Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 592: Chapter 588 Desire to See

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Chu Zhiyuan observed Li Hongzhao standing at the entrance of Chengtian Hall, gazing intently at his back.

Her clear eyes remained on him until he left the palace gate.

After passing through the gate, she still stood there, staring fixedly.

At first glance, it seemed like a deep, affectionate gaze.

This was not the emotion between a man and a woman.

It was because Li Hongzhao felt lonely, unable to find someone to talk to.

The only person she could speak freely with was leaving, making her feel sorrow and helplessness.

Loneliness is the cost of being an Emperor.

As he continued to walk out of another palace gate, his Super Sense began to be obscured.

The mist formed by the Emperor’s Sword enveloped her, encompassing the entire Imperial Palace within.

He could no longer observe.

Without stopping, he left the palace and headed with Zou Fang to Da Jing Hall at the Four Directions Pavilion.

At a tavern, he instructed Zou Fang to order a meal, then strolled leisurely through Tianjing City.

Wherever he walked, the hidden members of the Evil Sect within Tianjing City silently died one by one.

The Sword Soul in his mind grew stronger, maturing to the mental age of about twelve.

This was all the result of breaking into one Evil Sect Main Altar after another over the past three months.

The Main Altars of the Evil Sect gathered top experts from various sects, mostly Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters, making the souls he obtained stronger.

He speculated that if he could break all the Main Altars of the Evil Sect in Da Zhen and Da Jing, the Sword Soul would reach complete Perfection, becoming his true Avatar.

Once the Sword Soul reached Perfection, it would completely unify with his own soul, with no distinction.

Moreover, the connection between the Sword Soul and his own soul would become even closer and inseparable.

At that time, he might be able to connect with the Sword Soul Avatar beside Xiao Ruoling.

Thinking of this made him somewhat impatient.

...

Outside the Da Jing Hall courtyard, Meng Gengbai, Wan Bicheng, and Zhao Rongfei were all waiting.

With Wan Bicheng mediating, the tension between Meng Gengbai and Zhao Rongfei eased, allowing them to chat and laugh.

The two agreed to spar again, to see whether the Flowing Wind Sword Technique or the White Rainbow Form was superior.

This would also help improve each other.

Wan Bicheng remarked, ”I’ve heard that the Princely Heir will be ending his journey in Da Meng and returning to Da Jing, or perhaps going to Da Zhen.”

”Indeed,” Zhao Rongfei nodded.

Both the Praying Spirit Sect and the Golden Saber Sect were well-informed.

They had been diligently collecting information on Chu Zhiyuan, closely watching his every move.

Even the entire populace of Tianjing was focusing on Chu Zhiyuan’s actions, tracking which Evil Sect Main Altar he broke and how many sects he defeated.

Wan Bicheng sighed, ”Once the Princely Heir departs, it will be difficult for him to return.”

Zhao Rongfei showed a look of regret.

They all understood this.

Chu Zhiyuan’s prestige in Da Meng had grown too high, causing concern from both the Court and the various sects in the Martial Arts world.

Thus, unless absolutely necessary, the Da Meng Court would not invite Chu Zhiyuan again.

If the Court does not invite him, how could the Princely Heir come unbidden?

Zhao Rongfei looked up at the sky, gazing at the ice-like bright moon, shaking his head, ”No matter how late it is, I must see the Princely Heir. If truly missed, who knows when we will meet again.”

”Exactly so,” Meng Gengbai agreed.

As the three spoke, Chu Zhiyuan and Zou Fang approached leisurely.

The three hurried to greet them.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and invited them into the courtyard, while Zou Fang swiftly set the food and wine on the table.

The four sat inside, drinking and chatting casually.

Zhao Rongfei said, ”Princely Heir, you’ve worked hard on this journey. Have all the Evil Sect Main Altars within our Da Meng been eliminated?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Meng Gengbai sighed, ”The Princely Heir’s merits are immeasurable.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly, ”I truly dare not claim the credit, as this was not for the sake of Da Meng, but to prevent our Da Jing from being harmed by the Evil Sect, thus needing to clear the Main Altars of the three dynasties.”

