Imperial Cultivation

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"Oh, isn't this Brother Nine?" The little chubby one among the three laughed and said, "How rare to see Brother Nine here!"

Chu Zhiyuan gave him a cold, sidelong glance, too lazy to say more, and continued walking down the mountain.

"Ninth Brother." The leading Fourth Prince, Chu Liexi, clasped his hands and said coldly.

Chu Zhiyuan stopped, turned around, and half-smiled, "How is Fourth Brother?"

His gaze fell on the Fourth Prince's forehead.

On the Fourth Prince's forehead was a faint scar, left by Chu Liezhao back then.

When the two were practicing martial arts at the Great Bright Peak, they had a fierce fight and were ruthless.

Chu Liezhao pulled a dagger from his bosom and stabbed at the Fourth Prince's eye socket.

The Fourth Prince dodged at the critical moment; the dagger missed his eye socket but scraped a piece of flesh off his forehead.

Even with healing ointment, the scar couldn't be removed, though it has faded significantly now.

After the Emperor found out, he angrily reprimanded them for their violent and heartless behavior, punishing them to Jingsi Cliff.

If not for Consort Hui's intercession, the punishment would not have been just one month.

"Thank you for your concern, Ninth Brother, everything is fine," the Fourth Prince said lightly.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Hearing that Fourth Brother is well, I am relieved."

"Feigning sincerity!" the little chubby one sneered.

Chu Zhiyuan shot him a sidelong glance, too lazy to respond, and clasped his hands towards the Fourth Prince: "Fourth Brother, I take my leave."

The Fourth Prince nodded, "Go ahead."

Chu Zhiyuan turned around and strode away, quickly reaching the crystal gate at the foot of the mountain and stepping through it.

"Fourth Brother—!" The chubby Twelfth Prince grumbled discontentedly.

The Fourth Prince said, "Why provoke him?"

"Fourth Brother, he shamelessly begged to come here. It was Consort Hui's plea and Father Emperor's consent that allowed him to stay at Jingsi Cliff."

"Hmm."

"If he dared to make a move, he'd never be able to enter here again!"

The Fourth Prince said lightly, "Twelfth Brother, do you think he wouldn't dare make a move?"

"Of course not," affirmed the Twelfth Prince, "He now knows the downside of having inferior skills and wants to train. How would he dare to act recklessly?"

"I know him better than you do," the Fourth Prince shook his head, "Once Ninth Brother loses his temper, he doesn't care about those matters."

"He's no longer the child he used to be. At this age, he should have some sense," the Twelfth Prince said.

"Twelfth Brother, just let it go," said another handsome young man who had been silent all along.

"Sixth Brother, are you also afraid of him?"

"Though our skills are higher, we're restricted when fighting him, while he is ruthless."

"I'm at the Eighth Transition now. He's only at the Third Transition, so what if he fights to the end?!" The Twelfth Prince wore a disdainful expression, "Even giving him an arm, I could beat him until he's searching for his teeth all over the ground!"

"Do you want to stay at Jingsi Cliff?" the Sixth Prince snorted, "Twelfth Brother, don't stoop to his level."

"I just can't swallow this anger!" The Twelfth Prince said angrily.

He didn't mind being wronged himself, but his Fourth Brother suffered grievous losses, and that was unacceptable!

This disgrace must be avenged!

"Twelfth Brother, don't act rashly. He's now like an earthen pot; why clash with our jade bottles?" The Fourth Prince shook his head, "It's not worth it!"

"...Very well, I'll listen to Fourth Brother," the Twelfth Prince reluctantly agreed.

The handsome Sixth Prince said in a soft voice, "Fourth Brother, I think Brother Nine is somewhat different now."

The Fourth Prince nodded, "Indeed, he is different. Everyone grows up eventually."

They talked as they walked.

The Sixth Prince said, "In the past, he would've scolded Twelfth Brother right away."

The Twelfth Prince sneered, "Hmph, if he dared to scold me, I'd scold him back. He wouldn't be able to hold back from making a move, and I'd teach him a harsh lesson!"

