Chapter 47 of 100

Chapter 47

15 min read3,774 words

He carefully felt the Heavenly Spirit Tree growing rapidly, its roots slowly extending out and spreading in all directions, eventually connecting with the three trees, achieving a connection of aura and roots. By then, the growth rate would be even faster.

The three trees were planted in the southeast, southwest, and directly behind the courtyard, forming an equilateral triangle. The Heavenly Spirit Tree was planted at the center of the triangle, twelve meters away from each of the three trees.

Chu Li sensed the Heavenly Spirit Tree and estimated that it would take only two days to fully root. With the assistance of the auras from the three trees, its growth was unimaginably fast, and it would sprout in ten days.

Currently, it still looked like a withered branch, showing no signs of life.

Xueling occasionally glanced at the withered branch while serving the dishes, shaking her head, not understanding what Chu Li was up to. Planting a tree was one thing, but sticking a withered branch into the ground and treating it like a treasure was just bizarre.

She arranged the dishes on the stone table in the pavilion and came to Chu Li. "Young Master, it's time to eat."

Chu Li waved his hand.

He was sensing the Heavenly Spirit Tree and suddenly realized that it was not only absorbing the auras of the three trees but also emitting a thread of aura. This thread of aura was extremely pure, far more refined than any aura he had ever seen, floating in the air and slowly spreading out.

This thread of aura was different from the aura within its body, but after it spread, it fell on the three trees, and he could feel their vitality increase.

He was so engrossed that he lost track of time.

Fifteen minutes later, Xueling looked at the pavilion and said softly, "Young Master, the food is getting cold!"

Chu Li turned and glared at her. Xueling looked back at him defiantly, her bright eyes unwavering.

"You..." Chu Li sighed, shaking his head helplessly, and got up to clap his hands.

Xueling quickly brought a basin, and after he washed his hands, he entered the pavilion, sat down, and picked up the jade chopsticks. "If you didn't get enough sleep, take a nap in the afternoon."

"Yes." Xueling poured the wash water and entered the pavilion, standing quietly by his side, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.

Chu Li took a bite of a small dish, sipped some wine, and thought about the pure aura he had just sensed. He also thought about how the Heavenly Spirit Tree's aura was much purer than his own internal energy. Using its aura for cultivation would be much more effective than his own internal energy, and he could even use it to purify his own internal energy.

Thinking about this, he felt much better and drained the white jade cup in one gulp.

Xueling refilled his cup.

"Hey, you're eating." Su Ru pushed the door open, her apricot-yellow silk robe fluttering as she gracefully approached the pavilion and glanced at the stone table. "Quite a feast!"

Chu Li smiled. "Has the steward eaten?"

"I just finished and hurried over to check on the Heavenly Spirit Tree." Su Ru waved her hand and came to the withered branch of the Heavenly Spirit Tree, looking down at it and frowning. "Is it alive?"

"It's already alive." Chu Li smiled. "You'll see tomorrow."

"Will there be any problems?" Su Ru examined it carefully, but it still looked like a withered branch, showing no signs of life.

Chu Li put down the white jade cup and jade chopsticks, came to her side, and smiled. "It can't be that fast."

"You're right." Su Ru laughed, realizing she was being too impatient.

The Heavenly Spirit Tree was of great importance. If it came to life, it would accelerate the growth of medicinal herbs, speeding up the cultivation of the young lady, which would affect the status of the entire Jade Qi Island.

She stood up and came to the pavilion, waving her hand. "Eat your meal."

Xueling came forward to greet her, and Chu Li returned to the pavilion, sitting down to continue drinking and eating. "Steward, there's something I don't understand."

"Is there something you don't know?" Su Ru smiled.

Xueling left the pavilion and quickly brought tea, which Su Ru took and sipped. "Go on."

Chu Li said, "Is Xiao Aunt young because of her cultivation or because she is naturally young?"

"Xiao Aunt is ten years older than the young lady."

