Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 178: Chapter 176: Breakthrough

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He furrowed his sword-like brows and slowly put down the dossier.

Ma Tianhe hurriedly said, ”The Princely Heir’s divine power, I am in awe!”

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him.

Ma Tianhe chuckled, ”The Princely Heir’s divine power on the way to proclaim the decree, I just heard about it, and I am truly in awe!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Has it been spread around?”

”Only our Inspection Department knows, with very high clearance, it’s a closely guarded secret.” Ma Tianhe said, ”No wonder the Princely Heir doesn’t come to our Inspection Department, your talents would indeed be wasted here.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I won’t join the military either.”

Ma Tianhe was taken aback, then quickly nodded, ”Yes, yes, the military is indeed too perilous, especially now with the battle against Da Meng.”

Chu Zhiyuan seemed to smile ambiguously, ”Master Ma knows me well.”

Ma Tianhe hurriedly smiled, ”I wouldn’t dare.”

Chu Zhiyuan knew he was trying to curry favor, so he was too lazy to say more.

It seems that his choices are visible in others’ eyes, who can see that he’s afraid of death.

This is not a good reputation.

But one shouldn’t recklessly take risks just for a good reputation.

Previously, he thought that Innate Master was not strong enough and couldn’t protect himself until reaching the Grandmaster Realm.

Now, it seems that even the Grandmaster Realm is not safe enough, and it’s still necessary to avoid dangerous places such as the military or the top Great Sects.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”What about the Ninth Prince of Da Meng’s whereabouts?”

”Please wait a moment.” Ma Tianhe said with a smile and ran out.

He quickly returned carrying two dossier boxes, opened them, and said with a pleasing smile, ”The Ninth Princess is still quite well-behaved.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Well-behaved?”

Ma Tianhe said, ”Rarely meets strange people, just wandering in the city.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, took the dossier offered with both hands, and started to read.

He wanted to see if the Inspection Department had noticed the meeting between Li Hongzhao and Cheng Tianfeng.

After reading it once, he shook his head in disappointment.

The Inspection Department isn’t that insightful, failing to detect their conspiracy, only recording Li Hongzhao visiting Bright Moon Tower without mentioning Cheng Tianfeng.

Clearly, Cheng Tianfeng’s disguise was effective.

Cheng Tianfeng was still very cautious, likely used means to shake off the Inspection Department’s tracking, but his abnormalities were not recorded by the Inspection Department.

The Inspection Department probably didn’t notice anything unusual.

This shows Cheng Tianfeng’s skill, and also shows that the Inspection Department still has loopholes.

He did not point this out, just reviewed Li Hongzhao’s whereabouts once.

Found an anomaly: she actually went to a bookstore.

This is a place for men, a dignified Ninth Princess of Da Meng actually went there, and even went daily.

The place is familiar to him too, Linglong Bookstore.

Chu Zhiyuan turned his head to Ma Tianhe, ”This Ninth Princess goes to the bookstore every day?”

Ma Tianhe smiled, ”Yes, oddly enough, this Ninth Princess’s preference is truly unique, actually likes to go to the bookstore to admire beauties and drink flower wine.”

Chu Zhiyuan seemed thoughtful.

Ma Tianhe smiled, ”Could it be she likes women?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slightly, ”Possible, she sees the same beauty every time?”

”Not the same one, Linglong Bookstore’s top three take turns attending, truly knows how to enjoy!”

Even for their middle-ranking members of the Inspection Department, going to Linglong Bookstore stings for a month, not something average people can enjoy.

Yet the Ninth Princess visits every day.

Hard to imagine how much silver she spent.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”The Inspection Department doesn’t find it unusual?”

”The Princely Heir means there’s a spy, right?”

”Shouldn’t there be?”

”Yes,” Ma Tianhe echoed, ”Linglong Bookstore must have spies, but it’s hard to say which one, can’t catch them all to interrogate one by one.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”A place like Linglong Bookstore, not just one or two spies, it’s probably a nest of spies, right?”

