Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 357: Chapter 354 Threat

”Sigh...” Chu Zhiyuan let out a breath: ”Then strive to become a Great Grandmaster.”

Zou Fang bowed and said: ”Yes, my lord, I will do my utmost to reach Great Grandmaster.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned and pondered: ”How did Manager Huang achieve Great Grandmaster status?”

”Manager Huang had a mysterious encounter,” Zou Fang replied.

”A mysterious encounter...” Chu Zhiyuan mused.

This means that without such encounters, those of us practicing the Lifeless Scripture cannot step into Great Grandmaster.

Based on my current understanding, a Grandmaster requires a balance of the Five Elements, perhaps a Great Grandmaster needs full Essence Qi, spirit, and energy.

The eunuch has a fatal weakness—an incomplete body, which means lack of essence.

How can this lack of essence be compensated?

Seeing that Huang Cheng hasn’t regenerated any limbs and is still a eunuch, it proves that it isn’t necessary to regenerate progeny roots.

If regenerating progeny roots isn’t required to achieve essence completion, is there a secret technique or a rare treasure?

Or maybe consuming Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures?

”I will keep an eye out,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”to see if there’s a way to help you reach Great Grandmaster.”

”Thank you, Princely Heir,” Zou Fang said.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”There must be a way.”

Since childhood, Zou Fang has always been by his side, accustomed to his presence.

To die at just eighty, how truly unfortunate.

If I can uncover the secrets of a Grandmaster, I will surely unlock the mysteries of a Great Grandmaster in the future.

He suddenly looked up at the Bright Moon Pavilion.

The Bright Moon Pavilion was brightly lit, standing proudly in the night sky, with leisurely music drifting amidst the clamor.

Guo Chi said: ”Princely Heir, should we go upstairs to eat?”

”... Let’s go,” Chu Zhiyuan pondered for a moment, then turned and entered the Bright Moon Pavilion.

Guo Chi hurriedly sent a guard from the periphery to notify the Prince Mansion, that they wouldn’t return for dinner.

Chu Zhiyuan ascended to the third floor, arriving outside the private room guarded by six Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry, and called out: ”Your Highness, we meet again.”

Li Hongzhao’s voice drifted from inside the room: ”There’s no reason for us to meet.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”Is that a guilty conscience? Afraid to see me?”

”Bang!” The door was abruptly pulled open, Li Hongzhao stood inside, her beautiful face carrying a cold smile.

She was dressed in red robes like flames, making her skin appear even fairer, her beauty overwhelming, dazzling to the eye.

”What do I have to be guilty about?!” Li Hongzhao slanted a glance at him, sneering: ”Don’t falsely accuse people!”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Should I say out loud what Your Highness has done?”

He spoke while stepping inside.

Li Hongzhao turned and walked back, leaning against the window as she sat by the table, glaring coldly at him.

Chu Zhiyuan sat opposite her.

Li Hongzhao’s maid quickly offered a wine cup, then retreated from the room.

Zou Fang also withdrew.

Only Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao remained inside.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”Why isn’t Mr. Su here again?”

Li Hongzhao snorted: ”Mr. Su has his own matters, there’s no need for you to worry.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”It’s better to be careful, the Netherworld Secret Guard has already attacked me, even the Divine Envoy has appeared. Unable to deal with me, perhaps they might target you.”

”The Divine Envoy wouldn’t dare look for me, ... what do you mean by what you just said?”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”Now, acting clueless is on you.”

”Acting clueless about what?”

”Broadcasting the Phoenix Camp affairs for the world to know, wasn’t it Your Highness?” Chu Zhiyuan snorted.

Li Hongzhao sneered: ”Why would I broadcast it for you? To promote your prestige? I’m not that foolish.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Whether it’s foolish or not isn’t clear, forcing the Da Lie Emperor to act recklessly, sending the Netherworld Secret Guard to assassinate me, isn’t this your plan to kill with a borrowed knife?”

With his Super Sense, he could confirm that the one who spread this matter was Li Hongzhao.

Indeed, one move follows another.

”Nonsense!” Li Hongzhao said in annoyance: ”How would I know whether the Da Lie Emperor would want to kill you or not?”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Now, without Mr. Su by your side, tell me, if I make a move, can I escape?”

