Imperial Cultivation

He left the waterside pavilion in the setting sun and headed for the front hall.

From afar, he could hear cheerful laughter from inside the house.

【Write here I hope readers remember our domain name Taiwan novel network →𝒕𝒘𝒌𝒂𝒏.𝒄𝒐𝒎】

He recognized the unprecedented joy in Bai Ning霜's laughter. After Zou Fang stepped forward to lift the thick felt curtain, he entered the house.

"Yuan'er, you've come at the right time," Bai Ning霜, beaming with joy, sat at the sandalwood round table and beckoned, "Come over here!"

Chu Zhiyuan sat down beside her, glancing at the smiling Chu Yi and the Chu Minghou, who was stroking his beard with a smile.

"Mother, has someone come to visit?"

"Someone has come to visit."

Chu Yi leaned in, "Brother, not only has someone come, but there are two groups. One group is from the Department of Internal Affairs, finally starting to repair our royal residence."

"Finally here?" Chu Zhiyuan chuckled.

As expected of the Department of Internal Affairs, well-informed, quick to act, and slippery as eels.

There was really no good way to deal with them. Even if they were taught a lesson to vent anger, it wouldn't change their way of doing things.

It was a chronic problem, unless he could become the chief of the Department of Internal Affairs himself, but that position was too trivial and troublesome, something to be avoided at all costs.

"They're such weathercocks! But Brother, there's even bigger good news!" Chu Yi shook his arm.

Bai Ning霜 said joyfully, "Yuan'er, have you heard of the Duke of Anguo?"

"Duke of Anguo… Could it be that someone from the Duke of Anguo's mansion has come to visit?"

The Great Jing Dynasty had four kings and eight dukes at its founding. The four heteronomous kings and eight dukes were the meritorious officials who established the Great Jing Dynasty. Their ancestors were enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and their portraits were enshrined in the Lingyun Pavilion. They were hereditary titles, nobles who shared the fate of the country.

However, the Great Jing Dynasty did not support wealthy idlers. Even princes and heirs had to contribute to the court to earn merit, let alone the four kings and eight dukes.

The grace of a nobleman fades after three generations. The Great Jing Dynasty had been established for over a thousand years, and the four kings and eight dukes had declined. But like the Qing Prince's mansion, no matter how much it declined, it was still a prince's mansion and a duke's mansion. The standards were still there, beyond the reach of ordinary dignitaries.

"Yuan'er, you're already twenty, it's time to get married," Bai Ning霜 said with a smile. "I was worried, but I didn't expect someone to want to form a marriage alliance!"

She had been worried before, and even Concubine Rou in the palace had been worried. After all, the Qing Prince's lineage was a single line, and if something went wrong, the incense would be cut off. Having the next generation was the only way to be truly secure.

She was preparing to shamelessly ask for a good marriage, and if she couldn't find a noble family, she would find a good girl from a common family.

But unexpectedly, someone came to act as a matchmaker for the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

The Duke of Anguo's mansion was already an excellent family.

"Yuan'er, I was friends with the Duke of Anguo when I was young," Chu Minghou stroked his beard and said, "The Duke of Anguo is upright and honest, and his family style is excellent. His嫡daughter cannot be wrong."

"I'll go to the palace tomorrow and ask my imperial concubine to help me find out what the Duke of Anguo's嫡daughter is like."

Chu Yi hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, we must find out clearly. We can't be careless. It's best for Big Brother to marry someone he likes."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Father, let's wait a little longer."

No doubt the winter hunt had spread the word.

If winning the small competition still had an element of luck and was still being watched, then his performance during the winter hunt was enough to prove his excellence.

But there was no need to rush into marriage.

With the Heavenly Yuan Art and the Earthly Yuan Art, plus the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, his cultivation speed would be extremely fast. Maybe in another year or so, he would become a Grandmaster.

A prince who has reached the Grandmaster level and a prince who is at the Innate Realm are not in the same weight class, and their status is completely different.

At that time, would he still have to worry about not having a good girl to marry?

Bai Ning霜 waved her hand, "Yuan'er, don't worry about it. Just practice your skills. Your imperial grandmother and I will weigh it carefully."

Chu Minghou said, "Madam, listen to Yuan'er, don't rush to decide."

"I know," Bai Ning霜 waved her jade hand.

——

When Chu Zhiyuan arrived at the Mingwu Hall, there were already three people on the training ground in the morning light.

Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan were there, which he was not surprised by. The two were secretly competing, neither of them willing to give in to the other, determined to compete for the top spot.

What was strange was that Chu Mingxuan was also there.

"Eighteenth Uncle?" Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward and clasped his fists with a smile.

Chu Mingxuan stood solemnly in the Ziyang stance, humming, "Fourth, what are you laughing at?"

It seemed that the impact of the winter hunt was huge. His interpersonal relationships had finally broken the ice, and Chu Mingxuan was actively including him in his circle.

