Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 173: Chapter 171: Entering the Palace

He now increasingly felt that what Chu Qingfeng said was not wrong, the Four Great Demon Sects are the source of trouble, and it’s best to have as little involvement with them as possible.

Why does the West Palace Lady want to take Xiao Ruoling as a disciple?

There’s no such thing as benefits without efforts, it absolutely cannot be because she saw Xiao Ruoling’s outstanding talent and grew fond of it, thus taking him as a disciple.

Becoming a West Palace Lady isn’t so simple.

What benefits does she gain by taking Xiao Ruoling as a disciple?

The West Palace Lady has no offspring, is it to have someone to rely on in old age, feeling too lonely in the palace and wanting an emotional attachment?

But talking about emotions with these ladies in the palace is truly too dangerous.

Xiao Ruoling said softly, ”This counts as offending the West Palace Lady, I don’t know what will happen.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”The harem doesn’t meddle in politics, it’s fine, at most there will be some trouble during palace night feasts.”

Xiao Ruoling nodded lightly.

She had her backing, that’s why she dared to refuse.

After all, Duke An remains a hereditary State Duke Mansion, and there is also the Prince Qing Mansion, at least a Prince Mansion.

Otherwise, whatever the lady commands, there would only be obedience, how could one refuse, especially when it’s to be accepted as her disciple?

Refusing would be ingratitude, and one would have to endure her wrath.

Perhaps the lady didn’t expect that she would refuse?

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It’s a pity that I cannot see the lady.”

If he could personally see the West Palace Lady, he might get a glimpse of her intentions, to understand what her true purpose is.

”Impossible.” Xiao Ruoling shook her head lightly.

Men from outside wanting to see women inside the palace, unless family, can only do so during palace banquets during festivals.

But during such occasions, in front of everyone, not much can usually be said.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Ruoling, if there is a chance to become the Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace, would you be willing to go?”

”The Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace?” Xiao Ruoling was taken aback, her deep and mysterious eyes flickered, she finally shook her head gently: ”No.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”The Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace is the next Palace Master, high rank and authority, unlike a lady of the Duke Mansion or an Heir’s Wife.”

”So what?” Xiao Ruoling chuckled, ”No matter how much power, what use does it have? I don’t have such great ambitions.”

”You becoming the Heir’s Wife, would only be confined to one corner, only able to see the sky of the Prince Mansion and Yujing, unable to see the vastness of the world, ... while the Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace is different, she can travel the world, see all the scenery and mountains, rivers, and seas.”

Xiao Ruoling said, ”To me, staying with you all, watching my father and little brother safe and sound, is enough.”

”I know you are unwilling.” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Xiao Ruoling possesses peerless talent and the Miracle Technique like the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique, becoming a Grandmaster in the future is certain, and there’s hope to become a Great Grandmaster too.

Would she really be willing to be just a simple Heir’s Wife making soup?

He felt she surely wasn’t willing.

Because if it were him, he wouldn’t be willing either.

He is not going out now, not because he doesn’t want to, but because a gentleman does not stand under a precarious wall, for the sake of safety.

Once his cultivation is sufficient, he naturally would not stay in Yujing, wanting to see the differences between this world and the world of his previous life.

Xiao Ruoling laughed, ”If an opportunity arises in the future, to look at the scenery outside together, that would be enough, ... so many mountains in the world, so many rivers, such vast seas, how much is a lot, and how much is a little?”

Chu Zhiyuan tightly grasped her jade-like hand, and laughed, ”With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for!”

Xiao Ruoling was a bit shy, feeling these words too mushy, pursed her lips, and laughed, ”Why did you mention the Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace?”

”Heard a piece of news that the Yao Yue Palace is currently competing for the position of the Holy Daughter.” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and said, ”And it instantly reminded me of the actions of the West Palace Lady.”

”The lady wants me to compete for the Holy Daughter?” Xiao Ruoling was startled and smiled, ”Isn’t that a bit too farfetched?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”What if the lady says you have long been apprenticed to her, secretly taught you, keeping you low-profile, and you have long been a disciple of Yao Yue Palace, just not publicly declared, and only to compete for being the Holy Daughter now, you must return to Yao Yue Palace, revealing this mentor-disciple relationship.”

Xiao Ruoling seemed thoughtful.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This way, it shows the lady’s deep foresight in the Holy Daughter of the Yao Yue Palace, planned for a long time, without being abrupt, right?”

”... Also makes sense.”

