Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 593: Chapter 589 Divine Son

The first rays of dawn appeared.

Chu Zhiyuan appeared at the Martial Arts Training Ground outside Mingwu Hall, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at the Princes and Princely Heirs and walked up to Chu Qingfeng.

His familiar Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhichuan, and Chu Zhitian were absent, dampening his interest in speaking.

Though he was acquainted with the other Princes and Heirs, it wasn’t as close.

Chu Qingfeng stood at the edge of the field as usual, hands behind his back, with a serious expression, unsmiling.

”Granduncle,” Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands and smiled.

Chu Qingfeng scrutinized him and nodded, ”Why have you come?”

Chu Zhiyuan had already become a Great Grandmaster, with cultivation even more profound, better than his own level.

There was truly no need for him to be here.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”I want to see the Imperial Grandfather.”

”Elder Brother is finally going to meet you,” Chu Qingfeng smiled.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Granduncle, why has the Imperial Grandfather not met me all this time?”

”To not harm you, perhaps,” Chu Qingfeng replied, ”You’ll know when you see him.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Granduncle, I have some mysterious puzzles I’d like to consult.”

”Come along,” Chu Qingfeng said and began walking.

After walking a few steps, he turned back and glared at the crowd, ”Anyone lazy today shouldn’t think about going back!”

”Yes,” everyone responded loudly.

Chu Qingfeng shook his head and continued walking.

Chu Zhiyuan walked alongside him.

Chu Qingfeng shook his head, ”Truly, this generation is not as good as the last, these fellows...”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”They are alright; laziness is unavoidable.”

Chu Qingfeng shook his head, ”They are far inferior to you three.”

Chu Zhiyuan, Chu Zhitian, and Chu Zhichuan all strove forward without needing others to urge them, working hard on their own.

But these Princes and Heirs, all sly and avoiding hard work, wishing not to cultivate.

They spend all day playing, not knowing ambition, muddled in idleness, really unworthy.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”Granduncle, everyone has their own opportunities and blessings, they all are fortunate people.”

Being born as a Prince or Heir already shows extraordinary luck, far surpassing ordinary people.

”Sigh...” Chu Qingfeng shook his head, ”Worrying for Elder Brother.”

They arrived at the Zhiqiu Hall.

Sitting cross-legged on two small tables inside the hall, little eunuchs soon served tea.

”In Da Meng, your reputation is widespread, known throughout the land,” Chu Qingfeng set down his teacup, looking at him, ”The entire Yujing knows of your progress.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Has someone been pushing to promote my fame?”

Information between Da Meng and Da Jing wasn’t so fluid, as there was an army in between.

His actions in Da Meng being spread must have been due to someone with an agenda.

Chu Qingfeng nodded, ”Naturally, it was Elder Brother.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced towards the Imperial Palace.

Chu Qingfeng said, ”Now, your reputation in Da Jing is big enough, no less than Prince Ying.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”I am far from comparable to Ten Uncle’s accomplishments.”

”Perhaps in the eyes of the common folk, your achievements are greater,” Chu Qingfeng shook his head, ”After all, the military is far from the people, while these Evil Sect practitioners are a close threat.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Does Granduncle know about the Yao Yue Palace issue?”

Chu Qingfeng asked, ”What issue?”

”About Profound Yin Palace,” Chu Zhiyuan replied.

Chu Qingfeng shook his head, ”I know little about the Four Demon Sects.”

Chu Zhiyuan retrieved a small transparent stone the size of a green apricot from his sleeve and handed it to him, ”Then does Granduncle recognize this?”

Chu Qingfeng was startled, reaching to take it, frowning at Chu Zhiyuan, ”Where did you get this?”

”From the Main Altar of the Evil Sect.”

”This should be an Outer Heaven Evil Crystal,” Chu Qingfeng frowned, ”I’ve heard of this but have never seen it.”

