Chapter 692 - 688: Asking for Help
"I suspect it contains the secret inheritance," Chu Honglin said.
Chu Zhiyuan pondered and contemplated.
Chu Honglin said, "For our cultivation, we need to first learn martial arts, then cultivate. The Demon Clan is born with the knowledge, learning cultivation methods while still in the womb. The nobler the bloodline, the more profound the cultivation method."
"Is it the cultivation method passed down through the demon crystal?"
"Through bloodline."
"Then the demon crystal..." Chu Zhiyuan pondered, "The demon crystal should contain their cultivation traces. Through this, we can peep into the truths and falsehoods of their martial arts. It must not be leaked."
"If this is the case, it would be extremely difficult for my Moon Silkworm Frost Robe to fully recover its prime."
"Uncle," Chu Zhiyuan was unwilling to give up, "not even a single demon crystal?"
"I’ll try to think of a way," Chu Honglin said with a serious expression, evidently unsure, and then curiously asked, "Why do you need a demon crystal?"
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Uncle, do you know about the Moon Silkworm Frost Robe?"
"Moon Silkworm Frost Robe..." Chu Honglin thought for a moment and shook his head, "Treasure armor?"
"A treasure garment hidden in a corner of the Imperial Treasury, bestowed to me by Father. For it to become stronger, it needs demon crystals."
Chu Honglin was surprised, "What kind of treasure armor is this?"
So, Chu Zhiyuan recounted its legend.
He could assert that these legends were not entirely false; rather, most of them were true.
Chu Honglin scrutinized Chu Zhiyuan’s body.
Chu Zhiyuan confidently removed his outer robe, revealing a white inner garment, simple and clean, showing no sign of the treasure garment, no sign of treasure energy.
Chu Honglin became increasingly curious.
Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "This Moon Silkworm Frost Robe is indeed extraordinary, but unfortunately, it has been dormant for too long and has consumed too much power without replenishment."
"Is this truly a spiritual item?"
"Yes, it indeed has spirituality and can lend me a hand."
As he spoke, his body floated up as if an invisible giant hand was holding him.
His body showed no fluctuation of True Yuan.
Subsequently, he suddenly dashed forward, silently, with no sound of breaking the wind, no fluctuation of True Yuan, no energy fluctuation.
Chu Honglin exclaimed in wonder, "Amazing! Amazing! ... Your movement technique is comparable to that of the Demon Clan."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "If it hadn’t been stored in the Imperial Treasury and locked away, it wouldn’t be like this, such a waste."
Chu Honglin said, "No one truly understands it, but without the demon crystal, it can’t recover?"
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then it can only slowly endure. It can absorb the essence of the moon on its own, but to restore to its full prime requires a long time. A demon crystal can greatly shorten the time."
"A demon crystal..." Chu Honglin said gravely, "No matter what, we must obtain it!"
"Thank you, Uncle."
"The princes of the Yuanzhen Dynasty will challenge you at tonight’s banquet. With it, ... can it really defend?"
He suddenly threw a punch.
A flash of white light already struck Chu Zhiyuan’s chest, and even at such a close range, Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t defend against it.
"Bang!"
His figure swelled, and the white inner garment swelled and then deflated.
It was like a balloon being punctured, quickly deflating.
Yet he stood steadily, without any change.
"What a Moon Silkworm Frost Robe!" Chu Honglin marveled as he examined the Moon Silkworm Frost Robe.
Although he didn’t use his full force, this strike was at the Divinity Transformation level of the Great Brightness Fist.
Under normal circumstances, Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t take this punch unless he managed to timely display the Great Brightness Fist to block this punch.
This is the significance of the cultivation realm.
The significance of the martial arts realm lies in attack power; the significance of the cultivation realm lies in defensive power.
Of course, higher realms of cultivation make cultivating martial skills easier.
Chu Zhiyuan’s fatal flaw previously was insufficient cultivation, but now, with this Moon Silkworm Frost Robe, it compensates for that point.
Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "This treasure garment is truly mighty, so the demon crystal is important."
Chu Honglin nodded solemnly, "Understood, I will try to find it!"
——
Chu Zhiyuan returned to his courtyard.
You Lan, along with three women, awaited him. As he freshened up, they served wine and dishes while reporting they hadn’t found any demon crystals.
None were in the mansion; inquiries at the other Prince Mansions and the Office of Ancestral Rites also yielded nothing.
There were no demon crystals.
It is a rare item, not circulated in the world.
Chu Zhiyuan nodded nonchalantly.
Considering the power and connections of Prince Nine’s Mansion, not finding a demon crystal was to be expected.
He thought for a moment and had You Lan call for Li Yuzhen, telling her he wanted demon crystals, as many as possible.
Li Yuzhen looked at him in amazement.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "As the future Prince Consort, can I not borrow something from her?"
If it were the original owner, they wouldn’t seek the Twelfth Princess even if beaten to death.
With a transcendent mindset, he wasn’t so awkward nor had such strong pride.
In the face of life, pride is not that important.
Now, he needs to leverage any available power for self-preservation and strength.
This is the meaning of his incarnation as the Ninth Prince.
There has been no news from Uncle, meaning he probably can’t find a demon crystal. He can only pin his hopes on the Twelfth Princess.
Li Yuzhen blinked her large eyes, nodded, "Prince Consort, I will inform Her Highness."
"The sooner, the better," Chu Zhiyuan said.
"Yes." Li Yuzhen solemnly clasped her fists to bid farewell, "I will immediately write a letter."
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.
After Li Yuzhen left, Chu Zhiyuan finished the fine wine in his cup and got up to pace with hands behind his back.
The original owner left a mess, with too little support available.
Entering Yujing Cave Heaven once did not open up the situation; the change in circumstances was limited.
The key problem is that the usual space for activities is too small, confined to a line between the Great Bright Peak and the Prince Mansion.
Even the Eldest Prince, who has duties, mostly spends time cultivating in the True Martial Institute.
After all, in the Outer Heaven, cultivation is the most important, even for princes.
In such a scenario, he can only leverage any strength available.
By doing so, a favor is owed to the Twelfth Princess, which can’t be helped now.
——
The next morning, he returned to the True Martial Institute.
Once again, he arrived before the Third Prince.
With a glance at the empty True Martial Institute, he knew the Third Prince was late today, likely due to last night’s imperial banquet.
They must have stayed up late, had too much fun, causing him to wake up late.
He shook his head and tried to replicate the Light Ode again.
Again it failed, with the White Jade turning to powder, leaving him dizzy and lightheaded.
Busy halting his attempt, he visualized the Great Bright Peak to nurture his spirit.
At this time, the Third Prince, Chu Liyang, appeared once more, followed by the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince.
Upon seeing him begin cultivation, the Third Prince quickly sat at the farthest spot from him and started meditating.
The Second Prince said, "The previous night’s imperial banquet must have kept the Third Prince up late, thus his late arrival today."
Chu Zhiyuan replied, "Did Father mention the looks of the Fifth and Sixth Princes from the Yuanzhen Dynasty last night?"
Chu Liyang asked, "Did he? Did he even mention me at all?"
Chu Zhiyuan scoffed, "Was I not even mentioned at all?"
The Eldest Prince, Chu Liechu, said solemnly, "They are quite strong."
Chu Lixuan hastily added, "The Heavenly Inquiry Sword is indeed strange and unpredictable. Ninth Prince, you must find a way, for even our Fourth Brother was affected."