Book 03 Chapter 006: Departing on a Journey

The Heavenly Go Pavilion’s Seventh Young Master? Shangguan Hen?

The moment this information spread, it shocked many people.

At this moment, the cultivators who had lost all their spirit stones in the imperial casino holiday villa and were munching on plain buns glowered at the distant, extensive imperial palace.

“How great is this Gu Hai’s blessings cultivation going to be? Gu Qin just gained Old Mister Guan Qi’s inheritance and became Eighth Young Master. Now, a Seventh Young Master appeared? Does your family run the Heavenly Go Palace? To think that you have one more Young Master immediately after getting one?” The cultivators felt depressed.

Was this a sign of Gu Hai swallowing up the Heavenly Go Pavilion?

Never mind Seventh Young Master. That strong Miao Chen actually knew Seventh Young Master. Had this Seventh Young Master existed eight centuries ago?

The nine inheritors of Guan Qi had always been a legend. No one knew who they were or what they looked like. However, many people had heard the legend. No matter which of the nine inheritors of Guan Qi, they all could command the Heavenly Go Pavilion.

Now, two Young Masters appeared in the Han Royal Dynasty. Gu Hai was so ridiculously skilled at Go; could he be Old Mister Guan Qi’s reincarnation?

However, this was just what many people imagined. Old Mister Guan Qi had suffered heaven’s wrath. His form and souls were destroyed, so he could not possibly reincarnate.

Everyone could only sigh at the Han Royal Dynasty’s blessings cultivation. Given that, how were they to snatch the dragon vein?

In contrast to the cultivators harboring errant thoughts, the Han Royal Dynasty’s officials appeared excited. Shangguan Hen’s fame gave them a sense of security, as he brought in Miao Chen’s friendship. With such a strong friend, the Han Royal Dynasty would grow very steadily.

——

Gu Hai dealt with large amounts of administrative work every day. However, everything finally normalized after one month. Now, he no longer had to work as hard. After all, the path of a sovereign lay in delegation. Knowing how to delegate was better than working hard by oneself.

Study:

“Your Majesty, I have discussed it with Miao Chen. He is preparing to move his sea palace near Nine-Five Island. That way, we can help defend each other,” Shangguan Hen said with a smile.

“That’s good. I happen to have the flying ship that Li Haoran left behind. That should speed up the journey,” Gu Hai said with a smile.

As Gu Hai and Shangguan Hen chatted, Gu Qin walked over and said, “Imperial Father, the hall master and Venerable Liu Nian are here!”

“Oh?” Gu Hai said in surprise.

Gu Hai left the study and met the two in a guest hall.

Long Wanqing studied a poker card in her hand with a curious expression.

“Hall Master, Venerable Liu Nian? When did you arrive?” Gu Hai walked over while smiling.

“We arrived yesterday and stayed at your imperial casino holiday villa for a day. I heard that you beat up Li Shenji’s men?” Long Wanqing looked at Gu Hai with shock and curiosity.

“Huh? It can be considered so.” Gu Hai’s smile became forced.

“You are truly capable. Li Shenji is extremely protective of his subordinates. I heard that you battered his subordinate’s face but ended up fine,” Long Wanqing said in a strange tone.

“Division Master Gu, this imperial casino is extremely novel! It is like a large spirit stone mine!” Venerable Liu Nian praised sincerely.

“Venerable Liu Nian is too polite. These are just some small tricks!” Gu Hai’s smile eased.

They sat down with Gu Qin accompanying them while attendants quickly served tea.

“Hall Master, Venerable Liu Nian, looking at your expressions, I can tell that you gained something in the Divine Continent,” Gu Hai said.

The two’s expressions turned solemn as Long Wanqing nodded. “That’s right. We investigated according to your method and managed to find something. The material of the paper comes from a species of thatch palm found at the Ying Province’s borders. Likewise, the ink is ink from the Ying Province’s borders.”

“Ying Province?” Gu Hai appeared somewhat confused.

