Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 229: Chapter 226 Choice

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He gestured for the two women to stay a while before leaving and asked someone to serve tea.

A junior official served the tea leaves.

The Auditing Department holds a transcendent status, needing nothing from other departments, so its officials often carry an air of arrogance, paying little heed to other officials.

The two women treated Chu Zhiyuan with respect and sat down with smiles to drink tea.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and mentioned his desire to exchange for some Spirit Pills that purify and broaden or strengthen the meridians.

He asked them what options there were besides Transcendence Pills.

The two women rattled off about a dozen kinds of Spirit Pills.

These Spirit Pills were slightly inferior to the Transcendence Pills.

Additionally, these Spirit Pills had one common characteristic.

Once taking one, there was no need to take the others.

The effects were minimal.

In sum, First Grade Spirit Pills offer nearly the same effects, already reaching the limit of postnatal medicine power.

Innate talent is innately determined, so First Grade Spirit Pills can only improve within certain bounds.

Taking more Spirit Pills hardly differs from taking just one.

”Princely Heir, among the First Grade Spirit Pills, the most exchanged ones are for cultivation enhancement. A single Spirit Pill can enhance cultivation for ten years in the Innate Realm, and five years even for a Grandmaster.”

”It can also enhance the realm?”

”Indeed, it can.”

”...ten years...five years...”

”What is meant by First Grade? This is First Grade.”

”...are there any others?”

”Recently, our department introduced a kind of Spirit Pill, the Longevity Pill.”

”Similar to the Phoenix Immortal Pill? Isn’t that exclusive to the Phoenix Sword Sect?”

”Originally, the Lifespan Extension Pill was exclusive to Da Meng’s Phoenix Sword Sect, but we now have it too.”

”That’s delightful news; how much lifespan does one pill extend?”

”If one is gravely ill, it’s hard to say, but if taken when healthy, it can extend life by one year, comparable to the Phoenix Immortal Pill.”

”One year of lifespan... what about taking ten pills?”

”It should extend life by five years; ten years would be the maximum.”

”Ten years of lifespan...” Chu Zhiyuan remarked, ”How many pills would that require?”

”About thirty pills would be needed, I estimate.”

”Thirty First Grade Merits...” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”As if First Grade Merits are nothing!”

How many in the whole world can achieve thirty First Grade Merits?

Only Prince Ying.

”So does this mean using more of those purifying Spirit Pills is useless for me?”

”Princely Heir, it’s not useless, just the effects would be limited.”

This was overly wasteful of Spirit Pills.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

He then inquired about other Spirit Pills or treasures, to which the two women recounted accurately.

They had detailed knowledge of the Spirit Pills, rare medicines, treasures, and divine weapons and armor within the Heavenly Treasure Department.

After Chu Zhiyuan sent them off, he decided to continue using this type of Spirit Pill.

One must personally try to push the meridians to the limit; even a slight advancement would be worthwhile, followed by meticulous cultivation.

——

Prince Qing Mansion

The front hall.

Chu Zhiyuan’s family of four gathered around the table, eating and chatting.

”Yuan’er, your great feats have spread across the entire Imperial Palace,” Bai Ningshuang beamed.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Chu Yi laughed, ”Mom, they must be all smiles now, right?”

”Everyone’s turned into good people,” Bai Ningshuang laughed, ”Each one is courteous, all smiles like flowers blooming to me, giggle...”

Chu Minghou chuckled, ”That’s a bit opportunistic, isn’t it?”

”Prince, even those in the palace who initially aren’t opportunistic soon become so after entering; otherwise, they can’t live well and cause suffering to those around them. What else can they do? They must change themselves.”

”They always knew Yuan’er’s prowess; why this now?”

”It used to be just martial contests and hunts, which they felt weren’t serious. Now that they’ve fought the Evil Sect, they finally acknowledge Yuan’er’s prowess,” Bai Ningshuang huffed.

Chu Zhiyuan remarked, ”You’ve heard quite a few compliments, haven’t you, Mother?”

Bai Ningshuang’s words hit the nail on the head.

