Winter Hunt

The Autumn Hunt was personally led by the Emperor, with only Princes and Heirs Apparent who had reached the Innate Realm participating in the Flying Swallow Hunting Ground. Those from the Bright Martial Hall—Princes and Heirs Apparent alike—were not qualified to take part.

The demonic beasts in the Flying Swallow Hunting Ground were descendants of those from the Four Great Secret Lands, their bloodlines formidable. Without reaching the Innate Realm, one's True Qi could not be released externally, making it impossible to harm these beasts.

The Winter Hunt, in which the Princes and Heirs Apparent of the Bright Martial Hall participated, was held at Little Scarlet Cloud Mountain. The beasts there were also descendants of those from the secret lands, but their bloodlines were far thinner.

Even so, they far surpassed ordinary wild animals.

These beast descendants each possessed unique abilities—some had hides thick as iron, impervious to blades and spears; others moved in utter silence, elusive and unpredictable; still others struck with lightning speed, impossible to guard against.

Every year during the Winter Hunt, hardly any Prince or Heir Apparent from the Bright Martial Hall emerged unscathed; all sustained injuries.

At a critical moment, one could signal for help, and the Imperial Forbidden Palace Masters would come to the rescue—but that also meant withdrawing from the Winter Hunt.

The Winter Hunt was meant to train them in real combat and slaughter. The martial arts practiced by the Princes and Heirs Apparent were not merely for strengthening the body and improving health, but to develop the ability to kill. The intensity of ordinary sparring was far from sufficient; only by fighting demonic beasts could one truly cultivate.

Most importantly, the Winter Hunt awarded merit.

For every ten beasts killed, one could earn a single Ninth-grade Merit.

Though Ninth-grade Merit was lowly, it was still merit nonetheless, and could be exchanged at the Heavenly Treasure Department for a Ninth-grade Spirit Pill.

The Four Great Grotto-Heavens and the Four Great Secret Lands, guarded by Grandmasters, were the foundation of the imperial court—and the fundamental reason why the various sects bowed their heads in submission.

The Four Great Grotto-Heavens and the Four Great Secret Lands were rich with Heavenly Treasures, and the spirit pills they produced far surpassed those of the martial sects. Even a Ninth-grade Spirit Pill was no less than the finest pills of the renowned great sects.

"Fourth Brother, your martial arts are formidable, but don't underestimate these beasts. Every single one is hard to deal with. I've been in the Bright Martial Hall for a few years now, and I still haven't managed to gather enough Ninth-grade Merit."

"That formidable?" Chu Zhiyuan was quite surprised.

"These beasts are comparable to Xiantian Masters, only lacking True Qi. And we can't wear Treasure Armor for protection. One careless move, and you're injured and out... Anyway, be extremely careful. None of us in the Bright Martial Hall have yet gathered enough Ninth-grade Merit."

Chu Zhiyuan turned his head to look at the others.

"I'm one short."

Chu Zhichuan's eyes burned brightly, his cold, handsome face flushed with eagerness.

Hope was right before him—this time, he would surely gather enough Ninth-grade Merit.

With Ninth-grade Merit, he could exchange for a Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill, which would loosen the Three Passes just a tiny bit. That tiny bit would be enough.

Break through the passes, step into the Innate Realm—like a coiling dragon ascending to heaven!

"I'm two short." Chu Zhiting was full of confidence, speaking slowly: "This time, it should be no problem!"

Chu Zhichuan curled his lip.

Chu Zhiting noticed and immediately grew displeased: "Tenth Son, the last two times were just bad luck. It can't be bad luck every time, can it?"

Seeing Chu Zhichuan give a perfunctory "Mm-hmm," he grew even more dissatisfied and was about to press further, but Chu Mingxuan cut him off: "Ninth Son, your luck... people say fortune changes, but yours never seems to turn. Better not boast, or you might jinx it."

"..." Chu Zhiting's expression shifted slightly. He opened his mouth, then closed it again and said nothing.

Better to believe it than not—he really didn't want to jinx his luck.

Chu Mingxuan said to Chu Zhiyuan: "Ninth Son always runs into the troublesome ones. The time before last, it was a Jade Bamboo Snake; last time, a Nine-Star Insect. Both were impossible to guard against, and they specifically targeted him."

Chu Zhiting shook his head helplessly.

Chu Zhichuan said: "I've told him many times, but he just won't listen!... His choice of martial arts is the problem. He goes all-in on power and force, without practicing any light, agile techniques as a supplement."

"Tenth Son, stop nagging. Do you think I don't know what to practice?" Chu Zhiting snorted.

It wasn't that he didn't want to practice light, agile techniques—but whenever he did, his whole body felt wrong, like self-torture. On the other hand, practicing powerful, forceful martial arts brought rapid progress and a sense of pleasure, the most satisfying feeling.

When yang reaches its extreme, yin is born; when hardness reaches its peak, it turns soft. If he could push his fierce, rigid martial arts to the utmost, then naturally, he would attain lightness and agility.

"Won't listen to good advice." Chu Zhichuan curled his lip.

Chu Mingxuan laughed: "If you get Ninth-grade Merit this time and obtain the Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill, both of you can break into the Innate Realm."

"Eighteenth Uncle, you too," Chu Zhiting said.

Chu Mingxuan shook his head helplessly: "Not me. I'm still a bit short of the mark. Even with the Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill, I can't break through."

The gap in talent between him and Chu Zhichuan and Chu Zhiting was obvious.