For someone at the Third Transition to dare challenge someone at the Eighth Transition is simply asking for humiliation.

If he dared to bully the Fourth Brother, then I could very well do the same to him.

"Enough already," the Fourth Prince glared at the Twelfth Prince.

"Yes—!" The Twelfth Prince replied in a drawn-out voice.

——

When Chu Zhiyuan returned to the small courtyard, You Lan was already waiting there.

Upon seeing him, You Lan first glanced over his clothing for any damage, secretly sighing in relief.

She worried most about Chu Zhiyuan getting into a fight.

She mused that the princes would have already known about His Highness going to the Great Bright Peak through their well-informed networks.

This was indeed a good chance for them to take revenge and vent their anger, perhaps even trounce His Highness, certain that he wouldn't dare resist.

If he dared resist, all the better.

Then he'd have no more chances to enter the Great Bright Peak, which would suit their wishes precisely.

They certainly didn't want His Highness entering the Great Bright Peak; they all wished he would stay far away from it.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan return unscathed, she finally felt relieved.

"Your Highness, training is hard work. Please eat," she said.

"It's not too hard," he replied.

"That's good," You Lan directed the maids to bring the food.

...

Lamp after lamp of cow candles burned brightly, lighting up the room brilliantly.

On an exquisitely carved round sandalwood table, eight dishes and two bowls of soup gleamed invitingly under the glow.

Chu Zhiyuan sat alone at the table, eating.

You Lan stood beside him serving.

Chewing on the Demon Beast meat, Chu Zhiyuan lazily asked, "What did Wei Boyuan say?"

"Manager Wei said it will be within these two days," You Lan replied, "Definitely not more than three days."

"He knows when to be sensible," Chu Zhiyuan said with a snort, "And no word from the Inspection Department and the Outer Court Guard?"

You Lan shook her head.

"They're useless," Chu Zhiyuan remarked.

"Your Highness!" You Lan quickly responded.

In His Highness's eyes, everyone was useless, all were deemed worthless.

If someone else heard this, there would surely be discontent.

"Father has sent two Imperial Guards to monitor me," Chu Zhiyuan stated.

"This is the Emperor's good intention," You Lan said, "With them around, the other princes would be somewhat restricted in their actions."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled dismissively, "You sure know how to flatter Father."

You Lan quickly cautioned, "Your Highness, don't fall into their trap; you absolutely cannot fight back."

"Aunt, don't you say they're all good kids?" Chu Zhiyuan glanced at her, "These guys, each one is more sinister than the last!"

You Lan was momentarily at a loss, then laughed, "Your Highness, you've grown up and can discern right from wrong."

"Rest assured, Aunt, I'll endure when it's necessary. When I deal with them, I'll first need to improve my cultivation," Chu Zhiyuan said.

Otherwise, it'd be self-inflicted humiliation.

Being able to handle the Fourth Prince back then was because the original master attacked abruptly and with full force.

In a fair fight, he indeed wouldn't beat the Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince's remark infuriated the original master.

It was about the original master's birth mother, Consort Yun, saying she had only herself to blame.

This statement drove the original master mad, his eyes turning red, going all out.

For the original master, the birth mother was a reverse scale, untouchable.

You Lan sighed in complete relief.

After finishing the meal, Chu Zhiyuan strolled around the back garden, then returned indoors, sitting cross-legged on the couch to begin practicing.

Hands sealing, adjusting his breathing, he began visualization in his mind.

He visualized the Great Bright Peak.

Yet, he found that visualizing the Great Bright Peak was impossible.

He reverted to visualizing the original Great Brightness Visualization Method, causing the Spiritual Energy to enter the Bai Hui acupoint, circulate through the meridians before entering the Yin Yang Fish.

The rotation speed of the Yin Yang Fish was far less than at the Great Bright Peak.

But regardless, he could continue to practice.

Upon waking exhausted, he pushed open the window to look outside; the Bright Moon was in the middle of the sky.

He then collapsed into a deep sleep.

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