Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 126: Chapter 124 Perfection

”Today, the Emperor lost his temper during the court meeting, blaming the senior officials responsible for negotiations with the Da Zhen mission as useless.”

”They are indeed...”

Chu Zhiyuan wanted to say they were useless, but those words were not for him to speak, considering they were all key court officials, elite individuals.

How could they be useless?

It’s just that their differing interests make them hesitant and conflicted, causing impatience in others.

At the root of it, it’s because Da Jing is currently in an unfavorable situation.

Through the Inspection Department’s information, Chu Zhiyuan knew that Da Zhen and Da Meng were also in a covert conflict.

Da Jing, Da Zhen, and Da Meng form a tripod stance, bordering each other, constantly restless, you advance and I retreat.

Da Meng used to be weak, allowing Da Jing and Da Zhen to benefit greatly, but now that Da Meng has risen, it’s Da Zhen and Da Jing who are in trouble.

If only the two countries had united earlier to thoroughly suppress Da Meng.

If there had been no internal strife between the two countries, Da Meng wouldn’t have had the chance to rise. But sadly, time cannot be reversed, there’s no regret in the world.

Da Meng is too powerful now.

The Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry is unstoppable.

What can be done now is for the two dynasties to unite and resist Da Meng.

”The Emperor has spoken,” Xiao Youping smoothed his beard with a smile, ”Your marriage doesn’t need to be rushed; you can take your time.”

”That’s even better.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Yet he hadn’t completely let his guard down.

Da Zhen is determined not to change its stance, whether the talks fall apart or compromise, it depends on who can bear it more.

For now, it seems Da Jing is the one less willing to let go.

Xiao Youping said, ”I’ve heard that Huang Shiron from the White Cloud Sword Palace has already become a Grandmaster, becoming a Grandmaster at twenty-three... the first time ever!”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slightly.

Xiao Ruoyu exclaimed in surprise, ”A Grandmaster at twenty-three? Has Miss Huang really become a Grandmaster?”

”This Miss Huang is usually very low-key, not seeking attention or showing off, yet she became a Grandmaster at twenty-three.” Xiao Youping marveled, ”This could really boost Da Jing’s morale.”

He speculated that the Da Zhen mission highly favored the Fourth Prince, believing he would become a Great Grandmaster.

If the Princely Heir becomes a Great Grandmaster, he could either become a significant courtier with considerable influence in court, or ascend as the next Emperor.

Such a Princely Heir becoming Da Zhen’s Prince Consort would be immensely beneficial to Da Zhen.

Whispers on the pillow have always been powerful.

If Da Zhen’s Princess becomes Empress, the impact would be greater.

The Emperor is a loner, yet he’s emotional; even a slight influence could greatly affect both countries.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The White Cloud Sword Palace is going to gain significant momentum this time.”

”It’s inevitable.” Xiao Youping said, ”But it’s fortunate, as the current Four Great Sects and the court are so interconnected, practically inseparable. The stronger the White Cloud Sword Palace is, the stronger the court is.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded lightly.

...

Before leaving, Chu Zhiyuan silently communicated to Xiao Ruoling to focus on cultivation, stabilize her realm, and heal quickly.

Forced rupturing of the Jade Tower caused damage to her meridians.

However, even in the decline of the State Duke Mansion, its cultivation foundation remains vastly superior to the Prince Qing Mansion, so there’s no shortage of Spirit Pills for healing, and recovery will be swift.

——

After returning to the Prince Mansion, Chu Zhiyuan was questioned by Bai Ningshuang and Chu Yi.

Where did you roam today, what did you buy, what did you eat, did Xiao Ruoling have any dissatisfaction, is there anything else to watch out for.

Chu Zhiyuan gave a few perfunctory replies and stated he needed to retreat in seclusion, then returned to the Listening Waves Courtyard.

Upon returning to the Listening Waves Courtyard, Liang Guanjie came to report.

”Your Highness, after Song Tianhai returned, he was thoroughly beaten up and was directly laid flat.”

”Oh—?”

”Duke Kang learned of his sneaking out, was furious, and having drunk some wine today, he went into a drunken frenzy. If it weren’t for the alcohol, he wouldn’t have gotten so furiously mad.”

”He drank...” Chu Zhiyuan revealed a playful smile.

Song Tianhai used the excuse of drunkenness to act wildly and ended up being taught a drunken lesson by Duke Kang. It’s quite a coincidence, and somewhat ironic.

Liang Guanjie chuckled, ”This time, Song Tianhai got a severe beating, vomiting blood and unable to move. Even so, he was sent directly out of the Duke Mansion, leaving overnight for the Northwest Border.”

