Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 162: Chapter 160: Seeking Out

Chu Zhiyuan was quite surprised too.

Just now, inspiration struck, a flash of insight, so he went with the flow, without suppressing his thoughts and actions.

Unexpectedly, he broke through.

He had already made many preparations, first absorbing ten pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance, training his meridians to accommodate twelve to fourteen Binding Dragon Ropes, even sixteen.

He planned to break through at the Prince Mansion after returning to the capital.

Unexpectedly, he broke through here, truly a natural progression, like a ripe fruit falling from a tree.

For the first time, he felt that the copper tower was not so solid, as if he could break through it with ease.

He carefully recalled the situation in his mind.

Was it because his spirit, essence and energy had changed, his soul had become stronger, thus enhancing the power of his Gang Qi, making it so easy to break through the third layer of the copper tower?

Or was it because of repeated tempering and honing?

In training the array, he tempered the Gang Qi, and in charging and battling, he also honed the Gang Qi and his soul.

All these factors mixed together, resulting in the current achievement.

To understand the mystery within, one needs to ponder carefully and dig into it bit by bit.

This likely conceals the path to breaking through realms.

He was so immersed that he couldn’t extricate himself for a while.

When he finally snapped back to reality, half an hour had passed, and Li Haoyuan was watching him with burning eyes, looking at him eagerly from time to time.

Chu Zhiyuan paid no mind, immersed in the joy of a breakthrough, beginning to look forward to the future with beautiful anticipation.

How many pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance can this achievement earn?

Upon returning, is there hope for another breakthrough, stepping into the Fifth Layer Heaven?

Beyond the Ninth Layer Heaven is Grandmaster Perfection, followed by Great Grandmaster, stepping into Great Grandmaster grants entry to the world’s pinnacle.

At that time, he would be able to showcase his skills without fear for safety, and aside from the Emperor’s Sword, no one in this world could dictate his fate.

He fantasized for a long time before coming back to his senses.

”Princely Heir...”

”General Li, there’s no need to say more.” Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand to interrupt him, smiling, ”I’ve made up my mind, don’t mention it again.”

”Alas...”

Li Haoyuan felt a sense of regret.

Such a person, if he could enter the sect, might become the next Spiritual Son, becoming the second person under King Jing.

The Yongling Divine Sect would undoubtedly prosper greatly.

Being a disciple of the sect himself, he would benefit greatly. If the Spiritual Son could become Emperor, the Court’s Heavenly Treasure Department would be the sect disciples’ endless treasure trove.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but be filled with longing and aspiration.

Chu Zhiyuan and he rode side by side, silent on the journey.

Chu Zhiyuan continued to instruct the Prince Mansion Guards in practicing the Four Symbols Soul Execution Formation.

Having experienced a charge earlier, they had a deep understanding of the formation’s power, making rapid progress in cultivation.

——

This evening, at sunset,

The group camped again on a small hill on the grassland, continuing to train the Prince Mansion Guards in the Four Symbols Soul Execution Formation, making them increasingly proficient.

Now, during the journey, they could already maintain this formation.

Once the formation was formed, void power descended, greatly enhancing their speed and strength, even the horses, affected by this, couldn’t stand still and ran swiftly.

They covered five days’ journey in just three days.

Li Haoyuan’s personal guards had to exert their utmost effort to keep up, making Chu Zhiyuan secretly marvel at their elite prowess.

This was also thanks to the acquisition of the Da Meng fine steeds, allowing them to rotate in riding, keeping pace with the Prince Mansion Guards.

Chu Zhiyuan stood in the sunset, watching their formation practice with satisfaction, nodding from time to time.

Suddenly, he frowned.

In his sight, two kilometers away, two women were gracefully approaching.

In the evening glow, the two women walked elegantly, charmingly appealing.

One was a gentle and still graceful middle-aged woman.

The other was a sweet young girl with curved eyebrows, large eyes like a pool of spring water, looking over curiously.

Chu Zhiyuan had a vague feeling they were coming for him.

The Yongling Divine Sect?

It didn’t seem like it.

The two women appeared gentle and tender, evoking compassion.

Judging by the women’s cultivation, one was a Great Grandmaster, the other should be at the Third Level of the Grandmaster realm, only one layer below him.

If he hadn’t just broken through, his realm would be the same as hers.

And judging by the girl’s appearance, she might even be younger than him!

