Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 375: Chapter 372: Sword Competition

”Please come in.” A cold voice suddenly rang out.

It shook Zou Fang so much that his blood and energy surged, his face flushed, and he was already slightly injured.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

This attitude is not very friendly; it seems communication won’t be easy, and some methods will be needed.

Is this intentional, or is there indeed dissatisfaction in his heart?

Deliberately acting this way to appear more normal.

Having been assassinated in Da Jing, it’s natural to be dissatisfied with Da Jing’s security, venting his anger on him.

Inner dissatisfaction is not entirely absent either.

He clasped his fists and said, ”Sorry to disturb you.”

Gao Jiuqu, wearing a dark green robe, appeared elegant and graceful, and from afar, he clasped his fists: ”The Princely Heir has come, and I failed to greet you from afar!”

All the guards stepped back two paces to make way.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists and smiled: ”Brother Gao, how is His Highness?”

Gao Jiuqu clasped his fists toward the sky, then toward the direction of Da Zhen, and solemnly said: ”Thanks to the protection of the heavens and the Emperor, His Highness is fortunately unharmed.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised his sword-like eyebrows.

He thanked the heavens and the Emperor of Da Zhen but didn’t mention Da Jing.

This clearly implies criticism, blaming Da Jing’s inadequate security.

Chu Zhiyuan pretended not to catch the hint and clasped his fists with a smile: ”May I visit His Highness?”

”This...” Gao Jiuqu showed a troubled expression: ”Please understand, the Princely Heir, His Highness is emotionally unstable, just fell asleep, and really...”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: ”Then, let me wait here for His Highness to awaken. I must greet him in person, otherwise, it would be very discourteous.”

After all, the assassination happened in Da Jing, and as the Left Vice Minister of Da Jing, how could he not feel apologetic?

By voluntarily waiting here, it’s a way to express apology.

Gao Jiuqu said: ”If you prefer, when His Highness awakens, I can find someone to report to the Princely Heir?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: ”No need for such trouble, I’ll just stay and wait for His Highness to wake... Brother Gao, weren’t you interested in practicing swordsmanship? Do you still feel like doing it now?”

”Since His Highness is fine, surviving the disaster, I am relieved... So, let me learn from the Princely Heir’s swordsmanship.”

”I am eager to learn the swordsmanship of Wentian Cliff.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Gao Jiuqu led the way and Chu Zhiyuan followed. Soon, they arrived at the martial arts training ground within the Da Zhen pavilion.

More than thirty guards and attendants gathered around, forming a circle.

Chu Zhiyuan removed the Bright Moon Saber.

Zou Fang stepped forward to take it and retreated to the side.

Chu Zhiyuan drew the Qingying Sword and smiled: ”As for swordsmanship, I have explored quite a lot, extensive and impure. Brother Gao practices the Wentian Sword Technique, right?”

Under the sunlight, the Qingying Sword looked like a pool of autumn water, clear and pure.

”Indeed, it’s the Wentian Sword Technique.” Gao Jiuqu said solemnly.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: ”Specializing in one technique, admirable, admirable. I can’t stand practicing just one technique, restless and hard to tame. I most admire people like Brother Gao who specialize.”

Gao Jiuqu smiled: ”Princely Heir, please—!”

”Swish!”

Chu Zhiyuan thrust his sword, agile and lively.

The onlookers felt as if a rainbow flew across the sky, a sense of indescribable beauty filled their hearts.

Gao Jiuqu sidestepped and at the same moment, thrust his sword, post-first but arriving first, aiming for Chu Zhiyuan’s heart.

Chu Zhiyuan twisted his waist, sidestepped, pressing close to the sword tip as he advanced, closing in on Gao Jiuqu.

Gao Jiuqu, while retreating, bent backward to avoid the sword light Chu Zhiyuan swung.

The sharp sword tip brushed past his nose, just a palm’s width away.

The cold air from the sword seemed to seep into his pores, making his whole body tense.

Chu Zhiyuan clearly held back, not using the Sword Gang, just purely swordsmanship.

Otherwise, this swing would have shaved off his nose tip.

Continuing to twist-step forward, Chu Zhiyuan dodged Gao Jiuqu’s horizontal sweep as he leaned back, closing the distance further.

Gao Jiuqu kept retreating, sweeping or slashing diagonally.

Chu Zhiyuan pressed forward, step by step, with almost every sword light being an upward strike.

The onlookers began to see the subtlety in it.

