Imperial Cultivation

Chu Lieyu shook his head and sighed, "Fourth Brother is still Fourth Brother, just as petty as ever."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Maybe Fourth Brother has good intentions and doesn't want Eldest Brother to be disappointed."

"Heh, who doesn't know what's on Fourth Brother's mind?" Chu Lieyu said, "He's most eager to surpass Eldest Brother."

"Fourth Brother has great talent, but surpassing Eldest Brother won't be easy."

"I heard that Eldest Brother's Forget Sorrow Divine Finger has reached the Divine Level, and the Great Brightness Fist has also reached the Divine Level."

"Eldest Brother's comprehension is quite extraordinary," said Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Lieyu agreed deeply, "To have Great Brightness Fist at the Divine Level is already extremely powerful, and Forget Sorrow Divine Finger also at the Divine Level, that's Second Grade Martial Arts."

The higher the grade of martial arts, the harder it is to comprehend.

They have been practicing the Great Brightness Fist since childhood, reaching Entering Intent is not hard, but reaching Divinity is not easy.

Among the princes, only two or three have achieved this.

The Forget Sorrow Divine Finger has been practiced for less than two years and has reached the Divine Level.

All these can prove Eldest Brother's unusual understanding.

"Besides Fourth Brother, Second Brother and Third Brother are also eager to surpass Eldest Brother, aren't they?"

"Mm."

"What about Fifth Brother?" Chu Zhiyuan asked with a half-smile.

"Heh heh..." Chu Lieyu laughed, "As for Fifth Brother, he probably doesn't have such thoughts."

"Eldest Brother has good talent and strong cultivation, surpassing him won't be easy," Chu Zhiyuan's smile became more peculiar.

Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince all want to surpass the Eldest Prince, how could the Fifth Prince be without ambition?

He knew that Chu Lieyu approaching him was not so simple.

The original owner's temperament was too bad, isolating himself from others, no matter how good Chu Lieyu's temperament was, he wouldn't be too close.

Just as he knew in his past life: There is no hate without reason, and no love without cause.

He didn't care much about this.

The human heart is like an abyss, not to be gazed into, and most of the time, one should not demand too much.

Chu Lieyu said, "The world is full of impermanence, who knows the outcome until the end?"

"Seventh Brother, you speak truly," Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Eldest Brother has a lot of pressure too, and it's inevitable he might make mistakes."

As the Eldest Brother, with ambitious and eager younger brothers below, the pressure must be immense.

Under pressure, mistakes are inevitable, and it's possible to suffer a setback.

Cultivation relies on spiritual energy, essence, and spirit; once crushed, no matter how talented, it is useless.

So others are not without chances.

----

In the following days, Chu Zhiyuan did not leave the Prince Mansion.

He went to the Great Bright Peak in the morning and returned in the evening, staying in his courtyard reading books.

He closed his doors to visitors, blocking everyone regardless of who came.

During this time, people from the Eldest Prince Mansion came.

The guards from the Eldest Prince Mansion delivered an invitation.

Inviting Chu Zhiyuan to a banquet at the Eldest Prince Mansion, hosted by the Eldest Prince himself.

You Lan refused without hesitation, saying His Highness was in closed-door cultivation and could not meet anyone, and apologized to the Eldest Prince.

On the seventh morning, the sun became bright, warming as it shone on him.

The sun was still a distance from the zenith.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the tall, sturdy youth approaching slowly from the mountain.

Wearing a navy blue long robe, tall and robust, his handsome face was carved deep like a knife.

He exuded an imposing aura of valor.

Chu Zhiyuan sat on Qingfeng Cliff, clasped his hands, and said indifferently, "Greetings, Eldest Brother."

"Ninth Brother." The Eldest Prince, Chu Liechu, walked leisurely to Chu Zhiyuan.

The two middle-aged Imperial Guards clasped their hands in salute, without blocking.

Chu Liechu waved his hand, indicating not to be too courteous, and sized up Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him calmly, "It's been a long time, Eldest Brother still the same."

"Ninth Brother, you've changed." Chu Liechu sighed, "You really seem like a different person, almost didn't recognize you."