"It seems she has achieved great cultivation." Chu Li said, noting that Xiao Yue Ling looked similar in age to Xiao Qi, not just in appearance but also in demeanor.

"Yes, Xiao Aunt is a cultivation prodigy, not inferior to the young lady."

"Which sect does she belong to?"

Su Ru gave him a sidelong glance. "Why do you ask?"

"I know Xiao Aunt is at the Heaven Beyond Heaven realm, which is beyond the reach of the Duke's Mansion. She must have joined another sect, right?"

"It seems you know about the trials." Su Ru nodded. "But that doesn't apply to Xiao Aunt. In short, it's a secret, and it's better you don't know."

Chu Li looked at her curiously.

Su Ru shook her head.

"Since it's a secret, it's not because of the trials or a fortuitous encounter... Could Xiao Aunt have joined a sect from a young age? To reach the Heaven Beyond Heaven realm at such a young age, it must be a prestigious sect, one of the four major sects. The Great Thunder Sound Temple and the Vajra Temple are unlikely, so it must be the Green Deer Cliff or the Purple Cloud Mountain... Xiao Aunt wears a Taoist robe, so it must be the Green Deer Cliff, right?"

Su Ru gave him a sidelong glance and huffed. "You're so smart!"

Chu Li nodded thoughtfully, noting that she didn't deny it.

The Duke's Mansion and the martial arts sects are natural enemies. The Duke's Mansion is the royal family's tool to suppress the martial arts sects. If they colluded, the royal family would be furious, and the Duke's Mansion would face severe consequences.

Chu Li frowned. "This move..."

He shook his head. The royal family wouldn't be unaware, and the Duke's Mansion would be suspected and possibly severely punished.

"It couldn't be helped!" Su Ru sighed. "Xiao Aunt has a different personality from the young lady. She was always independent, and the old patriarch doted on her, so no one could control her. She secretly slipped out of the Duke's Mansion, disguised as an ordinary person, and by chance joined the Green Deer Cliff."

Chu Li shook his head. Xiao Yue Ling's actions were like putting the Duke's Mansion on the fire.

"The old patriarch announced that Xiao Aunt had died." Su Ru sighed. "It caused a big stir at the time. Xiao Aunt had many suitors, including the eldest son of the Benevolent Duke's Mansion."

"Then what happened?"

Su Ru sighed. "Xiao Aunt was originally named Xiao Minghui. After joining the Green Deer Cliff, she changed her name to Xiao Yue Ling and never changed it back. She never considered herself part of the Duke's Mansion and declared that Xiao Minghui was dead."

"Xiao Minghui..." Chu Li thought. "The princess of the Benevolent Duke's Mansion is Lu Yurong, right?"

After being attacked by the Benevolent Duke's Mansion, he had investigated and learned that Lu Yurong, the outstanding princess of the Benevolent Duke's Mansion, was likely the one who ordered the attack. She was an extremely intelligent person.

Su Ru said, "Lu Yurong's father has no connection to Xiao Aunt."

Chu Li was skeptical.

Su Ru gave him a sidelong glance and huffed. "Why do you need to know these things? It's harmful and not beneficial."

Chu Li smiled and drained the white jade cup.

Xueling refilled it and stood quietly behind him.

Su Ru sighed. "Lu Yurong's father died young, and her elder brother took care of her, acting as a father. He was infatuated with Xiao Aunt and soon died of depression after hearing that Xiao Aunt had died."

Chu Li was taken aback.

"At that time, the two Duke's Mansions were not enemies. After the eldest son of the Benevolent Duke's Mansion died, they became enemies!"

"Didn't Lu Yurong go after Xiao Aunt?"

"Lu Yurong hated her but didn't take action. Later, when the news of Xiao Aunt being alive leaked, she started to seek revenge. Xiao Aunt was the one her elder brother loved and was also a victim. Lu Yurong felt that everything was the fault of our Duke's Mansion, which announced her death to protect itself."

"That's understandable."

