Imperial Cultivation

Chu Zhiyuan coughed lightly and lifted the curtain to enter the boat.

She turned her head to look over, a charming smile blooming, instantly illuminating the entire room.

Chu Zhiyuan came closer to her: "What happened?"

Seeing her solemn expression, he knew the matter was not simple.

"Today, the Empress summoned me again," Jian Ruoling said softly, "And brought up the matter of taking me as a disciple again."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "What exactly does the Empress want to do by wanting to accept you as a disciple like this?"

"The Empress has a spot in her hands that she doesn't want to give to others, she wants to keep it for me."

"What spot?"

"A spot to enter the Enchantmoon Palace's Secret Realm," Jian Ruoling said: "The Enchantmoon Palace is about to select a new Holy Maiden. The Holy Maiden will be born within the Secret Realm, and those qualified to enter the Secret Realm consist of nine spots in total. The Empress has one of those spots."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned: "So it really is about the Holy Maiden!"

When he first heard the news, he vaguely felt it would be related to him, and sure enough, it was connected here.

His intuition was as accurate as ever.

"The Enchantmoon Palace's Secret Realm contains countless spiritual medicines, heavenly treasures, and even martial arts inheritances, the most top-notch inheritances in the world."

Chu Zhiyuan said: "If you are chosen as the Holy Maiden, will you have to go and become the Holy Maiden of the Enchantmoon Palace?"

"How could I possibly be chosen?" Xiao Ruoling shook her head and smiled: "It wouldn't be my turn no matter what. I'm just going to join in the fun and grab some benefits. The Empress also said that this opportunity is rare and must not be missed."

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

Jian Ruoling smiled and said: "The Imperial Court's Four Great Blessed Lands and Four Great Secret Grounds all require Grandmaster level experts to enter, but the Enchantmoon Palace is different. On the contrary, Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters cannot enter, only those in the Acquired Realm can enter. It's very peculiar, and there's not much danger."

"Really no danger?"

"No one has died so far."

"Been injured, though?"

"The injuries aren't serious either, they're all minor. The last time a Holy Maiden was chosen, besides the Holy Maiden, the other eight people all gained great benefits. Some took heavenly treasures and their aptitudes greatly increased, some found a secret manual and cultivated a top-notch mental cultivation method, some took spiritual materials and their cultivation greatly increased. In short, no one returned empty-handed."

"Only benefits and no drawbacks?" Chu Zhiyuan said: "How can there be such a good thing in the world?"

"The entire Enchantmoon Palace is fighting tooth and nail for these nine spots, because the Empress was once a Holy Maiden, that's why she has this spot."

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a while and pondered: "The Empress holds a grudge against the Enchantmoon Palace, right?"

"I think so," Jian Ruoling said softly.

She could vaguely feel the Western Palace Empress's hatred for the Enchantmoon Palace.

Therefore, she would never let go of any opportunity to take advantage of the Enchantmoon Palace, and she insisted on finding herself to use up this spot. "...If you really become the Holy Maiden, what will you do?"

Sometimes you try to plant a flower, but it doesn't bloom; other times you casually insert a willow branch, and it thrives. There are too many such things happening, regardless of which world or which time and space.

Especially for men and women who possess great fortune, it is most likely to occur.

Xiao Ruoling was also extremely lucky, otherwise she wouldn't have been born as the daughter of the Duke's mansion, and moreover, she possessed unparalleled talent, as well as such a captivating beauty, the number one beauty in Jade Capital. It was very possible for her to become the Holy Maiden.

The more he thought about it, the greater the possibility.

"If I really become the Holy Maiden, then I will reveal my identity as the Princess Consort of the Great Jing Dynasty. How could the Enchantmoon Palace tolerate me?" The relationship between the Enchantmoon Palace and the Imperial Court was delicate, keeping to themselves.

The Enchantmoon Palace doesn't enter Jade Capital, and the people of the Imperial Court don't enter the Enchantmoon Palace either. Once she reveals her identity, she would naturally be expelled from the Enchantmoon Palace. "If you ask me," Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "If you really become the Holy Maiden, then it is the will of Heaven, so just be your Holy Maiden."

He felt relieved and started joking.

As long as she doesn't want to become the Holy Maiden, she can withdraw at any time. With her identity as the daughter of the Duke's mansion and the Princess Consort, the Enchantmoon Palace can't do anything to her. Xiao Ruoling chuckled softly: "Are you really willing?"

