After being exiled for eighteen years, the prince returned to the capital as a veritable immortal.

"Human nature is perilous, moral conscience is perilous."

"Be precise and single-minded, and hold fast to the middle."

A melodious voice, like the first chirping of a swallow, drifted from the carriage.

The sixteen characters of the Daoist scripture were repeatedly recited by the girl Hu Die.

The road wound its way forward, the iron cavalry swiftly advancing, and everyone enjoyed the heavenly sound.

His Highness Prince Yi is studying the Daoist scriptures again.

Everyone had long been used to this.

The Daoist scriptures are the supreme teachings of Emperor Yao of ancient times, passed down orally to later emperors.

Because it could only be passed down orally and not written down, it was lost hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Only the opening sixteen characters remain.

These mere sixteen characters are but a drop in the ocean compared to the entire manual.

Throughout history, countless practitioners have tried to comprehend and complete this knowledge, but to no avail.

Over millions of years, the cultivation community has reached a consensus.

Based on just the opening sixteen characters, the Daoist scriptures are impossible to comprehend, let alone complete.

The ancient emperor's personally transmitted Taoist teachings thus became a thing of the past.

Zhou Yi was unwilling to give up, and in his spare time he often tried to comprehend it.

however.

Even with his astonishing talent, he was lost in a fog, unable to make sense of anything.

Bored on his journey, he had Hu Die recite it repeatedly.

Hu Die's voice is not only gentle and beautiful, but also possesses an extraordinary natural affinity.

Hearing it makes brain cells more active, and the effect of comprehension is greatly enhanced.

inside the carriage.

Zhou Yi remained calm and composed, like an old monk in deep meditation.

Between his slightly closed eyes, his brows were furrowed slightly.

There's something off about these sixteen characters in the Daoist scriptures, but I can't quite put my finger on it even after examining them closely.

After a long time.

The swallows' chirping ceased, and the procession quietly continued its journey.

The Prince Yi is meditating in silence in the palace; he must not be disturbed under any circumstances.

Everyone looked towards the carriage, filled with envy and admiration.

Your Highness is born into royalty, naturally noble, which is already enviable.

Yet his talent was so extraordinary that he became a seventh-grade grandmaster at the age of twenty, a feat unmatched before or since.

He is talented and works exceptionally hard.

He used his time to comprehend the way of martial arts.

This person is destined to advance to the rank of Grandmaster.

……

The march was tedious and boring.

The guards' eyes kept glancing at Ji Yu.

This eunuch entered the palace at the age of three.

Perhaps because she was castrated from a young age, her body developed completely like a woman's.

Not only was her waist slender and her hips shapely, but her towering breasts also surpassed those of the three thousand concubines in the imperial palace.

Her fair and delicate face was truly the most beautiful among all women.

Although he is not a woman, it is still quite nice to feast one's eyes on him.

Having witnessed such a sight, the soldiers felt their blood boil and, despite marching a thousand miles, did not feel the slightest bit tired.

Unlike the guards who could only admire from afar.

Si Xuan urged his horse forward and rode alongside Ji Yu, whispering to each other:

"Your Excellency, why did you not return to the capital with the Imperial Guards yesterday?"

"Humph."

"Hehe, even if you don't say it, I know it's because of His Majesty's edict."

"You know and you still ask?"

"Did His Majesty instruct that the imperial edict would not be issued unless Prince Yi insisted on returning to the capital?"

"How dare you presume to know the emperor's thoughts! You'll lose your head!"

Si Xuan chuckled and stopped trying to get information out of him.

Inside the carriage, Hu Die listened quietly to their conversation, lost in thought.

The imperial edict prepared in advance indicated that Empress Wu had guessed that her grandson would definitely return to the capital.

Could it be a trap?

……

The half-demon horse possesses extraordinary speed and endurance.

Within half a day, the convoy entered the Yangling area.

On the road, the number of disaster victims, including the elderly and children, suddenly surged.

Under Zhou Yi's rule, the people of Liangzhou were prosperous and lived in peace and contentment, and refugees from famine and disaster often sought refuge with them.

However, the sheer number of deserters in Yangling was staggering.

It seemed as if all the refugees from the Great Qian Dynasty had flocked to Yangling.

The carriage curtain was gently lifted, and Hu Die looked out the window with curiosity, her beautiful eyes filled with pity.

"Mother, hang in there! Zhu Family Fort is not far away!"

"Son, once we get to Zhujiabao, good days are ahead!"

"Thank God, we are fortunate that the Zhu family has come to help those in need!"

……

The refugees were emaciated and exhausted.

however.

But a glimmer of hope appeared on their faces, and they happily headed towards Zhujiabao.

Wu Meng frequently pulled on the reins to avoid hitting the poor disaster victims.

A hint of solemnity appeared between his brows.

The reputation of the chivalrous hero Yangling is indeed well-deserved.

So many disaster victims have benefited from his kindness.

Does Your Highness truly intend to turn against chivalrous heroes with swords?

Looking back at the quiet carriage, Wu Meng's heart suddenly felt lighter.

His Highness Prince Yi also has a good reputation, and he doesn't believe that he would be unable to distinguish right from wrong.

Perhaps, it's just to go and take a look.

Perhaps they won't fight to the death.

Si Xuan also looked solemn, becoming increasingly silent as he approached Yangling.

……

As the sun sets in the west, the Zhu Family Fortress in Yangling comes into view in the distance.

