Chapter 16: Fourth Grade Bone and Muscle Realm

"What?"

"That martial prodigy, Xu the Barbarian, led a squad of border troops to raid the Library? Are you sure you didn't misread it? He's a dual peak Fourth-Ranker..."

Upon learning that an elite squad of border troops was charging toward the Library, Xu Xiaohan was terrified. He immediately gathered several of his most trusted experts and rushed toward the building.

If something happened to Master Su, heaven knows what his godfather, the current Director of the Eastern Depot, Zhang Gui, would do.

However, what he saw was an empty Library and a figure in green robes tilling the soil in the courtyard. If it wasn't Su Chen, who else could it be?

"Su Chen, you..."

Xu Xiaohan stood agape, his face pale with shock. He looked around; the Library was empty and open, leaving nothing to hide. There was no sign of elite border troops, nor was there even a trace of combat.

Could the report have been wrong?

It must have been.

Yet, for some reason, Xu Xiaohan's eyelid twitched. As he surveyed the medicinal field, he had a vague feeling that the soil level seemed much higher than before, and the field itself had expanded by more than a single rotation.

Could it be...

Impossible!

It must be an illusion.

That was a martial prodigy at the peak of dual Fourth-Rank, an absolute top-tier talent below the Third-Rank. Although Master Su had some tricks up his sleeve, how could someone so young hunt down Xu the Barbarian, let alone a man accompanied by an entire squad of elite border troops?

"What is all this commotion about?" Su Chen barked.

His gaze drifted toward the distant palaces, showing no interest in the two First-Rank figures locked in continuous combat.

Watching from the roof of the Library for a while, Su Chen realized they were merely putting on a show; there was no intention of a life-and-death struggle whatsoever.

First-Rank experts were considered invincible in this era. Those who reached the First-Rank were usually in their seventies or eighties; their longevity was precious, and they were notoriously cautious about their lives.

"Master Su, two First-Rank Little Grandmasters are fighting. Should I escort you to the underground palace to hide temporarily...?" Xu Xiaohan said loyally.

Su Chen was indifferent. He pointed toward the two Little Grandmasters in the distance, let out a cold laugh, and reminded him

"Half a year ago, when that purple-robed Ninth Thousand-Year-Old executed the First-Rank Daoist Ziwei of the Celestial Master Mansion, what did he look like? It's not as if you haven't seen it."

"Haven't you noticed? They've been fighting for so long, yet they haven't even shattered a corner of the palace. There will be no danger tonight."

Xu Xiaohan gave a forced smile, but in his heart, he didn't believe a word of it.

A dignified First-Rank Little Grandmaster, a Prince of Zhenbei, openly rebelling and storming the imperial palace—how could there be no danger? This was a matter that could change dynasties in a single mistake.

"That Prince of Zhenbei is truly an old fox; he has pushed the value of 'united front warfare' to its absolute limit."

"The current First-Rank experts are untouchable. That is reality."

As if to prove Su Chen's words, in the next instant, the vigorous and spirited Prince of Zhenbei, clad in golden armor, charged into a palace. After seizing the former Emperor and Empress—who happened to be his own granddaughter—he immediately withdrew.

The charging elite border troops retreated like a receding tide, sweeping out of the Imperial City in a grand procession.

"The Great Liang lacks virtue. Three generations of imperial succession have become a joke; it will sooner or later be destroyed by other nations. I have no desire to stay in this Great Liang any longer!"

The thunderous voice, bolstered by True Essence, practically shook the entire capital.

In the Golden Throne Hall.

Emperor Jianwu, surrounded by thousands of imperial guards, had a countenance as dark as water.

During the reign of Emperor Tianwu, the commoners had suffered immensely, with refugees frequently rising in rebellion, killing officials, and defying rule... but they never became a significant threat.

With the foundation of the Tianwu Tower, even if real trouble arose, a First-Rank Little Grandmaster could step out of the pagoda and break ten thousand troops single-handedly.

The refugees were like wild grass; they didn't know the strength of the Tianwu Tower, but the great clans and aristocratic families did, so they never dared to harbor delusions of seizing imperial power.

However, the former Emperor Tianwu had been successfully assassinated.

The successor, the deposed Seventh Prince, had become a puppet in the hands of the purple-robed First Monitor—the Ninth Thousand-Year-Old—in just half a year.

The majesty of the imperial clan had vanished.

Yet, the purple-robed First Monitor had executed the peak First-Rank Daoist Ziwei of the famous Celestial Master Mansion, successfully intimidating the small-time criminals.

"But the imperial power has undergone its third change. Not only has a First-Rank Prince defected, but they have also stormed the palace once again, entering and leaving as if it were an empty field..."

Emperor Jianwu gritted his teeth, his cold eyes seemingly ready to spit fire.

Furthermore, the current—and also the predecessor's predecessor—white-haired youth, the purple-robed First Monitor, was also to blame. He was doing the work without the effort, allowing the imperial dignity to be trampled.

