[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-imperial-cultivation":3,"chapter-imperial-cultivation-imperial-cultivation-chapter-540":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},1055349,1365,"Chapter 540 - 537: The Wind Rises","imperial-cultivation-chapter-540",540,"\u003Cp>```html\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The relay station of Da Meng, being close to the capital, was exceptionally clean and grand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The station officials acted with composure, neither humble nor arrogant, showing no difference due to their status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were six courtyards in total, spaciously accommodated, with hot water soon brought up, followed by wine and meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan, dining with the three women in his private courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women had changed from their traveling combat uniforms into delicate robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two white, one green, all elegant and beautiful, adding a touch of charm to the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three women, accompanied by fragrant breezes, sat in the small pavilion in the courtyard and were stunned as soon as they sat down by the stone table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the large plate placed in the center of the stone table, filled with over a dozen pieces of meat, and looking at the dipping sauces beside the meat, they wore an expression of speechlessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan stuck his chopsticks into a large piece of meat, dipped it in seasoning, and took a big bite, chewing slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chewed for a few bites and smiled, saying, \"I must say, the meat is fragrant, with quite a unique flavor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t this too crude?\" Shen Hanyue complained, \"Can’t it be sliced before serving?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, \"They usually don’t serve such large pieces of meat; it’s Da Meng’s custom to greet guests with large pieces of meat, symbolizing hospitality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t handle such hospitality,\" Shen Hanyue pouted, looking towards Xu Yingying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yingying observed the large plate of meat, her gaze lingering on each piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue’s large eyes flashed instantly and quickly looked at the meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their chopsticks simultaneously aimed at the smallest piece of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, you’re competing with me!\" Shen Hanyue grunted, her chopsticks pressing on the piece of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yingying retorted irritably, \"I saw it first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nonsense, I saw it first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their chopsticks steadfastly held the piece of meat, preventing the other from taking it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their beautiful large eyes glared fiercely at each other, trying to overpower one another with their momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling shook her head gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them are always squabbling whenever they are together, like children, going back and forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, \"Better to separate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of his fingertips, a ball of white light appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fist-sized white light flew toward the large plate in the center of the table, suddenly splitting into dozens of tiny light blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each light blade was about the length of a palm, thin and long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of light blades elegantly sliced through the pieces of meat, turning them into slices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each slice was as thin as a cicada’s wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the dozens of light blades merged into one, becoming a more solid light blade, silently passing through the center of the four chopsticks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The piece of meat split into two, evenly sized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two women each held half of the meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this alright now?\" Xiao Ruoling smiled gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph!\" the two women snorted in unison, picking up their half piece of meat, dipping it in seasoning, taking a bite and chewing slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling then picked up a slice of meat, dipped in seasoning, and gently chewed it with a smile: \"Indeed, it has a special flavor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had already become accustomed to his miraculous sword technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too bad, just a little short,\" Xiao Ruoling said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yingying, eager to try, said, \"Why don’t we stay here for a few days and make a breakthrough before entering the city?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue said, \"I think it’d be better to enter the city first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yingying lightly furrowed her delicate brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue said, \"If we make a breakthrough in the city, all of Da Meng will know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm...\" Xu Yingying tilted her head, thinking: \"This idea is not bad either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This could probably create some momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all knew that Da Jing was in a disadvantageous position this time in the negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Meng and Da Zhen had already colluded, and Da Jing faced both sides alone, making it difficult to prevail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the three simultaneously advancing to the Great Grandmaster could be a deterrent to Da Meng, making them not go too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, the negotiations between courts are always based on strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ruoling smiled and said, \"Then let’s enter the city and make a breakthrough, let the proud people of Da Meng see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the common folk of Da Meng, there was always a sense of superiority over Da Jing and Da Zhen, thinking that the two courts were weak and incompetent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Da Meng was not in trouble itself, the two courts were never a match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Meng is like a strong brute, while Da Jing and Da Zhen are like two weaklings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the brute remains healthy, the two weaklings are no match, and these two weaklings are often despicable, taking advantage when the brute is ill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thud, thud.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a knock on the door from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Zou Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zou Fang stood in the shadow, floated forward, and opened the courtyard door to let a figure in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long, narrow horse-like face, full of smiles, first cupped his fist to Zou Fang and then quickly walked to the small pavilion, his flattering smile even wider: \"Your Highness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan nodded, \"Lord Ma, any latest news?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, the latest news has arrived.\" Ma Tianhe took a letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zou Fang took it, glanced over, and then opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, gently shook it, and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan opened the letter, quickly skimmed it, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three women looked over, without making a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Chu Zhiyuan retracted his gaze: \"Lord Ma, tell them to be more cautious, to be more concealed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Ma Tianhe solemnly replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Tianhe cupped his fist in salute, lowered his gaze, walked out of the pavilion, and turned to leave the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From entering to leaving, he didn’t spare a glance at the three women, as if not noticing any others beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan gently shook the letter, turning it into powder: \"Our Da Meng Emperor’s days are not easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is that?\" Shen Hanyue asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yingying and Xiao Ruoling also looked at him curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to speak, two clear cries were heard in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then two rays of light descended from the sky, nearly simultaneously shooting towards Xu Yingying and Shen Hanyue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One white light, one green light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white light aimed at Shen Hanyue, the green light aimed at Xu Yingying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light paused on their shoulders, revealing their forms, it was a white and a green little bird.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little birds were only the size of swallows, slender and graceful, with clear and bright eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They each touched the birds on their shoulders, untied the small bamboo tubes tied on the birds’ legs, opened them for a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Hanyue handed it to Xiao Ruoling, Xiao Ruoling looked it over and passed it to Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yingying also handed it to Chu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan looked them over and smiled: \"Your news is almost identical and matches with mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intelligence-gathering capabilities of Yao Yue Palace and Jiuli Divine Sect were on par with the court, a testament to their profound foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This isn’t much of a big deal, is it?\" Shen Hanyue said, \"A prince of the imperial clan being demoted to a commoner isn’t that serious, is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yingying nodded gently, \"This prince of the imperial clan has been declining for several generations, shouldn’t cause much trouble, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This Prince Hao is a hereditarily unchanging iron cap prince.\" Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, \"This isn’t a small matter, it will surely cause turmoil in the imperial clan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hereditarily unchanging...\" The three women shook their heads helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhiyuan said, \"The lineage of Prince Hao had once produced an Emperor, the bloodline is extraordinary, which is very important in Da Meng.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Meng highly values bloodlines: Golden Bloodline, Phoenix Bloodline, and Gray Wolf Bloodline are all top-tier blood inheritances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bloodline that had once produced an Emperor is referred to as the Golden Bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Prince Hao’s ancestors had produced an Emperor, and now he’s being stripped of his princely title and demoted to a commoner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said, Li Hongzhao’s resolve is strong enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This breaks the rule of hereditarily unchanging, equivalent to overturning ancestral edicts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only the imperial clan cannot accept it, even the courtiers cannot accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could foresee that a great storm was about to arise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>```\u003C\u002Fp>",1464,"2026-06-03T09:58:18.416Z","2026-06-03T09:58:16.817Z",1,"novelbin.me","0bd0a3638a9c7a6b592d611008ab29e7b145af06278fa806c3766544fd72e818","imperial-cultivation-chapter-541","imperial-cultivation-chapter-539",1378,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimperial-cultivation-cover.jpg"]