Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 98: Chapter 96: Misfire

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”Cough, cough!...Brother Cheng, just a fluke, just a fluke.”

Chu Zhiyuan used two light coughs to snap Cheng Tianfeng back to reality.

Cheng Tianfeng turned his head to look at him.

His gaze was unfocused, as if looking at him, or perhaps at the void behind him, dazed and chilling.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This time, I was once again fortunate to win. After going back that night, I reflected deeply on our exchange, Brother Cheng, gaining much, which led to such progress.”

Cheng Tianfeng’s eyes regained clarity, his handsome face darkened, and he slowly said, ”In my life, I admired only three people; now it must increase to four!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”What an honor... If Brother Cheng had used such swordsmanship that night, it would be I who was defeated!”

He sighed, ”In the end, Brother Cheng kept holding back, never using this swordsmanship. Alas... what a pity, just a step too late.”

He showed a look of both regret and pity at this point.

Cheng Tianfeng’s face grew more somber, glaring at him coldly.

The reason for holding back was actually underestimating the opponent.

He had always looked down on this deceitful guy playing as a fool!

At this moment, he realized it.

This bastard Chu Zhiyuan had been deliberately disgusting him, deliberately angering him.

What a pity, what not, he couldn’t care less!

Thinking of this, his eyes became even colder, ”Have you finished speaking?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Brother Cheng, would you like to compete once more?”

”Get lost!” Cheng Tianfeng snorted coldly.

Chu Zhiyuan remained composed, ”Actually, Brother Cheng still has great hope of winning. This swordsmanship is indeed impressive!”

”Scram—!” Cheng Tianfeng growled lowly.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and clasped his fists towards Mo Chunyu, ”Mr. Mo, this junior will take his leave first... You won’t forget the promise, right?”

”Can’t forget,” Mo Chunyu replied indifferently.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled again at Cheng Tianfeng, ”Brother Cheng, I once advised you to focus entirely on your cultivation; otherwise, it will be hard to catch up with me.”

Cheng Tianfeng turned and walked away.

A thin film emerged over the ghastly white bones of his left shoulder, tightly adhering to it, preventing any more blood or fluids from leaking and exposing it to the air.

Watching his staggering figure, Chu Zhiyuan shouted, ”Brother Cheng, next time, let’s spar again!”

Cheng Tianfeng’s figure had already disappeared.

Mo Chunyu extended his hand, ”Princely Heir, please—!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Mr. Mo, what is the swordsmanship Brother Cheng used with such power!”

Mo Chunyu smiled lightly, ”Princely Heir might as well ask him personally.”

”Does Brother Cheng have a woman with him every day for practicing with them?” Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Otherwise, why be so impatient?”

”Princely Heir, be cautious in your words!” Mo Chunyu sternly advised.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”I am genuinely curious, for a Princely Heir so indulged in lust to have such cultivation, it truly defies understanding.”

Mo Chunyu slowly stated, ”The Da Zhen Imperial Family’s physique is naturally this way, unrelated to being lustful or not, nor to practicing.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”I see, then Mr. Mo, I take my leave.”

”Princely Heir, please—!” Mo Chunyu said solemnly.

Chu Zhiyuan walked out with a smile, saying as he went, ”Mr. Mo, if you ever have leisure, you are welcome to visit my Prince Mansion as a guest. My father is extremely hospitable, especially towards those who share an interest in Danqing Skill.”

While speaking, he had already reached outside the main gate.

Guo Chi and his four companions were stationed at the entrance, confronting six white-clothed guards.

The six white-clothed guards were already sweating profusely.

Displeased by the arrogance of the six, Guo Chi and his companions felt that these six Innate Masters dared to be so presumptuous on Yujing’s turf and naturally had to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Although they didn’t fight, they secretly operated their Gang Qi.

The suppression of their realm left the six white-clothed guards breathless, their faces flushed, and sweating profusely.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan and Zou Fang emerge, Guo Chi and his four companions ceased operating their qi, stepped back a few paces to make way, and then protected Chu Zhiyuan in their midst.

Mo Chunyu said, ”I have heard of Prince Qing’s Danqing skill.”

A Prince excelling in Danqing is not only a matter of heartache and relief but also of openness.

While ordinary people might sink into self-pity, Chu Minghou managed to channel his energy into Danqing and achieved success.

At a time when others didn’t dare to speak, pleading for his brother led to his securing the Prince Mansion for thirty years, which added an innocent and childlike hue to Chu Minghou’s image.

This childlike heart is very appealing to Great Grandmasters.

Chu Zhiyuan knew this.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If Mr. Mo also likes Danqing, you are welcome to come to the Prince Mansion and exchange insights with my father, you might gain something.”

At the Great Grandmaster stage, cultivation is no longer about mindless practice and exhausting qi cultivation but about cultivating the heart.

Art is an excellent way to cultivate the heart.

The heart, aided by art, roams the heavens and time and space; it is a method of cultivating the heart.

It is only through art that the leap of imagination can be achieved.

