Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 468: Chapter 465 Intent

Chu Zhiyuan’s sword-like eyebrows immediately furrowed.

Three Great Grandmasters arrived in Yujing at the same time, and the Observatory couldn’t be unaware, yet they didn’t intervene.

These three Great Grandmasters were different from the four Great Grandmasters of the Yuding Sect; they did not conceal their cultivation, which was clearly visible.

Chu Qingyan reminded again, ”Yuan’er, give up this idea, did you hear?”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, ”I was just thinking casually, I won’t act recklessly.”

Chu Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, ”No matter how strong Da Meng is, it cannot threaten the empire of our Da Jing, but if you act recklessly, it’s not just a matter of war in the Northern Territory, it could bring disaster to our Chu Family and destabilize the country!”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

He actually had a hidden piece, which was the Fearless Sect.

In the Evil Sects that dared to kill a prince without hesitation, besides those needing royal blood, there was only the Fearless Sect.

The Fearless Sect was also on his list of eliminations, and being a tool before death could be considered waste utilization.

But the aftermath of this matter was too great.

So it must be approached with extreme caution.

Besides, there was no need to use this move; upright confrontation could also suppress Da Meng.

The masters emerging from the Martial Arts Hall were one after another, and the same was true for the masters from the Phoenix Camp.

The strength of Da Jing was rapidly increasing and would eventually suppress Da Meng.

Su Qiuyan looked around.

The three Great Grandmasters floated to the three corners of the yard, preventing outsiders from approaching and overhearing their conversation.

Su Qiuyan said softly, ”Your Highness, the Emperor has decreed that you return to the capital quickly.”

Li Hongzhao lightly frowned her eyebrows, ”How is Father? Is he really seriously ill?”

”The Emperor is... possessed by demons,” Su Qiuyan said softly, ”You need to return.”

”Possessed by demons?!” Li Hongzhao’s beautiful face darkened, lightly frowning her eyebrows, ”How could he be possessed by demons?”

”Perhaps he was too anxious.” Su Qiuyan sighed.

Li Hongzhao lightly frowned her eyebrows, ”Anxious? Because of Chu Zhiyuan?”

”Da Jing’s strength is rapidly increasing, and the Emperor wants to advance further to suppress them with the Emperor’s Sword.”

”...With my elder brother around, I don’t need to return, do I?” Li Hongzhao said.

She deeply agreed with Chu Zhiyuan’s words.

Returning now would be of no benefit, and she could not possibly contend with her elder brother.

Going back this way might make her elder brother’s supporters wary, thereby triggering their schemes.

They would slander her in the Court and the public, tarnishing her reputation.

Su Qiuyan gently shook her head, ”The Emperor urgently calls you to return, you must return.”

”...Alright.” Li Hongzhao slowly nodded, ”Then how is Father...”

Su Qiuyan said, ”His cultivation is mostly ruined, but his life is preserved.”

”Thank heavens,” Li Hongzhao breathed a sigh of relief.

Su Qiuyan said softly, ”Your Highness...”

Li Hongzhao looked at her.

Su Qiuyan glanced at the three Great Grandmasters and suddenly used secret sound transmission, ”If you don’t really want to return, there actually is no rush.”

Li Hongzhao was taken aback.

Su Qiuyan gave a meaningful look.

Li Hongzhao lightly nodded and glanced at the three Great Grandmasters, sighed, ”My father has decreed, I naturally must comply, I cannot defy the decree.”

As a Grandmaster, her senses were keen.

She could feel the distance of these three Great Grandmasters, unwilling to get involved with her.

This made her feel uneasy.

”Yes.” Su Qiuyan nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan seeing this, found that his Insight could even hear the secret sound transmissions.

After becoming a Grandmaster, the Super Sense was indeed different from before.

He quickly analyzed Su Qiuyan’s words in his mind, pondering the deeper meaning.

Su Qiuyan actually didn’t want Li Hongzhao to return, clearly harboring concerns.

Could this concern originate from the Emperor, intending to harm Li Hongzhao?

Or, if not harm, then be unfavorable to her.

As the Emperor, why would he be unfavorable to Li Hongzhao, because of the imperial throne?

Could it be to remove threats for the Eldest Prince?

