Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 839: Chapter 835: Propelling Forward

In the Phoenix Dynasty, my primary identity is not a prince consort, but a hostage.

As a hostage, I obviously couldn’t go to the Outer Realm Battlefield.

If I went to the Outer Realm Battlefield, how could I serve as a hostage?

To the Phoenix Dynasty, if I’m not in their hands, how could I be considered a hostage?

Under normal circumstances, I would never be able to go to the Outer Realm Battlefield.

But to me, the Outer Realm Battlefield is the true sacred land for cultivation.

Whether it’s the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror or the Heavenly Dragon Introduction, they can all be used for cultivation through the Demon Clan and Monster Clan. Once at the Outer Realm Battlefield, I would feel like a dragon returning to the sea.

Now, an opportunity arises.

I have hope of going to the Outer Realm Battlefield.

Will the Emperor and the Court in the Phoenix Dynasty keep me as a hostage or send me out of the Imperial City?

Li Miaotan scolded: ”Husband! Stop talking nonsense!”

”Such boldness!” Li Cunren clapped his hands in admiration, then shook his head: ”But brother-in-law, you are now the target of many. Not only does the Monster Clan want to kill you, but the Demon Clan as well. If you go to the Outer Realm Battlefield, you’ll be attacked by everyone, leaving no chance for survival.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Which Spirit Guard of ours doesn’t face extermination by all the Demon Clan and Monster Clan at the Outer Realm Battlefield? The Outer Realm Battlefield is not like here; it’s vast and boundless, making it difficult to find anyone, and I’m not that easy to kill either.”

”It’s different!” Li Miaotan gently shook her head.

”It is indeed different.” The Second Prince, Li Cunyi, softly said: ”At the Outer Realm Battlefield, they target our Spirit Guards in general, but not specifically. However, it’s different for you, brother-in-law. Your danger is multiplied a hundred times, even a thousand times compared to the normal Spirit Guard - a situation of nine deaths and one life, or even total annihilation. You must not go to the Outer Realm Battlefield!”

”That’s right, that’s right.” Li Miaotan hurriedly echoed.

Li Cunren snorted: ”Brother-in-law, stop mentioning these words! Look, you’ve scared Twelve Sister!”

Chu Zhiyuan embarrassedly held Li Miaotan’s soft hand.

Her jade hand was icy cold.

Li Cunren sneered: ”Don’t forget, this is our territory; we cannot allow the Demon Clan and the Monster Clan to act recklessly!”

Chu Zhiyuan felt a little disappointed, his expression solemn: ”Then there is another way, I will lead some experts to sweep the surroundings constantly.”

This was a second-best option.

”Though dangerous, it’s much better than going to the Outer Realm Battlefield!” Li Cunren said.

Li Cunyi said: ”We can’t always let brother-in-law act. It’s time for those haughty experts from various sects to show their skills.”

If Chu Zhiyuan really led others to sweep the surroundings, it would be a disgrace to the Court.

Isn’t there anyone at such a huge Phoenix Dynasty?

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Second Brother, these demons and monsters are coming for me. It’s my duty to kill them, and moreover, I can lure them out more easily.”

Such an opportunity must not slip away.

Li Cunren said: ”Brother-in-law, I am aware, it’s not that you lured them out, but that you found them.”

This brother-in-law’s sensing ability is astonishing, beyond imagination.

Previously experienced, this time further confirmed his sensing ability.

It’s obviously a unique talent, and if used well, its power is immense.

Especially since this time, the experts of the Monster Clan and Demon Clan invaded, Fengtian Palace remained inactive, and the City Guard was always in hiding.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Maybe because they nearly killed me once, I acquired this special sense.”

Li Miaotan hummed, ”Fengtian Palace...”

Chu Zhiyuan quickly interrupted her: ”My lady, perhaps the Emperor is playing a grand game, and we destroyed it.”

This was also a flash of inspiration he had just thought of.

”Hmm—?” Li Miaotan gently furrowed her brows.