Such a leap can create a real impact, touch the heart, and thus draw nutrients to strengthen the spirit, a very effective way of cultivation.

”...Alright.” Mo Chunyu nodded slowly, ”If I have time, I will visit.”

”I shall await with a tidy room!”

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands with a smile.

Leaving the residence where the Da Zhen Mission was stationed, Chu Zhiyuan’s expression gradually turned serious.

Despite enduring such fierce blows and devastation from him, Cheng Tianfeng was still not completely destroyed.

One must admit that was impressive.

He paced into the street where the Four Directions Pavilion was located, but coming towards him was a handsome young man, striding with great energy amidst a group of guards.

Following Chu Zhiyuan were five Grandmasters, calm and reserved.

The youth had two Grandmasters by his side, ostentatiously reckless, but when they got near Chu Zhiyuan, they suddenly became deferential, clasping their hands in respect and smiling obsequiously.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile without stopping his steps.

Passing by each other, after walking about thirty meters, the handsome young man turned to a house by the side, but his expression suddenly turned grave, revealing a cold smile.

His accompanying guards breathed a sigh of relief.

Walking, Chu Zhiyuan’s eyebrows raised slightly.

He turned to Zou Fang, ”Who was that?”

Zou Fang said, ”Judging by the attire, it should be a prince or a princely heir of Da Lie.”

”Find out,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Gao Jiong was puzzled, ”Princely Heir, is there anything strange about that person?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Let’s find out who it is first.”

”We’ll go find out,” Gao Jiong said.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

He knew the thoughts of Gao Jiong and the three others.

Since arriving at the Prince Mansion, they hadn’t had any opportunities to showcase themselves. The last incident of catching those two lackeys was later handed over to the Inspection Department, not earning much credit.

Without merit, it’s hard to stand firm.

Though they were Grandmasters, the guards and attendants in the mansion were respectful yet didn’t fully accept them, still being overly polite.

They wanted to become true members of the Prince Qing Mansion, not just respectful outsiders.

Chu Zhiyuan subsequently put that young man out of his mind, holding the Flying Dragon Bone and wearing the Flying Dragon Ball, the Third Layer of Dragon Transformation Technique surging. He continued to ponder Cheng Tianfeng’s earlier earth-shattering strike.

Half of what he told Cheng Tianfeng was true.

If it weren’t for absorbing enough Flying Dragon Bone these days, increasing both speed and strength, that strike would indeed have been perilous.

Had he, for the sake of a more fortified Jade Tower, abandoned absorbing the Flying Dragon Bone, he might have already lost to Cheng Tianfeng.

Looking now, his vague intuition was accurate; the choice was not wrong.

He contemplated the differences and similarities between this strike and the Heart Inquiry Saber Skill.

The Heart Inquiry Saber Skill is a decisive stroke, ending either your life or mine.

This sword strike from Cheng Tianfeng was the same.

But it seemed that this strike from Cheng Tianfeng was not as powerful as the Heart Inquiry Saber Skill, even far less so.

——

”Bang bang bang bang!”

”Bang—!”

”Bang bang bang!”

”Bang—bang—!”

Shockwaves emanated from Cheng Tianfeng’s small courtyard.

Mo Chunyu stood quietly outside the courtyard, his face solemn.

This time, Cheng Tianfeng was severely injured again, truly adding insult to injury.

Can he withstand this?

This Chu Zhiyuan, seemingly peaceful, his father always benevolent, yet he is ruthless and vicious.

This time, coming to the Four Directions Pavilion, issuing a challenge, claiming to give the princely heir a chance was actually to further strike at him, adding another layer to his unhealed wounds.

Whether he can overcome it depends on the princely heir’s character.

If he can get through it, he will become more resilient, his future cultivation progressing by leaps and bounds, surpassing his previous speed.

If he cannot get through, it may slow down or even become mediocre.

The growth of a genius is this harsh; they must undergo true trials to truly thrive, to become towering trees.

Always in the warm comfort of an indoors environment, one can never become a Great Grandmaster.

”Ah—!!”

”Ah——!”

Cheng Tianfeng roared wildly.

He gestured, dispersing the crowd that had gathered.

He remained quietly outside the courtyard, not entering.

Chu Zhiyuan slowed his steps, continually observing Cheng Tianfeng’s situation.

”Ah—!”

”Pfft!”

Cheng Tianfeng smashed everything inside to pieces, ignoring the gushing blood from his shoulder, ran outside, and howled to the sky.

Suddenly spitting a stream of blood, he collapsed weakly.

Mo Chunyu flashed to his side, his expression changing slightly, instantly pressing dozens of points on his chest, then turning him over and pressing dozens more points.

Cheng Tianfeng’s face was ashen, his breath feeble.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly clapped and laughed.

He had gone mad!

”Princely Heir?” Guo Chi asked seeing him laugh suddenly.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”Let’s go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion!”

”Drunken Immortal Pavilion?”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Let’s celebrate something!”

”Yes.” Guo Chi didn’t care what they were celebrating, hearing they were going to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, he couldn’t help but grin.

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