Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 576: Chapter 572: Projection

A group of people came directly to the forest beside the East City Gate.

Chu Zhiyuan pursed his lips and let out a long, drawn-out whistle.

The whistle echoed continuously through the air.

Moments later, two golden lights weaved through the forest, stopping before them and kicking up a gust of wind.

Amidst the whirlwind stood two Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses steadily.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward and patted one of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses, turning his head and saying, ”Yingying, Hanyue, you both ride this one.”

Xu Yingying excitedly replied, ”Can I ride it?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”You should be able to now, give it a try.”

He could now communicate more smoothly with the horses, understanding each other’s thoughts.

Xu Yingying approached, followed carefully by Shen Hanyue.

They had previously tried without success; the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses were unwilling to carry them, kicking out with swift and powerful actions when approached.

They really were no match for them.

Xu Yingying reached out her small hand and touched the mare Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse.

It made a slight evasive move but didn’t lift a hoof, only snorting through its nose.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”No need to touch it, just get on.”

Xu Yingying swung herself up onto the horse.

The Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse let out a light neigh, seemingly expressing displeasure.

Chu Zhiyuan soothed it for a moment, smiling as he looked at Shen Hanyue.

Shen Hanyue leapt up to sit behind Xu Yingying, muttering, ”At last, we can do it.”

Xu Yingying excitedly said, ”Let’s go, let’s run and see.”

She had long wanted to experience riding a Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse.

Chu Zhiyuan swung himself onto the other horse, extended a hand, and Xiao Ruoling lightly landed in front of him.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Zou Fang, ”Those Venerable Statues are important, don’t lose them.”

”Yes, Princely Heir,” Zou Fang replied.

Chu Zhiyuan turned to Guo Chi, ”I’ll be back today, be careful not to let the Evil Sect’s creatures get you.”

”Rest assured, Princely Heir,” Guo Chi solemnly clasped his fists.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, gently tapped the horse’s flank, ”Let’s go.”

Two golden lights shot out instantly and vanished at the end of the official road in the blink of an eye.

Riding on the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse, Xu Yingying and Shen Hanyue widened their eyes, nearly shouting out loud.

The sensation was incredibly intense.

Chu Zhiyuan continually fed the horses Demon Crystals, making them stronger and stronger.

Now their speed had surpassed an ordinary Great Grandmaster, astoundingly fast.

Although Chu Zhiyuan could also achieve this speed, carrying one or two people would slow him down, let alone three.

The faster the speed, the greater the resistance, which increases exponentially.

He could reduce resistance through Spiritual Energy, but couldn’t lessen the resistance from those he carried.

At high speeds, the impacts of resistance and load are magnified dozens of times.

Despite the incredible speed, scenery flew backward rapidly on both sides.

Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling were unaffected, the Vigorous Wind split by invisible Spiritual Energy.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”What is this about?”

He had already seen the message on the note, only four words: ”Profound Yin has changed.”

He speculated that this Profound Yin referred to the Profound Yin Palace, but what change it presented remained unknown.

Xiao Ruoling gently furrowed her brows, shaking her head, ”The Profound Yin Palace has always been closed, only occasionally opened when we select a Holy Daughter. However, the origins of the Profound Yin Palace are extremely ancient.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, listening attentively.

Xiao Ruoling continued, ”The Profound Yin Palace has a long heritage and there is actually a legend that the Profound Yin Palace comes from Outer Heaven.”

”Outer Heaven?”

”Yes, Outer Heaven,” Xiao Ruoling looked at the trees swiftly passing by on both sides of the road, speaking softly, ”It’s said the Profound Yin Palace is a sect from Outer Heaven, and this Profound Yin Palace is a projection of the Profound Yin Palace from Outer Heaven in a Secret Land.”

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows in contemplation.

Xiao Ruoling added, ”This is a celestial phenomenon, beyond imagination.”

”What changes could occur?”

”The Profound Yin Palace has an opportunity for virtual and reality to converge once every ten thousand years.”

”Virtual and reality converge?” Chu Zhiyuan pondered, ”This means the projection and the true Profound Yin Palace might merge? ... Could people from Outer Heaven come out of the Profound Yin Palace?”