If talent was insufficient, then spirit pills would make up for it. As long as he had enough merit, he could use pills to push himself to the Grandmaster level—that would be enough.

Thus, the Winter Hunt was extremely important.

Chu Mingxuan turned to Chu Zhiyuan and smiled: "Fourth Son, this is your first time. Don't aim for merit—focus on self-preservation first. Little Scarlet Cloud Mountain is very dangerous."

Chu Zhiyuan asked: "What was it like when Eighteenth Uncle participated for the first time?"

"Ah, don't even mention it! I was severely wounded as soon as I entered. I didn't even see what kind of beast ambushed me—I nearly died... Fourth Son, no matter how skilled you are, you won't last."

"I lasted a quarter of an hour my first time." Chu Zhiting smiled.

Chu Mingxuan curled his lip: "Ninth Son, you really did just 'last.'"

Chu Zhiting looked proudly at Chu Zhichuan: "Tenth Son, you were knocked out in the blink of an eye."

Chu Zhichuan didn't respond. He looked at Chu Zhiyuan: "Fourth Brother, take care of yourself."

Chu Zhiyuan couldn't help but laugh.

He saw the looks around him—some pitying, some eager—clearly indicating that no one thought highly of him. They were all waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

During dinner, Bai Ningshuang brought up the Winter Hunt.

She had heard the news today at Consort Rou's place—the inner palace and the prince estates in Jade Capital were all abuzz with talk of the Winter Hunt.

Because the Winter Hunt awarded merits, it was important to every prince's estate.

The Winter Hunt came with tremendous advantages; ordinarily, earning a single Ninth Grade Merit was no easy feat.

It wasn't just about benefits, either—it was also about face.

Whichever prince's estate racked up more merits could hold its head high at imperial banquets and various events, basking in pride.

It was just like parents in her previous life anxiously awaiting college entrance exam results—whichever family's child scored higher naturally spoke louder at New Year's or family gatherings, greeted with smiles and congratulations.

"Yuan'er, this is your first time. Put your safety first and don't think about earning merits."

"Mm."

"And you can't even wear Treasure Armor—the Great Ancestor's rule is far too... too dangerous!"

She'd heard that the beasts on Little Scarlet Cloud Mountain were all ferocious. No one came through the Winter Hunt unscathed; everyone got injured, some lightly, some gravely, and some even lost their lives.

The Young Master of the Fifth Household had fallen on Little Scarlet Cloud Mountain back then—a Golden Plume Falcon had crushed his head in one strike, and the Imperial Forbidden Palace Masters couldn't save him in time.

Word had it that Little Scarlet Cloud Mountain no longer kept Golden Plume Falcons, but who knew if any had slipped through the net? And even if the Golden Plume Falcons were gone, what if a Silver Plume Falcon or Bronze Plume Falcon appeared instead?

With such ferocious beasts and no Treasure Armor allowed, it was far too dangerous.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "Mother, I'll be careful."

Though he hadn't found out exactly what beasts roamed Little Scarlet Cloud Mountain, with the Within Reach, Yet Worlds Apart Step, the Great Avalanche Sword Art, and Super Sensation, he should be able to handle things if he stayed cautious.

Bai Ningshuang thought of Chu Zhiyuan's track record and relaxed a little, but still reminded him again: "Yuan'er, seek no merit but avoid fault—be extremely careful."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and agreed.

The next evening, as the sun set in the west.

He had just stepped out of the South Palace Gate when Feng Xi and Guo Chi approached, and eight Xiantian Masters formed a perimeter around them.

Feng Xi took a letter from his sleeve and presented it. "Young Master."

Zou Fang stepped forward, took the letter, opened it, and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at it and broke into a smile.

It was a letter from Jiang Qiuge—he had already captured all thirty-two Jade Cauldron Sect disciples lurking in the capital, without a hitch.

The interrogations were done, and no one had slipped through the net. The Jade Cauldron Sect disciples in Jade Capital had been completely wiped out.

The matter had already been reported to the Audit Department, and the merit results would be finalized within a month.

Chu Zhiyuan let out a full sigh of relief.

Those Jade Cauldron Sect bastards had been watching him like hawks, putting immense psychological pressure on him. Now he could finally set his mind at ease.

But this time it was the Jade Cauldron Sect—what about next time?

He returned to Prince Qing's Estate without slacking off and buried himself in training.

First, the Great Avalanche Sword Art made his meridians ache faintly; then he assumed the Dragon Subduing Stance and activated the Dragon Transformation Technique, rapidly strengthening his meridians. When his Internal Energy ran dry or his spirit flagged, he switched to the Earthly Yuan Art and Heavenly Yuan Art.

This time, he planned to earn a Ninth Grade Merit at the Winter Hunt and exchange it for a Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill.

The Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill could improve one's aptitude, but it only worked once—a second pill had no effect. It was mostly used to break through bottlenecks.

Improving aptitude meant enhancing the body's overall qualities: widening and toughening the meridians, and also loosening the Three Passes.

Others valued the latter; he valued the former.

Based on his understanding of martial arts knowledge, the process of the Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill taking effect was a process of drastic bodily transformation.

That process was the golden period for cultivating the Dragon Transformation Technique.

It could very well push his progress forward by a large margin.

The Winter Hunt's merit calculation was fast—results were tallied the very next day, unlike other merits that required at least a month of auditing, which was too slow to quench an urgent thirst.