Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1149: Chapter 1145: The Decision

Gu Junqi said, ”It happened just yesterday. The Sect Leader should have just received the news. Why don’t you wait a day and see what instructions the Sect Leader has about whether to visit the Prince Zhuang Mansion or not.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. ”Uncle, what happened at the Prince Zhuang Mansion?”

”There was an internal conflict,” Gu Junqi shook his head. ”Someone in the mansion was practicing evil skills and became an evil demon.”

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised.

Gu Junqi continued, ”Several people in the city died, devoured for their essence blood by the evil demon. No one expected it to be done by someone from the Prince Zhuang Mansion.”

”The Prince Zhuang Mansion should have tributes, right? Didn’t anyone notice?”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, instantly sensing an aura of mystery and depth.

”Not one of the eight great tributes noticed,” Gu Junqi sighed and stroked his beard. ”This matter is truly bizarre, but the evil demon is already dead, and no one can find out anything.”

”What was this person’s identity?”

”It hasn’t been revealed,” Gu Junqi said. ”It’s likely not someone from the lowest ranks, or it would have leaked out by now.”

”No one suspects that Prince Zhuang colluded with the evil demon, right?”

”Of course not. Why would a dignified prince become an evil demon?”

”What about body seizing?”

”That’s impossible too; the prince’s cultivation is not low, and he has strange treasures to protect him. It’s impossible for body seizing.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Could the one practicing evil skills have been body-seized?”

”...It’s hard to say.” Gu Junqi thought for a moment, then shook his head. ”The person is already dead, vanished into thin air. There’s no way to investigate. The entire Prince Zhuang Mansion is in turmoil, and even within the Imperial City, rumors are flying, with people saying all sorts of things.”

”Dark creatures are emerging,” Chu Zhiyuan said. ”Many are taking the opportunity to hit while they’re down, aren’t they?”

As a prince, one cannot be without rivals. The mansion often involves great benefits, and everyone competes for them.

Gu Junqi shook his head with a sigh. ”It’s just a mess, not fit for ears. Now, the Prince Zhuang Mansion has become a place of controversy. We shouldn’t involve ourselves.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Ultimately, it depends on the Sect Leader’s decision, whether to stay out of it or to remain loyal in crucial times.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Being at a lower level himself, he couldn’t see much and shouldn’t make rash decisions.

”Is this your first time coming down from the mountain into the city?”

”Yes.”

Gu Junqi smiled, ”The Imperial City is the most prosperous place in the land, worth exploring thoroughly... Not only the customs and scenery, but also the various sects and schools, and a wide array of extraordinary people.”

”Indeed, it’s worth exploring.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled. ”To broaden my horizons.”

To understand this world more, one must see and experience a lot.

For him, the Imperial City is the best place and worth spending effort to explore and meet various people to understand the hearts of this world.

Every world has different fundamental concepts, and he had already discovered the differences between Little Outer Heaven and Outer Heaven.

He felt that the fundamental concept of Biyuan Heaven was also different.

The environment is different, people’s attitudes towards cultivation differ, and worldly concepts are all different.

This world’s cultivation is simpler than that of Outer Heaven, with low requirements for mental state and mental realm.

He had considered bringing the martial arts of Outer Heaven to this world.

In Outer Heaven, Biyuan Heaven, and Little Outer Heaven, the spiritual energy is progressively weaker.

Though there is a gap between Biyuan Heaven and Outer Heaven, it isn’t as vast as the gap between Little Outer Heaven and Outer Heaven.

The martial arts of Outer Heaven might be possible to bring to Biyuan Heaven.

If accomplished, it might surpass the current martial arts system, breaking into Venerable, stepping into Spirit Venerable.

This would make one unquestionably the number one in the world.

The path to Spirit Venerable needs Chu Liezhao’s clone to explore first, as he would follow its experience.

Although Chu Liezhao’s cultivation realm would soon be surpassed by him.

But the ceiling in Outer Heaven is higher, progress may be slow, but it’s further-reaching.

And the experience from this world can also help Chu Liezhao cultivate his mental state and insight, allowing him to enter Spirit Venerable quicker.

——

The lanterns were first lit

Chu Zhiyuan sat by a stone table in a small courtyard, sipping tea.

He had already declined Gu Junqi’s welcome feast to stay low-key, best not to let anyone else know of his arrival.

Gu Junqi didn’t insist, allowing Chu Zhiyuan to have his way; if there was anything he needed, just let him know.

Chu Zhiyuan sat in the small courtyard, his mind’s insight covering the valley outside the city, checking if any masters from the Divine Movement Sect had arrived.

Meanwhile, the entire Imperial City unfolded in his mind.

He carefully observed every aspect of the Imperial City, places bustling with activity.

The lanterns were ablaze, and the entire Imperial City was a spectacle of lights, a scene of prosperity.

He observed every corner of the Imperial City with his Insight, sweeping across it.

