Imperial Scepter

After resting for two days, Gao Chun adjusted his aura to its most perfect and flawless state.

The Bagua seal deep within his dantian, left by his father, acted like a sturdy shackle, firmly locking away his true cultivation level of the fifth star of the Bronze Realm.

What was displayed was a cultivation level of four stars in the Bronze Realm.

The seed of a level three Raikage's technique has been successfully condensed, and it can be used with a thought.

"Everything is ready, time to go!"

A confident smile appeared on Gao Chun's lips, his aura calm and composed, indicating that he was ready to leave.

His appearance today is a deliberate attempt to reveal the fact that he was born with supernatural bloodline abilities.

On the day the headless shepherd descended from the void, the formation in the courtyard suddenly activated, and it could not be hidden from the eyes of those who were paying attention.

As the saying goes, a wild goose leaves a trace as it flies by, and a person leaves a name as they pass by. Since we cannot completely erase the traces, we should cover them up in the smartest way possible.

The best way to hide a shocking secret is to be three parts truth and seven parts falsehood.

He has been able to conceal his extraordinary opportunity to possess a five-colored Dao Seed until now thanks to this method. Apart from Old Man Gao, even his closest sister and brother-in-law only dare to guess that he was born with a four-colored Dao Seed.

Thinking of this, Gao Chun smiled smugly to himself, the curve of his lips becoming even more blatant.

"Three parts truth and seven parts falsehood—this is still the supreme method for concealing one's true abilities and preserving one's life!"

He had already mentally rehearsed the specific statements he would make to the outside world a thousand times, leaving no room for error.

He would claim that he had created a bloodline supernatural power that could accelerate cultivation; as for the five-colored Dao seed, the opportunity given by the headless senior, the four heaven-defying functions of the bloodline supernatural power, and the true realm of the fifth star of the Bronze Realm, he would keep them sealed in his heart and would not reveal a single bit of them.

"Young people may have youthful vigor and sharp edges, but I understand even better the ironclad rule for survival of those from humble backgrounds—possessing a treasure is a crime, and showing off one's sharpness will inevitably lead to death!"

"The safest strategy right now is to make my family and friends happy and excited while perfectly concealing my biggest trump card."

Gao Chun's mouth stretched from ear to ear, and a smug, triumphant laugh echoed in his mind.

He then straightened his white robes and walked briskly and swiftly towards his sister Gao Xuemei's residence.

As soon as you push open the courtyard gate, a rich and fragrant aroma of mythical beast meat wafts out, warm and inviting, full of the warmth of everyday life.

The older sister, Gao Xuemei, was busy at the stove with her sleeves rolled up. She was dressed in a neat red short-sleeved shirt, and her posture was capable, bold, and spirited.

She is naturally impatient and domineering, speaks bluntly, and has a fiery temper, but she is extremely protective of her family members.

Brother-in-law Gao Qingfeng sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, quietly brewing a pot of light tea. He had a gentle and refined demeanor, and his eyes were calm and wise.

He doesn't talk much, but he's insightful, has a keen eye for people, and remains calm in the face of adversity. He's the most reliable and dependable pillar of the family.

My nephew, Gao Chengzhi, slumped in a bamboo chair, clutching a tattered storybook tightly in his arms. He looked lazy and indifferent, as if nothing was going on.

This child is naturally a little lazy, a little arrogant, and a little rebellious. He doesn't respect anyone and his words are always stronger than his actions.

Even if you admire someone to the point of utter despair in your heart, you must still pretend to be indifferent on the surface.

Seeing Gao Chun enter the courtyard, Gao Xuemei immediately put down her kitchen utensils and quickly went to greet him.

She grabbed Gao Chun's arm with such force that she almost hurt him, her tone urgent and concerned.

"Xiao Chun! You've finally made it out of seclusion! I haven't seen you for days. Have you been eating dry rations every day to fool yourself?"

Gao Chun grimaced as his sister grabbed him, but he wasn't angry at all; he only felt a warm sense of security.

Gao Qingfeng gently put down his teacup, looked up at Gao Chun, his gaze gentle yet with a hint of inquiry.

"You've been in seclusion for so long, and your complexion and aura are much more composed than before. You must have made considerable progress."

Gao Chengzhi remained slumped in his chair, too lazy to even lift his head, only lazily rolling his eyes.

