Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 281: Chapter 278: Delivering

Huang Cheng heard his words and smiled bitterly, ”Your Highness, His Majesty means that you should slow down now.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”When the water flows, a channel is formed; naturally, I should breakthrough to the next layer. Should I intentionally hinder myself?”

Huang Cheng smiled wryly, ”Your Highness’s previous rapid progress may not be a good thing.”

”Imperial Envoy Huang, you are a Grandmaster, you should know the key points. Please explain carefully, why is it not advisable to advance too quickly?”

”This...” Huang Cheng hesitated.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Imperial Envoy Huang, I know that each Grandmaster has their own methods and cannot be generalized. Listening to others’ methods may not be correct, and could even be disruptive, but there must be some commonalities. Not just my Imperial Grandfather, but others have also told me my progress is too fast and inappropriate. I want to know the reason.”

”...Then should I humbly offer some thoughts?”

”I am all ears.”

”In fact, as I see it, advancing from Grandmaster to Great Grandmaster is about pursuing a state of Perfection. What is Perfection? It is about filling in the gaps.”

”So a Grandmaster fills in gaps step by step?”

”A Grandmaster’s Gang Qi is cultivated with both heart and energy, thus condensing the seed of divine intent. When the seed sprouts, the achievement of Great Grandmaster is at hand.”

”Heart and energy... So it’s not just training Gang Qi, but also refining the heart? The heart must keep up with the changes in Gang Qi?”

”You are indeed clever and perceptive, Your Highness!” Huang Cheng clapped his hands in praise.

He did not expect Chu Zhiyuan to understand so intuitively.

Many people would be confused and unclear upon hearing this.

This is what is called perception.

Without perception, no matter how clearly it’s explained, it’s impossible to understand, shrouded in confusion.

For those with high perception, they can grasp the essence instantly, making connections easily.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Is Imperial Grandfather worried that my heart cannot keep up with the changes in Gang Qi?”

”First Layer Heaven corresponds to a mental state,” Huang Cheng said softly, ”Your Highness, your progress is too fast, entering the next layer without even realizing the mental state, using the breakthrough force of the Innate Realm, which is not appropriate... In this world, where there is yin, there must be yang. The difficulty in advancing in the Grandmaster Realm may not be a bad thing.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”I believe there is more than one method to achieve Great Grandmaster; my method may not necessarily be wrong.”

Huang Cheng smiled, ”Your Highness, from energy to heart, with a steady mind, the spirit is consolidated. This is an ironclad rule, without exceptions.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Why did Imperial Grandfather not remind me earlier?”

Huang Cheng said, ”His Majesty’s wisdom is as vast as the sea, beyond what I can fathom.”

Chu Zhiyuan pondered, ”It seems these final two layers are most important to the Purple Sun Scripture.”

Huang Cheng was stunned.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly said, ”Imperial Grandfather did not remind me earlier but does so now, advising me to slow down a bit on these last two layers.”

Huang Cheng said, ”His Majesty’s wisdom is as vast as the sea, beyond what I can fathom... However, I know that His Majesty can never be wrong.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded at him, ”Thank you for your guidance, Imperial Envoy Huang.”

The key points which were vaguely mentioned in some Great Grandmasters’ Martial Arts Notes were not as clear as this.

Huang Cheng’s words pierced through the veil.

Energy, heart, spirit—just one sentence revealed the real secret, truly the true essence among genuine teachings.

False teachings may appear in countless writings, but the genuine teaching is in one sentence.

The Purple Sun Scripture that I practice is indeed a Miracle Technique that easily leads to the Great Grandmaster.

And these last two layers of heaven might be the critical points, so I can’t go too fast.

Thinking of this, Chu Zhiyuan slowly said, ”Imperial Envoy Huang, please convey to my Imperial Grandfather that I will not use the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill on these final two layers.”

”Yes.” Huang Cheng agreed and then took his leave.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at the First Grade Merit Token in his hand.

This First Grade Merit must wait to be redeemed for a Transcendence Pill.

The breakthrough of these final two layers will require gradual effort, using the Sword Nourishing Technique as the best method.

——

In the ensuing days, Chu Zhiyuan alternated between practicing the Sword Nourishing Technique, using two Sword Gangs to attack the Copper Tower, and attending the Ministry of Rites office.

After training at Mingwu Hall, he would go to the Ministry of Rites, no longer just showing up to make an appearance before quickly returning to Prince Mansion for cultivation, ignoring governmental affairs.

He started staying at the Ministry of Rites to review documents or occasionally visiting the Inspection Department.

