Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 799: Chapter 795: Rewards

The flying knife quietly rested between a stone crevice, slightly flashing.

Chu Zhiyuan sat in his small courtyard, deep in thought.

The Yuanzhen people were evidently planning to cause trouble. If it weren’t for the Demon Clan’s masters attempting assassination first, they would have already acted.

Their goal was to stop the royal wedding.

However, their intelligence was indeed sharp; they actually knew the Demon Clan had plans to assassinate him.

It was clear that neither Qianji Tower nor the Inspection Department had received this message, otherwise, they would have found a way to relay such crucial information.

The Listening Wind Pavilion of the Yuanzhen in the Phoenix Imperial City was evidently more perceptive.

Demon masters have infiltrated, planning to assassinate him...

He felt a slight thrill.

Even though the Heavenly Dragon Introduction had reached the Fourth Transformation, the Infinite Brightness Scripture was still at the Second Transition.

Improving it required a long time.

The Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror should be a shortcut, and he wanted to validate his hypothesis.

These demon masters arrived at just the right time.

Fu Zheng came over gracefully, softly saying, ”Your Highness, the Princess is inviting you.”

Chu Zhiyuan stood up.

When he entered the princess’s courtyard, Li Yuchun was supporting the Twelfth Princess, Li Miaotan, as they slowly exited the room.

Li Miaotan looked pale and weak.

Chu Zhiyuan formed seals with his hands and recited the Dragon Curse.

Li Miaotan immediately became visibly fuller and more spirited.

She looked helplessly at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Do you feel any better?”

Li Miaotan gently shook her head.

The injuries showed no improvement.

She still had to rely on the Dragon Curse, otherwise, she would be in a daze and extremely weak.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Still no word on the Spirit Venerable?”

Li Miaotan shook her head.

Li Yuchun huffed, ”Finding them is tough!”

”Yuchun!” Li Miaotan lightly scolded.

Li Yuchun pursed her lips, unhappily closing her mouth.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Daring to speak ill of the Spirit Venerable is both ignorant and fearless.”

”I didn’t say anything bad about them!” Li Yuchun hurriedly retorted, ”Prince Consort, don’t speak nonsense.”

Li Yuzhen gracefully floated into the courtyard, her jade-like face carrying a smile.

”Sister, what did you find?” Li Yuchun quickly asked.

Li Yuzhen smiled, ”Chief Huang personally came to inspect; there’s likely to be a reward soon.”

Huang Rui was the chief steward of the Imperial Court, and in the court, he was practically second only to the Emperor.

For the chief steward to personally inspect these Demon Clan masters’ corpses was akin to the Emperor himself coming.

It was clear how important these corpses were.

So many Demon Clan masters’ corpses were unprecedented throughout history.

No wonder the Emperor valued it highly.

So there is bound to be a significant reward.

Li Miaotan laughed, ”Father’s rewards are very generous.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”What kinds of rewards could there be?”

”What do you want, Prince Consort?” Li Yuzhen asked.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”There are many things I want, life-saving treasures, top-tier swordsmanship; the swordsmanship here in Phoenix is considered peerless.”

Among the three dynasties, both Yuanzhen and the Phoenix Dynasty excelled at swordsmanship, while the Jade Dynasty was proficient in fist and kick techniques.

Compared to Yuanzhen, the Phoenix Dynasty’s swordsmanship was even more flourishing.

He already had the Great Brightness Fist, the Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm, and the Great Demon Suppressing Seal, which were more than enough.

But Fu Zheng’s swordsmanship was lacking; it was still a Second Grade Sword Skill, not yet First Grade.

This was the best opportunity.

”A life-saving treasure and top-tier swordsmanship...” Li Yuzhen pondered.

She was considering how to pass this information up, to let the Emperor know.

Li Yuchun asked, ”Just these two?”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Can I only ask for one?”

”Don’t you want a Spirit Pill?” Li Yuchun asked, ”The Phoenix Nirvana Pill.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

Fu Zheng’s eyes widened.

