Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 897: Chapter 893: Mediation

Cheng Yunzheng is certainly a smart person, and an ambitious one at that, aiming to seize the imperial throne.

He would never take such a risky move merely for reputation; there must be another reason.

Sun Qiying pondered.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Mr. Sun, do you know a thing or two about it?”

”...It might be related to the Spiritual Treasure,” Sun Qiying slowly replied, ”Your Highness, this is not something I witnessed personally, it’s just a deduction.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”By doing this, did he resonate with the Spiritual Treasure and thus obtained it?”

”Very likely so,” Sun Qiying said, ”The Fifth Prince is an exceedingly intelligent person.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

This makes sense. With enough fame and prestige, it forms the cornerstone for seizing the imperial throne, while also obtaining a Spiritual Treasure.

The wonders of the Spiritual Treasure might have not been fully comprehended by Cheng Yunzheng due to his qualifications.

The marvels of the Spiritual Treasure can defend against enemies externally and enhance comprehension, elevate realm, and benefit cultivation internally.

Sun Qiying couldn’t help but shake his head in amazement, ”That the Fifth Prince’s backup plan turned out to be the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion, I truly didn’t expect it.”

Claiming to be thorough in his calculations, he never anticipated this route, which left him somewhat concerned.

He sighed inwardly, apparently, the Fifth Prince is guarding against him as well as everyone else.

The Fifth Prince is someone who trusts no one and is suspicious of everyone.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I plan to discard the substitute over here to ease the vigilance over there.”

Sun Qiying frowned and said, ”Your Highness, this matter shouldn’t be rushed.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Why not?”

”Right now is the critical moment of the Thirteenth Princess’ marriage to the Third Prince, it’s not suitable to stir up trouble.”

”But revenge cannot be unavenged, can it?”

”Let’s wait until after the wedding,” Sun Qiying said, ”There’s no rush at this moment, after all, it is the Third Prince’s wedding, and it should not be disrupted to avoid damaging mutual affections.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Is Mr. Sun pleading for Cheng Yunzheng?”

Sun Qiying shook his hand hastily, ”If I were really pleading, I wouldn’t mention it at all.”

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment and nodded, ”Third Brother is not a petty person, ...but indeed it should be avoided, better to wait.”

The Third Prince isn’t that petty, but the Thirteenth Princess might not be, nor might the courtiers who’ve pledged allegiance to the Third Prince.

Pillow talk can be quite powerful; if Li Miaotan takes action, the Third Prince will have no words to say, but if he does it himself, it would be different.

This subtlety requires a profound insight into human nature to discern.

Sun Qiying looked up at the sky and sighed, ”Such is fate.”

If Cheng Yunzheng hadn’t encountered the Ninth Prince, this talented person, perhaps this defying move could have truly changed destiny and seized the throne.

But unfortunately, he met the Ninth Prince, and his scheming was destined to not be perfect and can only be regretted.

And this act to defy destiny, once failed, would mean falling forever into the secular world and never rising again.

As one thinks of his tragic end, one can’t help but lament with a sigh.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”According to Mr. Sun’s opinion, should we wait until after the wedding to deal with the substitute, and then the real body at the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion?”

Sun Qiying said, ”Your Highness, you know it’s inauspicious to kill a prince, that it invites heavenly retribution.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, ”Heavenly retribution, rather than the dynasty’s revenge?”

Sun Qiying said, ”As far as I know, it is not entirely the dynasty’s revenge, but a divine punishment. Those who kill a prince do not meet a good end.”

Chu Zhiyuan appeared deep in thought.

Sun Qiying said, ”There is mighty power in this world, possibly the power of a Spirit Venerable, or even power beyond that, so it’s best not to kill a prince.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”What about using a proxy to kill?”

”That’s different,” Sun Qiying said, ”That’s why the Fifth Prince used the Demon Clan and the Demon Clan’s hands to kill the Twelfth Princess.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded contemplatively.

Originally, he also didn’t intend to kill Cheng Yunzheng directly, just to cripple him.

Once crippled, even with Spiritual Pills And Elixirs to restore cultivation, it would be nearly impossible to progress further.

With the Heart Demon already present, breaking through is difficult.

With the realm difficult to elevate, lifespan is hard to extend, and without a high enough realm, it’s easier to die unexpectedly on the Outer Realm Battlefield.

...

Chu Zhiyuan was immersed in the coverage range of the Flying Knife, continuously observing the situation at the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion’s other courtyard.

Watching them cultivate, spar, and observe Cheng Yunzheng’s every move.

Amazingly flawless, not a trace of the original Cheng Yunzheng, one must admit it’s extraordinary.

He seemed to have completely become another person, severing all ties with Cheng Yunzheng.

...

By the time Fu Zheng returned to the Prince Consort Mansion the next evening, her face was as pale as paper.

Li Yuzhen, seeing her in this state, hurriedly approached, ”How bad are the injuries?”

Chu Zhiyuan had already seen her injuries and did not appear surprised.

”Sister Li, I’m fine.” Fu Zheng replied with a somewhat proud smile, ”We still won!”

Chu Zhiyuan sat at the stone table, gently sipping from a wine cup as he asked, ”How many masters from the Li Huo Fist Sect did you encounter?”

”Four.” Fu Zheng raised four delicate fingers and giggled, ”Four with higher cultivation than us, yet they still couldn’t beat us!”

She spoke excitedly.

Among the four Venerable Ones, three were Middle Rank, and one was a High Rank Venerable.

She herself was hit by a punch from this High Rank Venerable.

This High Rank Venerable’s Li Huo Divine Fist could actually penetrate the Falling Abyss Sword Intent, and not be completely extinguished, with the remaining power heavily injuring herself and Lu Qingyuan.

This High Rank Venerable was indeed formidable, but even so, he still fell under Lu Qingyuan’s Fallen Abyss Sword Technique.

Lu Qingyuan used a Secret Technique, significantly boosting her Spiritual, and then wielded the Fallen Abyss Sword Technique with even more astonishing power, severely wounding that High Rank Venerable.

”Is Miss Lu okay?” Li Yuzhen asked.

”Just exhausted, she’s fine.” Fu Zheng waved it off, ”The Four Great Sects are indeed the Four Great Sects.”

Li Yuzhen nodded, ”Such life-saving Miracle Techniques, all the Four Great Sects have them, don’t you, Sister Fu?”

”I do.” Fu Zheng nodded quickly.

She then giggled, ”Your Highness, I don’t see what’s so great about the Li Huo Fist Sect, even a High Rank Venerable was dispatched.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Ignorant and fearless, High Rank Venerables vary in strength.”

The Fallen Abyss Sword Technique is subtle but not invincible; it has already reached its limit.

The price Lu Qingyuan must have paid should not be low.

Fu Zheng said, ”Your Highness, will the Li Huo Fist Sect continue to fight? They’ve already lost face.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”The stronger the Fallen Abyss Sword Technique, the less likely the Li Huo Fist Sect will let it rest, the same goes for the other two sects.”

Fu Zheng didn’t understand, ”But this is Sister Lu’s sword technique, why insist on involving others?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Because the other three sects have also shared the Heavenly Person Inheritance before.”

Fu Zheng snorted and pursed her red lips, ”I heard from Sister Lu that their shared inheritances also had issues, so none can criticize the other!”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.

Li Yuzhen smiled with pursed lips, ”Ah, the Four Great Sects... truly can’t say anything!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed silently, shaking his head, ”So, nobody was really at a disadvantage, nor did anyone gain an advantage?”

Fu Zheng snorted, ”They’re just being unreasonable and bullying people.”

Li Yuzhen said, ”The Court will probably step in to mediate.”

The three were chatting when someone came to report that the Eldest Prince had arrived.

Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled and went to the front hall to greet him.

Li Cunren laughed cheerfully, ”Brother-in-law, there’s good news.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Big Brother, would good news even reach me?”

”Nonsense!” Li Cunren waved his hand, ”This time, it’s indeed good news. We have been ordered by Father to mediate between the Li Huo Fist Sect and Phoenix Sword Sect.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Li Yuzhen beside him.

Li Yuzhen smiled with pursed lips.

Li Cunren said, ”If it were in the previous years, let them fight, the livelier, the better. But now, as Third Brother is about to be married, further conflict would damage Phoenix’s reputation, so we must mediate.”