Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 388: Chapter 385 Rumors

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He couldn’t help but be filled with a sense of yearning.

Then he started to reread the Void-cutting Saber Technique, the more he read, the more he felt its boundless wonders.

The principles of illusion and reality contained within it expanded his horizons.

His vision and insight underwent a leap.

In this moment, he realized that he was too clumsy and forceful before.

And unable to achieve proficiency.

The fundamental reason was not emphasizing the real and the unreal, not combining illusion and reality well.

He knew the concept of illusion and reality, understood the speed and the Yin Yang in swordsmanship, and had moves of illusion and reality.

But he was still a layer of window paper away from understanding the true way of illusion and reality.

Without external help, breaking through this layer of window paper would require accumulation of insight over time, with occasional flashes of inspiration, leading to sudden enlightenment.

But guided by the Void-cutting Saber Technique, coupled with the enlightenment from the Miao Ling Pearl, and accumulated knowledge and experience from past lives, made him realize.

This kind of enlightenment is serendipitous and unattainable by seeking.

He gently closed the thick book, revealing a smile.

In this world, the understanding of the way of illusion and reality is probably extremely difficult.

And the one who wrote this Void-cutting Saber Technique is truly a capable person, with astonishing wisdom, making others feel ashamed.

Of course, in most people’s eyes, this entire book is filled with absurdities, contradictory and nonsensical.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, setting aside the secret manual and spinning out of the room, drawing the Qingying Sword from its sheath, it turned into a piece of cold sword light.

The Qingying Sword was now disappearing and reappearing, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, flickering unpredictably.

He sheathed the sword, wanting to laugh aloud at the sky.

The real and unreal are truly mysterious, as if the heavens and earth have opened their arms to him, allowing him to enter a new world, seeing another scene.

The same world is already another world.

A flying knife shot out from his sleeve, transformed into a streak of light and shot towards a rockery not far away, about to hit a bluish stone.

The shadow of the flying knife flickered, suddenly becoming blurry.

The shadow passed through the stone, when it appeared on the other side, the shadow became solid again, becoming a real flying knife.

Chu Zhiyuan’s face suddenly turned pale.

The Void-cutting Saber Technique consumed too much mental energy, causing the flying knife to change from real to unreal and back again, instantly draining spiritual power.

In terms of saber technique power, the current Void-cutting Saber Technique is still inferior to the Sword Control Technique.

At least the Sword Control Technique does not require such consumption, and the power difference is not large.

But the potential of the Void-cutting Saber Technique is greater, more importantly, it can be combined with the Sword Control Technique, and when executed simultaneously, its power will be even more astonishing.

——

The next morning, Chu Zhiyuan arrived at Mingwu Hall in the morning light.

When he arrived, the Martial Arts Training Ground of Mingwu Hall was already crowded with people.

The princes and princely heirs, stimulated by him, arrived earlier and earlier.

He came as usual, but it was already considered late.

Everyone cast sympathetic glances at him.

Chu Zhiyuan felt it was strange, so he went over to Chu Zhitian, Chu Zhichuan, and Chu Mingxuan, and said angrily: ”Ninth Brother, Tenth Brother, what are you looking at?!”

Chu Zhitian and Chu Zhichuan were performing the Purple Sun Stance, smiling and watching him.

Chu Zhitian chuckled: ”Fourth Brother, we feel it’s not worth it for you.”

”What happened now?” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Chu Zhitian said: ”Rather die than marry you, Fourth Brother, isn’t this Eighteenth Princess of Da Zhen too excessive?”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned at him.

Chu Zhichuan cleared his throat and said, ”Fourth Brother, we heard that the Eighteenth Princess’s injury wasn’t that serious, her looks can be restored, but she’s pretending to commit suicide to avoid marrying you.”

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him and then at Chu Mingxuan, who looked angry.

Chu Mingxuan said: ”Fourth, isn’t that the truth?”

”How did you guys know about this?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

”It’s spread all over Yujing City, everyone is denouncing this Eighteenth Princess, calling her blind!”

”If it’s not blindness, then what is it?” Chu Zhitian snorted: ”Among the princely heirs, who can match Fourth Brother? She discards him like he’s nothing, truly blind!”

