Chapter 2: Activating the Divine Martial Mark
The country where Zhang Ruochen now lived was called "Yunwu Commandery," merely one of tens of thousands of commanderies in the Eastern Domain of the Kunlun Realm.
A so-called commandery was essentially the first prefecture of the First Central Empire, required to pay tribute and taxes to the First Central Empire every year.
The ruler of a commandery was called a "Commandery Prince."
Zhang Ruochen's current identity was the ninth son of the Yunwu Commandery Prince.
Lying flat on the cold, hard wooden bed, Zhang Ruochen was still pondering the sacrificial ceremony tomorrow.
"The original owner of this body didn't even activate a 'Divine Martial Mark' by the age of sixteen. He must be someone abandoned by the gods. What do I need to do to have a better chance of activating the 'Divine Martial Mark'?"
In the Kunlun Realm, to activate a "Divine Martial Mark," one had to gain the approval of a deity.
This was called: Divine Authority Bestowed Martial Power.
During the sacrificial ceremony, a divine bridge connecting heaven and earth would appear between the God Realm and the Kunlun Realm, linking the two worlds. After the gods partook of the offerings, they would bestow "Divine Martial Marks" upon some talented humans, helping them open the door to cultivation.
The more talented a person was, the earlier they could obtain a "Divine Martial Mark."
In Zhang Ruochen's previous life, he had already activated a "Divine Martial Mark" while still in his mother's womb, making him a born prodigy.
In this life, not having activated a "Divine Martial Mark" by the age of sixteen basically meant he was abandoned by the gods. Even if he participated in the sacrificial ceremony tomorrow, it was almost impossible for him to obtain a "Divine Martial Mark."
Zhang Ruochen couldn't fall asleep. He sat up from the bed, holding in his hand a white crystal shaped like a jujube pit—pointed at both ends, three-dimensional in the middle, crystal clear, and without any impurities.
He began to study this white crystal. Perhaps it could help him gain the recognition of some deity and activate the "Divine Martial Mark."
This white crystal was a gift given to him by the Ming Emperor during his coming-of-age ceremony at sixteen.
Zhang Ruochen didn't know exactly what this white crystal was; he just wore it close to his body. He didn't expect that, after arriving eight hundred years later, it would still be on him.
"Maybe my journey from eight hundred years ago to eight hundred years later is related to it."
Zhang Ruochen tightly gripped the white crystal, closed his eyes, and the figure of his father, the Ming Emperor, appeared in his mind. He wondered if his father was still alive.
That night, heavy snow fell over the royal capital.
The next morning, the entire royal capital was covered in thick snow. Vermillion palaces, pavilions, and towers were all wrapped in a layer of icy, snowy garments.
Winter Solstice, the coldest day of the year.
All the martial artists of the royal capital gathered outside the Temple of the Emperors. Led by the Commandery Prince, they offered sacrifices to the gods.
Outside the Temple of the Emperors, an ancient altar was built from piled boulders. On the altar were bound tens of thousands of livestock—cattle, sheep, pigs—as well as many powerful barbarian beasts chained with iron links.
Civil and military officials, martial arts cultivators, princes and concubines, countless youths and maidens waiting to activate their Divine Martial Marks, and even some infants still in swaddling clothes.
This was a grand national ceremony. It wasn't just held in the royal capital; sacrifices were conducted in every city, every town, and every village of the Yunwu Commandery.
"Heh heh! Ninth Brother, you're already sixteen. Even if you participate in the sacrificial ceremony, you won't be able to activate a 'Divine Martial Mark.' Why bother coming here to embarrass yourself?" The Eighth Prince, Zhang Ji, said with a cold, sarcastic smile, his hands clasped behind his back.
The Sixth Prince stood beside the Eighth Prince, his face cold. "They say a dragon gives birth to nine sons, each different. Father is such a heroic figure, yet he fathered a waste like you. Sixteen years old, and you haven't even activated a 'Divine Martial Mark.' You've brought shame to the royal clan. Why do you even live? Why don't you just die?"
This statement was a bit harsh, but it reflected the sentiments of the princes present.
The familial bonds of an imperial household were the thinnest, and this moment showed it perfectly.
In the Kunlun Realm, not many people could activate a "Divine Martial Mark"—at most one in ten. Thus, the status of every martial artist was extremely high.
Of course, for martial arts powerhouses, it was a different story. The bloodline of a powerful martial artist was strong, and their descendants would inherit this powerful bloodline, greatly increasing the probability of activating a "Divine Martial Mark."
The Yunwu Commandery Prince had nine sons, eight of whom had activated their "Divine Martial Marks." Only Zhang Ruochen, at sixteen, still hadn't, making him the laughingstock of the royal clan.
Many people mockingly called him "a mighty father's worthless son."
There were even rumors in the court that Zhang Ruochen was not the biological son of the Yunwu Commandery Prince. Although just rumors, they brought shame to the royal family.
Therefore, most of the other princes considered Zhang Ruochen a disgrace to the royal clan, didn't treat him as a true brother, and wished he would die sooner.
In recent years, even the Yunwu Commandery Prince had grown distant from Zhang Ruochen and Consort Lin. Ostracized by other consorts and princes, last night, Zhang Ruochen and Consort Lin were finally driven out of the main hall and forced to move to a side hall.
