Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 1143 - 1139: Quarrel

The Outer Three Elements cultivation primarily focuses on visualization.

The Earth Origin Technique involves visualizing the Spring Gushing Acupoint revealing a Spiritual Abyss, with the Spiritual Abyss Twelve Peaks needing to be manifested one by one.

One cannot directly visualize all Twelve Peaks; visualization must be done peak by peak.

This requires tremendous Spiritual Power.

Compared to the Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture, visualizing the Spiritual Abyss consumes Spiritual Power akin to the difference between an ocean and a lake.

At first, he truly couldn’t manage to simultaneously visualize the Spirit Peak while visualizing the Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture.

Once he gets the hang of it, he estimates he could manage to visualize two things concurrently.

The ancestral acupoint continuously provides Spiritual Power, enough for him to visualize both at the same time.

Time slips away during his visualization; the path flows through his visualization.

The next day’s evening, they arrived at Heavenly Sword Peak.

He hadn’t been back in his courtyard long when someone knocked on the door outside.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward to open the courtyard gate.

Li Hongzhao, dressed in fiery red clothing, stood smiling at the door, her beauty dazzling.

She looked at Chu Zhiyuan with a triumphant smile: "I heard you made another great achievement?"

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "Third Transition already?"

Li Hongzhao chuckled, "Just lucky, that’s all."

She did not expect the speed to be so fast, far exceeding her imagination.

If Chu Zhiyuan wasn’t ahead, she would feel anxious and want to pause.

Chu Zhiyuan extended his hand.

The two went to his small courtyard pavilion.

Unceremoniously, she boiled tea with a Red Clay Small Stove, leisurely admiring the flowers in the garden.

The flowers in the garden were slowly closing, preparing to sleep.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Nothing much happening within the sect?"

"Everywhere there’s talk about your news from the Qinglian Sea, and news of the Myriad Blood Sect," Li Hongzhao replied, "Is there a Giant Demon above the Great Demon?"

Chu Zhiyuan solemnly nodded.

He recounted the details, making Li Hongzhao’s eyes burn bright.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "So you still cannot descend the mountain for now, at least wait until Sixth Transition to descend; otherwise, it remains dangerous."

Li Hongzhao shook her head, "If it was truly that dangerous, the senior brothers and sisters who descended after Third Transition wouldn’t be without losses."

"They weren’t going to Qinglian Sea nor provoking demons," Chu Zhiyuan said, "Walking in the mortal world, no one dares provoke."

"What about those Evil Demons?" Li Hongzhao asked, "Are these demons of the Myriad Blood Sect afraid to kill our Heavenly Sword Sect disciples?"

"If they can avoid killing, they will," Chu Zhiyuan replied, "But killing Heavenly Sword Sect disciples is inevitable."

Li Hongzhao nodded, "But if faced with a dead end, one can’t help it... So descending the mountain at Third Transition, don’t randomly provoke evil demons?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Indeed, as expected of you."

Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes at him, "It’s boring to stay on the mountain; once the divine statue’s benefits aren’t as strong, I’ll descend the mountain to have a look, to see what Biyuan Heaven really looks like."

After ascending here, she remained on Heavenly Sword Peak, unaware of conditions at the foot of the mountain.

Curiosity grew unbearable.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Li Hongzhao immediately perked up, her bright eyes shining, "Your achievements this time have significantly raised your prestige within the sect."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Cultivation is still insufficient."

He had a keen awareness; even with notable achievements and rising prestige, it hasn’t translated to support for the Sect Leader position.

Once reaching Nine Transitions, Peak of Ninth Transitions, with powerful cultivation, then he would be listed among potential candidates for the Sect Leader position.

Then the thought of whether he fits for Sect Leader might arise in minds.

So for now, the task remains improving cultivation.

Once the second layer of Earth Origin Technique is mastered, he must practice Heavenly Sword Secret Scripture and Earth Origin Technique together.

Speed up to elevate cultivation to Nine Transitions. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"What transition are you now?"

"Seventh Transition."

"I shouldn’t have asked!" Li Hongzhao huffed, "Alright then, going by your speed, within a year you should reach Nine Transitions, right?"

"...Hard to say," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "The further you go, the harder it gets."

He truly couldn’t decisively say whether he would reach Nine Transitions within a year.

From Seventh Transition to Eighth Transition isn’t easy, let alone Eighth to Ninth.

Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes at him, not wanting to discuss cultivation more, whispered, "An envoy from the Court has arrived."

Chu Zhiyuan raised a brow.

Li Hongzhao said, "It seems that envoy’s conversation with the Sect Leader didn’t go well; they seemed to argue."

Chu Zhiyuan showed surprise.

Li Hongzhao shook her head, "This Biyuan Heaven indeed differs from our Little Heaven Beyond, worldly matters are quite different."

Chu Zhiyuan was lost in thought.

He understood Li Hongzhao’s meaning.

In Little Outer Heaven, the sect’s representatives and the Court’s envoys would never argue openly.

Even if there were conflicts, outwardly everything would be harmonious, at most indifferent.

