Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 713: Chapter 709: The Strange Mirror

The two of them sat on the third floor of Tengyun Building, looking at the courtyard below.

The courtyard was a high platform, where a group of graceful women danced on the square round stage.

They wore thin, light veils, their skin faintly visible.

Their bodies resembled willow branches, swaying with the wind.

The soft and pleasant singing and music drifted gently, and their graceful figures danced lightly with it, their every movement filled with endless charm.

It made one reminisce about youthful days, as if vowing eternal love by the river with a beloved.

Chu Zhiyuan seemed enthralled by their dance, staring at their willow-like bodies, not blinking for a moment.

Chu Honglin, on the other hand, didn’t pay much attention, his gaze wandering, finally retracting it as he chuckled, ”If you really like it, why not bring them home?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”It’s fine to admire occasionally, but bringing them home would quickly tire me. What’s the point?”

”That’s true, indeed.”

”They all practice the Demon Sect mental method,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Uncle, what is the depth of the relationship between the Demon Sect and the Demon Clan?”

”Can’t really say.”

”Isn’t the Demon Sect an inside agent of the Demon Clan?” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Their information is too well-informed.”

He didn’t believe the Observatory was idle. If those Body Seizing Great Sky Demons infiltrated the court, they’d surely be discovered, and estates above Third Grade were always inspected by the Observatory.

He even searched several times through the Soul Pearl.

Under such circumstances, their information was still so well-informed, clearly not the work of Body Seizing Great Sky Demons.

It must be acquired through other channels.

Which channel could it be?

He thought of these dancers with Demon Technique, inexplicably recalling the Demon Sect.

If other princes and nobles had the same thought as Uncle, bringing a group of female Demon Technique practitioners into the house, chatting idly while they performed.

Many important messages could inadvertently be leaked during the most relaxed moments, overheard by these women.

Even when not performing, they may very well have means to eavesdrop.

If these individuals were all ears and eyes of the Demon Clan, it would make sense why the Demon Clan’s information was so well-informed.

”Unlikely.” Chu Honglin shook his head, ”If they were truly ears and eyes of the Demon Clan, they would’ve been discovered long ago, there’s no way they could hide for this long.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If they weren’t before, maybe they are now? Everything can change.”

”Hmm...” Chu Honglin contemplated deeply.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”How about letting the Observatory or the Imperial Guard investigate?”

”Alright, let them investigate,” Chu Honglin readily agreed.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”So the Observatory ultimately couldn’t catch those assassins?”

Chu Honglin sneered, ”Previously came to report, they’ve already given up.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

Chu Honglin sighed, ”The Demon Clan’s Escape Skill is exceedingly formidable.”

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, ”For someone adept at Escape Skill, concealment, and assassination, if it were me, it would be easy to come and go as I pleased, is the Observatory utterly powerless?”

Chu Honglin sighed, ”They’ve already used a secret technique to plant a mark, as long as it appears on the Outer Realm Battlefield, our people will sense it.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”That’s quite a devious move.”

Chu Honglin said, ”The Observatory can make the Demon Clan wary, they’re not idle eaters.”

The two continued chatting idly, after watching the song and dance, they drank all the wine and returned to their respective residences.

After returning home, Chu Zhiyuan continued to immerse himself in his cultivation, not resting until midnight.

He found his Power of Soul had greatly increased, allowing him to cultivate tirelessly.

But the results of cultivation weren’t satisfactory, instead, resting first offered better results.

The soul and strong spiritual power couldn’t completely compensate for sleep, this was the marvel of the human body.

He remained in Insight and studied continually, without much outcome.

——

For three consecutive days, the two left Great Bright Peak, and entered and exited taverns together at night.

But no assassination by the Demon Clan occurred.

The two couldn’t help but wonder, could the Demon Clan have seen through their intentions?

On the fourth day’s evening, Chu Zhiyuan returned home, washed up, and had some pastries and fruits.

You Lan came to report, Prince Xu had come to proclaim the decree.

Chu Zhiyuan went out the door to personally welcome, but saw Chu Hongming standing solemnly.

Beside him were two purple-robed eunuchs, each holding a purple sandalwood tray covered with golden silk.

Twelve Imperial Guards surrounded them, their aura like a mountain, forming an unshakable entity.

The setting sun’s light was like blood, casting a layer of red light over them.

”Uncle,” Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward and clasped his fists, ”An imperial decree? What does Father have to say?”

He had a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth, and his tone was full of irony.

Chu Hongming said solemnly, ”Let’s speak indoors.”

Chu Zhiyuan turned to lead them into the house, arriving at the front hall to sit down.

Chu Hongming set down his tea cup and slowly said, ”Elder Brother bestows upon you two things.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, set down his tea cup leisurely, ”Father is truly generous, I am profoundly grateful indeed!”

As he spoke, he cupped his fists towards the Emperor’s direction, showing a posture of gratitude.

Anyone could see the sarcasm on his lips.

Chu Hongming pretended not to know, saying in a deep voice, ”One of them is this.”

He pointed to one of the purple-robed eunuchs.

The purple-robed eunuch stepped forward, offering the tray to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan reached out to uncover the golden silk, ”So mysterious, Uncle you could’ve just given it to me.”

Chu Hongming said, ”An imperial gift, how could it be treated lightly?”

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, ”It’s all for showing fairness, putting on a performance for others to see, even to his own son, how truly sad.”

”Ninth Prince, mind your words!” Chu Hongming said in a deep voice.

Chu Zhiyuan curled his lips, ”Feel free to convey my words to Father, let him rebuke me then.”

Chu Hongming glared at him.

Chu Zhiyuan opened the small box under the golden silk, within the palm-sized Purple Lacquer Box were two crystal clear Elixir Pills, like crystal beads.

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised, ”Such timely Great Bright Heart Protecting Pills?”

”Two,” Chu Hongming snorted, ”One to compensate for your Phoenix Nirvana Pill, the other as a reward.”

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, ”One Great Bright Heart Protecting Pill probably can’t compare with one Phoenix Nirvana Pill?”

”Ninth Prince!” Chu Hongming glared at him in a deep voice.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It’s a fact, our Great Bright Heart Protecting Pill really isn’t comparable to the Phoenix Nirvana Pill, two of them are more than one Phoenix Nirvana Pill, ... alright, it can be considered a reward.”

Chu Hongming finally withdrew his cold gaze.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”What is the other thing?”

Chu Hongming gestured with his mouth.

The other purple-robed eunuch presented the tray, Chu Zhiyuan lifted the golden silk to see an ancient copper mirror within the Purple Lacquer Box.

The mirror was clearly aged, corroded by time and ruined, unusable.

”This is an Ancient Times treasure,” Chu Hongming said slowly, ”Named the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at the dilapidated copper mirror and chuckled, ”Demon-suppressing Mirror? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this name.”

Chu Hongming said, ”It fell into decline in ancient times, supposedly belonging to the Divine Race.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Has anyone used it?”

”Since the disappearance of the Divine Race, no one has been able to use it.”

”Heavenly Persons then?”

”Impossible.”

”Then can I use it?” Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Because of the Twelfth Princess?”

Connected to the Divine Race, he immediately thought of the Twelfth Princess.

Why was this specifically given to him?

Perhaps it was because of the Twelfth Princess, could marrying the Twelfth Princess allow him to gain a trace of Divine Race aura?

Chu Hongming smiled.