In desiring the Emperor’s Sword to acknowledge a master, one cannot engage in fratricide, yet as Emperor, he can easily confine Li Hongzhao with a single word.

But it seems unnecessary, doesn’t it?

Li Hongzhao is not yet a Great Grandmaster and still cannot take the throne in the Emperor’s eyes, so what threat could she pose?

If there is a threat, once the Eldest Prince becomes emperor, there would be no threat.

This matter is unpredictable, with too many variables.

He thought of this and softly asked, ”Uncle Nine, if among the princes only one is a Great Grandmaster but lacks prestige, can the Emperor’s Sword recognize its master?”

Chu Qingyan said, ”The Emperor’s Sword is a Sword Spirit, its intelligence surpassing that of humans; in the absence of choice, it can only choose the only Great Grandmaster, as continuity cannot be broken... But if a crime of fratricide is committed, it will not recognize a master.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Then if there are two Great Grandmasters, but neither has enough prestige?”

”...Then it can only choose the one with better character and higher prestige.”

”Only one person, then it can only reluctantly recognize a master?”

”The Sword Spirit values priorities: cultivation, character, merit; cultivation and character are essential, merit and prestige can be compromised,” Chu Qingyan said, ”Why are you inquiring about this?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, smiled, and said, ”The Emperor’s Sword is indeed fascinating.”

”Are you thinking of competing for the imperial throne?” Chu Qingyan said, ”Your progress is too fast, it’s really hard to say if you can compete.”

He shook his head, ”Originally, you had great hope, but you don’t listen to advice.”

No outsiders should meddle in the struggle for the throne, and your elder brother will definitely be unhappy.

The greatest advice he could offer was for him to cultivate slower, not so fast.

It couldn’t be said directly; saying it too swiftly would mean not being able to gain merit in the army and hence, no chance for the imperial throne.

That would be a taboo.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, ”Imperial Grandfather is in his prime, I have time, maybe my uncles and Uncle Ten can all break through.”

”Uncle Ten is almost very difficult, the others haven’t even reached Grandmaster Perfection, even harder!” Chu Qingyan sighed, ”It’s thanks to you. Otherwise, it would be precarious!”

If there was really no heir, with no Great Grandmaster emerging from the Chu lineage, it would mark the beginning of Da Jing’s turmoil.

Perhaps the Chu lineage would entirely decline, losing this empire.

”And there’s Second Uncle.”

”He——?” Chu Qingyan snorted, ”He doesn’t count as part of the Chu lineage!”

”Uncle Nine,” Bai Ningshuang said softly.

Chu Qingyan waved his hand, ”Alright, alright, let’s not talk about him, after all, don’t rush, what’s yours won’t be lost, what’s not, you can’t force it.”

Chu Zhiyuan’s situation still depended on fate, on whether Chu Mingrui and others could break through to Great Grandmaster.

If not, the Emperor’s Sword had no other choice.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

His mind turned towards Li Hongzhao, pondering what the Da Meng Emperor wanted Li Hongzhao to return for.

And the Eldest Prince of Da Meng...

He recalled the Eldest Prince Li Haotian, all the information gathered by the Inspection Department.

Li Haotian was a martial arts enthusiast, with exceptional talent, a Great Grandmaster in his fifties.

He was almost always practicing martial arts, indifferent to matters of the Court.

But the Da Meng Emperor was young, and among the current princes, only the Eldest Prince had broken through to Great Grandmaster.

If he didn’t inherit the position, who would?

Even if Li Hongzhao became a Great Grandmaster, given she is a woman, she might not be suitable as Emperor.

But if Li Hongzhao became a Great Grandmaster, then the Eldest Prince would not be the sole option.

Who knows who the Emperor’s Sword would choose; what if it really chose Li Hongzhao?

If I were the Da Meng Emperor, what would I do?

The likely strategy would be to suppress Li Hongzhao’s cultivation, preventing her breakthrough to Great Grandmaster, allowing the Eldest Prince to smoothly acquire the Emperor’s Sword.

How to suppress Li Hongzhao’s cultivation?

By having her leave Yujing, distancing her from an environment where she can improve.

With a slight delay, there would be no hindrance to the Eldest Prince’s succession.