Imperial Cultivation

I never expected entering the divinity realm to be so easy.

For me, cultivating in the Outer Heaven is like a fish in water.

Thanks to the Super Sense, my comprehension was already strong, and after merging with the Miao Ling Pearl, it became extraordinarily powerful.

In this world of Outer Heaven, comprehension plays a crucial role.

The same fist technique, when performed by people with varying comprehension, displays vastly different power.

The same mental method, when practiced by people with varying comprehension, results in vastly different cultivation speeds.

He glanced at the sky, as dusk gradually settled in, and then turned to walk down the mountain.

Halfway down, a call came from behind from the Seventh Prince: "Ninth Brother, Ninth Brother."

Chu Zhiyuan stopped and looked at him.

The Seventh Prince, Chu Lieyu, drifted closer and clasped his fists with a chuckle: "How's it going, Ninth Brother?"

"Going how?"

"Regarding that quota?" Chu Lieyu laughed: "You know our eldest brother and the others are also participating, right?"

"Hmm."

"I only found out last night. I never imagined our eldest brother and the others would also join the contest... So, Ninth Brother, are you still going to compete?"

"Isn't Seventh Brother going to compete?"

"I know my limits." The Seventh Prince shook his head: "I won't go looking for humiliation. Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother will be seeing red and would be ruthless, and you'd be remembered by them."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly.

"Are you really going to compete, Ninth Brother?"

"Of course, I must compete!" Chu Zhiyuan snorted: "Everyone relies on their own abilities."

"But the eldest brother..." The Seventh Prince stopped halfway.

He realized.

Even if he talks his head off, Chu Liezhao was brimming with confidence and wouldn't listen.

All he could do was respect each other's choices and calmly observe each other's fate.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Besides, this is a rare opportunity to spar."

"Ninth Brother, be careful. Eldest Brother and Second Brother never hold back and always go all out."

"Alright."

"Shall we go for a drink tonight?"

"Isn't Seventh Brother accompanying Seventh Sister-in-law?"

He knew from the original owner's memory that the Seventh Prince had just recently gotten married.

At the peak of their honeymoon, they would wish to stick together all the time.

"What's there to accompany!" The Seventh Prince waved nonchalantly: "She's busy finding amusement with Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law all day long."

The relationships between the princes varied; some were distant, others were close. Yet, the prince consorts were quite amiable, with frequent interactions.

This was one of Chu Liezhao's significant disadvantages.

"Alright." Chu Zhiyuan nodded happily.

It was rare for someone to truly get close to him, as most of the princes were still observing.

They only knew his martial arts potential was formidable, but his character and temperament were still daunting.

——

Chu Zhiyuan ate his dinner alone, sitting in the small pavilion of his courtyard.

The surroundings were brightly lit.

You Lan, along with Xiao Zhu and the other two maidservants, stood quietly on the side.

She suddenly said softly: "Your Highness..."

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at her: "Aunt has something to say, just say it. Hesitation is unlike you."

You Lan hesitated momentarily and then said softly: "The Twelfth Princess has sent a guard over."

"A guard?" Chu Zhiyuan frowned: "She sent a guard over?"

"Yes." You Lan nodded gently: "It seems the Twelfth Princess is aware of Your Highness's situation and specially sent a skilled guard."

Chu Zhiyuan sneered: "Afraid the Imperial Guards can't protect me and that I might die?"

You Lan said: "Only one guard came."

Chu Zhiyuan snorted: "Not here to be a guard, but to be a spy, right? … Is it now that she's going to start controlling me?"

The status of a prince consort is naturally inferior to a princess, especially in the Phoenix Dynasty.

Sending someone to control the prince consort is a routine operation for a princess of the Phoenix Dynasty.

And I'm not even married yet, and I'm to be controlled already?

That's simply outrageous.

You Lan hurriedly said: "The Twelfth Princess is reasonable and shouldn't be this way."

"Tell them to scram!" Chu Zhiyuan snorted and continued eating.

You Lan said: "It's a young woman."

