Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Night had fallen, and the main hall of Prince Rui's mansion was quiet. Zhu Gaoxi lay on the rosewood canopy bed, a small gold ornament coiled around his wrist, its dragon head slightly lowered; he was already asleep.

[Ding! It's time to check in for tomorrow. Do you wish to claim today's special ability?]

Zhu Gaoxi sat up abruptly: "Receive it!"

[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations, host, you have obtained a new divine power—Light of Time.]

A translucent, pale gold panel surfaced deep within my consciousness:

Host: Zhu Gaoxi

Age: 7 years old

Number of check-in days: 7

Acquired supernatural powers: Power of Creation, Immortal Body, Sword Control, Culinary Skills, Divine Craftsmanship, Power of the Rat Talisman, and Light of Time.

Light of Time

[Supernatural Power Effect: Light of Time - Can accelerate or reverse the passage of time for a target. It can bring withered trees back to life, and cause new buds to wither and turn yellow; it can restore objects to their original state, or allow them to endure a thousand years of wind and frost.]

Zhu Gaoxi was stunned. The Light of Time. Accelerating or reversing time—in other words, making things older or younger, much like Doraemon's time-manipulating cloth.

He rolled off the bed, walked to the desk, and casually picked up a calligraphy brush. A layer of light shone from his fingertips. He gently touched the brush handle, and the white light seeped in. The lacquer on the brush handle quickly faded, cracked, and peeled off. In just a few breaths, a new brush turned into an old brush that had been used for who knows how many years.

He reached out again and touched it, and the white light seeped in once more. The cracked paint slowly healed, the faded brush handle regained its luster, and even the bristles at the tip regained their elasticity. The brush was restored to its original state, as if nothing had happened.

Zhu Gaoxi looked at the pen in his hand and suddenly thought of a question: since this thing can make things old or young, can it be used on himself?

He walked to the bronze mirror, in which was reflected a small figure—a seven-year-old child, short in stature, with tender eyes and a childish voice.

In this life, he is Zhu Gaoxi, the Prince Rui of the Ming Dynasty, a disciple of the Daoist patriarch, and a celestial being. Although his life is very comfortable, even the most well-fed and clothed person has their moments of unease… His seven-year-old body is sometimes indeed inconvenient. Although his body is seven, his mind is not, considering the many beautiful palace maids. For the sake of his own happiness and great cause, he must grow up.

He took a deep breath, a point of white light appearing at his fingertips. He gently pressed it against his wrist, focusing his mind on his entire body, slowly and gently, for no more than five seconds. The white light seeped into his skin, spreading from his wrist to his whole body, like a layer of warm water enveloping him. He could feel his bones slightly itchy, his fingers growing longer little by little, his shoulders widening little by little, and the hem of his robes shortening little by little.

The entire process lasted about fifteen minutes. The white light slowly faded, and Zhu Gaoxi saw his clothes ripped open, replaced by an eighteen-year-old boy. His features still retained some of his former appearance, but his features were much more defined. He was more than a head taller than before.

His originally loose clothes were now stretched taut, revealing his muscular body and eight-pack abs. He glanced at them and was shocked. They looked great. He looked at his hands again. They were no longer the chubby, short fingers of a child, but the hands of an adult, with distinct knuckles and long, slender fingers.

He walked to the bronze mirror and examined it carefully. The outline of his facial features was still his own; the curves of his eyebrows, eyes, and nose were still there, only they had been stretched and elongated.

He twitched the corners of his mouth at the mirror, and the person in the mirror twitched the corners of their mouth as well. The good news was that at least he wouldn't have to look up at his family every day to talk to them. The bad news was that his family might not recognize him tomorrow morning, but his facial features would still be there, so he could just have to talk to them more. Besides, he was a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, so it was normal for him to have such supernatural powers.

Zhu Gaoxi looked down at his tattered clothes, which were no longer clothes but just tank tops, and sighed. Well, he'd have Little Snot get him some new clothes tomorrow.

Zhu Gaoxi lay back down on the couch. Now that his body had grown up, some things could not be put off. He had to celebrate for his brothers, because he couldn't let his brothers suffer. He looked at the dragon ring in his hand and came up with a plan: "Little Jin, I'll trouble you to be an ornament for tonight." He immediately withdrew the power of the rat talisman.

He lowered his eyes to look at the sleeping little golden dragon on his wrist, a smile flashing in his eyes. With a slight thought, he first withdrew the divine power of the rat talisman from his body and kept it for later use.

He then activated the Light of Time once more, steadily reversing his form to that of a seven-year-old child, and gave a clear command to the outside of the hall:

"Little snot, relay my order: tonight I will cultivate a brand new divine power. All of you, retreat to two miles away from the main hall of the palace, and do not approach even half a step!"

"Also, I would like to inform everyone in advance that the King's appearance will change tomorrow. No one should be alarmed when they see him. Just continue to serve him as usual."

The guards, palace maids, and eunuchs on duty outside the hall bowed in unison and respectfully replied, "Your servants obey!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of palace servants and guards, led by Xiaobiti, Qiutang, and Yuehe, retreated slowly and orderly from the main hall, withdrawing to a distance of two miles away, strictly guarding the gate, and no one dared to cross the line.

The main hall of Prince Rui's mansion was completely isolated from outsiders, quiet and undisturbed. With no one else in the hall, Zhu Gaoxi's eyes flashed with interest, his mind clear, and his supernatural powers moved at will.

He activated the supreme divine power of [Divine Craftsmanship], his fingertips shimmering with spiritual light, and the power of craftsmanship and creation was unleashed at will.

Inside the hall, shimmering light and shadow danced, and countless lifelike statues of various shapes slowly coalesced, their features vivid and expressive, their figures graceful and slender, standing as if real people within the hall—exquisitely crafted and remarkably lifelike. First, he infused the power of the Rat Talisman with divine energy, and then indulged in a night of debauchery. After all, an immortal's body didn't require rest, and besides, the vehicle wasn't his own, so there was no need to worry about it breaking down.

The moment they were resurrected by the power of the Rat Talisman, their memories returned, followed by a cacophony of chatter. Zhu Gaoxi couldn't understand what they were saying, only occasionally catching a few words. The moonlight was bright that night, and the palace was filled with laughter and joy.

The next day, Zhu Gaoxi was refreshed and sat upright on his bed. He lightly raised his fingertips and once again activated the light of time, a soft white light sweeping across.

Last night, all traces in the palace had been erased and vanished by the power of time. The palace was spotless, the bed as tidy as ever, as if no sound had ever been heard last night. Only the little gold pendant on his hand looked bewildered.