"Alas... The two Duke's Mansions became enemies, and the enmity grew deeper." Su Ru shook her head. "Under Lu Yurong's management, the Benevolent Duke's Mansion became even stronger and more aggressive. Now that you know, what do you think?"

Chu Li shook his head, truly at a loss for words.

He drained the cup and put it down, pondering. "Does the royal family know about Xiao Aunt?"

"If the Benevolent Duke's Mansion knows, how could the royal family not know?" Su Ru pouted. "That's why our Duke's Mansion has been neglected. Otherwise, how could we be bullied by the Benevolent Duke's Mansion!"

"What about the young lady's mother?" Chu Li asked. "Wasn't she also a disciple of the Green Deer Cliff?"

"You know that too?"

"Xiao Aunt is called a junior sister, right?"

"Yes, the lady is also a disciple of the Green Deer Cliff."

Chu Li shook his head and smiled bitterly. If the royal family doesn't mind, who would?

"It was a coincidence." Su Ru shook her head. "The old master was traveling incognito in the martial arts world and met the lady, falling in love at first sight."

"What happened later?" Chu Li frowned. "Did she enter the Duke's Mansion?"

"No." Su Ru said helplessly. "The lady left after learning the old master's identity. She was pregnant at the time and died in childbirth. The young lady was brought back to the Duke's Mansion and raised by the old patriarch."

Chu Li sighed. Hearing this, he could guess Xiao Qi's situation. She was likely not favored by her father, and with the old patriarch having passed away a few years ago, her life must have been difficult.

"At least the two young masters and the second young lady are close to the young lady." Su Ru smiled. "The young lady is fortunate in that regard."

"Yes..." Chu Li nodded.

In this world, the rule is that the eldest legitimate son inherits. The eldest son will inherit the Duke's Mansion, and the fourth son has no right to inherit, let alone a daughter. Moreover, there is also a second young lady, and Xiao Qi is the third young lady.

His social circle is very limited, and he hasn't met the eldest son, the fourth son, or the second young lady, only hearing about them. The eldest son, Xiao Tie Ying, is wise and valiant, and with the Duke in seclusion, he manages all affairs in the Duke's Mansion, making him the de facto head of the Duke's Mansion.

The fourth son, Xiao Bai He, is extremely talented, uninvolved in worldly affairs, and focuses on martial arts. It is said that he has left the Duke's Mansion to travel, as all disciples must venture into the martial arts world to understand it, especially when the Duke's Mansion is at odds with the martial arts world.

The second young lady, Xiao Shi, is not skilled in martial arts but is exceptionally beautiful, known as the most beautiful woman in the region. Unfortunately, she rarely leaves Jade Poem Island, and when she does, she wears a white veil.

The third young lady, Xiao Qi, is exceptionally intelligent and helps the eldest son manage the Duke's Mansion, making her a valuable assistant.

"Does the young lady practice martial arts from the Green Deer Cliff?"

"Of course not!" Su Ru shook her head. "It's an ancient and rare art that the lady obtained by chance. However, it is very difficult to cultivate. Without the Purple Nether Flower, the young lady would still be struggling. With the Purple Nether Flower, it's much better!"

Chu Li nodded thoughtfully.

Su Ru gave him a sidelong glance and huffed. "You're too curious, and that's not good!"

Chu Li smiled. "Knowing these things helps me act more freely. Being in the dark hinders my thoughts and actions."

"Better keep these things to yourself." Su Ru turned and glared at Xueling, who quickly stepped back.

Chu Li smiled. "What other spiritual herbs does the young lady want to plant?"

"There are a few more, all difficult to grow and very slow to mature." Su Ru said. "I'm working on the seeds and will send them over in a few days!"

Chu Li nodded.

"How is your Vajra Deliverance Divine Skill progressing?"

"Slowly!" Chu Li shook his head. "I think there's a problem with the cultivation method, and it needs to be changed."

"Don't rush. The Vajra Deliverance Divine Skill is a lifelong practice!" Su Ru stood up and waved her hand. "That's enough. Don't see me off. Hurry and eat before the food gets cold!"

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