Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 278: Chapter 275: Sort it Out

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Chu Zhiyuan’s expression was grave.

He always felt something was off about the relationship between the Emperor and the Four Great Demon Sects; it wasn’t just adversarial, but something more complex.

The Court was so wary of the Four Great Demon Sects, and the Inspection Department was exceedingly cautious. Tongtian Pavilion even has no records about the Four Great Demon Sects.

Everywhere exudes a sense of wrongness.

Now, he finally figured out the gist.

This feud should have accumulated since the time of the Grand Ancestor, becoming an unsolvable deadlock.

He could understand the thinking of successive emperors.

The abundant resources in the Four Great Grottos Heaven and Four Great Secret Lands include endless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, strange flowers and fruits, and demon beasts.

But only a Great Grandmaster could enter to harvest and explore; a Great Grandmaster guards while the number of Great Grandmasters is limited.

The Four Great Secret Lands of the Four Great Demon Sects, however, do not require a Great Grandmaster to enter.

If all were controlled by the Court, from Innate to Grandmaster to Great Grandmaster could enter the Secret Land, the Court’s strength would undoubtedly skyrocket.

It might even aspire to dominate the three great dynasties and ultimately unify the world.

This was a huge temptation for successive emperors, for he knew that the power of the Emperor’s Sword came from the people’s will and support.

The more citizens, the stronger the Emperor’s Sword naturally becomes.

But before him, there were still the polite negotiations with the other two dynasties, even the need to compromise, which was incredibly frustrating.

Of course, he also understood the thinking of the Four Great Demon Sects, the things promised earlier were now being snatched back—a classic case of burning bridges after crossing them.

Moreover, the Four Great Demon Sects have deep foundations and may not genuinely fear the Court, naturally wanting to flex their muscles.

Though not openly tearing faces, they are constantly battling under the surface.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered, ”Grandmother, Da Meng and Da Zhen also have Grottos Heaven and Secret Lands, right?”

”Of course they do,” Consort Rou nodded gently and said, ”Otherwise, how could they establish a dynasty? Even small countries like Da Lie and Da Guang have some Secret Lands, as Secret Lands are the foundation of a country’s establishment.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

In this world where martial arts are flourishing, without resources like a Secret Land, it’s hard to sustain a country.

How could a weak nation not be annexed by others?

”Are Da Jing, Da Zhen, and Da Meng great nations because they have more Secret Lands?”

”Hmm, pretty much, each of the three great countries has twelve Secret Cave Heavens, while smaller countries like Da Lie, Da Guang, and Da Jian have only two Secret Cave Heavens each.”

”Then why not just swallow them up?” Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Wouldn’t the Court have four more Secret Lands by annexing them?”

”Even if they’re small, they have the Emperor’s Sword, so it’s not worth it. Besides, their Secret Lands aren’t that impressive to the Court; they’re all low-tier Secret Lands.”

”Low-tier Secret Lands?”

”Secret Lands are hierarchical, just like Spirit Pills are graded,” Consort Rou said, ”The Four Great Grottos Heaven and Four Great Secret Lands, along with the Secret Lands of the Four Great Sects, are high-tier, while those of smaller nations are low-tier with limited potential.”

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly understood, as these were secrets within secrets, undocumented by Tongtian Pavilion and Mingwu Hall.

Consort Rou’s existence was too important.

He hesitated and said, ”So, it’s inevitable to go for the Four Great Sects’?”

”The Secret Lands of the Four Great Sects are the best.”

”...In this way, isn’t it an unsolvable knot?”

”Successive emperors have been trying to find ways, but the Four Great Sects are also formidable and naturally entrenched.”

”Even if Ruoling became a Holy Daughter, it wouldn’t change the larger trend, would it?” Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

”If you became the Emperor, though?” Consort Rou chuckled softly and said, ”That would be different.”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.

Consort Rou said, ”If you became the Emperor, Yao Yue Palace’s resistance to you would further lessen, making integration easier.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: ”Isn’t the West Palace Lady also a Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace, yet the outcome is the same.”

