Chapter 109: Struggle in Chu State: The Emperor Chu Line

Emperor Chu Yu said: “After becoming a guest minister of my Emperor Chu line, you will be granted a guest minister token, a cave dwelling, and ten attendants. This cave dwelling is located within the capital of Chu, and is of considerable value.”

Luo Feng nodded. As the core of the Emperor Chu line, Chu Capital ranked among the few most prosperous cities on the Origin Continent.

The price of a single large cave dwelling here might exceed the combined value of all of Hu Yang City’s Chaos District.

“I know you don’t care about these things,” Emperor Chu Yu smiled. “What you care about is heritage and resources.”

“We wandering cultivators lack nothing more than heritage and resources,” Luo Feng said.

Emperor Chu Yu said: “Luo He, you’ve reached the peak of Chaos Realm—surely you possess one or two divine king-level heritages suited to you. But… in Yan Feng Ancient Nation, we have the finest heritages on the entire Origin Continent, and the very one best suited to you. With a more fitting heritage, your strength could advance further!”

Emperor Chu Yu’s heart burned with eagerness.

If Luo He could advance even further—even if he didn’t reach Divine King level, just achieving the “Chaos Realm Transcendence” stage—his assistance would be immense.

“I look forward to it as well,” Luo Feng said.

The outside world believed him to be at the peak of Chaos Realm, assuming he possessed one or two suitable Divine King-level heritages.

In truth, he was even poorer than they guessed—he had no suitable Divine King-level heritage at all. The Lie Yuan Technique was indeed beyond Divine King level, but it was not a Dao cultivation heritage; it was an will-based secret art.

What he needed now was a heritage for cultivating primordial Dao—especially Life Dao and Destruction Dao.

“When we return to the Marquis Mansion, I will immediately take you to select your heritage resources,” Emperor Chu Yu said. “Every guest minister receives a free exchange quota of one hundred thousand merits. This is the Emperor Chu line’s gift to its guest ministers. For more heritages and resources, you must earn merits—more merits mean more resources.”

“Even the most core and supreme heritages of the Emperor Chu line can be exchanged for—if you earn enough merits. Our Yan Feng Ancestor is very benevolent toward guest ministers,” Emperor Chu Yu said.

Luo Feng had already learned this.

All other forces on the Origin Continent tended to align with either Yan Feng Ancient Nation or Thunder Ancient Nation. These two factions had indeed opened access to their most precious heritages.

But the required merits were extremely high.

“Don’t worry—I’ll assign you tasks that are easy to earn merits from,” Emperor Chu Yu smiled. “The assignment of tasks within the Emperor Chu line is primarily decided by the First-Rank Marquises.”

“Then I’m in your hands, Chu Yu,” Luo Feng said.

Emperor Chu Yu was still in high spirits.

The First-Rank Marquises competed fiercely; each could secure only a few good tasks, and usually could only fully cultivate one or two Chaos Realm guest ministers! If the chosen guest minister turned out ungrateful, it would be a nightmare.

Emperor Chu Yu had observed Luo Feng for a long time during his time in Hu Yang City, confirmed his temperament, and only then decided to invest heavily.

“Boom~~~”

A fleet of warships from the personal guard escorted Emperor Chu Yu’s vessel as they journeyed toward the Marquis Mansion.

At this moment, atop a towering building within Chu Capital.

Two figures sat facing each other.

One man, wild and unrestrained, leaned against the railing, lifting a wine flask and glancing toward the distance—his gaze piercing spatial barriers to watch Emperor Chu Yu’s great vessel: “The newly appointed Marquis Chu Yu has returned to Chu Capital.”

“Marquis Chu Yu?” A refined man with three eyes also gazed in that direction. “Marquis Chu Yu, who possesses the Infinite Divine Body, became a First-Rank Marquis the moment he broke through to Chaos Realm.”

“Indeed—another Infinite Divine Body,” the wild man shook his head. “Of the seven First-Rank Marquises, five are Infinite Divine Bodies. Yet I am not.”

“Chu Feng, though you possess an ordinary Divine Body, you’ve reached Chaos Peak—that’s even more remarkable,” the refined three-eyed man said.