“The Ying Province is one of my Qian Heavenly Dynasty’s sixteen provinces; it is Duke Lu Yang’s conferred land. It lies at the border of my Qian Heavenly Dynasty, adjacent to some royal dynasties and imperial dynasties. The clues point there. However, that place is a hotpot of all sorts of people, with many experts, so we cannot do anything about it for now,” Long Wanqing said bitterly.

“Ying Province’s Duke Lu Yang? I seem to recall you mentioning him before, that he is good with the zither? By striking his zither strings, he killed a million-cultivator-strong army?” Gu Hai said with some misgivings in his tone.

“Yes. Of the music, Go, calligraphy, and painting cultural cultivation, you are good with the Go Dao, and he is good with the music Dao. Oh, that’s right. Do you recall the Innate Puzzle World’s century lifespan immortality peach tree?” Long Wanqing’s expression turned excited.

“Naturally. I picked the immortal peaches, but the tree is still there. The Heavenly Go Pavilion’s elders seemed especially protective of the century lifespan immortality peach tree. The Innate Puzzle World should have closed long ago, right?” Gu Hai nodded as his expression changed.

“It has closed already. However, Duke Lu Yang led an army over and snatched that century lifespan immortality peach tree!” Long Wanqing said while nodding.

“Oh?” Gu Hai felt slightly startled.

“Back then, the Heavenly Go Pavilion’s elders wanted to object. I heard that Duke Lu Yang made a move and defeated all the elders. Then, he uprooted the century lifespan immortality peach tree in front of all the Heavenly Go Pavilion disciples before leaving ostentatiously with his army,” Long Wanqing recollected.

“That is indeed overbearing.” Gu Hai smiled bitterly.

“Of course. Duke Lu Yang fought alongside my maternal grandfather to conquer the world. It seems that they are even sworn brothers. That’s why Grandfather conferred a royal title on him despite being of different family names. After all, my Qian Heavenly Dynasty only has those few royals. Grandfather even conferred the vast Ying Province on Duke Lu Yang,” Long Wanqing explained.

“The Qian Heavenly Emperor’s sworn brother?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows. No wonder he was so overbearing.

“The Unborn Man already went to the Ying Province’s border in advance to investigate. The venerable and I came to find you, as my maternal grandfather issued a decree, commanding Elite Hall to investigate the cause of my mother’s death with full force. You are to go as well.” Long Wanqing smiled bitterly.

“Me?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Indeed. Furthermore, I heard that the Ying Province’s borders have not been peaceful recently. A royal dynasty broke its alliance with my Qian Heavenly Dynasty and is now allied with an imperial dynasty. I heard that when Duke Lu Yang found out, he became enraged and prepared his troops to level that royal dynasty. That place will be chaotic. Gu Hai, are you going? If not, I will explain to my maternal grandfather!” Long Wanqing looked at Gu Hai with anticipation.

Gu Hai remained silent for a while.

“Imperial Father, we just established the Han Royal Dynasty, and you still need to deal with many things. I’m afraid you can’t spare time for something else, right?” Gu Qin said somewhat worriedly.

Gu Hai remained silent for a while before eventually taking a deep breath and saying, “The Thousand Islands Sea? A desolate and barren land? Ha! I do want to see how majestic and bountiful this Divine Continent is!”

“Imperial Father?” Gu Qin said somewhat anxiously.

“It’s fine. The Han Royal Dynasty is already on the right path. The rest are just some minor matters. It will be fine with you taking charge,” Gu Hai said while shaking his head.

“But—” Gu Qin said worriedly.

“Alright! Although the Han Royal Dynasty has started, we are groping around blindly in the dark. I want to know how the various nations of the Divine Continent developed. This can be considered as making accumulations for my Han Royal Dynasty. I’m not worried, with you at the helm!” Gu Hai said while shaking his head.

“Alright!” Gu Qin nodded.

“Oh! That’s right. I asked my maternal grandfather for this cultivation technique for you. Initially, only the Qian Heavenly Dynasty’s imperial clan disciples could practice this. This is one of the strongest Golden Core Realm cultivation techniques!” Long Wanqing proffered a silk scroll.

“Oh?” Gu Hai received the scroll with a skeptical expression.

“True Dragon Golden Core Cultivation Technique?” Gu Hai felt slightly startled.

