Deft and Skilled.
With this passive effect, drawing talismans now consumed much less divine sense, and the efficiency increased greatly.
Chen Sanshi had originally been able to draw 7 or 8 talismans a day. Now, upon trying again, he could draw at least 15 or more. Unfortunately, he did not possess any particularly advanced talisman diagrams.
The Giant Strength Talisman, Swift Flight Talisman, Illusory Body Talisman, and Wind-Avoiding Talisman—these four types were actually rather mediocre.
More practical talismans, such as Mo Zhu's Earth-Escape Talisman, or the Frost Talisman he had seized before, were not in his possession.
As for formation techniques, he was also on the verge of breaking through to the second tier. Yet he likewise lacked the subsequent inheritance and had only a few formation diagrams in hand.
"If I could take down Daze Market," Chen Sanshi calculated silently in his mind, "then I wouldn't lack anything."
The several markets within Northern Yang Dao had enormous industries and had been operating for many years. Each was dripping with wealth.
If those places were confiscated, forget about just himself—even if the resources were distributed across the entire imperial court, they would be enough to last more than a decade.
Golden Core!
Unfortunately, Shengyun Sect's Shouzhongzi was there causing trouble.
Otherwise, Chen Sanshi would only need to raise his martial cultivation to the late stage of the True Force Realm and his immortal cultivation to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. With that alone, his own strength would be enough to run rampant throughout Northern Yang Dao.
If he could further seize control of the teleportation array and combine it with the Heavenly Book formations, he could launch a surprise attack and directly capture the market.
However…
Chen Sanshi felt that he was certainly not the only one who found Shouzhongzi to be an obstacle.
The Demon-Suppression Bureau, the Li family, and even Ronghua City were the same. If not for a Golden Core cultivator coming to interfere, Dusk Valley might already have been destroyed. Why would things need to be this troublesome?
Moreover, considering that Ronghua City also had ties with the Seven Kill Sect—secretly spreading demonic cultivation techniques and expanding their disciples—it seemed that in recent years they were preparing for some major move.
They likely also coveted the Bai family's treasure to some extent.
Among forces such as the Demon-Suppression Bureau and the Li family, there were no Golden Core cultivators—but that did not mean the Seven Kill Sect lacked them.
This might be one of the turning points.
As for the specifics, he could only wait and see.
After sorting through his thoughts, Chen Sanshi let out a long breath of turbid air and left his cave dwelling, preparing to return to the imperial court first.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed. Even though he had a puppet handling affairs, he should personally deal with certain matters—and also take some time to accompany his family.
It was now the twelfth day of the first month in the eleventh year of the Tianwu Era. The New Year had just passed not long ago.
Chen Duhe was already 15 years old, at an age when he could formally begin cultivation. He wondered whether the boy's temperament had changed over the past 2 years.
Chen Yunxi was even more so in the prime of her youth at 20 years old, having grown tall and graceful.
Xu Yunhuan had also reached 16 years of age. According to the customs over there, she could already begin discussing marriage.
The Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort spent their days confined within the rear palace doing needlework.
As emperor, Chen Sanshi could barely be considered passable—he could ensure that the common people had surplus year after year. But as a husband and father, he was somewhat unqualified.
He left Sima Yao on Heavenly Water Isle to keep watch over the situation regarding the Nine Nether Forbidden Land. Taking advantage of this period of leisure, he used the ancient teleportation array to return to the Eastern Divine Continent.
Great Han.
Ningyuan County, Qingping Village.
Snowflakes drifted down across the land. Within a radius of 100 miles, everything was a vast stretch of white. The common folk hurried along bundled in cotton coats, and from every household glowed the faint light of charcoal fires.
A sleek, well-fed rat scurried along the base of a wall, sprinting through the snow. As it moved farther and farther from human habitation and disappeared into the wilderness, it rose up on its hind legs and gazed out over the boundless snowfield. A snow eagle swooped down, seized it, and carried it into the sky, away from the desolate mountains below.
Upon a crooked-necked tree, a youth leaned against the trunk, a twig clamped between his teeth. Unbothered by the bitter cold, he idly stared at the snow-filled sky.
"Da-da-da—"
The chaotic sound of horse hooves trampling snow shattered the silence, drawing closer and closer until several figures dressed like wandering martial artists rode into view and halted at a fork in the road.
With the heavy snow sealing the mountains, it was truly difficult to discern direction.
"Hold!"
The one-eyed man at the front raised his arm to signal his brothers to stop. He reined in his horse and slowed to a halt beneath the tree, calling up to the youth above, "Young brother, which road leads to Qingping Village?"
"Find it yourself."
The youth yawned and did not bother to respond.
The one-eyed man froze for a moment. Then he took out a piece of broken silver from his robes and tossed it up toward the tree, saying, "Do us a favor, little brother. We're looking for someone."
