Temple.
The temple stood towering, its bluestone steps stretching into the clouds.
Vermilion bronze pillars soared within the hall, shrouded in golden light as sandalwood incense curled through the air.
Anyone who entered the temple could not help but feel awe.
The temple appeared magnificent and resplendent, no different from ordinary temples.
Yet what it enshrined was not an immortal or a Bodhisattva, but a child with hanging locks.
The child had three eyes and sat atop a blood-colored lotus, giving off an exceptionally eerie feeling.
Before the statue, an elderly man in blood-red robes knelt reverently, his face filled with devotion.
With his palms pressed together, he muttered softly, seemingly in prayer.
Just then.
The third eye on the brow of the Blood Lotus Child suddenly opened.
An endless sea of blood materialized.
Seeing himself within the illusory sea of blood, the blood-robed elder revealed an expression of wild ecstasy.
Blood Venerable had bestowed a divine oracle.
Ever since Emperor Yuanchu had led his army to crush the main altar of their Blood Sea Lineage twenty years ago.
Their Blood Sea Lineage had never again received a divine oracle from Blood Venerable.
After twenty years, Blood Venerable had once more bestowed a divine oracle. This was a blessing upon their Blood Sea Lineage.
Sacred Emperor... Rice... conceals... blood seeds...
Plant... blood lotuses... across... the world...
The divine oracle burrowed into the blood-robed elder's ears.
In an instant, blood flowed from his seven apertures, making him look terrifying and savage.
Yet the blood-robed elder seemed not to feel any pain. Instead, his expression grew even more ecstatic.
"I respectfully obey Blood Venerable's divine oracle!"
Prince's Residence, study.
Fortune: 520
Looking at the fortune in his hand, Fang Heng's thoughts stirred.
This fortune was enough to condense five red-quality Fate Marks.
"Condense!"
Fang Heng silently uttered the command in his heart.
Within the Fate Map, the night was dark and boundless.
Five crimson stars slowly rose, illuminating the pitch-black night.
Dragon's Vigor, Tiger's Might (Red): Brimming with vitality, physical strength doubled, stamina forever far beyond that of ordinary people. An excellent talent for martial cultivation.
Precognition of Danger (Red): Spiritual perception clear and keen, possessing an inexplicable sense for calamity, often able to Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune.
Soul Reaper Envoy (Red): An underworld messenger who captures ghosts and commands yin souls. Deals double damage against yin souls, ghosts, and the like.
Jade Tree and Orchid (Red): Extraordinary charm. Women will involuntarily develop favorable feelings toward you.
Flash of Inspiration (Red): Prolonged contemplation of something causes sparks to fly in your thoughts, giving birth to unexpected ideas.
Having condensed five red Fate Marks in one breath, Fang Heng's eyes lit up.
The Dragon's Vigor, Tiger's Might Fate Mark gave him extraordinary stamina. It was a talent for cultivating martial arts.
"What a pity. I've already entered the Daoist School, so it will be difficult for me to cultivate martial arts now."
"This Fate Mark is somewhat wasted on me."
Fang Heng's tone carried some regret and pity.
Martial Artists, the Daoist School, and the Buddhist School were three cultivation systems that repelled one another and could not be cultivated simultaneously.
That was because the foundations of all three cultivation systems were built upon the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians.
When the cultivation arts circulated energy, they would clash with one another, making dual cultivation impossible.
Unless someone possessed two sets of meridians within their body, only then could dual cultivation be possible.
But over countless years, no one had ever heard of such a talent.
"Even if I can't practice martial arts, doubled stamina still has endless uses."
"Tonight... no, I can't wait until tonight."
"In broad daylight, I'll let Aunt Yun experience the taste of doubled stamina."
Precognition of Danger could detect danger in advance, making it quite useful.
The Soul Reaper Envoy Fate Mark was a specialized counter against yin souls and ghosts, so its uses were relatively limited.
As for Jade Tree and Orchid...
Fang Heng was very satisfied.
Who did not want to become more handsome?
Rather than Jade Tree and Orchid, it was more like becoming a male succubus.
If it could grow longer and bigger, that would be even better.
The final Fate Mark, Flash of Inspiration, was related to comprehension, and Fang Heng looked forward to it greatly.
His cultivation of thunder arts had advanced by leaps and bounds.
More than half the credit belonged to the two Fate Marks, Innate Immortal Seed and Wood-Thunder Body.
Fang Heng had a clear understanding of his own comprehension.
