Huangxiu

Chapter 1147 Decision
Gu Junqi said, "It happened just yesterday. The sect leader should have just received the news. Why don't you wait a day and see what instructions the sect leader has, whether or not to visit the Prince Zhuang's residence?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "Uncle-Master, what happened at the Prince Zhuang's residence?"

“An internal strife has occurred,” Gu Junqi shook his head: “Someone within the manor has been practicing evil arts and has become a demon.”

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised.

Gu Junqi said, "Several people died in the city. They were devoured by demons, and no one expected that it was the people from the Prince Zhuang's Mansion who did it."

"Shouldn't the Prince Zhuang's residence have servants? Didn't they notice anything amiss?"

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, instantly sensing a thick fog; the water was very deep.

"None of the eight great masters noticed anything." Gu Junqi sighed and stroked his beard. "This matter is truly strange, but the demon is already dead, and no one can find out anything from him."

"Who is this person?"

“It wasn’t revealed,” Gu Junqi said. “I guess it’s not someone at the very bottom, otherwise it would have been out in the open by now.”

"No one would suspect that Prince Zhuang is colluding with evil spirits, would they?"

"Of course, why would a dignified prince choose to become a demon?"

"Possession?"

"That's impossible. The prince's cultivation level is not low, and he has a rare treasure protecting him. It's impossible for him to possess someone else's body."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Could that person who practices evil arts have been possessed?"

"...It's hard to say." Gu Junqi thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The person has already vanished without a trace, and there's no way to find out anything. Everyone in the Prince Zhuang's mansion is in a state of panic, and even within the capital city, rumors are flying everywhere, with all sorts of things being said."

“All sorts of demons and monsters have jumped out,” Chu Zhiyuan said. “There are also quite a few who are taking advantage of the situation to kick someone when they’re down.”

As a prince, it's impossible to be without rivals. The prince's mansion often involves great interests, and everyone wants to compete for them.

Gu Junqi shook his head and sighed, "It's a mess, unbearable to hear. The Prince Zhuang's mansion has now become a place of trouble, and we shouldn't get involved."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

Ultimately, it depends on the sect leader's intentions: whether to remain aloof or to stand by him in crucial moments.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Being at a lower level, one cannot see much and should not make hasty decisions.

"Nephew, is this your first time coming down from the mountain to the city?"

"Yes."

Gu Junqi laughed and said, "The imperial city is the most prosperous place in the world, and it is worth exploring. ... Not only are there customs and people, famous scenic spots, but also various sects and all kinds of strange people and eccentrics, which are countless."

"Yes, it is indeed worth appreciating." Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile, "It will broaden your horizons."

To learn more about this world, one must see and experience it more.

The imperial city was the best place for him, a place worth exploring thoroughly, meeting more people, and thus gaining an understanding of the world's hearts.

The fundamental concepts of each world are different, and he has already discovered the difference between the Lesser Heaven and the Outer Heaven.

I feel that Bi Yuantian's fundamental concepts are also different.

Different environments lead to different attitudes towards spiritual practice, as well as different worldly views.

Cultivation in this world is simpler than in the outer heavens, and it doesn't require a high level of mental state or spiritual awareness.

I've also thought about bringing the martial arts of the Outer Heavens to this world.

The spiritual energy in the Outer Heaven, the Azure Origin Heaven, and the Lesser Outer Heaven is getting worse and worse.

There is a difference between Biyuan Heaven and Tianwai Heaven, but the difference is not that big, far less than the difference between Xiaotianwai Heaven and Tianwai Heaven.

The martial arts techniques of the Outer Heavens may not be impossible to transplant to the Azure Origin Heaven.

If one can achieve this, one might be able to surpass the current martial arts system, break through the Venerable realm, and step into the Spirit Venerable realm.

That would make him the undisputed number one in the world.

The path to becoming a Spiritual Venerable requires Chu Liezhao, this clone, to explore it first, and he follows his experience.

Although Chu Liezhao's cultivation level was almost surpassed by him.

However, the upper limit of the outer heavens is higher, and although progress is slower, one can go further.

The experience of this world can also help Chu Liezhao cultivate his mindset and knowledge, thus enabling him to step into the Spirit Venerable realm more quickly.

-

The first lantern
Chu Zhiyuan sat at a stone table in a small courtyard, sipping tea.

Having already declined Gu Junqi's welcome banquet, she wanted to keep a low profile and avoid letting others know of her arrival.

Gu Junqi did not insist, telling Chu Zhiyuan to do as he pleased and to just tell him if he needed anything.

Chu Zhiyuan sat in the courtyard, his mind fixed on the valley outside the city, wondering if any experts from the Divine Travel Sect had arrived.

At the same time, the entire imperial city appeared in his mind.

