Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 369: Chapter 366: Explanation

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The Flying Sky Sect is located two hundred miles outside Yujing City on a lush mountain peak.

Surrounding peaks stand tall, one after another, stretching endlessly.

Each mountain is verdant, and the cold winter hasn’t harmed their abundant vitality.

Chu Zhiyuan observed many strange trees, different from the ones he had seen in Yujing City or Yao Yue Palace.

These trees resembled pine trees but were taller and sturdier, each standing straight and reaching for the sky.

Chu Zhiyuan rode a white horse, accompanied by Huang Cheng and Zou Fang, along with four other red-robed eunuchs.

There were eighteen guards, all Forbidden Palace guards, among them four Grandmasters and fourteen Innates.

Chu Zhiyuan sat on horseback, surveying the mountain in front of him, and smiled, ”Has Huang Envoy been here before?”

”This servant has been here a few times.” Huang Cheng chuckled, ”These people from the Flying Sky Sect have a straightforward mentality, also due to their cultivation technique. The sword technique emphasizes straightforwardness, so there’s no need for too much subtlety when talking to them; it’s best to be direct.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”It’s easier to get along with people like that, isn’t it?”

Huang Cheng laughed, ”Sometimes it’s quite irritating; they speak too bluntly and hurt feelings.”

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised, ”They even dare to speak harshly to Huang Envoy?”

”Inevitable complaints. It’s not suitable for me to report them to the Emperor, alas... it’s difficult.”

”The Flying Sky Sect is quite dissatisfied with the Court?”

”They dislike the Court’s excessive interference. They want more freedom and don’t want quota restrictions.”

”They want more disciples to enter the Military Suppression Department?”

”Master Lu doesn’t want so many disciples to join the Military Suppression Department.”

Chu Zhiyuan was curious, ”If they don’t enter the Military Suppression Department, how can they improve?”

He originally thought that the Flying Sky Sect complained that the quotas for the Military Suppression Department were too few for the disciples to share.

Instead, it was quite the opposite; they found the quotas too many and didn’t want that many disciples to join the Military Suppression Department.

”Master Lu believes in cultivation without external reliance, pure self-cultivation and self-verification.”

Chu Zhiyuan curiously asked, ”If they don’t want to enter the Military Suppression Department, will the Court force them to?”

Huang Cheng said, ”The annual quotas of the Military Suppression Department are divided equally among the Four Great Sects. If the Flying Sky Sect doesn’t want them, we distribute them to the other three sects, but it’s challenging to divide them among three.”

Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but laugh, ”Distributing among three sects is indeed troublesome.”

Huang Cheng shook his head, ”Once this becomes a rule, and the Flying Sky Sect wants it later, do we give or not? ... It will inevitably become a mess; it’s best to keep things as per the rules.”

”Rules...” Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”Indeed, rules should be adhered to. The Flying Sky Sect should follow its own sect rules, and the Military Suppression Department should follow its own.”

The Military Suppression Department has a transcendent status, managed by the Emperor.

The Emperor directly issues orders to the Military Suppression Department, without needing approval from various Court departments.

The Military Suppression Department isn’t controlled by the Court’s various departments, but it cooperates with the Sect Martial Department in managing Martial Arts affairs.

The Sect Martial Department manages the scholarly aspects, the Military Suppression Department handles the martial aspects, each doing its duty.

The Sect Martial Department can deal with various sect affairs in the Martial Arts, but if it involves the Military Suppression Department, the Sect Martial Department has no authority to handle it.

So in this matter, I can’t intervene.

He put aside his thoughts and smiled, ”I wonder if I can meet Master Lu this time?”

”Master Lu is here to receive the Imperial Decree.”

As they spoke, they saw a group of people descending the mountain grandly.

A flight of green stone steps led straight to the top of the mountain, and the disciples of the Flying Sky Sect, dressed in green robes, lightly tapped their toes on the steps, floating down like feathers.

In no time, they reached the foot of the mountain.

At the forefront was a distinguished middle-aged man, with features as fine as Crown Jade, exuding a refined demeanor.

Chu Zhiyuan was inwardly surprised.

Judging by his appearance and aura, he seemed far from a madman; rather, he was a person of upright morals and clear thoughts.

Is it that one cannot judge a person by appearance, or is there something mysterious?

Lu Donghu laughed from afar, clasping his fists, ”Haha..., the envoy’s grand arrival is an honor; I failed to welcome you from afar, pardon, pardon!”