She thought Li Yuchun was saying Chu Zhiyuan was too greedy, asking for two items, but it turned out he wanted even fewer.

Li Miaotan said, ”Father’s rewards are generous. With so many Demon Clan masters’ corpses, asking for three isn’t too much.”

”Three...” Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Besides a life-saving treasure and top-tier swordsmanship, then a flying knife skill.”

The Jade Dynasty’s Diwu Academy had no top-tier flying knife techniques.

It seemed there were no top-tier flying knives in the world; she’d never heard of any grandmaster in flying knives.

Sword and hand skills in the outer world also achieved some of the flying knife’s effects, so few specialized in flying knives.

Obtaining the Autumn Water Divine Blade was already exceptional, but it was a pity there wasn’t a matched flying knife technique.

”Flying knife...” Li Yuzhen pondered.

Li Miaotan also contemplated.

Li Yuzhen said, ”I really haven’t heard of that, I’ll go ask.”

After saying that, she stood up and left.

——

In the early morning, the Qing Qi was piercing.

The piercing cold was mixed with a faint fragrance, wafting from the breakfast stalls on the street.

Following Li Yuzhen’s lead, Chu Zhiyuan, along with Fu Zheng and Lu Haoyuan, arrived at a grand mansion.

The mansion was imposing, with three gate towers and six broad layers of steps.

The stone lions on both sides were vivid and majestic.

In front of the gate was a vast area, with a hitching post to the east and some blocks on the west for resting.

The rooftop was covered with bright yellow glazed tiles, glistening brilliantly in the morning sunlight.

Seeing this mansion naturally evoked four words in one’s mind: luxurious and magnificent.

”Prince Consort, this is the Prince Consort Mansion.” Li Yuzhen said with a smile, ”Originally it wasn’t this one, but today it has been reassigned to be this one.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This isn’t out of regulation, is it?”

”Of course not.” Li Yuzhen said, ”This was originally the residence of Prince Ping’s line, but unfortunately Prince Ping’s line declined, and has now ended. The Inner Mansion renovated it and bestowed it as the Prince Consort Mansion.”

”Prince Ping...” Chu Zhiyuan quickly searched in his mind.

Soon he found information about Prince Ping and frowned slightly, ”Prince Ping?”

”Is the Prince Consort dissatisfied with this residence?”

”This Prince Ping’s line is indeed strange. How could it be extinguished so suddenly?”

”The subtleties inside are hard to explain, there is a widely spread saying.”

”What saying?”

”It is said that the Prince Ping who opened the mansion offended a Heavenly Demon, who then cast a bizarre Curse Technique, leading to the curse of ending his line.”

”Is there such a saying?” Chu Zhiyuan was surprised, ”Do people believe it?”

”Many people believe this saying because the continuation of Prince Ping Mansion was cut off in such an eerie manner, too coincidental.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded thoughtfully.

As far as he knew, Prince Ping Mansion’s legitimate sons often met with accidents.

Originally, Prince Ping Mansion’s descendants were not prosperous, and after several early deaths, all heirs were ultimately gone.

It seemed as if a dark force was constantly causing accidental deaths to the heirs of the Prince Ping Mansion.

Some drowned, some died in horse riding accidents, some went mad with internal energy, and some were assassinated.

Various types of deaths occurred to the heirs of Prince Ping Mansion, leading to no descendants beyond five generations.

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the grand and luxurious mansion and said helplessly, ”There is nothing wrong with this residence, right?”

”Of course, there is no problem.” Li Yuzhen said, ”Both the Inner Mansion and the Fengtian Palace have thoroughly inspected it, and there is absolutely no problem.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

According to Prince Ping’s status, the Fengtian Palace would have inspected the residence long ago.

So the residence should have no issues.

Li Yuzhen said, ”If the Prince Consort doesn’t want to live here, then we can change to another place.”

Fu Zheng hastily said, ”Sister Li, why insist on bestowing this residence to Your Highness? It’s too inauspicious.”

