Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 595: Chapter 591 Path

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled and shook his head, ”How could such a miracle technique be divulged?”

”Under normal circumstances, it certainly wouldn’t be shared, but things are different now,” Chu Qingquan replied. ”Their method of Ascension has become more stringent and is now nearly impossible to succeed.”

”Moreover, you’re going to Da Zhen’s Evil-breaking Sect main altar. Having made significant contributions to Da Zhen, Wentian Cliff might agree to grant you this technique if you request it.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Even with that, Wentian Cliff wouldn’t leak this technique... forget it, I’ll still use the Ascension technique of the Yongling Divine Sect.”

”Are you planning on body seizing?”

”If it weren’t for Ruoling, reincarnation wouldn’t be a big deal,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

”You’re quite a sentimental type. Due to sect rules, I can’t teach you the Divine Sect’s Ascension Technique,” Chu Qingquan said.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

This was naturally expected; the Yongling Divine Sect would certainly forbid the passing on of such secret techniques.

Since Chu Qingquan was a Divine Son and didn’t want to betray the Yongling Divine Sect, he naturally couldn’t violate the sect rules.

Chu Qingquan said, ”You can seek from the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree. It contains the Ascension technique.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Thank you, grandfather.”

”You... couldn’t wait to kill me,” Chu Qingquan shook his head with a smile. ”How could you not hate me for blocking your path to Ascension?”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”Although I’m disappointed, I don’t hate you, grandfather. After all, the Ascension technique isn’t the only path.”

He was indeed extremely disappointed.

An intense feeling of anger surged within his heart, a kind of disappointment following great hope, inevitably leading to anger given the vast disparity.

But it hadn’t reached the point of wanting to kill someone.

”Do you really not hate me?” Chu Qingquan asked.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Not to that extent, just a bit disappointed. If you, grandfather, never said anything and kept me in the dark, I would be powerless.”

”It’s rare that you can think this way... haha, let me tell you some good news,” Chu Qingquan said.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him.

Chu Qingquan smiled, ”I can’t stay on this imperial throne forever; sixty years is the limit.”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.

He quickly calculated in his mind.

It seemed Chu Qingquan had already been on the throne for fifty years.

That means, only ten years left?

Chu Qingquan chuckled, ”If you have the patience, wait for ten years. If not, try the Ascension technique of the Yongling Divine Sect. Others might not succeed in the Ascension technique, but it won’t stop you.”

Chu Zhiyuan showed a bitter smile, ”Grandfather, why must you be like this!”

This was a glimmer of hope amidst disappointment.

He felt both excited and somewhat annoyed.

It seemed like he was being played with.

He soon understood that Chu Qingquan was also testing his character.

What would be the consequences if he failed the test?

Chu Qingquan smiled, ”There’s a trouble that’s been bothering me—will our Da Jing Imperial Family have a Great Grandmaster within ten years?”

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows.

Chu Qingquan said, ”If you truly Ascend, and neither your generation nor your father’s has a Great Grandmaster, what shall we do?”

Chu Zhiyuan replied, ”Tenth Uncle should be able to achieve the Great Grandmaster level.”

He was confident that Prince Ying could become a Great Grandmaster, but he was devoted to the military and didn’t want to become a Great Grandmaster.

”Him?” Chu Qingquan shook his head, ”He has a flaw in his mental state and cannot become a Great Grandmaster.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”In dire circumstances, Tenth Uncle can become a Great Grandmaster.”

Chu Qingquan said, ”If Prince Ying can enter the Great Grandmaster level, that would be ideal... Can you really not wait ten years?”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”After Ascending, how can I return?”

Chu Qingquan said, ”Under normal circumstances, to return here, one must step into the Spirit Transformation Realm. Even with good aptitude, it would take three to four hundred years, and by then, there would be no need to return.”

”Spirit Transformation Realm?”