Huang Cheng stepped back, highlighting Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists and smiled, ”Master Lu, I’m here to announce the decree. The Imperial Grandfather is very pleased with your sect’s disciples’ performance in the Military Suppression Department. Your sect’s disciples showed no fear when facing the experts of the Evil Sect, and the Imperial Grandfather is full of praise, hence a special decree to commend you.”

As he spoke, he unveiled the yellow silk covering from a sandalwood tray held by a red-robed eunuch and handed over the Imperial Decree.

”Since the disciples have joined the Military Suppression Department, they should naturally be loyal and dutiful; it’s only right. The Emperor’s praise is too generous.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Not everyone who joins the Military Suppression Department is as loyal and straightforward as your sect’s disciples.”

He had a favorable impression of the Flying Sky Sect’s disciples.

Within the four great sects of the Military Suppression Department, the Flying Sky Sect’s disciples had the lowest presence, but the hardest and most tiring tasks often fell upon them.

They didn’t mind, taking on the work willingly and without complaint.

As for the other Four Great Sects, Great Spirit Rock Peak was similar, while White Cloud Sword Palace was better at strategizing, more cunning, and Qinglu Cliff’s disciples appeared somewhat moderate.

”The Princely Heir is...?” Lu Donghu hesitated.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Chu Zhiyuan, fourth in rank.”

”...Fourth Prince, my apologies, my apologies.” Lu Donghu immediately clasped his fists, saying, ”The distinguished name of the Fourth Prince is well known, and now that I see you, it’s indeed as reputed.”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled and waved his hands, ”Master Lu, you’re too kind; it’s just good luck.”

”Princely Heir, please, Lord Huang, please.”

Lu Donghu courteously invited them.

Chu Zhiyuan observed his composure and saw no unusual reaction towards him, realizing he wasn’t as rash as imagined.

If he were truly straightforward, upon hearing my name, he would have immediately shown a reaction.

Even if not embarrassed, there would have been a change.

Yet Lu Donghu remained unchanged, as if he had never refused my request to view the Viewing Sky Sword.

That’s not something ordinary people could achieve.

——

Everyone ascended the steps and arrived at a grand hall halfway up the mountain, which was the guest hall.

Chu Zhiyuan sat at the table in the grand hall, took a tea cup, sipped lightly, and glanced around.

Sitting in the hall, the curtains lifted, one could see the lush peaks, with a broad and open view.

Chu Zhiyuan put down the tea cup and smiled, ”The most attractive aspect of the Flying Sky Sect is the Heavenly Blade, but it’s a pity outsiders can’t view it. Master Lu, where is the Heavenly Blade?”

”I ask for your understanding, Princely Heir,” Lu Donghu smiled, clasping his fists. ”The Heavenly Blade can only be appreciated by our sect’s disciples; it’s a rule set by our ancestors.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile, ”Rules indeed need to be followed; breaking them randomly would erode the sect’s dignity.”

Lu Donghu laughed, ”The reason behind this rule wasn’t due to stinginess but to avoid complications.”

”What kind of complications?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Lu Donghu explained, ”Without practicing our sect’s mental method, approaching the Heavenly Blade would result in being attacked by it—a force akin to a Great Grandmaster’s attack, almost certain death below the Great Grandmaster level.”

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly understood, ”I see, it was a misunderstanding of Master Lu.”

If he hadn’t seen the silver-sheathed long blade, he might have been skeptical about this explanation.

Having witnessed the might of the sword intent from the silver-sheathed blade, the idea that the Heavenly Blade possessed such power seemed quite plausible.

Lu Donghu, seeing his acceptance, was somewhat surprised, expecting Chu Zhiyuan might not believe it.

Yet, Chu Zhiyuan’s demeanor showed he clearly believed it.

”Regarding the Heavenly Blade Pavilion, it actually contains no blade,” Lu Donghu continued, ”Generations of Great Grandmasters have abandoned their blades; the Heavenly Blade Pavilion is merely a place to comprehend the Heavenly Blade. Our sect has no Great Grandmaster’s blade.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”It’s a pity to train with the blade for so long and then abandon it, isn’t it?”

”In reality, there’s nothing much to pity. For instance, the White Cloud Sword Palace and Qinglu Cliff, even at the Great Grandmaster level, abandon the sword as well. The ones who benefit most are the Great Spirit Rock Peak practitioners, as they train with fist techniques, although they suffer early on.”

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