Li Cunren was invigorated: ”A grand game?”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”If Fengtian Palace can monitor demons approaching, they should have warned the Emperor, right? Why would the Emperor take no action? Perhaps he is acting secretly.”

”Makes sense.” The Second Prince, Li Cunyi, quickly said: ”Father would never let them rampage unchecked. Perhaps he is finding a way to eradicate the problem forever.”

Li Miaotan hummed: ”Or maybe Fengtian Palace didn’t sense it.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head helplessly.

This wife of his holds quite an opinion on Fengtian Palace, there must be reasons.

Li Cunren said: ”Twelve Sister, Fengtian Palace has treasures and can sense.”

”What if the treasure malfunctions?” Li Miaotan hummed: ”Don’t trust treasures too much, just like when the Demon Clan entered the Grotto Heaven, did Fengtian Palace sense it?”

”Twelve Sister, you, say a few words less,” Li Cunren said: ”That was inside the Grotto Heaven, it couldn’t be sensed.”

Li Miaotan hummed, ”So in the end, we can do nothing?”

Li Cunren frowned in deep thought.

The Second Prince, Li Cunyi, said: ”According to brother-in-law, we really shouldn’t act recklessly. It’s better to watch the situation unfold.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and waved his hand: ”This is just my opinion for reference only.”

Li Cunyi sighed: ”Brother-in-law, you are indeed someone who made it through such perilous environments; your sense is sharper than ours.”

This brother-in-law had lived through an extremely harsh environment, with the Emperor disliking him from above, siblings isolating him from the sides, and officials distancing themselves or even attacking him from below.

To have lived steadily until now and escaped the quagmire of Yujing Imperial City, it truly speaks of his capability.

His sense is sharper and more profound, far beyond what I can match.

The Third Brother with his support might be a bit difficult to deal with.

Fortunately, the Third Brother doesn’t value him, keeps his distance from him, dislikes him, and won’t use his strategies.

The Eldest Brother should see his extraordinary nature and thus is working hard to win him over.

This way, even if he can’t be used for himself, he can alienate him from the Third Brother, ensuring the Third Brother doesn’t use him.

The Eldest Brother is truly the Eldest Brother, outwardly simple but inwardly cunning!

——

After they left, Li Miaotan remained silent.

Chu Zhiyuan saw her looking gloomy, and said with a smile: ”My lady, if we’re really going to the Outer Realm Battlefield, we can go together.”

Li Miaotan shook her head: ”The Outer Realm Battlefield is peculiar, everyone goes alone, you can’t gather together.”

”Don’t you Spirit Guards have treasures like the Spiritual Rhinoceros Pearl?”

”We do.”

”With such treasures, we can meet anytime.”

Li Miaotan gently nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”Of course, I can’t bear to part with you, but the situation is pressing. I anticipate that many in the Court will propose that I leave the Imperial City. There’s no need for me to stubbornly stay and make it difficult for everyone.”

”There’s nothing difficult about it,” Li Miaotan huffed, ”Whether we leave or not, it’s not up to them to gossip!”

Her mood suddenly lifted.

Seeing her smile, Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Let’s continue our sparring.”

”Come on!” Li Miaotan’s spirit revived.

...

As the sun set in the west, Chu Zhiyuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the small courtyard’s bamboo grove, lost in thought.

Once again, he felt the limits of his soul’s capacity.

The demon crystal integrated into his body could no longer enhance his soul but only strengthen his physical form.

This situation had occurred more than once.

But it was the first time he’d felt it so clearly.

The last time he broke through the limit was due to the progress of Heavenly Dragon Introduction, which greatly increased his soul’s capacity.

Now at the Sixth Transformation of Heavenly Dragon Introduction, reaching the Seventh Transformation seemed a long way off.

The most promising was the Infinite Brightness Scripture. If it could break through to the Third Transition, the limit would surely be shattered.

Yet the breakthrough to the Third Transition seemed so close, yet so distant.