"Stop the car and take a break."

Hu Die's instructions came from the carriage.

The place is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with a spacious area.

The guards dismounted, watered their horses, and rested on the spot.

Fourteen minutes later.

Hu Die stood on the carriage shaft, her graceful figure swaying like a willow in the breeze.

She clapped her hands and called everyone to gather in front of the car.

Zhou Yi's voice came from inside the carriage:

"I thank you all for your willingness to share life and death with me."

Everyone's gaze turned to the Zhu Family Fortress in the distance.

That was the residence of the Sword Saint.

It is the foundation of Zhu Anshi, the great hero of Yangling.

And they were about to fight him with swords.

A ninth-rank celestial being, a half-immortal.

He is a whole realm higher than the current Martial Emperor.

Prince Yi, a seventh-grade Grandmaster, is also a major realm lower than his opponent.

At this moment, everyone felt immense pressure.

However, no one gave up.

Wherever His Highness Prince Yi pointed, they rushed there.

No one can die without regret!

Sensing his unwavering determination to die, Zhou Yi continued:

"I, the King, will bring merit to everyone."

"Passing on one's skills" refers to a highly skilled practitioner transmitting their insights and understanding of cultivation to others, thus helping them in their own cultivation.

Your Highness is a grandmaster and a member of the royal family.

Surprisingly, he personally helped his subordinates achieve success.

The guards were excited and sat down cross-legged.

Si Xuan quickly sat down on the ground.

His Highness treated his cousin very well.

However, this was the first time he had used it with such power.

Wu Meng glared at Ji Yu and waved at him.

Yesterday he even tried to make a move on His Highness, and he had the nerve to shamelessly leech off his cultivation?

I don't know.

Ji Yu ignored him completely, took out a silk handkerchief, spread it on the ground, and sat down without any politeness.

"Human nature is perilous, moral conscience is perilous."

When Zhou Yi spoke, everyone fell silent for a moment.

Hu Die had been reciting the fragments of the Daoist scriptures all the way.

What effect would the Daoist teachings, which even celestial beings cannot comprehend, have on them?

however.

Zhou Yi's voice was initially very soft and delicate, like the low chirping of summer insects.

Yet, as if by magic, it penetrated directly into everyone's ears and deep into their consciousness.

"Be precise and single-minded, and hold fast to the middle."

The sound continued to rise and grow stronger, like a lingering echo, like a resounding bell.

Then.

The greatest sound is the least; no sound could be heard or heard in the ears or minds of the crowd.

The sixteen-character mantra resonated throughout the spiritual world of everyone.

Only the human heart; only the heart of the Way…

With their thoughts, everyone ascended to the heavens.

Spanning the long river of time and enduring countless vicissitudes.

It's as if I've been reborn countless times, experiencing all the vicissitudes of life...

……

It felt like an eternity, spanning three lifetimes, yet also like a fleeting moment.

Everyone slowly opened their eyes.

From the other person's surprised look, everyone knew that the other person, like themselves, had gained a great deal.

"I've broken through to the peak of Foundation Establishment!"

"Me too!"

"And I!"

……

As the imperial grandson's personal guard, these individuals were all selected from cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining.

Under Zhou Yi's guidance, almost all of them were promoted to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Si Xuan stood up from the ground, unable to hide the joy in his eyes.

One session of cultivation enabled him to break through the Foundation Establishment Realm and advance to the early stage of the Golden Core Realm.

Wu Meng chuckled, his mouth almost stretching to his ears in a wide grin.

He advanced rapidly from the early stage of the Golden Core realm to the middle stage.

If I had had this strength yesterday, I would definitely have made it into the top three in the martial arts examination.

Putting away the handkerchief, Ji Yu stood up and looked at the carriage, her expression somewhat complicated.

He had been stuck in the late stage of the Golden Core realm for many years and originally thought it would be difficult to break through.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yi's cultivation allowed him to directly advance to the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage.

He is just one step away from becoming a Grandmaster.

At this point, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a half-step grandmaster.

Everyone was extremely excited; some congratulated each other, while others gathered together to practice their skills...

Si Xuan relayed Zhou Yi's order:

"Rest and regroup where you are, then we'll break through the Zhu Family Fortress!"

"Break down the Zhu Family Fortress! Break down the Zhu Family Fortress! Break down the Zhu Family Fortress!"

The guards raised their arms and shouted in unison.

……

That night.

Under a bright moon and sparse stars, Zhou Yi stood atop a hill beside the river.

Hu Die sat on the grass behind, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zhou Yi.

Si Xuan tiptoed up, and Zhou Yi asked softly:

"What's the matter?"

"Your Highness, my subordinates report that Ji Yu just went in the direction of Zhu Family Fortress and came into contact with whoever he was."

"The steward of the Zhu family, Zhu Zhifeng."

"From here, Your Highness can see for dozens of miles..."

"Ah."

"Can you hear them talking?"

"can."

"So, what...did they talk about?"

"..."

Si Xuan was thrilled.

The grandmaster was indeed formidable; he could see the situation dozens of miles away as if it were right before his eyes.

“I didn’t hear you,” Zhou Yi said.

"you……"

Si Xuan was speechless.

When enemies are plotting and talking, isn't this the perfect opportunity to gather intelligence on them?

Why waste time listening to their nonsense?

Zhou Yi seemed to take the other party completely indifferent, saying, "If he jumps, I'll slap him to death."