Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1431 - 1427: Rules

Zhou Qingyu opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Chu Zhiyuan had already disappeared.

She sighed and looked at the main house.

The snoring was high and low, rising and falling, indicating her parents snored even while sleeping.

She looked up at the bright moon.

A bright moon still hung high in the sky, half-covered by silver clouds.

The soft moonlight fell upon her, soaking in through her pores.

She found the moonlit scenery indescribably beautiful.

Unbidden, memories of earlier experiences flashed through her mind—thinking of those towering peaks, the bustling noise, and the magnificent flower-shaped hall.

Everything seemed like a dream.

...

Chu Zhiyuan appeared in the Heaven-Reaching Hall.

Zhang Ji Yuan and Ning Dongge were both inside, sitting cross-legged on meditation cushions, practicing martial arts.

Seeing him appear, Zhang Ji Yuan smiled and said, "Little Junior Brother, still busy? How’s it going?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

"Hmm—?" Zhang Ji Yuan curiously asked, "Did you really find it?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I’ve decided to accept her as a disciple."

Zhang Ji Yuan exclaimed in surprise, "You really have such luck?"

Ning Dongge laughed, "Congratulations, Little Junior Brother! You’re taking a disciple?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Why not have her directly join the Sect? That would be more convenient."

Chu Zhiyuan is now a Spirit Venerable.

As a Spirit Venerable, he can establish his own sect and directly accept disciples.

Unlike when Chu Zhiyuan first joined the Heaven-Reaching Sect, where he had no direct master and was just a sect disciple.

But if she became his disciple, he would have to personally teach her.

This would consume a lot of time and energy.

But considering he’s already a Spirit Venerable with a long lifespan, it’s understandable.

"This disciple of mine is somewhat unique," Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "so I should have her join under me."

Zhang Ji Yuan laughed, "Little Junior Brother, you’re competing with the sect for disciples."

Ning Dongge said, "A disciple of Little Junior Brother is also a Heaven-Reaching Sect disciple, so there’s no need to make such a distinction. Are you planning to personally guide her?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "We should have a next generation of disciples, shouldn’t we? We can’t keep accepting disciples who are our peers."

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "What makes your disciple different, Little Junior Brother?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "She is a female disciple."

"A female!?" Zhang Ji Yuan exclaimed in surprise, "Really a female!?"

The Heaven-Reaching Sect’s Martial Arts Heart Method is more suited for male cultivation, and there are rarely females.

It seems there are still no female disciples within the sect.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

Ning Dongge also looked at him curiously, "Little Junior Brother, really a female?"

Zhang Ji Yuan quickly said, "There’s definitely a reason why we don’t have female disciples."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "What reason?"

"Females can’t master the Ascension Technique," Zhang Ji Yuan said. "Has your female disciple mastered it, Little Junior Brother?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "She hasn’t yet practiced the Ascension Technique; she’s just started practicing my Heavenly Five Mysterious Techniques."

Zhang Ji Yuan asked, "Is she doing well with the Heavenly Five Mysterious Techniques?"

"She’s progressing remarkably fast," Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

"That won’t do either," Zhang Ji Yuan shook his head, "Ultimately, she won’t master the Ascension Technique."

Ning Dongge nodded, "I’m afraid she won’t master the Ascension Technique."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I believe she can master it."

"If she truly can master it, then entering the sect won’t be too late," Zhang Ji Yuan said.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "By then, it would be too late, so I’m accepting her as a disciple in advance to join my sect."

"I see..."

Zhang Ji Yuan and Ning Dongge pondered.

Ning Dongge sighed, "Does that mean she will be our Heaven-Reaching Sect disciple?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "I’m counting on her to join and help nine of us together to open the Inheritance Hall."

"That’s rather difficult," Ning Dongge said, "It seems against the rules."

"Actually, it can be done... Let her first be your disciple," Zhang Ji Yuan said, "If she masters the Ascension Technique, she can then become a Heaven-Reaching Sect disciple."

"Hmm, I suppose that’s the only way," Ning Dongge nodded, "Little Junior Brother, what’s your plan?"

