Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 142: Chapter 140 Breakthrough

"What does the Imperial Grandfather mean?" Chu Zhiyuan asked with a smile.

Below, the maid of the Royal Mansion once again served tea and pastries.

Huang Cheng chuckled, "Young Master Yuan, the Emperor’s meaning is, he wants to know what you think, and it’s up to you."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "The Imperial Grandfather can decide directly, and I will act according to the decree."

Huang Cheng’s smile was as broad as Maitreya Buddha, "The Emperor values the Princely Heir and indeed wants him to make the decision himself, to proceed early or delay."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him thoughtfully, while Huang Cheng wore a full smile, showing no depth.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly said, "Imperial Envoy Huang, then let’s proceed early."

"If proceeding early, the Emperor has a small reward," Huang Cheng said with a smile.

Chu Zhiyuan immediately smiled, "What treasure?"

He had indeed gambled correctly.

"Two pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance." Huang Cheng took out a small Cold Jade Box from his sleeve and opened it, revealing two pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance inside.

The size was exactly the same as before, like the shape of a dog’s head gold, with a dim golden glow flashing occasionally.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled as he took it, feeling deeply moved, yet it was another two Fifth Grade Merits. How much effort would it take to earn such achievements himself?

It’s faster to shear the Emperor’s wool.

He closed the Cold Jade Box with a smile, "Imperial Envoy Huang, if I delay, there would be no Dragon Fat Fragrance, right?"

"Exactly."

"Imperial Grandfather, truly worthy of being Imperial Grandfather!" Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.

"Is the Princely Heir satisfied with this reward?"

"Please thank my Imperial Grandfather for me."

"The maid will surely convey it."

Chu Zhiyuan sat down and took a sip of tea, "If I lose this time, will the Imperial Grandfather remove me from the position of Imperial Decree Emissary?"

"...Yes." Huang Cheng sat down and took a sip of tea, "The Emperor says if you lose, it is the will of heaven, and Duke An will go for the decree."

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

The choice of replacement was indeed intricate.

One could only say, truly worthy of being the Emperor.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "And if I win?"

"If you win, the Emperor says there will be a reward."

"What is the reward?"

"Ten pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance."

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes lit up.

The effect of Dragon Fat Fragrance would diminish as the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique improved, but no matter how it diminished, it was much faster than his painstaking practice of the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique.

It could save him several times the time.

Ten pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance, that is ten Fifth Grade Merits, and even if he risked his life, he probably couldn’t achieve ten Fifth Grade Merits in a year.

Fifth Grade Merits are not merely achieved by effort; they also require opportunities, seeing if any major events occur.

If the world is peaceful, with no events happening, or the Martial Arts Sect is behaving orderly, or the Evil Sect doesn’t come forward, it is difficult to gain Fifth Grade Merits.

Unless one goes to the borders.

That is truly perilous; he would never set foot there easily.

He couldn’t help but imagine, to what extent could he improve with ten pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance?

Breaking the realm at the Grandmaster level is difficult, every step is strenuous, but comparatively, the first three layers are the easiest, the middle three layers are difficult, and the last three layers are the hardest.

With Dragon Fat Fragrance and Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill, he could shorten a lot of time.

He was confident that with twelve pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance, he could advance to the Third Layer Heaven, but the Fourth Layer Heaven might not be so easy to enter.

Thinking of this, his smile grew wider, "Good, this reward I am determined to win."

"Young Master Yuan, be cautious," Huang Cheng said, "This Ninth Princess is not an ordinary person, exceptionally talented, she is extraordinary."

Chu Zhiyuan solemnly said, "I never underestimate an opponent."

Huang Cheng chuckled, "That’s true, the maid was overthinking... then I shall return to the palace to see the Emperor."

"Imperial Envoy, thank you for your efforts." Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands with a smile to see him off.

——

Chu Zhiyuan took the two pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance directly to the new residence, to cultivate there and quickly absorb the Dragon Fat Fragrance.

