Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 841: Chapter 837: Silencing the News

They were on guard against outsiders; Chu Zhiyuan was not among those they guarded against.

Li Yuzhen naturally would not intervene unnecessarily.

The old eunuch knew Li Cunren’s thoughts, so he certainly wouldn’t stop him.

Thus, Chu Zhiyuan walked straight in.

Li Miaotan looked helplessly at Chu Zhiyuan.

Actually, she didn’t want him to get involved in this mess, yet he willingly came in.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”Elder brother, madam, what happened?”

Li Cunren sighed, ”Something big happened, you know about the Candle Nether Mirror, right?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

He acted as if he knew nothing, ”The treasure of Fengtian Palace, which monitors the Demon Clan and Demon Clan, what’s wrong?”

”There’s a problem; the Candle Nether Mirror is probably broken.” Li Cunren shook his head, ”No wonder the Court is responding so slowly.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, ”Doesn’t Fengtian Palace have any way to remedy this?”

”If there was a way, the Court would have already mobilized to wipe out the Demon Clan and Demon Clan!” Li Cunren snorted, ”Brother-in-law, I initially thought Father had some deep meaning behind this, playing out a grand strategy. Now it seems, we were overthinking!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”First, we must ascertain whether this news is true, and whether Fengtian Palace is executing a grand strategy.”

”No matter how Fengtian Palace plays the game, they would not spread such false news.” Li Cunren shook his head.

Li Miaotan nodded gently, ”They wouldn’t joke about the Candle Nether Mirror.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If it’s not false information, then the problem is quite severe.”

Li Cunren furrowed his brows in deep thought.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Is the Candle Nether Mirror the only treasure in Fengtian Palace? There must be others, right?”

”There are, but none as powerful.” Li Cunren shook his head, ”The Candle Nether Mirror is the mightiest.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Is there no way to repair it?”

Li Cunren sighed, ”An ancient treasure, how could it be repaired?”

Li Miaotan said, ”Such spiritual treasures are naturally formed, beyond human means to refine. Not to mention, we don’t understand its mysteries; even if we did, restoration would be nearly impossible.”

Li Cunren said, ”Our current spiritual energy is several times thinner than in ancient times, so it’s impossible to repair the Candle Nether Mirror.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, ”Could it be repaired in ancient times?”

”Such spiritual treasures all have self-repairing capabilities, able to absorb nature’s spiritual energy to restore themselves. With our current spiritual energy... If it weren’t for the abundant spiritual energy in the Grotto Heaven where Fengtian Palace resides, far surpassing the outside, and with the aid of treasures, the Candle Nether Mirror would have perished long ago, essentially starving to death!”

Chu Zhiyuan understood suddenly.

He immediately said, ”So, it means it will eventually fail; we’re merely buying time?”

”With good luck, it could last several tens of thousands of years; now it’s bad luck.” Li Cunren shook his head, ”In nearly the past ten thousand years, as the Demon Realm and Demon World expanded, our spiritual energy has become increasingly thin!”

Li Miaotan said slowly, ”Eliminating the Demon Clan and Demon Realm is an urgent matter!”

”Exactly so!” Li Cunren clenched his left fist into his right palm, fuming, ”The infuriating thing is, we are not strong enough, while the Demon Clan and Demon Clan grow ever stronger!”

He thought of how the Demon Clan could now even break into human Grotto Heavens.

This was akin to digging out the foundation of humanity.

The Grotto Heaven is the best aid for cultivation; without the spiritual medicine of the Grotto Heaven, cultivation speed would greatly slow.

Slow cultivation leads to weaker strength, making it even harder to resist demons; as the Demon Realm and Demon World expand, the spiritual energy in the Human World becomes increasingly thin.

This forms a vicious cycle, impossible to break free from.

Whenever he thought of this, he couldn’t suppress his anxiety and urgency.

But reality allowed him no great moves; he was just a Prince, with the will but not the power.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Elder brother, if it truly is a problem with the Candle Nether Mirror, then the news must be sealed, not spread out.”

