Chapter 13: Jade Tripod

```html

Jiang Qiuge shook his head: "These demons, they would never let go of any possibility, lawless and unrestrained!"

He sneered repeatedly, his eyes flashing with cold light and murderous intent.

Chu Zhiyuan's expression turned grim.

This is truly the height of absurdity, a royal disciple becoming prey, becoming mere resources for cultivation!

"I'm afraid we can't eliminate them completely, can we?"

Thirty years ago, even with so many people united by the Court, they couldn't completely eradicate them, and now with only the Military Suppression Department?

Jiang Qiuge's cold demeanor turned to helplessness: "Within the department, we are mobilizing all forces to search, to see if there are still any hidden Yuding Sect demons; the Princely Heir also needs to strengthen defenses."

"Strengthen defenses..." Chu Zhiyuan smirked.

"Fourth Prince, what if the department assigns two Grandmasters to protect you secretly?"

"Then many thanks to the Director!" Chu Zhiyuan agreed without hesitation.

The Prince Qing Mansion currently lacks strength, with its current reputation, recruiting Innate Masters wouldn't be difficult, but recruiting Grandmasters would be impossible, so adding two Grandmaster guards is crucial.

Jiang Qiuge's arrangement could be described as timely rain.

This Jiang Qiuge, proud at heart, doesn't harbor much respect deep down for the Princes and Heirs, this action is also to avoid mistakes affecting him, but either way, it's a great help.

"Are the Yuding Sect demons targeting all Princes and Heirs this time, or just me?"

"...At present, it seems they're only targeting the Princely Heir."

"Why?"

"This..." Jiang Qiuge shook his head.

"Easiest success, picking the softest persimmon to pinch, right?" Chu Zhiyuan snorted.

Jiang Qiuge picked up his teacup and took a sip, avoiding the topic.

The Fourth Prince hit the nail on the head, revealing the truth in one sentence.

In the eyes of the Yuding Sect, the Prince Qing Mansion has declined, and its guards are weak, making it the easiest target among all the direct bloodlines.

If it weren't for the Fourth Prince's sharp intuition and a feeling of foreboding, he probably wouldn't have escaped this time.

Chu Zhiyuan's heart surged with furious killing intent, he slowly said: "Do these Yuding Sect disciples have any tokens?"

Jiang Qiuge took a thumb-sized jade cauldron from his sleeve, exquisite and delicate, covered with chrysanthemum patterns.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned and looked at it, but didn't reach out to take it.

This small jade cauldron looked smooth and delicate on the outside, but in his eyes, it seemed enveloped in a faint mist, faintly tinged with a fishy smell.

He could see through clothes with his Super Sense, yet never looked, especially avoiding looking at men to avoid disgust.

So, he hadn't noticed this small jade cauldron earlier.

Jiang Qiuge placed it on the table: "This is the token of the Yuding Sect disciples, each wearing one around their neck."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "It looks exquisite, I'll see if I can find other Yuding Sect disciples."

Jiang Qiuge was taken aback.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed at himself: "I can faintly sense the aura of this jade cauldron from afar, maybe I can find them."

Jiang Qiuge's eyes suddenly brightened, a sharp gleam shooting forth, he hurriedly said: "Really?"

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Worth a try, I hope Director Jiang keeps this secret for me."

Jiang Qiuge rose solemnly, clasping his hands: "Rest assured, Princely Heir!"

He bowed deeply: "This help, Princely Heir, Jiang will remember."

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands: "It's also for my own protection, eliminating them is the only way to find peace."

Jiang Qiuge nodded slowly: "Huang Junior Sister!"

"Director." The green-clad girl standing quietly on the side responded crisply.

Jiang Qiuge's eyes shone brightly: "You are responsible for this matter, do not use outsiders, and it must not leak out!"

"Yes." The green-clad girl agreed solemnly.

Jiang Qiuge then smiled: "Princely Heir, Junior Sister Huang is a True Disciple of our White Cloud Sword Palace, with a photographic memory."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "That's great, ...there's no time to lose, let's go now."

"Trouble you, Princely Heir!" Jiang Qiuge clasped his hands again, escorting Chu Zhiyuan all the way to the stairway before stopping.

Chu Zhiyuan descended the stairs and exited the tavern.

Huang Shiron walked gracefully beside him, elegant and poised, a longsword at her waist, making one clench their fist, worrying her slender waist might not withstand the sword's weight.

Chu Zhiyuan walked along the main road.

Yujing has three north-south avenues and three east-west avenues, each about ten kilometers long, bustling day and night.

A few people shuttled through the crowd, Chu Zhiyuan occasionally stopped, pointing a finger here or there: "That way."

After a while, stopped again, pointing: "This way."

...

At the break of dawn, Chu Zhiyuan stood outside the South Palace Gate, surrounded by steaming white air, clasped his hands towards Huang Shiron: "That's all, Miss Huang, we shall meet again."

"Yes." Huang Shiron clasped her hands, speaking softly: "This humble girl takes her leave."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded.

He had quite a good impression of this elegant as chrysanthemum Huang Shiron.

