Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 760 - 756: Reactions

Behind them, not far away, stood a middle-aged man in a purple robe, accompanied by four young men in green robes, all bowing respectfully.

The middle-aged man in the purple robe was not tall, yet he was well-proportioned and upright. His face was as clear as jade, exuding a gentle aura, akin to a piece of mutton fat jade.

He wore a humble smile on his face, appearing affectionate to anyone he looked at.

The four young men in green robes were also fair and clean, looking elegant and handsome.

They stood respectfully behind the middle-aged man in the purple robe, like four statues, motionless.

Chu Honglin suddenly turned his head to look: "Chief Xu, why don’t you go back and report to Elder Brother first and see if he changes his mind."

The middle-aged man in the purple robe, Xu Qingyun, the Chief of Jiaming Palace, responded helplessly, "Prince, I am following the imperial decree, it is indeed..."

A decree is a decree, even if there is a mistake, it must be executed accurately, without transgression.

As a decree-transmitting eunuch, the last thing you can afford is to act on your own authority.

As long as you honestly deliver the decree, what happens afterwards is not your business, and that is the principle of surviving in the palace.

Meddling or easily listening to others, and violating the Emperor’s words, is asking for self-destruction.

"Old Xu, aren’t you being too rigid?" Chu Honglin said irritably, "Does the current situation look the same as you imagined? Or as Elder Brother imagined?"

"This..." Xu Qingyun hesitated and said helplessly, "Please do not make things difficult for me, Prince."

"Old Xu!" Chu Hongfeng said in a deep voice, "You are delivering the decree to Zhao’er, but now Zhao’er’s life or death is unknown. Are you just going to wait honestly and not report to Elder Brother in time? ... Don’t forget, they are father and son!"

"Does the Ninth Prince truly have life-threatening concerns?" Xu Qingyun asked helplessly.

"Nonsense!" Chu Honglin glared at him, "Look at Xiao Xie and the others, then at these corpses, and you still don’t feel the danger?"

Xu Qingyun said with difficulty, "Shouldn’t we wait a bit longer? I believe the Ninth Prince is blessed and won’t face any accidents."

Chu Honglin snorted coldly, "You, Old Xu, really have a hard heart!"

"Forgive me, Prince Gan!" Xu Qingyun hurriedly bowed and smiled apologetically, "I fear that if we alarm His Majesty again, it might not be good for the Ninth Prince either..."

He vaguely understood Chu Honglin’s thoughts.

He had been carefully observing the expressions of Chu Honglin, Chu Hongfeng, as well as Xie Zhuang and the others, sensing they weren’t that worried about Chu Zhiyuan.

His observation of people’s emotions was very keen, and his understanding of subtle emotions was even more acute.

It was this talent that enabled him to become the Chief of Jiaming Palace.

Since Chu Honglin and the others were not that concerned about Chu Zhiyuan’s safety, why still ask him to make a trip back to the palace?

He immediately guessed it.

This was to help Chu Zhiyuan escape the imperial decree of punishment from the Imperial Palace.

They needed to buy time to persuade the Emperor to change his mind.

He already knew the content of the decree, twenty lashes.

Even if the decision was changed later, so what? The lashes would have already been delivered, making it feel even more wronged.

Chu Hongfeng said in a deep voice, "Old Xu, go back and say we forced you out of the Divine Martial Bureau!"

Chu Honglin slowly nodded, "That’s right!"

Sixth Brother was taking a huge risk.

To brush off the Elder Brother’s face; if Elder Brother truly gets angry, he would surely remember it in the little account book in his heart.

Once the little account book in his heart grows too full, it leads to the reckoning of accounts.

All we have to do is minimize the number of entries and not cross Elder Brother’s limit, thus giving him no chance to lash out.

Xie Zhuang and the eight others stared intently at Xu Qingyun.

Xu Qingyun sighed, "Prince Gan, Prince Yan, I really cannot..."

Chu Honglin interrupted him, "Old Xu, you’re not giving us any face at all!"

"...Fine, fine, I have no choice but to agree." Xu Qingyun shook his fists helplessly, "Then I shall go now."

"Go quickly, go quickly," Chu Honglin gestured with his hand, not wanting him to stay a moment longer.

Lest the next moment Chu Zhiyuan appears and forces Xu Qingyun to announce the decree.