If he could break through one step, entering the Third Layer Heaven, then he would have more assurance.

Unfortunately, after using the two pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance, his meridians’ flexibility greatly increased, but he still couldn’t break through the second layer of the copper tower.

The easiest to break through was the top floor.

The solidity of the second copper tower was indeed different, the twelve Binding Dragon Ropes struck continuously yet still couldn’t break through.

Under the second layer of heaven realm, the Gang Qi was purer, with greater pressure on the meridians, which previously could only withstand eight Binding Dragon Ropes, and now after using two pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance, could withstand twelve Binding Dragon Ropes.

But twelve Binding Dragon Ropes noticeably felt insufficient.

In the short term, wanting to further enhance the flexibility of the meridians was already impossible.

He sighed helplessly.

He could only rely on hard work, alternating between the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique and the Blood Purification Technique, with the assistance of the Emperor Earth Scripture.

The progress wasn’t slow.

That morning, amidst the morning light, he stood practicing the Purple Sun Stance, cultivating the Purple Sun Scripture, absorbing the scattered purple light from the void.

Strands of purple light fell into his body, merging with the Gang Qi of the Purple Sun Scripture, making the Gang Qi purer and warmer.

This trace of warmth made his mind feel warm, clearly a different mystery, a foundation of the Great Grandmaster’s existence.

He was in a perfect state, enraptured, when suddenly a clear cry broke through the long sky.

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression changed slightly, looking up.

Super Sense allowed him to quickly track the direction the sound came from.

Who had a cultivation breakthrough?

Breakthrough at the Grandmaster level seemed not to have such an imposing manner, whereas breaking through to a Great Grandmaster, the momentum was much greater than this.

He vaguely felt something wrong, as if it was related to him.

His expression changed slightly.

Could it be Li Hongzhao broke through?

Looking at the direction of the sound, it indeed came from the Four Directions Pavilion.

It could really be Li Hongzhao who broke through!

...

"Young Master, it is indeed the Ninth Princess of Da Meng, Li Hongzhao; she just broke through to the Third Layer Heaven of the Grandmaster realm."

"The Third Layer Heaven has such momentum?"

"Reportedly Li Hongzhao is practicing the highest secret of the Phoenix Sword Sect, the Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique, which has been lost for hundreds of years, the momentum of the cultivation breakthrough is exceptionally large."

"Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique..." Chu Zhiyuan frowned, deep in thought.

He quickly searched in his mind but could not find it.

Neither the Tongtian Pavilion nor the Mingwu Hall had records of the Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique, or maybe he hadn’t read them yet.

After all, most of his recent time had been spent in cultivation, greatly reducing his time for reading.

It seems that after settling down for a while, he should calm down to read well, aiming to review all the collections in Tongtian Pavilion and Mingwu Hall, storing them in his mind.

Zou Fang stood quietly in front of him, her face calm.

Yet in her heart, she was extremely worried.

The opponent’s breakthrough on the battlefield is tremendous pressure for anyone.

Moreover, it’s now known that Li Hongzhao is practicing the supreme art of the Phoenix Sword Sect, an art that has been lost for hundreds of years.

Facing such an opponent, even at the same realm, may not mean victory.

Especially as she suddenly advanced to a higher layer of heaven.

The princely heir’s Second Layer Heaven was now suppressed!

Despite being nervous and worried, his face remained calm as ever, as if it was only a trivial tidbit.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Zou Fang, afraid?"

Zou Fang smiled, "The Ninth Princess of Da Meng, Li Hongzhao, is strong, but the princely heir is not lacking either, what’s more, this is just a competition, not a life and death struggle. With the princely heir’s innate talent, losing this time, the next time will surely be a victory!"

"You do know how to comfort someone," Chu Zhiyuan said, looking toward the direction of the Four Directions Pavilion, slowly saying, "It seems this time it’s going to be a loss."

Zou Fang said, "In this world, there is no one who never loses; the princely heir should not take it to heart."

Chu Zhiyuan slowly said, "No matter what, we have to fight to find out!"