He curled his lip, raised his chin high, and spoke with a tone full of disdain and sarcasm.

"What can he possibly gain? Advancing by even one star in the Bronze Realm is incredibly difficult. I bet he's still stuck in the same place, without making any progress at all."

Looking at his three closest people, Gao Chun suppressed his laughter and excitement and decided to stop keeping them in suspense.

He took a deep breath, no longer suppressing his already adjusted aura, and slowly released his profound energy.

That unassuming, non-violent, yet exceptionally solid and profound power was clearly revealed to everyone.

Bronze Realm, Four Stars!

There was no falsehood, no forced effort, just a completely stable breakthrough.

The air in the courtyard instantly became quiet.

Gao Chun did not stop. He shifted his feet slightly, and light purple Xuan power wrapped around his body like lightning threads.

The next moment, his figure suddenly became blurry, and three lifelike lightning phantoms that looked exactly like him appeared with a bang.

The three illusory figures stood upright, with faint lightning flashing around them, and even the movement of their hair and robes was completely in sync with their original bodies.

It was the third-level Raikage that he had painstakingly cultivated for more than three months!

The courtyard fell into complete silence; you could hear a pin drop.

Gao Xuemei's usually sharp and straightforward eyes widened to their limit, her pupils contracted sharply, and her breath stopped for a moment.

She already knew that Gao Chun had developed a bloodline supernatural power that could accelerate cultivation.

But she never expected that this supernatural power would be so terrifying!

In just over twenty days, he not only steadily broke through from the three-star level of the Bronze Realm to the four-star level, but also mastered a level three spell.

This isn't just acceleration; it's a monstrous speed that rewrites the laws of cultivation!

She originally thought that accelerating cultivation would only be a little faster and save a little time than usual.

Only now did she truly understand that the opportunities her younger brother possessed were far more terrifying than she had imagined.

After being stunned for several breaths, Gao Xuemei suddenly came to her senses, her voice rising to almost crack.

"Four stars?! You really broke through to four stars?! And... and you even mastered the third-level Raikage?!"

"Your bloodline abilities... are actually this powerful?!"

Her hand gripping Gao Chun's arm was trembling slightly; shock, elation, and disbelief were all written on her face.

Gao Qingfeng's fingers tightened around the teacup, his knuckles turning slightly white, and for the first time, his gentle face was covered with intense astonishment.

He also knew that Gao Chun had developed a bloodline supernatural power that could accelerate cultivation.

But he also thought it was just an ordinary supernatural power that was slightly more efficient than ordinary people's cultivation.

Seeing it with his own eyes now, he truly realized how terrifying this supernatural power was.

Within twenty-odd days, he broke through his cultivation realm and mastered his techniques; this was beyond what the word "fast" could describe.

This is a terrifying efficiency that directly crushes all cultivators of the same generation.

Even the most talented scions of the imperial aristocratic families, with the best elixirs and cultivation techniques, would never be able to achieve this.

He slowly stood up, his gaze towards Gao Chun filled with shock and disbelief.

"With a solid foundation and a fully formed lightning shadow, this is something that ordinary acceleration cannot achieve."

"Your bloodline supernatural power... is far more terrifying than I imagined."

Gao Chun understood. His sister and brother-in-law had known for a long time that he possessed the speed-enhancing ability, but they hadn't expected its power to be so extraordinary.

He felt extremely pleased; it was so exhilarating to shock others.

Yet his expression remained calm and natural, his tone indifferent and steady, as he began to speak according to the prepared remarks.

"I didn't expect this supernatural power to be so effective. After going into seclusion, my cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds every day."

"That's how you break through to the fourth star in just over twenty days, and that's enough time to successfully train the third-level Raikage."

He still didn't mention a word about the four heaven-defying abilities of the Five-Colored Dao Seed, the Headless Man, and Bloodline Divine Power, or his true cultivation level of the fifth star of the Bronze Realm.

Three parts truth, seven parts falsehood, perfectly concealing all the biggest secrets.

Gao Xuemei suddenly realized, followed by uncontrollable elation.

She slapped her thigh excitedly, her voice so loud that the whole yard could hear her, revealing her domineering and protective nature.

"Good lad! So your acceleration ability is this terrifying! No wonder you were shooting upwards like a rocket!"

