Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 114: Chapter 112 Closing In

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In one night, Yujing City was enveloped in vast snow.

The Prince Qing Mansion was the same, with thick snow weighing down the roofs and branches.

The Listening Waves Garden was all white.

In the morning light, Chu Zhiyuan, wearing a loose white robe, stood in the courtyard snow, practicing the Purple Sun Stance, cultivating the Great Purple Sun Technique.

Heat surged around him, gradually melting the snow within a meter’s radius.

The aura of the Great Purple Sun Technique became increasingly rich.

The Twelfth Layer was both deeper and purer than the Eleventh Layer, especially since the Great Purple Sun Technique had undergone subtle adjustments.

Cultivation became smoother, as if slightly intoxicated, like soaking in a hot spring.

The piercing cold could not penetrate his body, but the cold air was so pure and refreshing that every alveolus seemed to expand with joy.

He smiled in the morning light.

The purple light falling from the void was more intense, twice as intense as before.

This purple light blended into the Misty Purple Energy, resulting in subtle changes.

This change was extremely faint; without Super Sense, it would take much accumulation over time to perceive it.

As his realm advanced, the amount of purple light he attracted increased.

He couldn’t imagine how much purple light the Purple Sun Scripture could absorb when reaching the Grandmaster Realm, or how intense it would be.

Around him, only Chu Qingfeng practiced the Purple Sun Scripture, but Chu Qingfeng never practiced in front of them, only standing aside with his arms folded.

Chu Zhiyuan understood the reason.

When a Great Grandmaster cultivated, they emitted an astonishing aura, making those in both Postnatal and Innate realms feel like they were standing in a raging tide, unable to cultivate.

Therefore, he didn’t know what other masters practicing the Purple Sun Scripture were like.

The Listening Waves Garden was silent, with the crisp chirping of birds on branches clearly audible.

Zou Fang stood by the small pavilion, with two of Mo Yi’s four women guarding the courtyard entrance, and the other two notifying various places.

Time slowly passed.

The sun rose.

The Prince Qing Mansion remained very quiet.

Mo Yi had instructed that the prince was practicing in the courtyard this morning, not to be disturbed, so all the mansion’s attendants moved quietly, not sweeping the snow.

When the sun rose higher and the purple light vanished, Chu Zhiyuan finished his Purple Sun Stance.

The Prince Qing Mansion suddenly became lively.

Some swept snow, some washed, some cooked, some cleaned, some fed horses; everyone busied with their tasks, bustling with activity.

...

Chu Zhiyuan entered the house, placing the Miao Ling Pearl into the Cold Jade Box.

He put on the Flying Dragon Ball around his neck again and casually picked up the last Flying Dragon Bone.

The third layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique surged, continuously absorbing the essence of the Flying Dragon Bone, merging it into his purple golden bones.

The ability of the purple golden bones to absorb the essence of the third layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique was weakening, feeling almost at its limit, nearing perfection.

This one Flying Dragon Bone was sufficient.

Thus, there was no need to exchange Fifth Grade Merit for Flying Dragon Bones.

And there was no need to exchange for the Miao Wu Pill either; with the Miao Ling Pearl, it was equivalent to countless Miao Wu Pills, offering more choices.

Returning indoors, his Super Sense continuously and relentlessly sought to probe, trying to penetrate and understand the Miao Ling Pearl.

Yet he could not find a way in.

The Miao Ling Pearl possessed a mysterious power that blocked the tendrils of his Super Sense.

However, his Super Sense had not alerted him to any danger, so his vigilance towards the Miao Ling Pearl had lessened, not as guarded.

Closing the Cold Jade Box, he decided not to take the Miao Ling Pearl out for now, to avoid it being snatched.

He stood up to have breakfast with his family.

——

”I’ve found out.”

While eating, Bai Ningshuang suddenly leaned over, lowering her voice, exuding a slightly sneaky air that made Chu Zhiyuan smile.

Bai Ningshuang lowered her voice: ”Do you know where Concubine Zhen’s origins come from?”

”Where?” Chu Yi leaned in, eyes gleaming: ”Mother, don’t keep us in suspense, just tell us.”

Chu Minghou looked at them helplessly, smiling while eating, but did not lean in.

He was not interested in such matters, his interests were in paintings and scrolls, and sharing with like-minded painting masters.

He always wished to invite visiting painting masters in the capital for an exchange.

Bai Ningshuang, excitedly, ”Wuyou! Sect!”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback: ”Is it really the Wuyou Sect?”

”Without a doubt!” Bai Ningshuang proudly said, ”The Imperial Concubine has been holding back, but I eventually squeezed it out of her!”

