Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1432 - 1428: Settling In

Profound Yin Palace

Xiao Ruoling’s small courtyard

Aside from Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue, Zhou Qingyu.

The three of them sat around the stone table in the small pavilion, drinking tea as they chatted idly.

"Qingyu, just treat this place like your own home," Xiao Ruoling said with a smile.

Shen Hanyue said, "We’re not going to eat you, nor will we do anything to you. Look at how scared you are."

Zhou Qingyu forced a smile.

Shen Hanyue giggled, "Don’t worry, you’re the Princely Heir’s disciple, and your senior sister is your master’s wife—we’re family."

Zhou Qingyu looked at Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoling smiled, "Thereafter, I’ll look after you on behalf of your master, you’ll stay here."

"Master...?" Zhou Qingyu hesitated.

Xiao Ruoling said, "He has a courtyard nearby, but most of the time, he’s at the Heaven-Reaching Sect or out handling matters, so he can’t stay here all the time."

Zhou Qingyu suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Xiao Ruoling seemed cold and aloof, not that approachable, she felt close to her.

Shen Hanyue was lively and charming, friendly and pleasant, like a spring breeze.

She felt they were far better than being around Chu Zhiyuan.

Shen Hanyue chuckled, "Qingyu, you seem afraid of the Princely Heir, but not afraid of the master’s wife."

Zhou Qingyu quickly shook her head.

"Junior sister, don’t tease Qingyu," Xiao Ruoling said.

"Alright, alright," Shen Hanyue laughed, "I really didn’t expect the Princely Heir to take a disciple."

She shook her head with emotion, "Qingyu, your luck is truly remarkable."

Zhou Qingyu plucked up the courage to ask, "Aunt Shen, why do you call master the Princely Heir?"

"You don’t know about your master’s background?" Shen Hanyue asked curiously.

Zhou Qingyu shook her head, "I only know that my master is a disciple of the Heaven-Reaching Sect and a Spirit Venerable, but nothing else."

"He didn’t say anything?"

"No."

"Then how did you become his disciple?"

"Master forced me to become his disciple, I had no choice but to agree."

"Forced you to become his disciple?" Shen Hanyue was taken aback, staring at her with wide eyes.

Zhou Qingyu helplessly nodded, "I’ve already practiced the Heavenly Five Mysterious Techniques, if I don’t become his disciple, he’ll seal my cultivation."

Shen Hanyue immediately sized her up, making Zhou Qingyu feel uneasy.

Shen Hanyue turned to Xiao Ruoling, "Senior sister?"

Zhou Qingyu said, "My husband truly wanted to take Qingyu, feeling she’s a rare talent."

Shen Hanyue sighed, "It seems Qingyu is extremely talented, we’re all far inferior."

Zhou Qingyu quickly shook her head, "Aunt Shen, I dare not accept that honor."

Shen Hanyue said, "To be valued by the Princely Heir, ordinary talent won’t do."

Zhou Qingyu smiled shyly, a bit embarrassed.

She really didn’t know what’s great about herself, instead felt quite weak.

"Qingyu, your luck is incredible," Shen Hanyue said, "Your master was once the Princely Heir of Little Outer Heaven, ascended to Biyuan Heaven, entered the Heavenly Sword Sect, and then introduced to the Heaven-Reaching Sect. Within a year, he became a Spirit Venerable. No one in history has achieved this. To have such a master, it’s truly a blessing from past lives!"

Zhou Qingyu looked bewildered.

Xiao Ruoling smiled, "Qingyu, you’ll stay here, which room would you like to live in?"

She pointed to two rooms in the west wing room, letting Zhou Qingyu choose one freely.

Zhou Qingyu looked at Shen Hanyue.

Shen Hanyue smiled, "Then choose the north-facing one, the morning sun shines in earlier."

"Okay." Zhou Qingyu agreed.

Xiao Ruoling nodded, "Your master has instructed before, letting you practice the Heavenly Five Mysterious Techniques for now, don’t get distracted or greedy."

"Alright." Zhou Qingyu nodded solemnly.

"The Heavenly Five Mysterious Techniques... the Heaven-Reaching Sect’s mental method?" Shen Hanyue asked curiously.

Xiao Ruoling said, "The method is created by my husband, most beneficial for Foundation Establishment."

"The Princely Heir is now a Spirit Venerable," Shen Hanyue sighed, "To him, even a basic mental method is easy."

Zhou Qingyu quickly asked, "Did master create this mental method himself?"

