Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 181: Chapter 179: The Quota

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Chu Zhiyuan lightly coughed and lifted the curtain to enter the boat cabin.

She turned her head to look over, a radiant smile instantly lighting up the room.

Chu Zhiyuan approached her: ”What happened?”

Seeing her serious expression, he knew the matter was not simple.

”The Lady called me again today,” Xiao Ruoling said softly. ”She mentioned the matter of taking me as her disciple again.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Why is the Lady so intent on taking you as a disciple? What does she intend to do?”

”The Lady has a quota, which she doesn’t want to give to anyone else and wants to reserve for me.”

”What quota?”

”A quota to enter the Yao Yue Palace Secret Realm,” Xiao Ruoling said. ”Yao Yue Palace is selecting a new Holy Daughter, who must be born within the Secret Realm. There are nine quotas in total for entering the Secret Realm, and the Lady holds one of them.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned: ”As expected, it’s about the Holy Daughter!”

When he first heard this news, he vaguely felt it might be related to himself, and indeed, it was.

His intuition was still as accurate as ever.

”The Secret Realm of Yao Yue Palace contains countless spiritual medicines, heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and even martial arts inheritance, the world’s most elite inheritance.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”If you are selected as the Holy Daughter, will you become the Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace?”

”How could I possibly be selected,” Xiao Ruoling shook her head and smiled. ”No matter what, it wouldn’t be my turn. I’m just going to join in the fun and gain some benefits. The Lady also said this opportunity is rare and mustn’t be missed.”

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

Xiao Ruoling smiled and said: ”The Court’s four Grottos Heaven and four Secret Lands require a Great Grandmaster to enter, but Yao Yue Palace is different. Instead, neither Grandmasters nor Great Grandmasters can enter, only those in the Innate Realm can. It’s quite mysterious and not dangerous.”

”Truly not dangerous?”

”So far, no one has ever died.”

”... Any injuries?”

”Injuries have been minor, nothing serious... The last time the Holy Daughter was selected, besides the Holy Daughter, the other eight obtained great benefits. Some took heavenly materials and earthly treasures, significantly increasing their potential. Some found a secret manual and mastered a top-tier mental method. Some consumed spiritual materials, greatly enhancing their cultivation... In short, no one returned empty-handed.”

”Only benefits with no drawbacks?” Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Where in the world is there such a good deal?”

”The entire Yao Yue Palace is fighting desperately for these nine quotas because the Lady was once a Holy Daughter, which is why she has this quota.”

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment and pondered: ”The Lady must have resentment towards Yao Yue Palace, right?”

”I think so,” Xiao Ruoling said softly.

She could vaguely sense the West Palace Lady’s resentment towards Yao Yue Palace.

So she would never miss any opportunity to profit from Yao Yue Palace, definitely wanting to use up this quota through herself.

”... If you really become the Holy Daughter, what will you do?”

Plant a flower with intention, but it won’t bloom; plant a willow unintentionally, and it grows into shade. Initially going just for fun, you end up becoming the main character.

No matter which world or time, such things happen too often.

Especially those with great luck, both men and women, are most likely to encounter such scenarios.

Xiao Ruoling is also extremely lucky. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been born as the daughter of a noble family, possessing unmatched talent, and such devastating beauty, the most beautiful in Yujing.

She is very likely to become the Holy Daughter.

The more she thought about it, the higher the possibility seemed.

”If I really become the Holy Daughter, then I’ll reveal my identity as the Princely Heir’s Wife of Da Jing, and how could Yao Yue Palace tolerate me?”

The relationship between Yao Yue Palace and the Court is delicate, like separate wells that do not interfere with each other.

Yao Yue Palace does not enter Yujing, and the Court’s people do not enter Yao Yue Palace. Once she reveals her identity, she will naturally be expelled from Yao Yue Palace.

”If you ask me,” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”if you really become the Holy Daughter, then it’s heaven’s will. Just be the Holy Daughter.”

He relaxed inwardly and made a joke.

As long as she doesn’t want to be the Holy Daughter, she can leave anytime. With her identity as the Duke Mansion’s young lady and the Princely Heir’s Wife, Yao Yue Palace can’t do anything about it.

Xiao Ruoling chuckled softly: ”Would you really be willing?”

She knew this was a joking comment from Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: ”The Holy Daughter can only serve for ten years. I can wait. Marrying a Yao Yue Palace Holy Daughter would also be a delightful tale.”

”Sounds good,” Xiao Ruoling responded with a radiant smile, ”then I’ll be the Holy Daughter for ten years first, and then come back to be your Princely Heir’s Wife.”

”Alas... Xiao Holy Daughter, by that time, my ninth and tenth brothers’ kids would be running all over the place.”

