Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 877: Chapter 873: Assistance

”If Cheng Yunzheng can achieve the first, I can achieve the fifteenth.”

”No one will believe that!”

”Haha, then who would believe that consuming my wife’s flesh and blood can grant the benefits of the Phoenix Bloodline?”

Cheng Yunqi snorted, ”Everyone knows that Spiritual Treasures are possessed by those with virtue, not forced. Those without virtue will see the treasure but remain blind to it, while those with virtue will attract treasures from thousands of miles away.”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”Not to mention how many people in the world truly know of Spiritual Treasures, even this statement might not be correct. Is Cheng Yunzheng a virtuous person? Utterly ridiculous!”

”Fifth brother has exceptional talent.”

”Is exceptional talent equivalent to being virtuous? ... What you’re implying is that the deciding factor for Spiritual Treasure ownership is talent, not virtue.”

”In any case, there is intrinsic mystery within this, and it cannot be forced.”

”Even if it cannot be forced, one must strive for it, to be true to oneself.”

”... Chu Liezhao, what are you planning to do?”

”By applying his methods back unto him,” Chu Zhiyuan said coolly, ”Isn’t that the righteous thing to do?”

Cheng Yunqi racked his brains, trying to find a way to stop him from doing such things.

At this moment, he felt an unprecedented cleverness and keenness, and instantly thought of the key point.

He said solemnly, ”Chu Liezhao, if you dare do this, you’ll be making enemies of all those who possess Spiritual Treasures!”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Then I’ll have to see how those who possess Spiritual Treasures will retaliate against me.”

Cheng Yunqi desperately racked his brain.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Cheng Yunzheng used the hands of the Demon Clan and the Demon Clan against my wife; everyone under heaven desires his death!”

Cheng Yunqi hurriedly said, ”That was not the true intention of the Fifth Prince.”

Though he decided to sever ties with Cheng Yunzheng, he couldn’t help but defend him and shirk the responsibility.

Chu Zhiyuan lightly laughed, ”How do you know what his true intentions are?”

Cheng Yunqi replied, ”It was just saying something in a fit of rage.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed as he looked at him and shook his head, ”You’re not suited to be with Cheng Yunzheng; you’d help him count money even after being sold, so naive!”

”How am I naive?!” Cheng Yunqi retorted defiantly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”You’re angry, yet can come up with such ideas?”

Cheng Yunqi remained silent.

He truly couldn’t come up with such malicious ideas, nor would he even consider thinking in that direction.

Even if he thought of it, he’d have reservations and pretend he never thought of it, and let it go.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”He wants to contest the imperial throne, doesn’t he? How could the Eldest Prince tolerate that?”

Cheng Yunqi remained silent.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This time travel to Phoenix Imperial City, it was the Eldest Prince who orchestrated it, wasn’t it?”

Cheng Yunqi continued to remain silent.

Chu Zhiyuan clapped his hands and lightly laughed, ”It seems your father’s not fond of Cheng Yunzheng either.”

Cheng Yunqi replied sourly, ”Father is wise and powerful, and his actions have profound meanings, not something outsiders can fathom!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”With Cheng Yunzheng’s venomous nature, if he truly became Emperor, none of you would survive, nor would any of the other princes from the Three Dynasties.”

”Fifth Brother wouldn’t harm his own brothers.”

”Haha...”

Cheng Yunqi glared at him angrily.

He realized his words were neither truthful nor sincere.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I think the best outcome for Cheng Yunzheng is to remain in Phoenix Imperial City.”

Cheng Yunqi was taken aback.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”His return to Yuanzhen Imperial City would be troublesome for everyone.”

Cheng Yunqi scoffed, ”Fifth Brother is decisive and will not submit.”

”Then let him have no choice, able only to stay in Phoenix Imperial City, and ruin him.”

Cheng Yunqi furrowed his brows, ”Why are you telling me this?”

He didn’t see a reason for Chu Zhiyuan to communicate this to him.

If he wanted to ruin Cheng Yunzheng, he could just do it, why tell him?

It seemed as if without his consent, Chu Zhiyuan wouldn’t act.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I need your assistance with this matter.”