”Dare you!” Li Hongzhao snorted: ”If you kill me, you won’t survive either!”

”I believe the Imperial Grandfather can protect me,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Li Hongzhao sneered: ”Even if the Da Jing Emperor can protect you, what about the other princes and Princely Heirs?”

”If the Da Meng Emperor dares to do so, your Da Meng Imperial Family will also face destruction. If he doesn’t want that, then he must restrain a bit.”

”Ridiculous!”

”It seems you’re not afraid.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

The killing intent surged within him, his aura gradually gathering, like a treasure sword about to be unsheathed.

Li Hongzhao immediately narrowed her phoenix eyes, sneering: ”Chu Zhiyuan, you’d better think it through!”

Her red robe gently swayed, as if the wind blew through the window, yet there was no wind tonight.

Like a phoenix slowly awakening in the fire, it stood in fierce opposition to Chu Zhiyuan’s momentum.

The air seemed to become scorching hot.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: ”Your Highness’s cultivation has improved again, congratulations.”

The last time he saw her, she didn’t have such presence.

Her rate of progress was also very fast, just slightly less than his own.

Li Hongzhao said coldly: ”I have you to thank.”

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes gradually brightened, sword intent gathered, ready to strike at her.

Suddenly, his momentum loosened, the sword intent swiftly dissipated, he shook his head and smiled: ”How do you find my aura?”

Li Hongzhao still glared at him coldly, and also withdrew her boiling aura.

The air inside the room returned to its normal state, no longer scorching.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”The Netherworld Secret Guard is a Divine Guard, Your Highness should know what this means, right?”

”What?”

”The Da Lie Emperor has gone mad,” Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Raising a Divine Guard and colluding with a Divine Envoy, what is that if not madness?”

”...However mad he might be, he’s not madder than you!” Li Hongzhao snorted: ”You really wanted to kill me just now, didn’t you?”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”It goes both ways, doesn’t Your Highness also want to kill me?”

”Humph.” Li Hongzhao didn’t want to lie.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: ”Your Highness’s tricks are truly laughable, you’re pushing me.”

”And what of it?” Li Hongzhao snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”If Phoenix Camp pays a visit to your Da Meng, can your Da Meng withstand it?”

”By all means!” Li Hongzhao disdained: ”Da Meng is not Da Lie.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Actually, it’s mostly the same. They can still approach silently and kill without leaving a trace, escaping just the same.”

”Heh... Heh... Heh... Heh...” Li Hongzhao laughed as her shoulders shook and her bust heaved: ”Do you think we’re like Da Lie’s useless masses? ... On the open plains, how do you approach silently?”

”A mere thousand men, dismounting from a distance, sneaking closer under cover of night.”

”There’s a golden eagle patrolling the skies,” Li Hongzhao claimed proudly.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Wearing your Da Meng armor.”

”...There are eagle shooters watching from afar; you cannot escape their eyes.”

”Wearing your Da Meng armor.”

”You don’t understand flag languages; from a distance, you’d need to use flag language to send secret signals.”

”What’s difficult about flag language, what’s hard about secret signals? We’re not the only ones with spies in Da Meng.”

”Secret signals change every night, how can you discover them?” Li Hongzhao scorned: ”These tricks only work on Da Lie, not on us in Da Meng!”

”...What about entering the city?” Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Wearing Da Meng armor, arriving outside the city, there can’t be different secret signals every day, can there?”

”...What use is it for such a few people to attack the city?”

Chu Zhiyuan said lightly: ”Once inside the city, isn’t it up to us to take and plunder?... Using this method, how many people could be killed?”

Li Hongzhao snorted: ”Truly despicable!”

”It was Your Highness who was despicable first, who made the first move,” Chu Zhiyuan snorted: ”Shouldn’t I retaliate? It’s only proper!”

Li Hongzhao gritted her teeth glaring at him, speaking through clenching white teeth: ”What do you want?”

She had crossed swords with Chu Zhiyuan several times, and had long figured out his tactics.

It was all about threats and intimidation, ultimately for some benefit.

”Twenty Phoenix Blood Pills,” Chu Zhiyuan said.