Chu Mingxuan's cultivation was not the highest, and his aptitude was not the best, but he was a prince with a higher seniority, making him the highest-ranking among the princes and heirs in the entire Mingwu Hall.

His active acceptance of him meant that the princes and heirs of the entire Mingwu Hall had accepted him.

On this day, he specialized in the Qi Cleansing Art and the Dragon Binding Cord.

The Qi Cleansing Art had complex routes that would make the average person dizzy, but he practiced it with ease, becoming proficient in an hour.

Then he began to practice the Dragon Binding Cord.

He even mastered the Dragon Binding Cord in a quarter of an hour.

Then, he combined the Qi Cleansing Art and the Dragon Binding Cord, using the Qi Cleansing Art to purify the inner Qi in his dantian and then using the Dragon Binding Cord's technique to confine it within a meridian.

Near dusk, in addition to the Ren and Du meridians, a purified Qi cord was lurking in each of the other ten meridians within his body.

The white Qi condensed into a rope, as thick as a thumb and half an arm's length.

The Qi cord was like a substance. In his inner vision, it was a light white ribbon floating within the meridian.

The Dragon Binding Cord's power could not be seen in the Acquired Realm. When one reached the Innate Realm, the inner Qi would transform into True Qi, which could be released externally, allowing it to enter the opponent's meridians and block them.

To dissolve this Dragon Binding Cord, one would need to be at least four levels higher, making it an extremely powerful unique skill.

In the evening, before leaving the Mingwu Hall, he dispersed the Dragon Binding Cord.

In the beginning, all the inner Qi in his dantian could be transformed into one Qi cord, but later, all the inner Qi in his dantian could only be transformed into half a Qi cord.

This was because the Qi Cleansing Art made the inner Qi purer, and the Dragon Binding Cord was also purer.

He decided to practice for another day to see the effect. If the Dragon Binding Cord and the Qi Cleansing Art could still be greatly improved, then he would wait a little longer.

In short, he wanted to break through the three barriers in one go.

——

Outside the Eighteenth Prince's residence hung a sign that said "Prince's Residence," not "Prince's Manor."

In terms of specifications, it was not as good as the Qing Prince's Manor, and the location was also quite remote, far from being as close to the palace as the Qing Prince's Manor.

The construction of the princes' residences followed a chronological order, from near to far. Those with earlier ordinal numbers had residences closer to the imperial palace, while those with later ordinal numbers were further away.

As soon as Chu Zhiyuan arrived outside the residence, Chu Mingxuan, who had heard the report, opened the main gate to welcome him in. After passing the screen wall, they quickly arrived at the front hall.

Upon entering the front hall, they saw Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan huddled by the window under a desk, looking at a secret manual and arguing incessantly.

Judging by their expressions, they were familiar guests, completely unreserved.

Both of them had changed into casual clothes, loose robes with wide sleeves, looking relaxed and at ease.

Seeing him enter, the two put down the secret manual, clasped their fists, and bowed in greeting.

"Since neither of you can convince the other, let Fourth Brother take a look," Chu Mingxuan said, picking up the manual and handing it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan took it and flipped through it.

The manual was a swordplay manual, without a cover, containing only seven drawings. Each depicted a small figure holding a sword, posing in a strange stance. The seven drawings represented seven sword techniques.

Chu Zhiyuan simulated the movements in his mind, drew his sword, and began to practice.

The first time, the movements were slow; the second time, slightly faster; the third time, even faster. By the seventh time, he was as graceful as an immortal.

It was as if an immortal was dancing gracefully on the clouds.

"Good swordsmanship," Chu Zhiyuan said, sheathing his sword and shaking his head. "It's a pity it's incomplete."

"Fourth Brother, is it fast sword or slow sword?" Chu Zhiting asked.

This was the focus of their argument.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "This sword is neither fast nor slow. Three of the stances are slow, and four are fast. Moreover, it should be a transformation between fast and slow. Its essence lies in the change between fast and slow… Good swordsmanship!"

His martial arts skills were rapidly improving. Coupled with his clear inner vision, he could see the changes within his body when he performed the sword techniques, the changes in the flow of Qi within his meridians.

Therefore, after practicing once, he had a clear understanding of the swordplay.

"Fourth Brother, you…" Chu Zhichuan shook his head. "That's too slippery, isn't it?"

Chu Zhiting was also dissatisfied. "Fourth Brother, there's no need to be ambiguous. If it's fast sword, it's fast sword, it doesn't matter."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "This swordplay uses clumsiness to overcome skill, simplifying complexity. It should be the swordplay of a top-notch sword sect, right?"

"As expected of you, Fourth!" Chu Mingxuan chuckled, beckoning two beautiful maids to serve dishes and wine, proudly saying, "It's a secret sword manual from the White Cloud Sword Palace."

Chu Zhiting hurriedly said, "A sword manual from the White Cloud Sword Palace? Eighteenth Uncle!"

Chu Zhichuan sneered, quite disdainful.

Chu Mingxuan said, "Don't worry, a friend of mine is a disciple of the White Cloud Sword Palace. It was he who gifted the secret manual."

