Imperial Scepter

Gao Chun suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils shooting out bright light, and a dazzling smile spread across his face.

Finally, he too was born with supernatural bloodline powers! From now on, he no longer needed to bury himself in arduous cultivation, and could finally unleash his full potential to roam the world and stir up trouble!

"But if you want to level up quickly using bloodline supernatural powers, you need to collect enough bloodline treasures and bloodline origin beads."

He ran his fingers along the hem of his clothes, his brow furrowed slightly. "These two items are rare treasures, unparalleled in the world. Where am I supposed to find them?"

"Sigh, with Dad not around, why don't we try our luck with my sister and brother-in-law? Maybe they have some?" Gao Chun thought for a moment and made a decision immediately.

After a flurry of activity, he dispelled the protective array that enveloped the courtyard and turned back into the house.

The moment his bloodline origin crystal was born and his supernatural powers awakened, his whole body was already soaked in sweat, feeling sticky and uncomfortable.

After a thorough wash, he changed into a moon-white robe. The twelve-and-a-half-year-old boy stood tall and straight, which made him look even more handsome and cheerful. His clear eyes revealed a determination and confidence that did not match his age.

Without any delay, Gao Chun headed straight for his sister Gao Xuemei's residence.

Facing his closest relatives, his sister and brother-in-law, he didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point: "Sister and brother-in-law, do you have any bloodline treasures or bloodline origin pearls?"

Gao Xuemei, always outspoken, immediately pressed on, "What do you need these two rare treasures for?"

Without hesitation, Gao Chun replied, "I have just been born with the Bloodline Origin Crystal and awakened Bloodline Divine Power. These two things are exactly what I need for my divine power."

He had not forgotten his father's earnest teachings: "The core information of a mystic is the foundation of one's life, and it must never be easily revealed, otherwise it may lead to one's death."

Moreover, Old Man Gao himself harbored countless secrets, which he never revealed even to his own son. This was the most direct form of teaching by example.

Before coming, Gao Chun had already planned it out. Although his sister and brother-in-law were his closest relatives, he would never reveal all the information about his bloodline supernatural powers.

A combination of three parts truth and seven parts falsehood is the most skillful way to protect a secret.

Now that a bloodline supernatural power has been born, using it to quickly level up in the future will inevitably attract the attention of others. Rather than letting them secretly suspect and inquire from various sources, it is better to proactively reveal part of the truth:

He developed a bloodline supernatural power that could accelerate his cultivation.

He would say this not only to his sister, but also to all his relatives and friends.

In this way, one can cultivate in peace, keep the secret, and avoid others' unfounded speculations, achieving three benefits in one go.

Gao Xuemei's volatile and domineering nature remained unchanged, and she immediately pressed for an answer: "Is the newly born bloodline ability in the left eye or the right eye?"

This question stunned Gao Chun, leaving him completely bewildered.

I was saying that I had been born with supernatural powers, so why is my sister suddenly asking about my eyes?

He was about to explain that supernatural powers had nothing to do with the eyes when Gao Qingfeng's gentle yet serious voice rang out.

"Xuemei, this is inappropriate. Although Gao Chun is our younger brother, the core information of a Xuanzhe is the foundation of their existence. How can we casually inquire about it? Even as close relatives, we shouldn't ask so directly."

Upon hearing this, Gao Xuemei's face immediately fell, and she pouted, about to retort.

Seeing this, Gao Chun quickly interrupted, fearing that the couple would start arguing: "Sister, brother-in-law, the crystal of my bloodline origin is in my heart, not in my eyes."

Upon hearing this, Gao Xuemei and Gao Qingfeng were both stunned, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Gao Chun possesses the bloodlines of two major eye-type bloodline families. Logically speaking, the awakened bloodline supernatural power should be eye techniques, so why is it located in the heart area?

But then I thought about it again.

Since that powerful headless shepherd in the void has come in person, the opportunity he offers Gao Chun must be extraordinary.

Once they understood this, a burning light immediately shone in the eyes of the couple.

This bloodline supernatural power was born from the heart, which means that Gao Chun will have the opportunity to awaken new pupil supernatural powers in the future!

He has the bloodline of two families with double pupils flowing through his veins!

Thinking of this, the couple trembled slightly with excitement, their eyes shining brightly.

Gao Xuemei, unable to contain her joy, asked in a trembling voice, "Chun'er, what is the name of the bloodline supernatural power you were born with? What are its functions?"

His wife's questioning instantly snapped Gao Qingfeng out of his reverie, and his brows furrowed slightly.

The core information of a mystic, such as their techniques and supernatural abilities, is the foundation of their survival. Once it is known to outsiders, it may not only lead to their death, but may also become a weapon used by enemies.

He was about to interrupt his wife's untimely question again.

