Imperial Cultivation

Among the martial arts sects, only the Four Great Sects were qualified to build formal residences in Jade Capital City, but now the Flying Flower Sword Sect has been added.

This is a great happy event.

Sending people over to observe the ceremony doesn't cost much and also gives face.

Yet, none of the Four Great Sects sent anyone.

Is this such a lack of tact, so blunt?

Is it because they look down on the Flying Flower Sword Sect, or is there another reason?

A middle-aged official from the Department of Internal Affairs approached with a flattering smile, holding a two-meter-long and one-meter-wide sandalwood tray with both hands.

This Department of Internal Affairs official was thin and small. Compared to the sandalwood tray, he looked even smaller. On the tray were three sacrificial animals piled high, as if they could crush him at any moment.

Yet, he held it effortlessly, clearly possessing martial arts skills.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

Guo Chi and the Prince's guards cleared a path, allowing Zhou Qingfeng, the chief of the Department of Internal Affairs, to come forward.

Chu Zhiyuan gave him a slight nod, without showing a smile.

He had seen through the officials of the Department of Internal Affairs.

There was no need to be polite to them.

No matter how polite you are to them, if you are out of favor, they will still neglect you. If you are in favor, no matter how impolite you are, they will still be respectful.

He examined the sandalwood tray. There were no mistakes.

The three sacrificial animals on the tray were for offering to heaven and earth, to seek protection from heaven and earth before construction began.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Lu Wan: "Elder Lu, let's do it together."

"Alright."

Lu Wan stepped forward and, together with Chu Zhiyuan, held the sandalwood tray and came to the prepared sacrificial table.

A red cloth covered the sacrificial table, extending two zhang in front of the table.

On the sacrificial table were golden incense burners, and in front of the incense burners were six large bowls filled with fresh flowers, fine wine, and sweet spring water.

Two Ministry of Rites clerks had already lit six incense sticks and were waiting on both sides.

"Ding…"

"Dong…"

Amidst the clear sound of the bells and chimes, under the gaze of the crowd, Chu Zhiyuan and Lu Wan solemnly placed the sandalwood tray down, took three sticks of high incense, and inserted them into the golden incense burner.

They then took two golden bowls filled with wine.

The fragrance of wine permeated the air, and the golden bowls shimmered.

First, they poured a little to the east, then a little to the west, then to the south, then to the north, and finally splashed it in the very center.

After handing the bowls to the side, they stood solemnly with their palms together, motionless.

An elderly man in a brown robe came forward, tall and slender with white hair and a youthful face. He waved a golden wooden sword, walking rapidly around the sacrificial table, muttering and chanting scriptures.

The sound of chanting rose and fell, sometimes near and sometimes far, as if floating from the horizon.

This was a high-ranking elder of the Hou Tu Sect, communicating the sacrificial text to heaven and earth.

The high-ranking elder of the Hou Tu Sect had a marvelous footwork. He seemed to be gliding in water as he walked, ethereal like an immortal, yet each step seemed to make the earth tremble, giving people a strange sense of contrast.

Chu Zhiyuan closed his eyes, seeing the changes in this high-ranking elder clearly, and discovered a strange power drilling into his body from the ground.

Because of the Earth Origin Art, he was particularly sensitive to the power of the earth.

This high-ranking elder mobilized this power, making the chanting sound even more peculiar. As the chanting continued, the power drilling into his body from the earth increased.

After walking around the incense table and the two of them for nine circles, the power in his body had increased tenfold, dense as if it were tangible.

Under his heightened senses, he realized that this power was very similar to the vital energy absorbed by the Earth Origin Art.

This Hou Tu Sect was not purely bluffing; they had real skills. No wonder their believers were increasing and developing stronger.

The high-ranking elder suddenly shouted loudly: "The heavens are above, the earth is below, the four seas are peaceful, the people are at rest, the incense will last forever, and will never change, boundless Earth Lord!… boundless Earth Lord!… Boundless! Earth! Lord!"

The shout became louder and louder, like a great bell, shaking the surroundings.

The surging power in his body suddenly exploded.

Instantly, a gale howled and dust flew.

Within a radius of ten zhang centered on him, everything was spotless.

"Boundless Earth Lord…" The high-ranking elder's voice lowered, and he put his palms together and bowed to the four directions, then retracted the golden wooden sword.

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes and bowed: "Boundless Earth Lord."

"Boundless Earth Lord."

The elders and disciples of the Flying Flower Sword Sect put their palms together.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward: "Elder Zhu, thank you for your hard work."

The high-ranking elder, Zhu Yishan, bowed and said: "Yuanwailang, this old man has completed his mission and will take his leave."

He had a cold expression, keeping people at a distance.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."

Zhu Yishan strode away, and two disciples of the Hou Tu Sect followed closely behind. The three of them disappeared into the alley in front in the blink of an eye.

Gao Lingfeng was extremely angry, glaring coldly at their backs.

This group from the Hou Tu Sect was too arrogant, treating a fifth-rank court official like this.

They didn't put the court in their eyes, nor did they put the royal nobles in their eyes.

Chu Zhiyuan's expression was calm, but he was secretly annoyed and noted it down.

With the departure of the high-ranking elder of the Hou Tu Sect, this ceremony was considered complete.

Chu Zhiyuan wanted to leave, but Lu Wan and the other three elders warmly invited him to stay, saying that it was already noon and it would not be too late to leave after eating.