Xiao Ruoling gently shook her head, ”People from Outer Heaven cannot enter the shadow, but the shadow can plunge into Outer Heaven.”

”This Profound Yin Palace can enter the real Profound Yin Palace?”

”Yes.” Xiao Ruoling nodded lightly.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Has any Holy Daughter entered the real Profound Yin Palace?”

This would actually be akin to Ascension.

Compared to ascending using the Emperor’s Sword, being led by the Profound Yin Palace into Outer Heaven is much easier.

”Yes.” Xiao Ruoling nodded gently, ”But it’s unknown whether they lived or died, vanished without a trace, never to appear again.”

Chu Zhiyuan mused, ”If the Profound Yin Palace is indeed like this, would you try to go up?”

Xiao Ruoling shook her head with a smile, ”What would I do up there?”

She hadn’t married yet, nor become the Heir’s Wife; how could she leave?

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the Void, ”I am increasingly certain that Outer Heaven exists.”

Xiao Ruoling nodded lightly, ”There indeed is an Outer Heaven.”

Only a few in the world knew of Outer Heaven; it was considered a legend.

Yet, they didn’t know that Outer Heaven was a real and undeniable existence.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”When I master the Emperor’s Sword in the future, I will choose to ascend to it.”

Xiao Ruoling was taken aback.

Chu Zhiyuan continued, ”You know the Emperor’s Sword can help me ascend to the higher heaven, right?”

”Yes, I’ve heard of it,” Xiao Ruoling furrowed her brows lightly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I’ve been thinking about how to take you all up there with me, but there’s no precedent for it; ascension means ascending alone.”

Xiao Ruoling softly said, ”Do you want me to enter the Profound Yin Palace in Outer Heaven?”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”But this legend is uncertain; what if it’s a trap? ... It’s too risky.”

”...” Xiao Ruoling fell into thought.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”First, let’s confirm whether the change in the Profound Yin Palace is as we suspect; it’s too early to say these things.”

Xiao Ruoling nodded lightly, seemingly deep in thought.

She was certain that the once-in-ten-thousand-years opportunity of the Profound Yin Palace had appeared.

Now she faced a dilemma: marry Chu Zhiyuan, spend a few years together, or risk entering the Profound Yin Palace and meeting Chu Zhiyuan in Outer Heaven.

The former was certain yet brief, the latter long-lasting yet elusive.

How to choose?

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The key is how to verify the truth about the Profound Yin Palace ascending to Outer Heaven, ... I’ll ask my Imperial Grandfather.”

Xiao Ruoling said, ”The Emperor might not know.”

The Da Jing dynasty has been around for less than ten thousand years; events of ten thousand or several ten thousand years ago might not be known.

Moreover, the origins of the Profound Yin Palace are secrets among secrets, unlikely to be known by anyone.

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment, ”Is there no way to find out the fate of the Saintess from ten thousand years ago?”

”The Saintess from ten thousand years ago was named Feng Heng. When she entered the Profound Yin Palace, she left behind a Saintess Jade Talisman in the sect, which has never extinguished. It’s unknown if she is alive or if the talisman has failed.”

”Can I see this Jade Talisman?” Chu Zhiyuan’s spirits lifted.

With his Super Sense, his intuition was sharper and stronger, able to sense what others could not.

”Okay.” Xiao Ruoling nodded gently, ”This matter cannot be disclosed.”

”I naturally understand.” Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

This was a secret among secrets, and as a Holy Daughter, it was not to be disclosed.

Xiao Ruoling was already breaking the rules by doing so.

The Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses sped like the wind, reaching below Yao Yue Peak from Tianjing in half a day’s time.

Instead of returning immediately, Chu Zhiyuan went to his small courtyard at the Guest Peak.

Once he arrived, the previously cold and quiet Guest Peak became lively again.

The disciples of Yao Yue Palace were particularly close to Chu Zhiyuan; first, because he was the husband of the Holy Daughter and thereby a son-in-law of Yao Yue Palace; second, due to his significant contributions to Yao Yue Palace.

They could feel his friendliness, and naturally drew close to him.

Just after he finished washing up, Xiao Ruoling arrived and handed him a small thumb-sized jade pendant.