Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 789: Chapter 785: Mind Reading

He could understand the thoughts of the two princes.

They did not want this marriage, yet they did not want to openly oppose the Emperor.

But the resistance in their hearts was impossible to suppress, so when such an opportunity arose, they eagerly jumped out.

At least they had a reason.

If the Jade Dynasty assassinated a marquis of the Phoenix Dynasty, then a political marriage would become a joke.

”Big Brother and Second Brother are also concerned about me, thinking I’m being wronged,” Li Miaotan said.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled lightly.

Li Miaotan threw him a white-eyed glance with her phoenix-like gaze.

Family disgrace should not be publicized; no matter how one contends with Big Brother and Second Brother, it should not be revealed outside, and one must still show closeness to Big Brother and Second Brother.

This is true familial affection.

Of course, this is to be shown to the Emperor.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It’s understandable for the Eldest Prince to do this, eager to continue fighting, as for the Second Prince...”

Li Miaotan said, ”Second Brother sees Big Brother like this and has no choice but to follow, otherwise he would appear weak to the Jade Dynasty.”

Chu Zhiyuan pondered, ”It seems this blame must be placed on the Jade Dynasty.”

Fan Yaohui shook his head helplessly, ”No matter how much I say, they turn a deaf ear.”

He couldn’t bear the distortion of the facts, clearly not done by the Jade Dynasty, yet they insist on framing the Jade Dynasty.

If they want to attack the Jade Dynasty, why find such an excuse? It’s just laughable and humiliates themselves.

But they seem to be crazed, as if they’ve lost their minds, insisting on pinning it on the Jade Dynasty.

It seems there is already an unspoken agreement up and down.

At that time, he frequently glanced at the Third Prince, but the Third Prince appeared to be wandering in a distant world.

Obviously, he was still practicing martial arts.

The Third Prince is obsessed with martial arts practice, but how can he be absent-minded at such an occasion?

His heart was full of helplessness.

So, he still needed to consult the Twelfth Princess; she is truly reliable.

Li Miaotan asked, ”How is the situation in the military?”

”They indeed have been a bit restless,” Fan Yaohui said helplessly, ”It’s been a while since they have fought, their bones are itching.”

”How long can it be held down?”

”A year and a half at most,” Fan Yaohui said.

Chu Zhiyuan remained expressionless, but frowned inwardly.

This was the root of the Phoenix Imperial City’s belligerence; their path of cultivation had issues.

He suspected that using war to sustain war was not just a problem with the cultivation method, but also related to the mental method.

Li Miaotan hesitated for a moment, then turned to Chu Zhiyuan and said, ”In the military, they practice the War Secret Record, with a total of twelve layers.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

This was the first time he had heard of it.

Li Miaotan said, ”The cultivation of the War Secret Record progresses rapidly, but needs battle to advance, and it has a unique trait.”

”Belligerent? Bloodthirsty?”

”Not quite bloodthirsty, but indeed belligerent, with a high fighting spirit. If it’s suppressed for too long without being released, it affects the mental state.”

Chu Zhiyuan said slowly, ”Is internal sparring unable to release it?”

”Indeed, it cannot truly release the fighting spirit.”

”Is it because there is no hatred to drive it, or something else?”

”It may not necessarily be hatred; one needs to enter a certain state to unleash their fighting spirit.”

”Hmm...” Chu Zhiyuan pondered, ”Could competitions be set up in the military?”

”Competitions? There are indeed,” Li Miaotan nodded slightly, looking at Fan Yaohui.

Fan Yaohui said, ”Every year there is a major competition in the military, with rankings for each camp.”

”What are the rewards for the top-ranked camps?”

”Rewards? Ten taels of silver for each person.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head, ”No wonder they can’t enter the state.”

”Does the Prince Consort have any good ideas?” Fan Yuxuan asked.

Fan Yaohui was skeptical.

Li Miaotan also looked at him curiously.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Select ten people from each camp. For each victory, each person receives a hundred taels of silver. For the final top ten rankings, the first place receives a hundred thousand taels of silver per person, or cultivation resources of equal value, the second place sixty thousand, the third fifty thousand, decreasing in order, ...the tenth one gets ten thousand.”

