Chapter 26: What Has Happened to the Heir Apparent?

While Cheng Guang was cultivating, elsewhere in the Duke of Zhen's residence—

In an exquisitely adorned pavilion, within a brightly lit small chamber, Wu Yue was lying on her side atop the bed. Her willow brows furrowed slightly as she leafed through scrolls of portraits and information in her hands. These documents detailed, from across the Great Zhou, all young women whose family background and appearance could match the standing of the Duke of Zhen’s household.

“The eldest daughter of the Lin family from the ancient southern prefecture seems quite suitable, but I wonder if her looks are to Guang's liking,” she mused. “Mother’s opinion is that it’s best to choose someone from the capital—clear family lines, well-known roots. This Lin girl, though endowed with beauty and talent, is unfortunately not from the capital but from the southern ancient prefecture.”

“The Queen herself recommended her niece, Wang Xi Lu. I’ve watched Wang Xi Lu grow up; as a child, she got along well with Guang. She might also be a good match.”

Wu Yue lay there, turning each scroll over, the young women depicted all dazzling in their own right—each the unattainable goddess of their generation. Yet, for Wu Yue, all their halos faded; her sole criteria were whether they would bear children well and whether her son would like them. Status, so prized by common folk, meant little to her—so long as the family’s reputation was clean, that was enough.

Just as Wu Yue was fretting over her son’s marriage, a lively commotion erupted outside. The excited voice reached her ear before its owner arrived.

“Yue, I bring good news! Good news!” The speaker’s excitement made his voice loud, and Wu Yue’s brow creased, a headache beginning to throb.

“Keep your voice down,” she chided.

At her words, Cheng Zhi Hai’s stern and dignified face froze with embarrassment, and he smiled awkwardly before quickly settling beside Wu Yue.

“Yue, truly, there’s good news!” he insisted.

“What news?” Wu Yue asked absently, still flipping through scrolls. “Whatever it is, could it be more important than Guang’s marriage?”

“Since you returned, you haven’t come to see me. You took Guang for treatment, then vanished all day. Is there someone outside now?” Wu Yue spoke coolly.

Her words sent cold sweat down Cheng Zhi Hai’s spine, and he hurriedly gestured, smiling in appeasement. “No, no, my heart belongs only to you.”

After a brief pause, Cheng Zhi Hai quickly continued, “Yue, Guang’s injury has healed!”

Wu Yue’s expression froze, then joy flooded her face. “Is this true?”

She did not know that Cheng Guang’s injury was caused by the forced fusion of royal bloodlines, but she was nonetheless delighted. Whether he could cultivate or not mattered little to her; as long as he grew up safe and healthy, that was enough.

Cheng Zhi Hai nodded. “Yes, Guang can now cultivate. You don’t know—today, I gave him a technique called the Divine Python Entwining Skill, let him practice it to build a solid foundation before switching him to something simpler. But—” he grinned, “guess what? He actually mastered it!”

Cheng Zhi Hai’s mouth stretched nearly to his ears in excitement. “In just a single day, he mastered the entire set of the Divine Python Entwining Skill.”

“He truly is my son!”

Cheng Zhi Hai was moved.

Wu Yue frowned at his words. “What do you mean your son? As if I had no part in it?”

Cheng Zhi Hai hastily scratched his head and nodded without any dignity. “Of course, you too.”

Wu Yue sighed in relief. “Whatever the case, it’s a blessing that Guang’s health is restored. But you—his body just recovered today, and you made him practice martial arts? What were you thinking? Can’t you let him rest a bit?”

Seeing Wu Yue about to scold him, Cheng Zhi Hai quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, half coaxing, half teasing. “You don’t understand, it was the boy himself who insisted on training!”

“Is that so?” Wu Yue eyed him skeptically.

Cheng Zhi Hai nodded earnestly.

Wu Yue, still doubtful, sighed. “Fine. Cultivation is ultimately a good thing, but don’t push him too hard. Let him take his time, or I’ll have words with you.”