Chu Zhiyuan sneered: "Caught me right? Not even a guard in the first place!"

You Lan said softly: "Your Highness, although she's young, her cultivation is formidable, and it's said she's from the Spirit Guard."

"Oh—?" Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

The threshold for Spirit Guards is the Divinity Transformation Realm with at least one entering the spirit martial arts.

For someone so young to reach such standards is truly one in a million.

For such a person not to train on the Outer Realm Battlefield, pursuing higher realms and seeking serendipities?

Uncle Fifteen was injured and had to come back to recuperate; could this young woman also be injured?

"Invite them over for a meeting."

"Yes, Your Highness."

...

Under Chu Zhiyuan's gaze, a lithe and graceful maiden approached elegantly.

She had a longsword hanging from her slender waist, and wore a snow-white robe, spotlessly clean; she clasped her fists and saluted: "Li Yuzhen greets the Prince Consort."

Chu Zhiyuan closely examined her.

Li Yuzhen's nose was sharp, and she was a beautiful maiden.

Her face, carved like mutton fat jade, was aloof and serene, her lowered gaze like a sheathed sword.

Though not displaying sharpness, she exuded an upright, unyielding spirit.

Chu Zhiyuan scrutinized her, letting his gaze travel indulgently, from her fair forehead, into her slender brows, bright phoenix eyes, straight nose, down to her plump lips, and further down to her graceful, elegant snowy neck, the filled peaks, a slim waist encircled, enveloped by wide robes below.

His gaze returned to her face; he said lightly: "Why did you leave the Spirit Guard?"

Li Yuzhen said indifferently: "I am ordered to be reassigned to guard the Prince Consort."

"Personally assigned to guard me?"

"Yes."

"… It's truly overwhelming." Chu Zhiyuan sneered: "If I die, would it ruin something major for your Phoenix Dynasty?"

Li Yuzhen remained silent, her gaze always lowered.

"I never thought I'd become someone important someday." Chu Zhiyuan glanced obliquely at her: "You also have the responsibility of monitoring me right?"

"Reporting to the Prince Consort, I have no such responsibility."

"Just purely guarding me, not interfering in my affairs?"

"I am ordered to protect the Prince Consort and will not concern myself with other matters."

"Well… How rare." Chu Zhiyuan said: "Since you say so, I can't bear to send you off."

"If the Prince Consort dismisses me, other guards will come until the Prince Consort agrees."

"Was it the princess who assigned you?"

"… Yes."

"What relationship do you have with the princess?"

"My mother was the princess's wet nurse."

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly understood: "Then you're the closest confidant... No wonder."

He realized why the Twelfth Princess had sent a guard over; she feared he would be assassinated.

Clearly, she knew someone inside the Phoenix Dynasty wanted him dead.

This guard needed to be completely trustworthy; otherwise not only would she fail to protect him, but she might place him in a more perilous situation.

The daughter of a wet nurse meant exceptionally close, absolutely loyal confidant.

Chu Zhiyuan snorted: "Raise your head, why keep it lowered always!"

"Yes." Li Yuzhen slowly raised her eyes, leveling her gaze.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: "Do you think I'm unworthy of the Twelfth Princess?"

Li Yuzhen's eyes betrayed contempt and condescension.

This was not the gaze of a subordinate, but rather the gaze looking down upon a subordinate.

Li Yuzhen appeared respectful and gentle, yet she harbored an indomitable pride, extremely disdainful and contemptuous of him as the prince consort.

Li Yuzhen lowered her eyelids again, speaking softly: "I dare not."

Chu Zhiyuan lazily eyed her, letting out a chuckle: "Why, even daring to kill both the Demon Clan and Demon Clan, yet not daring to speak the truth?"

Li Yuzhen replied: "Every time the Prince Consort leaves the residence, I will follow secretly."

"Follow secretly?" Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "This is to preserve some of my dignity?"

"The Prince Consort's dignity is the Princess's dignity."

"That's more like it." Chu Zhiyuan snorted: "Alright, you can follow then."