Since Xu Qingyun agreed, he didn’t delay any longer. Wrapping his fists, he left the Divine Martial Bureau with four young men in red robes.

Chu Honglin sighed in relief, feeling fortunate, "Thankfully, Zhao’er didn’t arrive early!"

Chu Hongfeng asked, "Are you sure it’s okay?"

Chu Honglin laughed, "In the grotto heaven, those little demons can do nothing to him!"

The Great Demon Suppressing Seal has an overwhelming advantage against the Demon Clan.

Moreover, with his extraordinary talent, the power of the Great Demon Suppressing Seal in his hands is especially strong.

When confronted by him, the Demon Clan not only poses no threat but is actually courting death.

If it were outside the grotto heaven or on the Outer Realm Battlefield, the demon experts might be able to weaken the power of the Great Demon Suppressing Seal with their realm, but within the grotto heaven, there are no such means.

Xie Zhuang suddenly yelled, "Ninth Prince!"

Chu Zhiyuan’s figure appeared outside the Light Gate, scanning his surroundings.

"Ha-ha, good boy, you’ve finally come out!" Chu Honglin laughed.

"Luckily, luckily!" Chu Hongfeng turned his head towards the direction of the gate.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Sixth Uncle, luckily what?"

"Luckily, you were a step late coming out and ran into the little demon?"

"Yes, there was another who I dispatched," Chu Zhiyuan said, "He was observing from a distance."

Chu Honglin’s expression changed immediately, "If he had escaped, our secret would have been exposed!"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Almost."

Chu Honglin sighed, "The Demon Clan truly should not be underestimated."

Chu Hongfeng’s face also turned serious.

And so did Xie Zhuang and his eight companions, their expressions tightened.

Xie Zhuang solemnly said, "Ninth Prince, we..."

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand to interrupt him, "No need for formalities, you should go back and heal, don’t damage your foundation."

"...Yes." Xie Zhuang hesitated, then solemnly cupped his fists and led his seven companions out.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Honglin and shook his head, "That demon artifact is too troublesome."

Chu Honglin asked, "What’s the matter exactly?"

Chu Zhiyuan then recounted what had happened.

Detailing, there were sixteen people, plus one observer, a total of seventeen.

This time, I am present, but what about the next time in the grotto heaven, when I’m not there? What can be done?

The number of experts from the Jade Dynasty will always be less than the Demon Clan.

The experts from the Jade Dynasty entering will definitely be at a disadvantage, and this weakness is irrevocable.

Unless the Jade Dynasty can find a way to increase manpower.

"Sixth Brother, can’t the door to the grotto heaven be made stronger?"

"It’s already at its limit; each time the grotto heaven opens, eight can enter."

"Sigh... This spells big trouble!"

The number of experts being overwhelmed by the Demon Clan’s experts means it is inadvisable to enter.

Wouldn’t that make the grotto heaven belong to the Demon Clan?

The Demon Clan is forcibly taking away the Jade Dynasty’s grotto heaven!

The grotto heaven is the foundation of the Dynasty; it is the root, and this is digging out the roots of the Jade Dynasty!

It is evident that not only the Jade Dynasty, but the other two Dynasties are the same.

If things continue like this, humanity will be completely crushed by the Demon Clan and the Demon Clan, with no hope of recovery.

Chu Hongfeng also realized this.

His face grew more and more solemn, feeling that the moment of life and death for the Jade Dynasty had arrived.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Uncle Fifteen, I want to look at ancient texts and secret collections, not those stored in the Diwu Academy."

There was nothing he needed there, very little on souls.

"Ancient texts and secret collections?"

"Yes, I want to clarify some issues, especially involving souls."

"... Okay, I’ll discuss it with Elder Brother. These ancient texts and secret collections are a mixed bag, and if you get pulled into a vortex, it’s dangerous, so they don’t allow you to look."

"The sooner, the better." Chu Zhiyuan said.

"You go back and rest first; I’ll find Elder Brother right away!"

"Yes."

Without bothering with formalities with Chu Honglin, Chu Zhiyuan directly bid farewell and left, returning to his own residence.

Upon entering the courtyard, You Lan came out to meet him, and upon seeing that he was uninjured, she breathed a long sigh of relief.

Chu Zhiyuan asked in confusion.

You Lan then recounted the news she had just received; the Emperor actually decreed to give him twenty lashes.