[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-imperial-cultivation":3,"chapter-imperial-cultivation-imperial-cultivation-chapter-243":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},1054652,1365,"Chapter 243: 240 Entering the Palace","imperial-cultivation-chapter-243",243,"\u003Cp>Chapter 243: Chapter 240 Entering the Palace\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`html\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling was about to bid farewell to Chu Zhiyuan when she suddenly turned to look back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of a galloping horse was rapidly approaching from afar and in the blink of an eye, it had arrived nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a neigh, a snow-white steed stopped not far from them, rising on its hind legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses glanced at it and then turned away, disdainfully ignoring it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting atop the horse was a woman dressed in white as pure as snow, her face covered by a white veil, revealing only a pair of bright and beautiful eyes that pierced through like cold light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan directly perceived her as an extraordinary beauty, appearing to be two years younger than Xiao Ruoling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A penetrating chill was between her brows, and she looked down upon everyone with an unapproachable air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan raised a sword-like eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also a female disciple from Yao Yue Palace, with her cultivation at Innate Perfection, similar to Xiao Ruoling’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling was calm and serene, profound yet gentle, whereas this woman was arrogantly overbearing, clearly a prodigy of her age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shen Hanyue from Yao Yue Palace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Shen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two young women smiled and folded their hands in greeting, “Sister Shen, you’re just in time. This is Sister Xiao, who just arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue, sitting on her horse, perfunctorily cupped her fist, her clear, shining eyes landing on Xiao Ruoling’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Shen Hanyue, Xiao Ruoling’s face was also covered with a white veil. This was a rule of Yao Yue Palace, where all disciples masked their faces from the gaze of men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men were unworthy to behold the true faces of Yao Yue Palace disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with her face covered, Xiao Ruoling’s deep, mesmerizing eyes drew others into them at a glance, proving irresistible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just with those eyes, even if her features were ordinary, she was enough to attract, akin to a beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She averted her gaze to Chu Zhiyuan, immediately showing a disdainful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once more, Chu Zhiyuan’s eyebrow arched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being a dazzling figure of remarkable appearance and the identity of the Princely Heir with the cultivation of a Grandmaster, not to mention a divine-like Super Sense, gave him a composed and serene demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While not every woman would fall for him, she was the first to show such clear contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She snorted lightly through her nose, rustling the veil covering her face, “Man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling spoke, “So you are Sister Shen, I’ve heard much of your reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This indeed was the rising prodigy, one of the strongest contenders for the title of Holy Daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan looked towards Xiao Ruoling, “Ruoling, I’m off then, I’ll be back in a few days to see the results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling responded softly, “Be careful on the road.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha…” Chu Zhiyuan laughed, “Even if those of the Evil Sect ambush me, they’d have to catch up with me first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses start galloping, no Grandmaster’s qinggong could catch up, making it very difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he had a premonition of danger and would immediately change direction if he sensed trouble ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mounted his horse, waved towards Xiao Ruoling, nodded at the two white-robed maidens of Yao Yue Palace, and then two beams of golden light shot out, vanishing without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such fast horses!” the two white-robed maidens exclaimed in admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One girl curiously asked, “Sister Xiao, what kind of horse is that, to be so swift?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses,” Xiao Ruoling smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses…” The two white-robed girls tilted their heads, clapped their hands, “We remember now, the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses of Da Zhen. So someone has tamed them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, they realized, “It’s the Fourth Prince.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling nodded lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that the news from Yujing could also reach Yao Yue Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two white-robed girls marveled, “The Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse lives up to its name, so fast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls clearly adored fine horses and were full of praise for the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They asked Xiao Ruoling again if sitting on them was particularly exhilarating, exciting, and refreshing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling smiled and nodded, describing the ride experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting on the back of a Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse felt like being seated on a chair, giving no sense of the horse running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was neither bumping nor any sense of speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the actual speed was incredibly fast, far surpassing her own qinggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Yujing City to here took only two hours, with a round trip in a day done with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This news drew repeated exclamations from the two young women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wished they, too, could have a try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Xiao, can we also ride?