I Prayed for a Murim Reincarnation, But I Was Born as the Youngest Imperial Prince - Chapter 20

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 20
‘Ah, Sword Gang. Wow… Sword Gang. So this is Sword Gang.’
He tested it on the Black Scale Ink Steel, which he couldn’t properly cut during his time in the High-Ascending Realm.
It sliced straight through.
“Wow, it really cuts through anything.”
Excluding a very rare few Rare Treasures that could block Gangqi by their very nature, there was nothing in the world that Sword Gang couldn’t cut.
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
Admiral Lee Dae-yong bowed his head in congratulations, feeling surprised all over again.
‘He truly wields the Inner Energy he has obtained completely at his own whim.’
‘Perfect Compliance.’
To have everything go according to one’s will.
Was he not the very definition of those words?
There were many masters who opened the gates to the Peak Realm and obtained Inner Energy, yet still failed to create Gangqi.
This was especially true for those who learned the Martial Arts of the Unorthodox Factions and reached the Peak Realm with impure Inner Energy.
Even among the Orthodox Factions, it was the same for young people who had just reached it through Spiritual Medicine and Grand Rituals.
‘Even in my case, after entering the entry stage of the Peak Realm, it took me five years to actually manifest Gangqi.’
Even that had been considered fast.
In truth, he had always been ahead of others in every aspect.
That was why he reached the Transcendence Realm, and eventually even entered the Realm of Creation, allowing him to take on the heavy responsibility of Admiral.
However, the Fifth Prince could not be described merely by the word fast.
Innate Knowledge.
He wielded energy according to his will, as if it were only natural from the moment he was born.
‘He was extraordinary during the High-Ascending Realm as well, but…’
To possess the Realm of Perfect Compliance, which allowed him to control energy at will without even specially training for it, was truly astonishing.
‘It is just as the Emperor said.’
If he held such perfect mastery over his Inner Energy, there would be no strain on his young body even if it already contained the Peak Realm.
Seonwu stopped the Gangqi.
His Inner Energy was draining so rapidly that it was impossible to maintain it for long.
Although there were those who could wield Gangqi starting from the Peak Realm, they only unleashed it for a brief moment as a secret technique, so it made sense that it couldn’t be sustained.
‘To use Gangqi freely and continuously, one really needs to reach the Transcendence Realm.’
“Then, my goal until my capping ceremony is, hmm…”
He had mentioned wanting to go out into the Jianghu back then, but if his realm was merely at the Peak Realm, would they even allow it?
‘They probably won’t.’
Receiving a Princely Title and going on a tour as a prince with a massive entourage of guards would likely be permitted.
‘But that’s not a true Jianghu Journey!’
Of course, setting aside that limitation, a prince’s life would still be quite free.
Looking at how the country had been running lately, the Imperial Court gave his four older brothers a lot of autonomy without their father really interfering in their Prince Mansions.
‘Though I wonder if that’s actually fine…’
To have four individuals who possess independent military power in the provinces and are blood relatives of the Imperial Family?
The War of the Eight Princes, or…
The Rebellion of the Jiedushi, or…
Something else like that…
Anyway, the names of historical events that should absolutely never happen came creeping into his mind.
He knew that decentralization wasn’t necessarily bad, and centralization wasn’t unconditionally good.
However, that applied to decentralization in an era with a highly mature democracy, developed communication and transportation, and where the military and diplomacy were properly under the control of a central civilian government.
‘In this current era and structure, is this really right?’
Seonwu cast aside the stray thoughts for now.
It wasn’t his place to say anything, and if he opened his mouth carelessly, he might end up targeted by his four older brothers.
He had absolutely no desire to look like he was engaging in a Throne Succession Struggle with his brothers, who had already reached the Realm of Creation at the age of seven.
‘Because I’m going out to the Wulin.’
The Imperial Throne could go to whichever of his brothers competed well and caught his father’s eye.
I’m perfectly content being the youngest child who stays appropriately harmless, lacks presence, and plays separately in the Wulin.
I have zero interest in the power struggles of the Imperial Court.
What I liked was wuxia novels, not the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Even so, while studying the Zhongyuan where his life was set, he had just unintentionally picked up bits and pieces about certain histories and the like.
‘The problem is whether a prince can secretly roam the Wulin with only the Peak Realm. Sighed.’
The Peak Realm wasn’t weak.
It really wasn’t weak; rather, one would be called a master.
Right now, even in prestigious and major factions like Shaolin, Wudang, the Namgung Clan, and the Hebei Peng Clan, weren’t most of the Elders said to be just at the Peak Realm?
The problem was that it was exactly just that level.
If he made a mistake somewhere and clashed with one of the Top One Hundred Masters at the Transcendence Realm, he could be severely injured…
And even if just a few Peak Realm masters ganged up on him, he could end up in a terrible plight.