Gao Chun adopted an honest and simple demeanor, speaking in a naive and sincere tone, his eyes filled with pure light: "The bloodline supernatural power I awakened is called the Acceleration Supernatural Power. It has only one function, which is to speed up my cultivation."

Although he is only twelve and a half years old, his pure mind has already far surpassed that of ordinary adult Xuan practitioners (who are 16 years old or older).

Even when facing his closest relatives, he never revealed the whole truth.

"Acceleration Divine Power!?" Gao Xuemei clenched her fists tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably, her eyes gleaming.

"Excellent! This acceleration ability is practically tailor-made for us cultivators! We need to comprehend the essence of heaven and earth to advance in our cultivation, and we waste a lot of time on tedious and arduous training. With this, Chun'er, you can progress by leaps and bounds every day!"

Gao Xuemei became more and more excited as she spoke, her eyes shining so brightly they were almost spiky, and even a hint of tears welled up at the corners of her mouth. She had clearly already imagined Gao Chun becoming an unparalleled powerhouse at a young age, leading everyone to destroy the Dongchen Empire and rebuild the sect.

Suppressing her excitement, she pressed on, "Can this acceleration ability ignore cultivation bottlenecks? Can it keep leveling up indefinitely?"

Gao Qingfeng didn't interrupt his wife at this moment. Instead, he looked at Gao Chun with his eyes shining and his face full of expectation.

If this supernatural power can truly ignore bottlenecks, then it is simply defying the heavens to the extreme.

Seeing the undisguised expectation in her sister and brother-in-law's eyes, Gao Chun felt a surge of pride.

His face remained sincere as he earnestly replied, "This bloodline ability can ignore any cultivation bottleneck. As long as there are enough bloodline treasures and bloodline origin beads, it can be upgraded indefinitely."

A hint of cunning flashed in his eyes as he deliberately emphasized the phrases "bloodline treasure medicine" and "bloodline origin pearl," secretly hoping that his sister and brother-in-law would give him some.

Upon hearing the answer with their own ears, Gao Xuemei and Gao Qingfeng could no longer contain themselves. Their bodies trembled violently, and their eyes burned with an intense light.

This speed-up ability is simply too overpowered!

In the future, Gao Chun will no longer have to endure the hardships of time to comprehend the essence of heaven and earth like ordinary cultivators, but will be able to advance triumphantly all the way!

They are proud of the high purity, and even more excited about this shared honor.

All will suffer together, and all will prosper together; their superior strength will be their greatest source of confidence.

"If only this speed-up ability could be used on someone else..." This thought suddenly popped into Gao Xuemei's mind.

Without hesitation, he blurted out, "Chun'er, can your supernatural ability help other cultivators accelerate their cultivation?"

Gao Qingfeng did not stop him, looking at Gao Chun with anticipation in his eyes.

The couple had been stuck at the threshold of the King Realm for many years. If this supernatural power could truly benefit others, they would undoubtedly be the biggest beneficiaries.

Staring at him with such intense gazes from the couple, Gao Chun felt a chill run down his spine.

But he maintained a sincere expression and shook his head, saying, "Sister and brother-in-law, no, this supernatural power can only help me accelerate my cultivation."

He wasn't telling the truth.

Firstly, the detailed information about bloodline supernatural abilities must not be easily revealed. Otherwise, it will surely bring disaster.

Secondly, he only wants to use the supernatural power to improve his strength as soon as possible, and does not want anyone, including Old Man Gao, to know the secret that this supernatural power can also help others cultivate.

Gao Chun was no longer a fledgling cultivator who had just been born with a Dao seed. He had personally experienced the trials of the Southern Wilderness Forest and, under the tutelage of Old Man Gao, deeply understood the principle of "possessing a treasure is a crime."

Once the extraordinary power of this bloodline ability is revealed, he will inevitably become the target of competition among the old monsters of various forces, and may even be captured and forcibly dissected for research.

At that time, not only will he be in danger, but his sister and brother-in-law, as well as the entire Gaojia Village, may also suffer annihilation because of him.

Moreover, while this supernatural power can help other cultivators accelerate their leveling up, it has one limitation:

The opponent's cultivation level cannot exceed one major realm. In other words, as long as the opponent's cultivation level is not nine stars higher than his, one can use his supernatural powers to advance quickly.

Hearing Gao Chun's answer, Gao Xuemei and Gao Qingfeng felt a little disappointed, but it was understandable.

This speed-enhancing ability is already incredibly powerful; if it could also benefit others, it would be utterly unbelievable.

In an instant, their regret was replaced by overwhelming joy. The couple were once again thrilled by Gao Chun's extraordinary encounter, their eyes still shining brightly.

Gao Xuemei's eyes shone brightly, and a grand plan had already been sketched out in her mind:

With this acceleration ability, Gao Chun's cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds, and he will soon be able to catch up with or even surpass them.

