Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 469: Chapter 466: Parting Gift

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So these three Great Grandmasters came not to escort Li Hongzhao, but to monitor or even escort Li Hongzhao?

Chu Zhiyuan was thoughtful.

However, the Emperor’s intentions cannot be accurately guessed by outsiders.

The Emperor’s heart is unfathomable, and this is no joke.

It’s not because the Emperor is highly shrewd, full of stratagems, or has formidable methods; not every Emperor is exceptionally skillful.

It’s because of the information gap.

After all, being at different levels, the information obtained is also different.

The information and secrets the Emperor receives are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

Certain decisions that are made as a matter of course based on these messages and information may seem incomprehensible to outsiders.

The secrets in this world, in heaven and earth, are too many, and what one knows is too little.

Thinking of this, he decided to observe quietly and had no intention of helping Li Hongzhao.

The two were not friends but rivals by nature, and even now, with Da Meng and Da Jing negotiating peace, this relationship could not change.

”Alright, I will go back now.” Chu Qingyan pushed away the chessboard and stood up.

Bai Ningshuang said, ”Uncle Nine, today at noon, you three gentlemen should have a drink.”

”...Alright.” Chu Qingyan sat back down.

He felt more comfortable at the Prince Qing Mansion than at his own Prince Mansion, and certainly more than at the Registrar of Feudal Clans.

This time, he took the opportunity to stay at the Prince Mansion.

He felt that his Prince Mansion lacked warmth; husband and wife were as courteous as guests, and the father-son relationship was distant.

Unlike this Prince Qing Mansion, which, despite being a prince mansion, felt like an ordinary household, where everyone was close and intimate; this was a true family.

He was getting old and appreciated this sense of humanity rather than pursuing glory and wealth.

Chu Zhiyuan then casually mentioned the rumors he had spread about the Evil Emperor.

Chu Qingyan snorted, ”Only you would dare to use such a move; others wouldn’t dare.”

Chu Zhiyuan understood his meaning; if others dared to do so, they would have been heavily punished by the Court.

Benefiting from the light of his Princely Heir status, he laughed and said, ”Will those evildoers fall for it?”

”They will,” Chu Qingyan said: ”The Evil Emperor... The status of this Evil Emperor in the Evil Sect is so revered that outsiders cannot imagine it.”

”What has this Evil Emperor done?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

”The first person in history to ascend through evil practices,” Chu Qingyan replied.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Being able to ascend is indeed extraordinary.”

Thousands of years ago, nature’s spiritual energy was abundant, and the limits of cultivation were higher, but even so, those who ascended were very few, harder than today’s Grandmasters.

Chu Qingyan shook his head, ”Back then, the Evil Sect was a desperate choice for those with poor aptitude, despised and weak... Today’s Evil Sect is far more rampant than it was thousands of years ago; times have changed.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

The cultivation environment was different; back then, the True Sect’s cultivation methods were also extremely fast.

At the time, the Evil Sect was a desperate choice for those with insufficient aptitude, offering no advantages compared to the True Sect, with even more restrictions.

In that era, being able to ascend with evil skills was extremely rare and must have a secret.

This was unimaginably attractive and irresistible to disciples of the Evil Sect.

”But be careful with this matter, don’t mess it up, as it would ruin your reputation.”

”Yes.”

”Your reputation is already very high; if this matter causes you to be in a miserable state, it won’t be worth it.”

”Uncle, I do want to eliminate these evildoers.”

”For so many years, what the Emperor’s Sword couldn’t achieve with the Evil Sect...” Chu Qingyan shook his head: ”Just strive to have a clear conscience, don’t push too hard.”

”...Yes,” Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

He knew that saying more would be futile; Chu Qingyan’s judgment was a normal one and not unreasonable.

——

In the early morning.

Yujing City is a city that never sleeps, but still closes its gates at night.

At the opening of the city gates in the morning, the vehicles and people outside formed two lines and entered the city after inspection.

Among the City Guards, there were Grandmasters and Grandmasters skilled in sensing to prevent any Evil Sect members from entering.

At the time of the opening of the city gates, it was usually the time for entry, and beside it, there was another gate for exits.

Those leaving the city did not need to queue or get inspected, thus moving quickly.

A troop of riders drew particular attention.

Over a hundred riders all clad in dark green armor, exuding a formidable aura, possessing the momentum of a myriad of troops in motion.

Amidst these dark green iron riders was a chestnut horse, riding on it was a woman clad in red robes, her figure graceful and tall, with peaks and valleys. Even veiled, her allure and boldness could be felt.

Two beautiful maids rode black horses beside her.

They exited the west gate and set out on the straight, open official road. Just as they were about to gallop, the woman in red suddenly pulled the reins.

All the riders came to a halt and stopped in unison.

The woman on the horse gazed toward a small pavilion not far from the official road, where a young man in a mink coat stood with his hands behind him, radiating handsomeness—it was Chu Zhiyuan.

Zou Fang followed Chu Zhiyuan, seemingly hidden in shadows, not easily noticeable.

Upon seeing Li Hongzhao looking over, Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands in greeting and smiled.

Li Hongzhao waved.

The Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry parted to form a path, and she galloped to the front of the pavilion, stopping to gaze at him.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at her.

She also looked steadily at Chu Zhiyuan.

Their gazes collided in the air, appearing at first glance like reluctant lovers.

Chu Zhiyuan broke the silence, saying, ”With this parting, I’m afraid we’ll have no more meetings in the future.”

Li Hongzhao replied, ”I will come back to Yujing.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Even if you want to return, there may not be an opportunity; your journey’s outcome is uncertain.”

”No matter what,” Li Hongzhao said, ”I am determined to return.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded and took a small knife from his sleeve, presenting it to Li Hongzhao.

Li Hongzhao glanced at it but didn’t reach for it.

Chu Zhiyuan released his hold, and the exquisite little knife instantly floated in the air.

He pointed toward it, ”This knife is my personal belonging. If you require my assistance, send someone with this knife to find me.”

Li Hongzhao chuckled lightly, ”I’m truly flattered.”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”After all, we are acquainted, having shared hardships; there is some friendship between us.”

The flying knife wafted over slowly.

Li Hongzhao took hold of the delicately crafted knife; its coldness instantly seeped into her bones.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”How can I find Your Highness?”

”...With this.” Li Hongzhao unfastened a jade pendant from her waist and tossed it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan caught it, feeling its warm and fragrant touch.

He tucked it into his sleeve, ”If I have a request in the future, I will send someone with this jade pendant to meet.”

Li Hongzhao, sitting on the horse, her radiant phoenix eyes, said, ”Chu Zhiyuan, we will meet again.”

”Then we shall say, until we meet again,” Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands in greeting.

Li Hongzhao returned the gesture, pulled the reins, and turned around, galloping into the distance.

In the rumbling of horse hooves, over a hundred Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry caught up with Li Hongzhao, shielding her in the center and quickly disappearing into the distance.

Chu Zhiyuan stood in the pavilion, gazing into the distance where they disappeared, shook his head, and sighed.

Zou Fang remained silent.

Chu Zhiyuan retrieved the jade pendant from his sleeve, one side incised with a phoenix and the other engraved with the Feng Wen ”Zhao” character.

The jade pendant, verdant and lustrous, of inestimable value.

He closed his eyes to sense, instantly feeling a vague direction.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

With this, he could easily find Li Hongzhao and sense whether Li Hongzhao was near.

Similar to the statues of the Evil Sect.

Having acquired this, this trip was not in vain.

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