Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

The next day, early morning.

At the imperial palace's Golden Throne Hall, the Crown Prince sat at the head seat, as the grand eunuch's voice rose, signaling the formal start of today's early court session in Da Xia.

Following tradition, the Crown Prince first discussed state affairs with the ministers. After these discussions concluded and each matter was addressed, it was Gu Chen's turn.

At the Crown Prince's signal, the grand eunuch announced in his distinct high-pitched voice, "Summon the Metropolitan Procurator of the Jing Tian Department, Gu Chen, to the court!"

"Summon the Metropolitan Procurator of the Jing Tian Department, Gu Chen, to the court!"

"Summon the Metropolitan Procurator..."

The summons echoed again and again, and soon after, Gu Chen, dressed in dark robes, entered the imperial Golden Throne Hall.

This was only his second time here, and interestingly enough, both of Gu Chen's visits to the Golden Throne Hall were due to Uncle Dingyuan and the Marquis of Wuwei.

As weapons were forbidden in the royal palace, Gu Chen's Blood Shadow Sword had been taken by the imperial guards upon his entrance.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Gu Chen said with a fist and palm salute upon arriving at the Golden Throne Hall.

The Crown Prince, Ji Yuan, seated at the head, looked dignified and cast his eyes down toward Gu Chen, saying, "Gu Chen, your battle with the Great Yuan's Buddha's son, Ananda, has bolstered the prestige of our great Da Xia, united the people's hearts, and shattered Great Yuan's conspiracies against Da Xia, establishing great merit.

Our Da Xia will never mistreat those who have performed outstanding service. The palace asks you now, what is your request? Feel free to speak."

To the side, Uncle Dingyuan and the Marquis of Wuwei watched with cold eyes, ready to reprimand Gu Chen for overstepping his bounds should he make an excessive demand.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen immediately said with a salute, "Your Highness, I have long heard that the royal family's secret library is abundant with books. I wish to enter and take a look."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Your Highness, I have something to say," interjected Uncle Dingyuan at that moment.

The Crown Prince frowned but still nodded, "Speak."

Uncle Dingyuan stated coldly, "I believe access to the royal secret library should not be taken lightly. Generally, only princes, princesses, and royal kin are qualified to enter and select martial arts techniques. Gu Chen is merely a Metropolitan Procurator of the Jing Tian Department; it neither makes sense emotionally nor logically."

The Marquis of Wuwei immediately agreed, "I second that."

"I second that!" The affiliated nobles of their factions also voiced their agreement.

At that moment, the Duke of the Liang State stepped forward with a cold snort, retorting, "Uncle Dingyuan, have you forgotten? The martial arts technique passed down in your family was bestowed upon you by the late emperor, who selected it from the royal secret library. How is it that you're allowed, but when it comes to Master Gu, it is not permissible?"

Upon hearing this, Uncle Dingyuan did not get angry but rather said, "I am considering Gu Chen's well-being with this proposition. After all, he has only just entered the Gang Qi Stage. Although his physical body is strong, it seems to me his cultivation is not yet stable. The martial arts in the royal secret library are all of high caliber and profoundly inscrutable.

At just a little over twenty years old, I worry that Gu Chen's experience in the martial path is insufficient. Rash cultivation could harm him and consequently result in a loss for Da Xia. I urge Your Highness to reconsider."

Gu Chen's eyebrows knitted upon hearing this. Despite being forewarned by the Duke of the Liang State that no matter what he requested, Uncle Dingyuan and the Marquis of Wuwei would stand in objection, Gu Chen still found the two elder statesmen detestable.

Gu Chen looked at Uncle Dingyuan with a faint smile and proposed, "Since Uncle Dingyuan is so concerned, why not have a bout with me to see if my martial experience is indeed sufficient? What do you think to that, Uncle Dingyuan?"

Uncle Dingyuan's expression froze at these words. The image of Gu Chen shattering Ananda with a single punch still lingered in his mind, and he, being only at the Gang Qi Stage and advanced in years, stood no chance against Gu Chen.

Thus, Uncle Dingyuan could only snort coldly, expressing his dissatisfaction but saying no more.

As long as he wasn't being granted a noble rank, he felt it was acceptable.

Seeing Uncle Dingyuan lose face made the Crown Prince feel extremely gratified, and even a trace of a smile appeared on the Duke of the Liang State's face.

The Crown Prince then asked, "Which martial art from the royal secret library do you seek?"

"The Great Sun True Skill!" declared Gu Chen.

"Your Highness..."

Upon hearing Gu Chen's request for the Great Sun True Skill, Uncle Dingyuan instinctively wanted to object again, but as Gu Chen's gaze fell upon him, sharp as a blade, it scraped against his flesh and sent shivers through him, causing Uncle Dingyuan to abruptly halt his speech.

The Marquis of Wuwei felt the same, as Gu Chen's eyes blazed with intensity, fixing on the two of them.

Both had not expected that in the Golden Throne Hall, with all the kings and ministers present, Gu Chen would dare to overpower them with his gaze.

For a moment, both felt as if they were being targeted by a ruthless beast, their bodies breaking out in a cold sweat, and the words they intended to say were trapped in their throats.

"Granted!" Seeing no objections, the Crown Prince immediately nodded in approval, granting Gu Chen's request.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Gu Chen felt a surge of joy.

With the matter resolved, the morning audience came to an end.

As for the Great Sun True Skill, someone would deliver it to Gu Chen to memorize, after which he would have to return it to the royal secret library.

After leaving the imperial palace, Gu Chen, remembering Chen Yu's instructions from the previous night, headed straight to the Jing Tian Department headquarters within the inner city of Tiandu.

