Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 11: Chapter 10: Obtaining the Sword

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The moonlight was like water.

The Tingtao Courtyard was brightly lit, like daylight.

Under a plum blossom tree on the west side of the courtyard, the sword light flickered.

After more than ten flashes, the longsword was sheathed by Chu Zhiyuan, having completed the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique.

His feet at the Yongquan point suddenly surged like a whale swallowing, and the primordial energy rushed up to fill the dantian.

He then struck a peculiar pose under the tree: legs slightly bent, left hand stroking while the right pressed, as if embracing something.

It was precisely the Dragon Subduing Stance.

By using the Dragon Subduing Stance to operate the Dragon Transformation Technique, the cultivation effect was multiplied.

A quarter of an hour later, after the meridians had consumed nine-tenths of the inner qi in the dantian, he once again operated the Earth Origin Technique, the Yongquan points on his feet drawing primordial energy from the earth to fill the dantian again.

Then he continued with the Dragon Subduing Stance to operate the Dragon Transformation Technique.

An hour later, he felt weary.

So, he operated the Heavenly Yuan Technique.

Strands of cool qi descended from the sky, entering the Bai Hui acupoint. His mind felt as if it had been immersed in an icy spring, instantly revitalized, dispelling all fatigue, as if awakening from a sound sleep.

With his spirit refreshed, he continued with the Dragon Subduing Stance to operate the Dragon Transformation Technique.

Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique => Earth Origin Technique => Dragon Transformation Technique => Earth Origin Technique => Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique => Heavenly Yuan Technique.

Again and again, in cycles.

Unknowingly, the dawn began to light up.

He had practiced all night yet appeared energetic, without a trace of fatigue.

This unceasing practice throughout the night was more effective than ten days of ordinary hard training.

The body has a self-healing ability and an instinct to restore balance, like recovering from an injury or rebounding after losing weight.

Most of the time, it’s a good thing, but every advantage has disadvantages, and sometimes it’s not beneficial.

For those who practice martial arts, the self-healing and balance-restoring ability allows recovery from injuries but also poses the greatest obstacle during cultivation.

It causes the body to be like a spring or rubber, resisting changes from external forces.

Normal cultivation requires rest; after training for half a day, one must rest for half a day.

During this half-day of rest, the body’s self-healing and balance-restoring abilities will dissolve most of the cultivation results, leaving less than one or two tenths intact.

But he practiced continuously for an entire night, pressing forward without interruption, suppressing the rebound of self-healing and balance-restoring abilities, thus retaining more of the cultivation results.

Destroy and then establish, using the body’s self-healing and restoring abilities to enhance the body, is akin to deceiving the heavens. It’s a shortcut.

Thus, his continuous cultivation throughout the night surpassed ten days of ordinary practice.

He felt that at this pace of cultivation, mastering the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique would only take a month, after which he could begin practicing the Qi Cleansing Technique and Binding Dragon Rope.

The Qi Cleansing Technique and Binding Dragon Rope are complex but easy to master and pose no difficulty for him. Eventually mastering the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill, he could break through three barriers in one go and step into the Innate Realm.

——

When four maids served him breakfast, Zou Fang quietly handed over a small booklet and quietly retreated.

After Chu Zhiyuan finished eating and was walking outside, he flipped through the booklet as he walked.

After finishing it, he directly handed it back to Zou Fang.

Zou Fang lightly rubbed it with both palms, and it immediately turned to powder, scattering into the soil in the gaps between the blue bricks.

Chu Zhiyuan arrived at the gates of the Prince Mansion.

At this time, the first rays of dawn were appearing, the lanterns were still lit, the street was quiet, and the sounds of bustle faintly drifted from afar.

Yujing was indeed a city that never slept; both day and night were bustling and boisterous.

Guo Chi led eight Innate Masters while Feng Xi quietly followed them, escorting Chu Zhiyuan forward.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at Feng Xi and said, ”No wonder there’s so much confidence; this Director from the Central Office is actually the direct disciple of the Palace Master of the White Cloud Sword Palace.”

Feng Xi replied, ”Director Jiang is the direct disciple of Great Grandmaster Ye Menghai, destined to become a Great Grandmaster too.”

”Ah... the disciple of a Great Grandmaster, that makes me a disciple of a Great Grandmaster too,” said Chu Zhiyuan.

Feng Xi laughed, ”Great Grandmaster Ye only has this one direct disciple, who is the future Palace Master of the White Cloud Sword Palace and is now known as the Young Palace Master.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Chu Qingfeng was responsible for teaching these princely heirs and princes, but it was different from the relationship with a Martial Arts Sect master.

The relationship with a master in a Martial Arts Sect surpasses that of a father and son, whereas the relationship between Chu Qingfeng and these princely heirs and princes was not so close.

”Master Shizi, I will urge them again today.”

”No rush,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. ”It’s to avoid suspicion deliberately, and besides, urging too often will only invite ridicule and be looked down upon.”

The gates of Prince Qing Mansion have been quiet for a long time, with no visitors, because the situation was unclear.

After all, after being in isolation for thirty years, like a criminal just released, everyone would have reservations; rash contact could cause trouble, and it’s best to avoid getting involved.

Feng Xi went to seek an audience, but the Central Office Director must have known and said that it required a formal invitation in advance, which was both a rule and an excuse not to meet.

