As the strange patterns within the white cauldron were penetrated and integrated, a close connection formed between the white cauldron and him. He could sense it no matter where it was placed in the room, finding it without needing extrasensory perception.
As the sacrificial refinement continued, the range of this perception lengthened, and the clarity of his perception deepened.
Chu Zhiyuan felt that this wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was that he only needed a thought to open or close it.
Taiwan Novel Network β π π π π π . π π π
From then on, unless others could also perform the sacrificial refinement method, expelling his power from these patterns and then merging their own power into them, they would no longer be able to touch the space within the white cauldron, or even sense its existence.
This small and exquisite white cauldron became his true storage bag.
After completing the sacrificial refinement, Chu Zhiyuan turned his attention to the Tianzhi Jade Building Pill and the Jinghua Pill. He took the Tianzhi Jade Building Pill first, and as he expected, it had little effect. The strengthening of his meridians was negligible, almost nonexistent.
The Jinghua Pill, however, gave him a pleasant surprise. His meridians strengthened by a trace.
Although this trace was very small, his current meridians were already at their limit, making this trace rare and precious. The most wonderful thing about the Jinghua Pill was that it rapidly advanced the progress of his membrane refinement, even giving him a faint sense of completion.
He estimated that this Jinghua Pill had saved him at least three years of hard training, truly demonstrating its extraordinary efficacy. If he had another pill, he would almost complete the membrane refinement and could enter the next stage of tendon refinement.
Tendon refinement was the most effective for increasing strength.
He was already incredibly strong, and if his strength increased further, the power of his swordsmanship and flying knives would be even more astonishing. His sword moves wouldn't even need to be exquisite; extreme power would be enough to crush his opponents.
Chu Zhiyuan was refining the black pearl in the courtyard when Zou Fang came in to report that the Ninth Princess was visiting. Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows and smiled.
Li Hongzhao finally couldn't resist. She was eager to eliminate him. "Please lead her to the front hall."
"Yes."
When Chu Zhiyuan arrived at the front hall, Li Hongzhao was already sitting in the grandmaster's chair, her graceful figure fully displayed, lazily glancing at him: "Chu Zhiyuan, is this your way of treating guests?" Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fist at Su Qiuyan: "Mr. Su, I apologize for my discourtesy."
Su Qiuyan smiled: "The Young Master and the Princess can discuss matters. I won't disturb you." She vanished without a trace.
Chu Zhiyuan sighed: "As expected of a Grandmaster, coming and going without a trace. Admirable."
Li Hongzhao's beautiful face wore a cold smile: "Chu Zhiyuan, you are becoming more and more impudent."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "Between us, do we still need to observe these formalities? Are you here for the matter of Lu Yaofeng?"
"Haven't decided yet?" Li Hongzhao snorted: "If you dawdle any longer, I won't wait for you. I'll go explore it myself."
Chu Zhiyuan looked at her with a smile.
"What? Don't believe me?"
"If Lu Yaofeng's cave was really that good, it wouldn't be my turn, would it? You would have gone long ago."
"You have keen intuition. If there's any danger, I can feel safe with you. After all, it's a Grandmaster's cave. We must be careful," Li Hongzhao snorted. "That's all you're good for. I'll give you half, and you're still not satisfied? Dilly-dallying."
The night was long and fraught with dreams. She didn't want any complications and wished Chu Zhiyuan would agree immediately and go. Chu Zhiyuan stared at her.
Li Hongzhao looked at him frankly: "You know whether I'm lying or not, right?"
"Half true, half false," Chu Zhiyuan said. "You're concealing your true intention."
"What intention?"
"To kill me."
Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes directly, and rebuked: "I may have the heart, but I must also have the courage."
Chu Zhiyuan sneered inwardly. You are not lacking in courage, and may even be considered extremely audacious.
But his face wore a smile: "Have you found out about Lu Yaofeng's woman?"
"The Worryfree Sect?" Li Hongzhao's expression changed slightly.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Are you afraid?"
Li Hongzhao frowned and said: "How is that possible? Even if Lu Yaofeng was muddleheaded, he wouldn't possibly get involved with a disciple of the Worryfree Sect, would he?"
Chu Zhiyuan said: "Who can fathom the actions of a Grandmaster? They simply follow their hearts."