“The True Dragon Innate Cultivation Technique and the True Dragon Golden Core Cultivation Technique are the best foundational cultivation techniques my maternal grandfather created. There is nothing else after that. You will need to seek a cultivation technique that fits your needs from there on,” Long Wanqing explained.

“Many thanks, Hall Master!” Gu Hai accepted the scroll without standing on ceremony.

A Golden Core Realm cultivation technique? Naturally, Gu Hai accumulated quite a lot of them after destroying a few major sects. However, those cultivation techniques did not interest him.

“I’ll leave with Hall Master three days later. I’ll make arrangements for the dynasty’s matters over the next two days.” Gu Hai smiled.

“Alright!” Long Wanqing nodded.

——

The crown prince taking charge? His Majesty departing on a journey? This immediately caused a commotion among the officials.

Not to mention the dynasty’s matters, with the emperor gone, their sense of security diminished considerably.

However, Gu Hai had made up his mind. Naturally, he would not change it for the officials’ sense of security. If they did not feel secure, then why be an official? He treated it as a tempering session.

——

Three days later:

Gu Hai took out Li Haoran’s bracelet and handed it to Gu Qin.

“Li Haoran’s flying ship is in there. Keep it for emergency use. I already discussed this with the hall master. There are Elite Hall disciples in Ying Province’s Silver Moon City. I will bring some officials to Silver Moon City and stay there for a while to get used to the Divine Continent’s situation. Then, I will start a business in the Han Royal Dynasty’s name in Silver Moon City. If there are any major issues that you cannot resolve, you can send news via the flying ship,” Gu Hai instructed seriously.

“Yes, Imperial Father!” Gu Qin responded while nodding.

Gu Hai brought Shangguan Hen, Miao Chen, and dozens of the Han Royal Dynasty’s officials onto Long Wanqing’s White Cloud flying ship.

“Respectfully sending off my emperor! We hope that my emperor will return soon! Long live my emperor! May my emperor live for ten thousand years!” The many officials respectfully sent off Gu Hai at the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza.

The White Cloud flying ship quickly soared into the sky and shot off into the distance.

“Hall Master, before going to the Divine Continent, we would like to make a trip to the Northern Sea. I hope Hall Master does not mind,” Gu Hai requested with a smile.

“It’s fine. It won’t delay us by much.” Long Wanqing nodded.

However, Venerable Liu Nian looked at Miao Chen in surprise.

“Elder Miao? It has been a long time!” Venerable Liu Nian marveled as he looked at Miao Chen, then Shangguan Hen and Gu Hai.

Although Venerable Liu Nian had heard many rumors recently, he still felt shocked upon seeing Miao Chen. This Gu Hai truly could not sit still. Venerable Liu Nian had left Nine-Five Island not long ago, yet Gu Hai already subdued Miao Chen? This was a Heavenly Palace expert!

“Teacher Liu Nian!” Miao Chen smiled politely but did not explain anything.

Venerable Liu Nian only felt curious and did not ask further.

The flying ship traveled very quickly, reaching the sea of Miao Chen’s previous residence in about half a month. However, lightning flashed, and thunder roared there. Berserk winds kicked up towering waves.

“Roar! Roar!”

Dragon roars rang out in the distance, sounding berserk and ferocious.

“Roar! Don’t!”

“Fight them to the death!”

“Elder, when will you return?!”

A berserk storm raged. It seemed like an intense battle was taking place there.

Bang!

A one-hundred-meter-long black tortoise shot out of the storm’s center in a panic.

“Don’t! Don’t eat me! Don’t eat me! Argh!” That black tortoise fled in horror.

Boom!

Suddenly, an enormous black dragon’s head came out of the water behind. It was clearly not a flood dragon, as it had a pair of ferocious dragon horns on its head. Then, that dragon head bit the black tortoise’s body.

“No! Don’t eat me!” that black tortoise shouted in horror.

“You bastard!” The expression of Miao Chen, who just returned, changed. Then, he stepped forward and flew over, throwing a palm strike at the black dragon.

“There are so many dragons? Are they here to hunt the black tortoises?” Venerable Liu Nian’s expression changed.