Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 707: Chapter 703: Substitute

”If the Demon Tribe can truly break open the gate of the Grotto Heaven, it is tantamount to severing our foundations,” Chu Hongming said in a heavy tone.

”Could it be that the heavens intend to uplift the Demon Tribe?” Chu Hongfeng looked up at the sky.

He couldn’t understand how the Demon Tribe could find such a divine artifact capable of opening the gate of the Grotto Heaven.

This move almost cuts off the foundation of the Human Tribe.

The Grotto Heaven is the reason Human Race prodigies can advance rapidly; without it, relying solely on diligent practice, it’s hard to become a Spirit Venerable.

Entering the Venerable Realm is difficult, entering the Spirit Venerable Realm is even harder, often hindered by the limits of time.

Stepping from the Transformation Intent Realm to the Divinity Transformation Realm requires sufficient insight and comprehension time.

And stepping from the Divinity Transformation Realm to the Spirit Transformation Realm requires even more insight, time, and opportunity.

Theoretically, the younger the better.

Breaking through these realms requires a special mental realm and mindset.

As time passes, the vicissitudes of the years, the mental realm and mindset also change, with decay inevitably creeping in.

This change in mental state is almost irreversible, and no one can eliminate the erosion of time.

This erosion has the greatest impact on the mental state, thereby affecting the comprehension of Divinity Transformation and Spirit Transformation.

Therefore, the more of a prodigy one is, the earlier they perfect the Transformation Intent Realm, the easier it is to step into the Divinity Transformation Realm.

And the earlier one perfects the Divinity Transformation Realm, the easier it is to step into the Spirit Transformation Realm.

To quickly perfect the Transformation Intent Realm, one must have a high enough aptitude, and the Grotto Heaven.

If the two are combined, that is ideal.

If the Grotto Heaven is cut off, one can only rely on aptitude, which has an enormous impact.

Over time, the Human Race will inevitably decline, with the rising of others, the Demon Tribe will thrive, and the boundaries on the Outer Realm Battlefield will inevitably change further, further encroaching on the lands of the Human Tribe.

The smaller the territory, the thinner the spiritual energy, thus affecting the cultivation of all humans.

The slower the cultivation, the weaker the strength, eventually the Demon Tribe and Demon Clan will surely seize the opportunity to invade.

”The next time the Grotto Heaven opens, it will still be the same, let’s see if the Demon Tribe dares to come or not,” Chu Honglin sneered, ”If one comes, one will die!”

”The Demon Tribe is not so easy to deal with,” Chu Hongfeng shook his head.

”It’s not as difficult as you think, Eighth Brother,” Chu Honglin snorted, ”just wait for the good news.”

Chu Hongming said slowly, ”I don’t know how many of them will come this time, if it’s just one, that’s fine, two...”

Chu Honglin said, ”Don’t worry, Zhao’er can handle it.”

”Do you hold Zhao’er in such high regard, Fifteenth Brother? Are you considering him as a successor?”

Chu Honglin shook his head, ”I don’t have that kind of luck, his aptitude far surpasses mine, surpasses anyone’s.”

”First place?”

”Absolutely first!”

”...” Chu Hongming and Chu Hongfeng both wore solemn expressions, speechless.

They thought of Chu Liezhao, who would be going to the Phoenix Dynasty in less than three months.

From then on, he might never return to the Jade Dynasty.

If he were just an ordinary prince, or even the useless one he used to be, it wouldn’t be such a pity.

But he has become the prince with the greatest aptitude, yet he is sent to the Phoenix Dynasty as a hostage, sacrificed for a political marriage, which indeed is a waste.

Chu Hongfeng snorted, ”Now it’s too late to regret, isn’t it?”

Chu Hongming said, ”Our elder brother won’t regret it.”

”Elder brother...” Chu Hongfeng stopped abruptly.

They were all aware of their elder brother’s unresolved feelings toward Chu Liezhao, yet they would never say a word more.

”Alas... forget it, we cannot change our elder brother’s mind.”

”What a pity.”

”If elder brother doesn’t find it a pity, why should it be up to us to find it a pity?”

Both carried a bit of resentment.

If Chu Liezhao is truly as strong in aptitude as Fifteenth Brother claims, sending him to the Phoenix Dynasty as a hostage for a political marriage is indeed a foolish move.

