Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

However, on the night of the eldest prince's rebellion, the Crown Prince and King Huai, along with the six ministers, merely mentioned this matter without seeking King Huai's opinion. Soon after, they swiftly took action, arresting all those involved.

Then, just one day later, these individuals, including notable figures such as Uncle Dingyuan and the Marquis of Wuwei who opposed the Crown Prince, all died in prison.

Of course, the Crown Prince publicly claimed that the whole lot, including the eldest prince, had committed suicide out of guilt, but King Huai, Master Gongsun, and the six ministers who participated in that night's discussions knew very well that this was orchestrated by the Crown Prince.

"He has grown," King Huai said after a long silence.

Upon hearing this, Master Gongsun couldn't help but nod, acknowledging that the Crown Prince indeed had matured.

In the past, the Crown Prince would always ask for King Huai's opinion on everything and would only venture to act after receiving King Huai's approval, even holding him back after the morning court to discuss all that had transpired.

But now, the Crown Prince had taken these actions without seeking King Huai's opinion, merely informing him afterward.

Even during the first morning court after the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne today, he did not ask King Huai to stay as usual but had him leave along with the other ministers.

This was something that even the court ministers found quite surprising.

"He is starting to look more and more like a true Son of Heaven," King Huai said calmly, his gaze profound.

Master Gongsun hesitated, unsure whether this was a good or bad development.

After all, since the Son of Heaven had secluded himself, all the power in the court had been in King Huai's hands. It could be said that although King Huai was not the Son of Heaven, he was virtually indistinguishable from one.

As the Crown Prince grew older, King Huai had transferred the power in his hands to the Crown Prince, yet many of the court officials still looked to King Huai for guidance.

Despite the fact that many ministers were implicated and lost their homes due to the eldest prince's rebellion and the Crown Prince had supported many to rise up, none could yet stand on equal footing with King Huai.

In the court, King Huai's power still loomed large; if he shook his head, even though the Crown Prince had now ascended, if King Huai disagreed, nothing could be done.

Therefore, Master Gongsun was somewhat worried that the Crown Prince might turn against King Huai after his ascension.

If King Huai were to be dealt with, then only the current emperor's family would dominate the court.

King Huai understood Master Gongsun's concerns and said indifferently, "If he truly becomes a wise ruler, what harm is there for me to support him as I did his imperial brother back then?"

Master Gongsun nodded slightly upon hearing this. After many years of following King Huai, he was well aware that King Huai had always been wholeheartedly devoted to Da Xia. If not for King Huai's tireless efforts over the last twenty-three years, Da Xia would not have achieved its current zenith of power.

It could be said that both Emperor Xia and King Huai were indispensable to Da Xia. Together, they brought Da Xia to this pinnacle.

"But,"

At that moment, King Huai spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of coldness. "If he turns out not to be a wise ruler, but a short-sighted emperor preoccupied with power struggles, the position of the Co-Owner of this world will then be open to debate."

Upon hearing this, even as a grandmaster of martial arts at the Innate Realm, Master Gongsun trembled from head to toe, feeling a deep chill envelop him.

Such disrespectful words, if spoken by anyone else, Master Gongsun would have scoffed at as delusional.

But coming from King Huai, it all seemed so justified.

In that moment, despite not being a martial artist, King Huai exuded a fearsome presence that seemed to halt heaven and earth, from Master Gongsun, a grandmaster of the Innate Realm.

Master Gongsun even thought he heard the roar of a true dragon by his ear, making him shudder all the more.

If someone from the Qintian Monitor had been there, using the Qi Watching Skill, they would have seen a great dragon soaring upwards behind King Huai.

This was the momentum of a rising dragon in one's fate, the likeness of an imperial path, a destiny only possible for the imperial family!

"Nowadays, the world has quieted down a bit, due to the emergence of that mysterious powerhouse from Yan State, causing the storm to shift. Everyone is on the lookout for the identity of this mysterious figure. However, the Nine Provinces are ultimately rife with chaos, and this serves as the best test for the new ruler. Let's see how he handles it."

"Yes."

Mr. Gongsun kept his head low, showing none of the prestige of a grandmaster of martial arts at the Innate Realm, responding like a mere attendant with a bow of his head.

...

Time flew by swiftly, and several days had passed since Gu Chen had regained consciousness.

On that day, after taking the Dragon Marrow Pill, Gu Chen underwent his seventh blood exchange and marrow cleansing. His physique and cultivation level underwent another transformation, significantly enhancing his combat power.

The current Gu Chen was confident that he could compete with martial arts masters at the early stage of the Hundred Orifices Stage!

That day, Gu Chen left the Gu Mansion and arrived at the headquarters of the Jing Tian Department in the inner city, where he met Qin Wu, the deputy head of the Jing Tian Department.

"Greetings to Commander Qin." Gu Chen said with a clasped fist.

Qin Wu nodded slightly. By now, the injuries he had sustained in the battle with the Blood Demon, Xiao Yuntian, had completely healed.

At that moment, a flash of surprise crossed Qin Wu's tiger-like eyes. He looked at Gu Chen and said, "You've broken through again?"
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Gu Chen replied with a clasped fist, "Commander Qin, thanks to His Majesty bestowing upon me a Dragon Marrow Pill, I managed to make a breakthrough."

Qin Wu nodded slightly. He was naturally aware of the reward given to Gu Chen, and it had been his suggestion, after all.

"How many times have you undergone blood exchange?" Qin Wu suddenly asked.

After a moment of silence, Gu Chen answered truthfully, "Seven times."

"Seven times?!"

This time, Qin Wu's expression really changed; he was shocked by Gu Chen.

How much time had passed for Gu Chen to have already undergone blood exchange seven times at the Rebirth Realm?!

This rate of progress was unheard of, not even in ancient times were there such monstrous existences.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Wu realized that even the likes of the Emperor of Da Xia, the Tower Supervisor, the Co-Owner of the Mingjing Department, or the Tower Supervisor of the Qintian Monitor did not have such a terrifying rate of cultivation as Gu Chen.

This speed was truly like drinking water, changing day by day and month by month.

"If you continue to improve at this rate, perhaps it won't be long before you catch up to me," Qin Wu said, shaking his head with emotion.

"Commander Qin flatters me. You are a transcendental being in the martial arts; I am merely at the Rebirth Realm, far from reaching your level," Gu Chen said.

"Alright, you don't need to be modest in front of me. I'm not the envious type. The more talented you are and the faster you grow, the happier I am. I would be only too happy to give up my position as deputy commander." Qin Wu said with a light smile.

The sincerity in his words was palpable. Nowadays, looking across the entire Jing Tian Department and even Da Xia, Gu Chen was the most promising to become Da Xia's future pillar, tasked with suppressing the chaos in the world.

This point had been confirmed to Qin Wu by the Tower Supervisor; he already knew that the current Gu Chen was the sole glimmer of hope in the crisis-ridden Da Xia and the tumultuous Nine Provinces.

After a pause, Qin Wu spoke gravely, "I've called you here this time because there's something important to discuss with you. I have a mission to entrust to you. How are your injuries?"

Gu Chen's demeanor became solemn, and he said with a clasped fist, "Commander Qin, rest assured, my injuries have completely healed. Please speak freely."

Qin Wu nodded slightly and slowly said, "I've received news that the heirs to the six sacred sites have been born and are officially descending from the mountains to walk among us!"