With the departure of the Da Zhen Mission, the Martial Arts experts in Yujing City quickly diminished, and problems also decreased.

The news of Evil Sect experts in Yujing City being killed invisibly shocked the heroes.

The Military Suppression Department grew peaceful, and the Sect Martial Department followed suit.

As a Left Vice Minister, Chu Zhiyuan also enjoyed tranquility, except for Gao Lingfeng, who was somewhat unaccustomed.

Time passed quickly amidst such monotony.

That morning, while he was browsing documents, an officer came to report that someone outside had delivered a letter.

Zou Fang stepped forward to take the letter, opened it with no issues, and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced and frowned in thought.

Gao Lingfeng was reviewing documents at the lower-left desk.

Although Chu Zhiyuan was present, he hardly reviewed the documents, just browsing and looking for old records.

For new cases, he merely read them, leaving most of the reviews to Gao Lingfeng.

”Let’s go, have a look,” Chu Zhiyuan stood up and said, ”Master Gao, I’ll go ahead.”

”Yes, my lord, please go ahead.” Gao Lingfeng stood up, cupped his hands, and watched Chu Zhiyuan leave.

...

Chu Zhiyuan walked leisurely, with Guo Chi and the others guarding around, preventing anyone from getting close, highly vigilant.

After extinguishing the Yuding Sect and Secret Shadow Sect again, the enmity grew deeper, and they would certainly try to assassinate him.

Zou Fang followed closely behind.

Chu Zhiyuan was very curious about what the two of the Wuyou Sect wanted with him.

His impression of the two was very favorable.

They seemed quite sincere, making him feel that the Wuyou Sect was not as bad as he initially thought.

He reached a grove near the South Gate of the outer city, meeting Li Yilong and Song Yichun.

The two had been waiting for a long time, and upon seeing him, they greeted him with cupped hands and smiles.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Brother Li, Miss Song, how have you been?”

He noticed they looked weathered, indicating they were in a hurry.

Song Yichun took a package from Li Yilong and tossed it over, ”As Your Highness guessed, Brother Cheng indeed entered the Cave Mansion first and obtained this.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Impressive.”

Zou Fang had already taken the package and opened it, revealing a pile of books, among which was a parchment with the words Qiankun Six Absolute Palm written on it.

He showed it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the two.

Song Yichun smiled, ”This was from Lu Yaofeng’s inheritance, obtained by Brother Cheng, here to present it to Your Highness.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled, ”And how is your Brother Cheng doing now?”

”He’s already been riddled with arrows,” Song Yichun sighed, ”He joined the Evil Sect, a crime unforgivable.”

Li Yilong’s expression immediately turned somber.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”How did he find the Cave Mansion, and how did he enter it?”

Li Yilong showed remorse, ”It was because we were not tight-lipped, Brother Cheng managed to find out through indirect questioning.”

He sighed, ”If we had kept the secret, it might not have led to this outcome.”

Song Yichun glared at him discontentedly, ”Brother Cheng was too clever for his own good; he only has himself to blame, who else can he blame?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Using your camaraderie to seize the opportunity to enter the Cave Mansion first, completely disregarding the severe penalties you two would face, it’s unnecessary to speak of brotherly ties with such a scoundrel.”

Song Yichun agreed wholeheartedly, ”Every word of Your Highness is true.”

”Why did it come to this...” Li Yilong still couldn’t understand, ”Brother Cheng wasn’t like this when he was in the sect.”

Song Yichun said, ”People change, Brother, there’s no need to be this way.”

Chu Zhiyuan received the Qiankun Six Absolute Palm secret manual and lightly struck it with his palm.

With a muffled ”bang,” the secret manual was instantly reduced to powder, fluttering down.

Song Yichun and Li Yilong were both amazed at him.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”This secret manual, even if authentic, is filled with traps; it’s best not to look at it.”

In fact, Super Sense had already allowed him to see everything clearly.

This was actually a genuine secret manual.

”This...” Li Yilong couldn’t help but exclaim, ”Your Highness is indeed decisive!”

Even if he had such a suspicion, he would never directly destroy the manual, at least he would take a look at it first.

This is the Royal Heir, who lacks nothing, thus destroying an inheritance of Grandmaster martial arts without even glancing at it?

Such decisiveness and openness.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Allow me to fulfill my role as the host, I have a place outside the city to relax, please follow me.”

He invited them to a secluded valley.

The valley, once surrounded by Purple Stone, had been cleared and transformed into a manor, belonging to Chu Zhiyuan.