Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 591: Chapter 587: Predicament

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Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, ”I’ll be quick. By the way, how high is the cultivation realm in the Outer Heaven? Can one achieve immortality?”

”Immortality... It seems possible, but whether it’s true or not is hard to say.”

”What realms are there?”

”The cultivation realms over there are different from ours. Even if you know, it won’t matter now, as you won’t succeed in practicing the mental method without enough spiritual energy.”

”I still need a general idea, just to have something in mind.”

”The Emperor’s Sword doesn’t know everything. I only know a rough outline. It seems like a path of the Nine Transitions of Spirit Transformation, from Qi Transformation to Transforming Intent, to Divinity Transformation, and then to Spirit Transformation, Four Realms and Thirty-Six Transitions. The rest is unclear; you’ll only know after ascending.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”We have to start cultivating again once we ascend, right?”

Two worlds, with different nature’s spiritual energy, should have different cultivation systems.

Following a different path, so no matter how far this path goes, we still have to walk another path.

Of course, we have to start cultivation from the beginning.

”Even if we start cultivating again, the speed is quite fast,” Li Hongzhao said, ”After all, our meridians and body are different from those who haven’t cultivated.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

”When I reach the Outer Heaven, I’ll be a Commandery Princess, and you should be a young prince,” Li Hongzhao laughed, shaking her head, ”It’s got nothing to do with the imperial throne now.”

Their Prince Mansion will no longer be a Prince Mansion but just an ordinary one.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”As long as I can cultivate, it doesn’t matter if I become Emperor or not.”

Li Hongzhao said, ”The key now is when your grandfather will step down.”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”No rush.”

”Hypocrite!” Li Hongzhao pouted, ”You say no rush, but in your heart, you’re terribly anxious!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”With the Evil Sect eradicated, the Emperor’s Sword should be three times stronger, right?”

”...Yes, with the people’s allegiance, the Emperor’s Sword is stronger than before.”

”Is it a good time for ascension?”

”It is indeed the best time for ascension, but my cultivation is still lacking, so I can’t.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled again.

”Are you saying your grandfather will take the opportunity to ascend, so he will soon pass the throne to you?”

”I think so.”

”...That depends on his cultivation,” Li Hongzhao said, ”Without enough cultivation, he can’t ascend.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”My Imperial Grandfather has extraordinary talent, and his cultivation is sufficient.”

Li Hongzhao slowly nodded, ”So, you’re likely to take the throne soon?”

”Barring unforeseen circumstances, it should be soon,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Li Hongzhao laughed, ”That’s good, do it quickly, don’t let me wait too long.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

The two then changed the topic and talked about Da Zhen.

”When will you go to Da Zhen to eradicate the Evil Sect’s main altar?”

”I have to return to Yujing first and report to the Emperor before I can go to Da Zhen.”

”Delay it a bit?” Li Hongzhao said, ”Let Da Zhen worry a little?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”We must act quickly to avoid complications over time.”

He’s always been vigilant against the Outer Heaven Demons and doesn’t want to delay and give them time.

These Outer Heaven Demons have strange methods, first with methods to conceal their aura, and then with methods to detonate the Golden Venerable statue.

It’s hard to know what methods they might use next.

But he knows these Outer Heaven Demons won’t just wait for death; they’re sure to come up with ways to deal with him.

The longer it drags on, the likelier they are to come up with a solution.

The best is to cut through with a quick strike and eradicate all the main altars in the shortest time.

”Da Zhen likely can’t wait either,” Li Hongzhao smiled at the corner of her mouth.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Did Rain Listening Platform find out the news?”

”The Evil Sect’s evil cultivators have increased dramatically, and Da Zhen has suffered greatly,” Li Hongzhao said, ”You have to be careful; they might vent their anger on you.”

Chu Zhiyuan seemed thoughtful.

Li Hongzhao is quite knowledgeable about people’s hearts with these words.

Even though he’s going to help, Da Zhen might not appreciate him and might even hate him.

Because of his deterrence, the Evil Sect’s evil cultivators from Da Jing and Da Meng might all run to Da Zhen.

This has led to a surge of evil cultivators within Da Zhen, wreaking havoc on innocent people.

While the people of Da Zhen surely hate the Evil Sect’s evil cultivators, they might also vent their anger on him.