”The Princely Heir is wise,” Ma Tianhe laughed.

This is something everyone knows but doesn’t speak of.

The Court wants to spread some false information to confuse, these places are the best to use.

Chu Zhiyuan finished going through the dossiers and gained nothing.

Da Meng’s spies are hard to deal with, it’s almost impossible to find a flaw just by reviewing dossiers, so he didn’t bother.

He just wanted to know more about Li Hongzhao.

Last time he merely struck her once, injuring her, but couldn’t vent his anger entirely.

Li Hongzhao killed two birds with one stone, wanting to defeat him, stepping on his face, while also stirring trouble between Da Zhen and Da Jing.

Not retaliating felt unsatisfactory.

The easiest place to meet her is the bookstore, but such a place, he doesn’t want to visit again.

Last time with Chu Mingxuan and others, it was really dull.

The bookstore’s women are certainly beautiful, skilled in the arts, elegant and talented, but there was always an uncomfortable feeling.

Drinking with them wasn’t as good as with Mo Yi and her group, less so than being with Xiao Ruoling.

He put down the dossier, feeling unsatisfied.

Reading these dossiers revealed little, just indicating Li Hongzhao might like women, but not necessarily true.

Frequent bookstore visits might be to meet spies.

But also could be to disguise the spies.

Might meet the spies midway.

In short, gained nothing.

——

He returned to the new house next to Bright Moon Tower, meticulously organizing new swordsmanship to see how many sword techniques there were.

Reflecting on the situation at that time.

To this day, it still feels somewhat surreal.

Shortly after arriving at the new house, someone knocked, Zou Fang soon returned, sliding a jade bottle, exquisite and intricately carved, from his sleeve.

”The Princely Heir, someone delivered this.”

”Hmm, it should be from Cheng Tianfeng.” Chu Zhiyuan showed an interested expression.

Zou Fang opened it to find a green pill, thumb-sized, looking dull and ordinary.

He put it back, handed the jade bottle with both hands to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan took it and felt it, smiling, ”This bottle is extraordinary.”

It was engraved with a peculiar pattern, causing the internal atmosphere of the small bottle to be almost static and dormant.

This can greatly reduce the loss of the Spirit Pill’s potency, greatly extending its shelf life.

Zou Fang said, ”The Princely Heir, is there any deceit from Cheng Tianfeng?”

He didn’t trust Cheng Tianfeng’s character.

”Can’t be too cautious.”

Chu Zhiyuan opened the jade bottle, picked up the green pill, and slowly put it towards his mouth, using Insight on the pill, while enhancing his intuition.

This action took dozens of breaths.

His intuition didn’t trigger a warning, nor was there any gray or black light inside the Spirit Pill, indicating no toxin.

He finally put it into his mouth.

Zou Fang watched him nervously.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Relax, it’s fine.”

Zou Fang forced a smile but wasn’t relieved.

He knew Chu Zhiyuan acted prudently, but the methods of Wentian Cliff couldn’t be ignored.

Chu Zhiyuan closed his eyes, carefully feeling and observing.

The Spirit Pill mixed with saliva, quickly dissolving, emitting streams of Qing Qi during the slide down the esophagus, reduced to half by reaching the stomach.

These wisps of Qing Qi dispersed, drifting onto the bones.

Chu Zhiyuan was quite surprised.

Unexpectedly, this Wind-Riding Pill worked on the bones.

The previously purple-gold bones, when touched by the green Qing Qi, appeared to shine, becoming lighter.

The brighter bones were, paradoxically, accompanied by deeper purples.

Chu Zhiyuan felt his body getting lighter, as if it might float on its own.

He was already familiar with this sensation.

Once this Wind-Riding Pill fully integrated into the bones, he reopened his eyes.

This equated to advancing his Bone Refining another layer, not increasing hardness, but making it slightly lighter.

Enhancing his speed slightly.

The saying ’going further upon reaching the pinnacle’ meant breaking limits, breaking shackles!

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