He lamented while circulating the Dragon Transformation Art.
It was a pity that the Wind Riding Pill could only be used once.
If he could continuously consume it, thereby constantly breaking through his limits, to what level could he advance the Dragon Transformation Art? Not to mention anything else, just this bone refinement layer, if he continued to advance, what changes would occur in his bones?
Would they continue to become harder and lighter?
He switched the Dragon Transformation Art's membrane refinement to bone refinement, driving the Flying Dragon Pearl, and circulating it rapidly.
Even without absorbing external dragon bone aura, the golden light converted by the Dragon Transformation Art's aura was rapidly changing his bones. The patterns on the violet-gold bones gradually increased.
Chu Zhiyuan raised his sword-like eyebrows. Was this the change?
Would these patterns attract strange powers from heaven and earth, slowly changing the bones, even allowing the bones to directly borrow the strange power of heaven and earth? Could he really fly?
He suddenly became full of anticipation.
If he could fly, truly becoming like a flying dragon, soaring freely, how wonderful would that be?
He had too many sword techniques in his mind, and he still couldn't sort them out for a while. Even though he could disperse countless thoughts, he still felt strained. He wasn't in a hurry, letting them slowly categorize themselves in his mind.
The next morning, appearing in front of Chu Qingfeng in the morning light, startled him, and he looked at him suspiciously. After clarifying the reason, Chu Qingfeng's face darkened.
"Granduncle, this Grandmaster Gu's face is thick enough!" Chu Zhiyuan couldn't help but say, "It's really hard for me to respect him."
"That's just how he is!" Chu Qingfeng snorted, "He never gets enough of taking advantage! ...There's no need to pay him any attention."
"He's a Grandmaster, after all, we have to give him some face." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Besides, it wasn't the strongest sword technique I comprehended."
Now it seemed, they were evenly matched.
"Granduncle, he won't try to deny the debt, will he?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.
Chu Qingfeng smiled and said, "It won't come to that. He takes advantage, but he always keeps his word."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "What about the favor?"
"He will also keep his promise. What do you plan to have him help with?"
"To comprehend the Sword Stele one more time."
"...As expected of you!" Chu Qingfeng laughed heartily. He felt very happy.
Gu Qingshan, who always loved to take advantage, had finally suffered a loss this time.
"Granduncle, please advise me." Chu Zhiyuan said, "These few sets of sword techniques are still very exquisite."
"Mm, let me take a look." Chu Qingfeng agreed.
A Grandmaster's breadth of vision and profound understanding of martial arts were far beyond his own. Having the opportunity to witness it would be endlessly beneficial. While the two were studying, Chu Mingxuan and the others arrived.
They didn't know that Chu Zhiyuan had gone to comprehend the Sword Stele. Chu Zhiyuan wouldn't say anything rashly, lest everyone resent Chu Qingfeng for being biased. People are more concerned about unequal distribution than scarcity—that's human nature.
The White Cloud Sword Palace was one of the four major sects and had close ties with the imperial court. Many of its disciples served in the Town Defender Division.
However, the White Cloud Sword Palace still maintained sufficient independence, keeping enough distance from the imperial court. Their martial arts were not interconnected, but rather severely isolated. The White Cloud Sword Palace did not recruit imperial family members, relatives of the emperor, or even the disciples of court officials, only recruiting commoners.
As far as Chu Zhiyuan knew, he was the only member of the imperial family who could go to the Sword Stele to comprehend it. When he returned to the royal palace for lunch at noon, he ran into Huang Shirong on the way.
Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu, still dressed in white like snow, followed behind her.
Huang Shirong had become a Grandmaster, but she was no different from before, still diligently patrolling the streets to avoid mistakes. When Huang Shirong saw him, she floated over to greet him. Wen Qianqian held a sandalwood box in her hand, as light as nothing.
Chu Zhiyuan directly saw that there were fifty Dragon Grease Incenses inside, and he smiled. "Your Highness, Elder Gu sent them." Huang Shirong stretched out her hand.
Wen Qianqian handed the sandalwood box to Zou Fang.
Huang Shirong pursed her lips and chuckled, "Admirable."
Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Elder Gu took a big advantage of me this time. The more I think about it, the more my heart aches."
Huang Shirong glanced at him sideways, "Elder Gu isn't here."
Of course, she could see Chu Zhiyuan's performance and exaggeration. Moreover, if it were really a matter of suffering losses, even a Grandmaster couldn't force him. Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu.
"They won't talk nonsense."
"In short, Elder Gu took a big advantage of me." Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Next time I go, I won't listen to Elder Gu's nonsense no matter what."
"Next time?" Huang Shirong was stunned.
Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "When I become a Grandmaster, I will go and comprehend it again to see what sword technique I can comprehend."
"...I will tell Elder Gu."
"Don't say anything yet." Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Lest Elder Gu makes trouble."
"Elder Gu wouldn't do that." Huang Shirong said.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "We can't be unprepared."
"...Alright." Huang Shirong pursed her lips and smiled, "I'll pretend I don't know anything, and I didn't hear anything."
Chu Zhiyuan looked at Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu.
Huang Shirong said, "Junior Sisters, you didn't hear anything either."
"Yes." The two women agreed crisply.
They were extremely curious about Chu Zhiyuan comprehending the White Cloud Sword Stele. It was the first time an outsider had comprehended in front of the White Cloud Sword Stele.
They were also curious about what sword technique he had comprehended.
Chu Zhiyuan guessed their thoughts and smiled, "The sword technique I comprehended has already been practiced for Elder Gu to see. You can go and learn it."
"Okay." The two women nodded seriously.
They really wanted to see how powerful the sword technique that Chu Zhiyuan comprehended was, and to see how much stronger his comprehension was than theirs. The Huang Shirong they admired praised Chu Zhiyuan highly, often saying that his comprehension was outstanding, far surpassing her own. They were half-believing and half-doubting.
They felt that it was mostly Huang Shirong's modesty. His comprehension was strong, but it hadn't reached that exaggerated level. Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists and took his leave.
Huang Shirong pondered for a moment and said softly, "Your Highness, I obtained a sword manual."
Chu Zhiyuan was stunned.
Huang Shirong said, "I would like to ask Your Highness to help me study it."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Why are you looking for me?"
Shouldn't this kind of thing be sought from a fellow disciple?
He could feel that since comprehending the White Cloud Sword Stele, Huang Shirong's attitude towards him had undergone a noticeable change. She had become more intimate.
Huang Shirong at first glance was as elegant as a chrysanthemum, seemingly easy-going, but in fact, she was estranged from everyone in her bones, maintaining sufficient distance. It was the same with him.
Now he felt that the distance between the two had been greatly reduced. "Is Your Highness willing to help?" Huang Shirong asked with a smile.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "When will we study it?"
"I'll get off work in the evening, let's find a restaurant." "Just go to my new residence."
"...Let's go to a restaurant, how about Bright Moon Pavilion?"
"Okay." Chu Zhiyuan smiled.
As expected of Huang Shirong, the proper distance between men and women was maintained steadily. After Chu Zhiyuan left, Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu kept looking at Huang Shirong.
Huang Shirong's face was flushed from their stares, and she said in annoyance, "If you keep looking, go patrol the streets yourselves, I'm going back!"
"We won't look, we won't look." Wen Qianqian hurriedly begged for mercy, hugging her arm, "Senior Sister, are you really going to let him see that secret manual?"
"Why not?" Huang Shirong said, "We even let him comprehend the Sword Stele."
The Sword Stele was opened to him for comprehension because of the favor that Gu Qingshan owed, but more importantly, it was the White Cloud Sword Palace's acceptance of Chu Zhiyuan. If they didn't accept Chu Zhiyuan, even with the favor of a Grandmaster, they wouldn't have let Chu Zhiyuan comprehend the White Cloud Sword Stele.
"...That's right." They thought about it and felt that there was no problem.
The elders and palace masters of the sect treated the Prince so well, so it was nothing for them, these disciples, to be a little closer to him. Xu Mengyu said softly, "Senior Sister, why is the sect like this?"
"What do you think?" Huang Shirong asked.
Xu Mengyu glanced around, shook her head, and didn't say anything. Huang Shirong smiled, "Alright, let's talk about it later."
