Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 121: Chapter 119: The Mysterious Woman

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”Big Sister! Big Sister!” Xiao Ruoyu waved from afar.

Two beautiful handmaidens beside Xiao Ruoling turned their heads to look.

Xiao Ruoling waved her jade-like hand.

Xiao Ruoyu turned to look at Chu Zhiyuan. ”What does this mean?”

”She wants you to leave,” Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.

”...Really?”

”Then go over and see.”

”Go over, then go over.”

Xiao Ruoyu, not believing it, walked forward, stopped under the fake mountain, and looked up. ”Big Sister, it’s quite cold up there.”

This fake mountain was stacked with peculiar stones, only five meters high, but it had an imposing aura, and standing below, one felt a sense of majesty looking up.

Xiao Ruoling seemed to smile yet not smile. ”Little Tiger, you guys go down first; I have something to discuss with the Princely Heir.”

”...Alright.” Xiao Ruoyu hesitated reluctantly.

He felt he should stay here.

Otherwise, a single man and woman together would harm their reputation.

But then he remembered that they were already engaged, so he had no choice but to agree.

Following that, he felt a bit melancholy and sour.

Has she forgotten her brother now that she has a husband, and must he stand back now?

It’s said that a married daughter is like spilled water; when a woman gets married, her heart is with her own family. Is Big Sister the same?

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Xiao Ruoyu with amusement.

Xiao Ruoyu snorted. ”Take care, Princely Heir, I’m leaving.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. ”If you want to stay, you can stay; I don’t mind.”

”No need.” Xiao Ruoyu snorted and turned away.

The two handmaidens gracefully descended in front of Chu Zhiyuan and curtsied. ”Greetings to you, Young Lord.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

The two handmaidens left with Xiao Ruoyu.

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at Xiao Ruoling.

Leaning on the white jade railing of the small pavilion, Xiao Ruoling’s bright eyes were deep like a pool, dreamy like a dream, silently staring at Chu Zhiyuan.

She was dressed in a light purple court dress, her black bun gleaming as if shrouded in mist, temple hair dyed like ink, and her upright nose was as lustrous and warm as jade.

Her plump lips were tempting with their warm red hue.

Chu Zhiyuan secretly admired.

A flawless beauty, a beauty without defects, who would outshine any celebrity in the past life.

This beauty seemed too good to exist in the world, possibly related to her martial arts practice.

There are some miracle techniques in the world with beautifying effects.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her with a smile while she silently observed Chu Zhiyuan, their gaze entangling in the air as if time had stopped.

The fierce wind blew over her court dress and her hair, adding to her charm.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly stepped into the small pavilion, thrusting out with a punch. His fist swelled a circle larger, like the Sky Thunder Hammer.

”Whoo!”

The air in the small pavilion seemed to collapse.

This punch was fast and fierce, with intense visual impact, as if a fierce tiger was pouncing.

A normal reaction would be stiffness, the body losing control, the mind blank, unsure how to evade.

Xiao Ruoling gracefully swayed, sidestepping the punch while gently chopping at his wrist with her jade palm, her slender, white fingers captivatingly beautiful.

Chu Zhiyuan felt as if the sharp edge of a sword was slicing towards him. He twisted his waist and took a diagonal step, appearing behind her, striking with another punch.

It was as if one punch could shatter her spine, as straight as a jade wall.

Xiao Ruoling swayed again, swiftly turning, her five fingers moving like plucking zither strings, her nails as polished jade sliding towards his wrist, seemingly resentful, yet playful. ”Good Fist Technique, Princely Heir!”

Chu Zhiyuan retracted his punch, stepped back with a laugh. ”Such good cultivation, Lady Hero!”

Xiao Ruoling smiled gently. ”You know I practice martial arts?”

”From the first time I saw you, I knew you had cultivation, and it was well concealed, Innate Sixth Layer, yes?”

”You can really tell?”

Xiao Ruoling’s deep and dreamy eyes were full of surprise.

Even her father didn’t know her specific level of cultivation, nor did her younger brother. They only knew she was in the Innate Realm, but not which layer, because she was always advancing and her progress was rapid.

No one else in the world knew, and yet he found out.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Your miracle technique is wonderful and can disguise your aura.”

Such miracle techniques are rare in the world.

Anyone who practices martial arts normally emanates abundant essence Qi outward, but her mental method collects all essence Qi inward, contrary to most mental methods.

”Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique,” Xiao Ruoling said.

”Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique...” Chu Zhiyuan mused.

He savored the words, his sword-like brows slowly furrowing.

”This mental method has issues?” Xiao Ruoling was puzzled.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Do you know the origin of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique?”

”It was acquired fortuitously by an ancestors from the opening of our mansion, and it has been stored away gathering dust. I came across it by chance and tried to practice, and it just clicked. It seems I am highly compatible with this cultivation technique.”

Before practicing the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique, she also practiced the secrets of the Duke Mansion, but it wasn’t so easy to progress, and her advancement was slow.

But once she began this Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique, her cultivation became as effortless as drinking water, advancing quickly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique is a line from Yao Yue Palace, which later became extinct. Now what Yao Yue Palace practices is the Heavenly Heart Moon Pointing Record.”

This was what he discovered in the secret archives of Mingwu Hall.

After practicing the Qionghua Nine Chapters, he developed a great interest in Yao Yue Palace’s mental methods and searched in Tongtian Pavilion and Mingwu Hall, finding some records of Yao Yue Palace.

Among them was notably the name of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique.

It was said to be the first miracle technique of Yao Yue Palace.

The Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique was difficult to get started, requiring high aptitude and an ideal cultivation environment, leading to its extinction.

One reason was the rarity of talent, and another was the change in nature’s spiritual energy, making it impossible to cultivate anymore.

Yet Xiao Ruoling mastered it so easily.

This is a case of the difficult being impossible for some, while the capable find it effortless, and talent can be despairing.

Xiao Ruoling exclaimed with surprise, ”So it was of Yao Yue Palace, but since it’s extinct now and Yao Yue Palace doesn’t practice this anymore, it doesn’t belong to Yao Yue Palace, right?”

”...That can be said,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed. ”Yao Yue Palace disciples can’t enter Yujing. Even standing in front of you, they wouldn’t discover you’ve practiced this, let alone suspect it.”

Xiao Ruoling said, ”How did you know I practice martial arts?”

”I suspected from our first meeting. There’s a subtle difference between having cultivation and not, which can’t entirely be masked by concealing essence Qi,” Chu Zhiyuan smiled. ”Moreover, Father-in-law mentioned it earlier.”

”Father actually said that.” Xiao Ruoling wrinkled her delicate nose.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”In the future, if we have the chance, let’s visit outside of Yujing City, wander through the Martial Arts world, and witness the boundless beauty of the country.”

Xiao Ruoling’s bright eyes sparkled, became more dreamy and profound.

Chu Zhiyuan knew she was moved.

He didn’t believe a martial arts prodigy wouldn’t want to see the vast world outside, would be content to stay in the backyard, only looking at the sky there.

The first step in communication is naturally to cater to preferences.

After a spar and sharing this secret, the two felt less estranged.

Knowing they would spend their lives together, they opened up to each other, trying to see each other’s goodness.

Breaking through unfamiliarity naturally leads to closeness.

The two sat by the stone table in the pavilion.

The small clay stove was bubbling with white steam.

She elegantly held the teapot, poured two cups of tea, and smiled gently, ”By the way, what about the matter with Song Tianhai?”

Chu Zhiyuan told her about asking for the three Dragon Blood Pearls.

Xiao Ruoling smiled with her lips pressed, offering the tea cup. ”If Duke Kang really gives them, will you let Song Tianhai go?”

”How about we go shopping tomorrow, visit the cosmetics shop, then have dinner at Drunken Immortal Pavilion?”

”And then?”

”I will secretly find someone to tip off the detained Song Tianhai,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

”Using me as bait?!” Xiao Ruoling looked askance at him, her demeanor charming.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”If he takes the bait willingly. If not, then he is lucky and will be spared a beating.”

If Song Tianhai still dares to come close to him, it means he hasn’t learned his lesson and remains arrogant, disregarding the Princely Heir. He must be properly taught a lesson.

”What if Duke Kang doesn’t give them?”

”Then we’ll beat him more harshly.”

”If he gives them, will it be less harsh?”

”Still the same harshness,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

Xiao Ruoling burst out laughing, and her laughter reached Xiao Ruoyu in the distance.

Xiao Ruoyu felt even more uncomfortable inside.

Extremely depressed.

Laughing so clearly, so heartily.

Is talking to the Princely Heir so amusing, so funny?

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