Imperial Cultivation

Listening to the Waves Pavilion

The latticed windows were wide open, and a bright moon, like a silver plate, was embedded in the dark night, as if peering through the window at Chu Zhiyuan's handsome face.

This book is first published on the entire network by 𝕥 𝕨 𝕜 𝕒 𝕟 . 𝕔 𝕠 𝕞

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged with the cold jade box in front of his knees, the Flying Dragon Pearl within emitting a dark purple-gold luster.

The Dragon Transformation Art was operating frantically.

The Dragon Transformation Art, when paired with the Flying Dragon Pearl, would progress at an unimaginable rate, and with the addition of the Marrow Cleansing Art, the power of the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art would be further enhanced, and the progress would also be even faster.

His original plan was to stop the Marrow Cleansing Art after this competition with Da Zhen's Cheng Tianfeng, and cultivate the Dragon Transformation Art to a sufficient level to avoid shortening his lifespan and injuring his body.

With the Flying Dragon Pearl, there was no need to stop the cultivation of the Marrow Cleansing Art; the realm of the Dragon Transformation Art was sufficient to suppress the damage from the Marrow Cleansing Art.

He reached out and picked up the Flying Dragon Pearl, holding it in front of his eyes.

As perceived by his heightened senses, the Flying Dragon Pearl was filled with mercury.

Silvery, pure, sparkling, with a texture that was soft, smooth, and yet heavy.

He had an intuition: this bright mercury could be drawn out by him at any time and integrated into his own true energy, instantly causing his true energy to surge and his cultivation to greatly increase.

Looking at this bright and heavy true energy, a strong urge to extract it arose spontaneously, just like a thirsty person encountering sweet spring water.

He forcibly restrained this impulse.

What difference was there between extracting the true energy within the Dragon Pearl and taking spiritual pills to increase one's cultivation? Both would sever the path to becoming a Grandmaster.

What he sought was the Dragon Pearl's influence on the Dragon Transformation Art.

More importantly, he already vaguely understood that although the true energy within the Dragon Pearl was easy to obtain, it had hidden dangers; otherwise, the Emperor would not have warned him that it was inauspicious.

Since the Emperor said it was inauspicious, there was probably a problem with the true energy within the Dragon Pearl.

Based on the books he had read, he speculated that the true energy within the Dragon Pearl might be tainted with a trace of dragon nature, which would affect one's mind.

Xu Wanshan used the Earth Dragon Pearl to enhance his cultivation, almost cutting off his path to becoming a Grandmaster.

Perhaps the Flying Flower Sword Sect did not know this secret, or perhaps they knew but did not care, never expecting to achieve the Grandmaster realm, or perhaps they only knew when it was too late, and could only continue down the wrong path.

He opened his eyes and closed the cold jade box.

The surging aura of the Dragon Transformation Art came to an abrupt stop.

He let it stop, and began to perform the Sword Cleansing Art, and after refining the misty purple energy, he began to concentrate and circulate the Dragon Binding Cord, then opened the cold jade box again.

As he expected, the Dragon Binding Cord also circulated about five times faster than usual.

The Dragon Pearl had a stimulating effect on the martial arts of the Dragon Subduing Sect.

Originally, it would take at least two cups of tea time to gradually constrict the deep purple aura and transform it into a purple cord, but now it only took a blink of an eye.

Close the cold jade box -\u003e Earth Element Art replenishes true energy -\u003e Sword Cleansing Art purifies the misty purple energy into deep purple energy -\u003e Activate the Dragon Binding Cord -\u003e Open the cold jade box -\u003e Condense into a Dragon Binding Cord.

Nine Dragon Binding Cords only took half the original time.

… …

The first rays of dawn, the bedroom of Listening to the Waves Pavilion.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly opened his eyes, and a divine light burst forth, illuminating the room.

The seventh level of the Jade Tower was finally broken through, stepping into the eighth level realm!

At this rate, breaking through the eighth level of the Jade Tower next, the ninth level realm, … … breaking through the eleventh level of the Jade Tower, the twelfth level realm, breaking through the twelfth level of the Jade Tower, Innate Perfection, would probably take about a year.

This was already shocking to the world.

But he felt it was not fast enough; without becoming a Grandmaster, he always felt insecure.

Fortunately, his current realm was comparable to Cheng Tianfeng's realm.

If the Surveillance Division did not misjudge, and Cheng Tianfeng's realm was really the eighth level.

To be on the safe side, he could not relax and should strive to advance another level before Cheng Tianfeng arrived in Jade Capital.

Time was very tight.

In the remaining time, he still had to hone the Sword Cleansing Art, the Great Avalanche Sword Art, and the Horizon Within Reach Step; cultivation was important, but the mastery of martial skills was equally important.