”If the West Palace Lady weren’t a Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace, how could Yao Yue Palace be so close to the Court?”

”What about the women of the other three sects...?”

”They’re not women-oriented sects, so female disciples entering the palace isn’t the same with Yao Yue Palace.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Consort Rou glanced around and said, ”Yuan’er, you are also aiming to compete for the imperial throne, right?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Does Grandmother think I shouldn’t?”

Surrounded only by Zou Fang and Huang Cheng, there was no fear of the conversation being leaked.

As for the Emperor, he never planned to hide from him nor could he.

If the Emperor wanted to listen, he surely had treasures or Secret Techniques, so there was no need to cover up.

Even Xu Yingying had the Secret Technique of intercepting Sound Transmission into Secret, let alone the Emperor of Da Jing.

Consort Rou said, ”Do you think it’s certainly Prince Ying’s?”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Doesn’t everyone think so?”

”The imperial throne’s ownership is unpredictable,” Consort Rou said, ”First become a Grandmaster, then establish feats, and finally be chosen by the Emperor’s Sword as the master. These are the three steps, actually giving everyone an equal chance.”

”Is it whoever has the most merit among the Great Grandmasters who becomes the Emperor’s Sword’s master?”

”Not necessarily,” Consort Rou said, ”The Emperor’s Sword selects not only based on feats but also character, among other things. Simply having a lot of merit isn’t enough.”

”In that case, doesn’t Uncle Ten have a better chance,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”He’s almost destined to become a Great Grandmaster, his feats are outstanding, and his character is impeccable.”

”You aren’t willing to give up the fight, are you?”

”...One must at least try,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

No matter how wise and valorous Uncle Ten was, or how kind and generous, he would inevitably make mistakes and have doubts about him.

Having the Emperor’s Sword that could annihilate him hanging above his head all the time was truly uncomfortable.

He was more accustomed to having his destiny in his own hands, with the Emperor’s Sword in his grip.

Consort Rou said softly, ”The Emperor’s Sword is spiritual, able to discern people’s hearts and nature. If you wish to compete for the imperial throne, you must not do dishonest things or, more importantly, harm your kin, as these are taboo.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded seriously.

Consort Rou said, ”Character must pass, and if you have astonishing achievements, it would be more stable. Yuan’er, what you’re lacking now is this.”

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

He actually had a thought at the beginning, using his Super Sense to deeply analyze the insights into becoming a Grandmaster, thoroughly dissecting it, thereby lowering the threshold to find the path of a Grandmaster.

In this way, martial arts experts in the Da Jing Dynasty would certainly soar, as would experts in the army.

With increased strength, there would be hope of surpassing Da Zhen and Da Meng, and unifying the three dynasties would not be a dream.

Later, he realized this idea was wrong; if he truly found a way, Da Zhen and Da Meng would certainly be able to steal it, as there were so many spies present.

With Da Jing’s strength soaring, theirs would, too.

So he hadn’t delved into it, focusing his energy on his own cultivation.

”Cough, cough, cough, cough...”

Consort Rou began to cough violently again, her veins bulging.

Bai Ningshuang hurriedly brought the Jade Bottle to her nose and mouth.

Chu Zhiyuan extended his palm, placing it on Consort Rou’s fair wrist, already beginning to Insight, discovering that her internal organs were all vibrating, forming a strange rhythm.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

No wonder it was so difficult, it was truly troublesome.

However, if it weren’t troublesome, the Emperor wouldn’t have had no way.

With clarity from his Insight, he analyzed this vibrating rhythm carefully, vaguely aware of something.

This is Outer Heaven Power!

He instantly had a conjecture and said softly, ”Grandmother, were you injured by a Demon Sect Great Grandmaster?”

Consort Rou’s eyes brightened immediately, her coughing gradually stopped, and she wiped a layer of fine sweat from her forehead with a white cloth, ”You can actually tell?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”A Great Grandmaster from the Fearless Sect, right?”

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