Bai Ning霜 returned quickly.
Chu Zhiyuan had just started pondering swordplay, especially the twelve styles of the Azure Tide Swordplay.
Integrating these twelve styles into the Great Avalanche Swordplay would greatly enhance it.
As for the various swordplay techniques in his mind, he hadn't fully sorted them out yet and wasn't in a hurry.
Almost every one of these swordplay techniques was top-notch, no less impressive than the one he demonstrated to Gu Qingshan. This made him a bit dizzy.
He also had some concerns.
He always felt that these swordplay techniques didn't originate from this world but seemed to come from an outer realm.
Would there be any hidden dangers in practicing these swordplay techniques from another world?
If his own martial arts techniques were combined with swordplay from another world, what abnormalities would occur? Would he suffer from Qi deviation? After all, they were from two different worlds. Were the environments and power systems the same?
He wasn't in a hurry to study these swordplay techniques and was more interested in the Azure Tide Swordplay.
"Yuan'er, I've already spoken with the Empress," Bai Ning霜 went directly to Listening Waves Courtyard and approached Chu Zhiyuan, who was sitting in the small pavilion. Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
Bai Ning霜 said, "The Empress went out for a while and will return soon. She said Grandmaster Song will secretly follow Ruoling."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled.
With Song Feiqiong secretly protecting her, Xiao Ruoling would be safe.
It was just that Grandmaster Song couldn't enter the secret realm.
So, he still needed to enhance Jian Ruoling's swordplay.
Both for self-preservation within the secret realm and for the Saintess competition.
"Yuan'er, can you tell me now what's going on?" Bai Ning霜 asked.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Mother, I still need to practice my sword. I've already told Little Sister to slowly explain it to you."
"...Alright, then you cultivate. I'll go ask Yi'er."
Bai Ning霜 didn't want to delay his cultivation, so she suppressed her curiosity and went to Chu Yi's Myriad Green Courtyard, where she heard Chu Yi's account. After hearing this, her face turned gloomy, and her fair face contained a hint of anger.
"Alas... actually, the most suffering is Big Brother," Chu Yi sighed. "The Princess Consort is gone. How tragic is that?"
Bai Ning霜's face became even more gloomy.
Chu Yi said, "At this time, Mother, don't kick him when he's down. You have to comfort Big Brother and prevent him from being too sad."
"Of course he's sad. I'm already extremely sad, let alone him!" Bai Ning霜 sighed, stroking her chest. She only felt suffocated.
The West Palace Empress was remarkable, so she could hinder other people's marriages?
They were clearly engaged and were about to be married, but suddenly, she was sent to Moon Invitation Palace to become a Saintess for ten years. Ten years. How many decades does one have in a lifetime?
In ten years, Yuan'er would be thirty years old, and Xiao Ruoling would also become an old maid. Even if they got married then, their feelings would be uncertain. Things were unpredictable. Besides, she was still waiting to hold her grandson! This would delay the lineage of the Qing Prince's Mansion!
Bai Ning霜 said resentfully, "I'm going to find the West Palace Empress. I can't agree to this!"
"Mother, Big Brother hasn't said anything. Don't say too much," Chu Yi advised. "Big Brother is such a smart person!"
Bai Ning霜 said, "He's smart in other matters, but he doesn't have that cleverness in matters of love. I'm going to ask the West Palace Empress to withdraw her order!"
"Mother—!" Chu Yi hurriedly said, "Do you think you can make the West Palace Empress withdraw her order?"
"...We should still reason with her, right?" Bai Ning霜 snorted, "If she doesn't reason with me, I'll go ask the Emperor!"
"Mother, it's better to listen to Big Brother," Chu Yi hurriedly said, "Let's not join in the chaos. The most upset is Big Brother. He hasn't said anything and even had Grandmaster Song protect Sister Xiao. Besides, this was also agreed to by the Imperial Grandfather."
"Alas... your Big Brother doesn't understand matters of love. Husband and wife can't be separated for so long."
"Why not?"
"If they're separated for too long, their feelings will fade, and then they'll become strangers. After ten years, they'll really become strangers!"
"They'll naturally become familiar again after they get married. Anyway, Mother, don't worry about it. Let them do what they want."
"...Alright," Bai Ning霜 snorted, "I'm destined to worry!"
Chu Zhiyuan practiced his sword while listening to the situation here, secretly relieved. Chu Yi was very useful at critical moments.
As the saying goes, everything has its counter. Among their family of four, Chu Yi's words were the most effective and the most likely to be listened to.
A bright moon hung diagonally in the sky.
Chu Zhiyuan hugged Xiao Ruoling, sitting in the painted boat, looking at the moon outside the window, quietly experiencing the beauty and tranquility.
After a long while, Xiao Ruoling said, "I entered the palace today and formally became a disciple. Originally, my master was also a Saintess."
Chu Zhiyuan raised his sword-like eyebrows and didn't speak.
"When I first saw my master, I thought I had made a mistake. How could the West Palace Empress be so young after entering the palace for so many years? She's almost the same age as me." She exclaimed, "It turns out she practiced the Grand Lunar Refinement Technique. It's truly marvelous."
"Did the Empress say how to win the Saintess competition?" Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "With your appearance, it would be a pity if you couldn't maintain your youth forever."
Xiao Ruoling shrank her neck. Chu Zhiyuan's warm breath brushed against her snow-white neck, making her feel particularly ticklish.
She was about to melt into a puddle of spring water in Chu Zhiyuan's arms.
"Master said, there's nothing else. Just beat them all." Xiao Ruoling said, "It's possible that others won't be able to find that place. If I can find it, then I'll surpass them."
"You can find that place?"
"Master said that I practice the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Skill, so I'll definitely be able to find it. I just need to improve my martial skills and surpass them."
Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Skill was known as the number one profound skill of Moon Invitation Palace. It wasn't wrong for it to have this miraculous effect. "Are they all at the Perfected Houtian realm?"
"Almost. The other eight should all be geniuses."
"If they're not geniuses, they can't even enter the gates of Moon Invitation Palace, let alone achieve anything." Chu Zhiyuan smiled and hugged her tighter, "Ruoling, you're a genius among geniuses... then let's practice swordsmanship. When are you leaving?"
"In a month."
"Hmm, a month... that's almost enough to raise your swordplay to a sufficient level." Chu Zhiyuan said, "So that you can sweep away the others and become the Saintess."
Xiao Ruoling smiled and said, "Actually... it's not bad if I don't become the Saintess."
She had only agreed to compete for the Saintess position. If she didn't win, she couldn't be blamed. It would be good to take the opportunity to return and continue being her Crown Princess. Going to the secret realm for a trip was already good enough.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Since you want to compete, then go all out... I'm still waiting for you to maintain your youth and beauty."
"...Alright," Xiao Ruoling reluctantly agreed.
Seeing that she lacked motivation, Chu Zhiyuan said, "Don't you want to learn the Grand Lunar Refinement Technique? Don't you want to maintain your youth?"
"Of course I do."
"Then let's start practicing swordsmanship tomorrow!"
"Alright." Xiao Ruoling bit her red lips and finally made up her mind.
When she thought of the West Palace Empress's appearance, she couldn't help but feel envious.
She often looked at herself in the mirror and was truly as beautiful as a flower, but such beauty would eventually fade, age, and turn into a silver-haired old woman. Just thinking about it made her feel regretful.
If there was a chance to preserve this youth, how wonderful it would be.
Now that she finally had the opportunity, she really couldn't let it go.
