Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 269: Chapter 266: Intent to Retreat

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Although these flying knives have not been refined, they still maintain a connection with my mind through the Sword Control Technique.

Otherwise, they couldn’t be wielded freely.

The Super Sense complements the Sword Control Technique.

The presence of the Super Sense makes the Sword Control Technique more precise, extending its range far beyond its original scope.

Conversely, the Sword Control Technique can also enhance the range of the Super Sense.

Currently, the Super Sense can only cover a radius of 500 meters, but with the assistance of the Sword Control Technique, it can be extended to about 800 meters.

Within the 500 to 800 meter range, any movement within a 10-meter range of the flying knives is under the coverage of the Super Sense, clearly visible, detectable by scent, and audible.

At the cliff over a thousand meters high, the Cave Mansion is merely just over seven hundred meters away from them.

Through the flying knives, he glimpsed the general situation inside the cave, when suddenly a black light fell, directly obliterating the flying knives.

The connection was abruptly severed.

This black light made his heart skip a beat, knowing it was the true source of danger.

The sense of apprehension he felt all along was because of it.

Chu Zhiyuan’s face turned grim, and he turned to look at Li Hongzhao.

Li Hongzhao asked, ”How is it?”

”Not well.” Chu Zhiyuan frowned and said, ”There are hidden mysteries inside this Cave Mansion; it’s inadvisable to approach.”

”Are there traps, or is there poison?”

Mention Wuyou Sect, and one immediately thinks of poison.

As a disciple of the Wuyou Sect, how could a man not understand the use of poison? There must be countless poisons in this Cave Mansion.

”It’s empty inside, except for a black tombstone, which contains a strange power,” Chu Zhiyuan said gravely, ”This power can kill both of us.”

Li Hongzhao tried hard to comprehend what Chu Zhiyuan was saying.

After thinking for a moment, her beautiful face showed contemplation: ”A power that can kill us, is it a Grandmaster’s power?”

”I suspect it can also kill a Great Grandmaster,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

”Is it really that formidable?”

”You can go down and try it,” Chu Zhiyuan said. ”I definitely won’t go in.”

”... So, we’ll stop here?” Li Hongzhao stared at him, trying to discern his truthfulness.

Is he deceiving me to monopolize this Cave Mansion?

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression was solemn, withdrawing the Super Sense instinctively under the danger intuition.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her, scrutinizing her, his gaze unrestrained.

Li Hongzhao felt perplexed under his gaze, touched her smooth and beautiful face: ”What’s wrong?”

”If you’re not afraid of death, go ahead and take a look.” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, turned, and called: ”Huang Imperial Envoy.”

”Princely Heir.” Huang Cheng suddenly appeared nearby, a purple robe glowing with golden threads under the sunlight, exuding opulence.

Chu Zhiyuan transmitted his voice secretly: ”Make sure not to approach that Cave Mansion, and don’t let any other Great Grandmaster approach either.”

He knew that besides Huang Cheng, there were also two Great Grandmasters following in secret.

”Understood.” Seeing his expression, Huang Cheng nodded decisively in agreement.

He was well aware of Chu Zhiyuan’s incredible intuition; both the palace and the Grandmaster Mansion were aware as well.

It’s a kind of innate ability, unexplainable yet real, similar to a Great Grandmaster’s perception.

But his perception was stronger than a Great Grandmaster’s.

This was also a confirmed fact.

Since he said so, it was best to believe it; a Great Grandmaster’s Cave Mansion, it’s best not to approach it.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Huang Cheng disappeared in a flash.

Chu Zhiyuan watched Su Qiuyan, who suddenly appeared and walked over slowly, smiling: ”Mr. Su, you may approach the cave to sense it, but you mustn’t enter the Mansion.”

”Thank you, Princely Heir.” Su Qiuyan smiled.

She disappeared in a flash, and reappeared moments later, shaking her head towards Li Hongzhao.

Li Hongzhao finally gave up.

She glared fiercely at Chu Zhiyuan: ”Ah... let’s go, a wasted effort.”

Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but laugh: ”Didn’t achieve the goal, feeling disappointed, right?”

”Hmph.” Li Hongzhao said irritably: ”Aren’t you disappointed?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head with a smile.

