Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 276: Chapter 273: Leaving the Palace

When Chu Zhiyuan returned to Prince Qing Mansion, his face was somewhat pale.

Continuously executing the Sword Control Technique without pause, five hundred strikes went out, indeed consuming a lot of spirit.

It not only exhausted spiritual power but also power of the soul. After returning to the mansion, he directly connected with the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree.

The spiritual nature of the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree was growing stronger, as if it had aged a year, curiously circling around him, continuously hovering and sometimes rushing over to play with him.

After playing with it for a while, Chu Zhiyuan withdrew his connection, severing it amidst its reluctance.

Chu Zhiyuan found it adorable, and just playing with it for a while was enough; playing any longer would test his patience.

After his soul recovered, he began to recall today’s clearing process, and nothing dangerous was encountered.

As for Chu Zhitian’s assassination attempt being retaliatory, it seemed he was overthinking it.

Yet he would rather be overly cautious.

He had no idea how the Great Grandmaster from the Grandmaster Mansion was tracking, or if they would encounter danger.

After seeing Lu Yaofeng’s Cave Mansion, he realized that the Great Grandmaster was not invincible and could indeed be threatened.

At least the Outer Heaven Power within the Cave Mansion could.

So even the Great Grandmaster had to proceed with caution.

——

At dinner time, Bai Ningshuang hurried back, looking exhausted, which made Chu Zhiyuan feel strange.

”The Imperial Concubine is ill again.” She sighed, shaking her head: ”Suffering greatly.”

”Is it poisoning again?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

It was poison last time, and this sudden illness seemed suspicious.

”This time it’s not likely poison, just a persistent cough,” Bai Ningshuang sighed: ”It’s an old ailment.”

”...Mother’s old ailment acting up again.” Chu Minghou nodded helplessly: ”It’s an illness left from when she gave birth to me.”

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly understood.

He knew that Chu Minghou was innately weak at the time, nearly losing his life, which must have something to do with the state of the Imperial Concubine back then.

Chu Minghou said: ”It’s from cultivation deviation, very difficult to cure, can only be slowly nursed.”

Chu Zhiyuan was instantly intrigued.

Chu Yi curiously widened her eyes: ”Grandmother actually practiced martial arts?”

Chu Minghou said: ”Your grandmother was very skilled in martial arts when she was young, probably reaching Grandmaster Perfection, but unfortunately she suffered from deviation when breaking through to Great Grandmaster, nearly losing her life.”

”Was Grandmother that powerful?”

”Otherwise, how could Yuan’er have such good aptitude?” Chu Minghou laughed: ”Your grandmother was also a top genius in the Martial Arts world during her youth.”

”Which sect was Grandmother from?” Chu Yi was curious.

Chu Minghou said: ”It was an obscure, secluded sect, probably called Qingyuan Sect.”

”Qingyuan Sect...” Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment, truly having never heard of this sect.

A sect that produced an Imperial Concubine, yet remained unnoticed.

”Does the sect still exist now?” Chu Yi asked: ”I’ve never heard of it.”

”Of course it exists, but it remains hidden,” Chu Minghou said: ”It was originally a reclusive sect that didn’t engage with the world.”

”Really peculiar, choosing seclusion from the world.” Chu Yi was puzzled.

Chu Minghou said: ”They don’t want to engage in worldly conflicts, just cultivating quietly, a life greatly unrestrained and free.”

Chu Yi was confused: ”Isn’t cultivation for fame? To live better?”

Chu Minghou said: ”What they pursue is different, not seeking fame, yet living well, in a picturesque and worry-free environment, how delightful.”

”Still not as good as being here.” Chu Yi shook her head.

Even though she disliked going out, it was because she felt the outside world was too polluted compared to her Wanqing Courtyard.

But she also knew that living in a bustling place like Yujing was far more convenient than in a remote location.

”Alright,” Bai Ningshuang waved her hand: ”Why are you discussing this, let’s talk about the Imperial Concubine’s illness.”

Chu Minghou said: ”What did the Imperial Physician say?”

