Imperial Cultivation

50: Chapter 48: Obtaining the Pearl

50 -48: Obtaining the Pearl

“`html

The setting sun descends in the west, and the street lights begin to illuminate.

Chu Zhiyuan, in a crimson official robe, walks slowly along the bustling street.

The passersby flow like water, and a few guards, like rocks, separate the flow of people, creating a space for Chu Zhiyuan to stroll leisurely.

He uses his Super Sense to survey his surroundings while contemplating in his mind.

Should he first return to the new residence next to Thick Earth Hall to train, gather nine Binding Dragon Ropes to break through the Seventh Layer Jade Building at once, or go back to the Prince Mansion first?

He finally decides to go back to the Prince Mansion first.

Lanterns on both sides of Prince Qing Street are lit, completely dispelling the twilight.

The entire street is bright and clear, as if it were daytime.

Two teams of Prince Mansion Guards are patrolling in intersecting paths.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan, they greet him with a salute from afar.

Chu Zhiyuan nods lightly, continuing without stopping.

Guo Chi had already sent someone ahead to notify, so when he arrives at the gate of the Prince Mansion, the gatekeepers have already opened the door to welcome him.

He smoothly returns to the Listening Waves Courtyard.

Mo Yi and the other three girls come forward, doing tasks such as removing his hat, changing his clothes, taking off his boots, and bringing in a basin of clear water.

Chu Zhiyuan changes his clothes, washes up, and goes to the back garden.

Upon entering the back garden, he hears the sound of a zither in the distance.

The serene zither music drifts over the lake, passing through lush woods, reaching his ears, high and tranquil, pleasing to the mind.

Chu Zhiyuan smiles.

His royal mother’s mental state is no longer filled with melancholy, becoming peaceful and composed, finally restoring the dignified elegance of Princess Consort.

This is the real Bai Ningshuang.

He walks past the lush woods to the lakeside.

The lake is already lit up with strings of carved lanterns, illuminating the five small pavilions and water pavilions as bright as day.

The reflections of the lanterns on the water shake gently, dreamy and surreal.

He steps onto the corridor over the lake, arriving in front of a water pavilion.

The middle-aged beautiful lady and lovely young girl guarding the pavilion salute elegantly.

Chu Zhiyuan nods lightly, lifts the curtain, and enters the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, several silver candles provide soft yet bright light.

Bai Ningshuang, in a pure white imperial dress, is seated, playing the zither with her head lowered.

The gold hairpin on her head sways lightly, matching with the golden lines faintly flashing at her sleeve edges.

The beautiful girl brings over an embroidery stool.

Chu Zhiyuan sits on the embroidery stool, observing Bai Ningshuang opposite him.

The zither music comes to an abrupt end.

Bai Ningshuang lifts her head and beckons with her hand.

A middle-aged maid presents a small Cold Jade Box, verdant and warm.

“Yuan’er, here’s the Dragon Ball you wanted,” Bai Ningshuang says, “The Flying Dragon Ball.”

Chu Zhiyuan accepts the Cold Jade Box with a smile, slowly opening it.

At the center of the jade box on golden silk, a purple gold pearl the size of a baby’s fist emits a dim glow, giving an unusually heavy impression.

The Dragon Transformation Technique suddenly operates frantically.

Chu Zhiyuan closes the Cold Jade Box, and the Dragon Transformation Technique abruptly halts.

As expected!

He smiles.

Bai Ningshuang says, “The concubine said the Dragon Ball isn’t a good thing, not auspicious.”

Chu Zhiyuan raises an eyebrow.

Bai Ningshuang continues, “In any case, the concubine wouldn’t harm you.”

Chu Zhiyuan nods.

The Dragon Ball was requested from the Emperor.

This claim of the Dragon Ball being inauspicious isn’t widely heard, but whether spoken by the Emperor or Consort Rou, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Consort Rou isn’t an ordinary woman.

If she were a favored imperial concubine, it would be one thing, but being unfavored yet still serene within the palace shows her exceptional intelligence and skills.

The Dragon Ball’s inauspiciousness holds secrets he doesn’t yet understand.

“Yuan’er, tomorrow is Prince Xuan’s birthday.

I’ve prepared your clothes.

Later, let Mo Yi and the others help you try them on and pick a nice set.”

“Okay, mother, I’ll go check on my younger sister.

She practiced martial arts this afternoon, didn’t she?”

“She’s been practicing all along,” Bai Ningshuang says displeasedly, “Yi has never liked practicing martial arts since she was young.

Why force her into it?”

Prince Qing Mansion isn’t that obsessed with martial arts, after all, Prince Qing doesn’t practice it himself.

Neither Prince Qing nor his wife force their children to practice martial arts.

