Looking at the grateful Lin Shuo, Lin Yu actually wanted to say it was unnecessary for him to return to the imperial city.
But seeing Lin Shuo, who was eager to enter the palace and plead with the emperor, he ultimately didn't speak up.
After seeing off the reluctant Chu Chu and Second Brother, Lin Yu continued his regular cultivation.
Now he was only a半步 (half-step) away from the Purple Mansion Realm, and the先天九品 (Innate Ninth Rank) Demon Kings in the forbidden area of the Qilian Mountains could no longer satisfy his cultivation needs for spiritual energy.
To take this small step and advance to the Purple Mansion Realm, he needed to hunt at least dozens more Innate Ninth Rank Demon Kings.
However, he had already hunted most of these Demon Kings, and the remaining ones had fled in all directions. It was unknown how long it would take to gather enough sacrifices for his advancement.
Alternatively, he could hunt the legendary Purple Mansion Realm monsters sleeping deep in the Forbidden Area of Death.
According to Lord Cauldron, hunting one Purple Mansion Realm monster was equivalent to dozens of Innate Ninth Rank Demon Kings.
Therefore, Lin Yu had made up his mind: once his Innate Realm cultivation was stabilized, he would enter the mountains to seek out sleeping Purple Mansion Realm monsters.
...
In the imperial palace, the Second Prince Lin Shuo knelt before the Han Emperor, being reprimanded.
The Han Emperor's face was as cold as ice, pointing at Lin Shuo's nose and scolding: "Lin Yu's incompetence has exhausted the army, allowing the barbarians in the Southern Wilderness to almost ride over my head. I had important plans for you when you returned, but you actually pleaded for that good-for-nothing Lin Yu! Go back and tell Lin Yu to stay in the imperial mausoleum for the rest of his life—don't even think about returning!"
After scolding for a while, the Han Emperor still felt unsatisfied and冷哼 (snorted coldly): "You're so soft-hearted. How can you take on important responsibilities in the future?"
The Second Prince Lin Shuo had always been known for his kindness and virtue both in the court and among the people, originally the Han Emperor's top choice for crown prince.
Now it seemed that being too benevolent made him overly sentimental, unfit to inherit the great throne.
Thus, the Han Emperor decided to observe further to see if any other princes could stand out.
Lin Shuo hesitated, then looked at the furious Han Emperor and cautiously said: "Father, there must be something strange about Third Brother's惨败 (crushing defeat) in the Southern Expedition. The barbarian army knew our march routes—he must have been framed!"
"Please give Third Brother another chance to prove himself!"
He didn't give up and continued to plead for Lin Yu.
"Don't make excuses for his incompetence. If you dare to plead for him again, go guard the imperial mausoleum with him!"
The Han Emperor's face turned铁青 (livid), and he flicked his sleeves away.
...
Half a month later, Chu Chu arrived on time.
Under Lin Yu's guidance, Chu Chu began to cultivate. As Lord Cauldron had said, her Profound Yin Body allowed her to progress at an astonishing speed. It wouldn't be long before she caught up with and surpassed her peers.
"Too bad!"
Just then, Lord Cauldron's voice suddenly sounded in Lin Yu's mind.
"Lord Cauldron, what's a pity?"
Lin Yu asked curiously.
"Too bad the little girl, like you before, is practicing such a poor cultivation method. It can't unleash the true power of her Profound Yin Body at all!"
Lord Cauldron chuckled at Lin Yu: "But I can create a cultivation method suitable for the Profound Yin Body. With my method, her cultivation will definitely soar!"
"Lord Cauldron, do you have such a cultivation method?"
Lin Yu asked in confusion.
"Not before, but did you really think that after refining ten thousand volumes of secret books from the library, I only merged the Saint Emperor's Art and Sword Intent of Wind? Now I have countless powerful cultivation methods and secret techniques. Those two are just the most suitable for you right now."