”Just said to adjust slowly, can’t rush, hmpf, haven’t seen much improvement,” Bai Ningshuang huffed: ”These Imperial Physicians, I’ve seen through them, they’re basically stalling, for illnesses that don’t kill, they don’t change prescriptions to avoid responsibility.”

Chu Minghou frowned.

Bai Ningshuang huffed: ”These guys cherish their lives, afraid to alter prescriptions in case anything happens, causing trouble for the Imperial Concubine.”

Chu Minghou sighed: ”We also have no solution.”

Chu Yi was puzzled: ”Mom, doesn’t the Heavenly Treasure Department have miraculous Spirit Pills, and they can’t cure a cough?”

Bai Ningshuang said: ”The Imperial Concubine was saved by a Spirit Pill when she deviated, it was a First Grade Spirit Pill, other Spirit Pills had no more effect.”

”If it were that easy, the Imperial Physicians would have solved it long ago.” Chu Minghou shook his head: ”If it could be treated with care alone, they would have done so by now.”

Chu Zhiyuan silently listened.

He thought of his numerous Spirit Pills, and also pondered on the many cultivation techniques he knew.

If the Imperial Concubine’s injury were so easily healed, the Emperor would have taken action to heal it, what he could do, the Emperor could likely do as well.

But one cannot do nothing at all, some effort must be made.

”Sigh...” Bai Ningshuang sighed: ”Seeing the Imperial Concubine suffer like this, I feel distressed as well.”

”Can’t the Imperial Concubine practice martial arts anymore?”

”There’s no way to practice.”

”Mom, let me visit Grandmother,” Chu Zhiyuan finally decided he had to give it a shot.

”You—?” Bai Ningshuang curiously asked: ”You want to try to treat the Imperial Concubine?”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”For an illness the Imperial Grandfather couldn’t solve, I fear I am powerless too, but not making an effort makes me feel uneasy.”

”Alright.” Bai Ningshuang smiled: ”You should’ve visited the Imperial Concubine earlier.”

She felt confident in Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Minghou looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Yi excitedly said: ”Big brother, you’re finally stepping in? Heh, big brother, you should’ve acted sooner!”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”I’m not confident at all.”

He had already assessed the location of the Imperial Palace and Thick Earth Hall, finally saying: ”Bring Grandmother to my newly purchased house.”

”...Alright.” Bai Ningshuang thought for a moment and then nodded.

Women of the Imperial Palace cannot leave the palace arbitrarily.

But it’s not completely impossible, with sufficient reason, they can still leave.

Coming out in the name of treatment is not difficult.

——

Chu Zhiyuan sat on the couch in the new residence, looking at the two small swords in the Heavenly Pond.

With nurturing, the two small swords were growing larger and more and more sharp.

He felt the power of these two swords had the potential to catch up with the Heart Inquiry Saber Skill, but it needed sufficient time.

Currently, it was far from enough.

He first went to visit Chu Zhitian.

Chu Zhitian already knew that he had cleaned up the disciples of the Evil Sect within the Inner City, feeling greatly relieved.

Yet he was also annoyed by the few monsters who escaped, feeling something was lacking for not being able to kill them.

Chu Zhiyuan assured him not to worry.

The two Great Grandmasters from the Grandmaster Mansion personally went to hunt them down, those guys couldn’t escape.

...

Footsteps sounded.

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes, got up from the couch, and went outside to the courtyard.

Then saw a purple sedan chair stopped at the door, two beautiful middle-aged maids helping out a woman in white with her face veiled from the sedan chair.

Huang Cheng stood beside the sedan, slightly bowing and unmoving.

Apart from this, there were no other guards, extremely light and simple.

Bai Ningshuang followed beside her, dressed in palace attire like a celestial concubine, yet still couldn’t suppress the veiled woman’s charm.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward to pay respects, calling her Grandmother.

The woman, revealing only her bright eyes, lightly laughed, examining Chu Zhiyuan, and chuckled softly: ”You’ve really grown up.”