Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 361: Chapter 358 Disappointment

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Various ceremonial figures opened the way ahead.

On both sides, the Military Suppression Department and the City Patrol Guarded, preventing onlookers from getting close.

Chu Zhiyuan and Cheng Miaozhen walked side by side.

Gao Lingfeng, along with Gao Jiuqu and two Great Grandmasters, walked in the row behind them.

The others followed along.

The avenue was bustling, with many experts from the Military Suppression Department mingling among the onlookers, their eyes like falcons, ready to act at any moment.

Chu Zhiyuan and Cheng Miaozhen hardly spoke.

Chu Zhiyuan sensed her cold detachment, realizing that she was unwilling to be here, likely forced.

He felt sympathetic and empathetic, so he refrained from engaging any further to avoid mutual embarrassment.

Maintaining this cold distance was for the best.

The two arrived at the Da Zhen Pavilion of the Four Directions Pavilion, where Chu Zhiyuan bid farewell and left.

As he walked out of the Da Zhen embassy, he heard Gao Jiuqu’s voice behind him: ”Left Vice Minister, please stay.”

Chu Zhiyuan turned and smiled at Gao Jiuqu.

Gao Jiuqu stepped forward and cupped his fists: ”I am Gao Jiuqu from Wentian Cliff. I heard the Left Vice Minister is the first Princely Heir of Da Jing and would like to seek some pointers.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at Gao Jiuqu: ”Mr. Gao, you are a True Disciple of Wentian Cliff, correct?”

”Indeed.”

”Did you come because of Brother Cheng?” Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Brother Cheng once declared that senior brothers from Wentian Cliff would help him regain face.”

Gao Jiuqu cupped his fists and laughed, ”Junior Brother Cheng is young and impulsive, placing too much importance on winning and losing.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Mr. Gao does not think it matters?”

Gao Jiuqu said, ”Unless it involves life and death, winning and losing aren’t that important. It’s more crucial to discover the weaknesses in one’s martial arts through victory and defeat.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Mr. Gao, your cultivation has reached Grandmaster Perfection, hasn’t it? I’m only at the Eighth Layer Heaven of Grandmaster, two layers short, so sparring with me might yield little gain.”

”I know your flying knife is astounding; it’s said to be your sect’s Heart Inquiry Saber Skill, correct?”

”Heart Inquiry Saber Skill?” Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

Two streaks of white light suddenly flew from his sleeve, curved upward to hover a foot above his head, and floated silently.

Gao Jiuqu appeared gentle and refined, but his Dharma Form was that of a fierce tiger.

The fierce tiger sat a meter above his head, exuding an imposing aura like the king of beasts.

Chu Zhiyuan understood that his refined demeanor was a product of his postnatal environment.

His true nature was domineering and arrogant, unmatched.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”This is the Heart Inquiry Saber Skill?”

Gao Jiuqu looked surprised at the two flying knives, feeling the piercing cold they emitted.

Although five meters away, the tip of the flying knife seemed pressed against his forehead.

A chill pierced his bones, causing his whole body to tense up and his breathing to become rapid.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Didn’t Brother Cheng tell you, Mr. Gao, that sparring with me often brings no sense of accomplishment? Usually, it’s resolved in one move, either defeat or victory, with no benefit.”

Upon finishing, the flying knife suddenly transformed into three streaks of white light shooting towards Gao Jiuqu.

Gao Jiuqu hurriedly drew his sword to counteract them.

The three flying knives suddenly swerved agilely in midair, avoiding the sword light, looking for an opening, and stopping at Gao Jiuqu’s forehead and body.

One pressed against his forehead, another against his heart, and the third against his Dantian.

These three positions were all vital points.

The lowest knife could cripple his cultivation, the middle one could be life-threatening, and the top one could kill instantly with no cure.

Gao Jiuqu’s movements halted, his longsword paused mid-air, its blade covered in a layer of hazy glow.

The Sword Gang was uniform and dense, indicating deep and exquisite cultivation, fundamentally solid.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”How is it?”

The three flying knives swiftly flew back above his head, hovering like three birds overlooking Gao Jiuqu.

Gao Jiuqu’s face stiffened, grudgingly pulling a smile: ”Impressive flying knives!”

”Is this the Heart Inquiry Saber Skill?” Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Gao Jiuqu shook his head.