At most, he was merely average. Otherwise, how could he have failed to get into a 985 or 211 university?
Flash of Inspiration, this Fate Mark that enhanced comprehension, made up for Fang Heng's weakness.
It was just that this Fate Mark was not very stable.
In gaming terms, it did not add points, but increased the critical-hit multiplier.
His comprehension had not improved, but the chance of sudden enlightenment had increased.
Inside the storeroom.
Yun Menglan, who was checking the gift list, suddenly found her willow-slender waist embraced by Fang Heng.
His scorching breath spilled across her jade-like neck.
"Your Highness, it's broad daylight..."
"What are you afraid of?"
"The servants in the residence will laugh at us."
"Who dares laugh? I'll drive every last one of them out of the residence."
Two hours later.
Seeing Yun Menglan walking somewhat unsteadily, Fang Heng smiled smugly.
The Dragon's Vigor, Tiger's Might Fate Mark was even more useful than he had expected.
Seeing Fang Heng's wicked grin, Yun Menglan rolled her eyes.
What medicine had His Highness taken today?
He was fiercely vigorous!
He had nearly tossed her apart.
Seeing that Fang Heng seemed ready to make another move, Yun Menglan became a little frightened.
She hurriedly took out the gift list to divert Fang Heng's attention.
"Your Highness, this is the list of gifts sent by the various parties to congratulate you on becoming a Prince of a Commandery."
"Please review it, Your Highness."
Yun Menglan placed the organized gift list before Fang Heng.
The gifts sent by the various parties were clearly recorded on the list.
"As for the gift list, I trust Aunt Yun."
"I won't look at it."
"No. Etiquette must not be neglected."
"If outsiders learn of this, they'll think this concubine is a hen crowing at dawn."
Seeing the insistence on Yun Menglan's lovely face, Fang Heng took the gift list and began reading it carefully.
Left Prime Minister: one Spirit Calming Pearl, a rare treasure.
Seeing the gift sent by the Left Prime Minister, Fang Heng's face showed slight surprise.
In terms of value, the Left Prime Minister's gift was the most precious of all the congratulatory gifts, far surpassing everyone else's.
"What does the Left Prime Minister mean by sending such a valuable gift?"
Fang Heng stroked his chin and asked in surprise.
He was not narcissistic enough to believe that the Left Prime Minister would try to curry favor with a prince of ordinary influence like him.
"Naturally, it is to thank Your Highness."
"After all, it was Your Highness who gave the Left Prime Minister the chance to leave his name in history."
Yun Menglan spoke calmly, her tone gentle.
Fang Heng curled his lips after hearing that.
"But I ruined his merit of following the dragon."
"Perhaps the Left Prime Minister feels that leaving his name in history is more important than the merit of following the dragon."
"How so?" Fang Heng turned his head and looked at Yun Menglan suspiciously.
Yun Menglan said softly, "Last night, the Left Prime Minister's son returned all the gifts sent by the Eastern Palace."
"And when the Left Prime Minister left the capital, he took his entire family with him."
At this, a strange glint flashed through Fang Heng's clear eyes.
"The Left Prime Minister has drawn a clear line between himself and the Eastern Palace?"
"Most likely!"
"No wonder the Left Prime Minister sent me such a lavish gift."
Fang Heng nodded slightly.
With the emergence of the Sacred Emperor Rice this time, the greatest winner was undoubtedly himself.
He had been granted the title of Prince of a Commandery and gained Emperor Yuanchu's attention.
He had remained silent until now, then shocked the world with a single cry.
Besides himself, Emperor Yuanchu, the Right Prime Minister, and the Second Prince were all winners.
The Left Prime Minister was harder to judge.
The Crown Prince had suffered a crushing defeat.
Aside from the Left Prime Minister, the congratulatory gift sent by the Second Prince was also quite valuable.
Five Treasures Longevity Pill, capable of extending one's lifespan by ten years.
Pills that extended one's lifespan had always been precious and impossible to buy at any price.
Because Fang Heng was afflicted with the Ten Absolute Poisons, his lifespan was limited.
The Second Prince had clearly put considerable thought into sending him a lifespan-extending pill.
His intention to win Fang Heng over was obvious without saying.
Fang Heng knew perfectly well why the Second Prince was willing to spend so heavily on him.
With the Left Prime Minister leaving the capital, the Crown Prince's power had suffered greatly.
The Second Prince naturally would not let this opportunity slip away. He would most likely challenge the Crown Prince in the near future.
