Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 259: Chapter 256 White Tripod

Now, the power of a Grandmaster poses little threat to me; it’s the Great Grandmasters that are dangerous.

The Great Grandmasters of the Evil Sect are my natural enemies.

Leaving the city now, I am not afraid of other Great Grandmasters but of the Great Grandmasters from the Yuding Sect and the Secret Shadow Sect.

Even the Great Grandmasters from other Evil Sects.

The troublesome aspect of the Great Grandmaster is their spiritual power; its application is perception.

Tracking is insidious and difficult to guard against.

It is possible that one remains oblivious, while a Great Grandmaster has been silently watching for a long time, ready to strike like lightning at any moment.

Even if I now sense danger, if I truly encounter a Great Grandmaster’s pursuit, I am still helpless.

Knowing doesn’t help; I can’t shake them off or hide from them.

But if I have this pearl, I can avoid being tracked by a Great Grandmaster, effectively eliminating a major threat.

He drew his sword from its sheath.

The tip of the sword lightly flicked.

”Bang!” A dull sound resonated as Gang Qi shook, expelling all impurities and dust from the Black Pearl.

Chu Zhiyuan drew a small cloth pouch from his chest and placed the Black Pearl inside.

Huang Shiron smiled and said, ”Princely Heir, is this pearl magical?”

”It conceals one’s aura, so a Great Grandmaster cannot track me. Isn’t that mystical?”

”So the Princely Heir is afraid of being tracked by a Great Grandmaster?”

”The Great Grandmaster from the Yuding Sect has likely been tracking me,” Chu Zhiyuan turned his head to look: ”But they can’t catch up because of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse; if we delay further, they might just catch up.”

”...Could it really be this way?” Huang Shiron felt Chu Zhiyuan was worrying too much.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: ”It’s better to have one’s fate in one’s own hands; one cannot rely on the mercy of Great Grandmasters from the Yuding Sect and the Secret Shadow Sect.”

”...That is true.” Huang Shiron found this reasoning sound.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly stepped into the room, motioning with his hand.

Huang Shiron followed him in and saw the condition of the room.

The room’s furnishings were extremely simple, with only a kang and a table, nothing else, showing that Zhou Tianqi lived a frugal life.

He did not indulge in any luxury enjoyment.

This thought evoked a sense of reflection.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”I just don’t know if he really didn’t kill anyone.”

”Senior Brother Zhou shouldn’t be lying,” Huang Shiron replied.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

People are complicated; lying or not often hinges on a moment’s thought.

Sometimes a very honest person will lie, and sometimes someone who always lies won’t lie.

He didn’t know much about Zhou Tianqi, so he couldn’t judge as easily as judging if Li Hongzhao was lying.

But he would not easily believe anyone’s words.

”This seems to be the item through which he obtained the mental method,” Chu Zhiyuan pointed to a small Black Tripod by the head of the kang.

The small Black Tripod could be easily overlooked at the head of the kang.

Huang Shiron looked over at it with a questioning expression.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”I reckon a bit of blood on it, and the mental method of the Yuding Sect would be displayed.”

Huang Shiron looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand: ”I’m still out.”

”Aren’t you curious about what the Yuding Sect’s mental method is like?”

”Zhou Tianqi was probably curious as well, then couldn’t resist practicing, leading to his drastic change in temperament.”

Huang Shiron lightly furrowed her eyebrows, pondering silently.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: ”You want to try it?”

Huang Shiron nodded, saying: ”I want to see what kind of sinister power the Yuding Sect’s mental method possesses to transform Senior Brother Zhou into such.”

”Actually, his transformation is half due to himself, the other half due to the Yuding Sect’s mental method.”

There must already be a spark in one’s heart, to be ignited by the Yuding Sect’s mental method.

But is there a flame of transformation in one’s own heart?

No one knows.

Most people do not understand themselves.

”Princely Heir, let me try. If I cannot restrain myself, you must stop me.”

”How to stop?”

”...Destroy my cultivation!”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback and then laughed.

Huang Shiron tightly pursed her red lips, slowly said: ”Without understanding the Yuding Sect mental method, how can we find a way to suppress it?”

”If I don’t enter Hell, who will?” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: ”Huang Palace Master, much respect.”