Lord Cauldron chuckled, then a cluster of golden light bloomed in Lin Yu's sea of consciousness, and countless characters poured out from the light—it was a cultivation method called *Ice Soul Cold Light Art*.
"Thank you, Lord Cauldron!"
After thanking Lord Cauldron, Lin Yu immediately woke Chu Chu and taught her this cultivation method.
With the *Ice Soul Cold Light Art*, Chu Chu's cultivation speed became even more rapid.
Time flowed like water, and five years passed in the blink of an eye.
Over these five years, Chu Chu had come to the imperial mausoleum every half month to receive Lin Yu's guidance, claiming publicly that she was visiting her uncle who had been demoted to guard the mausoleum.
The royal family knew Chu Chu had been born with cold poison and didn't have long to live, so they turned a blind eye to her visits.
Under Lin Yu's guidance, Chu Chu's cultivation speed was astonishing.
At only twelve or thirteen years old, she had already reached the Ninth Rank of Martial Dao, just one step away from the Innate Realm.
Her peers, the other princes and princesses, were mostly at the Fourth or Fifth Rank of Martial Dao, with the most talented ones reaching only the Sixth or Seventh Rank—far behind her.
Chu Chu had surpassed others'十几年 (more than a decade) of hard work in just five years. Such a cultivation speed was truly demonic, living up to the reputation of the Profound Yin Body.
Over the five years, Lin Yu had ventured deep into the forbidden area of the Qilian Mountains more than ten times in search of Purple Mansion Realm monsters, but each time he returned empty-handed.
However, he had hunted down the remaining Innate Realm monsters, finally advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm with Lord Cauldron's help and now possessing the cultivation of Purple Mansion Second Rank.
For Lin Yu to progress further, he either needed to find heavenly materials and earthly treasures or hunt Purple Mansion Realm monsters. Otherwise, Innate Realm monsters could no longer satisfy his need for spiritual energy.
Over the years, Lin Yu had reaped the monsters in the Qilian Mountains again and again, and there hadn't been a beast tide in several consecutive instances.
This led the Great Han Dynasty to discuss transferring the Mausoleum Guard Army elsewhere. After all, the Mausoleum Guard Army, which had long fought against monsters, was one of the Great Han's elite forces, and keeping them in the Qilian Mountains was a waste.
As for the Qilian Mountains, only a few people needed to stay behind for observation.
...
Three months later, as Chu Chu was about to go to the imperial mausoleum to find Lin Yu, she was stopped by Lin Shuo.
There was a grand gathering in the imperial city that day, and the Han Emperor had ordered all princes and grandchildren to attend.
Moreover, since this gathering was hosted by the Second Prince Lin Shuo, he had to set an example and bring Chu Chu with him.
After following Lin Shuo to the banquet, Chu Chu learned that it was held to welcome envoys from the Southern Wilderness.
Since Lin Yu's crushing defeat in the Southern Expedition, the Southern Wilderness had gained the upper hand and repeatedly provoked the Great Han Dynasty. The sudden dispatch of an envoy group left the civil and military officials of the Great Han perplexed, able only to respond as the situation developed.
The banquet was extremely grand, with all princes and grandchildren, civil and military officials in attendance, and even the Han Emperor himself present.
Hosts and guests enjoyed the feast, with singing and dancing.
However, after several rounds of drinks, the Great Witch of the Southern Wilderness suddenly stood up.
"I've heard that the founding emperor of the Great Han possessed a peerless Sword Body, rarely matched in the world, and that the imperial family thrives in martial arts with numerous powerhouses. Our Southern Wilderness Young Lord has also come to the Great Han with the envoy group. Since childhood, he has been obsessed with martial arts and wishes to witness the might of the imperial family's warriors. Please, princes, do not hesitate to赐教 (enlighten us with your guidance)."
Although the Great Witch spoke respectfully, everyone could hear the challenge in his words.