Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 124: Chapter 122 Joint Cultivation

```html

The carriage window opened its curtain, revealing the outside view.

Strings of lanterns lit up the street.

The street was bustling with people, even more lively than during the day.

Passersby looked at the carriage, casting curious or admiring glances.

With so many guards and attendants in attendance, plus the luxurious carriage and fine horses, it was clear the person inside was of high standing.

Though there were many dignitaries in Yujing, not many displayed such pomp. Clearly, this was a prestigious figure among the prestigious.

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t want to attract too much attention.

But since it was his first time accompanying his fiancée before marriage, he couldn’t afford to be too inconspicuous. A sufficient show of pomp and decorum was a form of respect.

Once they became more familiar, they could dress down and travel more simply.

The light from outside shone through the window.

As the carriage moved, the light inside fluctuated between bright and dim.

Sitting in the flickering light, Xiao Ruoling became even more enchanting.

A faint, ethereal fragrance lingered inside the carriage.

Xiao Ruoling smiled and asked, "So, is this matter settled then?"

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "After all, it’s just a trivial matter. Gaining so many benefits is enough; we shouldn’t persist endlessly."

Xiao Ruoling nodded gently, "There are some spirit pills in the mansion. If there are any you lack, feel free to take them."

Chu Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand.

Taking things from his father-in-law’s home should be done with utmost caution.

Moreover, with the Dragon Blood Pearl and the Miao Ling Pearl now, there’s no need for anything else for short-term cultivation. Reaching the Grandmaster stage first is not too late.

"In the coming days, I need to go into secluded training and won’t be able to accompany you. If you leave the mansion, feel free to have some of my guards accompany you... Once I reach the Grandmaster stage, we can venture outside the city."

"You’re aiming for the Grandmaster stage so soon?"

"With this seclusion, I hope to achieve Innate Perfection within ten days. As for reaching Grandmaster, that’s uncertain," Chu Zhiyuan said, "It could happen very quickly or take some time."

There’s no way to predict it now.

The variable lies in the Dragon Transformation Technique.

The progress of the Dragon Transformation Technique has fortified the barriers within, with the last layer of the Jade Tower especially solid. It’s uncertain if it will affect the Grandmaster path.

"Innate Perfection..." Xiao Ruoling raised her jade-like face, looking out the carriage window with mesmerized eyes, dreamlike and illusory.

From what she knew, it had been just over two months since he entered the Innate Realm to reach Innate Perfection, a truly astonishing rate of progress.

If he entered the Grandmaster realm within a year from being Innate, that would be even more shocking.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "I have good comprehension. Do you want me to help you comprehend it?"

"That would be wonderful," Xiao Ruoling agreed readily.

Her Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique was inherited from an ancestor, related to Yao Yue Palace but also unrelated, not to mention that Chu Zhiyuan was not considered an outsider, so it wasn’t really considered divulging secrets.

Chu Zhiyuan extended his hand.

Xiao Ruoling smiled shyly and extended her jade hand.

Chu Zhiyuan examined her left hand.

The fluctuating light did not affect his vision.

Truly like a work of art carved from mutton fat jade.

Delicate and lustrous, with a subtle sheen, slender yet full, exuding a beauty free from mundane qualities.

He resisted the urge to gently caress it, placing his fingers on her alabaster wrist.

A strand of energy entered, making everything inside her body as clear as if seeing his own.

"Operate your cultivation," instructed Chu Zhiyuan.

Xiao Ruoling operated the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique, her skin losing its rosy hue, turning into mutton fat jade, becoming increasingly translucent.

The captivating blush on her cheeks faded quickly.

The dreamlike quality in her bright eyes also faded rapidly, as did the depth, leaving only clarity and calmness.

Chu Zhiyuan observed her every change, noticing her alabaster wrist becoming cool, like touching a piece of cold jade.

The energy in her meridians was refreshing.

The cultivation route was as complex as the third layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique.

He couldn’t help but marvel; such a complex cultivation technique requires a strong soul and spiritual power, almost impossible to master otherwise.

Moreover, this was just the route of the cultivation technique, with unique energy in her meridians, differing from usual true qi, likely condensed from special energy in the void.

Thus, to cultivate the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique, the first is to have acute perception and the second is robust spiritual strength.

The two complement each other, as strong spiritual power often enhances perception.

But the third point is different, requiring wide, unobstructed meridians.

The cultivation route involves many branches rarely used by ordinary people. If the meridians aren’t wide and unobstructed, completing a full circulation is impossible.

Additionally, he felt it required a touch of mental realm alignment.

The energy of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique affects one’s character, and entering it requires a compatible mental state; if the mental state doesn’t align, one cannot perceive the energy.

These four alignments enable entry into the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique.