”Since you are an orthodox disciple of Yao Yue Palace, and still unmarried, why can’t you compete for the Holy Daughter position?... Moreover, you are the most top-tier inheritance of Yao Yue Palace.”

Xiao Ruoling laughed, ”Saying it like this, it seems like I’m bound to become the Holy Daughter.”

”At least there’s that possibility.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Want to give it a try?”

Xiao Ruoling shook her head without hesitation, ”The Holy Daughter is not for me.”

”The Holy Daughter ah...” Chu Zhiyuan finally couldn’t help himself, and embraced her.

At once, warmth and softness, an extraordinary sensation.

Xiao Ruoling blushed, quickly glancing around, and gave him a playful glare.

Chu Zhiyuan reluctantly let go, for indeed it was outside, too intimate which would compromise her authority as the future Heir’s Wife.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Actually, you could first become the Holy Daughter, and after the next Holy Daughter takes over, you can return to be my Heir’s Wife.”

Xiao Ruoling gave him a sidelong glance, ”Did you see another beauty on this trip?”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.

Xiao Ruoling said, ”Want to marry into the Prince Mansion, and have me step down, is that it?”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled helplessly, ”Alright, then let’s wait and see, hopefully, the lady will drop it.”

”As long as I persist in not going, they cannot possibly force me.” Xiao Ruoling said.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

—

White Cloud Peak

A hundred miles from Yujing City, in a chain of mountains, there is a strange peak.

It resembles a sword piercing straight into the white clouds.

The upper half of the mountain is hidden within the white clouds, obscuring it from sight.

Chu Zhiyuan and Huang Shiron appeared together at the foot of the peak, looking up.

Zou Fang, like a shadow, was silently not far behind them.

Under the Super Sensing Illumination, the trees and grass on this peak appeared more verdant than on other peaks, as if more vibrant with life.

”Is this White Cloud Peak?” Chu Zhiyuan observed, marveling, ”The White Cloud Sword Palace is here?”

Huang Shiron smiled, ”What does the princely heir think?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This peak has excellent feng shui, more nurturing than other peaks.”

Huang Shiron smiled elegantly, ”Indeed, White Cloud Peak is quite good, ... Princely heir, please follow me up the mountain, the Sword Stele is at the summit.”

”Please.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

He turned to Zou Fang, ”Wait here, you can’t go up the mountain.”

”Yes, be careful, Your Highness.” Zou Fang whispered a warning.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Huang Shiron gracefully stepped on the treetop, not taking the path leading to the summit.

Four young men and women suddenly emerged from the pine forest, dressed in white like snow; seeing it was Huang Shiron, they released their grips on their sword handles and saluted, ”Senior Sister Huang!”

Huang Shiron nodded lightly, ”Four Junior Brothers, I am bringing a guest up the peak.”

”Yes.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at these four young people.

Two men and two women, all reached the Innate Realm, he couldn’t help but smile, ”Didn’t they go to the Military Suppression Department?”

”Their cultivation is still weak, so let them wait for now.” Huang Shiron said, ”Once their temperament is refined, then they will enter the department, to avoid causing trouble.”

”Shouldn’t they go to the Military Suppression Department to refine their temperament?” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”No wonder it’s the White Cloud Sword Palace, the disciples are all geniuses.”

These four young men and women, already at such a young age, reaching the Innate Realm, would be considered geniuses outside too.

”They are the best of their generation.” Huang Shiron gently shook her head, ”There aren’t that many geniuses, it’s only because they need to prepare for the Military Suppression Department that they’re kept here guarding the gate, refining their temperament, and practicing interpersonal skills.”

Chu Zhiyuan realized.

It seems White Cloud Sword Palace has a systematic approach to disciple training, very meticulous, first training then polishing temperament before placing them in the Military Suppression Department.

Inside the Military Suppression Department, the Four Great Sects compete fiercely.

Going rashly without preparation is too easy to fall into traps.

Once caught in a trap, often it affects a lifetime, the Court will not give you more chances for redemption.

As they talked, they lightly ascended stepping on the pine treetops.

Soon passing by one pavilion after another, then they reached courtyard after courtyard, followed by pavilion upon pavilion, and palace after palace.

Ultimately they arrived above the clouds, reaching a flat square at the summit.

A White Jade Sword stood majestically, towering towards the sky.

Standing beneath this hundred-meter-high, thirty-meter-wide, thirty-meter-thick White Jade Sword, he unexpectedly felt a sense of insignificance.