Imperial Cultivation

He put down the silk book and looked thoughtfully at the crescent moon in the night sky.

The sky full of stars, the crescent moon like a hook.

This round of crescent moon seemed to drift amidst floating clouds, spreading its cold brilliance over the mortal world.

The entire Imperial City was bathed in this serene glow.

Yet the serene glow could not wash away the clamor of the mortal world.

The distant noise rendered the small courtyard exceptionally quiet.

He couldn't help but wonder what Xiao Ruoling was doing at this moment, was she immersed in cultivation?

Is she still practicing the Taiyin Great Refining Form, still needing to judge the stars?

His thoughts continued to drift.

The Profound Yin Palace, where she resides, is also akin to the Great Bright Peak, a sacred land for cultivation, where spiritual energy is more abundant.

The Ancient Gou Xuan Records also mention the Profound Yin Palace.

In ancient times, there was a great sect named the Tai Xuan Palace, which later nearly perished due to internal strife. The surviving disciples rebuilt it and renamed it to Profound Yin Palace, continuing the legacy to this day.

The foundation of this lineage of the Profound Yin Palace is profound, far beyond ordinary sects.

Yet the four great sects of the Jade Dynasty all stemmed from ancient sects.

"Aunt," Chu Zhiyuan called out loudly.

You Lan, who was in the west chamber browsing accounts, walked out upon hearing.

Her hair was draped down, and she wore a loose white dress, making her appear exquisite and petite, lacking her usual vigor. Her bright eyes and white teeth appeared younger by a few years, showing that she typically dressed more maturely.

In the clear cold moonlight, she appeared a bit more soft and charming: "Your Highness?"

"Do you know the Divine Language, Aunt?"

"Divine Language…the script of the ancient Divine Race?"

"Hmm, do you recognize it, Aunt?"

"The ancient Divine Language has been lost, I've never heard of anyone who understands it."

"Lost, huh..."

Chu Zhiyuan sighed.

With the demise of the Divine Race, the Divine Language's disappearance was inevitable.

A language, once it loses its speakers, loses its vitality and inevitably vanishes.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Are there no written records?"

"I'll find out tomorrow."

"…Never mind, I'll ask Uncle."

You Lan nodded, not asking why he wanted to know about the Divine Language, she just said, "Your Highness, it's getting late, you should rest."

"Hmm." Chu Zhiyuan put down the silk book, got up, stretched, relaxed his essence, qi, and spirit: "Aunt, you should rest too, don't strain your eyes."

You Lan agreed with a soft laugh, gracefully returning to the west chamber.

Chu Zhiyuan picked up the silk book and went to his bedroom, placed it on the desk, sat cross-legged on his bed, and began cultivating the Infinite Brightness Scripture.

When he was exhausted, he lay down and fell asleep.

Upon waking again, it felt just like a brief illusion, without feeling the passage of time, a whole night had already passed.

He opened his eyes, was attended to by Xiao Zhu and the others for washing and breakfast, and then headed to the Great Bright Peak.

Upon entering the Great Bright Peak, two middle-aged Imperial Guards were still waiting, escorting him to Qingfeng Cliff.

As Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the warm jade mat, he said faintly, "Are you two acting on my elder brother's orders?"

The two of them were taken aback.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled softly, "What benefits did my elder brother give you?"

"Your Highness, you've misunderstood!"

"Forget it, I won't make things difficult for you." Chu Zhiyuan said calmly, "My elder brother is indeed considerate, … just follow the orders, say whatever needs to be said."

He spoke, closing his eyes.

The two middle-aged Imperial Guards exchanged a look, their expressions solemn.

Indeed, they were instructed by the Eldest Prince to report any disturbance here to the Prince Mansion with a generous reward promised.

If it were an ordinary prince, they'd handle things superficially, pretending to be deaf and avoiding involvement in the prince's disputes.

However, the Eldest Prince was different.

The Eldest Prince's influence was deeply rooted in the palace because he is the Empress's legitimate son.

If they were to handle things superficially, they risked being held accountable later, making trouble for themselves.

Chu Zhiyuan knew they were bought by the Eldest Prince just yesterday and said slowly, "Did you tell my elder brother about my Great Brightness Fist?"

The two quickly shook their heads, "Rest assured, Your Highness, we won't act recklessly."

The Eldest Prince merely sent them to report any occurrences to the Prince Mansion.

He did not inquire about the previous situation.

Nor did he ask about the extent of the Ninth Prince's mastery of the Great Brightness Fist.

It seems no one would have imagined that the Ninth Prince could have mastered the Great Brightness Fist to such a level.

Though the Ninth Prince is destined to marry into the Phoenix Dynasty as a Prince Consort, his future uncertain.

Yet such a martial genius, who can predict his fate?

No need to completely offend him.

Chu Zhiyuan, eyes still closed, said, "If my elder brother asks, just tell him the truth, but make sure to act as if you haven't seen me perform the Great Brightness Fist."

"Yes." They nodded seriously.

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes, gave them a faint glance, "Lu Chaosheng, Lu Junfeng, I should encounter some fortuitous events upon entering the Yujing Cave Heaven this time."

"…Then, may Your Highness be blessed with fortuitous encounters and may your cultivation soar," the two exchanged a look.

They understood this as a promise of benefits.

"Thanks for your good wishes," Chu Zhiyuan pulled out a smile and closed his eyes again.

——

At noon, Chu Honglin appeared again.

He handed a small box to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan knew that it contained books, records of the Great Demon Suppressing Seal and Demon Suppressing Spirit Mountain.

Chu Zhiyuan mentioned his interest in learning the Divine Language.

Chu Honglin frowned in thought, then turned and left.

He returned shortly after, shaking his head helplessly, "The Divine Language has been lost, there's no record."

"No records at all?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

"There are some records, but no actual Divine Language has been recorded."

"What is there, then?" Chu Zhiyuan was invigorated.

"It's said that the Divine Language has power, capable of harnessing Heaven and Earth's Power, which is one of the sources of the Divine Race's strength."

"And?"

"The Divine Language requires sufficient power to be seen clearly and spoken; even if it appeared before us, we wouldn't be able to see it clearly or speak it. Furthermore, the Divine Language is not learned, but inherited."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him puzzled.

Chu Honglin said, "Those of the Divine Race do not need to learn the Divine Language; they are born knowing it, inheriting it from their bloodline."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Is the Divine Language petal-shaped, layer upon layer?"

"Why, does the Great Demon Suppressing Seal involve the Divine Language?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Seems like Uncle, you haven't read those books on Demon Suppressing Spirit Mountain, … according to records, the disciples of Demon Suppressing Spirit Mountain chant the Divine Sound, and very likely visualize the Divine Language."

"So, have you learned the Divine Language?"

"It's likely just a single Divine character."

"Can records of the Divine Language help you better master the Great Demon Suppressing Seal?"

"Yes," said Chu Zhiyuan, then added, "Uncle, do we have any special destructive power against the Demon Clan with our Great Brightness Fist?"

"No," Chu Honglin shook his head with a sigh, "It has no special power against those who cultivate Demon Techniques, … Unfortunately, no one has ever mastered it, allowing them to run rampant… I'll go check the Imperial Palace's library for any records of the Divine Language."

"Thank you, Uncle, very much."

Chu Honglin pursed his lips, "Just mastering the Great Demon Suppressing Seal will be enough to repay me, … then help me kill one of those demon brats!"