Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Grand Uncle, can a Grandmaster at the Completion stage achieve immortality?"
"Of course not," Chu Qingfeng said. "Five hundred years is the limit."
"Then, do we have any martial arts that surpass the Grandmaster realm?"
"Martial arts from beyond the heavens?... There are indeed techniques that surpass the Grandmaster realm, but they can't be practiced. They're just a theory," Chu Qingfeng said. "Some people have found such martial arts in secret realms, but those are realms achievable only through cultivation in other worlds. Here, the Grandmaster realm is the limit."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "If I stay in the secret realm for a month, then come back for a few days, and then go back to the secret realm..."
"If you stay in the secret realm for a month, you must stay here for at least a month upon your return," Chu Qingfeng said. "Otherwise, you won't be able to enter the secret realm."
"If I stay in the secret realm for a month and master a power beyond the Grandmaster realm, then after returning..."
"You must first reach the Completion stage of the Grandmaster realm. As far as I know, no one in the world has achieved that."
"...I understand," Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly. He would have to test it himself.
Chu Qingfeng laughed and said, "You... haven't learned to run yet, but you already want to fly."
"One must always think about it," Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.
"...For you, it's not without hope."
"Grand Uncle, I'm not a Grandmaster yet."
"You're not a Grandmaster yet, but you can already withstand my power," Chu Qingfeng shook his head.
When he released his power, normal Grandmasters would become dizzy and disoriented. Even if they didn't faint, they would lose the ability to fight.
But Chu Zhiyuan was unaffected, still circulating his energy to resist the invasion of the saber intent. "Grand Uncle, I'm already at the ninth level."
"Ninth level?" Chu Qingfeng hurriedly said, "Didn't the Emperor want you to slow down a bit?"
"I didn't use the Jade Lock Golden Gate Art to break through," Chu Zhiyuan said.
"...Truly, the younger generation is to be feared," Chu Qingfeng sighed. Chu Zhiyuan's breakthroughs were as easy as drinking water. He thought it would take several years to reach the ninth level, but it took less than a month. "When will you reach the Completion stage?"
"At the current rate, it will be about a year."
"The faster you advance now, the longer you'll be stuck at the Completion stage of the Grandmaster realm."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Let's reach the Completion stage of the Grandmaster realm first. I'll say whatever needs to be said when the time comes."
"...That's true," Chu Qingfeng could only agree.
Who told him to have such extraordinary comprehension and such extraordinary talent?
Having reached this point, he was already unprecedented. As for whether there would be successors, it was almost impossible.
Such a genius shouldn't be judged by ordinary standards. Just let him explore on his own.
"Grand Uncle, about the Eighteenth Princess..." Chu Zhiyuan frowned.
"Sigh..." Chu Qingfeng sighed.
Of course, he knew what Chu Zhiyuan was thinking. Everyone knew what Chu Zhiyuan was thinking—he didn't want to marry the Great Zhen Princess.
But some things are beyond one's control.
"Grandfather Emperor wants me to marry the Eighteenth Princess, doesn't he?"
"You know?"
"Grandfather Emperor has already let out hints, testing my reaction."
He was using Consort Rou's words to tell him, testing him, giving him a psychological buffer.
Chu Qingfeng sighed and said, "Great Zhen has discovered a new secret realm."
Chu Zhiyuan was stunned.
"If you marry the Great Zhen Princess, the new secret realm can be shared with Great Jing."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Secret realms can still appear?"
"The world didn't have so many secret realms from the beginning."
"They were added piece by piece to the present state?"
"The secret realms occupied by the Four Great Sects are the earliest batch, said to have appeared twenty thousand years ago. Our Four Great Heavens appeared ten thousand years ago, and our Four Great Secret Lands appeared five thousand years ago."
"A secret realm appears every five thousand years?"
"It's hard to say. We can't draw a pattern yet. It's possible that a batch appears every ten thousand years."
"What about Da Meng?"
Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Great Zhen has a new secret realm, but we don't?"
"Only Great Zhen has discovered a new secret realm for now."
"...What about Da Lie and Da Guang?" Chu Zhiyuan's expression turned solemn.
"Da Lie and Da Guang can't make waves. Even if they have a secret realm, it's useless," Chu Qingfeng said disdainfully. "Having too few people is the biggest disadvantage."
Chu Zhiyuan pondered and said, "We still need to take a closer look. Actually, I think we should take this opportunity to advance eastward and incorporate Da Lie and Da Guang. Even if the secret realms are few, they are still secret realms."
"If we send troops to Da Lie and Da Guang, not to mention that Da Meng will fight desperately, Great Zhen will not be willing."
"Then, we'll take advantage of them not reacting and quickly send troops."
"Da Lie and Da Guang are not made of clay either. Your Phoenix Camp's surprise attack this time also took advantage of surprise. There won't be another chance."
"Then, let Da Guang destroy Da Lie."
"Da Meng and Da Zhen won't stand idly by."
"Then, we'll find a way to cut off Da Meng and Da Zhen's outstretched hands."
"How easy is that?" Chu Qingfeng said. "Moreover, if we really want to destroy Da Lie and Da Guang, the resistance in the imperial court would be enormous."
Chu Zhiyuan frowned and said, "They have interests in Da Lie and Da Guang?"
Chu Qingfeng smiled.
Chu Zhiyuan's comprehension is not only in martial arts but also in court affairs. He understands everything with just a hint, breaking through with just a point.
This is really too rare.
The Tenth Prince's cleverness is all in marching and fighting. These mundane court affairs and the subtleties of people's hearts are far inferior to the Fourth Son.
Chu Zhiyuan snorted and said, "These court officials are really loyal to the Emperor and love their country."
"It's human nature," Chu Qingfeng said. Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
He could indeed understand. Fame and fortune, no one can escape them. The court ministers are not saints.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "In that case, I have no choice but to marry this Eighteenth Princess?"
Chu Qingfeng smiled and said, "Her Highness the Eighteenth Princess has an excellent reputation in Great Zhen. She is calm and gentle, not the kind to cause trouble. You don't have to worry about domestic unrest affecting your cultivation."
He knew Chu Zhiyuan's concerns.
Marrying a Great Zhen Princess home would indeed affect the household.
Xiao Ruoling is capable of managing the household, keeping everything in order and allowing him to cultivate in peace.
But with the Eighteenth Princess, it would be different.
It would be difficult for two powerful women to get along peacefully, and he would inevitably be distracted.
Chu Zhiyuan was silent.
The secret realm and the Great Zhen Princess were tied together. He really had no choice.
Great Zhen must have the intention of sharing the secret realm with Great Jing, and they were just adding a condition to go with the flow, not worrying that Great Jing would refuse.
Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, his hesitation was too pretentious.
In their eyes, he had made a great profit, marrying another beautiful woman who was also a princess of noble status.
Chu Qingfeng said, "The Emperor also feels that he shouldn't go back on his word, but the situation is such that he has to let you marry the Eighteenth Princess... Therefore, the Emperor has decided to make an exception and grant you the title of Equal Consort. Both the Eighteenth Princess and the An Country Duke's daughter will be Primary Consorts."
Chu Zhiyuan chuckled.
Not to mention a World Heir Consort, even a Royal Consort only has one Primary Royal Consort. There is no such thing as an Equal Royal Consort.
In Great Jing, only the Emperor has two Primary Consorts: the Eastern Palace Consort and the Western Palace Consort.
Princely Residences, Royal Residences, Duke Residences, Earl Residences, and Marquis Residences all do not have two Primary Consorts. This is a violation of the rules.
It is estimated that as soon as this decision is made, the entire court will be in an uproar, with everyone objecting.