"You're blessed by God! You're so lucky! From now on, if anyone dares to be jealous of you or plot against you, I'll be the first to tear them apart!"

The shock in Gao Qingfeng's eyes gradually turned into understanding, followed by a surge of deep relief and solemnity.

He looked at Gao Chun gently, his tone steady, every word filled with wise reminders.

"Such speed will inevitably attract attention. Remember, you must not easily reveal your full strength in public."

"Possessing a treasure is a crime. The worst thing for an ordinary person to do when trying to rise to prominence is to show off their talents. Remember, only by keeping a low profile can you go further and more steadily."

Gao Chun nodded earnestly, keeping his brother-in-law's words firmly in mind: "I've got it, brother-in-law."

Gao Chengzhi, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded, frozen in place.

The storybook he was holding tightly fell to the ground with a "thud," but he didn't even notice.

The little guy's heart was already in turmoil, a storm raging within him.

A bloodline technique that accelerates cultivation?! Breaking through to Bronze IV in just over twenty days? And even mastering Level 3 Thunder Shadow?!

This is outrageous! How can he be so lucky? How can he improve so quickly?!

He admired him immensely, and even felt a little envious and jealous.

But his ingrained pride and rebellious nature would never allow him to show even a hint of admiration.

He quickly tensed his small face, forcibly suppressing the shock in his eyes, and abruptly turned his head away, the tips of his ears turning slightly red.

He crossed his arms, chin held high, and spoke in a harsh and sarcastic tone, full of insincere disdain.

"Hmph... What's there to be proud of! It's just a fourth-level Bronze Saint with a broken cultivation-accelerating ability!"

"My talent is ten times greater than yours! In another six months, I'm sure I'll break through too, and maybe even develop more powerful divine abilities!"

His words were incredibly forceful, but his slightly trembling fingers betrayed the true shock he felt inside.

Gao Chun couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at his nephew's adorable, contradictory, and prideful demeanor.

He didn't expose Gao Chengzhi, but simply offered a few words of reassurance, echoing Gao Chengzhi's words.

Gao Xuemei smiled brightly and immediately pressed Gao Chun down to the stone table, bringing over a large bowl of steaming hot Xuan Beast meat.

She kept putting meat into Gao Chun's bowl, constantly telling him to eat more to nourish his body.

Gao Chun was finally able to leave only after he had eaten until his belly was round and he could no longer eat.

Stepping out of her sister's courtyard, Gao Chun let out a soft breath, her expression growing increasingly resolute.

Next, he will meet his three teammates in turn.

These three people, with completely different personalities, are all companions he can trust.

He wanted them to see his progress, and he also wanted to use the same rhetoric to reassure them and keep the secret hidden.

The first person Gao Chun found was Li Daoqiu.

Li Daoqiu and his uncle Li Quan lived together in a spacious, independent courtyard house. Like Gao Chun's family, each person's room was the best place for cultivation.

Gao Chun surmised that Li Daoqiu was currently in seclusion, comprehending the essence of the art and striving to break through to a higher realm. This kind of cultivation could be stopped at any time and was not afraid of being disturbed.

Without much hesitation, he went straight up and knocked on the door.

Shortly after, the door was opened.

Li Daoqiu was still the same as before, his face naturally carrying a gloomy look, coupled with his aloof nature, he exuded a cold and unapproachable aura, and had no friendliness whatsoever.

He was naturally calm, taciturn, and rarely showed his emotions; a layer of unyielding sorrow always lingered between his brows.

"What brings you here? Is something the matter?"

Upon seeing Gao Chun enter the courtyard, Li Daoqiu merely raised his eyes slightly and nodded as a greeting.

He remained standing in the same spot, his gaze sweeping over Gao Chun from head to toe, as if scrutinizing something.

Gao Chun didn't waste any words and walked straight to the center of the courtyard.

As soon as he released his aura, the steady power of a fourth-star Bronze Realm expert was revealed without reservation.

The next moment, he unleashed the Level 3 Thunder Shadow technique, and three pale purple lightning phantoms suddenly appeared beside him.

Li Daoqiu's pupils suddenly contracted, and he abruptly stopped.

Seeing his childhood friend's shocked expression, Gao Chun felt a surge of satisfaction, but his expression remained unchanged. He spoke calmly, slowly reciting his version of events, a story that was three parts truth and seven parts falsehood:

"Some time ago, I was born with a bloodline supernatural power. Its effect is to accelerate cultivation. It can not only speed up the understanding of the artistic conception and improve the realm, but also help to master the spells."