Huang Shiron quickly rebuked: ”What Palace Master, don’t talk nonsense!”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: ”Have you thought it through? With your current talent and accomplishments, proceeding step by step, you will eventually become the Palace Master of White Cloud Sword Palace, but if you learn the Yuding Sect mental method, that might not be.”

”...I still want to try!”

”...Alright then.” Chu Zhiyuan no longer insisted.

Though he found it foolish, such a grand vision truly was admirable.

Huang Shiron gazed at the Jade Tripod with a complex expression, sighing.

This was a dangerous gamble.

Should she really try it?

Ahead might be a cliff; should she really jump?

But considering the anxiety within the White Cloud Sword Palace caused by the Yuding Sect, even if Zhou Tianqi is eliminated this time, what about next time?

Could there be another Zhou Tianqi in the White Cloud Sword Palace?

Even a Great Grandmaster might not be able to defend against it, so it must be eradicated at the root by thoroughly understanding the Yuding Sect’s mental method.

Coming to this realization, she took a deep breath and bit her index finger, a drop of fresh blood emerging.

Red as beans, the glistening blood pearl.

It gently dripped onto the small Black Tripod.

The moment the blood pearl fell, the Black Tripod shone, instantly turning crystal clear, all the blackness fading away, transforming into a crystal-like state.

Within the Crystal Tripod, a hint of flame flickered, a mass of pitch-black flame leapt lightly.

This pitch-black flame suddenly surged, a small flame floated out of the tripod, gently drifting towards Huang Shiron’s brow.

Chu Zhiyuan’s face suddenly changed slightly, with a swift sleeve wave.

The power of the Fearless Realm erupted fiercely, like a flood overwhelming this small black flame instantly.

Huang Shiron turned her head towards him.

Chu Zhiyuan looked serious.

The flames in the crystalline tripod shook violently, and another small flame floated out, continuing its path towards Huang Shiron.

Huang Shiron softly said: ”Princely Heir!”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”I have a bad premonition, it must not be touched!”

Huang Shiron frowned, letting out a light sigh.

The small black flame suddenly accelerated, shooting towards Huang Shiron’s brow.

Chu Zhiyuan’s Fearless Realm Gang Qi surged again, annihilating it in the void.

Huang Shiron frowned lightly.

She too felt unease.

This black flame seemed almost sentient, understanding acceleration, radiating anger.

Once this flame vanished, the flames in the Crystal Tripod surged violently, suddenly bursting out.

All the black flames erupted at once.

Chu Zhiyuan sneered, his left palm gathered with the power of the Fearless Realm, his right palm transformed into the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist and struck forth.

The void seemed to echo a deep, distant dragon roar, as if from beyond the skies.

The right fist plunged into the black flames.

The black flames flickered, their original black rapidly fading, turning violet.

Amid the dragon’s roar, violet flames turned red, then turned white, finally vanishing into the void.

The unstoppable power of the left palm remained, ready to counter any flare-ups from the flames.

After a moment, all was still; the flames had indeed dissipated.

Chu Zhiyuan exhaled a breath.

Huang Shiron sighed: ”What power is this?”

”It must be a power from beyond the void,” Chu Zhiyuan said gravely, ”This is also the source of the Yuding Sect’s power.”

Huang Shiron slowly nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”I have a premonition that once touched, even a Great Grandmaster couldn’t rid themself of it, the trouble would be endless.”

Huang Shiron silently nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”Huang Palace Master, I have disrupted your grand plan, spoiled your big undertaking.”

”I underestimated it,” Huang Shiron rolled her eyes, lightly shaking her head.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at the transparent small Jade Tripod, smiling: ”It’s also a good item.”

”What use does it have?”

”I don’t know yet, but it’s surely no common thing.”

”Then let it be for the Princely Heir.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: ”Am I to take both good things?”

”Consider it a token of gratitude for saving my life.”

”Your life indeed is more precious than this tripod, so I shall accept.”

Without hesitation, Chu Zhiyuan unsheathed his sword, the tip picked up the Crystal Tripod.

It no longer turned black, remaining transparent.

This should not be called the Jade Tripod or the Black Tripod, it should be called the White Tripod instead.