Imperial Scepter

Leaving the boundaries of Lijia Village, the country roads are lined with lush vegetation and dotted with wildflowers.

A gentle breeze carries the refreshing scent of grass and trees, a blend of earthy and floral fragrance that soothes the soul.

The five of them walked side by side, their steps calm and in perfect harmony.

They didn't talk much along the way, but a sense of security and trust permeated the air, and a silent understanding flowed between the five of them.

Huang Xiaoming walked on the right side of the group, a smooth and cheerful smile on his face. He would occasionally glance back at the way they had come, his eyes revealing shrewdness and calculation.

He secretly planned to use this visit to Li Dashi as an excuse to escape smoothly. Once back, the reputation of the Gao Chun team would surely spread throughout Jiuyang Town. Following a meticulous and powerful captain was the best decision he had ever made.

Li Daoqiu stood on the left, his figure as upright as a pine tree, his eyes as cold and sharp as an eagle.

His gaze swept across the dense forest, the bends in the road, and the earthen slopes without ever letting up, firmly locking onto every corner that might be hiding danger.

Gao Chengzhi followed beside Gao Chun, rubbing his aching calves from time to time with his little hands, muttering under his breath, full of childlike complaints and reluctance.

"It's so comfortable to stay at home and practice my skills, or read storybooks. Why come to Lijia Village? It's really tiring."

"I need to cultivate diligently and advance to the fourth star of the Bronze Realm as soon as possible, learn spells, and the feeling of defeating an enemy in one move is just too cool!"

"My goal is to treat the enemy's encirclement and suppression as nothing, and to make them retreat and tremble with fear with just a wave of my hand."

Wang Hu, like the most loyal guard, stood firmly by Gao Chun's side, his imposing figure never leaving his side. He was like a guardian deity, keeping all potential threats at bay.

He was simple-minded and pure-hearted, adhering to only one principle. Wherever his elder brother was, he would be there too; and if anyone dared to touch Gao Chun, he would smash them to pieces with his fists.

The group traveled along the country dirt road for half an hour.

The road beneath our feet gradually became wider and flatter, and our view opened up as well.

Unbeknownst to them, they had already stepped into the border area between Lijia Village and Gaojia Village. This area serves as a buffer zone between the two villages, but it is also a place fraught with danger and conflict.

The terrain on both sides of the road is complex, with deep forests. The tall and short shrubs and thick ancient trees intertwine, their branches and leaves blocking out the sun. Countless unknown dangers lurk in the shadows, and the road stretches as far as the eye can see.

The five of them immediately became more alert, remaining vigilant for any possible accidents.

Gao Chun walked at the very front of the group, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his clothes flowing gently, his demeanor calm and otherworldly.

He was in high spirits at the moment. He had obtained three Xuanmai Pearls from Lijia Village, and the core crystal of his heart had absorbed a full thirty strands of energy, greatly improving his cultivation foundation.

This is only the harvest from one village; the remaining thirty-four villages have not yet been visited.

"It's impossible for every village to be like Li Family Village, capable of producing three Xuan Vein Pearls. But the remaining thirty-four villages all have at least second-grade Xuan Vein Pearls, so they should be able to produce at least two. Even if there's only one, it's fine."

"One Xuanmai Pearl is worth ten strands of energy. I will collect one hundred strands of energy from four villages to fill the Bloodline Origin Crystal. Thirty-four villages will fill the Bloodline Origin Crystal at least eight times, which means my cultivation can be upgraded by eight stars."

"In this way, I am now very close to breaking through to the Silver Realm. That is the realm that countless Bronze Realm cultivators dream of, and now it is within my grasp."

The thought of the endless opportunities to come filled Gao Chun with boundless anticipation.

His eyes shone with brilliant golden light, his blood boiled with excitement, and he could barely suppress a smile as he felt a surge of pride.

Once you step into the Silver Realm, the sky's the limit, and the sea is wide enough for birds to soar and fish to leap. Countless plans dormant in your heart will come to fruition, free from all constraints.

Ok?

Suddenly, Gao Chun's brows furrowed sharply, and the excitement on his face vanished instantly.

He regained his unfathomable calm, and his aura suddenly solidified.

The blood vessels in his heart suddenly began to throb violently.

A chilling, bone-chilling malice was rushing towards us from three hundred meters ahead. The malice was as thick as ink, carrying an undisguised murderous intent and ferocity.

"It's that bastard Li Tianjiao again, and this time, he even brought two adult Xuan practitioners with him."

Gao Chun instantly received information from the bloodline crystal's perception.

Gao Chun's eyes suddenly turned icy cold, a sharp glint flashing in them, his killing intent rising.

The forbearance of the previous two times vanished completely at this moment.

"Li Tianjiao provoked me at the village entrance the first time, and ambushed me secretly inside the village the second time. I showed mercy both times, not because I was soft-hearted, but simply because it was Li Family Village territory."