He thought he was already the fastest in the world at breaking through realms, a genius among geniuses, unmatched by anyone.

Yujing had already attracted the world’s talents, like the youth elites of the Four Great Sects, the strongest being Huang Shiron, who entered the Grandmaster realm at twenty-three.

The others couldn’t compare to Huang Shiron, let alone himself.

Yet now, before his eyes appeared a girl who progressed even faster than him.

This sweetly beautiful girl, with an innocent and naive expression, bright eyes brimming with curiosity, easily identified as a girl inexperienced in the world.

From the Postnatal Realm to the Innate Realm, then to Grandmaster, requires a deep understanding of martial arts, and a deep understanding of oneself.

Otherwise, even with miracle techniques, it’s hard to succeed.

This simple-minded girl, capable of mastering those highly insightful miracle techniques, traversing from Postnatal to Innate, then to Grandmaster?

Truly, you can’t judge a person by their appearance!

Though the two women appeared graceful and elegant, their speed was surprisingly fast, covering the two thousand meter distance within a few breaths.

”Are you Chu Zhiyuan, the Princely Heir?” The graceful middle-aged woman stopped ten zhang away, clasped her fists and smiled at Chu Zhiyuan, ”Xu Suying of the Jiuli Divine Sect greets the Fourth Prince.”

They ignored the Four Symbols Soul Execution Formation, flashing through.

Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t even see whether they passed through or bypassed it.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists and smiled, ”So it’s the esteemed members of the Jiuli Divine Sect, what brings you here, Ms. Xu?”

Song Feiqiong suddenly appeared in a tent a few steps away.

This made him secretly sigh in relief.

Worthy of being a Great Grandmaster, coming and going without a trace.

The mention of the Jiuli Divine Sect immediately reminded him of the Miao Ling Pearl.

The Miao Ling Pearl had already merged with him, impossible to remove now—were they certain he had taken the Miao Ling Pearl?

Or did they come to probe?

With a Great Grandmaster personally coming, it seemed they were determined to acquire the Miao Ling Pearl.

Xu Suying lightly brushed aside a wisp of blue silk from her temples, smiled gently, ”I’ve heard the Fourth Prince is a martial arts prodigy, and my disciple was curious, so she came to ask for guidance.”

”Fourth Prince, I, Xu Yingying, greet you.” The sweet young girl casually clasped her fists, curiously scrutinizing him.

Chu Zhiyuan arched his sword-like eyebrows and smiled, ”Salutations, Ms. Xu. Ms. Xu’s cultivation is not inferior to mine and is younger than me. It is I who should be asking Ms. Xu for guidance.”

Xu Yingying laughed, ”It doesn’t matter who seeks guidance from whom. How about we have a bout? I practice the Jiuli Sword Technique, and you?”

”...Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique.” Chu Zhiyuan replied.

For a moment, he felt slightly stuck.

Among all the martial arts he practiced, it seemed only the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique and the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique were his sword techniques, and in sparring, naturally, he couldn’t use the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique.

After all, it was a Wentian Cliff martial art.

He ought to practice a profound sword technique when he returns.

Xu Yingying said, ”Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique... never heard of it. It probably isn’t a top-notch sword technique, is it?”

”It is a first-class sword technique,” Chu Zhiyuan replied.

Xu Yingying said, ”Alright then, let’s exchange a few moves and see if the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique is top-notch.”

As she spoke, her small hand moved to the sword hilt.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand smiling, ”Ms. Xu, hold on.”

Xu Yingying looked at him, her curved large eyes filled with puzzlement.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Why spar?”

”To make friends through martial arts, don’t you want to spar?” Xu Yingying asked in confusion, ”Isn’t your realm similar to mine? Don’t you want to see my swordsmanship?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”I’m not that curious. Ms. Xu, let’s leave it at that.”

Xu Yingying, disappointed, released her snow-white small hand, sighed, ”It seems you don’t like to practice martial arts that much.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised his sword-like eyebrows.

Xu Yingying, disappointed, asked, ”Is practicing martial arts not interesting? It’s endlessly profound and infinitely joyful; sparring in martial arts is also an extremely wonderful thing.”

Chu Zhiyuan actually felt a slight guilt, as if not sparring with her was a wrongdoing.

He quickly discarded this thought, looking at the graceful middle-aged woman, Xu Suying, ”Ms. Xu, if there’s nothing else, then...”

”There’s just one small thing,” Xu Suying smiled gently.