[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-imperial-cultivation":3,"chapter-imperial-cultivation-imperial-cultivation-chapter-469":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},1054428,1365,"Chapter 469: 466: Parting Gift","imperial-cultivation-chapter-469",469,"\u003Cp>Chapter 469: Parting Gift\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`html\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So these three Great Grandmasters came not to escort Li Hongzhao, but to monitor or even escort Li Hongzhao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan was thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Emperor’s intentions cannot be accurately guessed by outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor’s heart is unfathomable, and this is no joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not because the Emperor is highly shrewd, full of stratagems, or has formidable methods; not every Emperor is exceptionally skillful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s because of the information gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, being at different levels, the information obtained is also different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The information and secrets the Emperor receives are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Certain decisions that are made as a matter of course based on these messages and information may seem incomprehensible to outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secrets in this world, in heaven and earth, are too many, and what one knows is too little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he decided to observe quietly and had no intention of helping Li Hongzhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two were not friends but rivals by nature, and even now, with Da Meng and Da Jing negotiating peace, this relationship could not change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I will go back now.” Chu Qingyan pushed away the chessboard and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ningshuang said, “Uncle Nine, today at noon, you three gentlemen should have a drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Alright.” Chu Qingyan sat back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt more comfortable at the Prince Qing Mansion than at his own Prince Mansion, and certainly more than at the Registrar of Feudal Clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he took the opportunity to stay at the Prince Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt that his Prince Mansion lacked warmth; husband and wife were as courteous as guests, and the father-son relationship was distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike this Prince Qing Mansion, which, despite being a prince mansion, felt like an ordinary household, where everyone was close and intimate; this was a true family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was getting old and appreciated this sense of humanity rather than pursuing glory and wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan then casually mentioned the rumors he had spread about the Evil Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Qingyan snorted, “Only you would dare to use such a move; others wouldn’t dare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan understood his meaning; if others dared to do so, they would have been heavily punished by the Court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benefiting from the light of his Princely Heir status, he laughed and said, “Will those evildoers fall for it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They will,” Chu Qingyan said: “The Evil Emperor… The status of this Evil Emperor in the Evil Sect is so revered that outsiders cannot imagine it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What has this Evil Emperor done?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The first person in history to ascend through evil practices,” Chu Qingyan replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, “Being able to ascend is indeed extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thousands of years ago, nature’s spiritual energy was abundant, and the limits of cultivation were higher, but even so, those who ascended were very few, harder than today’s Grandmasters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Qingyan shook his head, “Back then, the Evil Sect was a desperate choice for those with poor aptitude, despised and weak… Today’s Evil Sect is far more rampant than it was thousands of years ago; times have changed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cultivation environment was different; back then, the True Sect’s cultivation methods were also extremely fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, the Evil Sect was a desperate choice for those with insufficient aptitude, offering no advantages compared to the True Sect, with even more restrictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that era, being able to ascend with evil skills was extremely rare and must have a secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unimaginably attractive and irresistible to disciples of the Evil Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But be careful with this matter, don’t mess it up, as it would ruin your reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your reputation is already very high; if this matter causes you to be in a miserable state, it won’t be worth it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, I do want to eliminate these evildoers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For so many years, what the Emperor’s Sword couldn’t achieve with the Evil Sect…” Chu Qingyan shook his head: “Just strive to have a clear conscience, don’t push too hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes,” Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that saying more would be futile; Chu Qingyan’s judgment was a normal one and not unreasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yujing City is a city that never sleeps, but still closes its gates at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the opening of the city gates in the morning, the vehicles and people outside formed two lines and entered the city after inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the City Guards, there were Grandmasters and Grandmasters skilled in sensing to prevent any Evil Sect members from entering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time of the opening of the city gates, it was usually the time for entry, and beside it, there was another gate for exits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those leaving the city did not need to queue or get inspected, thus moving quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A troop of riders drew particular attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over a hundred riders all clad in dark green armor, exuding a formidable aura, possessing the momentum of a myriad of troops in motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst these dark green iron riders was a chestnut horse, riding on it was a woman clad in red robes, her figure graceful and tall, with peaks and valleys. Even veiled, her allure and boldness could be felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two beautiful maids rode black horses beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exited the west gate and set out on the straight, open official road. Just as they were about to gallop, the woman in red suddenly pulled the reins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the riders came to a halt and stopped in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman on the horse gazed toward a small pavilion not far from the official road, where a young man in a mink coat stood with his hands behind him, radiating handsomeness—it was Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zou Fang followed Chu Zhiyuan, seemingly hidden in shadows, not easily noticeable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Li Hongzhao looking over, Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands in greeting and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao waved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry parted to form a path, and she galloped to the front of the pavilion, stopping to gaze at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also looked steadily at Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gazes collided in the air, appearing at first glance like reluctant lovers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan broke the silence, saying, “With this parting, I’m afraid we’ll have no more meetings in the future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao replied, “I will come back to Yujing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, “Even if you want to return, there may not be an opportunity; your journey’s outcome is uncertain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter what,” Li Hongzhao said, “I am determined to return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan nodded and took a small knife from his sleeve, presenting it to Li Hongzhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao glanced at it but didn’t reach for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan released his hold, and the exquisite little knife instantly floated in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed toward it, “This knife is my personal belonging. If you require my assistance, send someone with this knife to find me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao chuckled lightly, “I’m truly flattered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan sighed, “After all, we are acquainted, having shared hardships; there is some friendship between us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flying knife wafted over slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao took hold of the delicately crafted knife; its coldness instantly seeped into her bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan asked, “How can I find Your Highness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…With this.” Li Hongzhao unfastened a jade pendant from her waist and tossed it to Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan caught it, feeling its warm and fragrant touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tucked it into his sleeve, “If I have a request in the future, I will send someone with this jade pendant to meet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao, sitting on the horse, her radiant phoenix eyes, said, “Chu Zhiyuan, we will meet again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we shall say, until we meet again,” Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hongzhao returned the gesture, pulled the reins, and turned around, galloping into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the rumbling of horse hooves, over a hundred Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry caught up with Li Hongzhao, shielding her in the center and quickly disappearing into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan stood in the pavilion, gazing into the distance where they disappeared, shook his head, and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zou Fang remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan retrieved the jade pendant from his sleeve, one side incised with a phoenix and the other engraved with the Feng Wen “Zhao” character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jade pendant, verdant and lustrous, of inestimable value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes to sense, instantly feeling a vague direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this, he could easily find Li Hongzhao and sense whether Li Hongzhao was near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar to the statues of the Evil Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having acquired this, this trip was not in vain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“`\u003C\u002Fp>",1435,"2026-06-03T09:58:02.814Z","2026-06-14T10:32:41.225Z",1,"novelbin.me","397345c304c1cda82bc64083640837972458a25248874c5075ab9e12d11e21e8","imperial-cultivation-chapter-470","imperial-cultivation-chapter-468",1378,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimperial-cultivation-cover.jpg"]