Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 360: Chapter 357: Welcoming

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Gao Jiuqu comes from a noble lineage.

His grandfather, Gao He, once served as the Minister of Personnel of Da Zhen, and retired to his hometown when the new Emperor ascended the throne.

His father, Gao Yuan, although not as outstanding as his grandfather, is also a prominent figure in the Da Zhen, with a great reputation.

The Gao Family can be described as a scholarly family.

Gao Jiuqu was called a prodigy from a young age, spoke at the age of one, started enlightenment at three, and by five, he could recite all children’s enlightenment books backward.

At the age of eight, he followed a disciple of Wentian Cliff to study martial arts.

At twelve, he formally became a true disciple at Wentian Cliff and immersed himself in ascetic cultivation, reaching the stage of Grandmaster Perfection.

During this period, he almost never descended the mountain, nor walked through the Martial Arts world.

He only returned home to visit his family twice a year; the rest of the time was spent in rigorous practice at Wentian Cliff.

He reached the Grandmaster Perfection at twenty-five.

It was universally agreed that he was destined to become a Great Grandmaster; it was only a matter of time.

However, he was stuck at this stage for five years.

At thirty, with his mind fully matured, it was the best time to step into the realm of Great Grandmaster.

Thus, he came to Da Jing.

Chu Zhiyuan, upon noticing these, felt enveloped by a genius aura.

Yet he also vaguely understood why Gao Jiuqu had been stuck at Grandmaster Perfection for five years.

Because everything was too smooth, his family status was high, his talents were high, his school was high, and he progressed smoothly all the way.

There were no waves or setbacks, no major obstacles.

Perhaps his most significant setback was being stuck for five years, and then being stuck at Innate Perfection for two years.

Without experiencing hardship, without setbacks and turmoil, without mental tempering, lacking resilience, how could he reach the realm of Great Grandmaster?

He vaguely sensed a pattern.

Gao Jiuqu came here to seek pressure and setbacks.

At thirty, he had already developed sufficient confidence and belief, so even if frustrated, he would only be more motivated, rather than collapsing.

Even if he suffered setbacks here, it wouldn’t make him break down, but stronger instead.

Thus, he could step into the realm of Great Grandmaster in one fell swoop.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

This was indeed interesting.

He then set aside these viewpoints.

After all, having never met Gao Jiuqu in person, these were merely conjectures based on reports.

Everything still hinges on seeing him in person.

Through his own Insight, it was far more accurate than others’ information.

It’s possible that Gao Jiuqu merely came to Da Jing to broaden his horizons, without any special purpose.

It’s unwise to preset the notion and prematurely push Gao Jiuqu into opposition.

——

Outside the South Gate of the outer city of Yujing City, a group of Court officials stood quietly under the protection of numerous Guards, with an air of solemnity and dignity.

Chu Zhiyuan stood at the forefront.

He led a group of Ministry of Rites officials, standing quietly in the bright sunlight waiting.

He continuously nurtured the two Sword Gangs in the Heavenly Pond Acupoint.

The Sword Gangs grew increasingly solid, like real sharp swords.

But each time they struck the copper tower, they collapsed and then recondensed, proving they weren’t real swords.

Time and again, they shattered and reformed.

In this process, the copper tower suffered damages, while the Sword Gangs grew stronger, ebbing and flowing.

However, this change process was slow.

Chu Zhiyuan estimated it would take a month to break this copper tower.

The Glazed Blade Scripture made him stronger, especially with the start of cultivating the Fourth Realm Spirit Transformation, his spirit rapidly purified and solidified, significantly affecting the Sword Gangs.

The Sword Gangs quickly strengthened, thereby shortening the process and time of breaking the copper tower.

He even felt that it wouldn’t take a month.

As the Spirit Transformation Realm advanced, the Sword Gangs would rapidly progress, significantly shortening the breaking copper tower time.

While he was pondering, horse hooves sounded, a soldier of the Imperial Army leaped off the horse, and rushed to Chu Zhiyuan: ”Assistant Minister, the envoy is a mile away.”

”Hmm, thank you for your hard work.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded, looking into the distance down the official road.

The broad and straight official road was flanked by dense woods, with some pine trees still bearing snow.

A heavy snowfall occurred the night before last; the remaining snow lay in the shaded areas.

The air carried a freshness and crispness of melting snow.

The end of the official road was the woods, already 300 meters away.

Shortly thereafter, horse hooves sounded, followed by high banners and canopy of various colors, waving in the wind.

