Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 143: Chapter 141: Despair

The news of a martial arts duel between Chu Zhiyuan, the fourth prince of Da Jing, and Li Hongzhao, the ninth princess of Da Meng, quickly spread throughout Yujing City.

In the taverns and tea houses of Yujing City, and even on the bustling streets, almost everyone was discussing this duel.

People naturally became very concerned about the two contenders.

One side was the princely heir of Prince Qing, a rare genius of the Da Jing royal family who broke through to the Innate Realm at the age of twenty, and within a few months, transcended the Innate, stepping into the Grandmaster Realm.

Such a genius was unheard of and unprecedented.

Perhaps only those legendary figures could compare, but accounts of those figures are often too exaggerated, more like myths, lacking in authenticity and leaving people skeptical.

Yet this genius, the fourth prince, was here in Yujing, right in the Prince Qing Mansion, visible to all eyes.

This tangible legend intrigued them even more.

Recently, this prince had also defeated Cheng Tianfeng, the first heir of Da Zhen, at a nighttime banquet in the Imperial Palace, achieving an indisputable and exhilarating victory.

This Prince Zhiyuan was not only a genius in cultivation but also a formidable genius in actual combat.

On the other side was Li Hongzhao, the ninth princess of Da Meng, also a legendary figure.

At a young age, she entered the Phoenix Sword Sect and became a true disciple, early stepping into the Grandmaster Realm.

Before Huang Shiron of the White Cloud Sword Palace stepped into the Grandmaster, Li Hongzhao was the youngest Grandmaster in the world.

Now, the two were about to have a martial duel outside Qitian Palace.

Although everyone dearly hoped for Chu Zhiyuan to win, Chu Zhiyuan had just entered the Grandmaster, while Li Hongzhao was already a Grandmaster for some time.

The realm absolutely crushed Chu Zhiyuan.

Every level in the Grandmaster Realm represents a vast difference in power.

They analyzed, Li Hongzhao was at least at the Second Layer Heaven, while Chu Zhiyuan was likely only at the First Layer Heaven, making victory almost impossible.

This was nearly a certain defeat in the duel.

But since Chu Zhiyuan agreed, he probably didn’t stand a complete chance.

That morning, a phoenix’s cry startled the entire Yujing.

The news that Li Hongzhao broke through to the Third Layer Heaven in the Grandmaster Realm swiftly swept through Yujing City.

In an instant, people’s hopes for Chu Zhiyuan vanished.

The gap of two realms meant there was almost no possibility of victory, not even a sliver.

Subsequent rumors of another military defeat in the Northern Territory of Da Jing spread through the grapevine, with news that Da Jing had lost a military stronghold.

Da Jing and Da Meng had an expanse of grassland between them. Fortresses were built on the grassland, with walls connecting each city, and military towns between the cities.

Forts were established in key locations, while less strategic sites had military towns, forming a massive wall to block Da Meng’s troops.

Da Jing defended by holding the forts, restraining Da Meng’s cavalry’s might.

Now, with a military town breached, it was as if a door had opened in this wall, allowing the enemy entry.

Da Meng could now invade through the breached town, rendering the Northern Territory useless and allowing for wanton plundering and destruction.

This was a major blow to the Northern Territory’s defenses and significantly impacted the war stance between Da Jing and Da Meng, with far-reaching consequences.

This great defeat was tough for the citizens of Yujing, the court, and the nobility and wealthy to accept.

This had increased Da Jing’s desperation for Chu Zhiyuan’s victory.

Yet, at this critical moment, Li Hongzhao made another breakthrough, further securing her victory.

One couldn’t help but sigh, could this be the decree of fate?

Was Da Meng truly invincible?

First, the wise and courageous Da Meng Emperor consolidated the army, rapidly raising the combat effectiveness of Da Meng’s Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry, then came Li Hongzhao from the royal family.

Was the divine decree favoring Da Meng?

——

”Big Sister, Big Sister!”

Xiao Ruoyu, invited by the young Duke Bai Yangqing, was dining at an outside tavern when he heard the news.

He rushed back hurriedly without finishing his meal.

Xiao Ruoling was calmly practicing, making rapid progress, her True Qi becoming more supple and dynamic, yet its impact on the Jade Tower was growing stronger.

She felt as if she was about to break through this layer of the Jade Tower and step into the Eighth Layer.

This sense of constant advancement was particularly fulfilling.

Time passed richly, and days became flavorful.

This feeling was a subtle change.

