Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 198: Chapter 196: Getting the Herb

"Hehe..."

Chu Qingyan laughed.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, "I know Uncle Nine wouldn’t harm me. There must be a reason for letting me participate in the siege."

"Hmm, you indeed have spiritual insight."

Chu Qingyan nodded approvingly, "If you really want to besiege the Yuding Sect, it will be a great battle involving many people. This is a rare opportunity for you."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Uncle Nine, such an action must be extremely dangerous, right?"

"I know you value your life, but sometimes, you have to risk it," Chu Qingyan laughed, "In a person’s life, the most crucial steps are only a few. Taking these steps properly means your life won’t be far off track, but if you fail, you’ll regret it for a lifetime!"

"Yes." Chu Zhiyuan slightly guessed.

Chu Qingyan said, "Go back and conserve your energy; the Emperor’s actions are always like a thunderbolt, without dawdling."

"Yes." Chu Zhiyuan solemnly clasped his fists, saying no more.

——

Chu Zhiyuan first returned to the Prince Mansion, exhausted, lay down on the couch, and quickly fell asleep.

He felt he had never been this tired.

Even though the Heavenly Yuan Technique continuously replenished his spiritual power, an inexplicable exhaustion still overwhelmed him.

He felt that the Super Sense consumed not only spirit but other forces beyond it.

Despite being in high spirits, he felt exhausted.

It was a soul-deep exhaustion, as if he had lived for eons, producing a sense of weariness, an inexplicable feeling of fatigue.

He surmised that handling too much information caused this weariness and fatigue.

Two hours equaled a lifetime of information for others.

Neither the Heavenly Yuan Technique nor the Earth Origin Technique could compensate.

He lay down on the couch and quickly fell fast asleep.

Awakened slowly, refreshed and rejuvenated.

He called out: "Zou Fang, how long has it been?"

"Princely Heir, you slept for an hour."

Chu Zhiyuan saw that the windows were dim and got up.

Mo Yi and her three maidens entered lightly, each performing their duties, quickly finishing their tasks until he was clean and bright, full of energy.

Chu Zhiyuan came to the back garden of the Duke An Mansion in the twilight.

Xiao Ruoyu did not appear; instead, Xiao Ruoling directly dragged him into the painted boat.

Chu Zhiyuan displayed a mysterious smile.

Inside the painted boat, there were only the two of them, and the two informed and sensible maidservants had already withdrawn.

Xiao Ruoling took out a small Cold Jade Box from the cabinet of the painted boat and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan, "Look at what this is."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her in surprise and opened the small Cold Jade Box.

Once he saw the small Cold Jade Box, he inexplicably thought of the Emperor.

He opened it, and inside were two exotic grasses.

Both grasses were as long as an index finger, as thick as a chopstick, straight without a trace of curvature, with long leaves like willow leaves.

They seemed carved from jadeite, exuding a warm, crystal-clear luster.

"Sky-reaching Grass?" Chu Zhiyuan blurted out.

Xiao Ruoling smiled sweetly, "It’s precisely Sky-reaching Grass!"

"Sky-reaching Grass..." Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled.

"Master had it sent over, saying lest I remain distracted and worried, so might as well give it to you first."

"Her Highness is really good to you." Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

This was likely requested from the Emperor.

Thinking about it, it’s plausible—the Emperor might also be curious about this Sky-reaching Grass, bringing back two for research wasn’t difficult.

Super Sense began to illuminate.

His sword-like eyebrows lifted.

The two Sky-reaching Grass were actually shrouded by an invisible force, as if in a thick fog, impossible to see clearly.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

Quickly remembered, when Insight illuminated the Miao Ling Pearl, the same feeling occurred.

Miao Ling Pearl... Sky-reaching Grass...

Could they share the same origin?

Where did this power that obstructs Super Sense’s illumination come from? Is it a power of the same origin or the same kind of power?

He suddenly frowned.

"What’s wrong?" Xiao Ruoling didn’t understand.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

If both the Sky-reaching Grass and Miao Ling Pearl contain a kind or type of power, is this power the reason that Great Grandmaster took their own life?

