Imperial Cultivation

Chu Zhiyuan slowly entered the door, walking towards them. Reaching them, he cupped his fist in greeting and smiled, "I'm late again."

"Hey, we were too excited to sleep, so we came early," Chu Mingxuan immediately spoke of his and his companions' progress, then inquired about Chu Zhiyuan's.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "I've entered the Innate Realm."

The three were instantly stunned.

"Fourth Brother, you really entered the Innate Realm?"

"Yes, thanks to Uncle Eighteen's medicinal wine, it gave me a boost, allowing me to break through three barriers in one go."

"...Damn it, I have no choice but to be impressed," Chu Mingxuan helplessly shook his head.

He originally thought breaking through one barrier was already amazing, but Chu Zhiyuan actually broke through three and directly entered the Innate Realm. Comparing people is truly infuriating.

"Fourth Brother, you wouldn't have really mastered the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, would you?" Chu Zhichuan asked.

He felt that the difference shouldn't be so great, considering the three of them could break through one barrier while Chu Zhiyuan could break through three. The most likely reason was the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art.

"Yes," Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

"Fourth Brother, you mastered the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art?!"

Chu Mingxuan gasped.

They had all practiced the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, but found that it was simply not meant for humans. It seemed to be a whimsical creation, a patchwork of inheritances from several ancient sects.

He had always thought it impossible for anyone to truly master it, assuming Chu Zhiyuan was just trying it out, as those who thought highly of their talents often did.

Now, it was clear that Chu Zhiyuan had indeed mastered it.

This shocked them even more than his entry into the Innate Realm.

"It was also a matter of chance. The Jade Lock Golden Gate Art is indeed best at breaking through barriers. Uncle Eighteen, Ninth Brother, and Tenth Brother might as well give it a try."

"Forget it!" Chu Zhitong directly shook his head. "It's simply impossible to master… As expected of you, Fourth Brother."

Since Chu Zhiyuan came to the Mingwu Hall, he first won the martial arts competition, and then slaughtered twenty demon beasts during the winter hunt. The former was fine, but the latter was too shocking.

He knew then that Chu Zhiyuan couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Zhichuan.

Chu Zhichuan's handsome face was tense, his eyes blazing, but he ultimately shook his head.

He had also refused to admit defeat in the beginning, spending a lot of time on the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art, but ultimately made no progress and could only give up in frustration.

He often thought in retrospect that it was a waste of time, otherwise he would have entered the Innate Realm sooner.

As the four were talking, others arrived one after another.

When Chu Qingfeng flashed into view, his gaze landed on Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward, "Granduncle, I have already entered the Innate Realm."

"Yes, not bad," Chu Qingfeng calmly nodded, without any emotion. "It's just the Innate Realm, the road ahead is long."

Chu Zhiyuan then asked if he could continue to stay in the Mingwu Hall and whether he could come to study, to which Chu Qingfeng readily agreed.

Afterward, he asked him where he planned to go, and upon hearing that he wanted to go to the Ministry of Rites, he shook his head without saying a word.

The others were in an uproar, urging him to be cautious, to think again and again, not to rush to make a decision, and not to go to the Ministry of Rites.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head, saying nothing more.

—

The morning in Yujing was particularly bustling.

The bright sunlight shone on the streets and alleys, and families bathed in the morning light as they came out to find breakfast.

Fragrant aromas wafted everywhere in the city.

Chu Zhiyuan was sitting on the third floor of the Liuyun Tower, with Guo Chi and Zou Fang at his table.

It was the same table he had sat at a few days ago, in the same location.

And the table not far away was no longer the group of old men from before, but four middle-aged wealthy merchants, also chatting while eating.

Ordinary people couldn't enter the Liuyun Tower; it was only for the rich and noble, those with money and leisure, who didn't have to be as busy as the bustling commoners on the streets.

Chu Zhiyuan put down his silver chopsticks, his gaze sweeping across the third floor of the Liuyun Tower.

In just a few days, it felt like several years to him.

At that time, he was just the young master of the royal mansion who had been unsealed and released, but now he was already an Innate Realm expert, and tomorrow he would be taking office in the Ministry of Rites.