For the Vice Commandant of the Jing Tian Department, Qin Wu, wanted to meet him.

Soon, Gu Chen arrived at the Jing Tian Department. Under Chen Yu's guidance, he entered a particularly solemn great hall of the department and met Vice Commandant Qin Wu.

Qin Mu's features were rugged, his stature broad and muscular, draped in armor, seated at the head of the great hall, emanating an imposing presence, tremendously oppressive.

As for this vice-commander, Gu Chen was well-aware that Qin Wu was a top-tier grandmaster in the martial arts, his cultivation immensely powerful, ranking second only to the elusive grand-commander within the Jing Tian Department.

"I've seen the Qin Command," Gu Chen and Chen Yu paid their respects upon seeing Qin Wu.

Qin Wu sized up Gu Chen, and though it wasn't their first meeting, the vigorous vitality within Gu Chen impressed him, admiration flashing in his eyes.

Qin Wu's voice was deep and resonant as he said, "I've called you here today to tell you, as of today, you are the Yellow Level Commander of the Jing Tian Department!"

Beyond the grand-commander and the vice-commander in the Jing Tian Department, there were the garrison commanders, and beneath them, the field commanders.

Only upon reaching the Gang Qi Stage and achieving corresponding merits would one be appointed as a field commander.

In other words, without sufficient cultivation and achievements, one would remain merely a Metropolitan Procurator.

Gu Chen's defeat of Great Yuan's Buddhist son, Ananda, was obviously a sufficient merit, and Qin Wu was forthright, promoting Gu Chen immediately.

Within the Da Xia Jing Tian Department, there were four ranks of the field commanders: Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Yellow, with the Heaven rank being the highest, corresponding to martial art masters, and the Yellow rank being the lowest, corresponding to the Gang Qi Stage.

Chen Yu himself had been a Yellow Level Commander, but since his cultivation had broken through to the Returning to True Stage and he had accumulated some merits, such as defending Xu'an County, he was now a Xuan Level Commander, still one rank above Gu Chen.

"Congratulations, Commander Gu," Chen Yu said with a smile, standing beside Gu Chen.

Being promoted was certainly a cause for celebration, and Gu Chen was clearly delighted, replying, "Master Chen, please don't tease me."

"Now that we are of the same rank, the title of Master Chen should be spared. Besides, I believe your strength has now surpassed mine. Hearing this 'Master' makes my ears itch uncomfortably."

At Chen Yu's insistence and after being rendered momentarily speechless by the request, Gu Chen called him "Brother Chen," which satisfied Chen Yu.

At that moment, Qin Wu, seated at the head of the hall, began to speak, "Not only that, in light of the meritorious service you rendered for Da Xia, I have personally decided to award you five hundred merits."

"Five hundred merits?!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen was taken aback, a strong sense of joy welling up inside him.

One must know that within the Jing Tian Department, every single merit was exceedingly precious; five hundred merits were enough within the department to even exchange for a divine weapon!

Divine weapons were extremely rare in the world, typically only wielded by masters of the martial arts.

This reward was undoubtedly generous, and it revealed how much Qin Wu valued Gu Chen.

After all, this was his personal award; Gu Chen's battle against Ananda was not an assignment from the Jing Tian Department.

"Don't you want to thank Qin Command?" Chen Yu reminded him from the side.

Realizing this, Gu Chen hastily clasped his fists in salute and said, "Many thanks to Qin Command!"

Qin Wu nodded slightly, acknowledging Gu Chen and said, "Although you are now a strong cultivator and considered a top expert in all of Jiuzhou, you must never become complacent. Relying on your talents and looking down upon the people of the world is unwise.

The path of martial arts becomes increasingly difficult as you progress, and I hope you will always maintain your initial determination, and continue to advance bravely and rigorously. I have high expectations for you, to become the thirteenth garrison commander of Da Xia, do not let me down."

Gu Chen replied with a solemn tone, "I will bear in mind the teachings of Qin Command, and I certainly will not disappoint!"

Pleased with the response, Qin Wu nodded slightly and waved his hand, signaling that Gu Chen and Chen Yu could withdraw.

Leaving the great hall, Chen Yu, wearing a blue shirt, turned to Gu Chen with a smile and asked, "What do you say, five hundred merits, want to exchange for something?"

Even for Chen Yu, five hundred merits was a considerable sum, stirring a hint of envy in his heart.

Gu Chen pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I haven't decided yet."

With a faint smile, Chen Yu said, "No rush, you've just been appointed as a field commander; Qin Command probably won't issue you any tasks immediately, so you have some time to rest."

As a field commander, Gu Chen was now on par with Chen Yu, and thus naturally couldn't remain under Chen Yu's command anymore.

Technically, all field commanders of the Jing Tian Department were directly under Qin Wu's command.

However, with Da Xia administering thirteen provinces, and each province having its own Jing Tian Department branch, each branch was led by a garrison commander.

Therefore, the field commanders of the branches were primarily under the direct command of the twelve garrison commanders, reporting to Qin Wu at the Jing Tian Department headquarters only for certain essential matters.

Soon after, Gu Chen and Chen Yu went their separate ways, with Gu Chen returning home.

It was then that he discovered the imperial palace had sent him the secret manual of the Great Sun True Skill.

He immediately picked up the manual, eager to start reading.

As he perused, the Gangqi from the Pure Yang Wuji Gong within Gu Chen's body circulated continuously, following a specific pathway, gradually transforming into the unique Gangqi of the Great Sun True Skill.