Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 245: Chapter 242 Proposal

```html

In her original imagination, Yao Yue Palace was a serious, severe, cold, and heartless place, suffocating people.

But in reality, the scenery here is beautiful, with fun pets, friendly peers, kind and interesting elders, and powerful martial arts that keep one’s youthful appearance forever.

No wonder Master had grievances against the sect yet longed to return day and night.

Perhaps this place is simply too interesting, living too freely and happily.

Compared to this place, the Imperial Palace indeed feels no different from a cage.

The two girls in white were a bit shy as they stepped forward to greet.

One was Ji Mingzhu, the other was Xu Lingzhi.

They were disciples within Yao Yue Palace, belonging to the most orthodox disciples of Yao Yue Palace.

They were extremely curious about Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue.

Xiao Ruoling was the disciple of the West Palace Lady, who had lived in Yujing for many years and had never come to Yao Yue Palace.

Once she came to Yao Yue Palace, she could no longer return to Yujing.

Unless she were to marry, like the West Palace Lady did in the past.

Shen Hanyue’s background was even more intriguing, being the daughter of a disciple of Yao Yue Palace, who had been practicing in silence until she emerged in the competition for the Holy Daughter.

This Aunt of Yao Yue Palace fell into the web of love and got married, but unfortunately, she married the wrong man, one who turned out to be faithless.

Despite the advice of her fellow sisters, who all said not to marry, not to marry, because once the martial arts are wasted, beauty will soon fade, and no man would like it.

But she felt that this man was different, and she married him without hesitation, only for the man to flee, just as the sect members had said.

She was ashamed to return to the sect.

When disciples of Yao Yue Palace went out, they seldom revealed their identity.

And no one knew that disciples of Yao Yue Palace got married.

She raised her daughter on her own and taught her the secret techniques of Yao Yue Palace.

Without the sect’s resources for cultivation, Shen Hanyue could reach Innate Perfection at a young age, truly a genius.

Among the four, Xiao Ruoling mastered the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique, having the best talent, Shen Hanyue should be the second, while the other two had far less hope.

Going to participate in the Holy Daughter contest was just for show, as every time there were supposed to be four, and having fewer people wouldn’t look good.

Yun Qiuhua said: ”Alright, now you all know each other, all sisters of the same sect, don’t fall out over the Holy Daughter contest, it would be pointless.”

”Yes.”

”Here, these are Four Saints Heart Protecting Pills, for emergency use.” Yun Qiuhua handed them four small jade bottles.

Xiao Ruoling took one, opened it, and found a total of five small pills, about the size of red beans.

”If you’re truly injured or in mortal danger, take one of these, it’ll give you fifteen minutes, and quickly send out a signal.”

She then handed them eight small bamboo tubes, two each, with an extra one just in case one was lost.

”The Secret Land is dangerous everywhere, let me tell you, never apply outside experiences inside the Secret Land, while most of the flowers, trees, birds, fish, insects, and beasts outside are pleasing, those inside the Secret Land are extremely dangerous.”

”Yes.”

”Also, do not eat anything inside the Secret Land, whether it be Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or strange flowers and fruits, no matter how beautiful or tempting they appear.”

”Is it poisonous?”

”If it were just poison, that would be fine,” Yun Qiuhua said: ”The fear is that they are not poisonous but possess many strange troubles, ... In short, don’t eat randomly, our sect has lots of miraculous pills and elixirs, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are all refined into spirit pills, much safer and more effective.”

”Yes.”

”Well... then that’s it, once inside, danger is constant, be cautious, if things don’t work out, take a spirit pill and send a signal, the Holy Daughter will come to rescue you.”

”Elder, the Holy Daughter is...?” Xiao Ruoling asked.

The previous Holy Daughter was about to step down, and the four of them were to take her place.

Yun Qiuhua said: ”The Holy Daughter is already in the Secret Land, waiting to rescue you.”

She then pointed to a gentle woman with a smile: ”I haven’t introduced you yet, this is the Palace Master.”

The gentle woman glared at her without good humor: ”Don’t blame me, you started off with a lot of babbling, lucky you remembered me.”

She then introduced the identities of each to Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue.

She was Palace Master Jing Xiaodie.

The rest were all elders, the three young ones, who spoke little, were the previous Holy Daughters.

The remaining six women, including the Palace Master, had never served as Holy Daughters but had cultivated to the level of Great Grandmaster.

Disciples of Yao Yue Palace often have nothing weighing on their mind, living freely and leisurely, their cultivation techniques are also mystical, so achieving Grandmaster is not that difficult.

Yun Qiuhua comforted the four girls: ”The first time entering the Secret Land is the most dangerous, afterwards, once you’ve been inside, having the Secret Land’s aura makes it less dangerous.”

Shen Hanyue looked at Xu Lingzhi and Ji Mingzhu.

”They’ve both been in before,” Yun Qiuhua smiled: ”So you two are at a disadvantage.”

Shen Hanyue immediately showed an aggrieved expression.

Yun Qiuhua laughed: ”But precisely because they’ve been in before, their chance for inheritance is much smaller, the key depends on you two.”

Shen Hanyue immediately perked up.

Xiao Ruoling pursed her lips and smiled: ”Elder Yun, anything else we need to pay attention to?”

”Nope, it’s up to your luck, in you go.” She shook her head with a smile and led Xiao Ruoling and the four girls forward.

Xiao Ruoling watched her walk forward, heading towards the edge of the cliff, getting closer and closer to the edge, about to step off and fall.

Just as she reached out her hand to speak, she saw Yun Qiuhua suddenly disappear without a trace.

Ji Mingzhu covered her mouth and giggled, stepping off the cliff, Xu Lingzhi laughed: ”This is the way to enter the Secret Land.”

Shen Hanyue sighed and quickly followed in.