At that time, we will be able to lead the remaining forces of the sects hiding in the Southern Wilderness Forest to attack the Eastern Chen Empire and rebuild the former glory of the sects!

Seeing his sister and brother-in-law so excited, Gao Chun couldn't help but feel a little smug.

He muttered to himself: "It's just an acceleration function, and you're all so excited. If you knew that this bloodline ability had three other heaven-defying functions, I wonder how excited you would be?"

Thinking of this, Gao Chun felt even more pleased with himself, and was also very satisfied with his response.

"My sister and brother-in-law clearly believe what they've said."

Seeing the burning expectation in his sister and brother-in-law's eyes, Gao Chun knew that the time was ripe to ask for the rare treasures of heaven and earth.

He put away his innocent smile, his tone carrying just the right amount of earnestness, yet also a hint of youthful frankness, and took the initiative to ask for it:

"Sister and brother-in-law, although my speed-enhancing ability can ignore bottlenecks, I still need two rare treasures—Bloodline Elixir and Bloodline Origin Pearl—to level up quickly. Could you lend me some first? I'll repay you double when I find them myself!"

When he said this, his eyes were open and his tone was sincere. He not only pointed out the necessity of the resources, but also gave him a way out by saying "borrow" and "repay double". This not only fit his image as a precocious and sensible person, but also subtly understood his sister and brother-in-law's affection for him.

He was certain that, given his sister's personality, she would not let him leave empty-handed.

Upon hearing this, Gao Xuemei's excitement remained undiminished. Instead, she patted her chest, her tone cheerful yet carrying an undeniable air of dominance:

"You silly child, why are you talking to your sister about lending me things! You've been born with such extraordinary abilities, how could I let you lack cultivation resources?"

Before she finished speaking, she turned and strode quickly into the depths of the inner room.

There lies her secret chamber, a place dedicated to storing her treasured collection of rare and precious items accumulated over many years.

Gao Qingfeng watched gently from the side, his eyes showing understanding and approval, clearly supporting his wife's decision.

Gao Chun stood still, outwardly appearing to be obediently waiting, but her fingertips were secretly rubbing the hem of her clothes, and a hint of cunning and anticipation flashed in her eyes.

He secretly pondered, "Since my sister is so decisive, she must really have some in stock, but at most only one or two plants?"

"After all, the Bloodline Treasure Medicine is ranked forty-ninth among the rare treasures of heaven and earth, and its rarity is extraordinary. To be able to provide even one is already a great favor. He has even thought about how to express his gratitude after receiving the treasure medicine."

A moment later, Gao Xuemei emerged from the secret room, holding an antique sandalwood box in her hands.

The wooden box is carved with intricate cloud patterns, and the edges have a warm patina. It is clearly an object used to store precious treasures and is obviously a rare item that has been blessed with protective formations.

She gently placed the wooden box on the table, and with a slight flick of her wrist, the jade lock embedded in the box clicked open.

As the lid was slowly lifted, an intensely fragrant aroma instantly filled the air.

The fragrance was not the scent of ordinary plants, but rather carried a mellow warmth that seeped into the lungs through the nasal cavity, causing the newly condensed bloodline essence crystals within Gao Chun's body to resonate faintly, and his profound energy flowed lightly and involuntarily.

His pupils suddenly contracted, his gaze fixed on the wooden box, and the composure on his face was instantly replaced by unbelievable shock. Even his breathing subconsciously slowed down.

Inside the wooden box was a layer of snow-white velvet, on which lay six precious herbs of different shapes. Each herb had lush green leaves, plump and robust roots, and faint blood-like veins flowing inside the herbs—a unique characteristic of the Bloodline Precious Herbs!

What's even more remarkable is that these six precious medicinal plants are in excellent condition, without a single scratch, clearly indicating that they have been carefully nurtured for many years.

"This...this is..." Gao Chun's voice trembled slightly.

Although he was mentally prepared, he never expected his sister to be able to produce such a large quantity.

He originally thought that it would be a huge surprise if his sister and brother-in-law had one or two of them, since the Bloodline Treasure Medicine was one of the most rare treasures in the world, and its rarity far exceeded the imagination of ordinary cultivators.

But the box full of six plants in front of him was beyond his comprehension, leaving him speechless for a moment. Even his usual shrewdness and cunning were temporarily replaced by shock.

Seeing his dumbfounded expression, Gao Xuemei smiled smugly.

He reached out and patted the wooden box: "These six precious bloodline herbs are treasures I've painstakingly collected over the years, venturing into the Southern Wilderness and exploring secret realms!"

"Since you have been born with bloodline supernatural abilities that you can use, take them all! We, the children of the Gao family, cannot let a lack of resources delay our cultivation progress."

