Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 290: Chapter 287 Refining Tendons

```html

When Chu Zhiyuan left, he found himself in a courtyard in the outer city.

This courtyard was located in the south of the city.

It was convenient to enter and exit the South City Gate, but it was somewhat far from the inner city.

Without Zou Fang by his side, he felt quite unaccustomed.

Walking among the bustling crowd, the air carried the scent of firewood burning.

It was already deep into dusk, and the evening lights had just begun to illuminate.

Every household was starting to cook, smoke rising in spirals.

Some people went straight to snack stalls after work to grab a bite, while others bought a few pounds of meat to cook at home.

Some ran to the tavern, calling friends to sing loudly and laugh heartily, carefree and wanton.

A strong incense aroma pervaded the surroundings.

As Chu Zhiyuan walked through, he scanned his surroundings with Insight.

The presence of martial arts experts was higher than in the inner city, almost everyone carried swords or knives.

Even those not proficient in martial arts would carry swords to boost their presence.

However, the cultivation level was far less than that of the inner city.

He found some experts from the Evil Sect in the crowd, and there were quite a few.

Murderous intent suddenly surged in his heart.

But after restraining himself, he ultimately did not throw the Flying Knife, not wanting to reveal the existence of the White Tripod for now.

Returning to the Prince Mansion, during dinner, Bai Ningshuang came back excitedly.

”Madam hasn’t relapsed; this time she’s completely healed, and her appetite has returned, her body greatly improved.”

Chu Yi clapped and laughed: ”I told you big brother could heal grandmother!”

Chu Minghou also revealed a smile.

Bai Ningshuang laughed: ”The ladies in the palace all praised you, they all want you to take a look.”

Chu Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand: ”This time it was grandmother’s good fortune, a coincidence that I knew how to handle it, with someone else it might not have worked.”

”I’ve already declined for you.” Bai Ningshuang said: ”But sometimes it might not be possible to refuse, in the future, some will still persist in finding you.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”I’ll do my best; if it doesn’t work once or twice, they will give up.”

”This time, everywhere I went, I encountered smiling faces.” Bai Ningshuang laughed: ”Even the ladies of the Eastern Palace and Western Palace were smiling.”

She then said: ”By the way, is Ruoling busy? Aren’t you going to see her?”

”No rush.” Chu Zhiyuan said: ”It may be delayed for a few more days.”

”Sigh...” Bai Ningshuang helplessly said: ”What’s so important about being a Holy Daughter...”

”Mother—!” Chu Yi quickly interrupted her: ”Sister Xiao being a Holy Daughter is quite nice, Yao Yue Palace sent another pile of things over today.”

”...Alright, alright.” Bai Ningshuang said helplessly: ”I can’t meddle in your young people’s affairs.”

Chu Yi laughed: ”Sister Xiao is so busy but still didn’t forget to send things over here, how nice.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked: ”What did she send?”

”Besides Sky-reaching Grass, there are some strange flowers and herbs, hehe, they’re for me.” Chu Yi beamed: ”Also some Spirit Pills, beauty Spirit Pills, said to be favorites among Yao Yue Palace disciples, known for their youth-preserving effects.”

She glanced at Bai Ningshuang: ”Yao Yue Palace women are ageless, largely because of these Spirit Pills.”

Bai Ningshuang hesitated: ”Isn’t it due to the Martial Arts Heart Method?”

”It’s partly due to the mental method, but also these Spirit Pills, mother, don’t you want them? I plan to use them.” Chu Yi said: ”To dissolve them and apply as rouge.”

”Why not use them!” Bai Ningshuang quickly said: ”You’re just a little girl, what do you need beauty pills for!”

Chu Yi laughed: ”One should start early, these Spirit Pills are unique to Yao Yue Palace, made from mysterious flowers in their secret lands, even the palace ladies don’t have them.”

”Really?” Bai Ningshuang was eager to see the Beauty Pills and try their effects immediately.

If Xiao Ruoling sent other Spirit Pills, Bai Ningshuang wouldn’t be as interested since the Prince Mansion is not as it was before, whatever Spirit Pills they desire, Chu Zhiyuan can acquire them.