”So it truly is from beyond the heavens?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Chu Qingfeng nodded, ”It likely comes from some Secret Land, and it’s a source of calamity!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If it weren’t for this, there wouldn’t be any Outer Heaven Demons, would there?”

”Exactly,” Chu Qingfeng solemnly nodded, ”Without it, the power of the Outer Heaven Demons wouldn’t descend!”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Then do these Outer Heaven Demons come from Outer Heaven?”

”You know about Outer Heaven too?”

”I have some slight understanding.”

”...Of course, with Xiao Ruoling as the Holy Daughter, you should know.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”So these demons and those Divine Cultivators all come from Outer Heaven?”

Chu Qingfeng, in charge of the God Punishment Bureau, had a deep understanding of the Divine Dao.

”...They should all come from Outer Heaven,” Chu Qingfeng slowly nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan noted, ”It seems Outer Heaven is not peaceful, with both Divine Dao and Evil Path.”

Chu Qingfeng shook his head, ”They are both not considered the righteous path in Outer Heaven.”

”Granduncle, what is Outer Heaven like?” Chu Zhiyuan’s spirit lifted.

Chu Qingfeng smiled, ”According to Elder Brother, it’s much like our place here, which is known as Little Outer Heaven.”

”Little Outer Heaven...” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled.

With this said, adapting to Outer Heaven wouldn’t be too troublesome.

Chu Zhiyuan lowered his voice, ”Our past Emperors, they all ascended to Outer Heaven, didn’t they?”

”Indeed,” Chu Qingfeng nodded, ”At this time, you should know these things. Yes, the Emperor can ascend to Outer Heaven.”

He sighed, ”Elder Brother has been suffering.”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.

Chu Qingfeng shook his head, ”Your father and his generation are so disappointing, not one Great Grandmaster, forcing Elder Brother to be unable to ascend.”

He smiled, ”Now it’s different, with you out there, Elder Brother can finally ascend without worry.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Why did no Great Grandmaster appear in Father’s generation?”

”It’s only the rise and fall,” Chu Qingfeng sighed, ”That phrase is entirely accurate. Each generation produces one Great Grandmaster, maybe two at most, but our generation had three, resulting in a fall in your father’s generation. There was originally a Second Prince, but he...”

He shook his head, ”That’s why Elder Brother detests the Yongling Divine Sect.”

If not for the Yongling Divine Sect, with the Second Prince’s qualifications, he would have long been a Great Grandmaster and then inherited the imperial throne.

The Eldest Prince died, the Second Prince was crippled, and the Third Prince couldn’t cultivate. This generation of Princes was truly too unlucky.

Fortunately, finally emerged a Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If the Yongling Divine Sect hadn’t contacted Second Uncle, he wouldn’t have awakened his past life’s memories?”

”If the Yongling Divine Sect hadn’t acted, King Jing could never have become a Divine Son,” Chu Qingfeng grunted, ”Elder Brother wished to eradicate the Yongling Divine Sect directly.”

”Why wasn’t it exterminated?”

”There was an attempt,” Chu Qingfeng said, ”Greatly damaging the Yongling Divine Sect.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

It seems in front of the Emperor, it’s best not to mention the Yongling Divine Sect, and better not to speak of going to the King Jing Mansion.

...

As they were speaking, footsteps were heard outside, followed by a soft and pleasant voice, ”Thirteenth Grandfather, servant Huang Cheng seeks an audience.”

”Manager Huang, please come in.”

”Yes.”

Huang Cheng walked in gently, clasped his hands, and smiled as he saluted.

”Manager Huang, what brings you here...?”

”The Emperor wishes to see the Fourth Prince.”

”Well, then go quickly,” Chu Qingfeng looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands and took his leave.

Chu Qingfeng patted his shoulder, ”Speak well, don’t forget the Emperor is your grandfather, blood ties connect you.”

”Yes,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

As he followed Huang Cheng out, he pondered Chu Qingfeng’s words.

