Imperial Cultivation

"Senior Song probably won’t stop you, will he? You are now a Spirit Venerable."

"It’s a very special time now; my master will not agree."

"Then let’s talk about it later; for now, let’s go back and take a look."

"So... let’s go back and take a look?"

"Let’s go—?"

"Let’s go!"

Li Hongzhao bit her red lip and nodded gently, her phoenix eyes shining brightly.

Chu Zhiyuan placed his hand on her fragrant shoulder and then disappeared from the Phoenix Secret Realm.

The two suddenly appeared atop a mountain peak.

Li Hongzhao gazed out with bright phoenix eyes: "Tianjing City!"

From this mountain peak, one can see a grand and imposing giant city in the distance.

The thick city walls, weathered and mottled, the tall and mighty gate towers, flags fluttering in the wind.

It is indeed the Capital City of Da Meng—Tianjing City.

She recognized it at a glance.

The mixture of familiarity and strangeness brought her a moment of emotion and excitement.

"Tianjing City..." Li Hongzhao sighed: "It feels like it’s been a long time."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "It’s only been a few years?"

"Three years now." Li Hongzhao sighed: "Feels like it’s been thirty years, even sixty years."

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the Emperor’s Sword above Tianjing and shook his head: "The Emperor’s Sword seems ready to move."

Li Hongzhao looked up and gazed at the enormous sword above the void: "It’s friendly to me, but unfortunately, I am no longer its master."

The giant sword suspended in mid-air is a spectacular sight.

She can faintly feel the sense of closeness coming from the Emperor’s Sword.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Li Biyang has done well, he hasn’t disappointed you."

The Emperor’s Sword hasn’t weakened and remains incredibly powerful, showing the people still have faith and the court is united.

This emperor is considered competent.

Expecting Li Biyang to be like Li Hongzhao is unfairly demanding.

Li Hongzhao’s reign as emperor was short, but the merits she established were unmatched by those who came after.

She joined forces with others to eradicate the evil sects across the land.

Just that accomplishment alone made the people of Da Meng immensely grateful, praising her wisdom.

Not to mention under her governance, the administration was clean, and national strength was mighty.

Chu Zhiyuan asked: "Do you want to enter the city?"

"Let’s go have a look." Li Hongzhao nodded slowly, then looked at him.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "What, don’t want me being a nuisance beside you? Then I’ll leave."

"You go back over there." Li Hongzhao said: "Come pick me up in the evening."

"Going back so soon?"

"It’s a very special time now; it’s not too late to return after this period."

"Alright, then I’ll leave; you take a stroll yourself."

Chu Zhiyuan disappeared without a trace.

He returned to Prince Qing Mansion, first playing with the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Tree for a while, then went back to his own courtyard.

Sitting in his courtyard, he felt a kind of inexplicable peace and leisure.

After entering Biyuan Heaven, he often returned to Prince Qing Mansion to rest.

Therefore, he could not fully understand Li Hongzhao’s intense feeling of returning home.

Moreover, he didn’t think it was necessary to unify Little Outer Heaven; maintaining the status quo was also good.

He knew Li Hongzhao wanted to return because of her experiences in the Phoenix Secret Land.

Song Chaoge valued her greatly, but the court didn’t trust her, and was wary of her.

This made her feel like an outsider, without a sense of belonging.

How could someone who had once been emperor endure this?

Moreover, a golden nest or a silver nest was not as good as her own nest; she still felt Little Heaven Beyond was good.

Furthermore, in achieving Spirit Venerable status, she regained freedom, and her heart returned to Da Meng.

However, staying still makes one want to move, and moving makes one want to be still; that’s human nature.

If she stays in Da Meng for a few days, she might still want to go to Phoenix Secret Land for excitement.

After all, Da Meng is still too unchallenging and boring for her.

...

In the early morning

The dawn’s golden light shone on the Sect Leader’s Hall on Heavenly Sword Peak.

Inside the hall, Chu Zhiyuan sat opposite Lu Wanshan.