Chu Zhiyuan has shown astounding martial arts talent since childhood and enjoys practicing, while Chu Yi has never shown such talent and instead loves tending to flowers and plants.

Chu Zhiyuan says, “Practicing doesn’t hurt.”

“Haven’t seen any benefit, and it harms the body,” Bai Ningshuang snorts.

Unless one can reach the Innate Realm, it’s always a matter of damaging the body before then.

Chu Yi’s aptitude is average, not due to poor physical constitution but rather lacking martial arts insight and disinterest in practicing martial arts, making it unlikely to reach the Innate Realm; there’s no necessity for training.

“Mother, I wouldn’t harm my younger sister,” Chu Zhiyuan laughs.

“You…” Bai Ningshuang sighs helplessly, “If she really doesn’t want to practice, don’t force her too much.”

“Alright.” Chu Zhiyuan agrees, clasping his hands before leaving.

——

The Wanqing Courtyard where Chu Yi is located is brightly lit.

Four pretty maids stand amazed by the flowerbeds, eyes wide.

In the center of the six flowerbeds in Wanqing Courtyard, sixteen footprints are imprinted as if etched on the flat blue bricks.

Each footprint is in a different position, with toes facing various directions, eventually forming a closed circle.

Walking sixteen steps means completing a circle and returning to the starting point.

Under the bright lights, Chu Yi in white, is gracefully stepping on these sixteen footprints, light and elegant, like a celestial being, her beautiful face full of smiles in the lamplight.

Her steps are incredibly peculiar.

With each step, a warm flow of Qi enters her body from her soles, coursing within, making her feel warm all over, as if soaked in a hot spring.

She practiced the entire afternoon, yet instead of feeling tired, she felt more invigorated, lighter, as if about to float.

Gliding gracefully as if riding the wind, like the Lingbo Micro-step.

When Chu Zhiyuan appears, the four maids notice and hurriedly salute.

Chu Zhiyuan waves them off, standing aside.

Chu Yi swiftly slides towards him, playfully reaching out her little hand to strike at his chest, “Big brother, watch out!”

Chu Zhiyuan slides his foot, narrowly dodging.

“Watch again!” Chu Yi pursues, striking at him again.

Chu Zhiyuan continues to slide his steps, continuing to evade.

Both are displaying the Small Guiyuan Step technique.

After a dozen moves, Chu Yi’s steps falter, and she stumbles forward, her feet retreating, causing her to freeze suddenly.

Chu Zhiyuan brushes his sleeve.

She stands upright, sighing in relief.

“Big brother!” Her flushed little face brimming with excitement, “If I had practiced this from the start, I’d already be a Martial Arts master!”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckles, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Practicing now feels fresh and interesting, but even the most exciting thing becomes mundane when done daily.

From what he knows of Chu Yi, this novelty won’t last more than five days before she’ll begin making excuses to avoid practice.

Chu Yi protests, “Big brother, I can practice this.”

“Alright then, practice it for now.” Chu Zhiyuan places his hand on her wrist, feeling the Inner Qi still coursing through her meridians, nodding in satisfaction.

This Small Guiyuan Step is a martial art from Mingwu Hall, only at the third level.

Yet for Chu Yi, it’s the best introductory method.

It suits her well with her lack of martial arts insight but good physical constitution.

If she enjoys it, practicing for a year and a half could get her to the fourth postnatal layer, and then she could move on to the more complex Great Guiyuan Step.

With the Great Guiyuan Step, she can probably reach postnatal perfection, then finding a way to break through the three barriers to enter the Innate Realm.

Reaching the Innate Realm grants a lifespan of 120 years, providing some self-preservation capability, able to evade in critical moments, allowing him some peace of mind.

“By the way, I found a mental method that has an effect on maintaining youthful looks,” Chu Zhiyuan says, “Master it well, and one can stay youthful forever.”

Chu Yi eagerly asks, “What kind of mental method?”

“Jade Longevity Technique, a secret technique, seen in Mingwu Hall, but requires the Innate Realm to practice.”

“Jade Longevity Technique…” Chu Yi mulls over the words, bright eyes fixed on him, “Big brother, does this method truly preserve youth?”

“It was a secret of the Jade Sect.

After the sect was destroyed in a night, the world thought it was lost forever, unaware that there are still Jade Sect disciples within the Imperial Palace who left behind the Jade Longevity Technique before passing.”

“I must reach the Innate Realm!” Chu Yi’s eyes glisten with endless motivation.

Chu Zhiyuan nods approvingly, “The sooner the better.

The Jade Longevity Technique can only preserve your looks at the moment it’s mastered, you don’t want to be fifty or sixty when you achieve it.”

“Alright!” Chu Yi nods vigorously.

She instantly feels an endless drive.