Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 356: Chapter 353 Complaining

When Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes, they emitted a cold light, like two flying knives shooting forward.

She involuntarily turned her head to avoid it.

Even so, her mind was shaken, and her head throbbed with intense pain.

Chu Zhiyuan quickly retracted his gaze.

Seeing her pained expression, he hurriedly grasped her jade-like hand, sending over a ray of breath, calming her pain.

”Whew...”

Xiao Ruoling exhaled a breath of turbid air, the pain alleviated, yet her jade face was still pale.

Chu Zhiyuan said apologetically, ”I couldn’t control it...are you feeling better?”

”It’s nothing, this Spirit Transformation is really powerful, isn’t it?” Xiao Ruoling marveled, ”It can hurt people invisibly.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

The strength of this Spirit Transformation Realm is beyond my imagination.

Of course, this is also because my spiritual power is strong, far exceeding that of ordinary people.

Actually, at this realm, there’s a faint glimpse of the Great Grandmaster’s approach.

By leveraging the spirituality of the Glazed Glass Blade, one can gather their spiritual power, condense it from dispersion into Sword Intent, and injure a person’s soul.

The spiritual power of a Great Grandmaster is gentler and harder to defend against, like raging waves crushing a person without directly harming them.

However, the Sword Intent of the Spirit Transformation Realm is straightforward, capable of injury, yet lacks the subtlety and variation of a Great Grandmaster.

Chu Zhiyuan was eager to try.

I wonder if facing a Great Grandmaster now, I could confront them head-on, or perhaps injure a Great Grandmaster.

”Then when you duel with someone, you don’t need a sword, but can harm them with just your gaze.”

”It’s too exhausting,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Using a sword is even more convenient.”

Xiao Ruoling nodded, ”It’s most effective for a sneak attack.”

Just imagining it, hurting someone with Sword Intent must rely on spiritual power.

The spiritual power of a Great Grandmaster is strong, but below the Great Grandmaster, it’s very weak.

In that case, it might be better to use a Flying Knife or Bright Moon Saber.

Such Sword Intent suddenly unleashed would surely achieve a Miracle Technique when least expected.

Chu Zhiyuan discussed joyfully with her, and it was already noon.

The two shared an intimate lunch, and Chu Zhiyuan decided to leave.

Feeling he now had the power to protect himself, he was less afraid of the Divine Envoy.

He was extremely reluctant and filled with melancholy.

The embrace of warmth is the tomb of heroes, and he didn’t want to part with Xiao Ruoling.

But in the end, he left with gritted teeth.

——

After consuming a dozen Demon Crystals, the two Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses were exhilarated, running wildly, their speed doubled.

Along the way, there was no encounter with the Netherworld God Envoy, allowing Chu Zhiyuan to breathe a sigh of relief and feel a subtle sense of disappointment.

He still wanted to verify the strength of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Returning to Yujing by evening, he went straight to wash up at the Prince Mansion before heading directly to Zhiqiu Hall.

Chu Qingfeng was still staying inside Zhiqiu Hall.

Chu Zhiyuan first inquired about the situation of the Eighteenth Princess’s entourage, but Chu Qingfeng was unaware.

Chu Zhiyuan then mentioned encountering the Netherworld God Envoy halfway, describing the face-less individual.

Chu Qingfeng’s expression changed immediately, filled with anger.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan’s curiosity, he explained with a grim face, ”The Divine Envoy is not allowed to approach the Imperial Family; that’s an unwritten rule, and he broke it!”

”Uncle, we killed the Netherworld Secret Guard; isn’t it justified that they broke the rule too?”

Chu Qingfeng said coldly, ”Dare to provoke the Divine Guard of the Imperial Family, one must die without a doubt, and the Divine Envoy shouldn’t break the rule!”

”What happens if the rule is broken?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

”Destroy his entire lineage!” Chu Qingfeng said slowly, ”Exterminate the entire line of the Netherworld God!”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”How can we exterminate them?”

”Elder brother will issue a decree, proclaiming all those who pay tribute to the Netherworld God to be defiant, and if discovered, they will be executed!” Chu Qingfeng answered, ”There will be generous rewards for those who report!”

”But the believers of the Netherworld God are in Da Lie, right?” Chu Zhiyuan frowned, ”We cannot interfere with Da Lie, we can’t achieve this step, right?”