”That’s impossible.” Fan Yaohui quickly shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Anyone selected as the top ten in each camp can be promoted, or directly have a hundred taels of silver.”

”Even more impossible,” Fan Yaohui said, ”Where can we get so much silver?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Compared with the condolence money for casualties of war, this silver is not much, is it?”

”... But is this effective?” Fan Yuxuan asked.

Fan Yaohui said nothing.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If it can’t stimulate their state, then the reward isn’t heavy enough, the competition isn’t intense enough. Compared to life-and-death battles, battles that change one’s fate are not inferior, are they?”

Fan Yaohui said, ”That would need to be tested.”

He wasn’t sure if it was actually effective.

Trying it in his own military.

If it’s truly effective, then it would be a great achievement and must be implemented in the military.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”I originally shouldn’t have said this much, becoming a sinner to the Jade.”

Fan Yuxuan said, ”How can this be a sinner, rather a benefactor.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”People are greedy. If this method is really effective, your Phoenix Army will be stronger, but won’t yearn for peace. If you fight with Jade, you’ll lose even faster.”

Fan Yuxuan said, ”If you can truly enhance cultivation in competition, why risk life and death?”

”Miss Fan, you don’t know enough about the military.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, looking at Fan Yaohui.

Fan Yaohui was silent.

He thought Chu Zhiyuan’s words were correct.

The cultivation of the War Secret Record leads to changes in character, and they become belligerent.

Even if there’s a way to vent the fighting spirit, they still yearn to fight with Jade and Yuanzhen.

After all, only a small part can change fate through competition, but going to war benefits everyone.

So, the belligerent nature in the military is hard to change.

The Phoenix Dynasty will still go to war with the Jade Dynasty and Yuanzhen Dynasty.

Li Miaotan sighed softly, ”Don’t speak of this matter outside.”

”Yes.” Fan Yaohui and Fan Yuxuan hurriedly nodded.

Fu Zheng felt worried inside.

If this spreads, His Highness will become the sinner of the Jade Dynasty.

At that time, with everyone pointing fingers, how could he withstand it?

With His Highness’s caution, he shouldn’t make such a mistake, should he?

Could it be that His Highness has other intentions?

As they were speaking, outside came Li Yuzhen’s voice: ”Your Highness, the gentlemen from Fengtian Palace have arrived!”

Li Miaotan said, ”Please, come.”

She gracefully approached the courtyard door.

Li Yuchun quickly opened the courtyard door, leading in three men brought by Li Yuzhen.

A tall and handsome young man with a sunny disposition.

Two middle-aged men with average appearance.

All three wore purple robes, their expressions solemn and still, as they stepped into the courtyard and clasped their fists in salute.

Li Miaotan looked at Li Yuzhen.

Li Yuzhen nodded, turned back lightly, and a moment later returned with a middle-aged man in a gray robe.

It was the gray-robed middle-aged man whom Chu Zhiyuan had knocked down earlier, and Fu Zheng had brought back.

Fan Yaohui and Fan Yuxuan were somewhat stunned, and upon seeing this man, their eyes widened immediately.

Fan Yaohui exclaimed in surprise, ”Your Highness, this is... this guy is...”

Fu Zheng said, ”Your Highness inadvertently saw him, so he took action and captured him.”

Fan Yaohui stared intently at the gray-robed middle-aged man.

Fan Yuxuan exclaimed in surprise, ”The Prince Consort actually captured one, impressive!”

She had fought against these people at the time, and they were all slippery, with high Qinggong skills.

She had also tried to catch a live one but failed.

Unexpectedly, he fell into the hands of the Prince Consort; could it be that the Prince Consort’s martial skill is greater, and his Qinggong higher?

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at the gray-robed middle-aged man, who had already become significantly haggard, his breath weak.

Clearly, he had not suffered little torture, must have undergone corporal punishment.

As a result, they couldn’t extract any information; he was indeed tight-lipped.

Li Miaotan said, ”Mr. He, Mr. Zheng, Mr. Lu, please, his mouth is too tight, we can only use the Mind Reading Pearl.”

”Yes.” The three nodded solemnly with clasped fists.

They had come here to activate the Mind Reading Pearl and find out the background of this person.