”The Northwest Border... Duke Kang still holds a bit of fatherly concern.”

The Northwest Border is in Da Zhen and now poses no danger, so going there is purely to experience tedium and boredom rather than training.

This is akin to being exiled to temper one’s character, disconnecting from Yujing’s lively world.

Liang Guanjie asked, ”Your Highness, should we continue monitoring?”

”Let it be.” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”The spy in Duke Kang Mansion is unharmed, right?”

Liang Guanjie smiled, ”The informant certainly received a beating, yet Song Tianhai was loyal enough to protect him, preventing him from being expelled from the mansion.”

”Keep cultivating them.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”You never know when it might come in handy.”

”Yes.”

Liang Guanjie, seeing Chu Zhiyuan picking up the tea cup, tactfully excused himself and left.

...

Chu Zhiyuan began his seclusion, withdrawing and staying within the Listening Waves Courtyard for intense cultivation.

Alternating between the Great Purple Sun Technique with the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill and practicing the Fourth Layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique.

The Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill is methodical, required repeated impacts.

With the support of the Dragon Blood Pearl, Miao Ling Pearl, and Flying Dragon Ball, Marrow Refining was continuously accelerating.

Chu Zhiyuan wanted to speed up his progress through this intensive cultivation.

Stepping into the Grandmaster realm provides true self-preservation strength; relying solely on guards always breeds some insecurity, causing actions to be constrained, not daring even to venture to outer cities.

Alternating the use of the Heavenly Yuan Technique and Earth Origin Technique kept him energetically full.

When hungry, he would have Mo Yi bring food; when thirsty, he’d drink water, pushing through without rest, remaining in a state of continuous cultivation.

This time, he clearly observed the changes in the Miao Ling Pearl.

Every midnight, the Miao Ling Pearl would suddenly be filled with Jade Liquid, restoring to Perfection no matter how much was consumed during the day.

Under the Super Sense, everything was transparent and clear.

At the stroke of midnight, a thread of white light would fall from the void, directly entering the Miao Ling Pearl.

This white thread seemed both real and illusory, resembling the swirling smoke of sandalwood.

The white smoke of sandalwood rises vertically, whereas it descends from the void.

Both are fine and unbroken, continuous and endless.

Chu Zhiyuan watched the white smoke in wonder, regrettably, it went straight into the void above, far beyond the range of the Super Sense.

Not to mention that the Super Sense was now only a little over 120 meters, even if it were 1200 meters, it likely couldn’t reach the source far away.

This Miao Ling Pearl truly is mysterious, worthy of being an object from beyond the heavens.

Can this thread lead to its origin?

Is there truly a heaven beyond heaven?

Gazing at the Miao Ling Pearl, countless questions surfaced in Chu Zhiyuan’s mind, yet none could be answered.

Every midnight, he observed it again.

Since he couldn’t trace its origin, he examined its composition — what kind of essence could possess such miraculous properties.

But the Super Sense was blocked by an invisible force, just as when it couldn’t previously penetrate the Miao Ling Pearl.

Still not giving up, every midnight, he probed and searched.

...

The efficiency of secluded cultivation far surpassed usual practice.

This relentless, sleepless intense training accelerated progress more rapidly than imagined.

On the fifth day’s evening, as the third Dragon Blood Pearl paled and dwindled, suddenly a dragon’s roar resounded in his ears.

The dragon’s roar permeated the heavens and earth, filling every corner of the world, omnipresent.

He felt dizzy, his eyes blurred, and a massive golden dragon appeared before him.

The golden dragon stretched over a hundred meters, its scales as large as a person, emitting dazzling golden light, adorned with peculiar patterns, and its eyes like large glazed mirrors, shimmering with multicolored lights as if trying to ignite his soul.

Subsequently, his soul ignited.

He felt as if engulfed in a sea of flames, plunged into molten lava, writhing in unbearable pain, unable to scream.

Sweat rapidly drenched his body as though he had been fished out of water.

In that moment, the Super Sense still perfectly observed the present.

Despite the excruciating pain, he remained calm, introspectively witnessing every transformation inside and out.

Under the Super Sense, he observed his distorted face, warped and monstrous, with his back spine taut, protruding like a row of stakes, as if ready to burst through the skin.

The purple-golden marrow was reconstructing, with tiny new bones forming among the original bones, making the skeletal structure sturdier.

The marrow had transformed into a purple-golden hue, like melted gold mixed with carbon powder, becoming thick and heavy.

The skin and flesh showed no changes, except the blood ran much more vividly red and flowed rapidly through his body.

...

A moment later, a second earth-shattering dragon’s roar resonated in his mind.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Crisp sounds popped in succession.