Chapter 678 - 674: Take Action
"Even if I can’t go to the Outer Realm Battlefield or become a Spirit Guard, I can still exchange merits for treasures and spirit pills."
"As a prince, does Uncle Fifteen think I’m lacking in treasures and spirit pills?"
Chu Honglin snorted, "You’re a prince, but spirit pills and treasures aren’t something you can casually own; they must be bestowed by the Elder Brother... Are you counting on the Elder Brother to bestow them upon you?"
"Can merits be exchanged for spirit pills that enhance realms?"
"Yes." Chu Honglin replied.
Chu Zhiyuan’s spirits lifted.
"But these spirit pills are not as good as the strange flowers and fruits in the Grotto Heaven."
"Do they have any latent harm?"
"These spirit pills are different from those strange flowers and fruits; they all stimulate latent potential."
Chu Zhiyuan pondered.
Chu Honglin continued, "They can only advance your realm a bit earlier."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "It just moves the time forward?"
"Exactly!" Chu Honglin nodded appreciatively. "Looks like you understand this path... For example, taking the spirit pill might let you enter the Second Transition one year early, but the time for the Third Transition will be prolonged, and the year you gained must be compensated back with two years."
"...For Spirit Guards in the Outer Realm Battlefield, it’s indeed acceptable." Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment. "Advancing cultivation a bit earlier would offer a chance to survive in the Outer Realm Battlefield... And if serendipity is encountered in the battlefield, it could make up for this time."
"Hmm, suitable for Spirit Guards to use, but inappropriate and unnecessary for you."
Considering the overall time, using such spirit pills actually wastes time and slows cultivation speed.
"What about treasures?"
"What treasures do you want?" Chu Honglin said, "The treasures exchanged from the Outer Realm Battlefield are all combat-related, like flying swords and flying knives."
"Flying knives?"
"Hidden weapons are what the Demon Clan is best at, and flying knives are one of them."
"Then Uncle Fifteen, give me a set of flying knives." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Don’t just fool me with ordinary ones."
"No problem!" Chu Honglin agreed readily.
——
When Chu Zhiyuan returned to his courtyard, You Lan was already waiting.
While serving him with washing and eating, You Lan reported that Li Yuzhen had already returned to the mansion.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then summon her here."
You Lan quickly had someone inform Li Yuzhen to come and see him.
A moment later, Li Yuzhen, dressed in snowy white, stood towering and graceful in front of Chu Zhiyuan, cupping her fists in salute, her expression solemn, her eyes level with Chu Zhiyuan.
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, "Speak upright, how did it go this time?"
Li Yuzhen’s face showed difficulty.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Understood, Your Highness doesn’t trust my words, right?"
"...Yes." Li Yuzhen nodded heavily.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Since she doesn’t trust my words, she certainly has something to say; speak directly."
"Actually, it’s nothing..."
"Speak!"
"...Your Highness says to keep the Prince Consort honest, don’t act rashly, and just patiently wait for the marriage."
"She thinks I’m meddlesome." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Alright, I shouldn’t have said anything to her."
Li Yuzhen’s expression was solemn, remaining silent.
Chu Zhiyuan asked, "What do you think?"
Li Yuzhen shook her head in silence.
She also felt that Your Highness’s move was inappropriate, but knowing Your Highness’s intelligence and keen insight, she wouldn’t make mistakes.
Since Your Highness doesn’t believe, saying more is pointless.
Upon returning, she was reprimanded, being accused of negligence and being distracted by other matters.
Her only duty was to guard, nothing more.
No need to urgently report what she hears or sees.
Even if reporting, it should wait until returning to the Phoenix Dynasty before reporting.
As for urgent matters, that’s not her concern, she only needs to guard.
Chu Zhiyuan noticed her expression and smiled, "So you got scolded, right?"
Li Yuzhen was surprised.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Did she think you were making a fuss over nothing?"
Li Yuzhen remained silent.
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and said, "She probably thinks you’re too easily influenced by me, trusting me too much."
Li Yuzhen lightly furrowed her brows.
Could this be why Your Highness scolded her for meddling?
Chu Zhiyuan said, "She told you to mind your own business less; even if something really happens, don’t report it, huh?"
Li Yuzhen remained silent.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then listen to her, let’s see if she regrets it in a few days."
Li Yuzhen gently shook her head.
She believed that even if the Twelfth Princess didn’t believe, she would be cautious.
So she wouldn’t suffer any loss.
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.
Li Yuzhen prepared to leave.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "I’ll be staying in the mansion for the next few days, not going out, so you don’t need to guard me. You might as well return to the Princess Mansion."
Li Yuzhen was puzzled.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "The Grotto Heaven on your side is about to open, isn’t it? You can go back to watch the show."
Li Yuzhen shook her head and said, "Your Highness ordered not to return easily."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "That’s a pity... Maybe your Highness is afraid of losing face."
Li Yuzhen shook her head.
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, "Go ahead."
Li Yuzhen retreated.
Chu Zhiyuan sat by the table, eating and drinking, contemplating the Twelfth Princess’s reaction.
Through Li Yuzhen’s expression, he could speculate on the Twelfth Princess’s response.
She still disdains him, and also disdains the news, but she won’t be careless because of it.
She’ll certainly treat it as if it’s true, preparing secretly, ready to respond if confirmed.
This Twelfth Princess, though proud, is very cautious and not easy to deal with.
——
As evening lights came on, Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Honglin arrived at a Heavenly Prison.
The City Guard’s Heavenly Prison differed from the Ministry of Justice’s prison.
The City Guard’s prison was sturdier, more secure, and more strictly guarded.
Chu Zhiyuan followed Chu Honglin while observing.
Among the thirty-six City Guards, there were four in Divinity Transformation Realm, thirty in Transformation Realm, and two in Qi Transformation Realm.
He was very curious about how there could be Qi Transformation Realm among them, how they got into the City Guard.
There are two sources for the City Guards, one from retired military personnel, another from Martial Arts experts.
The lowest requirement is the Transformation Realm; below it, they are not recruited.
Yet there were two in the Qi Transformation Realm.
Two Qi Transformation Realm City Guards led the way at the front, bringing them inside a dark cave to a separate cell.
Inside the cell, a neat young man was tied with a long silver chain.
The young man sat cross-legged in a corner, hearing the noise, he turned his head to look; he was a plain-looking man.
Chu Honglin waved his hand.
The two Qi Transformation Realm escorts quickly retreated, opened the cell door, and hurriedly left.
Chu Zhiyuan scrutinized the plain-looking man, who, under their gaze, acted as if he didn’t see outsiders and slowly closed his eyes.
Chu Honglin snorted, "Don’t waste time, just act directly, is it him?"
Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
Chu Honglin said, "Then act directly, this silver chain is the Locking Element Chain, he can’t retaliate."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "How about Uncle Fifteen tries it first?"
"You just use that method, see how long it takes to work."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Alright, Uncle."
He formed a seal with his hands, moved his lips, and whispered the Divine Language.
Then, with a sudden appearance, a golden net covered the young man.
Surprised, the young man attempted to dodge, but the golden net was agile enough to catch up and enshroud him.
In the next moment, his body looked as if it was wrapped in a layer of golden cocoon.
"""