"Let alone killing Li Tianjiao, if I dared to seriously injure him, it would attract the adult Xuan masters of Li Family Village to attack me. Therefore, I only punished him slightly to suppress his arrogance, and did not kill him."

"But to my utter surprise, they chased me all the way to the border between the two villages. This dense forest, where bandits and cultivators have been lurking for years, clearly intends to fight me to the death and kill me."

Gao Chun's expression instantly turned icy cold, and his killing intent spread out without any attempt to conceal it. The chilling aura swept around, and even the air seemed to freeze.

"Things shouldn't happen more than three times. I could tolerate it the first two times, but this time, since Li Tianjiao has decided to kill me, I will not hold back again. This man is doomed to die today."

Gao Chun had already made up his mind to kill him, leaving no room for maneuver.

Gao Chun's sudden change in expression was instantly noticed by the perceptive Li Daoqiu and the shrewd Huang Xiaoming.

The two of them felt a chill run down their spines and immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Just as the two were about to ask, Gao Chun spoke first, his tone calm and decisive, showing no sign of panic, demonstrating the captain's composure and courage.

"There's an ambush ahead, but their cultivation isn't high; I can handle them on my own. The four of you stay here and wait for me; I'll be right back."

"If I have not returned in a quarter of an hour, you must immediately return to Gaojia Village and fetch reinforcements."

Gao Chun speaks extremely fast, with each word clear and well-organized.

"No!" Li Daoqiu objected sternly without hesitation, his usually calm and sharp eyes now filled with stubbornness. He absolutely would not allow his captain to step into danger alone.

"We came out together. As the team captain, how can I let you risk your life alone?" His voice was firm and resolute, and he wouldn't budge an inch.

Huang Xiaoming quickly nodded in agreement, his face showing eagerness and loyalty. He immediately echoed his sentiments, demonstrating his loyalty and solidarity.

"Yes, yes, Captain, you absolutely mustn't go alone!" He said urgently, his expression making him seem exceptionally sincere.

Gao Chengzhi immediately jumped forward, his little face flushed red, his tone filled with the stubbornness unique to children. He clenched his little fists, unwilling to let his uncle face the danger alone.

"Uncle, how can you leave us behind? We're a team, if we're going, we'll go together!" The child's voice was full of determination and reliance.

Wang Hu remained silent, his towering, iron-tower-like frame taking a large stride to stand directly beside Gao Chun. His arms were taut, muscles bulging, assuming a fighting stance.

He demonstrated his unwavering resolve to fight to the death through his actions. Not a single word wasted, yet it carried more power than any spoken words.

Looking at the four people who had stayed by his side, Gao Chun felt a subtle warmth and emotion welling up inside him.

This bond of shared life and death softened his heart slightly.

But he knew better than anyone that if the four of them followed him now, they would not only be of no help, but would also become a burden. He had to fight alone in order to fight without restraint.

Thinking of this, he instantly composed himself, deliberately put on a stern face, and adopted the authority of a captain. He had to use a tough attitude to make the four of them stay.

He feigned anger, saying, "What can you do if you come along? Do you even know magic? With your Bronze Realm level three strength, you'll only be a hindrance to me!"

These words caused the four men to blush deeply, their expressions a mixture of embarrassment and resentment, caught in a dilemma. They were filled with helplessness and self-reproach, yet unable to refute them.

Seeing this, Gao Chun knew his goal had been achieved. He had already made up his mind to kill Li Tianjiao, and the fewer people who knew about it, the better. He wanted to resolve this trouble discreetly.

More importantly, he was about to unseal his hidden cultivation level and reveal his true strength as a fifth-level Bronze Realm cultivator, something he absolutely could not expose to his brothers. This was his biggest trump card.

This skill would inevitably be discovered sooner or later if they spent so much time together, but delaying its exposure by even one day would provide more security. He had to secure a way out for both the team and himself.

Moreover, with his cultivation unsealed and combined with the level three Thunder Shadow Technique, he was more than capable of taking down three people on his own. Even if he couldn't win quickly, he could use his magic to lure the enemy away and ensure the safety of all four.

Li Tianjiao's target was only him from beginning to end. All of the opponent's killing intent was locked on him.

Seeing the four people's embarrassed and sad expressions, Gao Chun softened his tone slightly and slowly took out a mysterious dagger and several talismans from his storage bag.

He planned to reveal his trump card to appease everyone.

"I dared to lead the Gaochun team deep into Lijia Village because I was well prepared."

He raised his hand to show everyone what he was holding, his tone calm and confident.

"With this mystical dagger, combined with my level three Thunder Shadow Technique, I can easily deal with even opponents at the fifth or sixth level of the Bronze Realm."

"These talismans are my backup plan, left behind beforehand to save my life..."

He revealed his cards one by one, intending to completely dispel their concerns.

"As the team leader, your safety is my top priority. Since I dared to bring you here, I must have made sure that everything is in order."

This gentle reassurance finally eased the tension in the four people's expressions, and their anxious hearts were somewhat relieved.