“By the way,” Wu Yue said, tossing the scrolls into Cheng Zhi Hai’s lap. “Mother and I have selected some promising young ladies. Take a look—see which one you find suitable. And we need to consult Father, too.”

Cheng Zhi Hai gave a quiet “Oh,” and began to flip through the documents with care. This iron-faced man, so stern outside, had not a hint of coldness at home—indeed, he seemed rather spineless before his family.

After a while, Cheng Zhi Hai grew perplexed. “All these girls seem fine. Why not take them all?”

Wu Yue stared, then laughed and scolded, “Cheng Zhi Hai, what do you take our son for? All of them? Do you want to wear him out?”

Cheng Zhi Hai chuckled sheepishly. “I was just saying.”

Wu Yue’s brows knitted in suspicion. “You’re not saying this because you regret only marrying me, are you? Feel you’ve been wronged?”

At this, Cheng Zhi Hai broke into a cold sweat.

“How could I? Having you as my wife is fortune across three lifetimes!”

His honeyed words made Wu Yue shudder.

She shifted uncomfortably. “Enough, stop. If you have nothing else, leave.”

“Leave? Why leave? They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Oh, you—!”

The candlelight was snuffed out.

The pavilion plunged into darkness.

...

Upon waking, Cheng Guang felt refreshed.

The fatigue from cultivation had vanished overnight, and the flesh of the Mistwood Spirit Tiger had proven excellent—even a small portion left him brimming with vital energy. He feared, in fact, that eating too much would overfill him and cause nosebleeds.

A happy dilemma, indeed.

...

With Qingluan’s attentive care, Cheng Guang washed and dressed, then stepped into the courtyard.

Lin Cheng had arrived early, just as dawn broke, dutifully greeting Cheng Guang before moving aside to practice his martial arts.

Previously, Cheng Guang had not trained in martial arts and simply thought Lin Cheng’s skills impressive, nothing more. Now, observing him afresh, he saw that Lin Cheng was practicing a tiger form technique—ferocious and domineering, fearless of death.

In terms of sheer destructive power, the tiger form was clearly superior to Cheng Guang’s Divine Python Entwining Skill, but in cultivation potential and foundational strength, the latter held a distinct advantage. Each had its strengths and weaknesses.

The technique’s every movement exuded a murderous, bloody intent—likely a military style.

Cheng Guang pondered this for a while, then ceased watching Lin Cheng and began his own practice.

He first sat cross-legged, quietly reciting obscure incantations. His hands formed seals, each gesture precise, as described in the Imperial Divine Cultivation Manual.

Once he activated the power within his bloodline and sensed the primordial energy of heaven and earth, maintaining the state became much easier.

Cheng Guang rose to practice the Divine Python Entwining Skill.

“Divine Python strikes for prey, coils around trees, climbs and ascends…”

He moved through each form, visualizing the surrounding energy as lively starlight, drawing it into his body through his whispered incantations and mysterious seals.

In a fleeting instant, his bloodline burned hot, a noble violet hue flickered in his eyes, his mind clarified as if enlightened, allowing him to focus wholly and immerse himself in cultivation.

In this state, the world’s primordial energy surged toward Cheng Guang like a tidal wave.

Whoosh!

It was as though a great wind had risen!

Radiant streams of light flashed across Cheng Guang’s form, causing Qingluan and Lin Cheng to pause their actions and turn, astonished.

For a moment, they could scarcely believe Cheng Guang was the cause.

“What is this? Energy leaving the body? No, he’s drawing energy inward. Even martial cultivators of the Violet Mansion stage can’t achieve this!” Lin Cheng was dumbfounded.

“What’s happening to the young master?” Qingluan’s beautiful eyes flickered in shock, equally stunned by the sight.

Lin Cheng had not been present last night, but Qingluan knew—Cheng Guang had only begun cultivating yesterday.

To be able to draw in the world’s energy after a single day of cultivation?

This defied all common sense and left her utterly bewildered.

...