The residences of common people, the mansions of nobles and aristocrats, the depths of the Imperial Palace, the branch academies of various sects, including those of the Four Great Sects, and the branch where he resided—the Heavenly Sword Branch.

What intrigued him the most, however, was the Imperial Palace.

The Dynasty had no Emperor; it was jointly governed by the Eight Great Kings.

Yet, there was an Imperial Palace and an Imperial Family.

The Imperial Palace was the place where the Eight Great Kings collectively held discussions and where important ministers convened to deliberate on major issues.

The Imperial Family consisted of the descendants of the original Eight Monarchs, each lineage being passed down.

The current Eight Kings were descendants of the Eight Monarchs, but not all descendants of the Eight Monarchs.

The bloodline of the Eight Monarchs was strong, cultivating rapidly and wielding immense power.

Thus, every descendant of the Imperial Family was a master, a dragon or phoenix among people.

Yet, perfection is unattainable; despite the mighty bloodline of the Eight Monarchs, they found it hard to bear offspring, with scant descendants, leading to a small, current Imperial Family.

His primary focus was on the Imperial Family, especially in seeking out those of the Phoenix lineage.

He discovered that the Phoenix lineage within the Imperial Family was even scarcer, with only three or four members.

Apart from the Prince Zhuang Mansion, the Prince Nan Yun Mansion also had the Phoenix Bloodline.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head constantly.

This is precarious. At this rate, with a single mishap, the bloodline might be severed.

But considering the numerous royal lineages that have been severed over the generations, the survival of the bloodline of the Eight Monarchs until now is already an anomaly.

Aside from the Royal Family and the Prince Mansions, he also focused on the top-notch power within the Imperial City.

The Imperial Palace housed eight top-elite Venerables, and each of the mansions of the Eight Great Kings had about eight as well. Apart from these, there were also other Prince Mansions, various government offices, large inns, and bustling venues, all guarded by top-elite Venerables.

Additionally, the branch academies of the Four Great Sects and other sects each had their top-elite Venerables.

The sects without top-elite Venerables to guard their branch academies were typically weaker, often located not in the Inner City but in the Outer City.

The Inner City and the Outer City were separated by a single half-high wall, yet their wealth and power disparity was like a deep and long chasm.

While observing, he also cultivated, multitasking without interference.

As the night sky’s Bright Moon grew ever more luminous, its gentle moonlight enveloping him, he rose from the small courtyard and headed to the front hall to bid farewell to Gu Junqi, intending to stroll around the city.

After leaving the branch academy, he melded into the crowd on the street, then turned into a small alley.

The next moment, he appeared at the Prince Qing Mansion.

He lingered at the Prince Qing Mansion until midnight, having dinner with Chu Yi and his parents.

In the dead of night, he returned.

...

The next morning, shortly after rising from bed, wanting to take in the fresh air of the courtyard, he heard a knocking on the door outside.

He stepped forward and opened the courtyard gate. Elder Gu Junqi stood outside, gazing at him with a broad smile: ”Nephew, how is it? Are you getting used to it?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head: ”The air is bustling; it’s indeed different from being on the mountain.”

”Indeed, it is quite different. At first, it was quite difficult to get accustomed to it; it’s too noisy,” Gu Junqi said. ”An entire night without resting.”

The Imperial City truly never sleeps, with people bustling along the streets throughout the night, lively and noisy, as if people did not need rest.

He pulled a letter from his pocket and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan: ”This is a flying letter from the Sect Leader.”

Chu Zhiyuan took the letter, checked the seal, and then opened it.

A moment later, he handed it to Gu Junqi.

Glancing over it, Gu Junqi furrowed his brow: ”When will you go?”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”After breakfast, I will head over.”

”...It’s best to disguise yourself somewhat before going,” Gu Junqi advised.

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

Gu Junqi said: ”In such troubled times, getting involved does more harm than good.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”Uncle, who would believe that we’re related to evil demons?”

The Heavenly Sword Sect’s prestige was far higher than he had imagined. From Ding Huanchun and the others’ actions, it was evident that it was already ingrained in people’s hearts.

Gu Junqi shook his head: ”The human heart is treacherous; we cannot be too cautious. Many sects are watching us... I heard a bit of news last night. The one practicing evil skills is connected to the back courtyard of the Prince Mansion.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

Instantly, a sense of vigilance arose in his heart.

Even upright ministers find family affairs hard to resolve. Once the back courtyard is involved, it’s a never-ending trouble.

”If you can stay out of it, that would be best,” Gu Junqi suggested. ”Even if you do get involved, make sure not to be dragged into it passively.”

He disagreed with Sect Leader Lu Wanshan’s decision, yet he did not oppose it.

What he could do was ensure that the Heavenly Sword Sect tried not to get pulled in by those with ulterior motives and become deeply entangled, getting a bad reputation.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.