She didn’t know whether it was due to a change in mentality since meeting Chu Zhiyuan, or because of the enhancement of her True Qi since Chu Zhiyuan assisted her cultivation.

Perhaps both.

Upon hearing the voice, she slowly opened her bright eyes.

Her eyes were calm and serene as she looked at the approaching Xiao Ruoyu.

Xiao Ruoyu hastily said, ”Big Sister, something major has happened.”

”What’s the matter?” Xiao Ruoling gently shook her head. ”Look how flustered you are, where’s the dignity of the young lord?”

”Big Sister, I can’t mind my dignity now!” Xiao Ruoyu hurriedly said, ”It’s Li Hongzhao. Word is that Li Hongzhao has progressed to another level, stepping into the Third Layer Heaven.”

Xiao Ruoling lightly knitted her delicate brows.

Xiao Ruoyu said, ”It’s spreading like wildfire outside. The phoenix cry this morning was when Li Hongzhao broke through to the Third Layer Heaven, practicing the Phoenix Sword Sect’s supreme martial art, the long-lost Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique.”

Xiao Ruoling mused, ”Third Layer Heaven...”

”The prince is only at the First Layer, right?”

”He just stepped into the Grandmaster, he should be at the First Layer Heaven.”

”Facing a Second Layer Heaven was already hard, and now against a Third Layer Heaven, he’s truly finished!”

Unless the martial skill was strong enough to overcome realms, but this had its prerequisites.

One required a significant difference in martial skills, one being a top technique with profound mastery, and the other rudimentary with shallow control, to bridge the gap between realms.

The realm gap shouldn’t be excessive; one layer was the limit, and two layers were nearly impossible.

Li Hongzhao trained in the Phoenix Sword Sect, using top-tier martial skills.

Her brother-in-law’s martial skills might not compare.

Not to mention, Li Hongzhao practiced the supreme martial art of the Phoenix Sword Sect, the Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique.

In any case, her brother-in-law was unlikely to win.

”It’s just a duel.” Xiao Ruoling gently shook her head. ”One victory or defeat isn’t that important.”

”But it affects our Da Jing’s morale, face, and public sentiment. How can it not be important?”

”So what if he loses? There’s no real danger, and he’ll surpass Li Hongzhao in the future.”

”The future is the future, and now is now!” Xiao Ruoyu was unwilling. ”It would be great if her brother-in-law could also break through.”

”You think breakthroughs in the Grandmaster Realm are like the Postnatal Realm!” Xiao Ruoling chuckled.

Xiao Ruoyu said, ”It might be possible for her brother-in-law.”

They say breakthroughs in the Innate Realm are difficult, much harder than the Postnatal, yet it didn’t seem that hard for him. In less than a year, he reached Innate Perfection in one go.

They said the path to Grandmaster was hard to find, with ninety-nine out of a hundred getting stuck, and even those who didn’t get stuck needed to cultivate for years or decades.

But he just suddenly stepped into the Grandmaster.

These cultivation rules didn’t apply to him.

”There’s no use thinking more about it; just go to Qitian Palace tomorrow to spectate.”

”...Sigh, alright.” Xiao Ruoyu saw her calmness, but he grew even more anxious.

He almost didn’t dare go to Qitian Palace tomorrow.

Xiao Ruoling turned her head towards the direction of Prince Qing Mansion, her misty eyes gleaming brightly.

The saying goes, care leads to chaos.

She spoke generously but couldn’t help worrying.

Though she knew worry was useless, her mind stayed unsettled.

...

Chu Zhiyuan was in the small courtyard of his new residence, standing in the Dragon Subduing Stance.

Infinite power surged within his body, his body’s membrane resembling a giant web, lightly trembling, vibrating through his entire body.

As the membrane vibrated, his flesh and blood grew stronger.

If he couldn’t break through, then he’d practice martial skills.

While refining the membrane, he pondered over the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist.

The Great Heavenly Dragon Fist had nine punches, blending speed, power, and intricate moves, considered the pinnacle of fist techniques, its power remarkable.

Even with Super Sense, he couldn’t grasp all the secrets at once; the deeper he delved, the more he realized how little he knew, with endless intricacies.

By perceiving the subtle changes in his body during practice, his comprehension of the fist’s essence was far deeper than average.

The deeper the understanding, the more significant its power, and the more useful its application.

A slight miscalculation could result in a significant blunder.

The same punch, used at different times, yielded drastically different effects.

The same punch, with slight variations in movement, had vastly different speed and power, with its mighty effect worlds apart.

Zou Fang softly reported from outside, ”Your Highness, the Princess has arrived!”