Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1015: Chapter 1011: Breaking the Code

Chu Liezhao curiously smiled and said, ”What price was paid to make the Yuanzhen Dynasty stop pursuing the matter?”

Li Miaotan blinked her dream-like eyes, pondered for a moment, and smiled, ”Could it be the signing of a peace treaty?”

Chu Liezhao raised his sword-like brows: ”Truce? ... If there is a truce with Yuanzhen, then Yujing is bound to suffer.”

He knew the national policy of the Phoenix Dynasty; the entire power system of the Phoenix Dynasty operates on warfare.

To cultivate through war, to hone oneself in battle, and to improve cultivation.

Thus, the Phoenix Dynasty cannot go a day without war.

If there is a truce with Emperor Yuanzhen, then they would have to start a war with the Yujing Dynasty.

Li Miaotan lightly furrowed her elegant brows and then gently shook her head, ”Even if there is a war with Yujing, it has nothing to do with you, my husband.”

Since arriving at the Phoenix Imperial City, Chu Liezhao’s status has rapidly advanced.

Now, Chu Liezhao’s identity as a Hostage from the Yujing Dynasty has become obscure and is no longer mentioned.

He is now the Prince Consort of the Phoenix Dynasty, having made significant contributions to the Dynasty.

In this situation, no one would be ignorant enough to mention his identity as a Hostage to threaten the safety of the Yujing Dynasty.

Chu Liezhao sighed, ”People are not indifferent like plants; I am still caught in a dilemma, ... Let us go to the Outer Realm Battlefield.”

”That would be perfect,” Li Miaotan said with a smile.

In this way, they would step away from the disputes between the two dynasties, transcending their tensions, remaining untouched.

Li Miaotan first instructed the slender maiden to leave, then tidied up.

An hour later, the two walked out of the valley together and saw three women quietly waiting.

A mountain breeze swept past, rustling the treetops as it headed down the valley, ruffling their flowing skirts.

Their skirts floated, their figures were graceful, akin to three Fairies exiled from the heavens.

Chu Liezhao couldn’t help but praise, ”The disciples of the Yukunlun Palace are indeed full of Spiritual Energy.”

These three women were all beautiful, almost rivaling Li Miaotan, the most beautiful woman in the Phoenix Imperial City.

Li Miaotan looked towards the three women.

They bowed gracefully, ”Your Highness, Prince Consort, we are here to escort you under orders.”

Li Miaotan lightly laughed, ”Does the Palace Master have no interest in meeting us?”

The three young women looked troubled.

The young woman leading them wore an apricot yellow silk robe, setting off her skin like congealed fats.

Her almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks were delicate and charming, as she spoke crisply, ”The Palace Master is busy with matters and cannot meet Your Highness this time.”

”What matters?” Li Miaotan asked.

Chu Liezhao watched them with a cheerful smile.

The almond-eyed, peach-cheeked maiden solemnly replied, ”It is an Elder from the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion of the Yuanzhen Dynasty.”

”The Purple Sky Jade Pavilion?” Chu Liezhao smiled, ”Could they want the Palace Master to hand us over?”

The maiden covered her mouth and giggled, ”Prince Consort, you surely like to joke.”

Chu Liezhao laughed, ”I’m not joking. Has the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion had dealings with your sect before?”

”There have been some grudges,” the maiden nodded gently, ”Our relationship is neither good nor bad.”

Though Yuanzhen and the Phoenix Dynasty go back and forth between fighting and truce, the war has never ceased.

However, the exchanges between the two dynasties have never been interrupted, and officials and citizens on both sides maintain normal trade and interactions.

In this context, as one of the top sects, the disciples of both sides often encounter each other.

Grudges and vendettas are inevitable.

”It appears they are indeed after us,” Chu Liezhao looked at Li Miaotan and laughed, ”They must be trying to track our whereabouts?”

Li Miaotan lightly furrowed her brows, ”They haven’t given up?”

”Though Emperor Yuanzhen may have ceased action, the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion can act independently,” Chu Liezhao laughed, ”Besides, it might be with a tacit approval from Emperor Yuanzhen.”

”Despicable enough,” Li Miaotan coldly said.

Chu Liezhao said, ”This is very much in line with Yuanzhen’s way of handling things.”

The Yuanzhen Dynasty always pursues cunning, achieving surprise victories, making defenses difficult.

With such conduct, getting them to keep a promise is nearly impossible.

Li Miaotan snorted, ”Then...”

How could Father and Mother be deceived by them?