They had already booked an elegant room in the Flowing Cloud Restaurant.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered for a moment and agreed.

He also wanted to explore the Flying Flower Sword Sect's foundation.

As a Yuanwailang of the Zongwu Division, he would always be dealing with martial arts sects, and it was extremely important to understand their details, attitudes, and thoughts.

If something went wrong, he, the Yuanwailang, would not escape responsibility, and his year of hard work would be wasted.

The group came to the third floor of the Flowing Cloud Restaurant and entered an elegant room.

A round table was placed inside, and Chu Zhiyuan, Gao Lingfeng, and officials from the Department of Internal Affairs and other officials sat around the table.

From the Flying Flower Sword Sect were Lu Wan and the other three elders. The remaining disciples were not qualified to be seated and ate outside.

After everyone was seated, there was some small talk, then eating and drinking. The other three elders, who were originally reserved, gradually opened up.

They couldn't help but complain.

Originally, they thought that after arriving in Jade Capital, the Flying Flower Sword Sect would be greeted with flattery, ingratiation, and welcome, but the result was indifference.

It was like a bucket of cold water poured on their heads, chilling them to the bone.

They really didn't understand why they were receiving such cold treatment. Didn't the world know that the Flying Flower Sword Sect was destined to soar?

If they didn't get close and please them now, when would they?

Their complaints made Lu Wan quite embarrassed, and she could only remind the three to say a few less words, and then say a few words to smooth things over and eliminate the embarrassment.

Chu Zhiyuan remained noncommittal, with a reserved and indifferent expression.

The nobility of the Prince's status still had to be maintained. Being approachable also had a limit, and he couldn't really lower himself to their level.

He had been observing these people.

Among these three middle-aged people, two were truly moved and sincerely complaining, while the other was pretending to be excited, but was actually very calm and was acting.

"Yuanwailang, please forgive us. Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Brother Huang are also very frustrated," Lu Wan said apologetically.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "There are too many experts in Jade Capital. People in Jade Capital have a misconception that entering the Innate Realm is as easy as turning one's hand, and entering the Grandmaster Realm is not that difficult."

Lu Wan and the other four nodded with deep feeling.

You don't know how many Grandmasters there are until you come to Jade Capital.

Within the Flying Flower Sword Sect, the Innate Realm was already considered an expert, and the Grandmaster Realm was a sect-protecting expert.

Only when they arrived in Jade Capital City did they realize that Innate Realm experts were worthless, Grandmaster Realm experts were as numerous as clouds, and only Great Grandmasters were truly rare.

Chu Zhiyuan said faintly: "Jade Capital is impetuous and materialistic. The Flying Flower Sword Sect produced Grandmaster Song, but Grandmaster Song cannot come forward for everything. In the end, everything must rely on the Flying Flower Sword Sect itself… I ask you, if the Flying Flower Sword Sect cannot help them, why should they bend their backs and lower their eyebrows?"

His gaze swept over Lu Wan and the other four: "Elder Lu, I am speaking frankly, and I have a few unpleasant words to say."

"Yuanwailang, please speak," Lu Wan stared at him with bright eyes.

The other three elders also widened their eyes.

Gao Lingfeng and the others also looked at him, wanting to hear what unpleasant words this Prince had to say.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "The disciples of the Four Great Sects have always been honest, diligent, and conscientious in their work in the court, and dare not slack off. Look at your Flying Flower Sword Sect disciples, they think even more highly of themselves than the disciples of the Four Great Sects!"

He had heightened senses and heard the complaints of the Flying Flower Sword Sect disciples, and saw the inflated mentality of the Flying Flower Sword Sect disciples.

Sudden wealth after a long period of poverty, an inflated mentality, is inevitable, and this is an uncontrollable part of human nature.

"…" Lu Wan and the other four were silent.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "The Town Martial Division suppresses those in the martial arts world who commit adultery and violate the law, and none of them are weak. Can your sect's disciples really gain a foothold in the Town Martial Division?"

Lu Wan frowned: "We…"

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand: "I advise a few elders not to let disciples below the Innate Realm enter the Town Martial Division, otherwise they will only be damaged in vain… I shouldn't have said these words, but seeing Elder Lu's hospitality and the simplicity of the elders, I have spoken from the bottom of my heart. Just listen to them."

"…Thank you, Lord Chu!" Lu Wan stood up gracefully and solemnly cupped her fists: "I will bring the Lord's words to the sect leader and the other elders."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "Your sect's situation is temporarily difficult, but the future is bright and great. There is no need to take temporary honor and disgrace too seriously. Let's talk about something happy."

"Yes, yes, let's talk about something happy…" Gao Lingfeng quickly smiled: "There are still many interesting things in Jade Capital City…"

"Yes, yes…" The officials echoed.

---

After the banquet ended and they left the Flowing Cloud Restaurant, Gao Lingfeng couldn't help but say on the way back to the Ministry of Rites: "Your Excellency is truly benevolent."

If it were him, he would never have said these words of advice. Most good intentions are exchanged for resentment and will not be appreciated.

"I seek a clear conscience," Chu Zhiyuan said: "We are the Zongwu Division, and we can't just watch them make mistakes and cause trouble for the court."

Adding flowers to brocade is not as good as sending charcoal in the snow. Helping the Flying Flower Sword Sect can at least leave a good impression with Grandmaster Song.