Imperial Cultivation

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"Master, what are we going to do in the Imperial City?" Shen Hanyue hurriedly asked.

Beside Qin Ruolan stood a middle-aged woman in a green dress, carrying two dark purple wooden boxes.

The middle-aged woman in the green dress still retained some of her youthful beauty.

The wooden boxes were one meter square, yet in her hands they seemed as light as a feather.

"To meet Consort Hui, my senior sister."

Shen Hanyue curiously asked, "Do we also have disciples from the Profound Yin Palace entering the Imperial Palace?"

"Yes, just like down below," Qin Ruolan smiled and said, "The rules below are quite similar to ours, modeled after those here."

"Can we go with you?" Shen Hanyue hurriedly asked, "Since we came from Little Outer Heaven, we’ve never had the chance to go out and see what it’s like here."

She looked eagerly at Qin Ruolan.

Qin Ruolan noticed Xiao Ruoling also showed a curious expression, and although Zhao Qingying was aloof, she couldn’t hide her eagerness.

She smiled, "Okay, but your cultivation is still too shallow, so you must be careful."

She thought for a moment and waved her hand, "Come in."

The three women followed her into the great hall.

Xiao Ruoling glanced at Shen Hanyue, and Shen Hanyue smiled at her triumphantly.

She knew Xiao Ruoling’s thoughts and took the initiative to speak.

Qin Ruolan beckoned.

The middle-aged woman in green put down the two dark purple boxes and went to a cabinet by the eastern wall to retrieve a small box.

A small box, one foot square, carved from white jade, with exquisite patterns: one side flowers, one side grass, and another side a Strange Beast.

She placed the box on the round table in front of Qin Ruolan.

When Qin Ruolan opened it, a treasure light instantly shimmered.

Shen Hanyue curiously moved closer, "What is this, Master?"

Qin Ruolan smiled, "Something to protect yourselves with."

Inside the box were nine small compartments, each holding a piece of jewelry.

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An emerald hairpin, a white jade necklace, flower-shaped silver earrings, a purple gold phoenix-pattern bracelet, and a black ring.

"Each of you pick one," Qin Ruolan pointed to the small box, "They all have the same effect, capable of activating a Divine Gang to protect you for an hour."

"Is it really that powerful?" Shen Hanyue marveled, "An hour of Divine Gang? Then, does it mean we can escape even at the Divinity Transformation Realm?"

Qin Ruolan said, "You all have the Xuan Guang Shuttle, so after taking a hit, activate the shuttle to escape."

"Can it be used again once activated?"

"After using it for one hour, you need to wait a day for the next use. It’s best not to use the full hour; the shorter the usage, the quicker the recovery."

"Master, can it control itself?"

"Yes, after you select it later, begin refining it. Once the refining is complete, you can control it."

Shen Hanyue excitedly gazed at the nine treasures and turned her head, "Senior sister, you choose first."

Xiao Ruoling said, "You first, then Junior Sister Zhao."

Zhao Qingying said, "Shen, you go first."

Qin Ruolan smiled, looking at the three of them with satisfaction at their modesty.

Shen Hanyue giggled, "Then I’ll choose this jade hairpin."

This jade hairpin was the simplest and most unadorned, looking quite ordinary when placed on top of one’s head.

Zhao Qingying chose the white jade necklace, while Xiao Ruoling selected the black ring.

She remembered that even Chu Zhiyuan had an iron ring.

"This is the Sacrificial Refining Heart Method," Qin Ruolan opened the second layer of the box, took out a thin sheet of paper, and handed it to Xiao Ruoling. "Practice it on the road later."

Xiao Ruoling scanned it and then passed it to Zhao Qingying.

Zhao Qingying skimmed through it and handed it to Shen Hanyue.

Shen Hanyue also went through it and then returned it with both hands to Qin Ruolan.

Qin Ruolan nodded to herself.

It seemed all three women had photographic memories, worthy of their exceptional comprehension.

"Then shall we go?" Qin Ruolan smiled, "Let’s hurry over first, and take our time on the way back."

She stood up.

The middle-aged woman in green quickly closed the box, placed it back in the cupboard, and picked up the two dark purple boxes, coming closer.

Qin Ruolan glanced at the three women, pulled out a stack of veils from her sleeve, and handed them to the three with a smile, "Disciples of the Profound Yin Palace wear these when going out... Ready? I’ll also use the Xuan Guang Shuttle."

The three took the veils and looked down at them.

They found that the veils were embroidered with two Bright Moons, which seemed to glow subtly as the veils fluttered.

They placed them on their faces, covering their mouths, noses, and chins, revealing only their eyes.

They found the veils intriguing, as light as nothing, without any feeling of wearing a veil.

Shen Hanyue tugged at it, thinking it might fall off if not for touching it.

Qin Ruolan also put on a white veil and smiled, "Let’s go then."

The middle-aged woman in green also donned a white veil.

The crystal waist badge on Qin Ruolan’s waist glowed briefly, and the five women vanished from sight.

...

In the next moment, they appeared in a verdant forest.

Xiao Ruoling found this forest very much like the forest of the Secret Land, with exceptionally lush and vibrant plants.

The trees were tall and sturdy, ranging from ten to over thirty meters high, with trunks large enough for one or three people to encircle.

The underbrush and vines intertwined like a giant net weaved throughout the forest, making it impassable.

Shen Hanyue propelled herself upward, shooting straight to the treetop of a tree thirty meters high and two people wide, overlooking the surroundings.

Her voice called from afar, "Master, where is this?"

Qin Ruolan replied, "Ten miles outside the Imperial City, can you see over there?"

"Yes, I can see it. Is that the Imperial City?" Shen Hanyue exclaimed in awe, "The city walls are so high."

She thought Yujing was grand enough, but compared to this immense city, Yujing was like a small town.

The city walls were a hundred meters high, with each brick mottled and green, exuding an ancient and heavy aura under the sunlight.

She could see the glint of swords on the walls, sparkling like jewels turning in the sunlight.

Qin Ruolan floated up gracefully.

Xiao Ruoling and Zhao Qingying also used Qinggong to leap onto the treetop.

The middle-aged woman in green, carrying the two dark purple boxes, also leaped onto the treetop.

Chu Zhiyuan hadn’t rushed to extend his Insight range.

He could now be sure that Qin Ruolan probably couldn’t sense him.

His preliminary assessment suggested it was likely due to his Divine Skills.

Unconsciously, his current Insight range had reached twenty kilometers.

But to be cautious, he still tried his best to hide his presence and didn’t rashly extend Insight too far.

Qin Ruolan pointed to the magnificent giant city over there, "That is the Imperial City. Let’s hurry in while it’s still early, or we won’t get into the palace."

She glided along as if pushed by someone, slowly sliding in the air.

Xiao Ruoling and the three women used Qinggong to follow along.

The middle-aged woman in green kept pace, carrying the two dark purple boxes without any hindrance to her grace and agility.

When the group reached the South City Gate, there were two long queues outside.

One line was for individual pedestrians, moving quickly inside, while the other was for carriages and horses, going about a third slower.

The twelve City Guards at the gate watched warily, and each of the two guards held a Jade Token, tapping the forehead of each pedestrian before letting them pass.

The leading guard saw the five women from afar, rushed up to them, and saluted with cupped hands, "Fairies, please come in quickly."

Qin Ruolan nodded slightly, without stopping her pace, leading Xiao Ruoling and the others into the city.

"Master, what are they checking for?" Shen Hanyue asked curiously.

Qin Ruolan explained, "To see if they’re from the Demon Clan, to prevent demons from sneaking in."

"Demon Clan?"

"The Demon Clan can transform, making them hard to guard against, but fortunately, we have the Evil Extinguishing Talisman, which can reveal them no matter how they change."

"Demon Clan..."

"You won’t encounter the Demon Clan for now. Focus on cultivating. Let’s enter the Imperial Palace first."

Entering the city, a giant wave of noise hit them, bustling and crowded with people.

Qin Ruolan led the way, an invisible force parting the crowd like a tidal wave, moving quickly through the dense throng.

Xiao Ruoling and the three women alternated Qinggong with observing their surroundings.

It didn’t seem much different from Yujing at first glance.

Equally bustling and lively, suffused with an air of indulgence and extravagance.

They quickly reached a majestic red wall with golden doors.

The eight guards at the Purple Gold Gate wore Purple Gold Armor, radiating imposing auras.

Xiao Ruoling and the three women instantly felt like a mountain was pressing down on them.

If Qin Ruolan hadn’t let her aura shield them, they wouldn’t have been able to withstand such powerful forces.

Qin Ruolan took out her waist badge, allowing them to pass through the palace gates unimpeded, skirting the front halls to reach a courtyard outside the harem.

The sign outside bore the words Fuhui Palace.

An old Eunuch, with white beard and eyebrows, stood guard outside, evidently waiting for them.

He solemnly greeted them as he stepped out of the courtyard and cupped his hands, "Miss Qin, Her Ladyship is waiting."

Qin Ruolan lightly frowned, "Hmm, let’s go in."

Shen Hanyue looked at Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoling shook her head gently.

They felt that something was amiss; this atmosphere didn’t feel like it was a joyous occasion.

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