Chapter 367: Chapter 364: Consort Ping
Chu Zhiyuan said, “Uncle, can a Great Grandmaster Perfection attain immortality?”
“Of course not,” Chu Qingfeng said, “Five hundred years is the limit.”
“Then do we have any martial arts that surpass the Grandmaster Realm?”
“Martial arts from beyond the heavens?… There are methods that surpass the Grandmaster Realm, but they can’t be practiced successfully; it’s just a theory,” Chu Qingfeng said. “Someone found such martial arts in the Secret Land, but it’s a realm that can only be reached through cultivation in another world. In our world, the Great Grandmaster is the limit.”
Chu Zhiyuan said, “If one stayed in the Secret Land for a month, came back for a few days, and then returned to the Secret Land…”
“If you stay in the Secret Land for a month, you need to stay here for at least a month,” Chu Qingfeng said, “Otherwise, you can’t enter the Secret Land again.”
“Then staying in the Secret Land for a month, gaining power beyond the Great Grandmaster, and returning afterwards…”
“You must first achieve Grandmaster Perfection. As far as I know, no one in the world has done that.”
“…I understand.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.
He would have to test it himself.
Chu Qingfeng chuckled, “You… haven’t learned to run yet, and you want to fly.”
“One always has to have dreams,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed.
“…What you say isn’t without hope.”
“Uncle, I’m not yet a Grandmaster.”
“You are not yet a Grandmaster, yet you can withstand my power,” Chu Qingfeng shook his head.
When he releases his power, ordinary Grandmasters would feel dizzy; even if they didn’t faint, they would lose the ability to act.
But Chu Zhiyuan remained unaffected, operating to resist the Sword Intent’s invasion.
“Uncle, I have already reached the Ninth Layer Heaven.”
“Ninth Layer?” Chu Qingfeng exclaimed, “Didn’t your elder brother tell you to slow down!”
“I didn’t use the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill to break through,” Chu Zhiyuan said.
“…The youth is truly formidable,” Chu Qingfeng sighed.
Chu Zhiyuan breaks through realms as easily as drinking water.
He thought it would take years to reach the Ninth Layer Heaven, but it was less than a month.
“When will you reach Perfection?”
“At the current pace, about a year,”
“The faster you progress now, the longer you’ll be stuck at Grandmaster Perfection.”
Chu Zhiyuan laughed, “I’ll focus on reaching Grandmaster Perfection first; speak when it’s time to speak.”
“…True,” Chu Qingfeng could only agree.
With such unique insight and extraordinary aptitude,
He had reached a stage unprecedented in history, and as for successors, it would also be difficult.
Such a genius cannot be judged with common sense; let him explore on his own.
“Uncle, about the Eighteenth Princess…” Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows.
“Sigh…” Chu Qingfeng sighed.
Of course, he knew Chu Zhiyuan’s thoughts, everyone knew Chu Zhiyuan’s thoughts— he did not want to marry Da Zhen’s Princess.
But some things were beyond his control.
“Does the Imperial Grandfather want me to marry the Eighteenth Princess?”
“The Imperial Grandfather has already dropped hints to test my reaction.”
He used Lady Roufei to convey the message, testing him, giving him time to prepare psychologically.
“Your elder brother also has his difficulties.”
Chu Zhiyuan said, “If I don’t marry Da Zhen’s Princess, would they not ally with us? Impossible, right?”
Chu Qingfeng sighed, “Da Zhen has discovered a new Secret Land.”
Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.
“If you marry the Da Zhen Princess, the new Secret Land can be shared with Da Jing.”
Chu Zhiyuan said, “Will Secret Lands continue to emerge?”
“The world wasn’t filled with so many Secret Lands initially.”
“Were they added piece by piece to reach this number?”
“The Four Great Sects occupy Secret Lands that appeared about twenty thousand years ago, our Four Great Grotto Heavens appeared ten thousand years ago, and our Four Great Secret Lands appeared five thousand years ago.”
“A Secret Land appears every five thousand years?”
“It’s uncertain; no pattern has been concluded, a batch might appear every ten thousand years.”
“What about Da Meng?” Chu Zhiyuan said, “Da Zhen has a new Secret Land, but we don’t? Da Meng doesn’t?”
“Currently, only Da Zhen has discovered a new Secret Land.”
“…What about Da Lie and Da Guang?” Chu Zhiyuan’s tone became serious.
“Da Lie and Da Guang can’t stir up trouble; even if they find a Secret Land, it’s useless,” Chu Qingfeng said disdainfully, “Too few people is the greatest disadvantage.”
Chu Zhiyuan pondered, “We still need to look closely… Actually, I think we should take the opportunity to advance east, to annex Da Lie and Da Guang, a Secret Land, no matter how small, is still a Secret Land.”
“If we send troops to Da Lie and Da Guang, not to mention Da Meng will fight fiercely, Da Zhen wouldn’t be pleased either.”
“Then we should strike quickly before they can react.”
“Da Lie and Da Guang are not made of clay; your surprise attack on Phoenix Camp was due to extraordinary tactics, and such opportunities won’t come again.”
“Then let Da Guang eliminate Da Lie.”
“Da Meng and Da Zhen will not stand by and watch.”
“Then find a way to cut off Da Meng and Da Zhen’s interference.”
“Easier said than done?” Chu Qingfeng said, “And truly eliminating Da Lie and Da Guang, the resistance in the court would be enormous.”
Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow, “Do they have interests in Da Lie and Da Guang?”
Chu Zhiyuan’s insight does not only reflect in martial arts but also in court affairs; equally exceptional.
He understands in a flash, breaks through in an instant.
It is genuinely rare.
Tenth Brother’s intelligence lies in military tactics, nowhere near the Fourth Prince’s grasp of court affairs and human intricacies.
Chu Zhiyuan snorted, “These officials are truly loyal and patriotic.”
“Human nature,” Chu Qingfeng said.
He truly understood, fame and fortune, no one escapes them; the court ministers are not saints.
Chu Zhiyuan said, “So I must marry the Eighteenth Princess?”
Chu Qingfeng smiled, “Eighteenth Princess is well-regarded in Da Zhen, serene and elegant, not one to create trouble, so you needn’t worry about household chaos affecting your cultivation.”
He understood Chu Zhiyuan’s concerns.
Marrying a Da Zhen Princess might indeed affect the household.
Xiao Ruoling is capable of managing the household well, allowing him to focus on cultivation.
But with the Eighteenth Princess, things aren’t the same.
Expecting two remarkable women to coexist peacefully is difficult, and it would inevitably distract him.
Chu Zhiyuan was silent.
The Secret Land was now tied to Da Zhen Princess, leaving him with no choice.
Da Zhen undoubtedly intended to share the Secret Land with Da Jing by adding a condition, confident Da Jing wouldn’t refuse.
Outside observers might see his hesitation as overly coy.
In their eyes, he had gained greatly, marrying another stunning beauty, a princess of high status.
Chu Qingfeng said, “Your elder brother feels he cannot break his word, but given the situation, he must have you marry the Eighteenth Princess… therefore, he has decided to make an exception and grant you a Princess Ping, both the Eighteenth Princess and Duke An’s daughter as official wives.”
Chu Zhiyuan chuckled.
Not to mention an Heir’s Wife, even a Princess doesn’t normally have more than one official wife.
In Da Jing, the only ones with two official wives would be the Emperor.
East Palace Princess and West Palace Lady.
Prince Mansions, Prince Mansions, Duke Mansions, and Marquis Mansions do not have two official wives.
This would be breaking tradition.
It’s likely that this decision will cause an uproar in the court, with unanimous opposition.