"What about further up?"
Jiang Yuechu set down the book.
The Old Eunuch hurriedly stepped forward to lead the way.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, there were noticeably fewer bookshelves.
"This floor contains Cultivation Techniques of the Core Formation and Dianmo Realm, including many unique skills that once shook the Jianghu."
"Are there any higher ones?"
Jiang Yuechu's gaze swept toward the stairs to the fifth floor.
The Old Eunuch wore a troubled expression.
"Your Highness, this... above this fifth floor, are stored the Secret Manuals of the Zhonglian Realm and above."
"And besides..." The Old Eunuch hesitated, stopping himself.
"And besides what?"
The Old Eunuch sighed and explained:
"Your Highness may not know, but most core Cultivation Techniques and martial arts of the Zhonglian and Mountain Gazing Realms are treated as life-or-death matters by the great clans and Sects, and they keep them tightly guarded."
"Although the Imperial family possesses the four seas, it is not appropriate to seize them by force."
"After all... if they are pushed too hard, and those Sects and clans join forces, it could be a major problem."
Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly.
She understood this point.
The Dao must not be easily imparted.
Imperial power and the great clans are both dependent on each other and in a constant game of strategy.
If the Imperial family's behavior is too unsightly...
The great clans and Sects would not mind flipping the table, and at worst, no one gets to eat.
"However..."
The Old Eunuch changed his tone, a hint of pride appearing on his face.
"Although most unique skills are outside, our Li Imperial family has sat upon the world for hundreds of years, and the good things we have collected are no fewer than those of the top Sects."
"Your Highness, please."
The two walked up the stairs.
They arrived at the fifth floor.
The space here was much smaller than the floors below, but more refined.
Over a dozen purple sandalwood shelves were arranged in a scattered yet orderly manner.
On each wooden shelf, only one or two brocade boxes sat lonely.
"Your Highness, these are the most precious books in our Imperial secret treasury."
Jiang Yuechu walked forward.
She casually opened a brocade box.
"Purple Star Imperial Qi Art."
"This is a Cultivation Technique created by the founding Emperor back then; it requires the Dragon Qi of the Imperial Ancestral Temple to achieve Major Achievement, and its power is peerless, but the threshold..."
The Old Eunuch smiled apologetically: "Except for the successive Emperors, if others cultivate it, I fear it would be somewhat taboo."
Jiang Yuechu closed the lid, lacking interest.
Fine.
So this is an exclusive weapon for the Emperor, right?
She continued to flip through a few more.
"Cold Ice Cotton Palm," "Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword," "Qianyuan Blood-Burning Art"...
All were superior martial arts of the Zhonglian Realm.
If they were to spread, it would be enough to cause a bloody storm in the Jianghu.
But Jiang Yuechu only glanced through them hastily before putting them down.
Although these Cultivation Techniques were good, they were of no help to her at the moment.
Anyway, she had the talent of Broad Knowledge and Strong Memory.
If she needed to use them in the future, she could add points later.
"Is there any kind of..."
Jiang Yuechu pondered for a moment and gestured.
"Cultivation Technique for tempering the Physical Body?"
Hearing this, the Old Eunuch was stunned.
Hard-body Cultivation Technique?
The martial arts of this world are as vast as the sea.
But this hard-body kung fu is traditionally practiced by men.
Firstly.
Although this hard-body kung fu is easy to enter, achieving Major Achievement is as difficult as ascending to heaven.
It requires training through the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer, soaking in medicinal water every day, and even worse, using hard objects to strike the Physical Body, suffering all kinds of fleshly pain.
Not to mention the time and effort.
If one practices it incorrectly and the Qi goes awry, even a slight carelessness will result in hidden injuries, and in one's old age, one will end up paralyzed in bed.
Secondly...
This is the most critical point.
Once ordinary hard-body kung fu is practiced deeply, one's figure and appearance will inevitably change to some extent.
Thick skin and tough flesh are basic.
Thick bones and knotted muscles are also common occurrences.
Not to mention the Grand Princess, who is as noble as Jiang Yuechu and possesses such peerless beauty?
If she were to train into a hulking, brawny Amazon...
But since Her Highness asked.
He pondered for a moment and led Jiang Yuechu to a dust-covered wooden shelf in the corner.
It was obviously something no one had flipped through for a long time.
"Your Highness, if you truly want to find a hard-body method of the Zhonglian Realm, I fear this is the only one in the Imperial secret treasury."
The Old Eunuch held the ancient book with both hands and handed it over.
His expression was even more hesitant than before.
"This Cultivation Technique is called — 'Perfect and Unbreakable Method'."
Jiang Yuechu took the ancient book and flipped through a couple of pages.
The handwriting was wild and cursive, revealing a sense of madness.
"Perfect and Unbreakable?"
Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow.
"This name is rather interesting."
The Old Eunuch explained: "This Cultivation Technique is not a Legacy of our Li Imperial family, but from hundreds of years ago, when the Shangling Sect colluded with demons and intended to rebel."
"At that time, the Demon Suppression Division went all out and wiped them out."
"When confiscating their Sect treasury, they seized this Secret Manual."
Speaking of this.
The Old Eunuch lowered his voice: "It is said that when cultivated to Major Achievement, the Physical Body becomes seamless and unified, and even compared to demons of the same realm, the strength of the Physical Body is not inferior."
"It's just..."
Jiang Yuechu closed the book, her gaze sweeping over the Old Eunuch's old face as he hesitated to speak.
"Just what?"
The Old Eunuch's old face flushed, and he coughed twice.
"Ahem..."
"It's just that this Cultivation Technique has a very harsh threshold."
"As the name implies."
"Perfect, Unbreakable."
"Whether male or female, if one wishes to practice this technique, one must maintain a virgin body, with Yuan Yang or Yuan Yin unreleased, only then can one lock in that essence qi."
"Once the body is broken..."
The Old Eunuch shook his head.
"Then this hard-body kung fu will be like a breached river, instantly draining away completely."
This is why, even though this Secret Manual is of a very high grade, it has always been thrown in a corner gathering dust.
For members of the Imperial family.
Procreation is the top priority.
How can there be any reason to become a lifelong monk or nun just to practice a martial art?
The Old Eunuch stole a glance at Jiang Yuechu's expression.
He carefully advised: "Your Highness, you are currently sixteen, at the prime of your youth."
"Although His Majesty loves you and is unwilling to marry you off early."
"But this marriage between men and women is a great rite of human relations..."
"If you practice this damned kung fu, in the future..."
The Old Eunuch didn't finish his sentence.
But the meaning was already very clear.
You are the Grand Princess.
You will always have to recruit a consort in the future.
Jiang Yuechu was slightly stunned upon hearing this.
A virgin body?
Never marry for life?
For others, this might be a painful cost that requires weighing the pros and cons.
But for her...
What kind of joke of a cost is this?
"This Cultivation Technique is too extreme and truly violates human relations; Your Highness should still..."
Before he could finish speaking.
He saw the corners of Jiang Yuechu's mouth slightly lift.
"I thought it was some incredible cost."
"So it turns out..."
"It is nothing more than this."
"This Cultivation Technique, I want it."
Jiang Yuechu turned around and strode downstairs.
"Eh?! Your Highness..."
The Old Eunuch opened his mouth and hurriedly chased after her.
In his heart, he wished he could slap himself!
Damn!
Why was he running his mouth!?
This concerns the Grand Princess's lifelong matter!
If His Majesty finds out in the future that it was because he gave this Cultivation Technique that the Grand Princess will never marry...
Then he probably won't need this head of his anymore!
"Your Highness, please reconsider, Your Highness!!!"