”Wuyou Sect...” Chu Zhiyuan looked towards the imperial palace and asked gently, ”Mother, are there concubines from the Jiuli Divine Sect or Yongling Divine Sect in the palace?”

The Western Palace Empress was from the Yao Yue Palace, and Concubine Zhen was from the Wuyou Sect, so might there be concubines from the Jiuli Divine Sect and Yongling Divine Sect as well?

The Court and the four Demon Sects had long been at peace, each minding their own territories, and as long as the Demon Sects didn’t cause trouble outside their lands, the Court would not intervene.

The disciples of the four Demon Sects swore never to enter Yujing.

Yet the Emperor accepted the disciples of the four Demon Sects as concubines, complicating relations significantly.

”I’ve not heard anything.” Bai Ningshuang said: ”There are factions within the palace too. Like the Imperial Concubine is from the Commoner Faction, Concubine Zhen from the Martial Arts Faction, and there are Aristocrat Factions, Courtier Factions, ... It’s very complicated!”

Chu Zhiyuan remarked: ”The waters are too deep.”

Bai Ningshuang sighed: ”They say entering a marquis’s gate is like plunging into the sea; our mansion isn’t as deep, but the Imperial Palace, it’s truly unfathomable!”

”Why was Concubine Zhen sent to the Cold Palace, was it because of the poisoning incident?”

”That’s unknown. Even the Imperial Concubine isn’t sure, and doesn’t dare inquire, no one mentions it lightly.”

”Daring to poison in the Imperial Palace, who were they trying to poison?”

”The Emperor has been scowling these days, everyone is cautious, the palace atmosphere is very heavy.”

...

After breakfast, he went to the Ministry of Rites to sign in.

Every street and alley was busy with snow sweeping, each clearing the snow in front of their door, aided by the City Patrol, quickly restoring Yujing’s streets to their clean state.

The roads were cleared, but rooftops were still covered with half a meter of snow, showing just how heavy last night’s snowfall was.

Arriving at the Ministry of Rites, the clerks were also sweeping snow, each exhaling white breath, bustling with warmth.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded to the respectful greetings of the clerks one by one, soon entering his office to review the files.

Gao Lingfeng came in to report that the case of Fang Xiuha from the True One Sect was still unresolved.

Last night’s wind and snow had a significant impact on the aura, it might not proceed smoothly.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, seemingly indifferent.

Fang Xiuha, one of those who dies because his cleverness backfired, the world isn’t short of such people, he felt no pity for him.

But the True One Sect was connected to the Yao Yue Palace, how would the Yao Yue Palace react?

Two disciples of the True One Sect were killed, would the Yao Yue Palace sit idly by?

Gao Lingfeng then reported another matter.

The Archives Bureau had been robbed.

The box containing He Jiujie’s belongings had vanished.

The heavy snow masked all traces, and the Military Suppression Department had been called to investigate but found no leads, since He Jiujie’s belongings held no value, the investigation was dropped.

Chu Zhiyuan remained indifferent on the surface.

But his heart was alert.

Who would be interested in He Jiujie’s belongings?

Obviously, the Jiuli Divine Sect!

Could it be that the Jiuli Divine Sect knew the Miao Ling Pearl had been obtained by He Jiujie?

Or were they casting a wide net, even if unsure if any fish were caught?

If it was the former, could they trace it back to him?

Only Gao Lingfeng knew he had obtained He Jiujie’s belongings.

Gao Lingfeng wouldn’t leak it.

Yet no wall in the world is impenetrable, even if he doesn’t leak it, it doesn’t mean the Jiuli Divine Sect won’t find out.

What would the Jiuli Divine Sect do?

Thinking of this, he didn’t feel worried, only curious.

Jiuli Divine Sect wasn’t the Yuding Sect, they wouldn’t recklessly act towards him, a princely heir, so what would they do?

——

Leaving the Ministry of Rites, he returned to the new residence to practice the Heart Inquiry Saber Skill and the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique, then attempted to break through the Jade Tower.

Impacting the Jade Tower was most likely to injure the meridians, but once the meridians were injured, they were immediately healed by the Emperor Earth Scripture.

As he expected, he couldn’t break it in one go; it required meticulous effort.

Through Super Sensing Illumination, he faintly felt that such meticulous effort would take a month to break through the final layer of the Jade Tower, achieving Innate Perfection, thus seeking the Grandmaster path.

Returning to the Prince Qing Mansion by midday, he saw a carriage adorned with chanxiang horses, clearly belonging to the Duke Kang Mansion.

He frowned, stopping in his tracks.

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