They should be prepared, or not agree to Emperor Yuanzhen’s terms at all.

Chu Liezhao said, ”As long as they cannot use too much power, our threat is not significant, and if they act, it breaks the rules, giving the Emperor a chance to leverage more benefits, proving that the Emperor deserves his title.”

Li Miaotan lightly snorted, ”All this scheming is really tiring.”

She now disdains such machinations and intrigue, focusing instead on cultivation.

Once one’s cultivation reaches a certain level, they can crush all worldly conspiracies and schemes.

Chu Liezhao looked at the maiden, smiling, ”Which Elder from the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion came?”

The maiden readily replied, ”Elder Wen Siming.”

Chu Liezhao pondered.

In his mind, he quickly searched for information about this Wen Siming.

In a moment, he found Wen Siming.

One of the Elders of the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion, who became Venerable a hundred years ago, with exceptional swordsmanship.

Reportedly, he has a fierce and domineering temperament, extremely assertive, and is in charge of the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion’s Justice Hall.

Why would they send a Justice Hall Elder to the Yukunlun Palace, for what purpose?

It seems it’s not for me?

The maiden pursed her lips and smiled, ”It’s to handle a grudge between one of our senior sisters and the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion.”

Chu Liezhao said seriously, ”Then has the Yukunlun Palace carefully investigated his entourage and their whereabouts?”

”What does the Prince Consort mean by this?” The maiden’s smile faded as she asked, puzzled.

Chu Liezhao seriously said, ”They might be here to assassinate us.”

”That’s impossible, right?” The maiden was stunned, ”Would they dare act here?”

Chu Liezhao said, ”Near the Yukunlun Palace, no one would suspect.”

The maiden pondered slightly, then turned to look at the two maidens behind her.

Their expressions showed doubt.

They clearly did not believe this judgment, concluding that the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion would not dare act near Yukunlun Palace.

Li Miaotan said, ”Perhaps it’s worth checking; we are not in a hurry to leave.”

”... Fine.” The maiden bit her delicate lip, pondering slightly, and then agreed.

...

Chu Liezhao and Li Miaotan returned to the valley, and Li Miaotan was also half-doubtful, ”Will the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion actually act?”

Chu Liezhao said, ”You wouldn’t think we are fearless, would you? Just act as if you are unaware, as they say, ’When soldiers come, use generals to block them; when water comes, use earth to submerge.’”

”I’m not that foolish,” Li Miaotan said.

Venerables are not invincible, and if encountered by another stronger Venerable or a desperate Venerable, there is definitely danger.

Chu Liezhao said, ”With Yuanzhen, one must be extremely cautious.”

Li Miaotan sighed, ”But constantly being on guard like this is exhausting.”

Chu Liezhao said, ”Every day when you wake up, think about which fool might come knocking today and treat it as something amusing.”

Li Miaotan pursed her lips and lightly laughed.

Thinking of it this way is indeed better, not as tense, and might even become eager.

”This is also a kind of cultivation; constantly having people coming to serve as a grinding stone, my cultivation progress has been so swift thanks to these numerous assassination attempts.”

”Is this actually a good thing?”

”Indeed.”

”You certainly know how to talk, my husband,” Li Miaotan laughed charmingly.

Chu Liezhao and her continued talking and laughing for a while, then decided to explore outside.

So he drew a Light Gate, embracing Li Miaotan as they stepped inside.

In the next moment, the two appeared on a mountain peak, overlooking the surrounding peaks.

The lush greenery, dense forests, and scattered grasses spread out, with birds chirping incessantly.

They gazed around, feeling a sense of familiarity.

They had passed through here once before when coming to the Yukunlun Palace.

Having already left the Kunlun Cave Heaven, they arrived near the Yukunlun Palace.

Li Miaotan suddenly pointed.

Chu Liezhao followed her line of sight and saw a fierce battle, with two groups engaged in combat.

One group of six were disciples of the Yukunlun Palace, while the other group of twelve were men in gray-brown robes.

Chu Liezhao softly said, ”They are disciples of the Purple Sky Jade Pavilion.”

He instantly recognized that these twelve men in gray-brown robes were using the Purple Sky Sword Technique.

Li Miaotan lightly snorted, ”So it was indeed an ambush prepared to secretly assassinate us?”

Chu Liezhao concentrated his Insight, probing into the details of these twelve men in gray-brown robes.

Of the twelve, two were Venerables, with one having a dim life force.

He speculated the Venerable’s lifespan was nearing an end.

He immediately speculated this might be a plan to die together with him?