Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 227: Chapter 224 Perfection

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He picked one up and said with a smile, ”Uncle Nine, what is this?”

”A crystallization of a demon beast, essence of cultivation, it’s a good thing.”

”Can it increase cultivation?”

”Yes, it indeed can increase cultivation.” Chu Qingyan smiled and said, ”Tempted, aren’t you?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and replied, ”Using external forces to directly increase cultivation cannot lead to becoming a Great Grandmaster, Uncle Nine, I still remember this.”

”That’s right,” Chu Qingyan smiled and said, ”It’s good you can keep a clear mind, but not everyone can become a Great Grandmaster; most people can’t even become a Grandmaster.”

Eighty is the hurdle for a Great Grandmaster, sixty is the hurdle for a Grandmaster.

If you can’t become a Grandmaster after sixty, even if your realm doesn’t advance, your cultivation can still continue to enhance.

The purity of True Qi cannot increase, but its thickness can increase.

When thickness increases over time, sometimes, quantitative changes may lead to qualitative changes.

Miracles aren’t impossible.

For those aspiring to become a Great Grandmaster, such a demon crystal is of no use.

But for those who have already lost the chance to become a Grandmaster or Great Grandmaster, it is like a Spirit Pill.

If one can’t become a Grandmaster, being unmatched in the Innate Realm is good, if one can’t become a Great Grandmaster, being unmatched as a Grandmaster is also good.

After all, there are very few in the world who can truly become Grandmasters, and even fewer who become Great Grandmasters.

Being in the Innate Realm already counts as a master, enough to stand firm in any Sect and live comfortably in a small town.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

”Since you fought it, you can take it. It’s also good to reward the servants with it; to ordinary people, it’s a spiritual medicine for strengthening the body.”

”Thank you, Uncle Nine.” Chu Zhiyuan unceremoniously collected it and handed it to Zou Fang.

His spirit light flashed, and he couldn’t help but think of the Spirit Summoning Talisman.

He wondered if it could summon the spirit of this item.

His intuition didn’t warn him of danger.

Zou Fang carefully placed it into his sleeve.

”Uncle, I have one more thing to ask.”

”Speak.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced around.

”Feel free to speak, there’s no one else here.”

”... Yes.” Chu Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, ”Today, I practiced cultivation here with better results than in Mingwu Hall. Is it because of this place, or because the timing was right?”

Chu Qingyan looked at Chu Qingfeng and smiled, ”Indeed, he’s sharp.”

”Fourth brother, your feeling is not wrong,” Chu Qingfeng jumped in, ”This place is indeed a good place for cultivation, with abundant nature’s spiritual energy; otherwise, why would the Dragon Mountain Secret Land be opened here?”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Is that why the Yuding Sect nested here?”

”... Yes, indeed.”

”Is the daily cultivation here the same as today’s effect?”

”More or less.”

”... Then I want to practice here.” Chu Zhiyuan said.

”Oh—?” Chu Qingfeng laughed.

Chu Zhiyuan felt his smile was odd.

Chu Qingfeng laughed and said, ”How do you know remnants of the Yuding Sect won’t return?”

”That’s easy,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, ”I’ll act as bait, while the Great Grandmasters hide nearby. After a few times, the Yuding Sect will behave.”

”Haha...” Chu Qingyan laughed heartily, ”You’ve got it all figured out!”

”This time I killed their direct disciples, how could they let it go, they definitely want revenge on me, making me the best bait.”

”Moreover, this time the Yuding Sect wants to take advantage of the emptiness of the Great Grandmasters in Yujing to stir up trouble. Shouldn’t we teach them a proper lesson? Simply wiping out these small fry isn’t enough, right?”

”Of course it’s not enough!” Chu Qingyan reined in his smile and said with a snort, ”If we don’t give them a good thrashing this time, they’ll think the Court is made of mud!”

Chu Zhiyuan broke into a smile.

Clearly, the Great Grandmaster plans to personally deal with them.

Even though a Great Grandmaster cannot casually kill, disabling some for others to deal with is possible.

Previously, this wasn’t done to avoid spoiling people; more honing can increase the number of Great Grandmasters.

Now, to severely retaliate against the Yuding Sect, that consideration is no longer relevant.

”... Alright, I will authorize dispatching a Great Grandmaster for you,” Chu Qingyan said, ”to guard this side, you may cultivate here.”

