Requesting Merit

Listening to Waves Courtyard

The casement window stood open, a full moon like a silver disc set into the pitch-black night sky, as if peering through the window to spy on Chu Zhiyuan's handsome face.

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged, the Cold Jade Box resting before his knees. The Flying Dragon Pearl inside it emitted a dull, dark gleam of purple-gold.

The Dragon Transformation Technique was spinning wildly.

The moment the Flying Dragon Pearl drew near him, the Dragon Transformation Technique seemed to suddenly gain a will of its own. No longer needing him to focus and drive it, it spun on its own in a frenzy.

Like a fine horse shifting from a leisurely stroll to a full gallop, its speed increased roughly fivefold. What had once taken the time for one full cycle now completed five cycles.

And it required none of his mental effort.

Such an unheard-of, unimaginable thing was happening right before his eyes, making the corners of his mouth lift in a smile he couldn't suppress.

With the Dragon Transformation Technique and the Flying Dragon Pearl working together, his progress would be faster than he could have dreamed. Add in the Meridian Washing Art, and the power of the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique would increase further, its advancement also speeding up.

His original plan had been to pause the Meridian Washing Art after this bout with Cheng Tianfeng of Great Zhen, and train the Dragon Transformation Technique enough to avoid shortening his life or harming his body.

But with the Flying Dragon Pearl in hand, there was no need to stop cultivating the Meridian Washing Art. The Dragon Transformation Technique's level was sufficient to suppress the damage from the Meridian Washing Art.

He reached out, picked up the Flying Dragon Pearl, and held it before his eyes.

Under Super Sensation, the Flying Dragon Pearl was filled with liquid mercury.

Bright, pure, shimmering, with a texture that was smooth, silky, and dense.

He had a gut feeling: this bright mercury could be drawn out by him at any time, merging into his own True Qi, instantly surging his True Qi and greatly boosting his cultivation.

Staring at this gleaming, weighty True Qi, a powerful urge to draw it out arose unbidden, like a parched man encountering a sweet spring.

He forcibly suppressed the impulse.

What difference was there between drawing out the True Qi from the Dragon Pearl and taking a spirit pill to increase cultivation? Both would sever the path to Grandmaster.

What he wanted was the Dragon Pearl's effect on the Dragon Transformation Technique.

More importantly, he had already vaguely understood that while the True Qi within the Dragon Pearl was easy to take, it came with hidden consequences—otherwise, the Emperor would not have warned it was inauspicious.

Since the Emperor had called it inauspicious, the True Qi in the Dragon Pearl was likely problematic.

From the books he had read, he speculated that the True Qi in the Dragon Pearl was probably tainted with a trace of draconic nature, which could affect one's mind and will.

Xu Wanshan had used the Earth Dragon Pearl to enhance his cultivation, nearly cutting off his path to Grandmaster.

Perhaps the Flying Flower Sword Sect didn't know this secret, or perhaps they knew but didn't care, never hoping to achieve Grandmaster in the first place. Or maybe they only found out when it was too late, and could only let the mistake stand.

He opened his eyes and closed the Cold Jade Box.

The surging, torrential energy of the Dragon Transformation Technique came to an abrupt halt.

He let it stop, then began to practice the Sword Washing Art. After condensing the Misty Purple Qi, he focused his mind and activated the Dragon Binding Rope. Then he opened the Cold Jade Box again.

As he had expected, the Dragon Binding Rope's operating speed was also about five times its normal rate.

The Dragon Pearl stimulated all the martial arts of the Dragon Subduing Sect.

What had once taken at least two cups of tea to gradually gather and condense the deep purple energy into a purple rope now took only a blink of an eye.

He closed the Cold Jade Box, used the Earthly Yuan Art to draw earth energy and replenish his own True Qi, purified the Misty Purple Qi into deep purple energy with the Sword Washing Art, activated the Dragon Binding Rope, opened the Cold Jade Box, and in an instant, another Dragon Binding Rope was formed.

Close the Cold Jade Box → Earthly Yuan Art to replenish Qi → Sword Washing Art to purify Qi → Activate the Dragon Binding Rope → Open the Cold Jade Box → Condense a Dragon Binding Rope.

Nine Dragon Binding Ropes took only half the usual time.

The first light of dawn, in the bedroom of Listening to Waves Courtyard.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly opened his eyes, divine light bursting forth to illuminate the room.

He had finally broken through the Seventh Layer of the Jade Tower and stepped into the Eighth Layer realm!

At this rate, breaking through the Eighth Layer of the Jade Tower to the Ninth Layer realm... the Eleventh Layer of the Jade Tower to the Twelfth Layer realm, and the Twelfth Layer of the Jade Tower to Innate Perfection—it would probably take about a year.

This was already earth-shattering.

But he still felt it wasn't fast enough. Without reaching the Grandmaster realm, he could never feel safe.

Fortunately, his current realm was now on par with Cheng Tianfeng's.

If the Supervisory Department's estimate was correct, and Cheng Tianfeng's realm was truly the Eighth Layer.