If it were an ordinary martial artist, the impact of a Great Meng martial artist falling in love with a Great Jing Worryfree Sect disciple wouldn't be so great. But it was different for a Grandmaster.
Grandmasters knew too many secrets, and their positions were crucial. If they were with a woman from an enemy country, it would be impossible to be constantly vigilant. Who knew how many secrets they might inadvertently reveal?
Moreover, the power of pillow talk was also extremely strong.
"Why didn't Lu Yaofeng return to Great Meng after his woman died?" Chu Zhiyuan said. "Doesn't Your Highness suspect that he harbored resentment towards Great Meng?"
"...What do you mean by that?" Li Hongzhao's phoenix eyes narrowed: "Are you saying that Great Meng harmed that woman?"
Chu Zhiyuan said: "Isn't that a possibility?"
Li Hongzhao's phoenix eyes flickered with sparkling light, as she thought quickly.
If she were the Great Meng Emperor, would she harm that woman if she heard that a Grandmaster was in love with a Worryfree Sect woman? In the end, she shook her head: "Impossible."
Chu Zhiyuan said: "The actions of Grandmasters are unpredictable. Your Great Meng Emperor is also a Grandmaster."
He felt that martial artists should be divided into three levels: first, before the Grandmaster Realm; second, the Grandmaster Realm; and third, the Great Grandmaster.
Before the Grandmaster Realm, most martial artists were dominated by emotions, with reason taking a backseat.
The influence of martial arts techniques on oneself was extremely great, and even with strong blood and qi, they couldn't suppress emotions, making them easily prone to losing control. Upon reaching the Grandmaster Realm, one could control their blood and qi, and reason would gradually take precedence.
As for the Great Grandmaster Realm, emotions would once again take precedence.
But this emotional dominance was not due to being controlled by martial arts, but rather to being able to do as one pleased, no longer being bound. The reactions of Grandmasters were not as predictable as those of lower-level experts, based on martial arts techniques.
The reactions of Grandmasters were more unpredictable, not based on martial arts techniques, but rather on the collision of personality and the current situation. No one could judge whether the Great Meng Emperor would kill Lu Yaofeng's woman.
"Our ancestor was a Grandmaster, but he was also an emperor," Li Hongzhao snorted. "He wouldn't act recklessly." Offending a Grandmaster, especially one so deeply in love, was truly unwise.
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "That's because you're not a Grandmaster, and you don't understand their true thoughts. Things that we think are very important may be insignificant in the eyes of emperors and Grandmasters, while things that we think are unimportant, they may find extraordinary."
He was able to understand this principle because he had read many Grandmaster martial arts notes.
While they were recording their martial arts insights, they would inevitably insert a few other sentences, which could vaguely reveal their thoughts. This greatly shocked Chu Zhiyuan, and his thinking was greatly broadened.
Li Hongzhao pursed her red lips, her bright phoenix eyes staring at him intently.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "If you don't believe me, you can write a letter and ask the current Great Meng Emperor."
"Of course I will ask," Li Hongzhao snorted. "What does that have to do with us finding Lu Yaofeng's cave?"
"If that's really the case, then it's not appropriate for you to open this cave with me," Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "There will be too many Great Meng secrets or treasures."
Li Hongzhao lightly furrowed her brows, her phoenix eyes flickering.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Shall we continue?"
"...Are you afraid?" Li Hongzhao snorted.
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head with a smile: "I'm afraid that you Great Meng will act recklessly at that time."
"...I'll ask and see," Li Hongzhao thought for a while, and finally slowly replied.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled.
Li Hongzhao said angrily: "How did you know she was a Worryfree Sect disciple?"
Chu Zhiyuan smiled without saying a word.
"It's Xiao Ruoling, isn't it?" Li Hongzhao snorted. "The Holy Maiden is indeed different."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Let's hurry up, lest the Grandmaster of my Great Jing finds the cave first." Li Hongzhao's expression changed slightly.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "I believe it won't be too long."
"Chu Zhiyuan, you're so despicable!" Li Hongzhao reacted: "No wonder you haven't been in a hurry all along. So you've been dragging me along while secretly searching for it yourself, wanting to monopolize it!"
Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Wouldn't monopolizing it be more to your liking?"
"Nonsense!" Li Hongzhao snorted.
But in her heart, she sneered, "Those who eat alone die quickly. Let's see how you die!"