Behind the ceremonial guard were four white ferghana horses pulling a large zitan carriage.

The wide and large carriage could accommodate more than a dozen people.

The carriage’s cabin was engraved with patterns of various birds and flowers, gleaming with golden decorations.

Flanking the carriage were eunuchs and maids holding ruyi scepters.

Outside them were layers of Guards.

Among them, a middle-aged man was particularly striking.

With well-groomed eyebrows, bright eyes, a face like Crown Jade, a tall stature, upright like a pine tree, exuding a gentle and refined demeanor.

Like a jade tree standing against the wind, making those around him think of the words ”graceful and handsome.”

At a glance, Chu Zhiyuan recognized him as Gao Jiuqu.

Beside Gao Jiuqu was someone familiar to Chu Zhiyuan, Mo Chunyu, the Great Grandmaster.

Under Insight, the situation within the carriage was clear.

Sitting inside the carriage were four women.

The one in the center was a peerless beauty with a clear melon-seed face, full cherry lips, a prominent bridge, and long eyes.

She was holding a scroll, reading intently, seemingly part of a world of her own, unaffected by the outside world.

Seated opposite was an elegant middle-aged woman, resting with closed eyes, motionless.

Two pretty maids were gathering the carriage curtains, watching curiously to the sides with sparkling, excited eyes.

Chu Zhiyuan retracted his Insight.

The elegant middle-aged woman was a Great Grandmaster.

He speculated that Da Zhen had more than one female Great Grandmaster, not knowing who this was.

Her visualization was a majestic peak standing amid the clouds, half-revealed like a heavenly godly peak.

At the top of the peak was a pitch-black sky, filled with countless densely packed stars forming patterns.

These patterns seemed to have a rhythm within, suggestive of conveying something collectively.

With one glance at this visualization, he knew she was a Great Grandmaster of Wentian Cliff.

Mo Chunyu was a Great Grandmaster of Wentian Cliff, and this woman was also from Wentian Cliff.

The strength of Wentian Cliff was indeed astounding.

He found that when using Insight on Great Grandmasters, he no longer felt as confused, dizzy, or nauseous as before.

Just slightly uncomfortable, it could last continuously.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t use Insight on the internal body of Great Grandmasters, as their bodies’ spirit light shielded it.

However, Insight on others’ internal bodies was unhindered, including that of Gao Jiuqu and Princess Cheng Miaozhen inside the carriage.

Not to mention Gao Jiuqu, this Princess Cheng Miaozhen also turned out to be a Grandmaster expert, having just reached the First Layer Heaven.

This wasn’t mentioned in any reports.

The mental method she practiced was unusual, showing no unusual signs on the surface, no flow of energy.

In fact, there were two types of Gang Qi simultaneously flowing within her, canceling each other out, becoming invisible as if positive and negative merged into one.

Chu Zhiyuan was amazed.

Such a miraculous mental method was unprecedented; this Princess, the Eighteenth, indeed possessed hidden talents.

Besides the two Great Grandmasters and the two Grandmasters like Gao Jiuqu, there were four other Grandmasters, and eighteen Innates among the other experts.

This time, the guards were not Lingshuang Iron Cavalry, but rather ordinary Princess Mansion Guards.

It was apparent that the presence of two Great Grandmasters and a Grandmaster Perfection, along with four Grandmasters, negated the need for Lingshuang Iron Cavalry.

Cheng Tianfeng bringing Lingshuang Iron Cavalry largely showcased their prowess.

Chu Zhiyuan led the group of officials to meet, exchanging pleasantries.

He first greeted the officials in the envoy, then advanced to see Princess Cheng Miaozhen.

The carriage door opened, and Princess Cheng Miaozhen stepped down, light and graceful, assisted by two maids.

In her dark green palace gown, her skin was like snow, her beauty absolute.

Chu Zhiyuan bowed and saluted, smiling, ”Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey. The Imperial Grandfather has already prepared a banquet in the palace to welcome Your Highness tomorrow night.”

His gaze was honest, regarding Cheng Miaozhen’s beauty as ordinary, displaying a perfectly balanced smile.

Cheng Miaozhen, elegant and composed, replied calmly, ”The Emperor’s hospitality, Miaozhen shall attend.”

”Your Highness, please—!” Chu Zhiyuan stepped aside respectfully.

He could sense the coldness and detachment from Cheng Miaozhen, as well as some resistance.

”Assistant Minister, please.” Cheng Miaozhen said softly.

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