To be safe, he couldn't let up. He had to strive to advance another layer before Cheng Tianfeng arrived in Jade Capital.

Time was tight.

In the remaining time, he also needed to hone the Sword Washing Art, the Great Avalanche Sword Art, and the Within Reach, Yet Worlds Apart Step. Cultivation was important, but the mastery of Martial Skills was equally crucial.

--

In the morning light, he arrived at Bright Martial Hall.

After exchanging greetings with Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, and Chu Zhichuan, Chu Qingfeng appeared. He cast a glance at Chu Zhiyuan but said nothing.

Chu Zhiyuan knew that with that one look, he could tell that Chu Zhiyuan's aura had grown stronger and his cultivation had risen another layer.

If Chu Qingfeng knew, that meant the Emperor knew. He could adjust his support for Chu Zhiyuan's progress at any time, striving to ensure a more certain victory over Cheng Tianfeng.

Chu Zhiyao didn't come today.

That made Chu Zhiyuan rather curious.

Given Chu Zhiyao's temperament, he valued cultivation above all else and came to Bright Martial Hall every day to train, rain or shine, always punctual.

He asked Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, and Chu Zhichuan, but none of them knew. Chu Qingfeng didn't know either.

Chu Zhichuan speculated: "Maybe it's because Fourth Uncle's birthday is coming. Third Brother is helping to check for any gaps and is very busy."

Chu Mingxuan said: "Fourth Brother doesn't usually handle matters—he's always been a hands-off manager. Now that Third Brother is back, of course he's the one managing all the big and small affairs of the estate. It's a real headache."

No matter how much Chu Zhiyao valued cultivation, he couldn't ignore Prince Xuan's birthday and had to ensure nothing went wrong at the banquet.

"Tomorrow night is Fourth Brother's birthday," Chu Mingxuan said with a smile. "It'll be a chance to let loose... Fourth Son, you'll come, right?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Chu Mingxuan flashed a strange grin: "It won't just be us. Some from the Duke's Mansions, Count's Mansions, and Marquis's Mansions will also come. It'll be very lively."

Chu Zhiyuan asked: "Besides that?"

"Heh heh, besides the Young Dukes, Young Counts, and Young Marquises, there will also be young ladies from the various estates." Chu Mingxuan raised an eyebrow and grinned oddly. "A lot of marriages get settled at times like this."

Chu Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand: "Eighteenth Uncle, I have no such thoughts right now."

"Ah, true enough." Chu Mingxuan patted his shoulder comfortingly.

The burden on Chu Zhiyuan's shoulders was too heavy now, crushing him so he could barely breathe. He truly had no mind for looking at girls.

"But Fourth Son, you can't just bury your head in hard training. You still need to relax a little—balance work and rest," Chu Mingxuan said. "Come tomorrow night and loosen up."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.

When he arrived at the Ministry of Rites Office to register his attendance, he saw Gao Lingfeng approaching with a beaming face, cupping his hands in congratulations.

"My Lord, congratulations! I heard news that the memorial requesting Ninth Grade Merit for you was submitted to the Audit Department yesterday."

"Oh?"

Gao Lingfeng laughed: "The Minister said that this time, being able to promptly suppress the conflict between the Thick Earth Sect and the Flying Flower Sword Sect before it spread was all thanks to your timely decisiveness and foresight in pacifying them. It merits a Ninth Grade Special Merit."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "And what about you, Lord Gao?"

Gao Lingfeng said: "Your subordinate gets half a merit, recorded in the merit ledger."

Two half-merits could form one Ninth Grade Merit, which was already gratifying enough.

Such opportunities were rare.

Chu Zhiyuan sat down behind his desk, casually picked up a dossier, and smiled: "It was all due to circumstances and coincidence. Just good luck."

Gao Lingfeng shook his head seriously: "This isn't luck. If it had been me in your place, I wouldn't have earned merit—I'd have been punished instead."

The Assistant Director had indeed been favored because of his status as Heir Apparent, receiving the opportunity to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Flying Flower Sword Sect's detached estate.

But if he himself had been in the Assistant Director's place, he would have kept his distance from the Flying Flower Sword Sect, said not a word more, and minded his own business.

And when the conflict between the Flying Flower Sword Sect and the Thick Earth Sect arose, if he couldn't mediate it himself, he wouldn't have been wise enough to report it directly—he would have hesitated and delayed.

If that matter dragged on, and the Flying Flower Sword Sect and Thick Earth Sect escalated their conflict, even losing lives, it would have been very hard to suppress.

So requesting this Ninth Grade Merit for the Assistant Director was not excessive at all.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "I wonder when this Ninth Grade Merit will be approved."

Great Zhen's diplomatic mission was arriving soon. It would be a pity if it only passed after the mission came.

He had always been exchanging Ninth Grade Merits for Minor Marrow Cleansing Pills to speed up the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique's vein training. Only now did he realize he shouldn't have exchanged for Minor Marrow Cleansing Pills—he should have exchanged for Dragon Blood Stones instead. The effect would have been better.