Imperial Cultivation

Fengtian Palace

Chu Liezhao and Li Miaotan stood side by side below the eighteen steps.

Above the steps stood a grand hall adorned with wings and purple-gold patterns.

The purple-gold patterns made the hall’s flying eaves majestic and solemn.

Li Miaotan, dressed in a crimson robe, with arched brows and phoenix eyes, radiated brilliance and allure.

Beside her, Chu Liezhao, in a blue robe, had a handsome face as calm as water.

Li Miaotan looked up at the grand hall, scoffing lightly: "Is Fengtian Palace trying to intimidate us?"

Chu Liezhao said: "Madam, given your current cultivation, they shouldn’t act this way."

Li Miaotan’s phoenix bloodline was becoming increasingly powerful under the influence of the Heavenly Dragon Introduction.

Even without operating, the void above her head showed a faint shadow of the seven-colored phoenix.

Those without cultivation couldn’t see it, but anyone with a bit of cultivation saw it clearly.

The pressure from the seven-colored phoenix was almost tangible.

The stronger one’s cultivation, the stronger the pressure felt, making it hard to breathe.

When they arrived at the main hall of Fengtian Palace, surprisingly no one came to greet them.

Oddly enough, they faced no obstacles along the way, no one stopped them.

Neither stopped nor greeted, as if the entire Fengtian Palace ignored their presence.

Could it be that the two of them were illusory, nonexistent, unseen?

Since they weren’t illusory, yet unseen by others, wasn’t this indeed being ignored?

"They wouldn’t?" Li Miaotan scoffed: "Husband, you underestimate them. They look down on the world, not even seeing my elder brothers."

Chu Liezhao said: "Do they only obey the Emperor?"

"That’s always been the case." Li Miaotan said: "They hardly heed even Father, accustomed to acting independently."

Chu Liezhao nodded: "The Emperor is indeed broad-minded."

Li Miaotan gave him a sidelong glance.

She could detect the sarcasm in Chu Liezhao’s words.

Chu Liezhao laughed: "Madam, don’t misunderstand, I speak candidly."

"Hm."

"Without the Emperor’s tolerance, they wouldn’t dare act like this, nor would they fully devote themselves, given their unparalleled skills."

Li Miaotan scoffed: "Seeing the future is their sole reliance."

Chu Liezhao said: "Regarding these extraordinary individuals, one shouldn’t treat them as ordinary. Tolerance and patience are needed, a matter known to all, yet seldom practiced. The Emperor, indeed, achieves it, an admirable feat!"

Li Miaotan said: "But such tolerance makes them increasingly arrogant, eyes higher than heaven."

"Can they be replaced?" Chu Liezhao laughed: "Is there another who can see the future, or a spiritual artifact?"

"None."

"That’s why they behave so."

"Alas..." Li Miaotan shook her head: "Though my phoenix bloodline strengthens me, I can’t learn such miracle techniques."

Chu Liezhao laughed: "Can they see their own fate?"

"Probably not." Li Miaotan said: "According to them, they can’t."

Chu Liezhao sensed her hidden meaning.

Whether they can see their own fate, their future, only they know for sure.

They claim they can’t, but perhaps they can.

Chu Liezhao said: "Madam, I’m curious if they can see my fate."

"They should see ours." Li Miaotan said: "Otherwise, what’s the point of Fengtian Palace?"

"Princess!"

A clear voice resonated from the hall.

The doors slowly opened.

A handsome middle-aged man strode out from the hall, with jade-like features and sword-like brows, standing elegantly in the breeze.

He stepped swiftly to the foot of the stairs, cupping his fists in salute: "Your Highness, Prince Consort, I apologize for my late welcome."

Li Miaotan said: "Master He, we are here with inquiries; otherwise, we wouldn’t disturb."

Palace Master He Zhenyu chuckled: "Your Highness, Prince Consort, please!"

Chu Liezhao glanced around: "Master He, why is Fengtian Palace so quiet? Is something amiss?"

