Chu Li frowned without uttering a word.

　　 “Sect leader, may we know the reason you insist on cultivating Dragon Taming Technique?” Elder Bai asked with a smile.

　　 Chu Li darted a glance at him before snorting. “I wish to cultivate Spirit Beast heart techniques to become an Enlightened Master.”

　　 “This…” The four were stunned to disbelief.

　　 Chu Li asked, “What? I can’t do so?”

　　 “Sect leader, it’s been ages since anyone’s cultivated Spirit Beast heart techniques to Enlightened Mastery. Who suggested this to sect leader? Doing so will cause harm to you!” Elder Du bitterly added, “You’ll have to enter the Hundred-Thousand Hills to cultivate Spirit Beast heart techniques in order to become an Enlightened Master but you won’t be able to leave after you enter. Even an Enlightened Master can’t survive in there!”

　　 Chu Li dully replied, “I know what I’m doing.”

　　 “Sect leader, there’s hope to become an Enlightened Master if you’re cultivating Heavenly Demonic Power. However, you’ve achieved great feats that not even the founder of our Heavenly Demonic Sect can surpass. Why give that up for something so far-fetched?” Elder Du exclaimed.

　　 They knew Chu Li’s Heavenly Demonic Power became impressively omnipotent due to the Heavenly Demonic Spirit Devouring Technique. More importantly, he was still young. There had not been a sect leader in past generations with such a cultivation level. Fu Qingya was great enough yet he still ended up devoured.

　　 It was no fool’s errand to cultivate to perfect mastery based on the sect leader’s current cultivation level.

　　 Chu Li shook his head. “You think cultivating Heavenly Demonic Power to perfect mastery is easy? No sect leader in history has ever done it. I’m not sure about it myself, not to mention the Heavenly Demon is unfathomable. It’ll be better if I cultivate Spirit Beast heart techniques!”

　　 “But…” The Four Grand Elders helplessly sighed.

　　 Anyone would be content to reach where the sect leader was. Even if an Enlightened Master could not be defeated, there was barely anyone who was a worthy opponent beneath Enlightened Mastery. With such an easy life at a tender age, why was he bringing trouble upon himself?

　　 They soon came to realize he was aggressively pushing his limits precisely because he was young. If he was at their age, he probably would not be ambitious enough to want to cultivate Spirit Beast heart techniques to become an Enlightened Master!

　　 They helplessly shook their heads at the sight of Chu Li firmly insisting on his stand. They knew there was no way of getting in his way.

　　 “I must cultivate the Dragon Taming Technique,” Chu Li solemnly declared. “Don’t drill in your heads that it can’t be done. There must be a way!”

　　 The Four Grand Elders shook their heads.

　　 Chu Li gave them the side glance and snorted. “You four Honorable Masters really are useless!”

　　 “Sect leader, it’s not that we’re useless but Goddess Attraction Mountain’s not to be trifled with. The Dragon Taming Technique is well-kept.” Elder Du smiled bitterly. “Only the disciples of Goddess Attraction Mountain can cultivate Dragon Taming Technique!”

　　 “How does one become a disciple of Goddess Attraction Mountain?” Chu Li asked.

　　 “This…” Elder Du shook his head. “Goddess Attraction Mountain does not open their doors to take in disciples. They’re the ones that actively seek disciples instead.”

　　 “So there’s no way around it?” Chu Li frowned. “Is there any sect that has an amicable relationship with Goddess Attraction Mountain?”

　　 “Goddess Attraction Mountain has always stood at the top of the eight major sects, looking down upon the remaining seven. If you’re talking in terms of a better relationship, it’ll be Stargazing Pavilion,” Elder Du uttered. “However, just like Goddess Attraction Mountain, Stargazing Pavilion remains a stand-alone entity away from the mortal world. Getting in is extremely difficult!”

　　 Chu Li snorted. “I don’t believe a seamless sect exists!”

　　 “Sigh… Sect leader, why rack your brains over this? Studying Heavenly Demonic Power will be a much better use of your time,” Elder Bai helplessly said.

　　 Chu Li shook his head. “My mind is made up. You lot better come up with more ideas. I’ll be back in a few days!”

　　 “…Yes.” The Four Grand Elders helplessly nodded.

　　 Chu Li then disappeared without a trace.

　　 …

　　 It was late into the night and the land was bathed in moonlight.