In the worst-case scenario, he could lose his life.
Of course, even if he shouted at that moment that he was actually a prince and commanded them to kneel?
‘One, they won’t believe it and will just kill me.’
‘Two, they might believe it, but since it already happened, they’ll decide it’s better to just kill me.’
‘Three, the kids from the prestigious Orthodox Factions might at least listen, but the Demonic Practitioners lurking in the shadows will think this is a perfect opportunity and kill me even faster.’
‘Hmm, even I think roaming around with just the Peak Realm carries too much risk.’
But then, traveling around as a prince with a massive entourage of guards wouldn’t be a Jianghu Journey.
While one could consciously avoid the Top Ten Masters of the Realm of Creation, someone at the Peak Realm was bound to clash with people here and there after just a bit of activity.
“As expected, I would need to at least reach the Transcendence Realm to be allowed to travel the Jianghu, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Even if a hidden guard is attached to you, Your Highness must reach at least that level yourself for there to be no unpredictable variables.”
In his own heart, Admiral Lee wanted to say, ‘How could your noble body venture into the Jianghu relying solely on guards?’
Even if it wasn’t the Realm of Creation, the Transcendence Realm didn’t completely eliminate variables.
However, since the Prince himself desired it, and the Emperor had also granted permission saying it could be a good experience, he could not argue against it.
‘But even so, the Peak Realm is definitely not enough.’
Merely being at the Peak Realm left too many variables.
In terms of the ratio of the total population, the Peak Realm was at the very top tier, but possessing power meant naturally drawing attention.
Once someone reached the Peak Realm, they were bound to eventually clash with other Peak Realm or Transcendence Realm individuals.
“Hmm, will I be able to reach the Transcendence Realm within the remaining ten years?”
“That is something even this humble official cannot know…”
“That’s true. For now, I should equip myself with Martial Arts suitable for the Peak Realm, and then make it my goal to cross over into the Transcendence Realm.”
“That is a wise order of business.”
Seonwu thought of Dan Suyeong, whom he intended to make his right-hand man.
“Hmm, is that friend also learning his Martial Arts well? The fifth son of the Dan Clan.”
“Yes, Your Highness. In fact, that fellow will also likely reach the Peak Realm around the time Your Highness reaches your capping ceremony.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Yes, the Spiritual Pills bestowed by Your Highness have been of great help.”
“Wow, hmm. He’s slower than me, but that’s still fast, right?”
“It is fast. This humble official was twenty-five, so he is one year faster than I was.”
Of course, he was much older than Seonwu, and it only meant he was about to reach the Peak Realm soon.
But even that was exceptionally fast.
‘Of course, if I had received Grand Rituals and support as intensively as that guy, there’s no reason I couldn’t have reached the Peak Realm at twenty either…’
Because the Prince had personally singled out Dan Suyeong to be his guard, the fellow’s growth was heavily indebted to abnormal support.
Therefore, Admiral Lee did not think of that aspect too highly on its own.
Cases of reaching the Peak Realm quickly thanks to a Fortuitous Encounter were not rare.
Of course, even so, the speed of the Fifth Prince completely defied common logic, but a dragon was inherently not bound by the common logic of mere humans.
“The Dan Clan has truly given me a treasure of their family.”
“Not at all. It is all thanks to Your Highness bestowing so much grace, so it is rather an honor for the Dan Clan.”
One of their children would eventually become a close guard to the Prince who would open a Prince Mansion.
Thanks to that, he received special intensive training and Spiritual Medicine that he would never have received even if his original family remained perfectly fine.
That family, and especially Dan Suyeong himself, ought to possess the loyalty to lay down their lives for the Prince.
“Mmm, for now, Dan Suyeong is growing well, so let’s count him as a future guard. And other preparations needed to travel the Wulin… Ha!”
At that moment, an inspiration struck Seonwu like lightning.
‘To think I almost left out something so important.’
If he wanted to go out into the Wulin and roam freely in the future, there was something absolutely necessary.
It was a ‘fake but plausible past.’
‘Even if I disguise myself as a member of a mysterious sect, there needs to be some sort of foundation.’
Now was the time to use his dad’s power once again.
* * *
Seonwu went to find the Emperor right away.
Seonwu adjusted his behavior carefully to look like he was trying hard to seem mature.
He shouldn’t actually seem too mature.
His flaws had to show just enough that his effort to look mature appeared cute.
“Imperial Father, your son has turned ten years old and has also reached the Peak Realm, so I have one wish.”
“Hmm, what wish is it?”
“Is it not your son’s future dream to hide my identity, venture into the Wulin, and observe various things?”