"Yes," Xiao Ruoling smiled, "Compared to regular mental methods, the Heavenly Five Mysterious Techniques are more powerful."

"But..." Zhou Qingyu felt something amiss.

"Rest assured, it won’t harm you," Shen Hanyue laughed, "The Princely Heir acts cautiously and wouldn’t take risks."

"Didn’t expect it was self-created." Zhou Qingyu felt helpless.

If she’d known it was created by Chu Zhiyuan, she wouldn’t have practiced it.

Though she couldn’t practice martial arts, she was keenly eager to improve her physical condition through them.

So she was quite interested in Martial Arts matters, learning stories from her father and patients who came for treatment.

She knew a fundamental truth: a mental method is usually the crystallization of wisdom from generations of Martial Arts Sects.

It’s not something one person can complete independently, often a genius initiates it, then it’s perfected through subsequent generations before fully forming and circulating.

Her master actually created a mental method by himself, then lets her practice it.

Taking her as an experimenter, to see if it goes wrong and thus correct the method?

Shen Hanyue chuckled.

Xiao Ruoling smiled, "Qingyu, rest assured, an unstable mental method won’t be allowed by my husband."

"Hopefully so." Zhou Qingyu sighed.

Shen Hanyue laughed, "Are you still going to practice it?"

"Master lets me practice it, how could I not?" Zhou Qingyu said.

Shen Hanyue smiled, "A good disciple, no wonder the Princely Heir insisted on taking you."

As they were talking, there came a knock from outside.

Shen Hanyue lightly got up, skipped to the courtyard gate, and opened it, then exclaimed in surprise, "Palace Master!"

"Hanyue, is Mr. Chu here?" A crisp and mellow voice sounded.

It was subtly magnetic, compelling one to keep listening.

"Palace Master, the Princely Heir left early," Shen Hanyue said, "You missed him by a step."

"That’s unfortunate." The magnetic voice sounded again.

Xiao Ruoling quickly got up and sprinted to the courtyard gate, clasping her fists, "Palace Master."

She then stepped aside, "Palace Master, please come in."

Shen Hanyue tapped her white forehead, "Look at me, was rude to the Palace Master."

Both women stepped aside to welcome.

A tall and slender woman gracefully entered the small courtyard.

Her colorful clothes fluttered, faint fragrance enveloped her, her face was stunningly beautiful, and her demeanor was graceful.

Zhou Qingyu quickly got up and greeted from afar, feeling somewhat apprehensive.

Profound Yin Palace’s Lu Qingfeng glanced at Zhou Qingyu, gently raised her hand, "No need for formalities."

She looked at Xiao Ruoling, "Is this Mr. Chu’s disciple?"

Shen Hanyue smiled, "Yes, Palace Master, Qingyu is the disciple just accepted by the Princely Heir, just today."

Xiao Ruoling lightly nodded.

Lu Qingfeng nodded, "Indeed extraordinary, possessed of suitable talent."

Shen Hanyue smiled, "Haha, if her talent wasn’t good, she wouldn’t have caught the Princely Heir’s eyes, nor accepted as a disciple so urgently."

Lu Qingfeng stepped forward and extended her long, crystalline hand, gently placing it on Zhou Qingyu’s shoulder.

Zhou Qingyu’s body instantly tensed.

Lu Qingfeng released her hand, and looked at her with emotion, "Mr. Chu is truly fortunate to encounter such talent."

Shen Hanyue laughed, "The Princely Heir’s luck has always been good."

Lu Qingfeng’s eyes flickered, as she shook her head.

"Palace Master, what’s wrong?" Shen Hanyue asked.

Xiao Ruoling shot her a sideways glance.

Displeased with her casual attitude before Lu Qingfeng, showing no regard for the Palace Master.

Lu Qingfeng said, "She’s also a perfect fit for our Profound Yin Palace’s mental method."

Shen Hanyue laughed, "The Palace Master also fancies Qingyu?"

"Pity." Lu Qingfeng shook her head.

Xiao Ruoling smiled, "Palace Master, our Profound Yin Palace isn’t lacking disciples."

They also gather disciples from the Twelve Layers of Heaven, once every ten years, far surpassing Heaven-Reaching Sect.

"She is as talented as you," Lu Qingfeng said, "This kind of talent is indeed scarce in our palace."

She then shook her head, "Pity."

Shen Hanyue laughed, "Palace Master, it truly is a pity, one can’t snatch disciples from the Princely Heir, she’s already practiced the mental method he created."

Her wit and intelligence sensed Lu Qingfeng’s feelings towards Zhou Qingyu.