Several elders were not present.

Lu Wanshan furrowed his thick brows and slowly conveyed the news obtained from the Heavenly Sword Branch.

The court’s honored experts had found the location of the Divine Artifact in the Divine Domain.

The position is already confirmed; following the path could lead to the artifact and a chance to compete for it.

He thought it inappropriate.

Since the news had spread, the artifact would not be easy to obtain.

But the sect’s masters can’t resist the urge, wanting to glimpse the artifact.

Even if they can’t acquire it, they want to see it, justifying their entry into the Divine Domain.

"Isn’t this matter inappropriate?" Lu Wanshan said: "Why did the court spread this news?"

Chu Zhiyuan revealed the court’s plan: to muddy the waters and see if opportunities could be created.

If anyone couldn’t resist the urge to see the artifact, they would be stepping into troubled waters, extremely dangerous.

There are too many High Rank Spirit Venerables over there; once a fight breaks out, even Low Rank Spirit Venerables face life-threatening danger, not to mention those below Spirit Venerable.

"I see..." Lu Wanshan suddenly understood and said deeply: "This move is quite malicious."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "Even knowing it’s malicious, it’s hard to guard against."

He could see that Lu Wanshan was also slightly tempted by the prospect, given it involved a Divine Artifact.

If the Heavenly Sword Sect could obtain the artifact, it would change everything.

Lu Wanshan said deeply: "I will strictly order the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples not to go and explore, not to hold vain hopes."

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists: "Sect Leader is wise."

Lu Wanshan asked: "Zhiyuan, as a court honored expert, must you go there?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "They likely won’t force Spirit Venerables, but knowing the news, it’s tempting to go."

"This move is indeed malicious." Lu Wanshan sighed: "How many Spirit Venerables will die, I wonder."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

He said farewell to Lu Wanshan with clasped fists, and the next moment, he was back in his small courtyard at the Heavenly Sword Branch.

At this time, Huang Zhengyang was at the entrance, lightly knocking.

Chu Zhiyuan opened the courtyard door, inviting Huang Zhengyang inside. They sat in the pavilion, chatting over tea.

Huang Zhengyang sipped the tea, set down the cup, and said seriously: "Brother Chu, have you heard about the artifact?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, smiling: "This news should be widespread by now?"

"Alas... it’s not widespread enough." Huang Zhengyang shook his head: "Our Evil Extermination Department’s task is to ensure everyone knows, not just within Biyuan Heaven."

Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows: "Heavenly Shadow Sect should be aware by now, right?"

"Yes, the news is released." Huang Zhengyang said: "But after Heavenly Shadow Sect becomes aware, they will certainly keep the secret, and other experts in Qingyang Heaven may not necessarily find out."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Huang Zhengyang asked: "Brother Chu, do you have any good ideas?"

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, shaking his head.

Huang Zhengyang gave a wry smile: "The court has issued orders, we have no choice but to go all out, dispatching experts to descend into other realms."

As a disciple of the Heaven-Reaching Sect, Chu Zhiyuan could easily reach other realms.

If he were to spread the information, it would disseminate quickly.

But he was acting under court orders, and Chu Zhiyuan wasn’t required to follow them.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "Brother Huang, don’t push yourself too hard; such descent is quite dangerous."

"Alas..., the court has issued orders, we have no choice; I hoped Brother Chu could take a look."

"Alright." Chu Zhiyuan agreed readily: "But they may not believe it, right?"

"I’ll strictly order them."

As he spoke, he pulled out a plain piece of paper and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan took it; it was filled with rows of names.

He glanced over quickly and shook his head in resignation: "Only four succeeded from this list; the rest didn’t."

"Didn’t succeed?"

"Two were captured, six failed and died from backlash."

"Six failed and died?"

"The Descent Technique is quite dangerous, using it recklessly..." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Huang Zhengyang’s face darkened.

He did not know the Descent Technique was so dangerous, with so many failures.