Imperial Cultivation

36: Chapter 34 Replacement

36 -34 Replacement

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Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands and smiled.

The best way to respond to the blunt words of Chu Zhiyao is to be understated and noncommittal.

Chu Mingxuan waved his hand and said, “Alright, the Fourth has already gone to the Ministry of Rites, it’s impossible to change halfway, …

Third Brother, how long will you stay this time?”

As he spoke, he invited everyone to take their seats.

Dish after dish was served, with perfect color, aroma, and taste, making mouths water by just looking at them.

When that jar of medicinal wine was opened, it exuded a fragrance, a strange medicinal aroma mixed with the wine’s scent.

This medicinal aroma refreshed the spirit the moment it was inhaled.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

This medicinal wine is extremely beneficial to the Dragon Transformation Technique, saving considerable effort.

“This time…

I might need to rest for a while,” Chu Zhiyao thumped the table, “Da Zhen is serious this time!”

“Third Brother, is Da Zhen really going to form an alliance with us?” Chu Zhichuan frowned and asked.

“Yes.”

Chu Mingxuan was baffled, “Why would the Father agree?”

“To first deal with Da Meng together; the new emperor on Da Meng’s side has just ascended and is ambitious, teaming up with Da Zhen is perfect to take down Da Meng!”

“Aren’t you afraid that Da Zhen will turn against us?”

“Of course, Da Zhen will have to show sincerity.”

“What kind of sincerity?”

“Marriage alliance!”

“Who’s marrying whom after all?

It won’t do for us to marry off a princess!”

“That’ll depend on everyone’s skills…”

“What skills?”

“It’s hard to say.”

…

Chu Zhiyuan asked, “Third Brother, did you return early because you have some duty?”

Chu Zhiyao wore an unwilling expression, his face gloomy, “The Da Zhen mission is likely to propose a competition, they will have princely heirs and princes in their mission.”

“Hmm…

if it’s a competition, it must be equal; a princely heir should compete with another princely heir.” Chu Mingxuan understood this basic rule, the principle of equality between nations.

If the princely heir in the Da Zhen mission proposes a competition or exchange, then Da Jing must also send a princely heir.

Chu Zhiyao sneered, “Da Zhen has a princely heir who is a martial arts genius, Cheng Tianfeng, who reached the Innate at eighteen.”

“Reached Innate at eighteen?

How old is he now?”

“Twenty-two.” Chu Zhiyao said slowly, “Four years have passed, who knows which layer he has reached!”

“Not a Grandmaster yet, right?” Chu Zhiting asked.

Chu Zhiyao frowned and shook his head, “If he truly became a Grandmaster at twenty-two, he would have already been famous worldwide, it’s impossible to keep it a secret.”

Becoming a Grandmaster at twenty-two would be an unprecedented achievement, how could such news be suppressed?

This would greatly enhance the Da Zhen Imperial Family’s prestige, unite the military, unite the hearts of the people, and have endless benefits.

“Then, Third Brother, just train hard, conserve your energy,” Chu Mingxuan said, “make us Da Jing proud!”

They understood the purpose of Chu Zhiyao’s return.

Among the princely heirs of Da Jing, there are currently only three Innate, with Chu Zhiyao being the first to reach Innate and having experience in the military, stronger than the Sixth Prince Chu Zhihua, naturally, he has to accept the challenge of the Da Zhen princely heir.

Chu Zhiyao appraised Chu Zhiyuan, “Fourth Brother, you take my place in the challenge!…

I will inform the Imperial Grandfather to make the change.”

“Ah?…

I can’t!” Chu Zhiyuan appeared surprised, quickly waving his hand.

“Why not?!” Chu Zhiyao snorted, “You’re stronger than me, naturally more qualified to face the challenge!”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, “Unlike Third Brother, I lack experience in the military, too inexperienced, unfit for such an important task.”

“Your greater strength is enough!” Chu Zhiyao snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan still shook his head.

Chu Zhiyao frowned, his expression stern, “Don’t you want to bring honor and pride to our Da Jing Dynasty?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, “I’m afraid of lacking experience and shaming our Da Jing.”

Chu Zhiyao glared at him, speaking in a deep voice, “If you win, it will be a great achievement.”

“Third Brother, how significant is this achievement?” Chu Zhiting asked curiously.

The three of them hadn’t spoken up.

Privately, they thought Chu Zhiyuan was the best candidate as his combat ability far exceeded his mental method realm.

But to say it out loud would hurt Chu Zhiyao’s face too much.

…

“At least a Seventh Grade Merit?” Chu Mingxuan looked at Chu Zhiyao, “Right, Third Brother?”

Chu Zhiyao slowly nodded, “That’s right, at least Seventh Grade.”

Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan’s eyes lit up.

A Seventh Grade Merit is far beyond their reach, let alone in the Postnatal Realm; even in the Innate Realm, achieving a Seventh Grade Merit is near impossible.

An Eighth Grade Merit is the limit for an Innate Master.

A Seventh Grade Merit not only allows one to exchange for more powerful spirit pills and divine weapons, but more importantly, it can lead to promotions.

The higher the position, the more opportunities for merit, and the greater the merit one can achieve.

Chu Zhiyuan just shook his head, yet his heart was resolute.

Since he had shown overwhelming strength, the choice of a candidate was already destined to be him, and not up to himself or Chu Zhiyao.

This task is high reward but also high risk.

Cheng Tianfeng had already stepped into the Innate realm four years ago; what if he is a genius like himself or even more brilliant than himself?

He might have reached Innate Perfection by now.