The wild man was none other than Chu Feng Hou, one of the seven First-Rank Marquises of the Emperor Chu line.

“Don’t flatter me.”

Chu Feng Hou drank his wine and sighed: “After eons of cultivation, I still cannot advance further—whether to Chaos Transcendence or Divine King level, both seem impossibly distant. The resources granted by our Ancestor are fixed. Previously, six First-Rank Marquises competed for them… now there are seven.”

“Marquis Chu Yu is newly promoted, his foundation and strength are still weak—he won’t be able to challenge you in the early stages,” the refined three-eyed man said.

“He has an ally—Luo He—Chaos Peak level,” Chu Feng Hou narrowed his eyes. “Even in the early stages, he will compete with me!”

“As a newly enfeoffed Marquis, he doesn’t need to undertake any missions for the first thirty eons,” the refined three-eyed man hesitated. “This is the Emperor’s protection for newly appointed Marquises—we can’t interfere.”

Chu Feng Hou set down his wine flask and said: “Forget him. By the way, when will Lord Yuanxiu arrive in Chu Capital?”

“Lord Yuanxiu said he would visit the Divine King in Chu Capital, but no one knows when,” the refined three-eyed man replied.

“As soon as you learn he’s coming to Chu Capital, inform me immediately,” Chu Feng Hou said.

The refined three-eyed man nodded.

Within the Emperor Chu line, counting imperial clan Chaos cultivators, the Emperor’s disciples, Chaos guest ministers, and wandering Chaos cultivators, only two had reached Chaos Transcendence level—each holding status equal to a newly arrived Divine King.

Lord Yuanxiu was one such Chaos Transcendence being! Within his own Divine Body, he had cultivated a prison called the “Dark Mansion.” With a single thought, he could imprison the boundless surrounding space within his internal prison—and thus trap enemies inside.

Even ancient Divine Kings, once trapped within his internal prison, required considerable time to escape.

Thanks to this ability, newly arrived Divine Kings held deep caution toward him.

The Marquis Chu Yu Mansion, as a First-Rank Marquis residence, spanned roughly ten billion kilometers in length and width.

Numerous clan members, personal guards, and servants of the Marquis Chu Yu line had relocated inside. The Emperor Chu line had flourished for endless eons, its numbers now enormous—many imperial clan members lived in hardship.

Only the highest echelons of the imperial clan enjoyed luxury and abundant resources.

“Chu Yu, many within the clan wish to pay their respects to you,” the elegant woman whispered. “Should you receive them?”

“Hold the banquet tonight—I’ll invite them all together,” Emperor Chu Yu said. “Luo He and I have important matters to attend to.”

Saying this, Emperor Chu Yu led Luo Feng away. Luo Feng could only offer an apologetic smile.

“Mother,” the eldest son watched his father and Grand Saint Luo He depart, then could no longer hold back: “Father just returned, yet he ignores so many elders from our imperial clan and the Fengye clan… he’s being disrespectful!”

“Be silent.”

The elegant woman shot her eldest son a cold glare. “You fool—your father’s affairs with Grand Saint Luo He are the most important matters in our Marquis Mansion.”

“Oh,” the eldest son replied.

The second and third sons remained silent.

Mostly because their mother favored the eldest; he was often more brazen, while the second and third were far more cautious.

“Our Marquis Mansion’s first guest minister is this Luo He, whose origins and background are unknown,” the elegant woman frowned slightly. “My father is Chaos Peak, the Lord of Fengye City—yet he didn’t even invite him…”

When she saw the black-robed man, “Grand Saint Luo He,” walking beside her husband during the welcome outside the city, she had felt a quiet irritation.

In her view, her husband’s alliance with her father, Lord of Fengye City, would have been ideal.

But her husband had already chosen, submitted the application without consulting her—and she had no power to stop him.

!.

…

“Luo Sa and Qingyan, you two rest here. I’m going out with Chu Yu,” Luo Feng instructed. Mo Luo Sa and Mo Yu Qingyan immediately obeyed, settling into a separate courtyard within the Marquis Mansion.

Marquis Chu Yu led Luo Feng; the two of them, accompanied by a squad of personal guards, boarded an unassuming flying vessel and quietly departed the Marquis Mansion.

