Imperial Cultivation

55: Chapter 53 Challenge

55 -53 Challenge

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The Listening Waves Courtyard was brightly lit.

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the couch facing the open window, looking up to see the moon half-hidden by dark clouds.

The Dragon Transformation Technique was surging wildly.

Improving his realm to defeat Cheng Tianfeng was important, but exchanging blows with Cheng Tianfeng wouldn’t diminish his lifespan, while practicing the Blood Purification Technique hastily would.

To prevent the Blood Purification Technique from harming his essence and lifespan, he now placed great importance on the Dragon Transformation Technique, practicing it more and the Blood Purification Technique less.

Striving to train the realm of the Dragon Transformation Technique high enough to counteract the damage caused by the Blood Purification Technique.

The aura of the Dragon Transformation Technique’s Second Layer was peculiar, ignoring the constraints of the meridians, surging within the body, continuously absorbing intangible auras to condense and expand.

Under Super Sensing Illumination, faint wisps of breath floated in his five viscera and six bowels, light and ethereal, like mist and smoke.

Wherever the aura of the Dragon Transformation Technique’s Second Layer passed, these smoke-like breaths were swept in, merging.

Combining with the aura of the Dragon Transformation Technique to form another unique aura.

This unique aura was the power to open acupoints.

Under the lamplight, Chu Zhiyuan’s handsome face quickly turned gloomy.

Under Super Sensing Illumination, he found that after extracting the breath from his five viscera and six bowels, the vitality dimmed slightly.

The previously vigorous five viscera and six bowels now seemed like eggplants hit by frost, and a feeling of weakness emerged in his body.

This made Chu Zhiyuan suddenly alert.

He opened his eyes, his expression grave.

He never expected, that while the Blood Purification Technique harmed the body, the Dragon Transformation Technique’s Second Layer would also harm the body!

It could shorten lifespan, or merely damage the five viscera and six bowels, but in any case, it’s like drinking poison to quench thirst.

After stopping the Dragon Transformation Technique, he continued to observe his five viscera and six bowels to see if they could recover.

If they could recover, that would be good.

If not, he could only rely on the Dragon Blood Stone.

One Dragon Blood Stone opens one acupoint, training to Perfection requires twenty acupoints to be opened, at least twenty Dragon Blood Stones.

And one Dragon Blood Stone requires nine Nine Grade Merits, or two Eighth Grade Merits.

After becoming a Junior Minister, he realized how difficult it was to earn merit, deeply understanding why the Ministry of Rites was called a clean department.

He glanced at the sky, deciding not to try the Emperor Earth Scripture at the new residence, testing the operation of the Third Layer mental method.

The Third Layer trained the bones.

The Third Layer mental method was completely different from the previous two layers.

The mental method suddenly became ten times more complex.

True Qi surged between the acupoints, the Third Layer mental method connecting four hundred twenty-two acupoints out of the three hundred sixty in the body.

Many acupoints needed to be traveled twice or even three times.

As he performed the mental method, he observed whether it caused damage to his body.

He faintly felt that the operating route stringing together these acupoints seemed to form a strange pattern, resembling a character.

He had never seen such a character.

Closing his eyes, then opening them, his eyes shone brightly.

Indeed, as he suspected, he couldn’t replicate the strange character, could see it with closed eyes, but upon opening, his mind was blank.

Could it be like the Feng Wen?

Since he couldn’t replicate it, he didn’t force it, focusing on observing the mental method’s impact on his body.

Eventually discovering that besides being complicated, the Third Layer mental method was otherwise normal.

After traversing the complex route, the Misty Purple Energy was depleted, nine-tenths gone, resembling the Qi Cleansing Technique and Blood Purification Technique.

The remaining tenth of energy turned jade white, and at the last acupoint spread as mist.

Finally settling on his bones.

Originally sparse, it almost vanished into the bones, barely existent.

Its effects on the bones were minuscule.

If not for the Super Sense, the changes wouldn’t have been felt.

Chu Zhiyuan’s brow gradually furrowed.

The Third Layer mental method’s route was too complex, operating one circulation consumed enough time for ten circulations of the Great Purple Sun Technique.

With such efficiency, perfecting the Third Layer was unknown how long it would take.

No wonder the Second Layer was for Refining Acupoints.