Conflicts would never be displayed on the surface, but carried out secretly.

Moreover, how could a dignified Sect Leader quarrel with the Court’s envoys? This leaves no room for maneuver; such political tactics are too shallow.

Li Hongzhao said, "It seems our relations with the Court aren’t as smooth."

Chu Zhiyuan lowered his voice and shared the secret news he had obtained.

Li Hongzhao’s phoenix eyes narrowed, a cold laugh escaped her lips, "Using a borrowed sword to kill?"

"It’s likely they don’t want the Four Great Sects to rise too high, nor do they want them exterminated," Chu Zhiyuan replied, "Perhaps at a critical moment, the Court will step in to assist."

Li Hongzhao coldly chuckled, "This way they could win the gratitude of the Four Great Sects, or even infiltrate them further?"

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Li Hongzhao said, "Using such tactics is truly petty; if they wanted to suppress the Four Great Sects, they should do so openly. There’s no need for this."

"The Four Great Sects carry respected prestige; openly suppressing them would shake the people’s hearts."

"As long as the common people are not forced into hardship, their hearts won’t be shaken."

"It’s different," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "From what I see, here is not the same as our Little Outer Heaven, it can’t be generalized."

"... Then I’m more inclined to go down the mountain and take a look, especially to see how the Court operates here," Li Hongzhao said.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "It’s said the Imperial Family here possesses the Phoenix Bloodline."

Though known as the Sky Dragon Dynasty, the Imperial Family does not have the Heavenly Dragon Bloodline, but the Phoenix Bloodline.

Li Hongzhao’s phoenix eyes flashed.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Perhaps it has some connection with you."

"You really dare to say that!" Li Hongzhao laughed aloud.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Seems absurd, impossible?"

Li Hongzhao’s laughter bloomed like flowers, "Am I by chance part of the Imperial Family Bloodline?"

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "How many are there in the world with the Phoenix Bloodline? ... Even within our sect, there are many bloodlines, but is there any with the Phoenix Bloodline?"

Li Hongzhao was stunned.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "If my guess is correct, only the Imperial Family likely has the Phoenix Bloodline; origins can deceive, but bloodlines cannot."

Li Hongzhao mused, "Imperial Family Bloodline... But everyone in the Heavenly Sword Sect knows I ascended from Little Outer Heaven."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "So what? Can black not be said to be white? ... Again, origins can deceive, but bloodlines cannot."

Li Hongzhao widened her bright eyes, glaring at him, "Crafting a persona saying I’m a golden branch and jade leaf lost from the Imperial Family?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled without speaking.

Li Hongzhao’s eyes shone brightly, shaking her head, "It’s too troublesome; with divine statue assistance, reaching the Nine Transitions won’t be slow."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Even reaching Nine Transitions, it would only make you an elder within the sect."

Li Hongzhao knit her brows lightly, "If I became a child of the Imperial Family, they might marry me off to some official to garner public sentiment, now that’s troublesome."

Being in the Heavenly Sword Sect is much freer and relaxed.

"It’s different; you bear the Phoenix Bloodline and can achieve Nine Transitions Venerable; can you not decide your own marriage?"

"Hmm..." Li Hongzhao’s bright eyes glistened with contemplation.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Even if you don’t want to marry, can anyone force you? ... Wouldn’t being an ancestor of the Imperial Family be more wonderful? ... Doesn’t that sound more interesting?"

Initially, he thought Li Hongzhao within the sect was greatly beneficial to him.

Now he felt that Li Hongzhao entering the Imperial Family would be even more beneficial.

"Hmm, indeed more interesting." Li Hongzhao slowly nodded, lightly chuckling, "Maybe there’s even a chance to seize the imperial throne?"

She certainly recalled her experiences in Da Meng, where she became the Emperor.

What is the Court like here?

Would there be an Empress?

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "That’s somewhat far-fetched; Biyuan Heaven is different from Little Outer Heaven; your imperial throne was a result of perfect timing and opportunity, a unique stroke of luck. The Sky Dragon Dynasty prospers, such a scenario is unlikely; don’t harbor such grand ambitions, being a carefree tribute is already sufficient."

Li Hongzhao lightly laughed, "Provide you with information when the time comes?"

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and nodded, "Now it seems the relationship between Heavenly Sword Sect and Court is delicate, vigilance is necessary."

"... Let me consider it." Li Hongzhao pondered.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "This matter cannot be rushed; first, we need to understand the situation of the Court and the Imperial Family, and wait until you reach the Eighth or Ninth Transition. Then it won’t be too late to decide."

He suddenly turned his head to look toward the hall.

Three men were hurriedly walking out from the hall; the leading one was robust like a bear, yet his steps were light, accompanied by two elders with profound cultivation.

His face was somber as he strode out of the Sect Leader’s hall.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, floating up to the rooftop, Li Hongzhao followed.

She followed Chu Zhiyuan’s gaze and nodded, "They are the Court’s envoys."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Have they fallen out?"

Li Hongzhao said, "They’ve argued twice before, this is the third time."