Chu Zhiyuan was using only one move - the upward strike.

Every step was almost the same step technique, every move an upward strike.

Yet he forced Gao Jiuqu to keep evading, using different moves to dodge.

Chu Zhiyuan previously said he practiced extensively, while Gao Jiuqu practiced purely, but the actual combat was the opposite.

This had to be said to be a great contrast, making people wonder if they’d switched places.

Is Gao Jiuqu the one using the upward strike, and Chu Zhiyuan the one constantly dodging?

The crowd saw Chu Zhiyuan continuously pressing, constantly upward striking, forcing Gao Jiuqu to keep retreating and evading.

It seemed like Chu Zhiyuan had the upper hand, taking the initiative, while Gao Jiuqu struggled to catch his breath.

Chu Zhiyuan knew Gao Jiuqu’s prowess; though also using the Wentian Sword Technique, Gao Jiuqu’s was completely different from Cheng Tianfeng’s.

Almost like a different sword style.

Gao Jiuqu seemed able to predict the trajectory of the sword moves in advance, evading beforehand.

The Wentian Sword Technique seemed truly capable of inquiring of the heavens, seeking fortune and avoiding calamity, already enduring twenty-four moves.

Anyone else would have been hit long ago.

These twenty-four upward strikes from Chu Zhiyuan, appearing to be the same move, actually fused several swordsmanship styles.

A simple move, embodying great ingenuity, simplifying complexity, with astonishing power.

”Ding...” Gao Jiuqu’s jade pendant at his waist suddenly flew up, splitting into two halves in the air.

Chu Zhiyuan withdrew his sword and stood, smiling: ”I accept my defeat!”

Gao Jiuqu reached out to catch the falling two halves of the jade pendant and solemnly clasped his fists: ”What superb swordsmanship!”

”I once witnessed the Wentian Sword Technique from Brother Cheng, and Brother Gao’s Wentian Sword Technique is so profound. Is it because Brother Gao practiced the Wentian Secret Technique?”

”Yes.” Gao Jiuqu admitted frankly, smiling: ”The Wentian Secret Technique combined with the Wentian Sword Technique greatly enhances its power, but still not as exquisite as the Princely Heir’s swordsmanship.”

”I merely took advantage, seized the initiative, if Brother Gao had seized the initiative, the outcome would have been different... Shall we spar again?”

”This...”

Gao Jiuqu found it suited his intentions but felt a bit embarrassed.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: ”Our sparring is the focus, win or lose doesn’t matter, please—!”

”The Princely Heir’s magnanimity, I admire!” Gao Jiuqu said with genuine approval.

Before coming to Da Jing, from Cheng Tianfeng’s mouth, he heard that Chu Zhiyuan was arrogant, wanton, sharp-tongued, and ruthless.

But the Chu Zhiyuan he met in person was straightforward, generous, friendly, and serene.

He was completely different from what Cheng Tianfeng described.

Clearly, Cheng Tianfeng exaggerated because he was defeated by Chu Zhiyuan and bore a grudge against him.

Being accustomed to looking down on others inevitably led to such extremism.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: ”The Wentian Sword Technique I witnessed from Brother Cheng was already extremely exquisite, and Brother Gao, you added the Wentian Secret Technique, making it even more marvelous, truly a rare swordsmanship in the world, witnessing it is an unparalleled enjoyment.”

Gao Jiuqu smiled: ”Please—!”

”Brother Gao, make the first move.” Chu Zhiyuan raised the Qingying Sword and said solemnly.

Gao Jiuqu ceased to be polite, stepping into a strange step, flashing behind Chu Zhiyuan to thrust a sword.

Chu Zhiyuan seemed to have eyes on his back, his sword tip counter-thrust, body leaning back to retreat.

He dodged Gao Jiuqu’s sword just in time, while his sword tip was already aiming for Gao Jiuqu’s brow, forcing Gao Jiuqu to change his move.

Then, Chu Zhiyuan retreated and counter-thrust, leaving Gao Jiuqu no choice but to dodge.

With a thrust and a dodge, another twenty-something moves passed, Chu Zhiyuan struck Gao Jiuqu’s shoulder, tearing the cloth but not touching the skin.

The two stopped their swords.

Gao Jiuqu stood there, deep in thought.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, looking at him, and clasped his fists to a beautiful middle-aged woman who floated out: ”Mr. Zhu.”

”His Highness requests your presence.” Zhu Caifu said blandly.