But the Beauty Pills from Yao Yue Palace are different.

For a woman, the allure of a Beauty Pill is irresistible, especially with Yao Yue Palace’s disciples as examples.

Everyone knows Yao Yue Palace disciples are youthful and beautiful, seemingly never aging, the effect of the Beauty Pill.

Seeing her reaction, Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but admire Xiao Ruoling’s skill.

It hit Bai Ningshuang’s weak spot.

Taking favors engenders an obligation, having the Beauty Pill, Bai Ningshuang would not be eager to arrange a concubine for him.

After finishing the meal, he returned to his courtyard.

Zou Fang handed over a small Cold Jade Box, containing ten Sky-reaching Grass, collected by Xiao Ruoling’s orders.

Even though she was outside, she requested Yao Yue Palace to have anyone who finds Sky-reaching Grass in the Secret Land to send it over here.

The Yao Yue Palace didn’t mind the Holy Daughter’s actions.

After all, it was for her man, and Sky-reaching Grass wasn’t an extraordinary Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, so it was freely given.

Chu Zhiyuan examined the ten Sky-reaching Grass, still carrying dewdrops, obviously freshly picked.

He looked at them in confusion, thought for a moment, picked one and brought it to his lips, then put it down and tried another.

He repeated the cycle ten times, eventually placing them all back in the Cold Jade Box, his eyes filled with doubt.

”Zou Fang, where are the previous few Sky-reaching Grass?”

”Princely Heir, they’re all here.”

”Bring them over.”

”Yes.”

Zou Fang quickly returned with another small Cold Jade Box containing six Sky-reaching Grass.

These six were left over from the delivery by Yao Yue Palace a few days ago, which Chu Zhiyuan had deemed unsuitable for consumption.

Chu Zhiyuan picked up one and brought it to his mouth, his face changed completely, bewilderedly examining it, trying the other five.

Finding them all the same, his expression grew even more puzzled.

So he placed them down, concentrating on his senses, and after a short while, confirmed that his intuition was correct, he could indeed sense danger.

His hand instinctively made a sealing gesture, the second path of the Fearless Great Perfection Handprint, immediately raising a strong sense of danger.

Yet with the dozen or so Sky-reaching Grass, there was no sense of danger at all.

The six that gave him a sense of danger a few days ago no longer did, leading him to doubt whether his premonition had failed, but he confirmed it hadn’t.

So what had changed about himself?

He had started the Refining Tendons process.

Could it be that because of Refining Tendons, these previously inedible Sky-reaching Grass were now consumable?

Could Refining Tendons also have a detoxifying effect?

In his doubts, he picked up one of the previously inedible ones and put it in his mouth.

The sixth layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique for Refining Tendons began to circulate.

Golden energy flowed between his bones, rapidly strengthening the tendons between them.

The Sky-reaching Grass instantly turned into a black flame that dove into the golden light, and rather than merely toughening his meridians, the black flame also had the effect of strengthening tendons.

The tendons between his bones were originally segmented, each part separate, blocked by the bones.

Now there was a merging phenomenon.

Segmented tendons were rapidly lengthening, no longer obstructed by bones, starting to connect, forming a continuous tendon.

Chu Zhiyuan’s feeling changed immediately.

A mighty force seemed to surge from within his body, making him want to roar up at the sky.

One after another, the Sky-reaching Grass were consumed, his Refining Tendons process progressed rapidly, tendons began to lengthen, thicken, and interconnect.

When he had used half, the Sky-reaching Grass were gone, the speed suddenly slowed.

Chu Zhiyuan regretfully opened his eyes.

Reluctantly stopping the rotation, his mind was extremely fatigued, yet excitement was difficult to conceal.

He had a vague feeling that once the Refining Tendons succeeded, his physique would undergo a fundamental transformation.

That would be the true Dragon Transformation.

He longed to obtain another twenty Sky-reaching Grass to directly achieve perfection in Refining Tendons.

```