatter, resulting in severe injury.

"The third step is to condense the seed of the spell. Once the first two steps are completed, a large amount of light purple profound energy is needed to maintain the condensation of the seed of the spell."

If the supply of pale purple profound energy is insufficient at this point, all previous efforts will be in vain. Therefore, it is essential to prepare a sufficient amount of profound pills in advance to ensure a continuous supply of profound energy.

After reading it several times and thoroughly understanding all the key points, Gao Chun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"I've finally figured out how to cultivate this technique," he murmured, a huge weight lifted from his heart.

He has already located the 36 acupoints that need to be opened in his body, thanks to the detailed descriptions in the manual.

Next comes the most grueling part: the painstaking, time-consuming process.

Day after day, opening and filling each closed acupoint; there are no shortcuts, only perseverance.

"For the first acupoint, choose the ancestral acupoint!"

Gao Chun sat cross-legged, instantly holding his breath and concentrating.

He had already informed his father.

There's no need to call him for dinner today.

He will not eat for a day if his ancestral aperture remains closed!

He began to "introspect" his body and easily found the location of the ancestral aperture.

He stared intently at the invisible barrier deep between his brows.

"The ancestral aperture is the beginning of all apertures. If it is closed, it is like a sealed iron gate. It needs to be opened with light purple mysterious power and then filled with mysterious power."

He murmured softly, his voice slightly hoarse, yet each word was firm.

This wasn't the first time he had silently recited the secret manual's key points, but at this moment, every word felt like a brand, etched into his mind.

Slowly close your eyes, let your hands fall naturally in front of your knees with your palms facing up, and let your breathing gradually become long and steady.

"rise!"

A low shout resounded in his heart, and the pale purple Xuan power responded instantly, flowing slowly upwards along his meridians like a stream being drawn.

Wherever the pale purple Xuan power passed, the meridians were slightly stretched, bringing a slight soreness, but Gao Chun paid no attention to it, focusing all his attention on controlling the Xuan power.

He didn't rush to unleash a large amount of profound energy. Instead, he first separated a strand of profound energy as thin as a hair, like a scout exploring the way, and carefully probed towards the ancestral aperture between his eyebrows.

This wisp of profound energy was extremely weak, yet he controlled it with unparalleled precision, avoiding the branches of the meridians and proceeding along the shortest path.

The moment the pale purple profound energy touched the invisible barrier of the ancestral aperture, Gao Chun's brows furrowed sharply.

The barrier was cold and hard, as if it were forged from ancient black iron, with no gaps to be found.

The moment the pale purple Xuan power made contact, it was repelled by a backlash. The force wasn't particularly strong, but it carried an inviolable domineering aura, causing the probing Xuan power to instantly dissipate.

"Indeed, this is troublesome."

Gao Chun understood the situation, but he did not back down in the slightest.

He already knew the difficulty of cultivating the "Level Three Thunder Shadow" technique. If he could easily master it, he wouldn't deserve the title of "top-tier bronze-level spell ceiling".

The profound energy was re-condensed, this time no longer in thin threads, but into a stream of profound energy about the thickness of a finger, with a richer color than before, and a slight whistling sound as it flowed.

He took a deep breath, banished all distracting thoughts, and focused his mind intently, like the most skilled craftsman, manipulating the flow of profound energy and sending it rushing towards the ancestral aperture once again.

"Thump!"

A silent collision erupted within the body, as the pale purple stream of profound energy slammed fiercely against the ancestral aperture barrier.

The hard sensation traveled back through his meridians, causing Gao Chun's heart to clench sharply.

A sharp, throbbing pain shot through his brow, as if a dull knife was repeatedly stabbing him. The pain spread along his nerves, making his temples throb, and he even saw a blurry black shadow in front of his eyes.

Hang in there!

Gao Chun clenched his teeth, his gums ached slightly, and a trace of blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth.

He didn't stop; the pale red Xuan power kept replenishing the flow like a tide, maintaining the impact of the Xuan power stream.

Each impact intensified the throbbing pain between his eyebrows, as if countless steel needles were piercing him simultaneously, causing his muscles to twitch slightly.

Sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping onto his clothes and quickly soaking a patch.

His face gradually turned from rosy to pale, and his breathing became heavy, with each exhale carrying a burning sensation.

But his gaze remained terrifyingly firm, his dark pupils unwavering, displaying only a stubborn determination to achieve his goal.

He knew that there were no shortcuts in cultivation; so-called geniuses were simply those who had more perseverance and ruthlessness than others.

This ancestral aperture was the first hurdle he faced on his path to mastering magic.