Why did Thirteenth Granduncle remind him of these words?

He followed Huang Cheng through layers of palaces, finally arriving at a garden.

Strange flowers and trees embraced a small clear lake, like a shiny mirror reflecting the bright sunlight.

In a small pavilion on the lake sat an elderly man, thin and haggard.

The golden morning light shone obliquely into the pavilion, illuminating his bright yellow robe.

He sat in the golden light, his whole body glimmering with gold, like a divine being.

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the Emperor’s Sword floating in the void.

The Emperor’s Sword appeared and disappeared, as if vanishing into the void, invisible.

Chu Zhiyuan felt that this time the Emperor’s Sword looked very different from before.

The Emperor’s Sword was becoming more agile, more ethereal, as if it were drifting away.

He couldn’t help but be secretly astonished, could it be about to ascend and leave?

”Yuan’er, come sit,” Chu Qingquan in the pavilion said slowly.

The voice echoed from the pavilion, quickly traveling across the clear lake to the shore, reaching Chu Zhiyuan’s ears.

Chu Zhiyuan saluted from afar.

He walked along the corridor above the lake, entered the pavilion, clasped his fists, and saluted, ”Grandson pays respects to Grandfather.”

Chu Qingquan’s thin face showed a gentle smile as he extended his hand, ”Sit down and talk.”

Chu Zhiyuan sat opposite him.

Huang Cheng served tea, then retreated.

After dismissing the surrounding maids and eunuchs, only the grandfather and grandson remained by the lake.

Chu Zhiyuan sipped the tea lightly.

He originally thought he would be nervous, but when he actually saw Chu Qingquan, he wasn’t tense.

Instead, he felt an innate sense of closeness and affection.

This came from the connection of their bloodline.

Chu Qingquan, contrary to his usual seriousness, was gentle and smiling.

He set down the teacup and smiled, ”When you first started, I thought you were the second King Jing.”

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised.

Chu Qingquan continued, ”When King Jing was young, he was much like you, extraordinarily gifted and rare in the world.”

Chu Zhiyuan sheepishly said, ”Then how did Grandfather come to know I was not?”

Chu Qingquan smiled, ”At the palace night banquet, I knew then you weren’t.”

Chu Zhiyuan was enlightened.

Chu Qingquan said, ”Do you know how I determined you weren’t a Divine Son?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Does Grandfather have a secret technique?”

”Hmm, because I am a Divine Son,” Chu Qingquan said.

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.

Chu Qingquan laughed and shook his head, ”Didn’t expect that, did you?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

He truly never imagined this.

The Emperor turned out to be a Divine Son of the Yongling Divine Sect!

Probably no one ever thought of that.

Chu Qingquan said, ”I’m a Divine Son, so I know you’re not one.”

Chu Zhiyuan processed this quickly, puzzled as he looked at him.

Chu Qingquan shook his head, ”I awakened the memories of a past life, knowing initially that King Jing was a Divine Son, yet not intending to awaken him. But then the Yongling Divine Sect unexpectedly...”

He shook his head, ”Human hearts change; the current Yongling Divine Sect is not the same as the one from the past.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Then what of Second Uncle...?”

Chu Qingquan grunted, ”He became a Great Grandmaster, naturally he ascended, returning to Outer Heaven.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Grandfather, is Outer Heaven much better than here?”

No matter if Chu Qingquan was a Divine Son or not, he was still his grandfather.

Chu Qingquan smiled, ”You’re eager to ascend to Outer Heaven, aren’t you?”

Chu Zhiyuan sheepishly said, ”I’m not in a hurry now, just curious about Outer Heaven’s state.”

”Profound Yin Palace’s once-in-a-millennium opportunity for ascension, Xiao Ruoling has already gone, right?”

”...Yes.”

”It’s a pity you’re not a Divine Son,” Chu Qingquan said, ”Otherwise, without needing the Emperor’s Sword, you could also ascend.”