Chapter Six: A Martial World of Terrifying Depths

This year in Shaanxi was no different from previous years.

With fewer troublemakers from the martial underworld and petty thieves causing chaos, the borderlands were peaceful, and the people lived and worked in harmony. Everything thrived, while minor, insignificant blemishes remained hidden in the shadows, not worthy of the Prince Su’s residence taking drastic action.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Prefectural Government upheld local order; though their contributions were modest, their efforts were nonetheless valuable.

The Shaanxi Command Headquarters, responsible for training troops and managing agricultural settlements, had made considerable achievements.

Zhu Jinzhen rewarded accordingly based on their merits.

A lavish banquet lasted deep into the night.

After everyone had dispersed, Zhu Jinzhen took a few maidservants and headed toward the pavilion in the backyard he frequented.

Moonlight flowed like water, quietly draping the earth, casting a silvery veil over all things.

Seated in the pavilion, bathed in the gentle breeze, Zhu Jinzhen gazed peacefully at the moon on the horizon, his thoughts drifting: “Time flows like water; it has already been five years!”

Looking back, the journey had been arduous.

The battle four years ago, when the Mongols and Liao forces jointly besieged the pass, was particularly harrowing. Even now, Zhu Jinzhen shuddered at the memory. The tales of battlefield exploits and roaming the lands stirred one’s blood and spirit.

In reality, the dangers were unpredictable and lethal; a single misstep could turn a man into nothing but flesh paste.

Fortunately, Zhu Jinzhen possessed exceptional talent and formidable strength; otherwise, he would not be witnessing tonight’s full moon.

Zhu Jinzhen was not originally from this world. He had merely been transported through time because a truck driver, chasing performance targets on New Year's Eve of 2024, unintentionally sent him across dimensions.

Upon awakening, he found himself in a new era, with everything changed.

No longer a modern-day wage slave bound by the 9-to-9-6 grind, he had instead become a Ming Dynasty prince, endowed with a so-called Supernatural Sign-In System.

This golden finger system came with daily, monthly, and yearly sign-ins, offering rewards encompassing countless worlds and infinite possibilities.

Under normal circumstances, with such a system, daily sign-ins accumulating rewards over time would have made Zhu Jinzhen a celestial being, perhaps even a transcendent immortal.

But what actually happened was…

After the system tossed him a novice gift pack, it fell utterly silent.

Five full years passed without a single sound.

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During those years, Zhu Jinzhen hoped day and night for the system to chime again. Countless restless nights in the comfort of his chambers failed to bring the desired sign-in.

“How are the tasks I assigned progressing?” Zhu Jinzhen asked abruptly. Around him, aside from the few maidservants near the pavilion, there was no one else.

At that moment, a shadow seemed to blend with the night itself, silently appearing outside the pavilion. It knelt on one knee before Zhu Jinzhen.

“Your Highness, we have located Huo Xiu’s trail. We are ready to replace him at any time.”

“Though the Ming Cult is fractured, following your orders, we have acquired the Supreme Shift Skill. Once the timing is right, we can bring the Ming Cult under our control effortlessly.”

Zhu Jinzhen frowned and asked, “What about the Ming Divine Martial Classic?”

“Your Highness, we have thoroughly searched the secret passages beneath Bright Summit, and repeatedly examined Yang Dingtian’s corpse. We have found no trace of the Divine Martial Classic. Please punish us.”

“Why punish you?” Zhu Jinzhen glanced at him, shaking his head in disappointment.

The Divine Martial Classic was the supreme martial art of the Ming Cult, ranking even above the Supreme Shift Skill. Long ago, the founding emperor only mastered its surface, yet it allowed him to contend for supremacy during the chaotic late Han period and establish the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Jinzhen craved this martial art deeply.

Though recognized as the youngest terrestrial sword immortal of his time and having steadily improved his strength over four years, now reaching the realm of terrestrial Celestial, he knew well that despite appearances, he was but a large ant in this vast martial world.

He had traced the legends of emperors and the stormy world beyond.

Outside the nine provinces lay realms like Li Yang and Bei Li—places bordering on low-level fantasy martial arts worlds where true immortals existed. A mere terrestrial sword immortal could barely survive there.

Hence, besides maintaining peace along the Ming borders, Zhu Jinzhen had devoted effort to seeking ancient martial arts and divine-demonic techniques, fearing the day an old monster might suddenly emerge from some hidden corner and cut him down like a weed.

“What about the imperial tombs? Any clues?” Zhu Jinzhen asked, posing a question that could shatter the world.

The shadow lowered its head further.

If the outside world knew Zhu Jinzhen sent people to plunder the imperial tombs—even if only to search for the Divine Martial Classic and without disturbing the dead—it would cause an uproar.

After all, those were the Zhu family’s royal tombs!

If this news leaked, Zhu Jinzhen might well be cut off from the Ming Dynasty forever.

“Your Highness, we have already searched Emperor Yingzong’s tomb but found no burial artifacts related to the Divine Martial Classic, nor even…”

Zhu Jinzhen anticipated the words and interrupted, “Nor any records of how he destroyed the Divine Martial Classic, made compromises with the civil officials and the great families, and secured their support to reclaim the throne?”

“Yes,” the shadow replied in a muffled voice.

“Do you mean I must search in the tombs of Emperor Taizong or the Founding Emperor?” Zhu Jinzhen murmured softly. Though faint, his voice carried clearly in the night, causing the shadow to tremble involuntarily.

Fortunately, this thought passed fleetingly through Zhu Jinzhen’s mind before he suppressed it.

“And the other intelligence? What progress?”

“Your Highness, we have confirmed that the Yin family of the Imperial Sword Villa in the Song Dynasty does indeed have a second-in-command named Yin Zhong. His martial prowess is unfathomable; it’s said even Li Chen Zhou gained no advantage against him, and Wang Chongyang of the Southern Song’s Five Masters once sought his guidance—results unknown.”

“Not long after, the famed Taoist grandmaster Wang Chongyang, hailed as the greatest Taoist in both Northern and Southern Song, ascended to immortality.”

The shadow spoke solemnly.

Though the Southern Song’s martial world was considered the weakest among the nations, it concealed terrifying beings like Yin Er Ye of the Imperial Sword Villa, who had defeated Wang Chongyang when he stormed the Golden Court.

He was no mere terrestrial immortal.

“Shuiyue Dongtian also exists,” Zhu Jinzhen murmured.

Over the years, he had received much news and had grown accustomed to shocks, but he still furrowed his brow. Yin Zhong’s presence not only confirmed Shuiyue Dongtian’s existence but also further proved that in this world’s ancient era, mythical beings truly existed.

Yin Zhong was a formidable troublemaker.

Though not yet fully transformed into an immortal demon, even in his early stages, despite years of old injuries, he could remain undefeated using the Dragon Divine Skill.

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Thus, the story of Zhu Jinzhen unfolds amid turbulent times, as he strives to secure his realm and uncover the ancient secrets that might one day elevate him beyond this world’s limits.