　　 Suddenly, Chu Li’s eyes flipped wide open.

　　 As a faint aroma lingered in his nostrils, he held Xiao Qi’s soft and tender body against his tight.

　　 Xiao Qi was fast asleep in his warm embrace.

　　 As Chu Li did not want to startle her, he gently pulled away before donning a silk robe. He then disappeared from the bedroom to reappear instantly in the courtyard.

　　 Under the moonlight stood a graceful woman. Dressed in bluish-white, her eyes glimmered brilliantly like a flood of translucent moonlight as she stared quietly at him. She was Lu Yurong.

　　 Chu Li gestured for her to not speak first before he glided out of the courtyard.

　　 Lu Yurong pouted a little and glanced towards the bedroom before following him away from the courtyard.

　　 The pair had moved into the back garden.

　　 Under the clear moonlight, the back garden was brightly lit. With the uninterrupted sound of insects playing in the background, the fresh flowers blooming in the night filled the air with a delicate fragrance.

　　 Chu Li sat in a pavilion and stared at her. “What urgent matter brings you here this late?”

　　 “Chu Li, was it you?” Lu Yurong snorted. Her eyes were fixated on him.

　　 Without a white veil over her, her face and its charming expressions resembled a piece of white jade that reflected a gentle glow under the moonlight.

　　 Chu Li snorted. “What’s the matter? Say your piece now. I want to go back to bed.”

　　 “You must sleep well holding Xiao Qi!” Lu Yurong let out a fake smile.

　　 Chu Li retorted, “I’m leaving if you’re not going to talk about it.”

　　 “Someone accused King Ping of conspiring with the Holy Church of Light!” Lu Yurong exclaimed.

　　 Chu Li frowned. “You’re joking!”

　　 “How is this funny in any way!” Lu Yurong cried. “There was a Holy Church of Light disciple discovered in King Ping’s Imperial Residence but the person escaped!”

　　 “…Could it be the work of the Secret Guardians Hall?” Chu Li frowned.

　　 Lu Yurong slowly nodded.

　　 Chu Li continued, “King Ping has always taken an opposing stand towards Li Dynasty so the Holy Church of Light can’t wait to get their hands on him. This Holy Church of Light disciple that fled might’ve been there to assassinate him so how did it become him conspiring with them instead?”

　　 “This Holy Church of Light disciple was different,” Lu Yurong dully responded. “It was the consort’s maid.”

　　 Chu Li frowned without saying a word.

　　 The Holy Church of Light really had vast untold powers. He had not come across such intel when he was a Branch Leader. The Holy Church of Light really had a way with spies that other factions and sects could not compare to.

　　 “Even if the consort’s involved, it doesn’t mean King Ping was conspiring with the Holy Church of Light,” Chu Li remarked.

　　 Lu Yurong replied, “Everyone’s saying King Ping’s colluding with the Holy Church of Light… I believe someone’s spearheading the rumors!”

　　 With a load on his mind, Chu Li trodded back and forth with his hands behind his back.

　　 Lu Yurong snorted. “The people think King Jing’s behind this to crush King Ping and any possibility of him inheriting the crown!”

　　 “You lot were made the scapegoat?” Chu Li asked.

　　“Of course!” Lu Yurong exclaimed, “I won’t be looking for you in a rush if it wasn’t of significance!”

　　 The Emperor appointing King Jing as the crown prince was not an indication that he was indifferent towards King Ping. It was the exact opposite. The Emperor was ridden with guilt towards King Ping. If word were to get out, the Emperor would definitely blow his top, thinking King Jing to be narrow-minded and cruel in his ways for rubbing salt in poor King Ping’s wound.

　　 Even if the crown prince remained unchanged this time, the accumulated frustration over time would bring about change to the throne’s inheritance.

　　 This entire thing could be planned by King Ping to make himself seem at a disadvantage.

　　 Chu Li stopped his pacing and frowned. “Looks like someone’s unwilling to back down.”

　　 Lu Yurong asked, “So it’s not King Ping?”

　　 She knew King Ping was close to Chu Li. King Ping might not have come up with this but it could be Chu Li.

　　 Chu Li answered, “As far as I understand, King Ping wouldn’t do something like this. Is it really not King Jing?”

　　 “What do you think!” Lu Yurong was annoyed.

　　 Chu Li muttered, “It might be King Cheng.”

　　 “King Cheng!” Lu Yurong frowned.