This was the helpless aspect of cultivation in the Divinity Transformation Realm.

One cannot blindly train to improve True Yuan; one must comprehend all things, understand human emotions, temper one’s mental state, and understand the heavens and the earth.

He found his understanding of human emotions and mental state adequate, but his comprehension of the heavens and earth insufficient.

It was on the Outer Realm Battlefield that he saw a more real, clearer, and more complex world.

Therefore, the Outer Realm Battlefield was the first choice.

...

In the morning

Chu Zhiyuan walked leisurely to Wenhua Building.

As he pushed open the door of an elegant room, he shook his head helplessly: ”Uncle Nine, can we change locations?”

”Isn’t Wenhua Building good?”

Chu Hongwei transformed into a handsome young man, equally as charming as Chu Zhiyuan, radiant with brilliance.

He was holding a folding fan, gently tapping it against his palm, smiling as he looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan sat by the table, ”You often walk by the river, but you can’t avoid wetting your shoes; it’s too risky.”

He had already discovered Chu Hongwei’s penchant.

Relying on his miracle technique, he changed his appearance at will without flaw, taking risks and seeking thrills.

Such actions were indeed inappropriate.

He guessed that it was probably due to the immense pressure of always being in the Phoenix Dynasty.

”I don’t mind.” Chu Hongwei said, ”If I’m exposed, I’ll just return to the Court.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Uncle Nine, you’re just hoping to go back.”

”Speak up, what do you need?”

”I’d like to ask Uncle Nine for a small favor.”

”What favor?”

”The news about the Demon Clan and Demon Clan experts rampaging outside the city seems to have not spread.”

”You want the news to spread?”

”Yes, and also let everyone know why the Demon Clan and Demon Clan have come to the outskirts of the Imperial City.”

”...What mischief are you up to now?” Chu Hongwei frowned at him.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly, ”To see if I can extricate myself.”

Chu Hongwei’s eyes shone as he quickly thought.

Of course, he knew why these Demon Clan and Demon Clans were outside the Imperial City.

All for the Phoenix Bloodline.

Now that the Phoenix Bloodline had been activated, they could no longer count on killing Li Miaotan, so they could only hinder Li Miaotan’s cultivation progress.

Killing Chu Zhiyuan was the best method, and also the quickest shortcut.

Of course, they could also kill the Empress, kill the Emperor, and these would all affect Li Miaotan’s mental state.

But killing the Empress and Emperor was too difficult, almost impossible; killing Chu Zhiyuan was very possible.

”You want to stir up public sentiment, creating a surge to resist you and drive you away?”

”Uncle Nine, do you think it can work?”

Chu Hongwei pondered, ”If everyone wants you gone, it would go against public sentiment for the Emperor, and it wouldn’t be worth it.”

He then snorted, ”But Elder Brother doesn’t want you to leave the Phoenix Imperial City.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Third Brother has always wanted to come to the Imperial City, so let him come.”

Since the two Dynasties had reached an agreement, there had to be a hostage, and when he leaves, naturally another hostage needs to replace him.

”You brat!” Chu Hongwei laughed, ”You’re pushing him into a pit of fire.”

”Third Brother may not see it as a pit of fire; he may even find joy in it and be grateful to me,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Uncle Nine, are you willing to help with this favor?”

Chu Hongwei fell into deep thought.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Uncle Nine, if you don’t help, I’ll find someone else, the news will eventually spread.”

”...You might not succeed.” Chu Hongwei snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Do what I can, and leave the rest to fate.”

”Fine.” Chu Hongwei gritted his teeth, ”I’ll help you this time.”

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists, ”Thank you, Uncle Nine!”

”I can’t help you much.” Chu Hongwei shook his head, ”The Court still blames you for not preventing the awakening of the Phoenix Bloodline.”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled lightly, shaking his head, ”Let them be.”

These guys were trying to gauge the Emperor’s intentions.

Being far away in the Phoenix Dynasty, was it possible that an Imperial Decree would come after him to punish him?