Chu Zhiyuan remained calm as water, saying blandly, "The Observatory suspects I was body snatched, even Uncle Fifteen had that suspicion, using Evil Extinguishing Ruyi."

"No wonder Uncle Fifteen would fetch the Evil Extinguishing Ruyi, it's not an ordinary treasure," Chu Liechu said slowly.

Chu Zhiyuan had a face of mockery, "Father also suspects I've been body snatched, doesn't he?"

"After surviving great peril, a sudden change in temperament is indeed possible, but one must guard against Heaven Demons body snatching, or the strange means of the Demon Clan, even guard against the Yongling Divine Sect's reincarnation technique."

Chu Zhiyuan showed impatience, seemingly not wanting to hear his ramblings, "Did you come here just to say these things, Eldest Brother?"

"This time, I came to apologize in person, for the last time I invited you to a banquet, you didn't come."

"Playing this game, Eldest Brother doesn't find it amusing?" Chu Zhiyuan said coldly, "If you really feel sorry, then follow the rules, don't snatch the quota that isn't yours and then feign an apology. I won't play along with your act, Eldest Brother!"

Chu Liechu laughed, "Ninth Brother, you haven't changed, still the same old Ninth Brother."

He had long experienced Chu Liechao's sharp tongue, saying whatever sounded unpleasant.

Often speaking just the truth, which was more irritating.

He didn't take Chu Liechao seriously, so Chu Liechao's venomous words had no power.

He didn't mind, thinking it ridiculous to argue with such a fool, as if quarreling with himself.

"Eldest Brother, forgive me for not seeing you off."

Chu Zhiyuan closed his eyes, hesitating to practice, avoiding letting him see through his skills.

He pondered, with Chu Liechu at the Eighth Transition of the Transformation Realm, he might be able to see his Infinite Brightness Scripture's operation.

Seeing is believing, what is seen with one's eyes impacts more than hearsay.

If he saw his rapid absorption of primordial energy, he would feel an immense threat.

The Imperial Family of the Outer Heaven differs from the Little Outer Heaven, where the imperial throne doesn't require the Emperor's Sword to recognize its master.

The fight for the throne is fiercer, inevitably leading to some dirty tricks.

His Prince Mansion compared to the Eldest Prince's Commandery Prince Mansion, whether in terms of guards' numbers or their cultivation, was far inferior.

Before the fight for the quota, he must not expose himself, avoiding the Eldest Prince's dirty tricks.

"Ninth Brother, you're also vying for the Yujing Cave Heaven's quota?"

"Eldest Brother doesn't allow me to compete?" Chu Zhiyuan said with closed eyes, "So the previous days' banquet was to buy off all the brothers and make them obediently give up their quotas?"

"Ninth Brother, your cultivation is still in the Qi Transformation Realm, while Second Brother and Third Brother are in the Transformation Realm."

"So what?" Chu Zhiyuan sneered, "Winning or losing isn't all about cultivation, does the Outer Realm Battlefield measure victory by cultivation strength?"

"Ninth Brother, your words are strained, that's life or death battle, different." Chu Liechu laughed, "The weak facing the strong, would they not fight back? Even if they can't win, they must fight for their lives."

"I'm the same," Chu Zhiyuan said coldly, "Whether I can win or not, I will fight!"

Chu Liechu laughed, "Seems like Ninth Brother is quite confident, let me test you with a move."

While speaking, he pointed with a finger.

"Hiss!"

In a light whistle, a multicolored brilliance descended from the sky, condensed into a multicolored flower.

The fist-sized multicolored flower fell towards Chu Zhiyuan's head.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned and punched upwards.

A faint fist seal collided with the multicolored flower.

"Bang!" Both the fist seal and the multicolored flower vanished, turning into a howling gale.

Chu Zhiyuan's body swayed but he sat steadily, his face already pale.

He glared at Chu Liechu, "Injuring me to prevent me from joining the competition? Ridiculous!"

Chu Liechu laughed, "Just a joke, Ninth Brother still can't take jokes? Then I'll take my leave, see you in a few days during the quota fight."

He chuckled, clasped his hands, turned, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.