Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 188: Chapter 186 Retreat

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Xiao Ruoling hesitated, ”This...”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”This is a swordsmanship I developed myself; it’s not from the White Cloud Sword Palace, so I can decide who to pass it to.”

Xiao Ruoling still hesitated.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”If Ruoyu’s swordsmanship is better, both you and I can rest assured, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

”Hehe, thank you, brother-in-law!” Xiao Ruoyu said excitedly, ”What swordsmanship is it?”

”This is one of the sword techniques I’ve acquired, called the Surging Wave Sword Technique,” Chu Zhiyuan said. ”It matches well with your current mental state and aligns with your mental method. Let me demonstrate it for you.”

As he said this, he began to slowly demonstrate with his sword.

The sword moves were not fast, but their momentum was imposing, one move after another, overwhelming like the overturning of mountains and seas, making it hard for one to breathe. Xiao Ruoyu watched with his eyes shining.

He felt that these sword moves were indeed very suitable for him, and practicing them was immensely satisfying.

It was much better than the Jinghai Sword Technique, which required being slow and using slow to combat fast, which was truly troublesome and awkward.

After Chu Zhiyuan finished all nine moves, he smiled and said, ”There are nine moves in total. The moves aren’t complicated; the key is to incorporate your mental realm, shifting the mental realm from your cultivation of the Jinghai Unlimited Scripture.”

”Alright!” Xiao Ruoyu began to practice excitedly.

The nine moves weren’t complicated to begin with; he memorized them after one practice, and with a few pointers from Chu Zhiyuan, he had completely mastered them.

So he went on practicing endlessly, becoming more and more excited, his eyes shining, his black combat uniform billowing.

”Bang!” His body suddenly made a dull sound.

Then he widened his eyes, staring blankly.

”Little Tiger?” Xiao Ruoling was startled.

”Haha!” Xiao Ruoyu suddenly jumped up, laughing, ”I’ve had a breakthrough! I’ve had a breakthrough!”

He excitedly widened his eyes, laughing, ”I’ve stepped into the Innate realm!”

Xiao Ruoling was overjoyed, ”Really a breakthrough?”

”Just while I was practicing, my breath accelerated unconsciously, and before I knew it, I broke through the third barrier. Haha... such great swordsmanship! Great swordsmanship!”

Xiao Ruoyu laughed heartily, looking at Chu Zhiyuan, ”Brother-in-law, you really are worthy of swordsmanship insight from the White Cloud Sword Stele, it’s amazing!”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile, ”This is the power of swordsmanship alignment.”

He had anticipated that this sword technique would accelerate Xiao Ruoyu’s cultivation progress, but he had not expected such immediate results, which was a delightful surprise.

Xiao Ruoling looked at Chu Zhiyuan with a smile.

Xiao Ruoyu sheathed his sword, eagerly leaving, ”Brother-in-law, you two practice, I need to go back and consolidate first.”

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Ruoyu was nowhere to be seen.

Xiao Ruoling’s deep, mysterious eyes looked at Chu Zhiyuan, filled with gratitude.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”No need to be formal... So, do you want to practice this Flower Moon Shadow Sword, or learn another set of swordsmanship?”

”...”

”Then practice this Flower Moon Shadow Sword,” Chu Zhiyuan said. ”After all, it was taught by the West Palace Lady, and the swordsmanship is extremely powerful, and it aligns well with you.”

The cultivation of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique often makes people become indifferent, looking down on the world.

And this Flower Moon Shadow Sword also requires a mental state like the bright moon, shining over the earth, the two are compatible.

Therefore, she can unleash the power of this top-notch swordsmanship.

He could easily break it, not because the Flower Moon Shadow Sword was inferior, but because he had Super Sense, under Insight, illusions and realities were immediately apparent.

The strongest power of the Flower Moon Shadow Sword was ineffective against him.

Of course, it was also related to Xiao Ruoling not having fully cultivated it.

The two practiced swordsmanship for a while and then returned to the pleasure boat to rest.

Xiao Ruoling changed back into her usual palace dress, concealing her fiery figure, restoring her elegant and serene demeanor.

Xiao Ruoling handed him a cup of tea, sat beside him, and softly said, ”I met with the Princess today, it was evident that she was feeling upset.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”She keeps hoping I’ll quickly get married and carry on the family line. Hearing about a ten-year delay, how could she not be anxious?”

