White-Robed Chief

"Why are you still working with him then?" Chu Li scoffed.

"I must get back at him," Sun Mingyue explained. "He plotted a scheme against us, so we must do the same. But we both want to kill King Ping, so it'll be more effective if we join hands."

"Based on what I know, if the prince is killed, the emperor will make a move," Chu Li mentioned. "I'm sure nobody can stop an Enlightened Master?"

"Mm," Sun Mingyue responded.

Chu Li was shocked. "It's going to be a suicide mission?"

Sun Mingyue nodded slowly.

Chu Li was concerned. "Saint, you're not going to send me, are you? I still want to live!"

Sun Mingyue fixed her gaze on him.

Chu Li stared back at her as he was not resigned. As Chu Li looked into her beautiful eyes, he was so drawn that felt as if he was going to fall for her. Luckily, the Omniscient Mirror was there to keep his composure, so he did not fall too deep.

Chu Li expressed, "Saint, I don't want to go to Great Light Realm now!"

"Don't worry, I won't choose you, but you're a suitable candidate indeed." Sun Mingyue looked at him meaningfully.

Chu Li stressed, "I'm going to be a patrol, an altar leader, and a Priest!"

"You have high aspirations." Sun Mingyue chuckled, then said, "But as you often violate the rules, it'll be hard for you to become a Priest."

"I'll take it slow." Chu Li added, "As long as I contribute enough."

Sun Mingyue agreed, "That's true."

The Holy Church of Light still assessed their disciples based on martial art skills and contributions. With profound martial art skills and sufficient contributions to the church, one could still be appointed as the Priest.

Chu Li asked, "Who will you send to kill King Ping then?"

"You don't have to worry about that," Sun Mingyue replied.

Chu Li stated, "Now that Ji Dynasty's crown price is set, King Ping won't be able to control the military force anymore. Since he's no longer a threat, why do you need to send one of ours to die?"

Sun Mingyue shook her head. "Once the crown prince becomes the emperor, King Ping will regain his control over the military force."

Chu Li scoffed. "With Fu Dynasty dominates the scene, the other four dynasties are simply puppets. Fu Dynasty's in full control of whether the dynasties are at war or at peace with one another. No matter how powerful Li Dynasty is, we can't eliminate Ji Dynasty. Fu Dynasty simply won't agree!"

Sun Mingyue was clearly surprised. "You've improved."

Only those from the imperial family and the higher management of top sects had such insights.

Chu Li mentioned, "There's only one thing on my mind now. I'll cultivate my martial arts so well that I can traverse the world without being restrained. Military fights are child's play to me, they're not worth mentioning."

"Your thinking is too extreme. Militaries are very important," Sun Mingyue remarked. "Fu Dynasty may be everywhere, but they might not always work effectively. Besides, without a formidable military force, a dynasty will become Fu Dynasty's puppet!"

Chu Li thought for a while. Then, he felt that it made sense too.

"Alright, you can return to Gale City." Sun Mingyue then reminded, "Oh right, don't get involved in the fight between the princes. It's none of your business that the two of them are always fighting… The disciples of the Holy Church must never be associated with fights concerning the Imperial Household, that's a rule."

"Understood," Chu Li replied.

Sun Mingyue added, "Don't think that Twelfth Prince is a good person. None of them from the imperial family is good."

Chu Li smiled as he agreed with her on that.

Among the princes that he knew, apart from King Ping who had always obeyed the rules because he was influenced by the military force, the other princes were not upright at all. It was as if they were born to be major predators that regarded everyone else as their prey.

"You may leave." Sun Mingyue waved her hand.

Chu Li fluttered away after he gave her a fist salute.

…

Chu Li sat under a pine tree at Spirit Cranes Peak where the sun shone brightly. As he showered in the rich spiritual energy around him, he tried to fathom the Heavenly King Palm.