Zhang Ruochen just stood there silently, ignoring the Fifth and Eighth Princes.
Without sufficient strength, any verbal dispute would only make others look down on you more.
Consort Lin stood with the other consorts, watching the ostracized Zhang Ruochen with a pained heart, but she was completely powerless.
"The sacrificial ceremony begins!"
The National Master of the Yunwu Commandery stood atop the altar, holding a scroll of prayers, and began to recite.
Then, conch shells and large horns sounded from the altar. Graceful palace maids in colorful clothes struck sixteen types of instruments, including chime stones, chime bells, and bronze bells.
Next, livestock were slaughtered, and their blood was offered to heaven.
"Hua—"
The thick blood energy transformed into a thick pillar of light, shooting straight into the sky, shattering the clouds, and surging into the vast firmament.
Suddenly, a speck of starlight flew down from beyond the heavens, landing on the brow of a six-year-old boy. It merged with the boy's body, transforming into a crimson "Divine Martial Mark."
A gasp arose from the crowd. "The young son of Commander Xue activated his Divine Martial Mark at just six years old!"
"A Blazing Flame Divine Martial Mark, a fourth-rank Divine Martial Mark. Incredible! His future is boundless!"
Divine Martial Marks were also graded, from first rank to ninth rank.
A first-rank Divine Martial Mark was the weakest, while a ninth-rank Divine Martial Mark was the strongest.
Everyone looked at the six-year-old boy with envious eyes.
Activating a fourth-rank Divine Martial Mark at six years old was truly a proud son of heaven. His future achievements would certainly be significant.
Among the many military officers of the Yunwu Commandery, a burly man thumped his chest and laughed heartily, ecstatic. "Good! Worthy of being my son, Xue Liang. Tonight, a banquet will be held at the Commander's Mansion. Everyone must come to grace it with your presence. Haha!"
"Hua!"
Countless more starlight flew down from the sky, landing on the brows of youths and maidens, transforming into Divine Martial Marks.
Among them, first-rank Divine Martial Marks were the most common. Youths who could activate a second-rank Divine Martial Mark were rare. The most outstanding was still Commander Xue's son, with his fourth-rank Divine Martial Mark, leaving everyone far behind.
Those who activated their Divine Martial Marks were a minority, roughly one-tenth of the total. Each one was incredibly excited, finally gaining the recognition of a god and opening the door to martial arts.
The youths and maidens who didn't activate their Divine Martial Marks were all deeply disappointed; some even wept bitterly. It was a scene of mixed joy and sorrow.
Just as the ceremony was about to end, Zhang Ruochen still hadn't activated his Divine Martial Mark.
Not activating it by sixteen meant it was almost impossible to ever activate it. He could only live as an ordinary, mediocre person.
Everyone ignored him, like a speck of dust in a corner, completely unnoticed.
Consort Lin had initially harbored a sliver of hope that her child could create a miracle and activate his Divine Martial Mark. Even if he couldn't become a martial arts powerhouse, at least he could be strong and healthy, no longer tormented by illness.
As the ceremony drew to a close, Consort Lin's hope turned once again into disappointment, even despair.
Just as Zhang Ruochen himself thought he wouldn't be able to activate his Divine Martial Mark, the white crystal clenched tightly in his hand flickered faintly.
In the final moment before the ceremony ended, a speck of starlight descended from the sky, landed on Zhang Ruochen's brow, and transformed into a white, circular Divine Martial Mark.
"Hua!"
A burning sensation spread from his brow, then throughout his entire body.
Activated!
Zhang Ruochen was ecstatic. He had finally activated his Divine Martial Mark.
As long as he had activated it, even if it was just a first-rank Divine Martial Mark, he didn't care at all.
No one had been paying attention to Zhang Ruochen, but the moment he activated his Divine Martial Mark, he drew everyone's gaze.
"Isn't that the Ninth Prince? He's sixteen and frail and sickly, yet he could still activate a Divine Martial Mark!" Many people stared at Zhang Ruochen with disbelief, finding it utterly incredible.
The Sixth and Eighth Princes standing beside Zhang Ruochen also widened their eyes, showing expressions of shock.
How was this possible?
Consort Lin looked over at Zhang Ruochen. Seeing the Divine Martial Mark on his brow, she wept tears of joy. She immediately rushed to Zhang Ruochen and tightly embraced his frail body. "Chen'er, you finally did it! You did it!"
An old eunuch by the side of the Yunwu Commandery Prince walked up to Zhang Ruochen and said with a beaming smile, "Congratulations, Consort Lin! Congratulations, Ninth Prince, on activating your Divine Martial Mark! The Queen has sent this old servant to invite the Ninth Prince to come before her. She wishes to personally test the rank of the Divine Martial Mark the Ninth Prince has activated!"
"The Queen!"
The smile on Consort Lin's face immediately froze. She nervously shielded Zhang Ruochen behind her.
"Mother, let's go see the Queen."
Zhang Ruochen noticed the subtle change in Consort Lin's expression and thought to himself, *It seems this Queen is not a kind person. I need to be more careful.*
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