Chu Mingxuan said: ”Not to mention princely heirs, even among us princes, Fourth Brother is one of the best.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Eighteenth Uncle, I’ve been busy recently, haven’t had time to drink, did I upset you, Eighteenth Uncle, that you’re praising me like this?”

Chu Mingxuan chuckled: ”What’s all this about false praise? I just speak the truth, tell me, who is stronger than you? Just talking about cultivation.”

Among the many princes, very few have reached Grandmaster Perfection.

Only our Second Brother, Prince Jing, achieved Great Grandmaster, then there’s Tenth Brother, Prince Ying, at Grandmaster Perfection, the rest of the elder brothers haven’t reached Grandmaster Perfection.

These are still princes, a generation older, much older in age.

Chu Zhiyuan coughed lightly: ”Eighteenth Uncle, don’t put me in danger.”

Chu Mingxuan laughed and said, ”You think if I don’t mention it, people wouldn’t know?”

”It’s still better not to say it.”

”Alright, alright.” Chu Mingxuan reluctantly agreed.

He felt that Chu Zhiyuan was being unnecessarily modest, even at this point, with such a reputation, still trying to hide his brilliance.

But since Chu Zhiyuan insisted, he couldn’t oppose, he had to comply, and suppress the urge to show off.

”Fourth Brother,” Chu Zhichuan knitted his sword brows, discontented and said, ”This Eighteenth Princess is really too...”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Since Eighteenth Your Highness got injured, who has actually seen Eighteenth Your Highness? How do you know the injury isn’t that serious, how do you know she can recover?”

Chu Zhitian and Chu Zhichuan were both taken aback.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”You should think for yourselves, don’t just follow the crowd, use your brains.”

”Then...” Chu Zhichuan furrowed his brows and said, ”Is someone spreading rumors?”

Chu Zhitian asked confusedly, ”Why spread such rumors?”

They found it puzzling, what’s the necessity of spreading such rumors?

Chu Mingxuan frowned and said, ”Fourth, is someone trying to defame you?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It’s hard to say now, it could be aimed at me or it could be aimed at the Eighteenth Princess.”

”This tactic is indeed vicious, it damages your reputation and also tarnishes the Eighteenth Princess’s name.” Chu Mingxuan said angrily, ”The Military Suppression Department should act now and catch the rumor monger!”

As he spoke, he glared at Chu Zhitian and Chu Zhichuan.

They maneuvered for a while but ultimately couldn’t transfer to the Phoenix Camp, still in the Military Suppression Department.

At the last moment, it was suppressed by the Emperor.

They are currently still Deans of the Military Suppression Department, having established a firm footing.

Chu Zhitian gritted his teeth and nodded slowly.

But Chu Zhichuan said, ”Eighteenth Uncle, finding who spread the rumor won’t be easy.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Forget it, no need for that, they might have already disappeared without a trace.”

Chu Mingxuan said, ”Fourth, do you have any suspects?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and said, ”Too many enemies, could even be framed, no need to overthink it.”

”...True, you do have quite a few enemies.” Chu Mingxuan thought for a moment: ”Forget about the Da Lie Dynasty, just the Evil Sect is a bunch, not to mention Da Meng, ...Could it be Ninth Princess Your Highness?”

”Possible.” The three nodded.

They felt Li Hongzhao could do such a thing, just in time to sabotage the marriage alliance between Da Zhen and Da Jing.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”I’ll go ask her today.”

...

After finishing his duties at the Ministry of Rites, having reviewed the dossiers, he didn’t return to the Prince Mansion for lunch, but went directly to the Four Directions Pavilion’s Da Meng Museum.

The Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry saw it was him and quickly went inside to report.

Soon he was led into the Da Meng Museum, where he saw Li Hongzhao sitting in a small pavilion.

Li Hongzhao, wearing a large red robe, sat beside a stone table, holding a teacup in one hand and a scroll in the other, her beautiful face serene.

Chu Zhiyuan entered the pavilion and sat across from Li Hongzhao: ”I haven’t eaten yet, let’s talk while eating.”

Li Hongzhao glanced at him sideways and waved her hand.

Two beautiful maids nodded gently and stepped back.

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