Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 232: Chapter 229: Seven Layers

"Princely Heir, the Emperor actually conferred eight temporary guards, all Grandmasters, which can be considered a boundless imperial grace!"

"Boundless imperial grace from my Imperial Grandfather." Chu Zhiyuan sighed, bowing in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

Upon seeing this number, Chu Zhiyuan immediately understood that the Emperor wanted him to help them form the Four Spirit Array.

Otherwise, why specifically grant eight, and not six or ten?

He did not believe in coincidences.

But was convinced that every action of the Emperor contained deep significance.

If one does not carefully ponder, and fails to grasp its meaning, it shows a lack of diligence and mindfulness, unfit for great duties.

"Princely Heir, how should we arrange this?"

"My younger sister is not leaving the mansion, so there’s temporarily no need for additional guards; my father is not going out either, so they should all be given to the Princess."

"...Understood." Feng Xi hesitated for a moment, then agreed solemnly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "In addition to these eight, add four more Grandmasters."

"Understood." Feng Xi nodded.

Having already added eight Grandmasters, adding four more was no big deal.

The scale of guards for the Princess would become quite astounding.

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a bit, then felt reassured.

With twelve Grandmasters forming the three-layered Four Spirit Array, even the experts from Secret Shadow Sect and Yuding Sect wouldn’t break through immediately.

The Princess would be positioned between the Prince Mansion and the Imperial Palace, and once things start, a Great Grandmaster would immediately step in.

The most crucial phase is the beginning; if they could hold the line for a while, that would be enough.

Though he had an accurate intuition, he still had to guard against the unexpected.

"Have them all come, all twelve, and I’ll teach them the Four Spirit Array."

"Understood." Feng Xi responded solemnly.

Everyone knew the power of the Four Spirit Array, and having the opportunity to learn it was naturally excellent.

...

Chu Zhiyuan was proficient with the Four Spirit Array, able to divide his focus amongst many thoughts, using both his mouth and hands.

He shot small stones one by one to correct their postures and steps, pointing out each mistake in advance.

The originally difficult Four Spirit Array, under his training, was learned with ease.

In just one afternoon, they were initiated, progressing at a remarkably rapid pace.

The twelve found it unbelievable.

Was such an array really something they could learn? How did they practice it, seeming to achieve it in a daze?

It felt like just a dream.

Chu Zhiyuan instructed them to consolidate well after returning and to come again the next day; they would almost be able to truly master it then.

Everyone returned to the front yard, mystified and couldn’t help but start discussing.

They expressed their amazement and disbelief, along with some doubts.

Could the array really be practiced so easily?

Wasn’t an array supposed to be exceedingly difficult, and they hadn’t heard of any Prince Mansion’s guards mastering an array?

Unless like Prince Ying Mansion, which directly recruited from the Chasing Wind Cavalry.

Especially the eight guards from the Grandmaster Mansion, who never expected to have such an encounter at Prince Qing Mansion.

With this array, future tasks would be far more efficient.

It would be much easier to earn merits, significantly impacting them.

Merit meant cultivation resources, and with abundant resources, one’s cultivation would naturally soar, making it easier to gain more merits, forming a positive cycle.

Their fate would be completely changed.

They understood the preciousness of this Four Spirit Array, so upon returning, they researched and practiced diligently, not daring to relax for a second.

The four guards in the Prince Mansion, initially somewhat relaxed, became nervous upon seeing this.

Seeing the situation, Chu Zhiyuan nodded in satisfaction.

He first paid a visit to Duke An Mansion.

Yesterday, he had advised Xiao Ruoling not to visit the Imperial Palace these days to avoid any attack from the Secret Shadow Sect and Yuding Sect.

Advise ahead to West Palace Lady Zeng Yuan.

"Master said, rest assured, there would be no trouble for me."

"Hmm—?"

At this moment, the two were sitting in a small pavilion atop a rockery, gazing into the distance, relaxing.

"Grandmaster Song has already started following me."

"It’s already started?"

"Master personally requested the Emperor, and Grandmaster Song agreed."

"That’s good then." Chu Zhiyuan felt relieved.

Last time, he proposed for Song Feiqiong to secretly protect her at Yao Yue Palace, but hadn’t asked Song Feiqiong to start immediately.

Inviting a Great Grandmaster isn’t something just anyone can do.

Hence, it was a matter of having a good master.

He also wanted to invite a Grandmaster to protect his mother but knew he couldn’t manage.

If the Emperor intended to give one, he wouldn’t have sent the eight Grandmaster guards.

"Master found out some unsettling news."

"What?"

"A genius emerged in Yao Yue Palace, suddenly rising up in unrivaled splendor."

"No matter how talented, isn’t she still at Innate Perfection?"

"It’s said she took only a year to go from Postnatal to Innate Perfection, comparable to your speed."

"She had always remained hidden, and her sudden appearance this time aims at the Holy Daughter."

"With such comprehension, her swordsmanship and Qinggong are likely top-notch, quite troublesome."

"Hmm, a formidable opponent?" Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Does the Lady feel there’s no chance of winning?"

"Master is confident, just advised me not to be careless and assume victory."

Actually, the one feeling assured of victory was the Lady; he was the one constantly worrying.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Then let’s train Qinggong; Qinggong still has room for improvement, swordsmanship... perhaps learn another style?"

"That would be great," Xiao Ruoling smiled.

Chu Zhiyuan taught her a completely different swordsmanship from the Flower Moon Shadow Sword.

Rustic and simple, yet astonishingly impactful.

It was an advanced sword skill he retrieved from his mind, possessing tremendous power.

Xiao Ruoling needed to continuously comprehend it, the deeper her understanding, the greater the power.

It stood in stark contrast to the nimble changes of the Flower Moon Shadow Sword, serving as mutual reference and complement.

...

In the following days, he secluded himself in a valley.

Feeling he was about to break through.

On the morning of the tenth day, he suddenly let out a long howl.

Energized, he walked out of the room, laughing loudly in the valley, drawing Chu Mingxuan and others over to inquire.

Upon hearing he had entered the Seventh Layer Heaven, everyone sighed helplessly and regretted asking.

Comparisons are odious.

They hadn’t even reached the Innate Seventh Layer, and he had already stepped into the Seventh Layer Heaven.

The gap kept widening, and the chase felt increasingly hopeless.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, "From today, let’s return to Mingwu Hall for practice."

Chu Mingxuan and the others, having sensed the peculiar nature of the place, were puzzled.

Chu Zhiyuan explained.

The marvel here was due to unique stones underground, which were about to be moved to Mingwu Hall, making practice there equally effective.

Everyone shouted in excitement, eager to return to Mingwu Hall for practice.

Though the valley was serene, continual threats from Yuding Sect and Secret Shadow Sect loomed.

At first, they found it scenic, but after two days, it became monotonous and dull.

If not for practice, they would have left long ago.

Now with the chance to practice without delay and return to the city, they were impatient to go back.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and agreed.

Before leaving, he turned around and looked at the valley.

This time’s smooth advancement to the Seventh Layer Heaven owed much to the extraordinary stones beneath the valley.

Most of these stones would be relocated to Mingwu Hall, with some sent to his Prince Mansion.

They would be laid under the small Martial Arts Training Ground at Mingwu Hall.

At that time, the effect of cultivation in Mingwu Hall would be tenfold compared to elsewhere.

The Chu Family would rise.

The Da Jing Royal Family would prosper.

Thinking of this, he remembered the Emperor’s reward.

He had been waiting for the Emperor’s reward, and those eight Grandmaster guards definitely didn’t count.

He eagerly anticipated what the Emperor would bestow.