Chapter 679 - 675: Treasure Bead
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Uncle, was this operation very smooth?"
Chu Honglin laughed and said, "Very smooth, smoother than I imagined."
Chu Zhiyuan looked at him curiously.
Chu Honglin said, "The Eldest Prince helped, having the Military Department investigate wealthy households with overdue military grain debts. All nine were imprisoned, and his family was among them."
Chu Zhiyuan praised, "Uncle, you’re formidable."
Chu Honglin chuckled, saying, "I happened to overhear this at the imperial court and quickly seized the opportunity. His family truly wasn’t wronged; they indeed owed military grain."
"How will it be dealt with then?"
"Reimburse it, plus what’s fined, it’s estimated they’ll have to pay double."
"It’ll hurt them but won’t lead to imprisonment, so he’s quite assured and hasn’t resisted much."
Revealing oneself due to such a small matter and leaving abruptly would waste previous efforts—it truly isn’t worthwhile.
Moreover, he wanted to see inside the prison to check for any exploitable flaws.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "This is the best way for us to deal with the Demon Clan."
Chu Honglin said, "That’s here in the Imperial City; if it’s on the Outer Realm Battlefield, these Great Sky Demons are exceptionally tricky and terrifying."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Their terror is due to their unpredictable movements, right?"
"Unpredictable movements, without any signs, and once they strike, it’s fatal."
"I can’t go to the Outer Realm Battlefield," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "otherwise, the Soul Pearl could help find them."
Chu Honglin’s eyes gleamed with uncontrollable excitement, seemingly envisioning Chu Zhiyuan appearing on the Outer Realm Battlefield, leading Spirit Guards to counterattack the Great Sky Demons.
Ultimately, his eyes slowly dimmed, excitement fading, and he sighed: "Doing this would be extremely dangerous; life would be precarious."
The Great Sky Demons would use every method to assassinate him, determined to kill him completely.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "I’ll quickly boost my cultivation to the Divinity Transformation Nine Transitions; then they can’t possibly kill me."
"Divinity Transformation Nine Transitions? You’re quite audacious!"
"Uncle, with my talent, can’t I cultivate to Divinity Transformation Nine Transitions?"
"Divinity Transformation Nine Transitions isn’t as easy as you think; it requires various opportunities."
"Isn’t it just enlightenment? My enlightenment is quite good."
"Cultivation in the Divinity Transformation Realm isn’t just about enlightenment; it requires further empirical evidence."
"Empirical evidence?"
"Some things can’t be understood without personal experience, just like a dish—merely describing its deliciousness won’t let you truly know without tasting."
"That’s indeed correct."
"So without experiencing those wondrously unimaginable Spirit Realms on the Outer Realm Battlefield, it’s impossible to reach Nine Transitions."
"Outer Realm Battlefield...," Chu Zhiyuan sighed helplessly.
It’s indeed a checkpoint for him.
His identity is the biggest obstacle. Since he can’t shake off being the Prince Consort, can he somehow still go to the Outer Realm Battlefield even as the Prince Consort?
"Will the Twelfth Princess go to the Outer Realm Battlefield?"
"Indeed, the Twelfth Princess, with her heavenly gifts, should go to the Outer Realm Battlefield."
"Then as the Prince Consort, I’ll accompany her..."
"...You’re the Prince Consort, but also a hostage."
"What if the Twelfth Princess insists?"
"The Phoenix Emperor won’t agree; if you’re harmed on the Outer Realm Battlefield, it’ll be a total loss... Better to abandon that thought and not think about breaking away from the Twelfth Princess unscathed. Turning against her will only worsen your situation."
"Even if I turn against her, I can’t return to our Imperial City, right?"
"You understand now."
"Life ahead...," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "just thinking about it gives me a headache."
"Those who go to the Outer Realm Battlefield never think about tomorrow; who knows what tomorrow will be? Living well today is the most important."
"I’ve learned."
As they conversed, the thick golden cocoon slowly dissipated, revealing the lifeless young man beneath.
Chu Zhiyuan examined the young man, shook his head, formed a sealing handprint, and quietly chanted divine language.
A streak of golden light emerged from the young man’s forehead and landed between Chu Zhiyuan’s hands.
His hands sealed, constantly changing handprints, influencing the golden light to flicker non-stop.
After a moment, it shrank slightly and then transformed into a strand of golden light that entered his forehead.
This thus completed a demon suppression process.
After the previous time, his understanding of the Great Demon Suppressing Seal deepened further, now reaching the Transformation Realm.
Post-Transformation Realm, he could first handle the Great Sky Demon’s soul, purifying it.
Making it pure, devoid of emotions and feelings, leaving only pure rational memory.
He closed his eyes.
Chu Honglin watched curiously throughout, staying silent.
He simultaneously paid attention to the surroundings, checking for any spying or disturbing figures.
His goal was to use every means possible to ensure that Chu Zhiyuan knowing the Great Demon Suppressing Seal didn’t spread.
If it did leak out, he needed to devise a way to counteract it, diminish its impact, so the Demon Clan wouldn’t notice.
Chu Zhiyuan remained with eyes closed, unmoving, seemingly entering meditation.
Chu Honglin waited patiently.
After a cup of tea’s time, Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes, and they shone brightly.
"How was it?" Chu Honglin hurriedly asked.
Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "This person has been body seizing for ten years."
Chu Honglin’s face darkened.
"Ten years have been enough to establish a network, even forming collusions within the palace."
"Damn it!"
He cursed the young man with that phrase.
"Two Inner Eunuchs collude with him, sending two residences and relaying messages through the house staff."
"Really damnable!"
This time, he cursed the two Inner Eunuchs.
Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Uncle, this is quite a big trouble; he’s transmitted a lot of information. If eradicated, the impact would be significant and the Heavenly Demons would surely investigate—it might be impossible to cover up."
Chu Honglin frowned, deep in thought.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "If they investigate thoroughly, they may discern anomalies."
"...We’ll need to use the Evil Extinguishing Ruyi," Chu Honglin slowly said.
Deploying the Evil Extinguishing Ruyi could divert attention.
But the Evil Extinguishing Ruyi is too precious to use lightly; if mishap arises, he’d become a sinner of the Chu Family.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "If we’re to deploy the Evil Extinguishing Ruyi, let’s make it bigger... I’ll find a few more Great Sky Demons."
"Can you still find them?"
"I’ll search the city again."
"Then, let’s see how many there are first."
Chu Honglin called over two Qi Transformation Realm City Guards, instructing them to clean up the corpse thoroughly, making the death look seamless, appearing as a sudden demise.
Then they emerged from the Heavenly Prison, again transforming into City Guard troops to patrol the city.
They moved from street to street, circle after circle, traversing every avenue and alley.
They chatted idly as they walked.
Chu Zhiyuan eventually arrived at the young man’s residence, which was already sealed with official seals.
Once they had drifted inside, Chu Zhiyuan extracted a verdant Treasure Bead from a fake mountain.
"What is this...?"
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and said, "These Great Sky Demons have a hobby of refining Treasure Beads, each one refining Treasure Beads."
"What kind of bead is this?"
"Soul Enlightenment Pearl, enhancing enlightenment, collecting Martial Arts Enlightenment."
"Such a Treasure Bead exists?"
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Unfortunately, outsiders cannot use it, only look at it regretfully."
"What about you?"
"I can give it a try."
"Then go ahead."
Chu Zhiyuan placed the verdant bead on his forehead, causing the bead to flash brighter and brighter.