He released her hand, gazing at Xiao Ruoling with a sigh, "It’s no wonder this Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique became lost."

It bore similarities to the three ancient teachings he practiced.

Xiao Ruoling smiled, "Have I cultivated correctly?"

"There’s nothing particularly wrong, but this cultivation technique..." Chu Zhiyuan pondered, finding an apt description, "Has too much yin energy."

Xiao Ruoling queried, "Too much yin energy?"

"Pure yin doesn’t grow; over time, it can lead to a barren mental state, finding everything dull, worldly affairs like fleeting clouds."

"...Yes, it’s indeed like that."

Xiao Ruoling mused, nodding slowly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Apart from practicing, everything else feels uninteresting, right?"

"Yes."

Xiao Ruoling nodded.

She would play musical instruments, play chess, read books, and even built a pleasure boat on the lake for self-amusement, tending to flowers and feeding fish.

Despite trying hard to adjust her mental state, she still felt bored and uninterested.

Fortunately, she could practice. During cultivation, time passed quickly, her mood was peaceful and joyful, as if returning to a mother’s embrace.

Chu Zhiyuan’s mind sparkled with inspiration, like pinpoint starlight, each captured glimpse was a novel and intriguing thought.

Constantly refining the Miao Ling Pearl’s energy, constantly altering the brain, enhancing thought, more agile, more nimble, more lively, more swift.

The brain remained in a state of sparkling enlightenment.

"Luckily, you aren’t alone," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "Otherwise, you might end up as a hermit in the wilderness."

Da Jing didn’t have Taoists or monks, but many hermits seeking joy outside the mundane, to forget past worldly woes.

"Yes, my father and younger brother indeed give me peace of mind."

"This cultivation technique... It’s justified that it became lost." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head with emotion.

Afraid one would grow more indifferent, more apathetic, becoming disillusioned, if not killing oneself then others, disregarding life.

That would be an evil skill.

"Are there repercussions?" Xiao Ruoling slightly furrowed her brows, resembling the poignant beauty of Xi Shi clutching her chest, evoking sympathy from others.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "There should be a solution."

Yao Yue Palace was not an Evil Sect, so there must be a way to resolve the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique issues.

Should he take a trip to Yao Yue Palace?

Yet Yao Yue Palace and Da Jing had a very delicate relationship. Even if he went to Yao Yue Palace, they probably wouldn’t entertain him.

Asking would be futile.

He could only find out on his own.

His mind sparkled with enlightenment, thoughtfully pondering.

Xiao Ruoling said, "If not, then I might as well abandon the martial arts."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Would you let it go?"

"Since it’s just at the Innate Realm, after abandoning it, I could practice the State Duke Mansion’s secret techniques," Xiao Ruoling said.

After learning this, practicing the State Duke Mansion’s secret techniques would feel easy, and reaching her current realm wouldn’t take long.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "That’s a last resort. We shouldn’t take that step until necessary. There must be a solution; let’s try."

He now had a wealth of martial arts knowledge, plus Super Sense, along with the Miao Ling Pearl. He believed there was a solution.

"Alright." Xiao Ruoling nodded gently.

——

The two quickly returned to the Duke An Mansion, but Chu Zhiyuan did not immediately bid farewell. Instead, he entered the mansion, heading to the rear garden.

The two came to a small pavilion on top of a rockery.

This pavilion was unusually situated; from it, one could overlook the entire rear garden and see part of the State Duke Mansion.

Looking down, lanterns were hung all over the State Duke Mansion, resembling a starry sky.

In the rear garden, lanterns illuminated flowers and green trees, with intertwining light and shadows in vibrant colors.

The small pavilion was brightly lit.

Chu Zhiyuan sat by a stone table, suddenly flicking a small stone from his sleeve.

"Hiss!" The small stone shot toward the distant lake.

"Boom!"

A column of water shot skyward from the lake.

Splattering down, it shattered the moon’s reflection in the water.

This was the Heart Inquiry Saber Skill, instantly depleting the True Qi of the Great Purple Sun Technique in his Dantian.

Xiao Ruoling was startled, taken aback by its power.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and extended his hand.

Xiao Ruoling extended her jade hand, allowing his fingers to rest on her alabaster wrist as a warm, cool energy flowed in, entering her meridians.

Xiao Ruoling noticed that before she could operate the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique, it activated on its own, with streams of cold air welcoming Chu Zhiyuan’s energy.

The two energies merged silently, becoming gentle and harmonious.

This gentle and harmonious energy quickly fused with her original energy, rapidly strengthening itself. In no time, her entire body was filled with this gentle and harmonious energy.

Operating the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique, the energy was no longer crisp and cool but gentle and harmonious. Moreover, the energy ran faster and more smoothly.

```