Winning Fang Heng over was simply to gain another source of support.
But...
Fang Heng did not want to involve himself in the struggle between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.
"What about the Crown Prince?"
"What congratulatory gift did he send?"
Hearing Fang Heng's question, Yun Menglan hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
"One thousand taels of silver!"
Huh?
Fang Heng nearly thought he had misheard.
For ordinary people, one thousand taels was an enormous sum.
But this was a congratulatory gift from the Eastern Palace for a prince being granted a title!
It was far too shabby!
Fang Heng's expression changed twice before he spoke in a deep voice.
"It seems the Crown Prince bears a grudge against me."
As for why he bore that grudge, Fang Heng knew perfectly well.
Was it not because of the Left Prime Minister leaving the capital?
But... making the Left Prime Minister leave the capital had not been his doing.
For the Crown Prince to blame it on him was truly...
Fang Heng shook his head.
No wonder rumors in Jade Capital said that the Crown Prince lacked the bearing of a sovereign.
Casting the Eastern Palace's congratulatory gift to the back of his mind, Fang Heng picked up the list and continued reading.
The Lu Family had gifted one Turtle Shell Fragment.
The Turtle Shell Fragment could conceal the secrets of heaven.
Though it was not an extraordinary item, it surpassed one.
A treasure that concealed the workings of heaven was worth no less than an extraordinary item.
After Fang Heng had made a name for himself in a single stroke this time, petty people would inevitably scheme against him.
Sending the Turtle Shell Fragment had clearly taken some thought.
"Uncle, you are most thoughtful!"
Fang Heng nodded slightly. His own people were his own people.
The gift was not only grand, but practical as well.
"There should be more than one Turtle Shell Fragment, right?" Fang Heng asked.
Yun Menglan dipped her head slightly and said indifferently.
"This was obtained from a godspawn after Eldest Master slew it."
The Eldest Master Yun Menglan spoke of was Fang Heng's uncle, Lu Zilong.
Back when Consort Ning had yet to marry, Yun Menglan had been a maidservant of the Lu residence.
Thus, calling Lu Zilong Eldest Master had become a habit.
As for godspawn...
Godspawn cultivated the Path of God Worship.
God worship differed from the flourishing three paths of Martial, Daoist, Buddhist.
From the moment it appeared, it had been suppressed by every dynasty without exception.
Those who cultivated the Path of God Worship were also called godspawn.
The single character "spawn" revealed the court's attitude toward them.
Legend had it that in the ancient era, numerous temples had suddenly appeared across the lands of Divine Land.
These temples were later called Ancient Eerie Temples.
Ancient Eerie Temples did not belong to Divine Land, but were things from beyond.
What they worshipped were Outer Realm Evil Gods.
Not long afterward, the people of antiquity discovered something.
Enter an eerie temple, offer sacrifices to an evil god, and one could obtain immense power.
Thus, the Path of God Worship began to spread far and wide.
The godspawn of the Path of God Worship sacrificed to evil gods and cultivated divinity.
What was the best sacrifice for evil gods?
Naturally, humans.
Humans were the foremost of all living beings, brimming with the richest spirituality.
In the ancient era, who knew how many people had died at the hands of godspawn, eventually drawing the court's suppression.
Throughout every dynasty, mountains were razed and temples destroyed, without exception.
Of course, throughout every dynasty, mountains were razed and temples destroyed.
Besides suppressing evil gods, they also coveted the Ancient Eerie Temples themselves.
Ancient Eerie Temples came in great and small sizes.
The small ones were no different from ordinary temples.
Aside from the statues of evil gods they worshipped, there was nothing remarkable about them.
The large ones contained secret realms, each forming a small world of its own.
These small worlds were called secret realms. They contained resources unavailable in Divine Land and were immensely valuable.
The Imperial Secret Realm, for instance, had originally been an Ancient Eerie Temple that had been conquered and developed.
Seeing that the Turtle Shell Fragment came from a godspawn, Fang Heng abandoned any thought of collecting them.
If it were anyone else, he could have traded for them with his status as a prince.
Only godspawn were absolutely out of the question.
His gaze moved downward as he looked over the other congratulatory gifts on the list.
The remaining gifts were far inferior to those from the Left Prime Minister, the Second Prince, and the Lu residence.
"Eh?"
"Director Lin of the Ministry of Justice has sent twelve peerless singing courtesans."
Fang Heng's gaze was drawn to Director Lin's gift.
Before you continue