The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

"high?"

Murong Hao gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"This is already considered low. In the previous year, less than eighty people made it out alive."

"The struggle for supremacy among dynasties has never been about martial arts competitions, but about life-or-death battles."

"There, there are no rules, no referees, and no surrender."

"You can only rely on yourself; only those who survive to the end are the victors!"

Wang Long remained silent. No matter how dangerous it was, he was determined to go!

Ye Niannu was waiting for him.

Murong Hao advised.

"Your Highness, that place is far too dangerous. I do not recommend you participate!"

He didn't want his sister to become a widow.

"I have a compelling reason to participate in this struggle for supremacy among dynasties!"

Wang Long's gaze was firm.

"There are still six months until this year's Battle of the Dynasties."

Murong Hao looked at Wang Long and frowned.

"Going from the sixth rank to the ninth rank is still somewhat unrealistic."

Wang Long smiled.

"This is the real reason I came here!"

"Does Your Highness possess any spiritual techniques, formations, or secret realms that can quickly improve cultivation efficiency?"

Murong Hao smiled and took out an ancient-looking token from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Wang Long.

Both the emperor and he knew that Wang Long would not back down from his position, and they had long been prepared.

The token was entirely black, with the character "皇" (Emperor) engraved on the front and a lifelike five-clawed golden dragon coiled on the back, radiating a faint spiritual aura.

"This is?"

Wang Long picked up the token; it felt heavy and slightly cool to the touch.

"Royal Secret Order"

Murong Hao looked at him with a solemn expression.

"My ancestor, Murong, was a Grandmaster at the peak, only one step away from the Saint Realm."

"He discovered a natural spiritual spring beneath the imperial city. The spring water had been soaked in the blood of a true dragon, making it the place with the most concentrated spiritual energy in the entire Great Qian Dynasty."

"Our ancestors used their entire lives to set up an array around the spiritual spring, sealing it off and turning it into a secret training and bathing ground for the royal family."

"Only emperors and crown princes of past dynasties were qualified to enter."

Wang Long looked at the token in his hand, and a thought struck him.

"Your Highness, you mean...?"

"Father has given special permission; you may use it at any time."

Murong Hao explained it simply.

"From this day forward, the Royal Heavenly Pool is open to you."

"Go if you want, stay as long as you want, no need to report or ask for permission."

Wang Long gripped the token tightly, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Murong Hao waved his hand, sat back down in his chair, and picked up his teacup.

"You are my brother-in-law, a peerless king of the Great Qian Dynasty, and the destined person of the Lord of the Palace."

"This royal heavenly pool should rightfully belong to you."

He paused, his voice lowering slightly.

"Moreover, the stronger you become, the more stable the Great Qian Dynasty will be."

"Only with me as the Crown Prince can I sit in the throne with greater peace of mind."

"We will always be one family..."

Wang Long looked at him and grinned.

"Your Highness is right, then I will not refuse."

Murong Hao smiled, picked up his teacup, and raised it towards him.

"No need for formalities among family!"

Wang Long picked up his teacup, gently clinked it against his, and drank it all in one gulp.

Royal Heavenly Pool.

The Royal Heavenly Pool is located at the deepest part of the Imperial City.

Backed by Cangshan Mountain and facing Taiye Pond, surrounded by water on three sides, it is connected to the outside world only by a winding corridor.

Wang Long walked slowly along the corridor, holding the black token in his hand, his steps light and quick.

At the end of the corridor is a heavy stone gate, with four ancient seal characters carved on the lintel: Royal Heavenly Pool.

The stone gate was tightly closed, with a golden-armored warrior standing on each side, his face stern and his body exuding a sharp aura.

They're all eighth-rank martial artists!

Upon seeing Wang Long, the two simultaneously knelt on one knee and respectfully clasped their hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Wang Long offered a slight helping hand.

"No need for formalities."

He then handed over the token.