I have already merged the Miao Ling Pearl.

If I also absorb this power, will I undergo the same suffering as the Great Grandmaster from Yao Yue Palace?

He carefully recalled the process of merging the Miao Ling Pearl.

If truly improper, the keen intuition derived from Super Sense would provide a warning.

He trusted his intuition.

Thinking of this, he smiled, "Might as well try eating one."

While speaking, he picked up one, slowly bringing it to his lips.

But until it reached his lips, there was no reaction.

Xiao Ruoling was startled, quickly grabbed his arm.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Looks like this Sky-reaching Grass doesn’t harm me."

"Do you really intend to consume it?" Xiao Ruoling asked worriedly, "Without figuring it out? What if..."

Chu Zhiyuan put down that Sky-reaching Grass and picked up the other: "I’ll try this one."

Slowly brought it to his lips but suddenly halted.

Xiao Ruoling continued to watch him, her eyes shining.

Chu Zhiyuan brought that Sky-reaching Grass before his eyes, examining closely.

Under Insight, it was still shrouded in mist, unable to see its internal situation, blocked by an invisible force.

At first glance, the two Sky-reaching Grass looked identical.

But why did one give him a sense of danger while the other did not, instead with a faint sense of joy?

Are these two Sky-reaching Grass different?

No two leaves in the world are exactly alike, no two grasses completely identical, but the difference between these two grasses was significant.

"What?" Xiao Ruoling seemed confused.

Chu Zhiyuan thought, "Two are too few. Can more be acquired?"

"Then I’ll ask Master," Xiao Ruoling said, "Is something wrong?"

"One is very dangerous, the other can be eaten." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Very strange."

Xiao Ruoling examined the two Sky-reaching Grass but couldn’t see any difference.

At least outwardly, they were identical.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Better not mention this intricacy to Niangniang yet, just say I want a few more for research."

"Hmm." Xiao Ruoling nodded.

She believed Master would agree.

——

Da Jing Imperial Palace

West Palace

On the white, clean ground in front of the grand hall, two stunning beauties stood side by side.

Both women were adorned in white combat uniforms, supple yet graceful.

"He’s really quite greedy."

Zeng Yuan said grumpily, "Two is already a lot!"

Xiao Ruoling immediately chuckled, "Master, try to get a few more; two have already been given, a few more wouldn’t hurt."

Zeng Yuan snorted, "Every time your little mouth opens, I’ve got to run my legs off; who is the Master and who is the Disciple between us, really!"

Xiao Ruoling stepped forward to rub her scented shoulders, calling sweetly, "Mas—ter—"

"Fine, fine." Zeng Yuan quickly shrugged her fragrant shoulders, unable to bear her odd voice, "Speak properly!"

"Master, you agreed?"

"Alright, I’ll have a try," Zeng Yuan said, "Actually, I got them from the Emperor’s side too."

Xiao Ruoling’s eyes widened.

Zeng Yuan snorted, "The Emperor also did research before, just like your Princely Heir, since there was no result, it was set aside. Giving it to you is making full use of it."

Xiao Ruoling immediately smiled brilliantly: "Thank you, Master!"

If Master requested, it could be obtained—she didn’t even have a chance to speak with the Emperor.

"You..." Zeng Yuan shook her head.

Thought of saying more but closed her mouth, knowing it would be wasted words that wouldn’t be heard.

She acted on instinct, wafting away.

Before long, she returned with yet another small Cold Jade Box, handing it to her, "Take it, these are the last two."

"Thank you, Master!"

"Now practice sword training, let’s see how your Swordsmanship has progressed." Zeng Yuan snorted, "Let’s see to what extent he has guided you."

A quarter of an hour later, Zeng Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

Xiao Ruoling’s progress in Swordsmanship was incredibly fast, beyond imagination.

It appeared that Chu Zhiyuan’s Swordsmanship was even more refined than hers, deserving the title of the greatest martial arts talent of the Da Jing Royal Family.