”Thank you, Uncle Nine!” Chu Zhiyuan gave a deep bow.

Chu Qingyan said, ”You did very well this time, it’s a great merit, but the Great Grandmaster can only guard for one month. After that, if you still want to come, you’ll have to consider it yourself.”

”... Okay.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

Having a month is better than none.

Practicing the Purple Sun Scripture here for a month is equivalent to half a year, or even a year.

The Purple Light is extremely important, he faintly sensed that this Purple Light is one of the keys to achieving Great Grandmaster.

The power of the Purple Sun Scripture isn’t that strong, but it’s definitely beneficial for achieving Great Grandmaster.

Just look at the Great Grandmasters around him.

Which Sect or faction is more likely than the Da Jing Imperial Family to produce Great Grandmasters?

Very likely it’s because of the Purple Sun Scripture.

——

After returning to the city, Chu Zhiyuan first went back to the Prince Mansion, took a shower, and then went to the Duke An Mansion.

Seeing him arrive, Xiao Ruoling was relieved.

He recounted his experiences from the trip, and after some intimate moments and appreciating her beauty and gentleness, he began instructing her in swordsmanship.

He found his thinking more agile and his observations sharper, with a deeper understanding of swordsmanship.

On one hand, a vast amount of sword techniques in his mind were gradually being organized and integrated into himself, and on the other, it was the effect of that golden vertical pupil.

He never asked anyone else about that golden vertical pupil, not revealing even a word about it.

This was an instinct, and he acted according to this instinct.

Now he didn’t even need to focus to think, as he could see the weakness in moves at a glance.

”Come, let’s spar a bit to see how you’ve progressed.”

”Master said my progress is very fast.” Xiao Ruoling smiled like a blooming flower.

She felt she had finally grasped the essence of the Flower Moon Shadow Sword.

There was suddenly a mysterious understanding of the Flower Moon Shadow Sword, naturally progressing further.

Now the transformations between real and illusory in sword shadows flowed smoothly, real and imaginary swords could shift in a moment.

Such sword techniques are indeed difficult to defend against.

She had already tried with Xiao Ruoyu, and he was completely defenseless, which made him practice desperately.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and drew a wooden short sword from his sleeve.

As long as he didn’t use Gang Qi, a wooden sword remained a wooden sword and wasn’t sharp.

It relied entirely on the Sword Gang to cause harm.

The two moved to the small Martial Arts Training Ground, and as soon as they started, Xiao Ruoling felt awkwardness.

Chu Zhiyuan’s sword moved lightly, always causing her great discomfort, as if being interrupted when taking a hearty drink of water.

After a dozen or so moves, her sword posture became so disordered that she couldn’t continue to wield it.

She withdrew with a sigh, gazing helplessly at him.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”Your swordsmanship has indeed improved, again.”

”... Again.” She mustered her courage and swung her sword once more.

This time, everything went smoothly, even more naturally than her own execution.

Some key points emerged naturally, and some unnoticed hinders were naturally overcome.

The more she practiced, the more enjoyable it became, with True Qi flowing between the sword and herself, man and sword becoming one, her aura growing ever stronger.

Chu Zhiyuan increasingly sensed the strength of his vision. If going against her he saw weaknesses at a glance; if going along, he saw strengths at a glance.

He pushed her up wave after wave of peaks, allowing the power of her sword technique to be released more strongly.

With a long roar, her sword light brightened, and in an instant, a shadow of a Bright Moon appeared in the void a zhang above her head, with a few plum blossoms floating around her body.

Chu Zhiyuan sheathed his sword and smiled.

This was a spectacle only he could see.

Her Flower Moon Shadow Sword technique had already reached perfection.

Xiao Ruoling stopped her sword and stood, holding the longsword at an angle, her eyes closed, motionless.

Chu Zhiyuan knew she was immersed in a special state of realization, needing to thoroughly digest this state of perfection.

It was just a temporary peak.

But it wasn’t truly perfect; to truly step into this Perfect Realm, she needed to comprehend and internalize it.

Chu Zhiyuan stayed by her side without speaking, preventing anyone from disturbing.

Time passed, and she stood there for an hour, slowly opening her eyes.

She looked straight at Chu Zhiyuan, her deep eyes shining brightly.

Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile, ”This is taking a step further.”

”...”

Xiao Ruoling didn’t know how to express her admiration and love, feeling too embarrassed to speak it aloud.

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