Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 359: Chapter 356: Alliance

What about myself?

Will I also be stuck for five years or even longer?

With the Super Sense, I shouldn’t need that long, especially with the three ancient inheritances I have.

Now with the Glazed Blade Scripture added.

It shouldn’t be hard to break into the Great Grandmaster Realm.

But by observing the state of Grandmaster Perfection in Gao Jiuqu, and referencing the state of Chu Mingrui, I’ll likely gain some insights by comparing the two.

He was somewhat looking forward to meeting this Gao Jiuqu.

As for the Eighteenth Princess, he didn’t care at all, suspecting Li Hongzhao was intentionally mocking and teasing him.

Seeing his expression, Li Hongzhao proudly said, ”Aren’t you happy?”

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her.

Li Hongzhao said, ”This Eighteenth Princess is said to be stunning, not inferior to Xiao Ruoling.”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, shaking his head, ”Have you ever met this Gao Jiuqu?”

”You really don’t understand romance!” Li Hongzhao said, ”Gao Jiuqu, only heard of his name, never met him in person.”

She didn’t believe any man could resist beauty.

Though few were as lustful as Cheng Tianfeng, surely every man loved beauties.

Chu Zhiyuan was no exception, otherwise, why would he like Xiao Ruoling?

Uninterested in the Eighteenth Princess, he must be pretending, not wanting to show weaknesses in front of her.

Looks like she needs to work on this Eighteenth Princess and come up with a plan.

Ideas flashed through her mind swiftly.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”Soon I’ll get a direct experience, ... a grinding stone, people from Wentian Cliff seem to enjoy using others as grinding stones.”

”Exactly!” Li Hongzhao clapped her hands, ”Wentian Cliff’s disciples go out to find grinding stones, otherwise, they wouldn’t leave the mountain.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Is this their cultivation method?”

”Wentian Cliff, indeed, to break through the realms, they need opportunities, they go down the mountain to find theirs.”

”Is Cheng Tianfeng’s opportunity me?”

”It should be you.”

”Haha...” Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

”Why laugh, you think you’ve beaten Cheng Tianfeng so badly that he’s devastated?” Li Hongzhao pouted her fiery red lips, ”But that’s exactly what Wentian Cliff wants, to grind away his arrogance, sharpen his resolve, so he can make rapid progress.”

Chu Zhiyuan was pensive.

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”To achieve without this blow is uncertain, but with your setback, he might chase and strive hard.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Makes sense.”

This shows how formidable Wentian Cliff is, they calculate invisibly, their foresight and intentions remain a mystery.

Li Hongzhao said, ”This time Gao Jiuqu comes, he might break through to the Great Grandmaster.”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”Using me as a grinding stone to finally enter the Great Grandmaster, ... this would enhance Wentian Cliff’s reputation even more.”

He then said, ”First, use Cheng Tianfeng to boost my reputation, then use Gao Jiuqu to harvest this reputation, ... clever.”

Li Hongzhao laughed, ”Your reaction is indeed fast, yes, this seems to be Wentian Cliff’s usual strategy, think you can counter it?”

She wore a playful smile.

The terrifying aspect of Wentian Cliff is exactly this, knowing their tactics, yet having no choice but to follow.

This is an open and upright strategy.

Chu Zhiyuan has already been appointed to be in charge of this reception, definitely needing to meet with Gao Jiuqu, no way to avoid it.

By then, if Gao Jiuqu challenges directly, will Chu Zhiyuan accept the battle or not?

Once he accepts, he’s likely to be defeated, and Gao Jiuqu might use this victory to step into the Great Grandmaster.

By then, Chu Zhiyuan’s confidence will be shaken, reputation hit, avenging Cheng Tianfeng, yet boosting Wentian Cliff’s fame.

Achieving multiple aims, indeed a clever move.

Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile, ”I don’t believe Wentian Cliff can scheme so much, am I truly just a grinding stone?”

”He’s at Grandmaster Perfection, you’re far off,” Li Hongzhao smiled charmingly, alluringly.

She seemed to foresee Chu Zhiyuan’s defeat, an inevitable sense of loss and helplessness.

Realm doesn’t bend to one’s will, what can one do but sigh?

Chu Zhiyuan laughed lightly, ”Then I’ll wait and see.”

He had the Guiji Pearl, ensuring he wouldn’t be easily seen through by Wentian Cliff for a while.

Even if seen through, he needed to break Wentian Cliff’s clever move, let them taste some setbacks.

That means starting with Gao Jiuqu.

Unfortunately, the Inspection Department had no useful information, and Li Hongzhao also had none.

Indeed, Wentian Cliff disciples were all mysterious, hard to gather detailed intelligence.

He couldn’t help but think of the Heavenly Hidden Sect, wondering if they knew detailed news about Gao Jiuqu.

——

Chu Zhiyuan walked out of the Bright Moon Tower, mingling in the bustling crowd.

Guo Chi and others surrounded him, clearing the crowd so he could walk leisurely.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at a middle-aged man walking towards them from the opposite side, made a gesture, and waved, ”Guo Chi, let him in.”

This middle-aged man had an ordinary appearance and build, easy to overlook in a crowd.

”Yes.” Guo Chi stepped back, allowing the middle-aged man to approach.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at the middle-aged man, smiling gently, ”This isn’t the place to talk, come directly to my courtyard.”

The middle-aged man nodded.

...

The new yard beside the Bright Moon Tower.

The front hall.

After sitting down, Zou Fang served tea.

The middle-aged man in front of him was the thin middle-aged man among the two he saw earlier.

The thin middle-aged man put down the tea, solemnly said, ”Our sect has decided to temporarily cooperate with the Princely Heir, for a year to see first.”

”A year...” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”Your sect acts cautiously.”

This proposal surprised him somewhat.

Never thought of a temporary one-year cooperation.

”Princely Heir’s status is different,” the thin middle-aged man said, ”We’ve never tried cooperating with others before, a trial first, unite if compatible, separate if not.”

”Unite if compatible, separate if not,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”Alright!”

”Is the Princely Heir curious about Gao Jiuqu’s information?”

”Does your sect know?”

The thin middle-aged man took a thin booklet from his sleeve, handed it to Chu Zhiyuan, ”Everything about him is recorded here.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at the thin booklet.

”Don’t mind if it’s too little, he’s spent all his time at Wentian Cliff, it’s his first time down the mountain.”

”Trained to Grandmaster Perfection at Wentian Cliff in one go?”

”Yes, Gao Jiuqu is indeed a prodigy.”

Chu Zhiyuan took the booklet, quickly flipped through it, then closed his eyes to ponder.

The thin middle-aged man said nothing, just watched him.

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes, sighed, ”What a Gao Jiuqu.”

”Be careful of him, Princely Heir,” the thin middle-aged man said, ”He likely practices the Wentian Secret Technique.”

Chu Zhiyuan solemnly nodded.

He could naturally guess the power of the Wentian Secret Technique, someone who can see the future indeed requires caution.

More importantly, he couldn’t kill him.

Accompanied by Great Grandmasters.

But the best way is not to kill, but to lead him into inner demons, severely damaging his confidence.

Achieving this is not easy.

Five years at Grandmaster Perfection, allowed him time to hone other martial skills, his combat power must be astonishing.

Wentian Cliff’s martial arts were also extremely formidable.

The thin middle-aged man bid farewell and left.

Chu Zhiyuan then left the new residence, strolling through the bustling streets, contemplating the information about Gao Jiuqu.

Carefully analyzing Gao Jiuqu’s personality and cultivation, seeking a way to counter him.