Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 978 - 974: First Encounter
The Empress smiled warmly and said, "I have no say over the Yukunlun Palace."
"They resent you, Mother, and it’s affecting Father!"
"Nonsense, why would they hate me?" The Empress shook her head and laughed lightly.
"Mother, you can’t hide it from me." Li Miaotan snorted, "I was foolish before and didn’t see the subtlety."
The interactions between the Yukunlun Palace and the Empress seemed normal.
The Yukunlun Palace often sent disciples to visit her.
She also frequently visited the Yukunlun Palace, unlike the Empresses of other dynasties who were often restricted.
But having followed the Empress since childhood, her talent made her far sharper and more intelligent than ordinary people.
She had an inexplicable feeling that there was something subtle about her mother’s relationship with the Yukunlun Palace.
She couldn’t understand initially, but as her Phoenix bloodline awakened, she became smarter and clearer, breaking the constraints and seeing the truth.
It turned out the relationship between her mother and the Yukunlun Palace was one of hidden resentment.
She didn’t know the specific reason, but it was surely something hidden deep and not revealed to the world.
She was sure that this judgment wouldn’t be wrong.
The Empress chuckled softly, raising her eyes to look at the azure sky, watching a few white clouds.
The clouds drifted leisurely.
A gentle breeze blew.
Li Miaotan gazed at her radiant, beautiful face and sighed, "It seems Yukunlun Palace won’t be accessible."
"Tan’er, have you ever thought about whether his affection for you is true?" the Empress asked.
Li Miaotan smiled, "Mother, if I couldn’t tell the difference between falsehood and truth, wouldn’t that be a disgrace to this Phoenix bloodline?"
"Alas! ...Affection is the most fragile thing, be it between men and women, father and daughter, or husband and wife, or even fellow disciples, it is like a thread, easily snapped with a single pull."
"Mother, affection is most fragile, but also the most resilient," Li Miaotan said, "Isn’t that true for all things?"
"...Tan’er, you truly have grown up," the Empress examined her flawless face, as if seeing her younger self, and sighed, "In this world, if you separate from emotions, life holds no flavor."
To see through worldly affairs but not to remain aloof is a sign of mature character.
Li Miaotan said calmly, "Regardless of the future and how our feelings as husband and wife may change, at least now his feelings are sincere, and so I return sincerity with sincerity."
The Empress looked at her and finally nodded gently, "Alright, I’ll speak with the Yukunlun Palace."
"Will it work?"
"More or less."
"Thank you, Mother."
"Oh, please, that ’thank you’ of yours is quite tiring."
"Mother——!"
Li Miaotan hugged her arm and shook it, acting spoiled like when she was young.
...
Chu Liezhao and Li Miaotan appeared among a vast range of mountains, standing atop a peak, gazing around.
"Is it here?" Chu Liezhao curiously inspected; whether with his eyes or Super Sense, he couldn’t detect the presence of the Yukunlun Palace.
They stood amid dense mountain ranges, several mountains lying like green dragons, their colossal bodies interlacing like a natural barrier.
The peak they stood upon was the highest in the area, allowing them to overlook the surrounding peaks.
Misty clouds rolled like a vast ocean, and the peaks appeared like islands on the sea.
"It’s right here." Li Miaotan nodded decisively, taking out a small sword from her sleeve.
The small sword was crystal clear, palm-sized, with a warm luster flowing under the sunlight.
She pointed the small sword skyward, then traced out a strange pattern.
The small sword suddenly lit up briefly.
Li Miaotan tapped the sword’s tip against her own forehead, then tapped Chu Liezhao’s forehead.
Chu Liezhao didn’t evade, letting the sword’s tip touch his forehead.
A cool sensation seeped into his forehead, flowing into his eyes, causing a tingling sensation, and then his vision changed dramatically.
A majestic, imposing cluster of white palaces floated more than three hundred meters above a mountain peak.
Chu Liezhao marveled at this floating palace, the White Jade Palace, and couldn’t help but think of the Profound Yin Palace.
This structure was grander, more dazzling, and more majestic than the Profound Yin Palace.
He turned to Li Miaotan and smiled, "Without this sword, we couldn’t see them?"
"Yes, this is the Yukunlun Palace’s Sword Order, the disciples’ token."
Li Miaotan lowered her head, playing with the crystal clear small sword, trying to find its mysterious properties.
