[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-imperial-cultivation":3,"chapter-imperial-cultivation-imperial-cultivation-chapter-228":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Imperial Cultivation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1054637,1365,"Chapter 228: 225 First Grade","imperial-cultivation-chapter-228",228,"\u003Cp>Chapter 228: Chapter 225 First Grade\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`html\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the bed in the Tingtao Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moonlight, like water, poured through the open window onto the bed inside the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully examined the small transparent stone in his hand, the demon crystal of the Shadow Beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly placed the demon crystal into the moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon crystal in his hand instantly disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Shadow Beast can evade the perception of a Great Grandmaster, truly extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The perception of a Great Grandmaster is similar to the release of spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritual power establishes an elusive connection with the world, thus obtaining an ability to sense beyond the imagination of ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt it was not as good as his Super Sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the release of the Great Grandmaster’s spiritual power not only enhances perception but can also be used against enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is something that Super Sense cannot do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Super Sense can only provide insight, not action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon crystal left the moonlight and became crystal clear again, like a piece of crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cool to the touch, slightly warmer than ice, as if chilled in a deep spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes fixed upon it for a moment, immediately focusing on the Spirit Summoning Talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spirit Summoning Talisman turned, and his vision blurred momentarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his perspective changed drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything became immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grass like trees, flowers covering the sky, colossal rocks, dense ravines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grains of sand turned enormous, a shallow pit became a deep one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including smell and hearing, several times more sensitive than when he didn’t use Super Sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air carried various scents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green of grass, the fragrance of flowers, the earthy smell, the moldy odor of dead leaves, and the wine-like smell of rotting fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also the coolness of river water, with the distant sound of trickling streams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body flew up, like a wisp of smoke skimming through the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All insects and beasts ignored him, as if they didn’t see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An innate ability to easily take bird eggs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he finished eating the eggs before the mother bird returned, then smeared himself with rotting fruit to mask the fishy smell with wine, he could hide it effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flew back and forth, across mountains and plains, high peaks, coming and going as he pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forbidden zones for other Spiritual Beasts, he walked as if on flat ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those Spiritual Beasts with earth-shaking abilities disdained to deal with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply passed by without stopping, and they didn’t even bother to look up at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he stopped for a moment, he would have to endure overwhelming might; if he couldn’t retreat in time, his life would be at risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he was clever, and didn’t provoke any of the spiritual beast giants, becoming familiar enough to occasionally greet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the response was indifferent, not being acknowledged was the best acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze exuding a sense of time’s passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Shadow Beast lived for over three hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The experiences and memories of these three hundred years were vividly presented in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His spirits were bright, eyes shining, as if he had had a deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fullness of the soul was unmatched by any physical benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the Dragon Mountain Secret Land?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the perspective of the Shadow Beast, he saw clearly, secretly astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He witnessed the encounters between the demon beasts and the Great Grandmasters, the moments when a Great Grandmaster unleashed their full power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of strength, a Grandmaster was already at the peak; a Great Grandmaster’s power didn’t seem particularly stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest strength of a Great Grandmaster was in using spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the demon beasts in the Dragon Mountain Secret Land could all use spiritual power, including the weakest Shadow Beast, which also used spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their demonic power was naturally imbued with spiritual power, akin to the spiritual power of a Great Grandmaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below Grandmaster level, they couldn’t endure the environment of the Secret Land, and even if they could, they weren’t opponents for these demon beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how strong the power, if you can’t hit the demon beasts, you’ll only get hit by them. How to win?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the experience of this Shadow Beast, he learned a lot about the demon beasts of the Dragon Mountain Secret Land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many demon beasts even Great Grandmasters had to avoid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, the top-tier demon beasts could undergo tribulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more importantly, after successfully overcoming a tribulation, a beam of light would descend from the Void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the beam, flowers danced, and melodic sounds surrounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A demon beast successfully overcoming a tribulation would ascend in the light, higher and higher, eventually disappearing from the Dragon Mountain Secret Land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Ascension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought, this might be the greatest secret in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered if the Great Grandmasters knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ascension, could this be becoming immortal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it’s possible in the Dragon Mountain Secret Land, what about the other three Secret Lands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about the other four Grotto Heavens?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can they all ascend?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world is becoming more and more magical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the other demon crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These eight demon crystals would have to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he felt as if he was overeaten, unable to perceive further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When dawn broke, he arrived at Mingwu Hall and saw Chu Qingfeng beside the Martial Arts Training Ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Qingfeng gave him a look: “Starting tomorrow, you can go to that valley. Huang Cheng will be guarding in the shadows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled: “Then I’ll head over tonight, so I don’t have to call for the city gate in the morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, that makes sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where to? Where to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Chu Mingxuan and others arrived, overhearing, eagerly asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan then explained that there was a valley outside the city suitable for cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Planning to stay over at night, train there in the morning, and try it for a month first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Mingxuan and the three others were eager to join without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had already heard the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan had displayed tremendous power, defeating all the Secret Shadow Sect experts in Yujing City alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This deeply motivated them, sparking their determination to strive hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan’s attempts to advise were in vain, ultimately agreeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun rose, the purple light vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Mingxuan first headed to the Ministry of Rites for roll call, while he stayed back, entering the left and right halls of Mingwu Hall to start reading books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Searching for the records of Great Grandmasters through the ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the thousand-plus years since the founding of the Da Jing Dynasty, there hadn’t been many Great Grandmasters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mingwu Hall contained part of the biographies of these Great Grandmasters, recording their birth and death, legendary life events, and glorious past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was not a single record about Ascension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These Great Grandmasters all passed away of old age, living varying hundreds of years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After browsing, Chu Zhiyuan directly asked Chu Qingfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Qingfeng shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demon beasts could indeed ascend in the Secret Land, but Great Grandmasters couldn’t ascend in the Secret Land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Grandmasters had thoroughly researched, possibly because Great Grandmasters ultimately did not belong to the Secret Land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So no matter what they did, it was useless; no amount of cultivation could lead to ascension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key was, they couldn’t undergo tribulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thunderbolts of the Secret Land wouldn’t strike a Great Grandmaster on the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if deliberately jumping up, or standing at the highest point, using sword or blade to attract, or even practicing miracle techniques involving lightning, none could attract tribulation lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without undergoing tribulation, ascension was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All they could do was watch the demon beasts leave the Secret Land after undergoing tribulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Chu Zhiyuan wasn’t too disappointed upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was just one path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immortality, indestructibility might not necessarily require ascension; why not achieve it within this world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he arrived at the Ministry of Rites office, two light-footed maidens were waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, Chu Zhiyuan recognized them as the two women who recorded behind him before, from the Auditing Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Princely Heir, congratulations,” the two light-footed maidens said with bright smiles, handing over a Merit Token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Merit Token, Chu Zhiyuan immediately smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First Grade Merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was actually a First Grade Merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Initially, he thought he could only obtain a Second Grade Merit this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon thinking of First Grade Merit, the Transcendence Pill immediately came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous Transcendence Pill had been extremely effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, it could only be taken once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were there similar Spirit Pills for purifying the body and altering innate talents?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`\u003C\u002Fp>",1474,"2026-06-03T09:57:58.105Z","2026-06-03T09:58:02.812Z",1,"novelbin.me","6ccedaab1e444de1cef88bdb475e3bd9b20a7aca1390d43668e798d233a6825d","imperial-cultivation-chapter-229","imperial-cultivation-chapter-227",1378,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimperial-cultivation-cover.jpg"]