“Indeed, as long as you fulfill your duties as a prince properly, We have already permitted you to do so concurrently.”
Yes.
He had been feeling relieved after receiving that permission.
‘But that alone is not enough!’
“However, it won’t be fun if your son’s identity is discovered, so I must disguise myself well. I feel I need to create at least one hidden sect that will serve as my origin.”
“Oho, you are asking Us to create a sect that is fake but real?”
“Yes, Imperial Father. The setting is that we lived hidden in Deep Mountains and Secluded Valleys where people didn’t travel, but as a genius of the current generation, I have emerged into the secular world to revive the sect.”
It was a setting lorebook that Seonwu had racked his brains to create.
“I even came up with a name. I plan to call it the Feilong Sect.”
“That is not bad.”
The Emperor nodded at the request of his cute youngest son.
“Guizhou Province has many mountains and few people, so I wonder how somewhere around there would be. If you create a suitable sect there, it will look real even if someone digs into my background later.”
“It would also serve as a good base of operations for your subordinates.”
“Yes!”
“Very well. Since you have trained hard to reach the Peak Realm, We shall bestow a gift upon you.”
“Thank you, Dad!”
Finishing it off even more cutely.
Seonwu smiled brightly, approached the Emperor, and clung tightly to him.
The Emperor laughed and stroked Seonwu’s hair.
‘Heheh, with this, I can active as the young sect leader of the current generation of the Feilong Sect. People in the Jianghu will say it’s a sect they’ve never heard of before, but if I say we’ve been hidden all this time and tell them to go look, there will actually be a sect building there, so it’ll be totally plausible, right?’
Since the Imperial Family was building it, they would surely pick a site with great scenery.
* * *
The Emperor summoned two Admirals.
The Dragon Empire possessed the Golden Dragon Guard and the Yuelongwei, which corresponded to the Jinyiwei and Dongchang of the Ming Dynasty.
Since there were no eunuchs, the Admiral of the Yuelongwei was also a perfectly normal man.
“Long live, long live, long live the Emperor. We have come answering your summons.”
“A secret sect must be established.”
The Emperor’s imperial decree fell.
“What kind of secret sect is it, Your Majesty?”
“Unlike his four older brothers, the youngest will receive a fief that does not border the frontiers and will establish his Prince Mansion.”
“We also anticipated as much.”
“We are considering Henan Province, and since it does not border the frontiers, there will be no reason for him to work closely with the General House.”
This was also an expected matter.
In the first place, the birth of the fifth child was something even the Emperor had not predicted.
“Instead, that child has set his mind on managing the Wulin.”
“Indeed, though it may not be as severe as the Demonic Monsters outside the borders, the Wulin is also a place that possesses power that cannot be ignored. To inspect and govern it to ensure there are no treacherous signs is an excellent task.”
If Seonwu had heard this, it was a conversation that would have made him gasp, ‘What???’
I just want to cross and roam the Wulin freely like a wuxia novel protagonist and do some Chivalrous Journeys?
You just need to provide a modest manor facility, a few warriors, and a few servants?
But these were the words of the Emperor.
The two Admirals took it completely literally without a single shred of doubt.
“Although the Golden Dragon Guard and the Yuelongwei inspect the interior of the Empire, you have likely not focused on the Wulin because you are busy looking over everything as a whole. Furthermore, there is bound to be a difference between looking from the outside and looking from the inside. Since the youngest has harbored this ambition, We shall have a sect established directly under him so that he can observe the Wulin from within.”
‘As expected, he is telling us to establish a sect that actually belongs to the Prince Mansion.’
‘Unlike the four older Princes, the youngest Prince Highness does not hold the General House and the border defense army under his command, so it means he is to build power and govern on the Wulin side instead!’
It would literally become a secret grand sect that would inspect and manage the entire Wulin, surpassing even the greatest in the world.
‘Although the state has forbidden the creation of a Wulin Alliance, if it is a task His Majesty entrusts to His Highness, there is no problem.’
The law of prohibition itself originated from the Emperor’s will.
If the Emperor decreed that the youngest was an exception, then he was an exception.
The development began to flow into a direction where, if Seonwu had heard it, he would have also said, [Father, that’s not what I meant.]
He had merely wanted a small sect building that looked plausible to others.
In addition to that, a few servants to manage it, and a few warriors to protect it while he was away would suffice.
Those warriors could just disguise themselves as sect members and coordinate their stories together.
However, the gift the Emperor was giving to his youngest son was not something so modest.
“We shall give you a time limit of ten years. Prepare a sect that will allow the youngest to look into the entirety of the Jianghu by the time he reaches his capping ceremony.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We receive your command.”
Spreading far and wide.
It was the sudden moment a massive secret organization was born in the Jianghu.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————