Imperial Cultivation

Shen Hanyue's bright eyes stared at him unblinkingly.

When he nodded, she smiled, and when he shook his head, she couldn't help but be curious.

Xiao Ruoling said, "Are these statues useful?"

"The evil sects associated with these statues are still around," Chu Zhiyuan closed the box and shook his head, "It's quite difficult to eradicate them completely."

Xiao Ruoling said softly, "It would be good to scare them. Although they are evil, they are also afraid of death."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

What she said was correct, but it didn't align with his thoughts. What he wanted to do was to completely eliminate all evil sects within the Great Jing territory.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "By the way, have the people from the Worry-Free Sect left?"

Shen Hanyue said, "They have all broken through to the Grandmaster realm. There's no point in staying here, so they left."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Can you please ask Miss Meng to come over?"

"Meng Canglan?" Shen Hanyue said, "You have to be careful of this Holy Maiden Meng."

Chu Zhiyuan raised his sword-like eyebrows.

Shen Hanyue snorted, "She looks gentle and kind, as if she doesn't have a temper at all, but in reality, she has a huge temper. You won't have a good time if you offend her!"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

As a Holy Maiden, how could she not have a temper? She just hasn't shown it in front of him.

Everyone has several faces.

"You don't believe me?" Shen Hanyue saw him smile and thought he didn't believe her.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "How big is her temper?"

Shen Hanyue nonchalantly curled her lips, "She's too ruthless when punishing the disciples of the Worry-Free Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "The Worry-Free Sect has strict rules. If she doesn't strictly adhere to them, she won't be able to establish her authority."

Shen Hanyue immediately widened her bright eyes and said discontentedly, "Aren't the rules of our Moon Invitation Palace strict?"

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, "Alright, alright, your four major sects are all very powerful. When can she come over?"

Shen Hanyue said triumphantly, "I'll send her a message, and she can arrive today."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then please invite Miss Meng over. I have something to discuss."

"Okay." Shen Hanyue turned and left.

Xiao Ruoling said, "You're asking her to help collect the evil sect statues."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded and glanced around again.

Xiao Ruoling gently waved her jade hand.

The accompanying women gracefully retreated.

Only Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling were left in the small courtyard.

Chu Zhiyuan then told her about Chu Mingrui's poisoning, his worried expression evident.

"Who administered the poison?" Xiao Ruoling lightly furrowed her brows, "If it was done by someone close to him, then it's troublesome."

Not only can they administer poison, but they can also do other things, which could potentially affect the outcome of a battle.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Let's detoxify him first. We can think of it, and the imperial court can also think of it. They should send people over to investigate."

"Did the Great Meng do it?"

"It should be them."

"Ninth Highness's side..."

"She probably doesn't know," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "I can't see through her."

The two discussed the matter in detail, and Xiao Ruoling's words helped him clarify his thoughts.

Then they talked about some trivial matters of the Moon Invitation Palace, as well as the affairs of the Duke's mansion.

The Little Duke, Xiao Ruoyu, came by a couple of days ago and seemed much more mature.

As expected, it's still necessary to let go. He's growing much faster than when she was in the Duke's mansion.

Moreover, his cultivation progress is extremely fast, advancing by leaps and bounds.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded.

Of course, he had visited Xiao Ruoyu, and he had gone more than once, and he also passed by on the way back.

Xiao Ruoyu was indeed growing rapidly, advancing by leaps and bounds as if he had suddenly become enlightened.

Chu Zhiyuan felt that this could not be attributed to his guidance; it could only be said that he was striving for success on his own.

Xiao Ruoling said that this was because he had a role model and someone he admired, which was why he was like this.

As Shen Hanyue had said, Meng Canglan appeared at Guest Peak two hours later.

Chu Zhiyuan met her again, and she seemed unchanged, still gentle and beautiful.

She readily agreed to Chu Zhiyuan's request and would give him all the evil sect statues collected by the Worry-Free Sect.

When Chu Zhiyuan spoke about the poisoning of Prince Ying, Chu Mingrui, her expression became solemn.

After hearing the symptoms Chu Zhiyuan described, Meng Canglan shook her head and said, "Young Master, these symptoms don't seem like poisoning."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Not poisoning?"

"It doesn't seem like poisoning," Meng Canglan said, "It's more like it's caused by some kind of strange art."

"What kind of strange art?"

Meng Canglan said, "There's a strange art in Southern Border called the Curse Art."

Chu Zhiyuan was thoughtful.

Meng Canglan's words reminded him of something, but it was said that the Curse Art had already been lost.

Meng Canglan said, "This secret technique is still being passed down in Southern Border, but these people rarely leave the mountains and are unknown to the world."

"Southern Border..." Chu Zhiyuan frowned and pondered, "Why is Southern Border involved again? They've been quiet for a long time."

Southern Border is located in the depths of unfathomable mountains, and almost no one enters it.

People from Southern Border also rarely come out, isolating themselves from the outside world.

Meng Canglan said, "Prince Ying should have top-notch poison-repelling items and detoxification elixirs by his side, but they have no effect at all, which proves that it's not poisoning."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Miss Meng, have you ever seen this Curse Art?"

"Yes." Meng Canglan hesitated slightly before nodding.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Was it done by an expert from Southern Border?"

"Yes." Meng Canglan nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan fell silent.

Xiao Ruoling said softly, "Senior Sister Meng, could it be that the people from Southern Border have defected to Great Meng?"

"That's impossible," Meng Canglan flatly denied, "Although Southern Border is far from Great Jing, they would never betray Great Jing and defect to Great Meng."

"Then why would they plot against Prince Ying?" Xiao Ruoling said, "Prince Ying has always been in the Northern and Northwestern borders and has never been to Southern Border. He shouldn't have offended them, right?"

Meng Canglan said, "There must be some inside story, or it's possible that it's not a person from Southern Border, but someone who has learned this Curse Art."

"That's also possible," Xiao Ruoling nodded gently, "But this kind of secret technique wouldn't be easily spread, right?"

"No," Meng Canglan said, "It's often passed down through bloodlines. Without the right bloodline, it's impossible to learn."

Her expression was solemn, and she was constantly thinking about the key to the matter, but she couldn't figure out why a Southern Border expert would plot against Prince Ying.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Can we find the person who cast this secret technique?"

Meng Canglan shook her head gently, "Unless someone has practiced the same secret technique."

"Then what about a way to break it?"

"Kill the caster, or have someone who understands the secret technique undo it."

"Isn't there a simpler method? What about a Grandmaster?"

"This isn't martial arts; even a Grandmaster can't do anything about it."

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Miss Meng, please make a trip to the Northern Border and take a look at Uncle Ten."

Meng Canglan smiled wryly, "Young Master, the Northern Border isn't a place I can go whenever I want. It's even more impossible to get close to Prince Ying."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I'll write a letter, and you can go over with it."

Meng Canglan pondered.

Chu Zhiyuan solemnly clasped his fist.

"Ah..." Meng Canglan smiled helplessly, "Alright, then I'll try my best, and first see if Prince Ying is under the Curse Art."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and clasped his fist again, "With Miss Meng taking action, I can rest assured."

"I dare not accept such praise," Meng Canglan said, "I'm just going to take a look; it's hard to say if I can help."

"Just this trip is enough," Chu Zhiyuan said.

Xiao Ruoling smiled and said, "This matter can only trouble Sister Meng. We can only worry and can't help."

Meng Canglan smiled and shook her head, "Since that's the case, then I'll set off now."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "I'll write a letter to Uncle Ten now."

Meng Canglan then bid farewell and left.

Chu Zhiyuan then began to write the letter.