The residence should have no problems, but it can’t withstand people overthinking, thus believing there are issues, and keeping their distance.

To bestow a problematic residence on the Prince Consort, does it not indicate dissatisfaction with the Prince Consort?

This is the most important issue.

Li Yuzhen said, ”There are no larger or more impressive vacant residences in the Imperial City than this one.”

Chu Zhiyuan used the Super Sense to sweep through the residence, seeing clearly from top to bottom.

It was indeed tranquil, with no abnormalities, no murderous, evil, or demon energy.

Nor was there any depressive atmosphere.

”Your Highness?” Fu Zheng looked at Chu Zhiyuan, ”Should we change to another place? This residence is too heavy with Yin energy.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I practice the Infinite Brightness Scripture, and with the Great Brightness Realm, it’s best suited to dispel such Yin energy.”

If still not at ease, simply put that Light God Talisman on the wall.

The entire residence will become warm and bright, as if sunlight eternally shines.

”But...” Fu Zheng hesitated.

She still felt it was not quite appropriate.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It will be here... It is also close to the Princess Mansion.”

This is probably one of the considerations.

The Princess Mansion was only two streets away, just a few steps to get there.

As a Prince Consort, he wouldn’t live with the Princess, which is the rule in the Phoenix Dynasty.

The Prince Consort has his own mansion while the Princess still lives in her original residence.

If the Princess misses the Prince Consort, she sends for him, and after staying a night, the Prince Consort must return.

This is the Phoenix Dynasty’s Princess, with a status far more noble than in other dynasties.

Accordingly, the Prince Consort’s status is lower, summoned at a whim.

Being closer to the Princess Mansion means the visits can be inconspicuous.

Saves the embarrassment of being seen very clearly every time he goes over.

”Then here it is.” Li Yuzhen said, ”Your Highness also thinks it is good here, convenient being close.”

Fu Zheng shook her head.

The gate slowly opened, rows of bronze nails glistening in the sunlight.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped up the stairs, entering his mansion.

The mansion already had attendants and maids, all selected from clean families by the Inner Mansion.

Chu Zhiyuan ignored them for now, intending for You Lan to handle it later.

Without even thinking, one could realize how many spies might be in there, and it was difficult to clean up thoroughly.

Having viewed every courtyard of the mansion, half an hour had passed.

This mansion was a third larger than his Prince Mansion.

First, the architectural standards of the two dynasties differ; second, this Prince Ping Mansion is indeed huge.

Returning to the Princess Mansion from a circuit tour, a eunuch in a purple robe was waiting in the front hall with two eunuchs in red robes.

The purple-robed eunuch didn’t carry an Imperial Decree, but presented four Purple Boxes of different sizes, then quietly left.

Li Miaotan sat in the Taishi Chair on the side, supported by Li Yuchun.

Chu Zhiyuan directly opened the four Purple Lacquer Boxes.

Inside one box was a transcribed copy of a Sword Technique Secret Manual.

Inside another box was a transcribed copy of a Flying Knife Technique, which made Chu Zhiyuan’s spirit lift.

The third box contained a bottle of Spirit Pills, but the Super Sense couldn’t penetrate the bottle, speculating it was a Phoenix Nirvana Pill.

The fourth box was the largest, holding a snow-white garment.

Chu Zhiyuan took it out.

Bright and sleek like silk, draped elegantly, it was a long robe.

The robe was snow-white, flawlessly clean.

Chu Zhiyuan examined it, nodding with satisfaction.

Clearly, it was for protection, and with the Moon Silkworm Frost Robe, defense was even stronger.

The last time fighting with three Demon Clan Venerables, the defense of the Moon Silkworm Frost Robe was a great help; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared exchange injury with the first Venerable.

Adding this robe, the increased defense meant more safety.

He gently shook the white robe.

Li Miaotan said, ”This is the Jixue Robe, best at resisting swords and knives.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Very good.”