In people’s inherent impressions, martial contests and hunts aren’t true battles.

Fighting against the Evil Sect is the real test of iron and blood, showcasing true skills.

”Everyone’s words are as sweet as honey!” Bai Ningshuang laughed coquettishly, ”The Empress is also very pleased.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Mother, starting tomorrow, you should bring more guards when going to the Imperial Palace.”

”...Afraid of these devils’ revenge?”

”They will certainly seek revenge,” Chu Zhiyuan noted, ”After killing so many, how could they not retaliate to save face and maintain their might?”

Other sects may fear the Imperial Family of Da Jing, but not the Yuding Sect and Secret Shadow Sect.

”Alright then.” Bai Ningshuang nodded, ”I’ll bring more.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Chu Minghou and Chu Yi.

Chu Minghou smiled, indicating he wouldn’t leave the mansion recently, and Chu Yi hurriedly said she wouldn’t either.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”If going out, double the guards; it’s best to send word to Guo Chi to escort you.”

”Alright, alright.”

The three quickly agreed.

He suddenly had a flash of insight, thinking of a use for the golden vertical pupil.

He then focused intently on Bai Ningshuang.

Bai Ningshuang felt uneasy under his gaze, touching her pink face, then her earrings, necklace, and hairpin.

He slowly said, ”Mother, I’ll escort you to the Imperial Palace tomorrow.”

”Is it necessary?” Bai Ningshuang asked.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Alright then, I won’t escort you tomorrow.”

Bai Ningshuang was left bewildered by his back-and-forth.

”Elder brother, escorting then not escorting, what kind of trick is this?”

”To see if Mother is in danger, if there will be an assassination attempt,” Chu Zhiyuan explained.

”How will you know?”

”Intuition,” Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”I’ll test it every day from now on.”

”...Alright,” Chu Yi, not doubting Chu Zhiyuan’s intuition.

Knowing his intuition has always been remarkably accurate, uncannily so.

——

As the sun set in the west, Chu Zhiyuan’s group of dozens arrived at the mountain valley outside the city.

The valley was still in disarray.

Mo Yi and four women directed a group of mansion servants to start tidying up.

Chu Mingxuan and others also brought servants and guards, each busy with their tasks.

The desolate valley suddenly became lively.

Chu Zhiyuan approached the cliff wall.

Currently, the cliff wall showed no unusual features, appearing as an ordinary cliff wall.

Chu Mingxuan surveyed the surroundings and laughed, ”Fourth brother, what’s so special about here?”

”Tomorrow morning during training, Uncle Eighteen will feel the difference.”

”Then I’ll wait and see; fourth brother, this time you all wiped out the Yuding Sect and Secret Shadow Sect in a big operation.”

”Almost didn’t make it out,” Chu Zhiyuan grimaced, ”It’s fortunate Uncle Eighteen wasn’t involved.”

”I would’ve liked to, but couldn’t join in,” Chu Mingxuan shrugged helplessly.

He’s a Prince, but his superiors wouldn’t hear of it.

Complaining wouldn’t help, with a Prince overseeing him; he could only obediently follow regulations.

Chu Zhitian and Chu Zhichuan also gathered to discuss the battle with Yuding Sect and Secret Shadow Sect.

They were quite curious about the battle and wanted to hear Chu Zhiyuan’s firsthand account.

Even after Chu Zhiyuan recounted it, they persistently asked more questions.

Especially intrigued by Chu Zhiyuan’s mastery of the throwing knife, they asked for a demonstration.

Chu Zhiyuan obliged with a demonstration.

Once they had dinner together, Chu Zhiyuan returned to his room, sat on the couch, and pulled out a golden pill from his bosom.

Ultimately, he chose the Transcendence Pill.

Since the other pills’ effects weren’t as potent as the Transcendence Pill and their effects were mostly nullified,

it seemed better to choose the Transcendence Pill.

After a brief insight, he took it and closed his eyes to operate his cultivation.

Fifteen minutes later, he opened his eyes, with a complex expression, letting out a sigh.

As expected, the effects were indeed limited.

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