Cheng Yunqi looked at him, puzzled.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”To bring him down, we need to find his weak point.”

Cheng Yunqi replied, ”Your martial arts are strong, you could simply ruin him.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”That is the last resort.”

Cheng Yunqi was puzzled.

This is the last resort?

He thought it was already the best method, disabling but not killing, avoiding severe conflicts between the two dynasties.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The best method would be to drive him into madness.”

Cheng Yunqi frowned, ”Fifth Brother isn’t so easily driven mad, he has treasures protecting him.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Cheng Yunqi abruptly stopped talking, a look of regret appearing on his face.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This is why I have come to you, Sixth Prince; to join forces and ruin him together.”

Originally intending to use martial arts to ruin Cheng Yunzheng, when entering Yuanzhen City, Chu had his Super Sensing Illumination about Cheng Yunqi’s conversation with his advisors, giving rise to using the idea of driving Cheng Yunzheng to madness as a means to ruin him.

Comparing the two, the latter had fewer repercussions.

While ruining Cheng Yunzheng, it wouldn’t provoke Yuanzhen Dynasty’s anger, achieving two goals with one action.

Of course, compared to using martial arts to forcefully ruin him, driving him to madness showed some weakness and didn’t achieve the purpose of establishing prestige.

But for the court’s people, this wouldn’t be a secret.

It still achieved the purpose of establishing prestige.

The latter aligned more with the Yuanzhen Dynasty’s style, using similar tactics to retaliate.

Showing them that the Phoenix Dynasty is not solely tough and straightforward and has cunning techniques.

A balance of hardness and softness, creating deterrence.

If it were an ordinary person, he wouldn’t go through such lengths, simply using the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion would suffice.

Turning them into a madman or idiot, unable to know the existence of the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion.

But Cheng Yunzheng, as a prince, who knows what treasures he might possess, or what Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures he might have consumed, having the power to protect and calm the mind, weakening the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion’s effectiveness.

Against Cheng Yunzheng, using the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion must be foolproof.

”What treasure?” asked Chu Zhiyuan.

Cheng Yunqi remained silent.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Aside from treasures, has he taken any Spirit Pill or miraculous medicine for Clear Heart and Calm Mind?”

Cheng Yunqi remained silent.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Such things, if one inquires carefully, can indeed be found out.”

Cheng Yunqi snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”He probably didn’t intend to keep it a secret, did he?”

Cheng Yunqi shook his head.

Those indeed needn’t be kept secret.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Sixth Prince, there’s no need to be stingy with this information, is there?... Sixth Prince, do you think with such a frenzied Fifth Prince returning to Yuanzhen Dynasty, won’t it be lively here? ... By then, your father or the Eldest Prince would have to act, and noble families would fight amongst themselves—what a tragedy!”

”... Fifth Brother has taken spiritual materials for Clear Heart and Calm Mind, impervious to external interference.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Cheng Yunqi exhaled a turbid breath, and said solemnly, ”Fifth Brother also has a treasure for Protecting God and Calming Heart, called Tiger Tears, an ice-shaped pendant he always carries.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The latter can be removed, but the former isn’t as easily dealt with; poison would be required.”

Cheng Yunqi said, ”Fifth Brother also carries a Detoxification Pearl, the size of a thumbnail.”

Chu Zhiyuan leisurely said, ”It would be necessary to remove both before using poison.”

Cheng Yunqi said, ”Fifth Brother understands toxins, it’s not easy to poison him.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”He is indeed a genius!”

Cheng Yunqi solemnly nodded.

”Such a genius, when crazed, has stronger destructive power, potentially destabilizing the entire Yuanzhen Dynasty,” Chu Zhiyuan said, shaking his head, ”Therefore, there must be no chance of error.”

Cheng Yunqi was silent for a moment before slowly saying, ”It seems Fifth Brother has another treasure for escape, capable of instantly increasing speed several-fold.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, ”What treasure?”

”It seems to be a Divine Talisman,” Cheng Yunqi shook his head, ”I’ve never seen it.”