Xiao Ruoling glanced around.

The entrance was actually here, then if the exit is also here, if not careful, will it lead to a fall.

However, they all possessed top-notch qinggong, so there was no fear.

She turned to salute the Great Grandmasters, and after they waved, she turned and stepped out.

...

The view brightened before her, and she instantly found herself in a dense forest.

Towering ancient trees stood all around, far denser and more lush than outside, making her feel insignificantly small.

She could no longer see anyone else, knowing that from now on, she would have to go alone until she found the Profound Yin Palace.

She closed her bright eyes, carefully sensing.

After a moment, she opened her bright eyes.

There was already a vague feeling, something was calling her from a location.

Her heart steadied.

It seems heaven’s will is with me.

Is it due to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique?

No wonder Master was so confident.

She dodged a swiftly rushing little squirrel, her figure turning into a thin wisp of smoke, gracefully weaving through the ancient trees.

Sword light occasionally flashed, cutting down the birds, beasts, and insects that attempted to ambush her.

She was not softened by the warmth of Yao Yue Palace to be merciful to the birds and beasts around her.

From Master Zeng Yuan, she learned that in the Secret Realm, one must not be soft-hearted, as it is a place where the weak are prey for the strong.

The softer you are, the more demon beasts will attack you.

Yao Yue Palace is beautiful, but the Secret Land of Yao Yue Palace is equally dangerous.

Her swordsmanship and qinggong were superb, none could stop her progress, stopping usually only for Sky-reaching Grass.

From time to time, she picked a couple of Sky-reaching Grass under large flowers.

Besides that, she did not stay, continuously moving until she reached the palace that seemed to call her.

Standing in front of this White Jade Palace, she suddenly felt that the palace built by Yao Yue Palace outside was like a toy.

This White Jade Palace before her was three times the size of the Yao Yue Palace buildings, vast and grand, inspiring a sense of worship.

The palace walls seemed to be made of a single massive piece of white jade, without seams, making her unable to comprehend such a massive unblemished white jade exists in the world.

Various strange patterns were carved on the white jade, covering every part of the White Jade Palace.

The two white jade doors of the palace were tightly closed.

A strange flower was engraved on each door.

At a glance, it appeared to be blooming, yet upon closer inspection, it remained unmoved.

Above the flowers, a Bright Moon was half-hidden by dark clouds, casting a soft glow on the strange flowers.

The Bright Moon seemed to be gliding through the dark clouds, yet upon closer inspection, it too remained still.

She felt dizzy after a few glances and quickly shook her head, forcefully diverting her gaze, and looked up at the sky.

The sun, like a fireball, hung slantingly in the western sky, perched on the peak of a towering mountain, ready to fall at any moment.

The Profound Yin Palace opens at midnight.

There was still some time before it would open.

She looked down at the small Cold Jade Box in her sleeve, opening it revealed fifteen stalks of Sky-reaching Grass inside.

She couldn’t help but smile.

Just as she was thinking of how pleased Chu Zhiyuan would be to see these, she suddenly heard the sound of fluttering clothes.

Looking up, Shen Hanyue was gracefully arriving.

Compared to Xiao Ruoling’s impeccable appearance, she looked somewhat disheveled.

The front of her white robe had a few brown stains, there was some green grass juice on her left shoulder, and dust on her knees.

Seeing Xiao Ruoling was already here, Shen Hanyue approached, cupping her fists in salute, solemnly saying: ”Senior Sister Xiao, please give me your guidance!”

Xiao Ruoling said: ”Junior Sister Shen, don’t be hasty.”

Shen Hanyue blinked her bright eyes in confusion, her hand holding the sword relaxed.

”Junior Sister Shen,” Xiao Ruoling said: ”Master and the elders all said to determine a winner, only one person can receive the inheritance. Have you ever thought, what if two people entered together?”

Shen Hanyue was puzzled.

She had never considered this question.

Determining a winner, the victor enters the Profound Yin Palace to receive the Taiyin Great Refining Form inheritance, becoming the Yao Yue Palace Holy Daughter.

This seemed like a customary rule.

She never considered that there might be anything wrong with this rule.

”Why don’t we enter together and see if both of us can receive the inheritance.”

”Is that possible?”

”Why not?”

”...It doesn’t seem to be in accordance with the rules.”

”At most, neither of us becomes the Holy Daughter.”

”This...”

”Junior Sister Shen, I may not be your opponent.”

Shen Hanyue blinked her large eyes.

She didn’t think so.

She wasn’t foolish, this was Senior Sister Xiao being modest.

Looking at her own appearance, then at hers, and recalling how she arrived much earlier.

Could it be that the demon beasts in the Secret Realm liked her and disliked Shen, choosing to attack her and not Senior Sister Xiao?

That was simply impossible.

The demon beasts in there were very clever, bullying the weak and fearing the strong, Senior Sister Xiao was evidently stronger than her!

”Want to take a gamble?”

”...” Shen Hanyue’s eyes blinked, mysteriously flickering.

She thought of her aging mother’s earnest expectations, who had painstakingly taken care of her and taught her all these years, wishing for her to make a remarkable achievement and wash away her shame.

Then she looked at Xiao Ruoling’s deep and mesmerizing eyes filled with friendliness and smiles.

”Isn’t it possible?” Xiao Ruoling said disappointedly: ”If we both become Holy Daughters, you can be the Holy Daughter, I can just have the title, or even step aside.”

This was an idea that suddenly flashed in her mind.

If there are two Holy Daughters, it would be much easier to step aside, maybe she could step aside right away.

With the title of Holy Daughter, she could fulfill her master’s long-cherished wish, and also fulfill the Princely Heir’s aspiration, while still being able to return to Yujing at any time.

It would be a win-win, why not do it.

```