Today, we must either break through the bottleneck or exhaust our energy; there is absolutely no reason to back down halfway.

"drink!"

He suddenly let out a low shout, increasing the intensity of his mobilization of the pale purple profound energy, and the force of the impact also suddenly increased.

This time, he no longer blindly attacked, but concentrated his profound energy on one point, repeatedly striking the same spot on the ancestral aperture barrier like an awl.

"Click..."

A barely audible, crisp sound exploded in his mind.

Gao Chun's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes instantly lit up with an astonishing light!

He could clearly feel that the seemingly indestructible barrier had finally developed a tiny crack!

"Now!"

He dared not slacken in the slightest, and immediately activated all the remaining profound energy in his dantian, turning it all into pale purple profound energy, which rushed towards the crack like a flood breaking through a dam.

The pale purple Xuan energy surged wildly into the crack, tearing and expanding it continuously. The subtle cracking sound became clearer and clearer, and the throbbing pain between his eyebrows reached its peak, causing Gao Chun to almost faint from the pain.

But he bit his tongue hard, using the pain to maintain his last bit of consciousness, and continuously output his profound energy without holding back a single bit.

"boom!"

Finally, the barrier that had troubled him for so long shattered completely under the continuous impact of Xuan power!

The pale purple profound energy surged into the ancestral aperture like a wild horse, instantly filling and nourishing the originally dry and empty aperture.

A cool and refreshing sensation spread from the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows, instantly dispelling all the swelling and fatigue. Like rain after a long drought, every inch of the meridians rejoiced!

Gao Chun suddenly opened his eyes, his dark pupils bursting with unbelievable ecstasy. His originally pale face instantly turned bright red, and the corners of his mouth uncontrollably turned up, revealing a smile that was radiant to the extreme!

"I did it! I really did it!"

He couldn't help but let out a low shout, his voice trembling uncontrollably, yet filled with boundless joy.

He suddenly stood up, clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, but he felt no pain at all.

"I've finally unlocked the first key!"

He couldn't help but pace back and forth a few steps, his steps light as if he were walking on clouds, as if his previous fatigue had never existed.

The arduous journey of breaking through the ancestral aperture kept replaying in his mind. The sweat, the pain, and the moments when he was on the verge of giving up had all turned into the sweetest fruit, filling his heart with a sense of accomplishment.

He raised his hand to touch his brow, and could clearly feel a warm, profound energy slowly flowing within him—proof that his ancestral aperture had been completely opened. This was not merely a breakthrough in one acupoint, but rather his first step onto the path of magic, a solid foundation for his advancement towards becoming a stronger being!

"Hahaha!"

Gao Chun could no longer contain his excitement. He threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh, which was full of high spirits and boundless anticipation for the future.

"Only one of the 36 acupoints is opened."

Gao Chun murmured to himself, his voice calm, yet carrying a confidence that penetrated to the bone.

But as soon as he finished speaking, an overwhelming feeling of weakness surged through his body like a tidal wave.

Only then did he belatedly realize that not only was his profound energy depleted and his spirit exhausted, but his stomach was also completely empty.

From dawn till dusk, he neither drank nor ate a grain of rice, devoting all his energy to the Chongqiao acupoint.

It was a deep-seated hunger, intertwined with extreme exhaustion, that made it impossible for him to maintain his upright posture even for a moment.

"Gurgle..."

My stomach let out an untimely, loud protest, which was particularly clear in the quiet room.

Gao Chun gave a bitter smile. The sharp edge he had initially shown was instantly washed away by the sudden hunger.

He struggled to his feet, his steps unsteady, and he nearly stumbled and fell.

His internal energy was completely empty, and with each step he took, his legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

The night outside the window was so thick it was like ink that couldn't be dissolved.

The village of Gaojia was completely silent, everyone already fast asleep.

Gao Chun groped his way to the kitchen and immediately saw the food his father had left on the stove, which was still warm.

The warmth entered his nose and his heart, making him feel a surge of warmth.

After eating and drinking his fill, extreme exhaustion finally overwhelmed his last shred of consciousness, sweeping over him like a flood bursting its banks.

My eyelids felt as heavy as if they were made of lead, and I didn't even have the strength to think.

He no longer cared about cleaning up the mess on the table, staggered to the bedside, and lay down fully clothed.

There were no unnecessary actions, no unnecessary thoughts.

Even the blazing sun that had been rising in my heart temporarily dimmed its light in this extreme exhaustion.

With his eyes closed, Gao Chun fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.

His breathing was long and heavy, carrying the peacefulness of a deep sleep.

That night, I had no dreams.