"After this period of arduous training, I have broken through to the fourth level of Bronze, and Raikage has also reached the third level."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Daoqiu's fingers tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning a ghastly white from the force.

For the first time, a monstrous wave surged in his perpetually calm and indifferent eyes.

His heart was completely broken, overwhelmed by shock, envy, and a deep-seated inferiority complex.

"A bloodline technique that accelerates cultivation... it can actually be this fast..."

In just over twenty days, he went from three stars to four stars, and even mastered level three spells...

I possess two-colored Dao seeds, and I cultivate day and night with all my might, yet the path ahead remains shrouded in mystery.

To reach Bronze IV, I don't know if it will take another five or ten years...

A deep sense of powerlessness welled up in Li Daoqiu's heart.

Both were young cultivators with shared goals, yet the gap between them was so vast that it filled him with despair.

A strong sense of inferiority overwhelmed him like an icy tide, leaving him almost breathless.

Even though he felt extremely bitter, painful, and inferior, he was still genuinely happy for his childhood friend.

He composed himself, suppressing all the turbulent emotions churning within him, and maintained a calm expression.

His voice, however, trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, yet it was sincere and solemn.

"Congratulations, Gao Chun."

"With such bloodline supernatural powers, your future is limitless."

"You deserve this, and I...I'm genuinely happy for you."

Beneath the calm exterior lies the deepest shock, the most bitter inferiority complex, and a glimmer of hope that rekindles the path of revenge.

Gao Chun nodded slightly, without saying anything more. He understood the weight of Li Daoqiu's silence.

After leaving Li Daoqiu's residence, the second person Gao Chun found was Huang Xiaoming.

Huang Xiaoming had just emerged from his small grocery store when he spotted Gao Chun, and his eyes lit up instantly.

Like a hunter who has spotted the most precious treasure, he immediately trotted over, his waist habitually slightly bent.

His face was plastered with a fawning, enthusiastic, and clever smile, a perfect example of sucking up to someone's leg.

He was naturally clever and shrewd, good at scheming, and most adept at reading people's expressions. He believed in the truth of "sucking up to powerful people" throughout his life.

His father taught him from a young age: if you have bad luck and little talent, you must find people with good luck and great talent to be your friends.

Joining the most promising team and clinging to the strongest backer is the safest way out for ordinary people.

Before Gao Chun could speak, Huang Xiaoming had already blurted out a string of enthusiastic flattery.

"Brother Chun! You're finally out of seclusion! I've been waiting for you every single day these past few days; it felt like an eternity!"

"You've been in seclusion for so long, you must have gained tremendous insights! I've always known you were no ordinary person!"

Gao Chun ignored his flattery, released his aura, and revealed the truth in a flash.

"Some time ago, I was born with a bloodline supernatural power, the effect of which is to accelerate cultivation. Now I have broken through to the fourth level of Bronze and cultivated to the third level of Thunder Shadow."

That one short sentence struck Huang Xiaoming like a thunderbolt, leaving him frozen in place.

His eyes were wide open, his mouth was agape enough to swallow a fist, and his mind went completely blank.

The next second, his mind began to roar wildly, and he was so excited that he almost jumped up on the spot.

A bloodline technique that accelerates cultivation! It's incredibly fast! This is an unparalleled opportunity!

My dad's words are truly the ultimate truth of life! If you're unlucky and lack talent, you absolutely must cling to powerful figures!

I made the right bet this time! A complete and utter gamble! Following Brother Chun, I'll definitely live a life of luxury and have a bright future ahead of me!

I must inscribe this principle in the family genealogy so that my sons, grandsons, and all generations will learn it well!

In a short moment, Huang Xiaoming had already planned out his entire life path for the next few decades.

He immediately put on an even more exaggerated and obsequious smile, bowed to Gao Chun, and bombarded him with flattery.

"Brother Chun! You are the chosen one! You are the undisputed number one talent in our Jiuyang Town... no, you should be called the number one genius in our Ping'an County!"

"With supernatural powers bestowed upon you, your magic mastered, and your cultivation level broken through, you're now my brother! I'll follow you for life!"