Despite her keen perception, she couldn’t sense any peculiarity in the small sword.
Chu Liezhao frowned as he inspected it.
When he used Super Sensing Illumination, it appeared empty, without any fluctuation in energy.
He trusted his Super Sense, so this palace was merely an illusion.
The real palace wasn’t here.
"Madam, do you visit the Yukunlun Palace often?"
"This is my first time here."
"It’s your very first time?" Chu Liezhao was surprised, "The Empress hasn’t returned to the Yukunlun Palace either?"
"She doesn’t bring me back when she visits." Li Miaotan lightly shook her head.
She was originally very puzzled, but now she knew it was to guard against the Yukunlun Palace.
Chu Liezhao said slowly, "It seems the Empress has some discord with the Yukunlun Palace."
Li Miaotan remained silent.
Chu Liezhao said, "The Yukunlun Palace is dissatisfied with the Empress, yet can’t entirely disregard her, which is why we can enter Yukunlun Palace, but don’t expect a warm reception?"
Li Miaotan nodded gently.
Chu Liezhao smiled, "Madam, you’re destined to be the world’s number one master, how could they dare show such neglect?"
"They wouldn’t care," Li Miaotan shook her head, "Father is still the Phoenix Emperor, and Mother is the Empress."
"I’m even more eager to take a look inside." Chu Liezhao smiled.
——
Demon Suppression Divine Palace
Chu Zhiyuan was assuming the first technique of the Spiritual Abyss Body Washing, his expression solemn.
He was activating the power of the Spiritual Abyss to cleanse his body while feeling the experiences of Chu Liezhao and Leng Tieya.
He was both Chu Liezhao and Leng Tieya, yet not entirely either.
Borrowing their bodies to act, yet due to their bodies, differing from himself.
This peculiar sensation thrilled him,
At the same time, he felt the changes in his body; the first technique of the Spiritual Abyss Body Washing was nearing perfection.
His connection with the earth grew ever closer, becoming one with it.
As Chu Liezhao entered the Yukunlun Palace, Leng Tieya also arrived in front of the Lu family’s mansion.
He wore a cyan robe, accompanied by Yu Chengde, with no others present.
He surveyed the Lu Mansion.
The red-painted main door, adorned with two rows of copper nails, majestic stone beasts crouching on either side.
The gate tower had a dual eave, and the glazed tiles shimmered under the sunlight.
Four guards stood by with swords, glaring coldly at Leng Tieya without a word.
Leng Tieya seemed oblivious to them, examining the Lu Mansion gate.
Yu Chengde stepped forward to present an invitation.
The gatekeeper received the invitation and reported inside the mansion.
Footsteps echoed, and the side door on the left opened, leading out a procession.
At the lead was a handsome young man, dignified and righteous, the first young master of the Lu family, Lu Yongchuan.
Following him were Meng Qi and Lu Qiaozhen.
"Mr. Lu, I apologize for the intrusion." Leng Tieya clasped his fists, his gaze passing over Meng Qi, "Young Master Meng, we meet again. The handwriting has been delivered, hasn’t it?"
Meng Qi snorted, "Just delivered. Mr. Leng, you have indeed kept yourself well-informed!"
Leng Tieya clasped his fists, "Young Master Meng is indeed trustworthy, and the Meng family is formidable, I admire you."
Meng Qi said, "Canghai’s Handwriting was written by the Supreme Heavenly Demon, but for a demon to comprehend anything from it, is but a daydream." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Leng Tieya laughed, "I might as well have this daydream, the handwriting wouldn’t be fake, would it?"
As long as he could see Canghai’s Handwriting, Meng Qi’s attitude was irrelevant.
Meng Qi sneered, "Since it was brought here for you to see, no need for deceit, lest it brings ridicule from the world!"
Leng Tieya couldn’t wait to say, "Alright, let’s go take a look then."
They proceeded inside.
Yu Chengde slowed his steps, feeling the intense killing intent looming as if ready to cut him into pieces.
Leng Tieya seemed unaffected, following Meng Qi directly to a courtyard in the rear.
Under the watchful eyes of several Meng family experts, he approached the main hall.
Upon stepping inside, he saw a scroll of calligraphy hanging on the south wall.
His eyes widened instantly, then he spewed out a blood arrow with a "poof."