”Qi Transformation, Transforming Intent, Divinity Transformation, Spirit Transformation, Four Transformations and Thirty-Six Transitions—it’s somewhat similar to our current Postnatal, Innate, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster divisions, but cultivation is more arduous and takes even longer,” Chu Qingquan explained.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, ”Spirit Transformation Realm just to return... unless aided by a treasure?”

”Such treasures are often Sect Treasures, owned by top sects like the Profound Yin Palace. If you Ascend, it’s best to join the Yongling Divine Sect,” Chu Qingquan said.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”By joining the Yongling Divine Sect, you could use the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree to return.”

”Exactly,” Chu Qingquan confirmed.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Can Second Uncle return after his Ascension?”

Chu Qingquan shook his head, ”Even with a treasure, returning requires a certain price... and for what? For a Divine Son, everything in this world is merely a journey, and there’s no need to return.”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”Father has deep feelings for Second Uncle.”

”Your father is too emotional, and it seems you’ve inherited that trait,” Chu Qingquan shook his head. ”It’s not a good quality; it’s better for people to be a bit more heartless.”

”That’s how I’m born; it’s hard to change,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

”Ingrained traits are difficult to change; it’s helpless,” Chu Qingquan shook his head. ”Alright, I’ve said all that needs to be said. Do you have any other questions?”

”Ten years later, you, grandfather, could use the Emperor’s Sword to Ascend,” Chu Zhiyuan suggested.

”...Alright, I’ll be honest with you. If a Divine Son enters the Prince Mansion, calamity will follow,” Chu Qingquan admitted.

”Like Second Uncle?”

”Exactly.”

”Then how did you, grandfather, manage to avoid it?”

”I only awakened after becoming Emperor,” Chu Qingquan shook his head. ”It was a fortunate mistake... Actually, I need the Emperor’s Sword to aid my cultivation, and my current cultivation is still insufficient.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”You, grandfather, have already reached the Second Layer?”

He originally thought Chu Qingquan had reached the Third Layer but found out it was only the Second Layer.

This was unexpected for him.

The Emperor’s Sword can aid cultivation, but after fifty years, reaching only the Second Layer seems too slow.

There might have been some mishaps during that time—either severe injuries or interruptions in cultivation.

”Each advancement in the layers makes reincarnation after Ascension vastly different... Yuan’er, are you close to the Third Layer?”

”Almost there.”

”Sigh...” Chu Qingquan shook his head, ”I was fortunate due to the awakening of Outer Heaven memories, but you truly have astonishing talent.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled bashfully.

No wonder he was able to create the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill; it turns out he had knowledge from Outer Heaven.

”Alright, I’ve said everything; you know the path you need to walk,” Chu Qingquan said. ”Are you still going to destroy the Evil Sect? Go to Da Zhen?”

Chu Zhiyuan solemnly nodded.

Chu Qingquan said, ”Since you don’t plan on inheriting the Emperor’s Sword, and you don’t need public support or military achievements, why continue?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”There must be a beginning and an end to everything. Since I’ve started, I must finish. The Evil Sect shouldn’t exist in this world.”

Moreover, he might not necessarily not inherit the Emperor’s Sword.

If other methods of Ascension fail, he may still need the Emperor’s Sword in the end.

”The Evil Sect...” Chu Qingquan shook his head, ”Even in Outer Heaven, there’s also an Evil Sect.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Regardless of Outer Heaven, I want to eradicate the Evil Sect from this world entirely.”

”Alright, then go ahead with your efforts,” Chu Qingquan nodded.

——

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Chu Zhiyuan walked slowly, hands behind his back, his steps heavy and expression grave.

He never expected to hear such things.

The Emperor’s Sword won’t be his for another ten years.

He needed to find another way to Ascend.

As for the Ascension technique of the Yongling Divine Sect, he could obtain it easily.

But there are many drawbacks to this method, far less reliable than the Emperor’s Sword.

But the Emperor’s Sword would take ten years.

Ten years is too long.

He returned to the Prince Qing Mansion along the way, went to Chu Yi’s courtyard, and stood beneath that Eternal Spirit Divine Tree.