Once defeated, Da Jing’s face would be lost, and he would be criticized.

But to him, it doesn’t matter.

Prince Qing Mansion has barely risen, losing will only restore it to its original state, not a great loss.

With his Super Sense and qualification, he can ultimately rise again.

If he wins, he will gain a Seventh Grade Merit.

A Seventh Grade Merit can at least exchange for dozens of Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills, incredibly beneficial for cultivation.

It can also gain immense prestige, significantly elevating Prince Qing Mansion’s status.

Moreover, there might be immense support in the time before the competition.

The Emperor won’t ignore it, using means to boost his cultivation to demonstrate Da Jing’s might?

This concerns the face of Da Jing, even its interests.

So it’s an extremely rare opportunity.

The opportunity is almost within grasp.

Then why not show a high profile?

Chu Mingxuan coughed twice and said in a deep voice, “If Cheng Tianfeng is so formidable, it’s still best for you, Fourth Brother.

This isn’t a matter for modesty.”

The Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique is invincible in the Innate Realm; no one can resist it, it’s too fast.

Others who mastered the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique can only unleash one sword, but he can follow with sword after sword, treating the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique as an ordinary sword technique.

Who can withstand it?

Unless they’re faster than him.

Even amongst Grandmasters, few could match his sword speed.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, “Third Brother came back from afar…”

Chu Zhiyao snorted, “Whether I’m tired doesn’t matter, the key is to win, to bring glory to our Da Jing Dynasty’s Imperial Family.”

Chu Zhiyuan kept smiling and shaking his head.

Chu Zhiyao said, “I’ll be a backup; if another princely heir comes, I can still respond, anyway, Da Zhen will surely seize the opportunity to make trouble to gain the upper hand in negotiations, …

but it’s risky too, if defeated, we’d become the sinners!”

Chu Zhiyuan still shook his head.

“Fourth Brother, are you afraid?

Afraid of losing face?” Chu Zhiyao sneered suddenly.

“… Sigh—!

In that case, I’ll give it a try.” Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Mingxuan and shook his head, “Eighteenth Uncle, I shouldn’t have come tonight.”

Chu Mingxuan smiled sheepishly, “Fourth Brother, you can do it!”

Chu Zhiyao’s sneer turned into a smile, and he slapped Chu Zhiyuan hard on the shoulder, “That’s the spirit of the Chu Family men!”

He then said solemnly, “Prepare well, the Da Zhen mission will arrive in a few days.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

Chu Mingxuan raised his wine cup and called out, “Come, let’s first toast to Fourth Brother’s victorious start, a great victory over the princely heir of Da Zhen, to show Da Jing’s might!”

“Yes, a great victory!”

Everyone raised their cups and drank heartily.

Then they began to eat and chatted about trivial matters.

Chu Zhiting inquired about things in the military.

He wanted to join the military, but couldn’t because of his father, so he was both longing for and curious about the military.

Chu Zhichuan was also very curious about military matters.

Chu Zhiyao asked where they planned to go.

Upon hearing they wanted to go to the Military Suppression Department, he shook his head, “Take my advice, don’t go to the Military Suppression Department, just go to the military!”

Both hesitated.

He looked at Chu Zhiting, “Ninth Brother, just don’t serve under Tenth Uncle.”

“Father won’t allow it.” Chu Zhiting sighed.

“…

then there’s really no way.” Chu Zhiyao said regretfully, “It’s too easy to gain merit in the military, especially at the border, a small skirmish every three days, a big battle every ten days, constant fighting.”

Chu Zhiyuan listened thoughtfully.

Chu Zhiyao said, “I’ve already achieved ten Ninth Grade Merits; elsewhere, how could that be possible,…

Fourth Brother, what about you, how is it at the Ministry of Rites?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, “The Ministry of Rites is indeed a clean government office with no opportunities for merit.”

“The Military Suppression Department also has many opportunities for merit,” Chu Zhichuan said, “Third Brother, we’ve inquired, the Military Suppression Department is also fighting day and night.”

“That’s much more dangerous than in the military.” Chu Zhiyao said, “At least in the military, you’re a Guerrilla General and don’t have to be on the front lines.”

Chu Zhichuan blinked, surprised that these words came from Chu Zhiyao, finding it odd.

Initially, he thought Chu Zhiyao led from the front, unexpectedly, he hid at the back to claim merit.

Chu Zhiyao noticed his thoughts and snorted, “Don’t think Guerrilla Generals do nothing but take credit, they must command the troops, and a miscommand leading to soldier losses will lead to punishment or even losing one’s head.”

Chu Zhiting quickly agreed, “Yes, being a leader is difficult, command errors causing subordinates to die or get injured not only results in punishment but also causes great mental anguish, unable to find peace.”

Often heard Father say that benevolent people should not lead troops, those with too soft hearts as generals often wake up crying at midnight, unable to sleep peacefully.

Thinking about those soldiers who loyally supported and trusted him, losing their lives due to his mistake, would cause guilt and pain, never able to let go.

So those without a steely heart shouldn’t join the military.

And his own disposition is naturally gentle, not suited for the military.

So not letting him join the military is not only to avoid suspicion, but his nature is not a match, the best place is the Military Suppression Department.

To unambiguously fight demons, a perfect fit for his nature.

Once aligned with his nature, it also aids in cultivation.

Going against one’s nature, no matter how much merit gained or how many spirit pills received, is difficult to cultivate, almost impossible to surpass Grandmaster, let alone Great Grandmaster.

Chu Zhiyuan turned the conversation back to Cheng Tianfeng, wanting to understand this Cheng Tianfeng better.