The Heart Inquiry Saber Skill was a technique using throwing knives, hidden weapons, while Chu Zhiyuan’s flying knives had surpassed such methods.

They were akin to the legendary Sword Control Technique.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It is transformed from the Sword Control Technique. Well, Mr. Gao, allow me to take my leave.”

Gao Jiuqu paused for a moment, then said, ”It’s said the Princely Heir’s swordsmanship is also exceptional.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”My swordsmanship... it’s decent. Want to spar with swords instead?”

”If I could learn from you, that would be wonderful,” Gao Jiuqu hurriedly said.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I have matters to attend to today and cannot tarry further. Let’s spar another day.”

”...Okay.” Gao Jiuqu couldn’t force the issue, cupping his fists in respect, ”Then another day, I’ll ask the Princely Heir for guidance.”

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists and turned away with a smile.

He felt rather uninterested.

Gao Jiuqu, being a martial arts genius and a True Disciple of Wentian Cliff, was naturally far superior to other sects’ Grandmaster Perfections.

Yet he was still so easily defeated, which likely meant other Grandmaster Perfections would be even less of a challenge.

For him, the real challenge was no longer at the level of Grandmaster, but at the level of Great Grandmaster.

For a moment, he felt a sense of loneliness. He had hoped Gao Jiuqu might surprise him.

Unfortunately, he was still no match.

Then let’s see his swordsmanship.

The sword techniques transmitted to his mind from the White Cloud Sword Stele had been mostly organized now.

The vast and majestic sword technique repository was finally about to be sorted and classified thoroughly.

This was not easy.

If it weren’t for merging with the Miao Ling Pearl, allowing his thoughts to split infinitely, along with the Heavenly Yuan Technique constantly replenishing his spiritual power, sorting these sword techniques would have taken half a lifetime.

They were too vast, too immense.

They could be called the ultimate collection of sword techniques from ancient to modern times.

He felt it encompassed sword techniques not only from this world, but from many worlds.

Every world had its own martial arts style, habitual movements, and even ways of thinking.

This led to some sword techniques being strange and bizarre, defying logic.

It wasn’t that the sword techniques were wrong, but the ways to execute them were different, the opponents were different.

If Gao Jiuqu truly practiced the Wentian Secret Technique, his swordsmanship should have been different.

He might have been able to give himself a pleasant surprise.

Thinking this, he suddenly smiled.

Comparing the past duel with Cheng Tianfeng to the current one with Gao Jiuqu.

The change in his mental state was dramatic.

Previously, he was as if walking on thin ice, fearful that his cultivation was insufficient and he’d embarrass himself.

Now, he was looking down from above, seeking a thrill.

He reminded himself not to be arrogant, remain humble, see others’ strengths, and continuously improve himself.

He was still not a Great Grandmaster, let alone the eternal life he was far from.

——

He returned to the Prince Mansion, sat on the bed in Listening Wave Pavilion, and began practicing the Glazed Blade Scripture.

His aura changed dramatically, like a divine blade unsheathed, intending to cut through the firmament.

The overwhelming Sword Intent forced Zou Fang to retreat outside. Staying inside made his head hurt and almost faint.

Chu Zhiyuan’s Sword Intent grew stronger; two birds passing overhead suddenly fell straight down.

A figure leaped into the air, catching the two birds effortlessly, a young guard from Listening Wave Pavilion.

He looked down at the two birds in his hands, already dead, without any wounds on their bodies.

Startled, he looked towards Chu Zhiyuan’s room, feeling the sharp Sword Intent as if a sword were aiming at his forehead, and hurriedly retreated back to his original position.

...

It wasn’t until lunch that Chu Zhiyuan stopped his cultivation in the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Chu Yi curiously approached and asked, ”Big brother, is the Eighteenth Princess really that beautiful?”

Li Suyue also looked over curiously.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”Her beauty is indeed exceptional.”

”How does she compare to Sister Xiao?”

”About the same.”

”Is she really that beautiful?!” Chu Yi exclaimed in amazement.

Bai Ningshuang also looked over, opened her mouth, and then closed it again.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Mother, what’s there to be unsaid?”

”Do you know the Eighteenth Princess’s intentions?”

”I don’t.”

”...Then never mind.” Bai Ningshuang hesitated, eventually deciding not to speak further.

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