”Then marry a concubine first,” Xiao Ruoling pursed her lips and smiled, ”but keep the position of chief wife for me.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”Ten years away, and it may not be possible to keep the position of chief wife.”

”Truly?” Xiao Ruoling glanced at him, half-smiling: ”I, a Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace, can’t be your chief wife?”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: ”Right now, Da Zhen is desperately trying to marry a princess to me, even willing to be a concubine.”

”You are quite the catch!” Xiao Ruoling giggled.

”Naturally!” Chu Zhiyuan posed with an air of pride.

He then slowly restrained his laughter, becoming serious: ”Then just go earnestly.”

Xiao Ruoling possesses extremely high aptitude, having practiced the rarely accomplished Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique, how could she settle for being an ordinary woman supporting her husband and teaching her children?

Though she always felt she enjoyed such a peaceful and harmonious life.

But she doesn’t truly understand herself, doesn’t know her deepest thoughts.

Ultimately, she would realize that without venturing into the vast world outside, her inner self would be greatly discontented.

If it were him, it would be the same.

This opportunity is indeed rare, and if missed, regret might linger, becoming an eternal knot in the heart.

She’s not a rootless floating duckweed; she has a foundation, she is his Princely Heir’s Wife, the young lady of Duke An Mansion, and the elder sister of Xiao Ruoyu.

So she ultimately has to return, the Holy Daughter’s role doesn’t appeal to her significantly.

But the process is more interesting to her.

Consider it as going out to relax, gaining some new experiences, preventing life from being too bland and uninteresting.

”So you’ll apprentice under the West Palace Lady?”

”If I take the Lady as my mentor... it may not be a big tree nor a strong leg,” Chu Zhiyuan said. ”As far as I know, the West Palace Lady stands alone and unsupported in the harem.”

”I’m not thinking so much; the key is still the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique.”

”Then go ahead and apprentice,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Apprenticing purely for cultivation is truly a sincere apprenticeship, and it’s rare for Xiao Ruoling to maintain this pure-hearted desire.

Moreover, with himself around, there is nothing to fear.

Xiao Ruoling showed an expression of longing: ”The Yao Yue Palace Secret Realm, I wonder what benefits I might gain.”

”How is the Holy Daughter selected within the Secret Realm?”

”It seems there needs to be a martial arts competition, and within the Secret Realm, there’s a specific place that needs to be found first, and then compete there.”

”Compete...” Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

One must first find it, then compete.

This place shouldn’t be easy to find, so relying on luck is necessary, thus showing who has divine providence, without which, it can’t be found.

In terms of martial arts competition, after all, it is a Martial Arts Sect, where martial arts are fundamental.

”I’ve hardly ever fought with anyone, so rest assured I won’t become the Holy Daughter,” Xiao Ruoling smiled.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded: ”That is indeed a weak point.”

”So I plan to bring back some good things.”

She felt her luck had always been good and might unexpectedly obtain unimaginable treasures or spiritual materials.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Unless absolutely necessary, don’t reveal your identity, otherwise, you’ll get kicked out, and you would miss out on what you’ve already tasted.”

The relationship between Yao Yue Palace and the Court is quite delicate.

Should Xiao Ruoling enter the Yao Yue Palace and her true identity be discovered, who knows if she would be kicked out immediately.

Furthermore, potentially even before entering the Secret Realm, she could be recognized and expelled, prohibited entry.

That would be a wasted effort, efforts gone to waste.

”I believe that since the Lady is letting me go, naturally there’s no issue.”

”... Indeed,” Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Holding no heirs, nor having lost her virginity, yet maintaining her esteemed status as the West Palace Lady without being dethroned, reveals her exceptional skills.

”I heard from the Lady that the Yao Yue Palace Holy Daughter has a unique inheritance.”

”What unique inheritance?”

”Taiyin Great Refining Form, almost like mythical Immortal Technique... After cultivation, it grants eternal youth, ageless appearance, and a lifespan surpassing even Great Grandmasters by over a century.”

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes flashed: ”A lifespan longer than that of a Great Grandmaster?”

”Yes.”

”... If this is true, then I really should compete for the Holy Daughter position.”

”Want me to stay eternally youthful?” Xiao Ruoling pursed her lips and smiled. ”In the end, you men value women’s appearances most.”

”Xiao Ruoling, don’t you wish to stay eternally youthful?”

”... Yes, which woman wouldn’t?” Xiao Ruoling gently nodded.

What Chu Zhiyuan truly contemplated, however, was longevity.

Pursuing immortality himself, the Taiyin Great Refining Form would be a crucial reference.

So far, he hasn’t found any Miracle Techniques to extend his lifespan from Tongtian Pavilion or Mingwu Hall.

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