Now it seemed, concealment was the only way.

Repair was impossible, so only by putting up a facade could they prevent the Demon Clan and Demon Clan from getting news and launching a large-scale invasion.

That would be the real trouble.

Li Cunren said, ”Of course, I can’t spread this; you’re not an outsider, so I came to discuss.”

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment, ”If the Candle Nether Mirror only senses the Demon Clan and Demon Clan, perhaps it can be concealed partially.”

”How to conceal it?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I can take two experts from Fengtian Palace, along with Court experts, and sweep around fiercely.”

”... Good idea!” Li Cunren slowly said, ”With you there, those Demon Clan and Demon Clan won’t escape!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I’d better disguise myself and not appear, so all eyes are drawn to the experts of Fengtian Palace, thinking it’s the Palace taking action.”

”Brilliant!” Li Cunren clapped.

This ensured nothing would go wrong; no one would suspect the Candle Nether Mirror had issues anymore.

He then sighed, ”But the Candle Nether Mirror... alas, Twelfth Sister, you have to quickly enhance your cultivation!”

The time left to them was not much.

The paper ultimately cannot contain the fire.

If the news leaked someday, the consequences would be terrifying.

Before that, if the Phoenix Bloodline could grow, or even achieve Spirit Venerable status, they could turn the tide.

”Hmm, I will cultivate earnestly.” Li Miaotan nodded gently.

She looked at Chu Zhiyuan, her bright eyes shining.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Madam, it’s best you go to the Outer Realm Battlefield soon; matters of the heart must be set aside for now.”

For any Venerable, the best place for cultivation is the Outer Realm Battlefield.

Li Miaotan is no exception.

Especially with Li Miaotan’s Phoenix Bloodline, her improvement on the Outer Realm Battlefield would be faster.

She hadn’t gone yet because they were enjoying their time as a couple, having tender, intimate moments, reluctant to part.

Thinking a few days sooner or later didn’t matter; a Venerable’s time is long.

Now that the Candle Nether Mirror has a problem, time becomes pressing, leaving no room for her to linger in her comfort zone.

”Exactly, Twelfth Sister, you must head to the Outer Realm Battlefield for training and become a Spirit Venerable as soon as possible!”

”Big Brother, becoming a Spirit Venerable isn’t that easy!”

”It may not be easy for others, but it’s not difficult for you. You just have to hurry, the faster the better.”

”The more anxious you are, the less likely you’ll succeed.” Li Miaotan shook her head, ”Don’t rush me.”

”Okay, okay, I won’t rush you, won’t rush you.” Li Cunren nodded quickly, but eventually couldn’t help asking, ”So when do you plan to leave?”

”Big—— Brother——!”

”Alright, alright, I won’t rush.” Li Cunren smiled apologetically.

Li Miaotan snorted, looking at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”How about leaving tomorrow?”

”But here...” Li Miaotan was quite worried.

At the moment, Chu Zhiyuan hadn’t yet familiarized himself with the situation inside the Imperial City, making it easy for him to be conned.

If she wasn’t present and he took a wrong turn, there would be no one to shelter him.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”I’ll be careful, and in the worst-case scenario, if there’s a problem, I’ll go to the Outer Realm Battlefield to find you.”

”...Alright,” Li Miaotan thought of Chu Zhiyuan’s Qinggong and his sharpness and finally made up her mind: ”Then I’ll set out for the Outer Realm Battlefield tomorrow.”

”A wise decision!” Li Cunren chuckled.

Li Yuzhen’s voice rang out: ”Your Highness, Prince Consort, two from the Fengtian Palace have arrived.”

”Fengtian Palace?!” Li Cunren was taken aback.

”Let them in.” Li Miaotan said.

Two middle-aged men soon entered.

Both were of ordinary appearance, one with a round face and the other square-faced, the round-faced was thin and skinny, while the square-faced was burly and robust.

By appearance alone, nothing extraordinary could be seen, nor could their aura suggest they were Venerables.