He carefully observed every aspect of the imperial city, including all the bustling areas.

The lanterns were lit, and the entire imperial city was brightly lit, presenting a magnificent scene of prosperity.

He surveyed every corner of the imperial city with his keen eye, sweeping across it evenly.

The residences of ordinary people, the mansions of princes and nobles, the imperial palace, the villas of various sects and factions, including the villas of the four major sects, and his own Heavenly Sword Villa. He was most interested in the imperial palace.

The dynasty had no emperor; it was ruled by eight kings.

But there was a palace and a royal family.

The palace was where the eight princes discussed politics together, and also where important officials of the court discussed important matters.

The royal family are descendants of the eight emperors, each with their own lineage.

The current Eighth Prince is a descendant of the Eighth Empress, but not all of them are descendants of the Eighth Empress.

The Eight Emperors possessed powerful bloodlines, allowing them to cultivate at an astonishing speed and wield immense power.

Therefore, all the royal family members are masters, and all are outstanding individuals.

But nothing in this world is perfect. The bloodline of the Eight Emperors was strong, but they had difficulty conceiving offspring, resulting in a small population. Even now, the royal family is not large.

His main focus was on the royal family, especially those who sought the lineage of the phoenix.

It was discovered that the royal family members of the Phoenix lineage were even fewer, numbering only three or four.

Besides the Zhuangwang Mansion, the Nanyunwang Mansion also has phoenix bloodlines.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head repeatedly.

This is quite risky. If things continue like this, one wrong move and their bloodline will be severed.

However, considering the countless royal families throughout history whose bloodlines have been severed, the fact that the bloodlines of the eight royal families have been able to continue to this day is already an anomaly.

Besides the royal family and the royal palace, he also paid attention to the top forces within the imperial city.

The imperial palace has eight top-tier Venerables, and each of the eight kings' palaces has about eight. In addition, there are other palaces, government offices, large restaurants, and bustling places, all guarded by top-tier Venerables.

There are also the separate courtyards of the four major sects, and the separate courtyards of each sect, all of which have top-notch Venerables.

Those villas without top-tier Venerables guarding them are often those of weaker sects, and they are usually located in the outer city, not the inner city.

The inner and outer cities were separated only by a half-meter-high wall, yet the difference in their wealth and power was like a deep and long chasm.

He simultaneously cultivated his spiritual practice and perceived the divine, doing two things at once without any hindrance.

As the moon shone brighter in the night sky, its gentle light falling upon him, he rose and left the courtyard, went to the front hall, bid farewell to Gu Junqi, and prepared to go for a stroll in the city.

After leaving the villa, we entered the crowd on the main street and then turned into a small alley.

The next moment, they appeared at Prince Qing's residence.

He stayed at the Prince Qing's residence for half the night and had dinner with Chu Yi and his parents.

We returned late at night.

……

The next morning, he had just gotten out of bed and was about to go out into the courtyard to get some fresh air when he heard a knock on the door.

He stepped forward and opened the courtyard gate. Elder Gu Junqi stood outside, smiling at him: "Nephew, how are you sleeping?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head: "The air is noisy, which is indeed different from being on the mountain."

“That’s true. When we first arrived, it was definitely hard to get used to; it’s so noisy,” Gu Junqi said. “We didn’t get any rest all night.”

The imperial city is a city that never sleeps; the streets are bustling with people all night long, as if people don't need to sleep.

He took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan: "This is a letter from the sect leader."

Chu Zhiyuan took it, first looked at the seal on it, and then opened it.

A moment later, he handed it to Gu Junqi.

Gu Junqi glanced at it and frowned: "When do we go?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I will go over after I have breakfast."

“…It would be best to disguise yourself before going,” Gu Junqi said.

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

Gu Junqi said, "In these extraordinary times, getting involved will only do more harm than good."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, "Uncle-Master, no one in the world would believe that we are related to evil spirits, would they?"

The prestige of the Heavenly Sword Sect is far greater than I imagined; just look at the actions of Ding Huanchun and the others, and you'll know that it has deeply resonated with the people.

Gu Junqi shook his head and said, "Human hearts are treacherous, and we must be on guard. There are quite a few sects watching us... I heard some news last night that these people who practice evil arts have connections with the backyard of the Prince's Mansion."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

He immediately became wary.

Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes; once you look into the backyard, endless troubles await.

"It's best to stay out of it," Gu Junqi said. "Even if you get involved, you shouldn't be dragged in passively."

He disagreed with the decision of the sect leader Lu Wanshan, but did not object.

All we can do is try our best to ensure that the Heavenly Sword Sect is not dragged into the mess by those with ulterior motives, and doesn't get caught up in it and get itself into trouble.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

(End of this chapter)