At least understanding the exact source of the danger put his mind at ease.

The two were about to leave when they heard the sound of clothing cutting through the wind.

Two faint green figures floated along the Pine Forest.

It was a man and a woman, walking side by side, light as catkins, graceful and charming.

Chu Zhiyuan had already seen them, hiding in the Pine Forest two hundred meters away, observing the situation here.

They should have arrived earlier.

They clearly found this place first.

Seeing them preparing to leave, the two actually revealed themselves.

The young man was exceptionally handsome, with well-defined eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a gentle temperament.

The young woman was beautiful and enchanting, with an elegant and composed demeanor, her brows containing a hint of calmness.

The two floated to land in front of Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao.

Li Hongzhao curiously examined them, then focused her gaze on the woman, cupping her fists: ”You two are...?”

The beautiful woman slightly bowed and said softly: ”Song Yichun of the Wuyou Sect greets the Ninth Princess and the Fourth Prince.”

The young man cupped his fists: ”Li Yilong of the Wuyou Sect greets Your Highness the Ninth Prince and the Fourth Prince.”

”Wuyou Sect?” Li Hongzhao said with surprise while examining Song Yichun: ”I didn’t expect to meet masters of the Wuyou Sect. The two of you are here for...?”

She wore a smiling face, even more beautifully enchanting, but her heart was wary, not daring to be careless.

One cannot guard against the poison of the Wuyou Sect.

Seeing the two standing downwind, she secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

When standing with disciples of the Wuyou Sect, the most important thing is to stand upwind.

Never stand downwind; otherwise, you’ll be poisoned without knowing when it happened, poisoned without a trace.

Even with a Detoxification Pearl, one must still be cautious.

Song Yichun smiled and said: ”We are ordered to come and open our sect’s predecessor’s Cave Mansion.”

”Which predecessor?”

”The Cave Mansion of our sect’s predecessor Luo Qingbo.”

”So it’s called Luo Qingbo, the woman of Da Meng’s Great Grandmaster Lu Yaofeng?”

”...Yes.”

”Did your sect know about this Cave Mansion beforehand?”

”Yes.”

”Impossible, right?” Li Hongzhao laughed: ”If you really knew, wouldn’t you have opened it long ago? With your sect’s ability, it shouldn’t be hard to find, right?”

”... We searched before but couldn’t find it, so we stopped searching, thinking the time wasn’t right. Now the time has finally come.”

”The timing being us, right?” Li Hongzhao snorted.

”Your Highness wants Lu Yaofeng’s possessions, including his legacy, while our sect seeks Luo’s predecessor’s belongings, without conflict.”

”Did Luo Qingbo take some treasure from your Wuyou Sect?”

”This...”

”Ah, I understand. She certainly took a treasure from your Wuyou Sect,” Li Hongzhao nodded with a smile.

This was a tactic she learned from Chu Zhiyuan.

Directly ask an abrupt question and, from the other’s unguarded response, determine the answer.

She thought it was effective, confirming there was indeed a Wuyou Sect treasure involved.

”What treasure?” she asked curiously.

”Your Highness, we cannot say,” Song Yichun smiled, shaking his head.

”The Cave Mansion is below; you can go retrieve it yourselves, we won’t interfere at all.”

”Your Highness, aren’t you going?”

”We suddenly feel the inside is too dangerous, certainly filled with deadly poisons and traps, so we won’t go to our deaths, but you are different; as disciples of the Wuyou Sect, such deadly poisons can’t trouble you.”

Let them go in to scout around, to see what dangers lie within; if Wuyou Sect disciples die, it won’t matter, as long as it isn’t our people.

Song Yichun and Li Yilong exchanged a look.

Song Yichun smiled: ”Does Your Highness think the danger inside are traps and poisons?”

Li Hongzhao smiled: ”Besides that, what other dangers are there?”

Song Yichun lightly shook his head with a smile: ”We only understand predecessor Luo, not predecessor Lu, so we can’t say for sure. If it’s only poison, that’s not difficult. For traps, we can throw some stones or send in some rabbits or deer to test.”

Li Hongzhao smiled: ”If you two wish to go in, please do as you like. We will take our leave first.”

She glanced at Chu Zhiyuan, seeing his calm demeanor, his retreating intent growing stronger.

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