Prince Qing Mansion, being a Prince Mansion, normally could break this rule and skip the line; that’s the privilege of the Imperial Family.

If it were ordinary officials, they would have to meet even if unwilling, yet this Central Office Director was so confident that he didn’t want to meet.

If Feng Xi were sent again, it would be like pestering insistently; even if he managed to meet the Central Office Director reluctantly, it would tarnish the face of Prince Qing Mansion.

Face isn’t always important, but sometimes it is, especially for a Prince Mansion, where it represents dignity, status, and reputation.

If the reputation is tarnished, the isolation would intensify, making the situation even worse, more challenging than it is now.

——

In the dawn light, there were only two people in the Martial Arts Training Ground practicing the Purple Sun Stance, standing motionless.

One was burly and robust, the other tall and slender.

With the sun just rising, the purple aura coming from the east, it was the best time to practice the Little Purple Sun Technique.

Chu Zhiyuan approached them, clasped his hands, and smiled, ”Brother Nine and Brother Ten, you are early.”

The two opened their eyes and clasped their hands, calling out, ”Brother Four.”

Chu Zhiyuan could tell this ”Brother Four” was sincere, no longer unwilling.

This is the nature of the world; the strong are respected.

So he smiled, ”Do you know the Director from the Military Suppression Department?”

”Director Jiang?” Chu Zhitian nodded, ”Brother Four hasn’t met this Director Jiang, has he?”

”Fate hasn’t allowed it.”

”This Director Jiang is the only direct disciple of Grandmaster Ye Menghai, destined to become a Great Grandmaster.”

”Brother Nine, have you met him?”

”I’ve met him twice; he’s a nice person, quite amiable.”

”Hah!”

The two turned their heads to see.

Chu Zhichuan was restraining a smile on his handsome face.

”What’s so funny, Brother Ten?”

”I’m laughing at Brother Nine’s naiveté,” Chu Zhichuan sneered. ”Amiable? To think Director Jiang Qiuge is amiable, ha!”

Chu Zhitian frowned.

Chu Zhichuan snorted, ”This Director Jiang is quite arrogant, doesn’t consider us at all; his so-called amiability is just a facade.”

Chu Zhitian said, ”Brother Ten, you’re too harsh. Judge by actions, not by thoughts, no matter what he thinks, look at what he does.”

”It’s clear from a glance how arrogant he is, Brother Nine, you’re quite obtuse!” Chu Zhichuan sneered, ”What of being the future Palace Master of the White Cloud Sword Palace? What of becoming a Great Grandmaster? What’s so proud about it! We are the imperial grandsons, with the Chu bloodline!”

Chu Zhitian shook his head, ”Great Grandmasters have the right to be proud.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Brother Ten, apart from arrogance, what’s the character of this Director Jiang?”

”...No major flaws, arrogant and hypocritical but well disguised, nothing to criticize,” Chu Zhichuan snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

If that’s the case, then this Director Jiang might meet with him, likely maintaining a facade of respect to not directly snub Prince Qing Mansion.

As the three of them talked, others gradually arrived, greeted each other, and then started practicing the Little Purple Sun Technique.

The last to arrive was the Eighteenth Prince, Chu Mingxuan, with a sword on his right waist and a saber on the left.

He came to Chu Zhiyuan, unbuckled and tossed the longsword still sheathed from his waist: ”It’s yours now, Brother Four!”

”Thank you, Uncle Eighteen.”

Chu Zhiyuan received it with a smile, lowering his head to inspect the longsword.

The dark green scabbard was covered with vine patterns, like countless vines entwining, exuding an ancient and rustic aura.

The silver hilt bore hidden cloud patterns, its silvery light shimmering, subtly emanating nobility.

As the longsword gradually left the scabbard, the blade was as bright as autumn water, and the edge flickered with cold light, spreading a chilling aura rapidly.

Chu Zhiyuan pinched a sword technique with his left hand and gently stroked the blade, feeling its coldness, hardness, and flexibility; inexplicably, he felt a sense of calm, his mind suddenly peaceful and serene.

Chu Zhiyuan raised his brows.

This was quite strange.

With a sharp weapon, the intent to kill arises naturally.

This is both the nature of a weapon and the nature of a person. When weapon and man are in harmony, it stimulates the violent impulse deep within.

Yet touching this blade had the opposite effect.

When a martial artist begins combat, adrenaline surges, causing excitement, and the blood boils.

This condition has both pros and cons.

The advantage is having no fear, feeling no pain, and being reckless in extreme excitement.

The disadvantage is losing calmness and reason, mostly acting on instinct rather than conscious decision, with the body acting before the mind.

This sword could calm the mind, allowing the wielder to maintain thoughtfulness during battle, deserving the name of Treasure Sword just for this alone.

He looked up and smiled, ”Good sword!”

Chu Mingxuan said, ”As for what secrets this sword holds, I haven’t figured it out; Brother Four, you’ll have to study it yourself.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

Even if no other secrets were discovered, merely its ability to calm the mind made it an exceedingly rare Treasure Sword.

He stroked the blade several times, reluctantly sheathing the sword.

There were many people around now; it was unsuitable for detailed research. Studying it slowly upon returning to the Prince Mansion would not be too late.

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