Xiao Ruoling softly said, ”I told the Princess to let you first marry a Concubine.”

”Oh—?” Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”Mother didn’t mention that.”

”If I truly become the Holy Daughter, you should indeed marry a Concubine,” Xiao Ruoling said, ”My friend is suitable to be the Heir’s Wife.”

Chu Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand to interrupt: ”You... I have a Jade Pendant here, a token from Yao Yue Palace. With this pendant, you can ask Yao Yue Palace for a favor.”

He took the Jade Pendant out from his bosom and handed it to her.

Xiao Ruoling took it and examined it closely, not feeling anything unusual, then handed it back to him.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”If you truly become the Holy Daughter, I’ll use this Jade Pendant to ask Yao Yue Palace to return my Heir’s Wife to me, not waiting another ten years to marry.”

”How will Yao Yue Palace agree to that?”

”As the Holy Daughter, you can represent Yao Yue Palace and agree, relinquishing the Holy Daughter position to become my Heir’s Wife,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Just be the Holy Daughter for a year or two, enjoy it and then that’s it.”

”... You’ve planned this all in advance?”

Xiao Ruoling picked up the Jade Pendant again, examining it closely, pursed her lips with a smile, and suddenly felt her infinite troubles vanish into thin air.

Now she estimated she could sleep well at night.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”It’s also a result of a series of coincidences; obtaining this Jade Pendant without intent beforehand, unexpectedly using it in this situation.”

”Hmm, as the Holy Daughter, I must uphold Yao Yue Palace’s promises, not hesitating to resign from the Holy Daughter position!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”The Holy Daughter sacrifices herself to uphold Yao Yue Palace’s promise reputation; it’s admirable, admirable, and widely admired!”

Xiao Ruoling chuckled.

The room was filled with brilliance.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Can your identity be concealed?”

”Master said there’s no need to hide,” Xiao Ruoling said. ”A Holy Daughter marrying into the Da Jing Royal Family is an oath made by the Grand Ancestor and the Yao Yue Palace’s forebears. If I become the Holy Daughter, it precisely fulfills the oath. Yao Yue Palace would be more than willing, no longer causing disputes over who enters the capital.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”So there really is such an oath. What about the other three great sects?”

Xiao Ruoling said, ”Master hasn’t mentioned it much, but from the tone, it seems there are some. She doesn’t regard the Yongling Divine Sect and the Wuyou Sect’s ladies fondly.”

”Who is the lady from the Jiuli Divine Sect?”

”Lady Li Concubine.”

”From the Wuyou Sect, Lady Zhen Concubine, and from the Yongling Divine Sect?”

”Lady Qu Concubine.”

”It surely is...” Chu Zhiyuan lamented, ”The Four Great Sects’ relationship with the Imperial Family is indeed intricate.”

”It is certainly complex,” Xiao Ruoling said softly. ”I can tell that my master is also dissatisfied with the Emperor.”

Chu Zhiyuan’s sword-like eyebrows raised.

Xiao Ruoling sighed, ”In any case, the lady is also ill-fated.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If a West Palace Lady still claims to be ill-fated, the whole world would laugh.”

”Childless and without support, alone in this vast world,” Xiao Ruoling sighed, ”how is she not ill-fated?”

”If viewed from another angle, she’s also free of burdens, living freely,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

”...Young people might think that way, but as they age, their mental state naturally changes,” Xiao Ruoling said softly, shaking her graceful head. ”I can sense Master’s loneliness.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded, ”Being cooped up in the palace indeed makes solitude easier.”

Thinking about this West Palace Lady, it indeed seemed awkward.

The Emperor was wary of her, fearing she might share secrets with Yao Yue Palace.

Yao Yue Palace was likely wary too, fearing she’d reveal their secrets after falling for the Emperor.

Being detached from both sides, with nowhere to anchor her heart, it wasn’t possible for anyone to remain calm.

Especially someone born as a Holy Daughter, proud and ambitious, how could she not be resentful?

”I will start going into the palace every day to accompany Master.”

”Hmm, that’s good.”

Chu Zhiyuan lightly nodded.

He wanted to caution Xiao Ruoling to be careful, being the West Palace Lady, may not truly be so weak, likely just an appearance.

But after thinking about it, he swallowed these words.

Sometimes, assuming the worst intentions of people’s hearts might not be accurate.

Possibly, the West Palace Lady genuinely sees her as an apprentice, a successor, an emotional solace.

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