This was already the goal of countless court officials, but it was his starting point, which was the nobility of a young master.

And this position was leisurely enough.

The highest official in the Ministry of Rites was the Minister, and the heads of the four departments were Directors.

He, as a Vice Minister, was an assistant who could be responsible for specific affairs or be an idle official, with busyness or leisure depending on his inclination.

Among the five departments, the Department of Ceremonies was busy with academic affairs and imperial examinations, the Department of Guests was busy with foreign guest receptions and foreign envoys' interactions, the Department of Fine Cuisine was busy with palace banquets and meals, and the Department of Sacrifices was responsible for sacrificial activities and astronomical records.

The Department of Clan and Martial Affairs, where he was, was responsible for communicating with various sects in the martial world, mediating conflicts among the various sects, and thus maintaining the stability of the martial world.

Because of his transcendent status, his position was also transcendent, and as a Vice Minister, ordinary trivial matters would not fall on his head, making him quite leisurely.

So now he had the leisure to come out for breakfast, without having to rush to the Mingwu Hall.

"Have you heard? The fighting has started again in the north!"

"Old Hu, who did you hear that from?"

"Hey, I have a nephew in the Surveillance Department, secret news. The news is being suppressed now, but the fighting has actually started."

"Is it against Da Zhen or Da Meng?"

"Of course it's Da Meng. Da Zhen has already been tamed by Prince Ying. Da Meng is jumping around again. They really need to be taught a lesson!"

"Then let Prince Ying go to the Da Meng border."

"Prince Ying probably can't go."

"Why?"

"Many ministers have submitted memorials impeaching Prince Ying for his brutality in killing prisoners, embezzlement of military pay, and allowing his soldiers to kill innocent people and claim their功劳 as his own. Prince Ying will probably have to obediently stay behind closed doors as soon as he returns, so how can he go to the northern border again!"

"These guys don't fart when there's a war, but when the war is over, they all get energetic. Bullshit!"

"Alas…"

Chu Zhiyuan listened thoughtfully.

The flames of war were rising again, not against Da Zhen, but against Da Meng.

Prince Ying was indeed an excellent choice, but he could also understand the ministers' concerns. After all, Prince Ying's merits were already great enough.

Guarding the northwest border for ten years, with outstanding military achievements, he was promoted to General of the Northern Garrison based on military merit, commanding the entire northwest border army. Once he went to the northern border, with Prince Ying's abilities, he would likely turn the northern border into his territory as well.

How many ministers would lose sleep over that?

Power is like a cake. If you eat one more piece, I will eat one less piece.

With Prince Ying like this, was there no suspense about the next emperor? Was he definitely going to be the next emperor?

The emperor was in his prime, and it wasn't time for him to abdicate and enter the Four Great Grotto Heavens to focus on cultivation.

Suppressing Prince Ying probably suited the emperor's wishes.

These officials in the court were all good at understanding people's minds, so how could they not understand the emperor's intentions?

Impeaching Prince Ying had now become the mainstream and trend in the court.

"I heard that an envoy from Da Zhen is returning to the capital with Prince Ying."

"Hmm—?"

"It is said that Da Zhen wants to form a marriage alliance with us."

"Really? Impossible, right?"

"This news is very secret, but it is definitely true."

"You can get such secret news, Old Hu, aren't you bragging?"

"Believe it or not, you'll know in a while!"

Chu Zhiyuan raised his sword-like eyebrows, quite surprised.

Da Zhen and Da Jing were enemies, so how could they form a marriage alliance?

In the current world, there were three largest countries: Da Jing, Da Zhen, and Da Meng, and some smaller countries such as Da Lie and Da Jian and unknown countries.

The three major countries had almost always been in open and secret struggles.

Now they were actually going to form a marriage alliance, which was a bit outrageous.

Thinking of this, he shook his head and got up, saying, "Let's go."

Guo Chi hurriedly picked up another piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing hard, while keeping up with Chu Zhiyuan. Zou Fang had already gotten up earlier, picking up her sable fur coat and sable hat to follow.