Li Hongzhao said, ”Don’t expect to win the people’s hearts in Da Zhen like you did in Da Meng. Setting up tributes and offerings, don’t even think about it.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Let them be, just have no regrets.”

Li Hongzhao clearly knew about the people of Da Meng setting up tributes and offerings for him.

Not directly forbidding it can be seen as showing mercy, as such things are extremely taboo for an Emperor.

Li Hongzhao said, ”Also, be wary of Wentian Cliff; its roots are stronger than the Phoenix Sword Sect.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded, ”Can Gao Jiuqu be the Cliff Master of Wentian Cliff?”

”Just succeeded,” Li Hongzhao said, ”Whoever becomes Cliff Master, it’s the same, all align with the Imperial Family of Da Zhen, won’t favor you.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Let’s take a look and see.”

The Wentian Cliff still has the line of the Heavenly Hidden Sect, which has been silently lying low.

This line has never been mobilized, and hopefully won’t need to be used.

...

”I... I tell you, all the experts under heaven are mediocre!”

Li Hongzhao’s jade face was flushed, phoenix eyes bright and increasingly beautiful, radiating charm.

Her speech was no longer fluent, slightly stuttering, clearly drunk.

The two unknowingly drank a dozen jars of fine wine, drinking to their heart’s content.

Slightly tipsy, they spoke without restraint, pouring out what was in their hearts.

Chu Zhiyuan was slightly tipsy, speaking rarely, mostly letting Li Hongzhao speak.

Li Hongzhao had been the Emperor recently, a lone figure.

Invisible forces constrained her, these forces being rules, pressure from ancestors, and pressure from ruling the entire Da Meng empire.

Changes were happening around too.

Even the attitudes of Great Grandmaster Su Qiuyan and fellow disciples of the Phoenix Sword Sect changed towards her.

In such circumstances, she felt unusually awkward, unable to be at ease.

The only person she could speak freely with now was Chu Zhiyuan.

In front of Chu Zhiyuan, she didn’t need to maintain the majesty of the Emperor and didn’t fear losing face.

Chu Zhiyuan just laughed, drinking cup after cup in silence.

Li Hongzhao hummed, ”Among everyone under heaven, only you and I are true geniuses.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded.

Li Hongzhao playfully hummed, ”Isn’t that right?”

”...Right, right,” Chu Zhiyuan’s words of rebuttal turned into agreement at the tip of his tongue.

There was no need to argue with the drunk.

”Chu Zhiyuan, do you look down on me in your heart?”

”What do you think?”

”Hmph, I’m not as good as you, but I’m not bad, better than others.”

”Yes, you’re indeed impressive.”

”Chu Zhiyuan, tell the truth, are you the Divine Son of Yongling Divine Sect?”

Chu Zhiyuan was startled, then laughed, ”If you say so, then I am.”

”Hee hee... You are the Divine Son of Yongling Divine Sect, with wisdom from a past life, that’s why!”

Li Hongzhao waved her slender jade-like finger, pointed shakily at him.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Do others suspect me of this too?”

Li Hongzhao laughed playfully, ”Your Imperial Grandfather must be suspicious.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Yongling Divine Sect indeed reached out to me, wanting to pass me the Eternal Spirit Secret Scripture. I refused because I didn’t want to be the Divine Son.”

”What a pity, if you became the Divine Son, you wouldn’t have to wait for the Emperor’s Sword to ascend.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If I were truly the Divine Son of Yongling Divine Sect, my Imperial Grandfather would have confined me long ago.”

”...That’s true,” Li Hongzhao thought about it, ”Your grandfather certainly wouldn’t allow the Divine Son of Yongling Divine Sect to remain in the court.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”We’ll end the drinking here tonight, I should go.”

”You’re not allowed to leave!”

”I can’t stay in the Imperial Palace.”

”Wha... Why can’t you!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, stepped forward, and put a hand on her shoulder, exhaling gently with spiritual energy.

Her body’s spiritual energy instantly reacted, a rotation of energy, and the scent of wine filled Chengtian Hall.

The blush on her face faded quickly.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and asked, ”Awake?”

Li Hongzhao hummed, ”Busybody!... Okay, you can go.”

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fist in a salute and then floated away.

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