Imperial Cultivation

Chu Zhiyuan sat on a warm jade futon and began to circulate the Boundless Light Sutra.

He contemplated the Great Bright Peak while observing himself and his surroundings.

Above his head, spiritual energy formed a yin-yang fish. The yin-yang fish, several dozen feet in diameter, began to rotate slowly, drawing in the spiritual energy from the void above.

The aura of the yin-yang fish then entered the little white snake within his dantian.

The little white snake coiled incessantly, beginning to glow faintly.

Chu Zhiyuan saw wisps of aura drifting from the stone walls and entering the little white snake.

After the little white snake absorbed this aura, its rotation speed suddenly increased.

This aura actually caused the little white snake to gradually become tinged with a faint green hue.

This faint green aura made the little white snake faster and more agile.

Chu Zhiyuan curiously examined the little white snake, then looked at the stone walls, carefully comprehending this Ode to Light.

He wondered where the power of this Ode to Light came from. He clearly couldn't see the input of power, only the output.

Time passed unknowingly. Chu Zhiyuan used the Great Bright Peak as a focus for contemplation, minimizing mental exhaustion.

He practiced in one breath until dusk, and seeing that the setting sun was about to fall over the Great Bright Peak, he stood up.

He made an assessment.

The royal family has the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets and the True Martial Academy. As a prince, he would naturally far surpass his peers.

As he walked out, he ran into Chu Honglin.

Chu Honglin walked alongside him.

"Fifteenth Uncle, how will the court deal with this matter?"

"They are already discussing it and preparing to set up an ambush as you suggested."

"What's the matter with that guy?"

"A peak-level Venerable used a miraculous technique to seal power within him. Once he encounters danger, it will explode directly. You were indeed lucky to capture him."

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow: "It can be done like that? Wouldn't that mean even the Demon race couldn't kill him?"

"This person carries a heavy responsibility, which is why such a sealing power was used and placed within him. The cost is not small and cannot be used casually. You were only able to capture him by luck because of the Great Subduing Demon Seal."

Once he encounters danger, he can completely activate this power to escape.

The Great Subduing Demon Seal caught him off guard, preventing him from using it. If it were someone else, even myself, I might not have been able to catch him.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Will we inform the other two dynasties?"

"Heh heh…" Chu Honglin laughed, "You're too naive."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Not telling them might weaken the other two dynasties, but it will further strengthen the Demon race. I think it would be better to inform them."

"Your magnanimity is indeed remarkable," Chu Honglin said, "But there's no rush yet."

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

His magnanimity was not true generosity, but rather a detached perspective.

He understood the court's intention.

Informing them was possible, but they had to wait a bit and let the other two dynasties suffer a little.

"Then if I inform the Twelfth Princess…"

"It doesn't matter," Chu Honglin said, "You were the one who discovered it in the first place. Moreover, even if the Twelfth Princess knows, she might not believe it. Even if she does believe it, she won't act on it in the short term."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled wryly: "Fifteenth Uncle, I am indeed naive."

He naturally knew this.

They wished the Twelfth Princess wouldn't believe his message. Once the Phoenix Dynasty suffers a loss, they will be regretful and dare not ignore his words again.

People are like this; they don't learn until they suffer.

— —

Ninth Prince's Residence

Chu Zhiyuan sat in a small pavilion, watching Li Yuzhen, who was tall and elegant, standing gracefully but lightly, approaching him.

"Greetings, Consort," Li Yuzhen said solemnly, clasping her fist in salute.

Chu Zhiyuan sized her up.

Li Yuzhen lowered her eyes, not looking at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Guard Li, how have you been recently?"

"Everything is well, thank you, Consort," Li Yuzhen replied stiffly.

Chu Zhiyuan scrutinized her, looking at her slender jade hands, and then at the long sword at her slender waist.

Li Yuzhen lowered her eyes slightly, her expression calm and indifferent.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "You know about my recent whereabouts, right?"

"Congratulations, Consort," Li Yuzhen said.

She didn't expect Chu Zhiyuan to be able to win this spot; it was beyond everyone's expectations.

She believed that this matter was also beyond the expectations of everyone in the Twelfth Princess's residence.

The Twelfth Princess's talent was unmatched, her brilliance stunning. They all felt that marrying the Ninth Prince of the Jade Scenery Dynasty as a consort was a disgrace.

After hearing about the Ninth Prince's deeds, they felt this way even more, harboring extreme resentment towards the Ninth Prince.

But at the same time, they had been paying attention to the Ninth Prince's every move.

Even though she had reported what she had seen with her own eyes, the messages returning from the residence still conveyed disbelief.

They felt that she had been deceived, that she had been blinded, and that she needed to open her eyes and see clearly.

But this matter would not be false just because she had been deceived or blinded.

This was a true and undeniable matter.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Help me deliver a gift to Her Highness, a gift from the Jade Scenery Grotto Heaven."

"Her Highness is already at the ninth revolution of Transformation Intent and is about to transform into a god; she doesn't need these things."

"Whether Her Highness needs it or not is one thing; whether I give it or not is another."

"…Yes."

"Also, I have another message," Chu Zhiyuan said solemnly, "It's a message I obtained in the Jade Scenery Grotto Heaven… it concerns a Demon race plot."

He then recounted the course of events, as well as the results of the interrogation.

Li Yuzhen's expression was somber. Her eyes, which had been lowered all along, raised and looked straight at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "This matter is no small matter and should still be kept secret, but I think Her Highness should know."

"Consort, this matter is no small matter and cannot be taken lightly."

"Do you think I'm playing with you?" Chu Zhiyuan snorted, "Then do you think I could fabricate this message? Who could have imagined this?"

Li Yuzhen's eyes shimmered like gemstones rotating in the sunlight.

As a spirit guard, she hated the Demon race to the extreme. All spirit guards hated the Demon race and the Demon race to the bone.

This matter involved a Demon race plot. If the Demon race succeeded, they would rapidly grow stronger and weaken the three dynasties.

With this ebb and flow, the spirit guards would suffer heavy losses.

Thinking of this, she could no longer remain calm, clasping her fist and saying solemnly, "Your subordinate is extremely grateful!"

She judged that this matter was unlikely to be false.

This matter was too absurd and beyond imagination; even if one were to fabricate it, they couldn't come up with it.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "I hope Her Highness won't think I'm talking nonsense."

"Consort, I want to go back myself and personally report to Her Highness."

"Mm, go," Chu Zhiyuan said, "Be careful on the road."

"Yes," Li Yuzhen clasped her fist, turned and left, cleanly and neatly.

Chu Zhiyuan watched her back disappear and shook his head.

He knew that Li Yuzhen's trip was destined to be disappointing; the Twelfth Princess would not believe it.

The more earnestly she spoke, the less the Twelfth Princess would believe it.

After all, the original owner's reputation was too bad; how could she believe such a person?

He just didn't know what the Twelfth Princess would think when it was finally proven to be true.

Would she be angry and then vent her anger on him, or would she reflect on herself?

That would reveal her character.

He was cold in his heart, his expression calm.

You Lan watched from the side, not saying a word, only feeling that Chu Zhiyuan was acting more and more unpredictably.

In her understanding, the Ninth Prince would never do such a thing.

After all, this was a sign of weakness.

And the Ninth Prince had always hated the Twelfth Princess of the Phoenix Dynasty.

This matter seemed more like a plot to frame the Twelfth Princess.

The risk of doing so was too great. If he truly offended the Twelfth Princess, he would have a hard time in the future.

Could it be… if it led to the Twelfth Princess being punished or even demoted, he wouldn't be able to be the consort?