However, the youth in coarse cloth did not even glance at the silver. He let it strike his body before it dropped into the snowdrift, treating the group as though they did not exist at all.
"Kid, I'm talking to you. Can you hear me?"
Someone lost his patience and bared his teeth in threat. "Lead the way to Qingping Village!"
"Tsk."
Finding them unbearably noisy, the youth lightly leapt down from the tree trunk, intending to distance himself from these uninvited guests—until a flash of cold steel flickered, and a chill settled against his neck.
"Lead the way."
The one-eyed man's face darkened.
The youth glanced at the goose-feather saber resting against his neck, showing little reaction. He removed the twig from his mouth and slightly raised his chin. "There. This way."
"Don't try anything."
The one-eyed man yanked him up onto the horse's back.
At the same time, even more hoofbeats sounded. Over a dozen more men arrived from different directions, some even bringing along several horse-drawn carts.
Where were these people wandering heroes looking for someone? They were clearly bandits who had drifted in from somewhere.
In the previous dynasty, whenever autumn and winter came, it was common for bandits to descend from the mountains and plunder villages. After the founding of Great Han, suppression campaigns had been carried out across the land, and such incidents had grown rarer, though they still occurred occasionally.
"I say, One-Eyed Dragon," the youth said casually as he led the way, "I toil in the fields all year round. Growing a bit of grain isn't easy. Now in this freezing weather, if you rob us of everything, how are we supposed to survive?"
"Cut the nonsense!"
One-Eyed Dragon replied in a deep voice. "Just lead the way honestly. Later, we might spare your life."
"Why not forget it?"
The youth looked at the fork in the road ahead and said calmly, "If you turn yourselves in to the authorities now, before autumn you'll still be fed and clothed. At least you won't have to wander about all day."
One-Eyed Dragon sneered. "Kid, what kind of lunacy are you spouting? I'll cut your tongue—"
"Roar—!"
A beast's roar that shook the five organs suddenly erupted. From the forest to the left, a snow-white ferocious beast shaped like a tiger, with a golden horn upon its forehead, burst forth wrapped in spiritual light as it lunged to kill.
A Roaring Gold Beast!
One-Eyed Dragon was struck with terror and hurriedly leapt from his horse.
The white-furred Roaring Gold Beast's claws were like blades. In an instant, it tore the warhorse into pieces.
"Where did this demon beast come from?!"
One-Eyed Dragon struggled to his feet, propping himself up with his saber.
"Kill them all."
Chen Duhe waved his hand in signal.
"Roar—!"
The Roaring Gold Beast charged into the crowd, roaring.
"What's this?"
Chen Duhe had originally planned to find a place to sit and leisurely enjoy the spectacle, but the scene before him swept away his laziness entirely.
Among the bandits, several leaders, while battling the Roaring Gold Beast, began to emit swirling violet qi, erupting with unusual power.
"Path of Incense and Divinity?"
Two years ago, when idly flipping through books in the library, Chen Duhe had once come across this cultivation method. He never imagined he would encounter it here.
The Roaring Gold Beast was a spirit beast at the late stage of the Spirit Aperture realm. Dealing with these insignificant cultivators of the Path of Incense and Divinity posed no difficulty. In less than half the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, it slaughtered the bandits until only a few underlings remained. Just as it was about to exterminate them all, a far more powerful aura erupted from the southeast.
"Raising a spirit beast?
"Kid!
"You must be that bastard offspring of Hunter Chen!"
A black-robed cultivator appeared atop a treetop, looking down at the youth below with a sinister smile. "I originally only came to sacrifice a few commoners to help me break through my cultivation. I didn't expect to encounter the descendant of that thief Chen. Truly effortless fortune. Today, I'll use your blood to honor the spirit of the late emperor!"
"Hunter Chen? You mean my father?"
After reacting, Chen Duhe quickly said, "Are you sick? If you've got a grudge with him, go kill him. What does it have to do with me?!"
"Die!"
Without further words, the black-robed cultivator mobilized the divine power of incense. Violet qi coiled around his hands, transforming into hideous demonic claws that descended from the sky.
"Golden Horn!"
Chen Duhe shouted.
The Roaring Gold Beast immediately turned back. The golden horn on its forehead burst with spiritual power and collided head-on with the demonic claws, sending up waves of snow.
The Roaring Gold Beast was at the late stage of the Spirit Aperture realm, while the black-robed cultivator was at the late stage of the first realm of the Path of Incense and Divinity—Spirit Communion. Man and beast were evenly matched, unable to gain the upper hand.
"Vile beast!"
The black-robed cultivator had no choice but to order his subordinates, "You few, go ahead to the village and complete the sacrifice first!"
"Yes!"
The remaining followers of the Incense God Sect charged straight ahead.
Chen Duhe had no path of retreat. He could only grab a random sword and resist them.
But he had not yet formally begun martial training to temper his blood. How could he be a match for them? After merely 2 or 3 exchanges, he was kicked squarely in the chest.
"Kid! Speak! Which road leads into the village?!"
The cultist's face twisted ferociously. "Speak!!!"
The village ahead had a sizable population, but its location was secluded. In this icy wasteland, without guidance, it might take several days to find it.
Clearly, they did not have that kind of time.
"How would I know? I'm not even from that village."
Chen Duhe sat on the ground, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Why don't you let me go? I'll go ask around for you."
"Bang!"
The cultist slammed one of his arms into the snowdrift. "If you don't speak now, I'll chop off one of your hands first!"
"Brother Dahe!"
From a withered grove several dozen paces away, a few youths of similar age appeared at some unknown time. Seeing the bloody scene before them, terror spread across their faces.
"Run! Bandits are here!"
Chen Duhe nearly cursed. The situation was already difficult enough, and now these kids from the same village had come running out, only adding to the chaos.
"Brother Dahe!"
After a brief moment of panic, those youths unexpectedly showed the fearlessness of newborn calves unafraid of tigers. They picked up stones and wooden sticks, intending to rescue him.
The followers of the Incense God Sect raised their blades, ready to kill.
"Don't!"
Chen Duhe hurriedly shouted, "I'll lead you into the village!"
"Heh, if you'd done that earlier, wouldn't this have been easier!"
The cultist ordered his men to seize all the youths tightly.
"I'm just saying…"
As he was shoved forward, Chen Duhe continued, "There isn't much grain in the village, nor many people. Why go to all this trouble?
"I'll recommend you a place—lots of people, even more grain, countless gold and silver treasures. Rob it once and you won't have to worry for a lifetime. How about it?"
"Oh?"
The cultist asked, "Where?"
The youth replied, "Tianyong City."
"You damned brat, you're still playing tricks! You think I'm a fool?!"
The cultist flew into a rage.
Yet in that very instant, he revealed an opening. Chen Duhe suddenly counterattacked, driving several silver needles deep into the man's neck.
Venom from a spirit beast entered his body. It sealed the throat upon contact with blood. The cultist convulsed in the snow for a few moments before dying.
"You little bastard, you're just as vicious as your father!"
On the other side, the black-robed cultivator wounded the Roaring Gold Beast and glided across the snow without leaving a trace, charging through the air straight for the youth's life.
"Whoosh—"
In the blink of an eye, an arrow tore through the air, interrupting the black-robed cultivator's attack. He could not help but frown and look toward its source.
From all directions, one Embroidered Uniform Guard after another surged forth.
"Pei Tiannan?!"
At the front stood the Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—Zhao Kang—and General of Dragon and Tiger Wang Li, the latter having already broken through to the Martial Saint realm.
After recognizing the black-robed cultivator before them, both showed slight surprise.
"Heh!"
Pei Tiannan narrowed his eyes, sizing the two up viciously. "When I served as governor back then, you two were nothing more than mere Hundred Commanders. And now you're wearing this uniform. Truly, when one man ascends to the Dao, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven!"
"Remnant of the former dynasty—take this!"
Wang Li drew his blade and attacked.
Signal arrows shrieked across the sky, mobilizing the local troops.
Under such encirclement, how could Pei Tiannan dare linger? With a cold snort, he broke through the air and fled. In merely 2 or 3 breaths, he vanished without a trace.
"We pay respects to Your Highness, Prince Yu!"
Zhao Kang, Wang Li, and the other Embroidered Uniform Guards bowed in unison. "We have arrived late to protect Your Highness. We beg forgiveness!"
"Prince Yu?"
The children from the same village cast astonished looks.
"Hiss… I'm fine, I'm fine."
Chen Duhe endured the severe pain and coughed twice. "What's going on with these people?"
"It is the Incense God Sect,"
Wang Li reported. "After the former dynasty fell, Pei Tiannan slipped through the net and later joined the Incense God Sect. In recent years, he has been extremely active. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has been pursuing them everywhere. We did not expect them to dare approach the vicinity of the capital. This is our negligence."
The new dynasty had been established for 10 years. Though the realm was indeed stable, it could not possibly be entirely free of dust. Remnants of the former dynasty like this would inevitably still exist in some measure.
"Path of Incense and Divinity."
From the place where Pei Tiannan had just stood, Chen Duhe picked up a sheepskin scroll. After glancing at it twice, he tucked it into his robes.
Then he looked at the people before him. "What are you doing here?"
"In reply to Your Highness,"
Zhao Kang answered truthfully, "His Majesty has returned.
"His Majesty has issued a verbal decree. From today onward, Your Highness need not remain in the wilderness and may return to reside in the capital."
"The old man is finally willing to teach me."
Supported while injured, Chen Duhe sat upon a soaring carriage forged from Shuhu. "What are we waiting for? Let's go."
"Yes!"
Under the whips of the two coachmen, Shuhu flapped its wings as it ran, until the entire carriage soared straight into the clouds.