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They don’t allow others to ride, only the Princely Heir,” Xiao Ruoling said helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the while, Shen Hanyue, who had been silently listening, suddenly let out a cold laugh, “Lies, if others can’t ride, then how did you get here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling replied with a smile, “Sister Shen, I came riding together with the Princely Heir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two horses, yet you only rode one?” Shen Hanyue snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue said, “You’re a disciple of Yao Yue Palace, how can you ride with a man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling smiled, “I am to be the future Heir’s Wife; riding together isn’t inappropriate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… Can Yao Yue Palace disciples marry?” Shen Hanyue was somewhat confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling said, “Didn’t my master marry the Emperor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling explained, “We at Yao Yue Palace aren’t forbidden from marrying, we simply choose not to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue shook her head, feeling it wasn’t right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her master had clearly stated that marriage was forbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two white-robed maidens chimed in, “Sister Xiao, Sister Shen, hurry into the palace, the Elders are waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go quickly then,” Xiao Ruoling laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan stood a hundred meters away, unable to perceive what was on the mountain, as an invisible force enveloped it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true nature of Yao Yue Palace was always unclear—how many Grandmasters, Great Grandmasters, or disciples it had remained a mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Xiao Ruoling hadn’t figured it out; West Palace Lady Zeng Yuan had said such information was top secret, not to be disclosed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even the Emperor knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a disciple of Yao Yue Palace, she could observe for herself, but must not discuss it with outsiders, nor with her future husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing no more, Chu Zhiyuan decided not to waste time, releasing the restraint on the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses, allowing them to gallop freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he had Xiao Ruoling with him, he restrained the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses somewhat, but without her, he let them fully loose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two horses raced at full speed, no longer holding back their strength, like two beams of golden light sweeping across the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever they passed, dust flew, resembling a rising Yellow Dragon; the thundering hoofbeats synonymous with the clamor of hundreds of horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two horses created the momentum of two hundred horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riding on the horse, Chu Zhiyuan’s lips curled up in excitement and thrill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bolted back to Yujing City in one breath, returning to his Prince Mansion, letting the horses roam in the rear garden at their leisure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every two days, he would take them out for a romp, letting them run to their hearts’ content while he, too, relished the freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he began to immerse himself in cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue followed the two white-robed maidens, skimming along treetops upward, finally reaching the mountainside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An ancient and majestic palace stood on the mountainside, with a group of women in white combat uniforms practicing on the martial arts training ground in front of the grand hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bright sunlight shone on the martial arts training ground, radiating vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling noticed that over a hundred young women were all quite young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the steps of the grand hall, stood a middle-aged woman solemnly, her gaze often sweeping over the young women training on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two white-robed maidens skimmed over the treetops, whispering softly, “These are the newly admitted junior sisters, and that’s Elder Meng, the strictest of all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Elder Meng, they even shrank their necks, clearly having been scolded by her before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue frowned, “Their cultivation is too weak, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve only been here a year,” came the reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s continue upwards; the senior sisters are above.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They continued upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They soon spotted scattered groups of deer and various other small, adorable creatures in the forest, creatures they had never seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue widened her bright eyes, captivated, chasing each delightful creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling marveled as she observed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These are companions we raise; after practice each day, we can play with them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can Yao Yue Palace raise such creatures?” Xiao Ruoling was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was her first time hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can choose to raise them or not, never forced, but you mustn’t abuse them; they are to be treated as friends or family, even considered disciples of Yao Yue Palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to keep a little fawn!” Shen Hanyue eagerly said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls smiled, nodding, then detailed the characteristics of various animals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though cute, fawns were mischievous and quite a handful, raccoons weren’t too sociable, and spirit dogs were the most fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they introduced, they continued upward, soon arriving at another palace, a White Jade Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the palace was the White Jade Square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the square were over a hundred Innate Masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They continued upward to reach another White Jade Palace, on whose martial arts training ground there were more than a hundred women, all Grandmasters by regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, they reached the summit, descending before the final White Jade Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the White Jade Palace stood nine young and beautiful women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`\u003C\u002Fp>",1645,"2026-06-03T09:57:58.105Z","2026-06-03T09:58:02.812Z",1,"novelbin.me","4e5d7e50e37fd7f19f62c35ec965c468887a2d9f36d1970fa021360984603af0","imperial-cultivation-chapter-244","imperial-cultivation-chapter-242",1378,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimperial-cultivation-cover.jpg"]