"Wherever you point, I'll go; I'll brave mountains of knives and seas of fire, without hesitation! Without a single complaint..."

He portrayed the character as obsequious, witty, realistic, and a sycophant to the fullest extent, making it etched into his very being.

Gao Chun looked at his exaggerated appearance and smiled helplessly, but he also understood in his heart that although this man was mercenary, he was loyal enough.

At the same time, he felt secretly pleased. It was so pleasant to be fawned over like this. No wonder many powerful people have such a clever and considerate subordinate by their side.

Finally, Gao Chun arrived at Wang Hu's residence.

Wang Hu was practicing martial arts in his own courtyard, his punches whistling through the air, his momentum fierce.

He has always been aloof and arrogant, keeping strangers at bay, and always has an unruly demeanor, never admitting defeat verbally.

But only he himself knew that deep down he was honest, passionate, and guileless, and had long regarded Gao Chun as an elder brother worthy of following, and was Gao Chun's number one fan.

Seeing Gao Chun walk into the courtyard, Wang Hu deliberately withdrew his fist, snorted coldly, and turned his head away, pretending not to care.

"What brings the captain to my house?"

He remained cold and stubborn, but his ears perked up and his eyes couldn't help but steal glances at Gao Chun.

Seeing his expression, Gao Chun found it amusing and, without further ado, directly revealed his strength.

The aura of a fourth-level Bronze Realm expert suddenly spread out, and three illusory bodies of a third-level Thunder Shadow instantly appeared.

"I have developed a bloodline supernatural ability that accelerates cultivation. I have now broken through to the fourth level of the Bronze Realm and have also mastered the third-level Thunder Shadow Technique."

With just one sentence and one display of strength, Wang Hu's arrogant facade was shattered.

His body suddenly froze on the spot, and the cold and arrogant expression on his face crumbled inch by inch.

He kept his mouth shut, refusing to utter a single word of praise, but his wide eyes and tense body had already betrayed his inner shock.

My heart was already in turmoil:

"As expected, Gao Chun is such a genius, worthy of my unwavering loyalty as his elder brother!"

"The principles I uphold have never been wrong—only true geniuses deserve my recognition and respect, and are worthy of my life to follow and protect."

"Mortals and losers are all weak, and should submit to the strong, follow the strong, and protect the strong."

Gao Chun didn't linger. He simply greeted Wang Hu and then turned to leave.

"Today's objective has been achieved. The news of my birth of bloodline supernatural powers, advancement to the fourth level of the Bronze Realm, and mastery of the Thunder Shadow Technique will soon spread throughout the entire village, enough to completely cover up the true secret of my life."

Walking along the path home, Gao Chun felt incredibly happy, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

In a single day, his family and three teammates were all deeply shocked by his rapid progress and incredible stroke of luck.

The older sister is domineering and protective, the brother-in-law is gentle and wise, and the nephew is hypocritical, arrogant, and awkward.

Li Daoqiu is quiet and melancholic, harboring a hidden inferiority complex; Huang Xiaoming is shrewd and cunning, adept at flattery; while Wang Hu is outwardly cold but inwardly warm, arrogant and honest, and full of admiration.

Each person's personality is vivid and three-dimensional, and every emotion is incredibly genuine.

Seeing the shocked and stunned expressions on everyone's faces, Gao Chun felt a surge of pleasure.

"The feeling of publicly displaying one's strength and being the center of attention is truly exhilarating."

"I must work even harder to cultivate myself, reach higher levels, and make more people marvel at me and admire me."

"To be revered by thousands, to be the focus of everyone's attention, and to manifest one's holiness before the world—isn't that one of the ultimate pursuits of my spiritual practice?"

It was precisely because of this pursuit that I developed the ambition to become a high-ranking official.

As the setting sun casts its rays and a gentle evening breeze stirs, Gao Chun's elegant robes flutter gracefully.

He clenched his fist slightly, a firm and dazzling smile appearing on his lips.

Everything is ready.

it's time.

Assemble the high-purity battle team and set off for the remaining thirty-five villages of Jiuyang Town to search for the Mysterious Vein Origin Pearl!

Step by step, you grow stronger until you reach the summit.

"My path of cultivation, my journey to become a powerful warrior, officially and grandly begins from this moment on!"

(This chapter contains 6100 words. See you tomorrow at noon.)