They evidently possessed top-notch aura-concealing techniques.

From their appearance, one couldn’t tell they were disciples of Fengtian Palace.

”Mr. Lan, Mr. Wu.” Li Cunren cupped his hands with a smile, ”Long time no see.”

The round-faced middle-aged man at the lead laughed cheerfully, ”Your Highness looks more distinguished than ever.”

”Hehe... Mr. Lan flatters me.” Li Cunren smiled, ”Are the two of you here to see Twelfth Sister?”

”We’re here to see Your Highness.” The round-faced middle-aged man smiled, ”Has Your Highness heard the news from our palace?”

Li Cunren smiled, ”What news?”

The round-faced middle-aged man chuckled, ”Did Sun mention it?”

Li Cunren shook his head, ”What are you referring to, Mr. Lan? I can’t understand.”

”Sigh—!” The round-faced middle-aged man shook his head and sighed, restraining his smile, ”Your Highness, this is no small matter, otherwise, I wouldn’t have come personally.”

”What news?” Li Cunren said, puzzled, ”I’m getting more and more confused.”

”Then I might have got it wrong.” The round-faced middle-aged man Lan Mingxuan gently shook his head, ”I hope I got it wrong.”

The other middle-aged man with a square face, burly stature, and an air of righteous aura, said solemnly, ”Your Highness, Sun has already been expelled from Fengtian Palace.”

Li Cunren’s face slightly changed: ”Which Sun are you referring to?”

”Sun Qinghe.” The square-faced middle-aged man shook his head, ”Sun... oh, we can’t call him Sun anymore, his martial arts have been wasted, but his life is not in danger.”

Li Cunren’s face instantly darkened, and with a burning gaze, like cold electricity darting, he said slowly, ”How did it come to this?”

His voice suddenly turned dry.

Lan Mingxuan sighed, ”These are extraordinary times, requiring extraordinary measures. The rules of Fengtian Palace are such that if you break the rules, even I must be punished.”

”Such a rule from the Fengtian Palace!” Li Cunren’s face was grim as he squeezed out a cold smile.

Lan Mingxuan said, ”Starting today, anyone is forbidden from mentioning the Candle Nether Mirror. Please understand, Your Highness.”

Li Miaotan said blandly, ”Us princes and princesses can’t mention it either?”

Lan Mingxuan said lightly, ”This is not only our palace’s decision but also the Emperor’s decision.”

Li Cunren’s gaze was scorching, and he took a deep breath, saying slowly, ”Since Father has spoken, then it shall not be mentioned.”

He then shook his head, ”As expected, something went wrong!”

”This is also for the good of all people under heaven.” Lan Mingxuan said lightly, ”Your Highness surely understands this effort for the greater good.”

”What measures do you have?” Li Cunren said coldly, ”Is gagging the only solution?”

Li Miaotan said, ”Mr. Lan, do you really think you can keep this news under wraps?”

”We are working on it.” Lan Mingxuan sighed, ”It will take time; for now, we can only seal the news to prevent greater turmoil.”

”How long will it take?” Li Miaotan scoffed.

Lan Mingxuan shook his head, ”Please understand, Twelfth Prince, it is not appropriate to disclose.”

”So short-term resolution is impossible.” Li Miaotan said.

Lan Mingxuan remained silent.

”Is there an alternative treasure?”

”...”

”Seems like there isn’t.” Li Miaotan glanced at him sideways, ”Didn’t you foresee this? No plans at all?”

Lan Mingxuan shook his head, ”Such a Spiritual Treasure, there are only three or four in all the world, there’s little else we can do.”

Li Cunren said, ”What if the news leaks?”

”Impossible!” Lan Mingxuan said sternly.

Li Cunren sneered, ”There’s no such thing as an impenetrable wall, if I can hear it, can’t others?”

Lan Mingxuan flashed a slight smile, ”There is only one Your Highness, others aren’t quite so capable.”

His gaze settled on Chu Zhiyuan, flickering several times.