“Guest ministers select their heritage resources within the Emperor’s palace,” Marquis Chu Yu said. “In truth, all thirteen imperial clans can access the same heritages—all left behind by Yan Feng’s Ancestor. But the resources available differ. The Emperor Chu line’s resources are generally those granted by our ancestral elder.”

Luo Feng felt anticipation rising.

Among the thirteen Emperors of Yan Feng Ancient Nation, the most renowned was “Emperor Qing.”

Emperor Qing was the most powerful—every recorded instance showed he had never met an equal.

Emperor Qing had fifteen direct disciples: six Divine Kings, eight Chaos Transcendence cultivators, and one Chaos Peak cultivator. Emperor Qing’s line was the strongest of the thirteen imperial clans.

The other twelve clans were roughly equal in strength.

Joining the Emperor Chu line had already satisfied Luo Feng.

“We’ve reached Emperor Chu Palace,” Marquis Chu Yu said, gazing ahead.

Previously unnoticed, but now, as they drew near, it suddenly became apparent.

A vast palace, seemingly fused into the chaotic darkness, existed here! At first glance, it appeared no larger than Hu Yang City—but Luo Feng sensed folded space-time; its actual interior space was far greater.

“Emperor Chu Palace is where the most imperial clan members reside,” Marquis Chu Yu said, leading Luo Feng inside. No barriers blocked their path; Luo Feng saw no guards at all.

“Most clan members?” Luo Feng looked around the empty palace—no servants in sight.

“Our Ancestor has carved countless miniature universes within Emperor Chu Palace,” Marquis Chu Yu said. “Many worthless imperial clan members are cast into these miniature universes. They cultivate and reproduce there, but the environment is harsh, and newborns are extremely weak. Many never even become True Gods.”

Luo Feng was stunned.

He knew that masters like his own, Mountain Guest, and powerful Chaos cultivators sometimes purchased miniature universes created by Divine Kings to train their subordinates.

But the Emperor Chu Ancestor used them to punish worthless clan members—once banished, one spent their entire life within the miniature universe.

“Any clan member, including their descendants, cast into a miniature universe, may only leave upon reaching Eternal True God level,” Marquis Chu Yu sighed. “Those who achieve Eternal True God in such a harsh environment are heavily utilized upon their return.”

Luo Feng could only marvel at how ruthless this Ancestor was toward his own clan.

…

“These younglings have no idea how terrifying the resource drain from countless descendants is,” the ancient being deep within Emperor Chu Palace noticed every movement. He opened his eyes now, watching Emperor Chu Yu and Luo Feng.

“The best solution is to cast 99% of clan members into miniature universes,” Emperor Chu thought. This was first done by Emperor Xuan among the thirteen Emperors of Yan Feng Ancient Nation—soon, the other twelve followed suit.

Casting them into miniature universes saved vast resources and eased pressure on the Emperors; it also instilled enough pressure to prevent clan members from slacking.

The ancient Emperor merely glanced at Emperor Chu Yu and Luo Feng, then closed his eyes and ignored them.

…

Emperor Chu Palace was vast and mysterious, like a labyrinth of space-time. Under Emperor Chu Yu’s guidance, Luo Feng arrived before a grand hall.

“Next time, follow the same route to this Heritage Hall,” Emperor Chu Yu said. “Don’t wander elsewhere—get lost, and you might end up in forbidden zones.”

“I understand,” Luo Feng said. He had no interest in Emperor Chu Palace’s secrets—he cared only for heritages and resources.

Luo Feng gazed at the grand hall before him—ancient and simple, guarded by two statues at the entrance.

“Go in. I’ll wait here,” Emperor Chu Yu said.

Luo Feng nodded and stepped forward.

As he neared the entrance, the two statue guards subtly turned their heads, fixing their eyes on Luo Feng—he felt a crushing terror of death enveloping him.

“These statue guards are far stronger than me?” Luo Feng inwardly startled. “Even with my Five Transformation Arts, I feel I couldn’t withstand them.”

After glancing at him, the two statue guards returned to their original stances, silently staring ahead once more.

Only then did Luo Feng fully enter the Heritage Hall.

(End of Chapter)