He then laughed, ”No wonder he dared to break the rule, because he teamed up with the Da Lie Emperor, who would naturally protect them.”

Chu Qingfeng gritted his teeth and sneered, ”A king of a country actually colluding with a foreign god, truly courting death!”

Chu Zhiyuan quickly pondered.

Chu Qingfeng would never say this without reason.

There must be a reason behind it.

Why is it courting death?

He immediately figured out the reason: ”Because the Incense Fire Path will weaken the Emperor’s Sword?”

”Exactly,” Chu Qingfeng nodded with satisfaction, ”As an Emperor, allowing the Emperor’s Sword to be weakened is incredibly foolish!”

Chu Zhiyuan remained silent.

He couldn’t believe an Emperor would be so foolish, it was impossible not to notice such obvious harm.

Why then did he cultivate such a Divine Guard as the Netherworld Secret Guard?

This Da Lie Emperor is shrouded in many mysteries, worth digging into.

”For now, don’t go to Yao Yue Palace.”

”The Divine Envoy might be formidable, but the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse seems to counter him.”

”...The Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse has such a miraculous power?”

”Earlier it was thanks to the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse; they emit a peculiar power that makes the Divine Envoy shy away.”

At that time, he observed with Insight the burst of power from them, seemingly a force from their bloodline.

The Divine Envoy was wary of this power, not daring to get close.

Sadly, I have no way to harness this power and can only borrow the force of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse.

”Everything in the world counters something else, miraculously amazing, but you should still be wary of the Divine Envoy... I’ll have Elder Brother write a letter to the Da Lie Emperor, if the Divine Envoy dares to strike you, we will annihilate Da Lie!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Just afraid the Da Lie Emperor can’t control this Divine Envoy either.”

This is the foundation of my confidence, the source of the Princely Heir’s prestige.

Chu Qingfeng snorted, ”If he dares to send the Netherworld Secret Guard, don’t think of retreating safely, there’s a price to pay.”

In war, when defeated, find a way for the army to exact revenge, regain face, instead of targeting the royal family.

This is also a rule.

The Da Lie Emperor broke this rule and must face the consequences; not only Da Jing, but Da Zhen and Da Meng must also join forces against him.

Chu Zhiyuan left Zhiqiu Hall contentedly.

Once this complaint is lodged, the rest is no longer his concern.

——

He left Zhiqiu Hall and went straight to the Inspection Department, instructing Ma Tianhe to present the news of the Eighteenth Princess’s entourage.

At the same time, find all the information on the Eighteenth Princess and Gao Jiuqu.

By the time he finished reading these dossiers, night had already fallen.

As Chu Zhiyuan stepped out of the Inspection Department, he saw Zou Fang outside, looking at him in surprise.

Zou Fang smiled, ”Your Highness, my cultivation has reached Grandmaster Perfection, so I’m faster than I used to be.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This ’Lifeless Scripture’ of yours is quite marvelous.”

Zou Fang showed a bitter smile and lightly nodded, ”It’s indeed quite marvelous.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Can you elaborate?”

He had a rough idea about the Lifeless Scripture but didn’t understand the core essence of its mystery.

”Since Your Highness wants to know, it can naturally be explained,” Zou Fang said softly.

As they walked, Chu Zhiyuan listened to Zou Fang’s secret transmission analysis of the marvels of the ’Lifeless Scripture.’

After listening, as they passed by Bright Moon Tower,

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head with a heavy heart, ”Zou Fang, you don’t consider your life to be of any worth.”

Zou Fang smiled, ”We servants are lowly, our lives originally don’t count for much.”

”Nonsense,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Everyone’s life is precious, especially since you’re someone by my side.”

Indeed, different people’s lives have different values.

But Zou Fang is very important to me, and since I am the Princely Heir, his life is naturally important.

However, this Lifeless Scripture actually raises cultivation at the expense of lifespan, the faster it was raised, the more lifespan it cost.

The cultivation principle of the Lifeless Scripture is strength, which is the opposite of my goal of immortality.

Reaching Grandmaster Perfection, it consumed a full one hundred and twenty years of his lifespan.

Most importantly, the limit of the Lifeless Scripture’s enhancement is Grandmaster Perfection; advancing to Great Grandmaster requires personal effort.

If he can step into Great Grandmaster, that’s fine, but if not, he will at most live to eighty years old.

This is too much of a loss.