Chu Zhiting breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good."

Chu Zhichuan glanced at him, extremely dissatisfied with his reaction. "Ninth Brother, we are princes. Is there a need to be so afraid of the White Cloud Sword Palace?"

"Tenth Brother," Chu Zhiting said, "the White Cloud Sword Palace has made outstanding contributions to our Great Jing. Naturally, we should respect them."

Chu Zhichuan curled his lips.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Is this really the swordplay of the White Cloud Sword Palace?"

"It's a sword manual collected by the White Cloud Sword Palace. How could the swordplay of the White Cloud Sword Palace be spread outside?"

"What a pity…" Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

The eastern and western side halls did not have the martial arts secrets of the current four major sects. He was extremely curious about the swordplay of the White Cloud Sword Palace.

As the four were talking, a group of beautiful maids in colorful clothes arrived gracefully, carrying a fragrant breeze, their figures soft and lithe.

Each maid carried a sandalwood tray, and the dishes in the trays quickly filled the large sandalwood round table, with excellent color, aroma, and taste. There was also a black jar.

"Come, let's take our seats!"

Chu Mingxuan beckoned the three to sit down.

An open-mouthed sea bowl was placed in front of each person. Chu Mingxuan cracked open the black jar's seal, pouring four large sea bowls full.

Under the lamplight, the wine was like amber, slightly shaking, heavy like oil.

A strange fragrance quickly filled the room.

Not only was there the mellowness and sweetness of the wine, but also another kind of peculiar aroma, causing Chu Zhichuan's saliva to quickly fill his mouth.

"First, drink this bowl to the fullest, to welcome Fourth Brother. Come to my residence often in the future. I guarantee there will be good wine and good meat!"

"Then I will often disturb Eighteenth Uncle in the future."

"Come, drink it all!"

The four immediately drank it all in one gulp.

It was as if a ball of fire entered their stomachs, turning into a strange fragrance that spread throughout their internal organs. Immediately, their pores opened up warmly, feeling tipsy.

With his clear inner vision, he noticed that this fragrance was a strange Qi, drilling into his bones, making the periosteum visibly thicker.

He knew that a thicker periosteum would lead to a great increase in strength and speed.

"Good wine!" He couldn't help but exclaim, "Eighteenth Uncle, this is good stuff. What kind of demon beast's bones are used to brew it?"

"Haha, Fourth Brother is knowledgeable. This jar of wine is not ordinary. It's made from the bones of a Six Yang Demon Tiger soaked for five years!"

"Six Yang Demon Tiger?" Chu Zhiting said in surprise, "Is it really a Six Yang Demon Tiger?"

A look of astonishment appeared on Chu Zhichuan's handsome face.

Chu Zhiyuan exclaimed, "Eighteenth Uncle is generous enough!"

He knew that the Six Yang Demon Tiger was a demon beast within the Flying Swallow Hunting Ground, absolutely not comparable to the demon beasts of Little Red Cloud Mountain, containing a richer lineage of the four secret lands' demon beasts.

The bones of the Six Yang Demon Tiger had to be exchanged for with meritorious service.

"It's nothing!" Chu Mingxuan waved his fat hand dismissively, then chuckled. "I just swiped it from Fifth Brother."

He then filled the four bowls again, and then began to eat, chatting casually while eating.

"Eighteenth Uncle, after you step into the Innate realm, you will be able to be enfeoffed as a king, right?" Chu Zhiting asked. "That will be different."

The difference between being enfeoffed as a king and not being enfeoffed was huge, not only in the scale of the residence, but also in the number and quality of the residence guards were greatly improved.

More importantly, the salary was also greatly improved, and even spirit pills were allocated.

"Once you enter the Innate realm, you can be enfeoffed as a king, heh, it's coming soon." Chu Mingxuan had a look of longing, sighing with emotion. "We weren't born at a good time. Like Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and Fifth Brother, there were no such rules back then. They were directly enfeoffed as kings when they reached eighteen years old. Unlike now, you have to enter the Innate realm before you can be enfeoffed as a king."

Being enfeoffed as a king a few years later meant getting fewer good things, it hurt too much!

"What position does Eighteenth Uncle want to take? Entering the Town Military Division?"

"I don't want to enter the Town Military Division." Chu Mingxuan waved his fat hand, sighing. "The Town Military Division, Fourth Brother is suitable to enter, I can't."

Chu Zhiting asked, "Are Tenth Brother and I not suitable?"

"Well, the two of you, it's okay to go in, anyway, those with poor qualifications shouldn't enter the Town Military Division. Those desperadoes don't care if you are a prince or not. Knowing that you are a prince, they will kill you even more vigorously!"

"I want to enter the Town Military Division," Chu Zhiting said.

Chu Zhichuan nodded slowly. "The Town Military Division is the easiest place to make meritorious achievements."

Chu Mingxuan turned to look at Chu Zhiyuan. "Fourth Brother, are you also entering the Town Military Division?"