Meng Gengbai said, ”Question not the intent, but the action. Regardless of the motive, the fact remains.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head, ”How have you been recently?”

”Gradually improving,” Meng Gengbai grinned, ”I’ve truly entered the realm of swordsmanship.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”That’s good.”

He looked at Zhao Rongfei.

Zhao Rongfei said, ”I’ve also grasped the essentials of the sword technique.”

...

When Chu Zhiyuan appeared once again at the South City Gate of Yujing, he surprisingly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

In just three months, it felt as though three years or even thirty years had passed.

Yujing was still the same Yujing, yet it seemed not the same.

As he entered the city, no trace of the Evil Sect experts was visible.

Yujing City seemed to have become a forbidden land for Evil Sect experts.

This satisfied him greatly.

His efforts had not been in vain; he had truly driven out the Evil Sect.

If after all this work he still couldn’t eradicate the Evil Sect from Yujing City, it would indeed be a joke.

He returned to Prince Qing Mansion, naturally causing a commotion.

To his surprise, Chu Yi and Li Suyue had both reached Grandmaster Perfection.

The speed of their progress exceeded his expectations by far.

He knew the two women had been advancing rapidly with the help of the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree, but this rate of improvement still astonished him.

The marvel of the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree surpassed imagination.

He had thought that if the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree were this marvelous, the Yongling Divine Sect would have already dominated the world.

Clearly, the Yongling Divine Sect’s Eternal Spirit Divine Tree was not this powerful.

Its marvel was likely due to the Spirit Summoning Talisman granting it sentience.

After awakening its intelligence, it fully displayed its wondrous utility, providing such powerful assistance to the two women.

...

The night-lights came on

In the back garden of Prince Qing Mansion

In a small pavilion on the lake, lights shone brightly as a family of four sat by the table.

”Father, I want to visit Imperial Grandfather.”

”Tomorrow, go see the Emperor,” Chu Minghou nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him in surprise.

Chu Minghou said, ”The Emperor said the time has come.”

”Father, what is this about?”

”I don’t know either,” Chu Minghou shook his head, ”The Emperor’s actions are always unfathomable.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

No matter what, he intended to speak directly to the Emperor and ask in person.

”Yuan’er, what’s happened with Ruoling?” Bai Ningshuang said, ”Is there a problem?”

Chu Zhiyuan hesitated.

Chu Yi said, ”If Sister Xiao were just in seclusion for cultivation, she would have instructed the Yao Yue Palace disciples to deliver gifts regularly, but there have been no gifts for three months!”

Chu Zhiyuan replied, ”Ruoling has entered the Profound Yin Palace and temporarily cannot come out.”

”What do you mean?” Bai Ningshuang was startled and hastily asked, ”Why can’t she come out?”

Chu Zhiyuan stated, ”It’s akin to seclusion, perhaps for several years or even longer.”

”Is there no danger to her life?” Bai Ningshuang asked.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

The Holy Daughter of the Profound Yin Palace of ten thousand years ago hadn’t returned, but Xiao Ruoling and the others might still come back.

It was too soon to say they wouldn’t return.

Bai Ningshuang said, ”Then what about your engagement...”

”Let’s wait and see for now,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”We’re still young.”

”...Alright,” Bai Ningshuang reluctantly agreed.

She thought it was too difficult for him to marry.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Minghou, ”Father, what about Second Uncle...”

Chu Minghou’s expression changed slightly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I want to visit Second Uncle’s Prince Mansion.”

Chu Minghou sighed, ”Yuan’er, have you thought it through, you really want to visit your Second Uncle’s residence?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Second Uncle will not appear again, right?”

Chu Minghou sighed and nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Then I want to take a look.”

”Alright then,” Chu Minghou said, ”before or after seeing the Emperor?”

”I’ll visit Imperial Grandfather first,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”and seek his opinion as well.”

He had long wanted to speak with the Emperor face-to-face to ask some questions personally.

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