The two warriors carefully inspected the stone door, confirmed it was correct, stood up, each took a step back, placed their hands on the stone door, and exerted force simultaneously.

Rumble~

The stone door slowly opened, and a rich spiritual energy surged out from within, as if it were tangible, rushing towards us.

Wang Long took a deep breath, feeling every pore on his body open up, and his Chaotic Dao Body began to operate on its own, frantically absorbing this pure spiritual energy.

"Great place!"

He exclaimed in surprise and stepped inside.

The stone gate slowly closed behind them.

Inside the door was a deep, secluded passageway, with luminous pearls embedded in the walls, emitting a soft glow.

The passageway was covered with densely packed runes that emitted a faint golden glow.

That was an array set up by the ancestors of the Great Qian Dynasty to firmly lock the spiritual energy of the spiritual spring inside, preventing it from leaking out.

Wang Long walked along the passageway deeper and deeper, and it became wider and wider as he went.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the view suddenly opened up ahead.

A huge stone chamber came into view.

The stone chamber was about a hundred feet square, with thick bluestone walls covered with runes that emitted a faint golden light.

In the very center of the stone chamber was a huge bathing pool, about ten zhang square.

The pool water was pale gold, and a thin layer of mist covered its surface. This mist was formed from the liquefaction of spiritual energy that was extremely concentrated.

In the center of the pool, a faint golden light shimmered—the essence of the remaining blood of a true dragon.

Wang Long stood by the pool, looking down at the pale golden spring water, feeling the rich spiritual energy wafting towards him, and swallowed hard.

"This...this is far too extravagant..."

He crouched down and reached his hand into the pool water.

The spring water was warm and had a delicate, smooth feel, like silk brushing against the skin.

A warm stream of spiritual energy flowed into my body through my fingertips, surging and circulating through my meridians. Wherever it passed, my meridians felt as if they had been washed by warm water, and they relaxed and opened up.

"Hiss~"

Wang Long gasped.

The concentration of spiritual energy here is more than a hundred times greater than that outside.

If you cultivate here, you will definitely achieve twice the results with half the effort!

Without hesitation, Wang Long quickly took off his clothes, revealing his well-built muscles.

Wang Long took a deep breath and leaped into the pool.

Water splashed everywhere, and the pale golden pool water enveloped his entire body.

Wang Long closed his eyes, sat cross-legged at the bottom of the pool, and his Chaotic Dao Body operated on its own, frantically absorbing the rich spiritual energy in the pool water.

Spiritual energy surged into his body like rivers flowing into the sea, coursing and circulating through his meridians.

The shackles of the initial stage of the sixth rank are showing signs of loosening.

Wang Long was overjoyed.

"It really worked!"

If we cultivate together here, wouldn't we be on a winning streak?

The idea had just begun to emerge.

Wang Long turned his head and froze instantly.

Three figures slowly walked out of the passageway.

Luo Hanyi walked at the front, Qin Minglan followed behind her, and Murong Qing walked at the very back.

They were wrapped in bath towels, which outlined their shapely bodies, barely covering their chests and thighs, revealing a section of their snow-white shoulders and delicate collarbones.

The three women walked to the edge of the pool and stopped.

"Why...are you here?"

Wang Long's throat bobbed involuntarily; the allure of this half-hidden, veiled mystery was simply too tempting.

Qin Minglan stood with her hands on her hips and her chin slightly raised, looking completely at ease.

"If you can come, why can't I?"

She crouched down, reached into the pool water, and her eyes lit up.

"Wow, that feels so good!"

As she spoke, she stood up and made a move to untie her bath towel.

Murong Qing gasped and quickly covered her eyes, but couldn't help peeking through her fingers.

"Sister Qin, what...what are you doing?!"

"Of course, we'll go into the water."

Qin Minglan said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world, her fingers already hooked around the edge of the bath towel, as if to pull it down.

"What's so embarrassing about taking a bath together?"