Yet, they are powerless to change their elder brother’s decision, they might as well not know about his aptitude.

”Hey, he’s here!” Chu Honglin quickly said.

The three turned their heads to look.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped out from the Light Gate, clasped his fists, and saluted Chu Honglin and the others.

Chu Honglin quickly asked, ”Did you encounter any little demons?”

”Three,” Chu Zhiyuan said, continuing to walk forward.

Following him, six descendants of the Spirit Guards came out, along with three corpses.

Seeing these three corpses, Chu Honglin and the others’ expressions became solemn, carefully examining these three Demon Tribe experts.

Chu Zhiyuan recounted the situation at the time, without any concealment, openly and honestly.

”Three little demons!” Chu Honglin shook his head, ”Where there are three, there will be four, five, six, and even more.”

Chu Hongfeng said seriously, ”It should send in more people, the cost is greater.”

”But if enough little demons are sent in to wipe out our young prodigies, the gains greatly outweigh the costs.”

Chu Hongming slowly said, ”Then we need to change our plan.”

Currently, the plan is to use Chu Liezhao’s Soul Pearl and the Great Demon Suppressing Seal to ambush Demon Tribe experts, turning the Grotto Heaven into a trap.

But if there are enough Demon Tribe experts, they can break this move.

After all, Chu Liezhao is only one person, his strength is limited, and the number of people who can enter the Grotto Heaven is also limited, this time the six descendants of the Spirit Guards are all under his command, which is already the limit.

Chu Honglin snorted, ”Is one little demon at the Divinity Transformation Realm?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Chu Honglin said coldly, ”This time there is only one, next time I’m afraid all the little demons will be at the Divinity Transformation Realm.”

This made everyone slightly change their expressions.

Especially the six descendants of the Spirit Guards, their expressions became even more serious.

They understood that if they truly encountered a Divinity Transformation expert, the six of them have no chance of winning.

This time, if Chu Zhiyuan hadn’t helped them, they would ultimately die at the hands of that Demon Tribe expert.

They secretly thought, the Ninth Prince is strong, but if he encounters several Divinity Transformation experts from the Demon Tribe, he still can’t win.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This time the Demon Tribe will certainly be more vigilant, afraid that it won’t be so easy to deal with.”

He also touched his own limits.

The Great Brightness Fist can suppress, but it can’t completely eliminate, it requires others to cooperate and restrain.

Chu Hongming said gravely, ”This matter must be carefully thought out.”

Chu Hongfeng said, ”In a month, another Grotto Heaven will open.”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed lightly, but secretly his spirit was lifted.

There’s going to be another influx of soul power, wonderful!

”Next month, the month after, and the next,” Chu Hongfeng said.

Chu Zhiyuan showed a wry smile, but his spirits were higher.

Chu Honglin said, ”In three months, Zhao’er will go to the Phoenix Dynasty...”

Chu Zhiyuan quickly said, ”Uncle Fifteenth, is there a way for me to enter the Grotto Heaven directly while in the Phoenix Dynasty?”

”It’s not possible,” Chu Hongfeng shook his head, ”The Grotto Heaven can only be entered within the Imperial City, from the Divine Martial Bureau.”

This is the most fundamental principle, an unbreakable principle.

Chu Zhiyuan said helplessly, ”Then there’s no way.”

If that’s truly the case, wanting to help would be impossible, they’d have to deal with it on their own.

Without the Soul Pearl, it’s not easy to find the Demon Tribe, and he also wouldn’t be able to increase his soul.

These are significant losses.

Chu Hongming said gravely, ”Is there a way to achieve both?”

Chu Hongfeng said, ”Unless Zhao’er is not sent over.”

Chu Hongming shook his head, ”Elder brother can’t change his mind.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Otherwise, find a stand-in?”

”A stand-in?” The three of them were stunned, they hadn’t thought of this.

Because it’s too outrageous, it’s tantamount to deceiving the Phoenix Dynasty.

And the price of deceiving the Phoenix Dynasty is extremely high.

Chu Zhiyuan closed his mouth and said no more.

He believed they would ultimately agree, if there were a stand-in, he could also facilitate his actions.