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows, "Can’t she first join the sect?"

Zhou Qingyu is capable of mastering the Ascension Technique.

But the Ascension Technique has its thresholds; at least one must be a Venerable to master it, below that, it’s impossible to accomplish.

Based on Zhou Qingyu’s current progress, she could reach Venerable within a year.

By then, she can practice the Ascension Technique.

A year later, she could master the Ascension Technique, join the sect, and then unlock the Inheritance Hall.

He didn’t want to wait that long.

Ning Dongge shook his head, "I’m afraid the rules can’t be broken."

"Little Junior Brother, it’s impossible," Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Besides, she’s a female."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned in deep thought.

Ning Dongge said, "Why don’t we ask the Sect Master?... But the Sect Master has already gone into seclusion."

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "It seems I can only wait for her to master the Ascension Technique."

Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan nodded.

They understood Chu Zhiyuan’s intentions and knew his urgent feelings.

They also wanted to unlock the Inheritance Hall as soon as possible to find a way to expedite Spirit Venerable cultivation.

They, too, wished to unlock the Inheritance Hall quickly, but missed the opportunity due to unexpected circumstances.

Chu Zhiyuan became a Spirit Venerable prematurely, disrupting plans and missing the timing.

Now, it’s not so easy.

"Little Junior Brother, keep looking," Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Maybe in a few days, you might find another one."

Ning Dongge sighed.

He felt it was unlikely to find another Heaven-Reaching Sect disciple.

Traditionally, Heaven-Reaching Sect disciples have been few and far between; within a hundred years, finding someone like Chu Zhiyuan is already a rarity.

This seems to be the destiny of the Heaven-Reaching Sect.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then let it be so; I’ll first accept her as a disciple and discuss other matters later."

Zhang Ji Yuan laughed, "Little Junior Brother, you’re in quite a rush to accept this disciple, not waiting a bit?"

Ning Dongge also noticed Chu Zhiyuan’s urgency concerning this disciple.

As if afraid of being snatched away by others, he wanted to act first.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

"Little Junior Brother, what is her current cultivation?" Zhang Ji Yuan curiously asked.

"She just started her cultivation; originally, she hadn’t practiced martial arts."

"How old is she?"

"Sixteen."

"...Then there’s no need to hurry," Zhang Ji Yuan paused, shaking his head with a smile.

Sixteen, having never practiced before; either condition surprised him greatly.

Ning Dongge said, "To help open the Inheritance Hall, she won’t be able to do it within ten years."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly.

This disciple’s progress will exceed their imagination and that of the world.

Zhang Ji Yuan said, "Little Junior Brother, are you determined to accept her?"

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

"Then let’s see how it goes?" Zhang Ji Yuan said.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Tomorrow, I’ll officially accept her, and I’d like both of you to be witnesses."

"Alright."

They readily agreed.

They were very curious about this disciple of Chu Zhiyuan’s.

Eagerly wishing to see what kind of person would make Chu Zhiyuan so anxious.

Early the next morning, they appeared alongside Chu Zhiyuan at Dan Yang Heaven, outside that small courtyard.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward to knock on the door.

Zhou Qingyu personally opened the door.

Seeing Zhou Qingyu, Ning Dongge and Zhang Ji Yuan immediately showed signs of surprise.

Despite hearing from Chu Zhiyuan that Zhou Qingyu was sixteen years old and had just started practicing martial arts, they couldn’t suppress their astonishment.

Chu Zhiyuan introduced the two, and then they entered the courtyard to meet Father Zhou, Mrs. Zhou, and Zhou Qingyu’s younger brother, Zhou Qingyang.

They were evidently resistant to their daughter joining Chu Zhiyuan’s sect.

But with the arrival of Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue, their resistance quickly diminished.

Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue spoke with them for a while, turning their resistance into excitement, fearing Zhou Qingyu would miss such a great opportunity.

Thus, under the witness of Xiao Ruoling, Shen Hanyue, Ning Dongge, and Zhang Ji Yuan, Zhou Qingyu offered tea to Chu Zhiyuan, officially becoming his disciple.