He Zhenyu shook his head: "Nothing major, please come in."

Chu Liezhao and Li Miaotan exchanged looks.

He Zhenyu turned to lead the way.

They ascended the steps, crossing eighteen layers and entering the hall.

Inside the hall, the light was soft, markedly fresh and pleasant, seemingly with a breeze carrying floral aroma.

After seating themselves, He Zhenyu smiled: "Your Highness and Prince Consort, what brings you here?"

"It’s actually a minor issue." Chu Liezhao smiled: "Do you know about this?"

He retrieved a scroll from his robe and handed it to He Zhenyu.

He Zhenyu received it with both hands, opened it, and his expression subtly changed.

Chu Liezhao felt invigorated, glancing at Li Miaotan.

Li Miaotan gave a knowing smile.

Knowing consulting books was useless, finding Fengtian Palace was best.

Fengtian Palace knew many secrets outsiders didn’t know, even those not recorded in ancient books.

Li Miaotan coughed lightly: "Palace Master, you seem to recognize this?"

He Zhenyu smiled wryly, shaking his head: "Forgive me, I don’t know."

"Master He!" Li Miaotan glared discontentedly with phoenix eyes, dazzling: "Are you looking down on me and Prince Consort?"

"Alas..." He Zhenyu shook his head: "I’m not concealing, I truly don’t know."

"Your expression suggests otherwise." Li Miaotan said: "Why, can’t you tell?"

Chu Liezhao smiled: "Unspeakable?"

He Zhenyu glanced at them incredulously.

Amazed at their keen intuition.

Chu Liezhao said: "It’s a stronger force, right? Even Spirit Venerable is no match for it?"

"..." He Zhenyu remained silent.

Chu Liezhao said: "Spirit Venerable is already top-tier, yet there’s more above him, is it an Emperor?"

He Zhenyu looked astonished, turning to Li Miaotan.

Li Miaotan said: "I’ve never heard of an Emperor; is there an Emperor in the world outside of the Emperor?"

Chu Liezhao said: "As far as I know, there’s an Emperor presence in the world, regretfully never seen."

He vaguely saw the statue of Emperor Dong Huan, but never clearly.

Yet the praises of Emperor Dong Huan were clearly observed.

Regarding the Emperor being above Spirit Venerable, his guess ensued.

He Zhenyu smiled wryly: "Prince Consort indeed knowledgeable, Emperor is a legendary figure."

"Did he ever truly appear?" Li Miaotan asked.

He Zhenyu shook his head: "Only heard of, never seen, ... they were cultivators of Divine Race, disappearing with the race."

Li Miaotan said: "So Holy Emperor wasn’t a Divine Race expert?"

"Hard to say." He Zhenyu said: "People never comprehended, too distant, beyond reach, can’t fathom."

"Even Fengtian Palace?" Li Miaotan said: "Can’t you see with your skills?"

"Your Highness, the future we glimpse is ethereal, unclear, and not always revealed." He Zhenyu smiled wryly: "Not all-knowing."

"And this?" Li Miaotan said: "Is it righteous or evil?"

"This... at such levels, righteousness and evil become hard to discern." He Zhenyu said.

Chu Liezhao said: "It’s at that level, isn’t it?"

He Zhenyu nodded gently.

"Emperor..." Chu Liezhao pondered: "Truly a significant figure, unbeatable?"

He Zhenyu said: "Prince Consort didn’t see him; if he did, he’d likely have disappeared."

Li Miaotan’s face subtly shifted.

He Zhenyu said: "I have a small counsel."

Chu Liezhao said: "Don’t inquire further?"

"Exactly!" He Zhenyu said: "Pretend you’ve never seen it, don’t know it, that’s best."

Chu Liezhao smiled: "Thank you, Master He. Can you see my future?"

He Zhenyu shook his head.

Chu Liezhao smiled: "Master, you haven’t looked yet?"

He Zhenyu said: "I examined earlier. Prince Consort’s cultivation succeeded. A month ago, your aura changed, concealing the future, unable to glimpse."