Gao Chunqiang suppressed the shock in his heart and carefully scanned each precious herb with his eyes. His fingertips almost couldn't resist touching the warm and moist leaves.

His brain worked at lightning speed; his precocious intelligence allowed him to snap out of his shock and grasp the key information instantly.

"Bloodline Elixir is not something that ordinary cultivators need. Its only purpose is to assist bloodline cultivators in their cultivation and to nourish the origin of their bloodline."

For ordinary cultivators, its efficacy is even less than that of a common mystical herb or plant, making it completely unworthy of such painstaking preservation, let alone risking one's life to collect it from various places.

"If my sister were an ordinary cultivator, she would never have acted this way."

A thought flashed through his mind like lightning: "Could it be that my sister is also a bloodline cultivator, and has already awakened her bloodline supernatural powers?"

This guess gave him a jolt, and he became even more certain of it.

He knew that even for a seasoned cultivator who spent years searching for treasures in the Southern Wilderness Forest, encountering a single bloodline treasure was already incredibly lucky, and collecting two or three would be enough to cause a sensation in the cultivator community.

The fact that the older sister took out six plants at once, and each one was in perfect condition and full of spiritual energy, could not be explained by "good luck".

The only reasonable answer is that these precious medicines were originally prepared by my sister for her own cultivation.

"She must also be a bloodline cultivator, who has awakened or given birth to unknown bloodline supernatural abilities."

Bloodline supernatural powers are divided into two types: awakening and birth.

Awakening supernatural powers refers to the power inherited from one's father's bloodline. Masters of bloodline families can pass on their supernatural powers to their descendants through their bloodline.

The birth of supernatural powers is entirely due to one's own destiny; it is neither inherited from one's parents nor can it be passed on to one's offspring.

Gao Chun lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting glint of cunning and inquiry in them.

He didn't point it out on the spot, but instead raised his head, his face showing just the right amount of gratitude and bewilderment, his voice carrying the clear tone unique to a young person:

"Thank you, sister! This...this is too much! Don't you need it yourself? This is such a precious medicine; if I take it, how will you cultivate in the future?"

He was already calculating in his mind: his sister was also a bloodline cultivator, so what was her bloodline ability? Was it a special type like his, possessing multiple abilities? His brother-in-law obviously knew, but had never revealed a word of it. Did Old Man Gao know?

Countless questions and calculations swirled in his mind, but he revealed none of them.

He knew that since his sister had never revealed anything, she must have her own reasons, just as he had concealed all the functions of his supernatural powers.

Asking questions rashly at this moment would seem deliberate and might even arouse the sister's suspicion.

It would be better to accept the precious medicine first and then observe and test it later.

With these six precious bloodline herbs, his cultivation path will be spared countless troubles. As for his sister's secret, it will come to light sooner or later.

Gao Qingfeng watched this scene from the side, a gentle smile in his eyes, and added:

"Chun'er, please accept your sister's kindness. She has accumulated a lot of resources over the years and doesn't lack these few precious herbs. You should cultivate diligently and become stronger as soon as possible; that would be the best way to repay us."

His tone was calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable sense of support, which further confirmed Gao Chun's suspicions.

My brother-in-law not only knows that my sister is a bloodline cultivator, but the two of them may have already reached a tacit understanding to protect this secret together.

Gao Chun carefully closed the sandalwood box. His fingertips touched the cool surface of the box, but his heart felt warm and heavy.

This cold wooden box contains far more than just six precious bloodline herbs.

That was the trust and expectation that my sister earned through countless life-or-death adventures in the southern wilderness and the mysterious realm, and it was also the deep protection and love of her family.

He looked down at the wooden box, the mischievous glint in his eyes gradually settling into a seriousness beyond his years.

He suddenly realized: "The so-called secret is never an isolated shackle, but a tacit protection between relatives."

"So-called growth is never about the courage of venturing out alone, but about taking on the corresponding responsibilities while receiving gifts."

The six precious bloodline herbs were not only an aid on his cultivation path, but also a weighty entrustment.

They will support his rapid growth, but they will also constantly remind him that behind him are not only his own secrets, but also the expectations of his relatives and his hidden past.

He raised his head and gave Gao Xuemei and Gao Qingfeng a pure and sincere smile, his eyes revealing a newfound determination and clarity.

This encounter, ostensibly a request for "help," seemed to give him access to resources and an advantage, but in reality, it allowed him to glimpse the tip of the iceberg of his family's secrets.

It also made him truly understand that the strength of a Xuanzhe is not just about the improvement of cultivation, but also about the wisdom of concealing one's shortcomings and guarding one's heart, and the responsibility of protecting one's loved ones.

But his journey has only just begun.

[This chapter has 5600 words. See you tomorrow.]