She didn't speak much, soft outside and strong inside, graceful and composed, young yet had reached Innate Perfection and was a True Disciple of the White Cloud Sword Palace, yet had no arrogance.

Such a mental state and cultivation are indeed rare.

Watching Huang Shiron dissipate like a wisp of smoke, Chu Zhiyuan turned to look around, seeing curious ministers arriving for the morning court.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in acknowledgment, then turned and entered the South Palace Gate.

...

In the following days, he followed a two-point routine, going to Mingwu Hall in the morning and returning to the Prince Mansion by evening, everything was calm, focusing on cultivation.

The Dragon Transformation Technique steadily advanced towards the first layer of Perfection, his meridians growing wider and tougher.

He read a book "Evil Slayer Record" in the west side hall.

This "Evil Slayer Record" documented the deeds of some evil sects in Martial Arts, mentioning the Yuding Sect.

The pursuit of the Yuding Sect is eternal life, their fundamental mental method is to enhance themselves through devouring, thereby forging their bodies into a jade cauldron, immortal and indestructible.

The so-called name of the Yuding Sect's jade cauldron means the human body is like a jade cauldron, both immortal and indestructible, and can absorb nature's spiritual energy to strengthen oneself.

The mental method is domineering, devouring essence can rapidly increase cultivation, advancing by leaps and bounds, but the method of breaking through is what hinders them.

After all, the cultivation obtained through devouring is not pure enough, making breakthrough ten times more difficult than other sect disciples.

Even so, the Yuding Sect is extremely powerful due to this mental method.

Other sects' disciples find it easier to break through, but the success rate is not high, adding tenfold difficulty doesn't impact the outcome much.

What's more, the progression speed of Yuding Sect disciples is ten times faster than other sect disciples, this positive and negative, instead makes Yuding Sect disciples stronger.

Chu Zhiyuan understood completely after reading.

After getting used to rapid progress, they cannot tolerate stagnation, plus Yuding Sect has top-notch stealth secret techniques, high success rate of ambush, and can easily escape post-ambush.

The despair of stagnation, the luck in skilled stealth, combined with the temptation of gaining power through quick breakthrough, made them take the risk to devour the essence of Imperial Family children.

The purer the bloodline, the more effective it is for the Yuding Sect.

As the Princely Heir of Prince Qing Mansion, he is indeed the best target.

His expression darkened.

As the Princely Heir, extremely wealthy, yet becoming prey, the Yuding Sect must be exterminated!

Unfortunately, even with Taiqing Primordial Sect's Miracle Technique, cultivation speed is tens or even dozens of times faster than ordinary people, it still cannot happen overnight, it must proceed step by step.

Thinking of this, he put down the "Evil Slayer Record" and went out to practice.

...

"Oh, old Fourth, rare to see you out practicing." Chu Mingxuan saw Chu Zhiyuan assume the Dragon Subduing Stance at the Martial Arts Training Ground, curiously approached: "Not burying your head in books, huh?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Eighteenth Uncle, I had too many questions in the mansion, now I've figured them out, in the future, I'll focus on cultivation."

"What are you practicing?"

"The Dragon Transformation Technique of the Dragon Subduing Sect."

"...Isn't it the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill?" Chu Mingxuan frowned and thought for a moment, unsurely asked.

"Precisely."

"Hiss..." Chu Mingxuan gasped.

Though the two spoke quietly, not to disturb others' cultivation, their conversation was still heard by the other Princes and Heirs around.

Upon hearing about the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill, they all looked over.

"Fourth Brother, are you really going to practice the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill?"

Someone released their Purple Sun Stance and came over to ask.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded: "Let's see, whether it works or not, we'll find out."

"As expected of Fourth Brother."

"Fourth Brother, don't waste time."

"It's impossible to succeed."

...

Everyone released their Purple Sun Stance, gathered around Chu Zhiyuan, and started discussing together.

Some praised, some advised against, opinions varied.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled without speaking.

He recalled a celebrity from his past life once said, after fame, surrounded by good people, and now it's the same situation.

Previously, the Princes and Heirs, though not hostile, were merely curious, maintaining composure and observation, but since his small victory in the previous match, they suddenly became more warm and friendly.

He very much enjoyed this feeling of being surrounded by stars.

"Let's see if old Fourth can succeed, hitting the wall before turning back, we were like this too back then," Chu Mingxuan suddenly raised his voice: "I heard the news, our winter hunt this year is in three days."

"Eighteenth Uncle, isn't it supposed to be on New Year's Day?"

"It's moved up this year, if everyone hasn't heard the news, then quickly prepare, don't miss this opportunity!"

Chu Zhiyuan looked towards Chu Mingxuan.

Chu Mingxuan chuckled: "Old Fourth, our only chance to earn military merit at Mingwu Hall is the annual winter hunt."

In spring, everything grows, not suitable for killing, summer is too hot, in winter most animals hibernate, autumn is both harvest and an austere season, ideal for hunting.

"The autumn hunt is for Father and them, our Mingwu Hall has the winter hunt..." Chu Mingxuan explained the intricacies in detail.

```