Imperial Cultivation

Chu Zhiyuan weighed the small jade pendant.

Within the small jade pendant, energy flowed, the pure aura as clear as a spring.

Moonlight, like water, quietly merged into the small jade pendant.

A white line emerged from the small jade pendant, as thick as a little finger, soaring into the sky.

Rising straight up, it directly connected to the void, disappearing within it.

The bright moon hung in the sky, this thin line disappearing into the black night.

Through this thin line, he could vaguely sense a trace of fluctuation.

This trace of fluctuation was as subtle as a fetal heartbeat.

He withdrew his gaze and nodded gently: "She should be alive… after ten thousand years, still alive?"

Now, through this jade talisman, a talisman that bound his life to the Saintess of ten thousand years ago, he could confirm that someone in the realm beyond the heavens could live for over ten thousand years.

This was what he truly sought!

At this moment, his determination to ascend grew even stronger.

Xiao Ruoling said in surprise: "Martial Ancestor Feng is really alive?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded lightly: "If my intuition is correct, she is still alive."

"Unbelievable," Xiao Ruoling exclaimed: "Ten thousand years."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "It is indeed beyond imagination… In our world, even figures from ancient legends haven't lived for ten thousand years, have they?"

Xiao Ruoling shook her head gently: "Probably not. Even if there were, it would be hard to say for sure."

Some legends are often exaggerated, embellished with each telling, becoming increasingly outlandish over time.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Can I go see the Profound Yin Palace?"

"…I'll see if I can find a way," Xiao Ruoling said softly.

Under these circumstances, the Profound Yin Palace forbade outsiders from approaching.

Outsiders had no way to enter the Profound Yin Palace.

But since Chu Zhiyuan had spoken, she would find a way to help him accomplish it.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "I want to sense if there will be any danger in entering the Profound Yin Palace."

Xiao Ruoling nodded gently: "I will try my best to persuade the Palace Master."

She knew that Chu Zhiyuan's intuition was extremely keen, rare in the world.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "If I sense danger, then this opportunity will be forfeited."

Xiao Ruoling nodded gently: "Okay."

She quickly left to discuss this matter with the Palace Master.

The Profound Yin Palace was already showing signs of opening, and the opportunity to enter the palace was fleeting.

It only lasted for a short day.

After this day, the Profound Yin Palace would close again, and the once-in-ten-thousand-years opportunity would disappear.

Yao Yue Palace placed great importance on this.

But only the Palace Master and a few elders knew this news; the other disciples were unaware.

The bright moon hung askew in the night sky.

Chu Zhiyuan paced back and forth in the moonlight, looking up at the night sky.

Above the void, there really was another world?

Was the world where those Venerable statues existed that world?

Were those who cultivated the incense path of gods from that world?

Would the world he ascended to be that world?

Beyond this world, was there only this one world, or were there other, even more worlds?

—

Half an hour later, Xiao Ruoling reappeared.

At this time, the night was already deep.

Chu Zhiyuan was standing with his hands behind his back in the courtyard. Seeing her come, he said softly: "Did the Palace Master agree?"

Xiao Ruoling nodded gently: "She agreed. You can enter the secret realm and get close to the Profound Yin Palace."

Chu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief: "It's rare for the Palace Master to be so open-minded."

Xiao Ruoling sighed: "I owe the Palace Master far too much."

Chu Zhiyuan said: "So do I."

The Palace Master of Yao Yue Palace could be said to be extremely open-minded, and she was very accommodating to Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoling's bright eyes flickered.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "To avoid complications, let's go now."

Xiao Ruoling nodded gently, and together with Chu Zhiyuan, they arrived at the peak of Yao Yue Peak, where they saw an elder.

This time, it was an elder whose face was unfamiliar to Chu Zhiyuan. Her appearance was beautiful, showing no traces of time, and even her eyes radiated youthfulness.

This was because she was in a pure environment, with a pure state of mind, and had not experienced the suffering of the world.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed inwardly, thinking that this was not necessarily a kind of luck and happiness.

The two were about to step into the void of the cliff when suddenly Shen Hanyue's shout came from behind: "Senior Sister, wait for me!"