The acceleration of the twenty acupoints compensated for the slow routes; otherwise, a lifetime wouldn’t achieve Perfection.

Before reaching Perfection in Refining Acupoints, training the Third Layer was too time-consuming.

However, with the Flying Dragon Ball, he could let the Third Layer operate on its own, relying on time instead of effort.

He thought of this, closing the Cold Jade Box, and picking up the Phoenix Pattern Jade Pendant to observe, training his spiritual power.

When exhausted, he fell asleep at once.

——

The next morning, he first went to Mingwu Hall, standing in the morning glow with others, practicing the Great Purple Sun Technique on the Purple Sun Stance.

As the sun rose high, he checked in at the Ministry of Rites, processed the files on his desk, discussed with Gao Lingfeng briefly, then left the Ministry of Rites.

After the Flying Flower Sword Sect and Thick Earth Sect quieted down, the Sect Martial Department resumed its leisure.

However, Chu Zhiyuan felt a sense of foreboding, driving a more urgent desire to improve his martial arts, wishing to swiftly elevate to Grandmaster for peace of mind.

After some thought, he visited the newly purchased residence, watching Feng Zhihao greet visitors in the hall, offering them incense.

Feng Zhihao’s aura was becoming steady, growing heavy.

He could tell Feng Zhihao was indeed training his mind, a way to cultivate the Emperor Earth Scripture.

Feng Zhihao, perhaps spurred by his influence, had made significant progress, advancing one layer to the Innate Third Layer Realm.

Unexpectedly, he had broken through the Second Layer Jade Tower without the aid of the Earth Dragon Pearl, reaching the Third Layer Realm, a true talent.

Chu Zhiyuan, seeing this, smiled.

If Feng Zhihao had the chance, he’d definitely want to challenge him, to redeem his honor.

Should he give him the chance?

After practicing the Dragon Transformation Technique’s Second Layer and employing the Emperor Earth Scripture for recovery, he frowned, unable to restore his weakened five viscera and six bowels.

The Emperor Earth Scripture indeed had limitations; it could accelerate healing but couldn’t replenish vitality.

Then, should he rely on external items, like Dragon Blood Stones?

…

Upon returning to Mingwu Hall, he noticed something different.

A stranger had appeared on the Martial Arts Training Ground of Mingwu Hall.

This was the first time.

It was a middle-aged man, tall and robust, similar in build to Chu Zhitian, with great strength.

Chu Zhiyuan at a glance recognized him as a Grandmaster.

With Super Sense, a White Ape was crouching three feet above the man’s head in the void.

Unlike a normal White Ape, which wouldn’t stay idle for a moment, it sat still, as if daydreaming.

Chu Zhiyuan had seen another Grandmaster with the same White Ape Dharma Form.

It was a Grandmaster guarding the South Palace Gate.

This Grandmaster’s White Ape was restless, frequently scratching, looking into the distance, hopping and turning around.

Thus, Chu Zhiyuan deduced that this Grandmaster was likely mid-level, between the fourth to sixth layers.

As he approached, Chu Qingfeng waved: “Old Four.”

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward, cupped his fists, and smiled, “Grand-Uncle, who is this gentleman…?”

“Here to see you,” Chu Qingfeng said.

Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled, looking between him and the burly man.

The burly man grinned, cupped his fists without speaking.

Chu Qingfeng snorted, “Didn’t you want Grandmaster experts as Prince Qing Mansion Guards?

Let’s see if you can surpass Little Gao.”

Chu Zhiyuan blinked.

Chu Qingfeng said, “If you can surpass Little Gao, your Prince Qing Mansion will gain two Grandmaster Guards.

If you can’t, then nothing more.”

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly understood.

“Thirteenth Uncle, this is deliberately making it hard for Old Four,” Chu Mingxuan hurriedly said, “As formidable as he is, he’s still Innate, how could he beat Mr.

Gao here!”

“What nonsense!” Chu Qingfeng reprimanded, “You’re everywhere!”

Chu Mingxuan chuckled, “Thirteenth Uncle, I’m just speaking up.”

“You can’t do it; Old Four might,” Chu Qingfeng snorted, “Do you also want to try and challenge?”

Chu Mingxuan sheepishly scratched his head, closed his mouth, and gave Chu Zhiyuan a helpless look.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.