Imperial Cultivation

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head, saying, "How could such a miraculous technique be passed on to outsiders?"

"Under normal circumstances, it certainly wouldn't be, but things are different now than they used to be," Chu Qingquan said. "Their requirements for ascension through their methods are even more stringent, and it's almost impossible to succeed these days."

"Moreover, you are now going to the main altar of the Great Zhen Evil Extermination Sect, which is a great service to Great Zhen. If you ask Asking Heaven Cliff for this technique, they might agree."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Asking Heaven Cliff won't reveal this technique just for that reason... Forget it, I'll just use the Eternal Spirit Divine Sect's ascension technique."

"You're planning to seize a body, aren't you?"

"If it weren't for Ruoling, reincarnation wouldn't be a bad option," Chu Zhiyuan said, shaking his head.

"You're quite the sentimentalist. Due to the sect's rules, I can't pass on the divine sect's ascension method to you."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

This was only to be expected. The Eternal Spirit Divine Sect would definitely forbid the transmission of such secret techniques.

Since Chu Qingquan was a divine son and didn't want to betray the Eternal Spirit Divine Sect, he naturally couldn't violate the sect's rules.

Chu Qingquan said, "You can seek it from the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree. The Eternal Spirit Divine Tree contains the ascension technique."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Thank you, Grandfather."

"You… you wish you could kill me," Chu Qingquan said, shaking his head and chuckling. "Having cut off your path to ascension, how could you not hate me?"

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Although I'm disappointed, I wouldn't hate you, Grandfather. After all, there's more than one path to ascension."

He was indeed extremely disappointed.

A feeling of anger surged within him, a disappointment that came after holding so much hope. The immense gap inevitably led to anger.

But it wasn't to the point of wanting to kill someone.

"You really don't hate me?" Chu Qingquan asked.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "It hasn't reached that point yet. I'm just a little disappointed. If you had kept it a secret all along, Grandfather, I wouldn't have been able to do anything about it."

"It's rare that you can think like that… Haha, let me tell you some good news."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him.

Chu Qingquan smiled and said, "I can't sit on this throne forever. Sixty years is the limit."

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.

He quickly calculated in his mind.

It seemed that Chu Qingquan had already been on the throne for fifty years.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled wryly, "Why do you have to be like this, Grandfather!"

This was a sudden glimmer of hope after disappointment.

He was both excited and a little annoyed.

He was being played with.

He immediately understood that Chu Qingquan was testing his character.

What would be the consequences if he failed his test?

Chu Qingquan smiled and said, "There's a problem I've been worried about. Will our Great Jing imperial family still have a Grandmaster within ten years?"

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

Chu Qingquan said, "If you really ascend, and neither your generation nor your father's generation has a Grandmaster, what should we do?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Tenth Uncle should be able to become a Grandmaster."

He was certain that the Prince of Ying was capable of becoming a Grandmaster, but he was obsessed with the military and didn't want to become one.

"Him—?" Chu Qingquan shook his head. "His state of mind is flawed, and he can't reach the Grandmaster level."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Under duress, Tenth Uncle can become a Grandmaster."

Chu Qingquan said, "It would be best if the Prince of Ying could become a Grandmaster… Can you really not wait ten years?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "After ascending, how can one return?"

Chu Qingquan said, "Under normal circumstances, if you want to return here, you need to step into the Spirit Transformation Realm. Even those with good aptitude need three to four hundred years. There's no need to come back anymore."

"Spirit Transformation Realm?"

"Qi Transformation, Intent Transformation, Spirit Transformation, Soul Transformation, four transformations and thirty-six revolutions, are similar to our current Acquired, Innate, Grandmaster, and Great Grandmaster levels, but cultivation is more difficult and takes longer."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "One needs to be in the Spirit Transformation Realm to return… Unless one uses a treasure?"

"Such treasures are often sect-protecting treasures. Only top sects like the Profound Yin Palace have them. The divine sect has the Divine Tree. If you ascend, it's best to join the Eternal Spirit Divine Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "By joining the Eternal Spirit Divine Sect, one can return using the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree."

"That's right," Chu Qingquan said.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "After Second Uncle ascended, can he still return?"

Chu Qingquan shook his head, "Even if there are treasures, returning requires paying a price. Why bother? … For a divine son, everything in this world is just a journey. There's no need to come back."

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Father has deep feelings for Second Uncle."

"Your father is too sentimental. It seems you've inherited that trait," Chu Qingquan said, shaking his head. "That's not a good quality. It's better to be a little more ruthless."

"I was born this way. It's hard to change."

"It's hard to change one's innate nature. There's nothing that can be done," Chu Qingquan said, shaking his head. "Alright, I've said what needs to be said. Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"It wouldn't be too late for you to ascend using the Son of Heaven Sword after ten years, Grandfather."

"… Forget it, let me tell you the truth. If a divine son enters the royal palace, they'll have bad luck."

"Like Second Uncle?"

"That's right."

"Then why were you able to escape it, Grandfather?"

"I only awakened after becoming emperor," Chu Qingquan said, shaking his head. "It was a fluke… Actually, I need the Son of Heaven Sword to assist in my cultivation. My current cultivation is not enough."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "You're already at the Second Layer, right, Grandfather?"

He originally thought Chu Qingquan was at the Third Layer, but it turned out he was only at the Second Layer.

This was beyond his expectations.

The Son of Heaven Sword could help with cultivation, but after fifty years, he had only reached the Second Layer. That was too slow.

There might have been some changes in between, such as suffering a serious injury or being wounded, which delayed his cultivation.

"With each layer one ascends, the reincarnation after ascension is completely different… Zhiyuan, you're almost at the Third Layer, right?"

"I'm still a little short."

"Alas…" Chu Qingquan shook his head. "My aptitude is good because I awakened the memories from Beyond the Heavens, but you are the truly astonishing talent."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled embarrassedly.

No wonder he could create the Jade Lock Golden Gate Technique. It turned out he had knowledge from Beyond the Heavens.

"Alright, I've said what needs to be said. You know how to walk the rest of the path," Chu Qingquan said. "Do you still want to continue exterminating the Evil Sect? Are you going to Great Zhen?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly.

Chu Qingquan said, "Since you're not inheriting the Son of Heaven Sword, you don't need the support of the people, and you don't need meritorious service, why do you still want to continue?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Everything has a beginning and an end. Since I've started, I must finish it. The Evil Sect should not exist in this world."

Moreover, he might not necessarily not inherit the Son of Heaven Sword.

In case he couldn't ascend through other methods, he would ultimately still need the Son of Heaven Sword.

"The Evil Sect…" Chu Qingquan shook his head. "Even Beyond the Heavens has Evil Sects."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Regardless of whether Beyond the Heavens has them or not, I want to completely eliminate the Evil Sect in this world."

"Alright, then go ahead and do it," Chu Qingquan nodded.

—

After Chu Zhiyuan left the palace, he walked slowly with his hands behind his back, his steps heavy and his expression solemn.

He never expected to hear these words.

He would only be able to use the Son of Heaven Sword after ten years.

He had to find another way to ascend.

As for the Eternal Spirit Divine Sect's ascension method, he could easily obtain it.

But this method had many drawbacks and was far less reliable than the Son of Heaven Sword.

But the Son of Heaven Sword would only be available after ten years.

Ten years was too long.

He returned to the Prince of Qing's mansion and arrived at Chu Yi's courtyard, under the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree.