Chapter 666 - 662: Venting His Anger
The True Martial Institute is located halfway up the Great Bright Peak.
It’s about a hundred meters higher than the Diwu Academy.
Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Honglin walked side by side, ascending the ice-carved steps.
As they passed by Diwu Academy, they could hear the activity inside.
Through Insight, he saw the princes practicing the Great Brightness Fist.
Chu Zhiyuan stopped, turned to look at the gates of Diwu Academy, his gaze intense.
Chu Honglin said, "Feeling proud, aren’t you?"
Chu Zhiyuan laughed heartily, "Very much so, Uncle must have experienced it deeply!"
"Indeed!" Chu Honglin chuckled.
He knew well what a wondrous feeling it was.
Chu Zhiyuan, full of energy, looked at Diwu Academy, then at the top of the Great Bright Peak: "Uncle, how can one become a Spirit Venerable?"
First become a Spirit Venerable, then pursue immortality.
"The path to becoming a Spirit Venerable is actually clear," Chu Honglin said, "It’s already a bright path; it’s just seeing whether you can walk it to the end."
"Qi Transformation Realm, Transformation Realm, Divinity Transformation Realm, and then Spirit Transformation Realm?... As far as I know, becoming Spirit Transformation Realm is very difficult, right?"
"Chance and understanding are indispensable," Chu Honglin said, "Take it step by step, don’t think too much."
"To achieve Spirit Transformation, one must go to the Outer Realm Battlefield?"
"Yes, that’s correct, without going to the Outer Realm Battlefield, it’s impossible to become a Spirit Venerable."
"Will I be able to go in the future?" Chu Zhiyuan asked, "I suppose there’s no opportunity?"
"... Let’s wait and see." Chu Honglin shook his head, "The affairs of the world are unpredictable, thinking too much is useless."
With his current status as Prince Consort, there’s indeed no chance to enter the Outer Realm Battlefield.
The Prince Consort has no right to become a Spirit Guard; this is a well-established rule.
Currently, as the Prince Consort of the Phoenix Dynasty, not only can’t he become a Spirit Guard here, but he can’t in the Phoenix Dynasty either.
Unless he gives up being the Phoenix Dynasty’s Prince Consort, which is currently unrealistic, he is set on being this Prince Consort.
If Chu Liezhao were of average aptitude, it wouldn’t be an issue, but now it’s different.
It’s truly a waste of talent.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to persuade his elder brother to change this fact.
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "Unless I fall out with the Twelfth Princess and stop being this Prince Consort."
"Don’t act recklessly!" Chu Honglin quickly said.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "While the Phoenix Dynasty doesn’t dare kill me, I should quickly fall out with the Twelfth Princess to shed the Prince Consort status."
The two dynasties are currently at peace, fearing each other, and do not wish to provoke one another.
But this state is very brief, based on his predecessor’s memory, it won’t last more than ten years.
This year marks one year gone.
In the next, it won’t exceed nine years.
During these nine years, he must find a way to extricate himself; otherwise, once the two dynasties go to war, he would be in danger.
Of course, this is just speculation.
It might reignite war in less than ten years, or possibly more than ten or even twenty years.
"If I really fall out with the Twelfth Princess, it would not be clear on the Phoenix Dynasty’s side, and my elder brother would never agree."
Chu Zhiyuan sneered, "What would Father do to me?"
"He might strip you of your princely status and demote you to a commoner."
"Strip me of my cultivation?"
"Naturally."
Chu Zhiyuan snorted, "Uncle, if I don’t fall out with the Twelfth Princess, when the two dynasties start a war, will I have a way to survive?"
"..."
"If I’m on good terms with the Twelfth Princess, I might survive; if our relationship is average, I’d be sacrificed as a flag."
"..."
"Is my life really dependent on a woman? Or should I say, my life is held in the Phoenix Dynasty’s hands."
"Our lives are all in others’ hands, including mine, even elder brother’s."
"Whose hands is Father’s life in?"
"The Spirit Venerable’s."
"So, one must become a Spirit Venerable!" Chu Zhiyuan said slowly, "Isn’t that your wish, Uncle?"
"Who in the world doesn’t want to be a Spirit Venerable?" Chu Honglin shook his head, "But wanting it too much can become a hindrance; the affairs of the world work like this—too much desire makes it unreachable!"
"... I have been taught." Chu Zhiyuan said solemnly.
He suddenly understood.
This isn’t Little Outer Heaven but Outer Heaven, where enlightenment prevails.
Mental state is extremely important.
Desiring Spirit Venerable status too much throws off mental balance, becoming the biggest obstacle.
But how many in the world don’t yearn to be Spirit Venerables? Such longing is hard to abandon, which is why few achieve it.
Chu Zhiyuan stood still, pondering the way to restrain this desire.
How could he reduce the longing for Spirit Venerable and not let it become an obstacle?
With thoughts racing, he soon thought that to eliminate the yearning for Spirit Venerable, he might as well place it on immortality.
To seek immortality, one must first become a Spirit Venerable, but becoming a Spirit Venerable is not an absolute requirement.
Spirit Venerable, then long life is one path; Heavenly God, then long life is another.
The former is the cultivation of the Human Race, the latter is the cultivation method of the Divine Race.
If he could master the Spiritual Abyss Body Cleansing Record, he might achieve Heavenly God.
Thinking of this, he decided to make an effort to practice the Spiritual Abyss Body Cleansing Record.
He mustn’t put all his energy into the Infinite Brightness Scripture; half of it should be given to the Spiritual Abyss Body Cleansing Record.
"Eh, Uncle?" The Seventh Prince suddenly appeared, seeing the two standing not far, curiously saying: "And Ninth Brother, what are you two doing...?"
Chu Honglin didn’t speak.
The Seventh Prince Chu Lieyu chuckled, "Ninth Brother, congratulations, what have you gained inside?"
"It’s okay." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Unfortunately, I didn’t obtain the Void Secret Treasure."
"That thing is just a dream." Chu Lieyu said nonchalantly, "The key is those Strange Flowers and Fruits; boosting cultivation is what’s important. Ninth Brother, you’re currently...?"
"Seventh Brother, I’ve already entered the Transformation Realm."
"Trans...Transformation?"
"Yes, just entered yesterday, the First Transition."
"... Indeed, Ninth Brother, you’re incredible!" Chu Lieyu’s smile was barely holding.
Chu Zhiyuan half-smiled, "It’s just luck, Seventh Brother, and you are...?"
"I was just going to find you." Chu Lieyu laughed, "Wanted to see you."
"Thank you for your concern, Seventh Brother." Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "This is for you, Seventh Brother."
Out of his sleeve flew a small box, and when Chu Lieyu caught it, he continued, "There are two Third Grade Tourmaline Fruits. Unfortunately, it can’t directly boost you to the Ninth Transition, as that requires a First Grade... This only saves you a few months of work."
"Those things only save you a few months of effort."
"Thank you, Seventh Brother."
"Haha, congratulations, Ninth Brother," Chu Liezhao laughed heartily.
Chu Honglin shook his head, "Too reckless, so annoying."
But internally, Chu Zhiyuan felt an indescribable satisfaction, emanating from his true self, venting his frustration for the original host.