Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 459: Chapter 456: The Secret

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Unlike Gao Jiuqu, who longed for friends in his solitude, he was more composed.

Gao Jiuqu, being a gentleman of elegance, was naturally a good choice for a friend.

The Wentian Secret Technique is indeed miraculous and indefensible; if one becomes an opponent, it will be very difficult to deal with, and one cannot simply kill them.

Might as well become friends; transforming an enemy into a friend can instead lend a helping hand.

Like this time, facing the danger of the mansion’s destruction.

If it weren’t for Gao Jiuqu’s reminder, he would truly regret and lament it for a lifetime.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”After Brother Gao leaves, what about the Eighteenth Prince’s side...?”

Gao Jiuqu showed a helpless expression.

Chu Zhiyuan curiously looked at him.

Gao Jiuqu shook his head and sighed, ”The Eighteenth Prince’s situation is very troublesome.”

”In what way is it troublesome?”

”The Consort has yet to return to the palace,” Gao Jiuqu said, ”The Emperor is utterly furious.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Would the Consort dare defy the Emperor’s decree? Has the Emperor delivered the decree?”

Gao Jiuqu shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan seemed thoughtful: ”It seems the relationship between the Consort and the Emperor is rather strained?”

Gao Jiuqu slowly nodded: ”The incident of the Seventeenth Prince entering Wentian Cliff caused quite a stir; this time, it was even bigger because of the Eighteenth Prince, and the Consort’s serious illness leading to death was also due to this.”

”Is it because the Emperor feels guilty and cannot bear to force the decree?”

”...Maybe so.” Gao Jiuqu hesitated, clearly lacking confidence.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Or is it that the Emperor knows the decree is useless and would only cause self-embarrassment?”

”...”

Gao Jiuqu lightly coughed twice, shifting his gaze elsewhere.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and said, ”Is the Emperor tolerating this because of the Seventeenth Prince’s sake?”

Gao Jiuqu said, ”The Seventeenth Prince is not sufficient to make the Emperor do so.”

”Not many princes have entered Wentian Cliff, right?”

”There are six princes and several princely heirs; the Seventeenth Prince is not considered the most outstanding among them.”

”So is it a quarrel between the Emperor and her? An emotional dispute?”

If the Seventeenth Prince’s face wasn’t large enough, under normal circumstances, the Emperor would have long exiled the Consort to the Cold Palace, not allowing such disobedience.

Enraged but not issuing the decree, harboring misgivings, it could be due to other reasons.

Very likely, it’s feelings.

Gao Jiuqu nodded: ”The feelings between the Emperor and the Consort are indeed different.”

Chu Zhiyuan showed a curious expression.

Gao Jiuqu hesitantly explained that the Consort met the Emperor while he was in plain clothes.

Not with the identity of the Emperor did he fall in love with the Consort, so the Consort liked the man himself, not his power and status.

After learning of the Emperor’s identity, the Consort left directly. In the end, it took considerable effort to find and persuade her to enter the palace.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with emotion: ”Lovers eventually become estranged; what a pity.”

”Indeed a pity,” Gao Jiuqu also lamented, ”But regardless, the Emperor’s feelings for the Consort are different.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

It seems, no matter which Emperor, they all like going incognito.

And like finding women during such undercover times, a woman met during such times holds a different position in their heart.

During quarrels, the Emperor often doesn’t easily use his emperor’s privilege and tends to deal with it like an ordinary person.

After reminiscing for a while, Gao Jiuqu conveyed another piece of news: the Seventeenth Prince is coming to Yujing.

He wants to reunite with the Consort; the Seventeenth Prince is already a Grandmaster and can travel down the mountain.

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t mind much, nodded, and then brought up the matter of the statues.

Gao Jiuqu readily agreed.

He would send a message back to have the Evil Sect statues collected by Wentian Cliff sent over.

The statues are of no use to Wentian Cliff anymore, and if they were useful, they would have long been used.

...

Chu Zhiyuan bid farewell to him and went to Bright Moon Tower to see Li Hongzhao.

He also put forth the request to Li Hongzhao to gather statues of the Evil Sect across the world.

Li Hongzhao hesitated a bit, but after being reproached by Chu Zhiyuan, she agreed.

She then mocked Chu Zhiyuan for being too naive; the Evil Sect could never be eradicated completely.

This is something no one can do; as long as human nature is as it is, the Evil Sect cannot be eradicated.

Chu Zhiyuan told her to stop rambling, even if it’s difficult, it must be attempted.

Infuriated, Li Hongzhao stomped her feet and left.

...

Chu Zhiyuan then went out of the city to Xu Yingying’s manor.

Upon seeing him, Xu Yingying was immediately excited, circling around him with the expression as if she was looking at a treasure.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, fully relaxed in mind and spirit.

As for his quest for the Evil Sect statues, Xu Yingying agreed wholeheartedly.

There are surely Evil Sect statues in the Divine Sect; as for how many, she didn’t know, but she would bring them all.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands in thanks.

Xu Yingying waved her jade-like hand, wanting to try cultivating again after becoming a Great Grandmaster, curious about what difference it would make compared to being a Grandmaster.

They pressed their palms together and continued cultivating.

...

After an hour, Xu Yingying opened her eyes, excitedly leaping up and cheering.

Having become a Great Grandmaster, as a Miao Ling Pearl, the effects were even stronger.

Xu Yingying broke through several layers successively and directly reached the Ninth Layer Heaven, just one step short of Perfection.

She marveled continuously, this breakthrough speed was something she couldn’t have imagined before.

Even holding the Miao Ling Pearl, it was never this fast.

Evidently, becoming a Miao Ling Pearl increased her realm ascent with the disparity in cultivation.

When comprehending her techniques, it wasn’t like she was slowly exploring the path of operating, but as if external forces impatiently revealed the best operating path for her.

As if divinely imparted.

This sensation was too wondrous, exceedingly exciting for her.

Once Xu Yingying calmed her excitement, Chu Zhiyuan spoke of his concerns.

How to progress further, and he asked if the Jiuli Divine Sect had a Great Grandmaster of the Second Layer.

Xu Yingying said, ”The Sect Hierarch cultivated to the Second Layer, supposedly using the Observation Method; it took over three hundred years to breakthrough. As for you, don’t trouble yourself needlessly, no need to overthink, the First Layer is sufficient.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head.

”Our Jiuli Scripture can continue upward, but in this world, a Great Grandmaster of the First Layer is the limit; breaking through is too difficult, not a problem with the technique, but the constraints of the world’s power.”

”World’s power constraints?”

”In ancient times, our cultivation techniques were different, and our people were also different from before.”

”How were the people different?”

”It is said at that time, we didn’t have these three towers upon us.”

”...Why is it so?” Chu Zhiyuan was skeptical: ”Could someone have embedded these three towers in everyone’s body?”

This seemed a bit far-fetched.

”This is due to a change in the world; some call it the Heavenly Crack, others call it the Sky Pillar Hall, and some call it the Sky Suppressing Palace. Anyway, there are many versions, but breaking through all the layers is impossible.”

Xu Yingying, saying this, looked around, lowered her voice, and whispered, ”This is an unwritten secret, passed down verbally.”

Her rosy complexion was glowing, her bright eyes were lively and brilliant.

Seeing her, Chu Zhiyuan could feel the vibrant vitality.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

His mood was heavy.

A Great Grandmaster’s power is strong, but too insignificant compared to the world’s forces.

Does attempting to break beyond realms mean contending with the world?

As difficult as climbing to heaven.

Yet immortality itself was a defiance of the heavens, it must be tried regardless of difficulty, otherwise, this life would be in vain.

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