Xiao Ruoling turned her head and looked at her helplessly.

Shen Hanyue lightly leaped in front of the two, and scolded: "Senior Sister, are you trying to leave me behind?"

Xiao Ruoling scolded: "Stop talking nonsense, let's go."

"Okay," Shen Hanyue smiled instantly, and took her arm.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said nothing, grabbing Xiao Ruoling's other jade hand.

The three stepped off the cliff together.

Then disappeared.

—

Half an hour later, Chu Zhiyuan stood outside the Profound Yin Palace.

The two white jade doors of the Profound Yin Palace were now faintly glowing, with patterns faintly flowing.

Chu Zhiyuan stood outside the Profound Yin Palace, looking at the two women.

They both had a strange impulse, an impulse to float inside, but they were desperately restraining themselves.

Chu Zhiyuan's expression was solemn, and he sensed intently.

After a moment, he shook his head.

He couldn't sense any danger.

But he knew that he couldn't get in. An invisible force was blocking him, repelling him.

Chu Zhiyuan turned his head to look at Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue were staring at him without blinking.

"How is it?" Xiao Ruoling asked softly.

Chu Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment, and slowly shook his head: "I didn't sense any danger."

"Then we can go in?" Xiao Ruoling said softly.

Chu Zhiyuan was silent.

Suddenly, he felt a great reluctance, as well as a thousand worries and fears.

Although he couldn't sense the danger, what if it could hide from his senses?

What if, once she entered, they would never see each other again?

The thought of this possibility filled him with anxiety.

He felt a strong impulse to keep Xiao Ruoling, not to let her in.

Shen Hanyue said: "Then shall we go in, Senior Sister?"

Xiao Ruoling looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed: "Let's think about it again."

Xiao Ruoling said: "It may close tomorrow; we have to make a decision tonight."

Chu Zhiyuan remained silent.

A thousand thoughts surged in his mind, all of them worries.

Xiao Ruoling stretched out her jade hand and gently grasped Chu Zhiyuan's hand.

Chu Zhiyuan tightly grasped her jade hand.

Soft as boneless, cool and smooth, like mutton fat jade, exuding a refreshing coolness.

Chu Zhiyuan could feel her tension and intense emotions.

Xiao Ruoling said softly: "I've already thought it over… I'm going into the Profound Yin Palace."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her.

Xiao Ruoling sighed: "Father and little brother's side…"

She showed a look of guilt.

This daughter of hers was too unfilial, this sister of hers was too selfish.

Leaving suddenly was tantamount to abandoning them, never seeing them again.

The thought of this cut her heart like a knife.

Chu Zhiyuan tightly grasped her jade hand.

He could feel Xiao Ruoling's pain and guilt, and also feel the beauty's deep affection.

If he could take people with him when he ascended, why would he make her face such a difficult choice?

Xiao Ruoling took a deep breath, suppressed all kinds of guilt and pain, and forced a smile: "I'll go there first, and we'll meet again after you ascend."

Chu Zhiyuan said: "You have to think this through, lest you regret it."

Both of them would suffer, and the future was full of uncertainty and unknowns. This suffering would last for years.

Xiao Ruoling shook her head gently: "I believe you can do it."

"It may take ten years," Chu Zhiyuan said: "…At most ten years."

He felt that ten years would be enough.

The Grand Emperor was estimated to step down this year or next year, and there was no need to stay any longer.

"Yes, there's no need to rush; a few years don't matter," Xiao Ruoling said softly.

Chu Zhiyuan stared at her beautiful face.

Xiao Ruoling smiled: "Then we'll go."

Shen Hanyue waved to Chu Zhiyuan: "Prince, wait for you to come find us, don't take too long."

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Yao Yue Palace's side… ?"

He had been delaying, not wanting to part, wishing time would stop.

Xiao Ruoling said: "It's a bit rushed, but it's not a big problem; the Palace Master and the others can handle it."

Chu Zhiyuan tightly grasped Xiao Ruoling's jade hand.

The jade door of the Profound Yin Palace suddenly flickered.