In a normal transition of power, such an embarrassing scene would never occur.

Every Crown Prince would cultivate loyal experts at the peak of the Second-Rank. Once they ascended the throne and were recognized by the Tianwu Tower, they could use their methods to shape a purple-robed First Monitor who was utterly submissive to the Emperor.

Unfortunately, the late Emperor Tianwu had delayed naming an heir, instead granting three sets of white dragon robes, allowing the three princes to fight incessantly and leaving behind these various hidden dangers.

Emperor Jianwu realized clearly that after tonight, there would be more and more cultivators who disrespected imperial authority, and the millennial clans that previously dared not dream would begin to stir.

Simply because tonight, they saw the weakness of imperial power, and they saw the hope of replacing it...

"I remember... that night, there was someone who clearly predicted Daoist Ziwei would die, right?" Emperor Jianwu suddenly spoke.

Having escaped death, reclaimed the world, and ascended the throne, even the deeply calculating Zhang Gui had to be cautious in his presence.

"Yes. However, my brother is just an ordinary person, not a cultivator. Perhaps he simply couldn't bear to see me fall into chaos and happened to guess correctly," Zhang Gui replied cautiously. He did not want to drag Su Chen into the storm he was about to create.

Even Zhang Gui could not understand what happened back then. He couldn't even comprehend the death match between two peak First-Rank experts, so how could Su Chen have predicted the outcome so accurately?

For someone who wasn't even a cultivator to guess the winner, the only possibility was a stroke of pure luck.

"Back then, I also heard that the soaps and perfumes that bring in massive wealth were also his handiwork?"

"Furthermore, the idea that inner court eunuchs should have no descendants to ensure they remain loyal only to the Emperor—becoming the Emperor's most vicious hounds and the sharpest swords to strike at the officials—and the concept of the Eastern Depot to monitor officials and hunt martial artists... was that also inspiration you gained from him?" Emperor Jianwu continued.

Only then did Zhang Gui realize that this new Emperor actually intended to employ Su Chen heavily.

With all these traits, he was naturally a dragon among men.

Soon, in the Library, Su Chen received a personal summons from a Deputy Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Palace. The Emperor wanted to see him in the Golden Throne Hall.

"Emperor Jianwu wants to see me?" Su Chen was stunned.

The Deputy Chief conveying the decree instinctively wanted to scold Su Chen for addressing the Emperor by his title, but remembering that although this man was a "useless" person unable to cultivate, he was the brother of the rising star of the Eastern Depot, he swallowed his words and offered a forced, smiling congratulation.

"Eunuch Su, you are about to rise to great heights! Even in a quiet place like this Library, your talent cannot be hidden. His Majesty thirsts for talent; you are bound to soar..."

"A green-robed eunuch who cannot cultivate yet is summoned specifically by His Majesty—you are likely the only one in three dynasties," Xu Xiaohan, along with his godchildren behind him, all offered their congratulations, sincerely happy for Su Chen.

If it were any other eunuch, they would have likely been kowtowing toward the Golden Throne Hall in ecstatic gratitude for the imperial grace.

Su Chen's expression, however, was exceptionally grim.

As a long-lived monster, what use did he have for wealth and power? The higher he stood, the more eyes would be on him. Once his identity as a long-lived being was exposed in this world—where even Grandmasters only lived a normal hundred years and demons couldn't survive long without eating humans—his end would be predictably miserable.

He would be nothing more than raw meat for the taking!

However, this was the Great Liang Imperial Palace. Although Emperor Jianwu had just ascended and established his title, he was the genuine Emperor, the true master of Great Liang.

Su Chen had no right to refuse.

The night grew deep.

A bright, round moon hung high in the sky, completely unaffected by the overwhelming aura of blood in the Great Liang palace.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Below the Golden Throne, Su Chen hesitated. Just as he was about to kneel, Emperor Jianwu spoke.

"The Great Liang is vast, and its cultivators are numerous, with countless heroes among them. In just one short year, two First-Rank experts have invaded the palace. How should this be resolved?"

Su Chen glanced at Zhang Gui, who stood tall and handsome in red robes beside the Emperor. Zhang Gui gave him a slight shake of his head, signaling Su Chen to stay away from the massive target the Emperor was aiming at.

This Emperor Jianwu was young, perhaps only in his twenties, yet he actually intended to use First-Rank methods against the entire world that defied imperial authority.

The "First-Rank of the World"—accumulated over three dynasties—would surely be numerous within a century. Even the First-Rank foundation of the Tianwu Tower might not be enough to contend with the First-Rank experts hiding in the wild martial world.

"And if there is no resolution, what then?" On the dragon throne, Emperor Jianwu spat out the words coldly.

"Kill them!"

In an instant, the sound of clashing iron armor echoed outside the hall, with the faint glint of blades and axes hidden within.

With a single signal, these soldiers would rush into the hall to slaughter Su Chen.