— —

In the morning light, he came to the Hall of Martial Prowess.

After exchanging greetings with Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, and Chu Zhichuan, Chu Qingfeng appeared, glanced at Chu Zhiyuan, and said nothing more.

Chu Zhiyuan knew that this glance could tell that his aura had strengthened and his cultivation had increased another level.

Chu Qingfeng's knowledge also meant that the Emperor knew, and could provide support for his progress at any time, in order to strive for a greater chance of defeating Cheng Tianfeng.

Chu Zhiyao did not come today.

This made Chu Zhiyuan quite curious.

According to Chu Zhiyao's temperament, he valued cultivation more than anything else, and came to the Hall of Martial Prowess every day to practice, without fail and with unparalleled punctuality.

Asking Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, and Chu Zhichuan, none of them knew; Chu Qingfeng also did not know.

Chu Zhichuan speculated: "Perhaps the Fourth Uncle's birthday is coming soon, and the Third Brother is helping to check for omissions and make up for deficiencies, so he is very busy."

Chu Mingxuan said: "The Fourth Brother doesn't manage affairs much, he has always been a hands-off shopkeeper; now that the Third Brother is back, of course the Third Brother will manage the affairs of the mansion, which is very troublesome."

No matter how much Chu Zhiyao valued cultivation, he could not ignore Prince Xuan's birthday, and strive to ensure that there were no mishaps at the banquet.

"Tomorrow night is the Fourth Brother's birthday," Chu Mingxuan said with a smile, "We can have a good time, … … Fourth Brother, you will go, right?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Chu Mingxuan revealed a strange smile: "Not only us, but some dukes' mansions, earls' mansions, and marquises' mansions will also go; it will be very lively."

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Besides that?"

"Hehe, besides the young dukes, young earls, and young marquises, there are also the young ladies from various mansions." Chu Mingxuan raised his eyebrows and said with a strange smile, "Many marriages are arranged when people catch each other's eye at this time."

Chu Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand: "Eighteenth Uncle, I don't have these thoughts right now."

"Alas, that's true." Chu Mingxuan patted his shoulder comfortingly.

Chu Zhiyuan's burden was too heavy now, so heavy that he couldn't breathe; he really didn't have the heart to look at young ladies.

"But Fourth Brother, you can't just bury yourself in hard training; you still need to relax, combine work and rest," Chu Mingxuan said, "Go and relax tomorrow night."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.

… …

When he came to the Ministry of Rites to report for duty, he saw Gao Lingfeng approaching with a smile, cupping his fists to congratulate him.

"Sir, congratulations, congratulations; I heard the news that the memorial for your ninth-rank merit has already been submitted to the Audit Department yesterday."

"Oh—?"

Gao Lingfeng said with a smile: "The Minister said that this time, being able to promptly suppress the conflict between the Thick Earth Sect and the Flying Flower Sword Sect and prevent it from spreading, was all thanks to your timely decision and foresight in appeasing them, which can be considered a ninth-rank special merit."

Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile: "What about you, Sir Gao?"

Gao Lingfeng said: "This subordinate can also be considered half a merit, recorded in the merit book."

Two half merits could form a ninth-rank merit, which was already quite gratifying.

Such opportunities were rare.

Chu Zhiyuan sat behind his desk, picked up a file at random, and said with a smile: "It was also a coincidence; I was lucky."

Gao Lingfeng shook his head solemnly: "This is not luck; if it were this subordinate, not only would I not be able to gain merit, but I would be punished instead."

The Vice Director was certainly favored because of his status as a prince, and had the opportunity to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony of the Flying Flower Sword Sect's other courtyard.

But if he were the Vice Director, he would keep his distance from the Flying Flower Sword Sect, not saying a word more than necessary, and not meddling in other people's business.

And in a situation where he could not mediate the conflict between the Flying Flower Sword Sect and the Thick Earth Sect, he might not have been so wise as to report it directly; he would definitely have hesitated and delayed.

If this matter was delayed, and the Flying Flower Sword Sect and the Thick Earth Sect clashed further, even losing lives, then it would be very difficult to truly suppress it.

Therefore, it is not too much to request this ninth-rank merit for the Vice Director.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "I don't know when this ninth-rank merit will be approved."

The Da Zhen delegation was about to arrive; it would be a pity if it was approved only after the delegation arrived.

The ninth-rank merit had always been exchanged for Small Marrow Cleansing Pills to accelerate the first level of the Dragon Transformation Art's marrow training; now he knew that he shouldn't have exchanged them for Small Marrow Cleansing Pills, but should have exchanged them for Dragon Blood Stones, which would have been more effective.