After the two little cranes played with him, they went to look for food. Spirit Cranes Peak was extremely quiet.

On the other hand, Xiao Qi and Xiao Shi were plucking fruits nearby.

Not only did the fruits smelled great, but they were also beneficial to the body. Xiao Qi and Xiao Shi liked the fruits so much that they always brought some back home.

Chu Li had a vague feeling that the environment was helpful for his attempt to comprehend Heavenly King Palm.

Due to Chu Li's sharp sense, he could feel an invisible force around him which could not be found outside of Hundred-Thousand Hills. The force allowed Chu Li to have a greater understanding of Heaven's will, where he somehow felt that he was nearer to Heavenly King Palm's core.

That being said, he could not reach it as it seemed like he was separated by a thin layer of fine gauze. While it looked like it was just a layer of gauze, it was simply too far to reach. Upon seeing that it was untouchable, Chu Li became more frustrated. With that, he decided to relax his mind and watched as Xiao Qi and Xiao Shi plucked fruits.

"What did you gain this time?" Xiao Qi and Xiao Shi sat beside him to rest.

Chu Li answered, "I hit a prince from Li Dynasty, and became friends with another."

"How dare you hit a prince? You're becoming more fearless." Xiao Shi then asked, "He didn't try to kill you?"

"I'm the Branch Leader of the Holy Church of Light," Chu Li responded.

Xiao Shi scoffed. "I think you're just enjoying it. You're addicted to your role in the Holy Church of Light."

Chu Li chuckled without saying a word.

Sure enough, Chu Li had benefited a lot from the Holy Church of Light. It had opened his eyes to the vast world and various secrets that he would have otherwise not come across if he roamed the martial art world by himself. Moreover, he could also use the Holy Church of Light's powers for his own during times of need.

At the moment, his only goal was to become an Enlightened Master.

However, it was difficult to pursue that path on his own. Therefore, only through assistance from the Holy Church of Light, the Heavenly Demonic Sect, and even the Goddess Attraction Mountain, he could become an Enlightened Master.

"The pavilion master of Mysterious Pavilion, Liang Yinge, is a powerful figure." Chu Li pondered, then said, "I initially wanted to eliminate Mysterious Pavilion to get revenge for King Ping, but it's not as easy as I thought. I can't defeat Liang Yinge."

"I've heard of him." Xiao Shi added, "He's a genius indeed. Don't rush, your cultivation speed is faster than his."

Chu Li shook his head.

Chu Li could tell that Liang Yinge was also advancing by leaps and bounds, and he would surpass him anytime. Yet, Chu Li had not been improving much.

After chatting with the ladies, Chu Li felt more relaxed. So, he continued to comprehend the Heavenly King Palm again.

Unexpectedly, he was struck with a sudden realization, and a strange feeling grew inside of him. Chu Li felt as if Heaven and Earth became one, where he was equaled to Heaven and vice versa. While looking down at all beings in the world, he perceived everything as if all worldly matters were nothing but a pipe dream. Everything was at his fingertips, and everything was under his control.

Eventually, the channeling route of Heavenly King Palm became unobstructed, and spiritual energy appeared out of thin air. The energy traveled along the route, forming a unique yet odd aura that finally entered his Dantian.

The aura was so strange that it constantly devoured the inner energy in his Datian in a swirl.

Chu Li's inner energy was devoured so quickly that half of it was gone in no time. After that, it was being devoured even quicker.

When Chu Li suddenly moved, all spiritual energy around him gushed into his Dantian. Subsequently, they were engulfed by the aura, which transformed them into Heavenly King Palm's Aura. Even when he stopped operating the Life and Death Scripture, Heavenly King Palm's aura still absorbed the spiritual energy around him.

It was then when Chu Li realized that Heavenly King Palm cultivated the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth instead of his inner energy.

If it was not for the Life and Death Scripture that allowed him to be close to and familiar with spiritual energy, he could not have cultivated it so easily.