She knew that Chu Zhiyuan was just joking.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "The Holy Maiden can only be the Holy Maiden for ten years anyway, I can wait. It would be a great story to marry a Holy Maiden of the Enchantmoon Palace as my wife." "Alright," Xiao Ruoling smiled charmingly: "Then I will be the Holy Maiden for ten years first, and then come back to be your Princess Consort."

"Alas..., Xiao Holy Maiden, by that time, the children of my ninth and tenth younger brothers will be running all over the place." "Then you marry a concubine first," Xiao Ruoling pursed her lips and smiled: "Just leave the position of principal wife for me." Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "If I'm gone for ten years, I may not be able to keep the position of principal wife."

"Really?" Xiao Ruoling glanced at him, with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "As a Holy Maiden of the Enchantmoon Palace, can't I be your principal wife?" Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: "Now Da Zhen is desperately trying to marry a princess to me, even as a concubine."

"You're too popular!" Xiao Ruoling burst out laughing.

"That's natural!" Chu Zhiyuan acted smug.

He then slowly suppressed his smile and said seriously: "Then you should go with peace of mind."

Xiao Ruoling possessed extremely high talent and had cultivated the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Skill, which few people in the world had managed to cultivate. How could she be content to be an ordinary woman who raises children and skillfully manages the household?

Although she had always felt that she liked this kind of peaceful and harmonious life.

But she didn't really understand herself, didn't know the true thoughts deep in her heart.

She would eventually discover that if she didn't venture out into the vast world outside, she would feel extremely unwilling deep down.

It would be the same if it were him.

This opportunity was indeed rare. If she missed it, she would probably regret it forever, and there would always be a knot in her heart.

"Becoming a disciple of the Empress... that may not be a big tree to lean on, nor may it be a strong backer," Chu Zhiyuan said: "As far as I know, the Western Palace Empress is isolated and weak in the harem."

"I didn't think that much, the key is the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Skill."

"Then become a disciple," Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

To become a disciple for the sake of cultivation is the truly pure apprenticeship. It was rare for Xiao Ruoling to still maintain this pure heart. Besides, with him around, there was nothing to be afraid of.

Xiao Ruoling revealed a look of longing: "The Enchantmoon Palace's Secret Realm, I really don't know what benefits I will get."

"How is the Holy Maiden chosen in the Secret Realm?"

"It seems like there will be a martial arts competition. There is a place in the Secret Realm that you have to find first, and then have a martial arts competition there."

"Martial arts competition..." Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

First you have to find that place, then have a martial arts competition.

This place should not be easy to find, so it requires luck, which is the blessing of Heaven. Without the blessing of Heaven, you won't be able to find it. As for the martial arts competition, after all, it is a martial arts sect, and martial arts are one of the fundamentals.

"I haven't fought with anyone much, so I can't become the Holy Maiden, don't worry," Xiao Ruoling smiled.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded: "That is indeed a weakness."

"So I plan to get some good things back."

She felt that her luck had always been very good, and she might be able to get treasures or spiritual materials that she couldn't imagine.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Unless absolutely necessary, never reveal your identity, otherwise you will definitely be driven away, and the meat that is about to reach your mouth will fly away." The relationship between the Enchantmoon Palace and the Imperial Court was very delicate.

If Xiao Ruoling enters the Enchantmoon Palace and the Enchantmoon Palace knows her true identity, he didn't know if she would be immediately driven out.

That would be a complete waste of effort, all for naught.

"I believe that since the Empress let me go, there is naturally no problem." "...That's true," Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

To be able to maintain her position as the Western Palace Empress without having any children, or even breaking her virginity, was enough to show her cleverness. "According to the Empress, the Enchantmoon Palace's Holy Maiden has a unique inheritance."

"What unique inheritance?"

"The Great Yin Body Forging Technique, almost a legendary immortal technique... After cultivation, one can maintain eternal youth and beauty, and have a longer lifespan than even a Great Grandmaster by more than a hundred years."

Chu Zhiyuan's eyes flashed: "A lifespan longer than a Great Grandmaster?"

"Yes."

"...If that's really the case, then I really have to compete for this Holy Maiden position."

"Want me to maintain eternal youth?" Xiao Ruoling pursed her lips and smiled: "You men ultimately value women's appearance the most." "Xiao Ruoling, don't you want to maintain eternal youth?"

"...Yes, which woman wouldn't want to?" Xiao Ruoling nodded lightly.

What Chu Zhiyuan was thinking about was longevity.

He was pursuing immortality, and this Great Yin Body Forging Technique was an extremely important reference.

So far, he hadn't found any miraculous techniques to extend lifespan from the Tongtian Pavilion and the Mingwu Hall.