Looking at the solid trump cards in Gao Chun's hands, they had to admit that with the captain's Bronze Realm level four cultivation, coupled with the level three Thunder Shadow Technique, he was indeed capable of fighting against a powerful enemy.

Li Daoqiu clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he was oblivious to the intense pain. The pain couldn't suppress the helplessness in his heart.

A strong sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart. He hated his own weakness, hated that he could only hold his friend back, and hated even more that he could not share the burden of his childhood friend who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him for many years.

The thought that he was only a second-class Dao Seed filled him with a sense of inferiority and resentment, which quietly gnawed at his self-esteem.

He secretly vowed that he would work hard to cultivate in the future and no longer be a burden to the captain.

Gao Chengzhi bit his lower lip tightly, his eyes slightly red, looking wronged. His small body trembled slightly, filled with self-blame and sadness.

He felt that he was too weak and had dragged his uncle down. He secretly vowed that he would work hard to cultivate after returning home and never be a burden again, but would become his uncle's helper.

Wang Hu's eyes were bloodshot, his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his burly body trembled slightly, filled with frustration and resentment.

He knew perfectly well that Gao Chun's words made perfect sense, yet he was still filled with regret and self-blame. He hated himself for not being able to fight for his captain and could only wait passively.

Only Huang Xiaoming remained calm, even turning to reassure the other three. He saw things most clearly and knew how to assess the situation best.

He knew perfectly well that with their current cultivation levels, going up would only be a hindrance. Moreover, the captain possessed a level three Thunder Shadow Technique, so even if they were outmatched, escaping would be a piece of cake.

Even when Li Daoqiu, Wang Hu, and Gao Chengzhi glared at him with displeasure, he didn't care. He had his own plans and was never swayed by his emotions.

In his mind, clinging to Gao Chun, his strongest ally, was far more important than considering the feelings of others. This was his wisest way to survive.

As long as the captain approves of him, the attitudes of others are insignificant. He only needs to follow the captain closely, and he can rise rapidly through the ranks.

"Alright, there's no time to waste. The enemy is already closing in! You all wait here. If I don't return within fifteen minutes, retreat immediately."

Gao Chun spoke rapidly and in a deep voice, leaving no room for sentimentality, displaying his decisive and efficient manner, as every second was crucial at this moment.

Although he was confident in dealing with Li Tianjiao and his two companions, he dared not let the four of them return to Gaojia Village alone, as the area was remote, rife with bandits and cultivators, and fraught with danger.

If they were to encounter bandits again, the consequences would be unimaginable. Having the four of them wait where they are is the safest option at present.

If they cannot defeat their opponent within fifteen minutes, they will be in grave danger. At that point, the four of them must escape immediately and not linger in the fight.

This was no time for hesitation or procrastination. Gao Chun said no more, mobilized his profound energy to strike the spell seed, and activated the spell.

"Assassination Technique: Level 3 Thunder Shadow!"

In an instant, pale purple lightning coiled around Gao Chun's body, flashing and crackling, making him look like a thunder god.

At the same time, three lightning phantoms identical to him materialized out of thin air, lifelike.

Four figures, each imbued with lightning, erupted simultaneously, like four bolts of lightning piercing the sky, rushing straight into the depths of the dense forest.

The speed was so fast that it left only afterimages.

He wanted to launch a surprise attack as quickly as possible, catching the enemy off guard and ending the battle in the shortest possible time.

"I can use the level three Thunder Shadow indefinitely, and I have no need to worry about the constantly consumed Xuan power."

My bloodline's second function is the ability to rapidly replenish my profound energy, which is my greatest source of confidence in being able to unleash spells without limit.

"Moreover, there are still thirty strands of energy remaining in the bloodline crystal. I can take this opportunity to test how many times this energy can support me to replenish my profound energy, and how many strands of energy are needed to replenish my profound energy each time?"

"Today, I will thoroughly test the limits of my true combat strength. I will use Li Tianjiao and the other two as whetstones for my own advancement."

Gao Chun had made up his mind; he carried a sharp sword and his killing intent was burning.

Although he was not yet certain of the exact cultivation levels of the two adult Xuan practitioners, he was 100% certain that they could not possibly be at the Silver Realm.

If it were a Silver Realm expert, there would be no need to hide or ambush; they would have already crushed them head-on. Gao Chun was absolutely certain of this.

In this way, the opponent must be at the Bronze Realm. Even if it is a high-level Bronze Realm of seven to nine stars, he is not afraid and still dares to fight!

His fighting spirit soared, and his thunderous power grew increasingly violent. Today would be the day Li Tianjiao met his end!

(PS: This book had to go through a third round of recommendation competition right from the start, and unfortunately we lost in the end.)

The editor informed me that the book could be published once it reached 20 words, and inquired about the specific publication date.

Bai Yang replied that the publication would be arranged after the editor returned from vacation, so as to accumulate more manuscripts and then update them at full speed after publication.

Therefore, starting today and continuing until the book is available for purchase, one chapter will be updated daily at 11:30 AM.