"In that case, there is a resolution."

"Martial sects have many conflicts. As cultivators, it is natural for them to be fond of fighting and violence."

"Therefore, a 'World Martial Ranking' for First-Rank experts can be established. It shall spread across the land and be recognized by the imperial authority. It will record the achievements of the ranked experts, and they will be ranked by fame. When a loser is defeated, their rank will naturally be replaced. This will give those idle First-Rank experts something to do, keeping them in constant conflict."

"A person's life is but a hundred years; they either seek wealth and power, or they seek fame and status."

"Of course, if there is no conflict, one can always manufacture one."

With just a few words from Su Chen, the eyes of the gloomy Emperor Jianwu on the dragon throne instantly brightened.

A world martial ranking to provoke sects and even First-Rank experts into fighting for fame and status...

Brilliant!

"Brilliant" was an understatement!

In an instant, Emperor Jianwu sketched out the details, a grand blueprint appearing before his eyes.

"Once the great martial sects are fighting incessantly and fractured, the Imperial Court will have the opportunity to incorporate some and suppress others, thereby expanding the strength and foundation of the dynasty."

In the Golden Throne Hall, Emperor Jianwu looked at the incomparably handsome Su Chen, whose spine was straight and possessed an extraordinary aura, and gave a slight wave of his hand.

In a flash, a purple-robed figure appeared beside Su Chen.

"When did you enter?" Su Chen was startled.

This was the first time he had personally faced a contemporary First-Ranker known as a Little Grandmaster. A terrifying, almost suffocating pressure descended upon him.

This was a True Essence Little Grandmaster of the Path of Qi!

The purple-robed First Monitor!

The white-haired youth, the First Monitor, watched Su Chen with cold, interested eyes, seemingly appraising Su Chen's beauty.

In the next moment, the white-haired First Monitor pressed his palm against Su Chen's body, pouring rolling True Essence into Su Chen's limbs, bones, and meridians.

"I heard you cannot cultivate. Since you have provided consecutive brilliant strategies, you are a person of merit, and I must reward merit."

"The First Monitor shall refine your foundation. Let him step onto the path of cultivation."

*Boom!*

Terrifying True Essence boiled within Su Chen's body.

Perhaps due to his unique constitution, even with the purple-robed First Monitor right beside him, the man failed to detect the terrifying Fifth-Realm Blood Flame power hidden within Su Chen.

He truly believed Su Chen was a useless person unable to cultivate, and was earnestly performing the process of cleansing his meridians and reshaping his bones.

"This foundation..."

After a long time, the purple-robed First Monitor fell silent.

Then, as if unwilling to give up, he continued to pour his Little Grandmaster True Essence into Su Chen's body.

However, it was like throwing stones into the ocean; there was no return, and not a single response.

"Your Majesty," the purple-robed First Monitor said helplessly, cupping his hands. "This person has no meridians and no foundation for cultivation. He is a complete waste. It is likely that in his youth, his foundation was tainted by the corrupt blood of a demon..."

The hall fell into silence.

On the dragon throne, the young Emperor Jianwu opened his mouth, clearly not expecting the reward he had just bestowed to be unfulfillable.

Only Su Chen had a strange expression. He was desperately suppressing the greedy Blood Flame within him, refusing to burn and refine the True Essence sent by the First Monitor.

Otherwise, once refined, he would inevitably step into the Fourth-Rank of the *Sixteen-Foot Golden Body Art*—the Bone-Strengthening Realm.

At that point, when his bones resonated, his identity as a cultivator would be impossible to hide.

"Sigh."

"In that case, I ask Your Majesty to leave me in the Library."

"Without a foundation for cultivation, I only wish to spend my life accompanied by ancient texts, waiting for the day I die of old age."

Su Chen sighed mournfully, looking like a man who had suffered a great blow.

At this moment, he truly wanted to go back to the Library. He was about to explode; he was about to be burst by the True Essence. If he didn't refine it soon, he wouldn't be able to hide it.

Since he could not cultivate, even if Emperor Jianwu intended to use him, he could do nothing. Without the power of a cultivator, an ordinary mortal could not even hold the position of an Imperial Eunuch Manager.

"You have merit in your strategies, and I cannot fail to reward you. If you truly love the Library so much, I shall grant you the title of Library Chief Manager. You shall wear red robes and be my personally appointed Sixth Manager."

Su Chen had been promoted, stepping ahead of Zhang Gui, the acting manager, to become the special manager of the Library.

After returning to the Library, Su Chen could no longer suppress the power within him. Rolling blood flames erupted from his body, illuminating the entire Library as he swallowed those surges of Grandmaster True Essence in single gulps.

*Boom!*

A terrifying sound of bone resonance exploded.

At that moment, within Su Chen's flesh and blood, every single bone was dyed with a faint tint of gold.

He had reached the Fourth-Rank Bone-Strengthening Realm of the *Sixteen-Foot Golden Body Art*.