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Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 543 - 540: Secret Rivalry · Oct 14, 2026

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Chapter List (1679)

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501 Chapter 501 - 498 Silver Statue 2026-10-14
502 Chapter 502 - 499: Level 2026-10-14
503 Chapter 503 - 500 Achievements 2026-10-14
504 Chapter 504 - 501 Migration 2026-10-14
505 Chapter 505 - 502: Prevention 2026-10-14
506 Chapter 506 - 503: Jade Pendant 2026-10-14
507 Chapter 507 - 504 Trouble 2026-10-14
508 Chapter 508 - 505: Invitation 2026-10-14
509 Chapter 509 - 506: Strange Beast 2026-10-14
510 Chapter 510 - 507: Harvest 2026-10-14
511 Chapter 511 - 508: Gold and Jade 2026-10-14
512 Chapter 512 - 509 Heavenly Blade 2026-10-14
513 Chapter 513 - 510: Ingenious Use 2026-10-14
514 Chapter 514 - 511: Thunder 2026-10-14
515 Chapter 515 - 512: Taming 2026-10-14
516 Chapter 516 - 513: Leak 2026-10-14
517 Chapter 517 - 514: Advancing Again 2026-10-14
518 Chapter 518 - 515 Golden Flower 2026-10-14
519 Chapter 519 - 516: Accelerate 2026-10-14
520 Chapter 520 - 517: Return 2026-10-14
521 Chapter 521 - 518: Double Layer 2026-10-14
522 Chapter 522 - 519: Continuous Breakthroughs 2026-10-14
523 Chapter 523 - 520: The Successor 2026-10-14
524 Chapter 524 - 521 Siege 2026-10-14
525 Chapter 525 - 522 Purpose 2026-10-14
526 Chapter 526 - 523 Start 2026-10-14
527 Chapter 527 - 524 Crown Jade 2026-10-14
528 Chapter 528 - 525: Stone Attack 2026-10-14
529 Chapter 529 - 526: Capture 2026-10-14
530 Chapter 530 - 527 The Reason 2026-10-14
531 Chapter 531 - 528: Legacy 2026-10-14
532 Chapter 532 - 529: Destruction 2026-10-14
533 Chapter 533 - 530 Departure 2026-10-14
534 Chapter 534 - 531: Secret Deliberation 2026-10-14
535 Chapter 535 - 532: Heavy Blow 2026-10-14
536 Chapter 536 - 533: Terrifying Fear 2026-10-14
537 Chapter 537 - 534: Annihilation 2026-10-14
538 Chapter 538 - 535: Secret 2026-10-14
539 Chapter 539 - 536: Prediction 2026-10-14
540 Chapter 540 - 537: The Wind Rises 2026-10-14
541 Chapter 541 - 538: Meeting 2026-10-14
542 Chapter 542 - 539 Persuasion 2026-10-14
543 Chapter 543 - 540: Secret Rivalry 2026-10-14
544 Chapter 544 - 541: Certifying Secrets 2026-10-14
545 Chapter 545 - 542: Welcoming 2026-10-14
546 Chapter 546 - 543: Coping Strategy 2026-10-14
547 Chapter 547 - 544 Assassination 2026-10-14
548 Chapter 548 - 545: Painful Killing 2026-10-14
549 Chapter 549 - 546: Means 2026-10-14
550 Chapter 550 - 547 Trouble 2026-10-14

Chapter 543: Chapter 540: Secret Rivalry

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”Anyway, you’re late.” Li Hongzhao smiled with a hint of sarcasm, ”No point in saying anything now.”

”How about all three parties together?” Chu Zhiyuan suggested.

Li Hongzhao shook her head, ”Even if I agree, Da Zhen won’t.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I’ll try to persuade Da Zhen. If you apply some pressure, both sides might agree.”

Li Hongzhao smiled and shook her head.

Chu Zhiyuan spoke flatly, ”Is your Da Meng trying to gain some advantage? There’s no advantage to be had.”

”Why wouldn’t there be?” Li Hongzhao said, ”If the two dynasties trade and open the borders, there’s plenty to gain.”

”Those are trivial matters.”

”Trivialities are what’s important.” Li Hongzhao smiled, ”Would you agree to open the border?”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, pondering.

”Da Zhen has already opened its borders with us,” Li Hongzhao said.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Opening the border now is too soon.”

”But you’ve already opened borders with Da Zhen.” Li Hongzhao snorted.

”That’s different,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

The impact of opening the border is too great, especially since Da Meng’s spies are already unparalleled. Once the border opens, they would be unstoppable.

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”It seems your Da Jing is insincere, unwilling to cease hostilities for good, only resting temporarily to regroup and continue fighting, right?”

”We’ve always been on the defensive, never starting a war,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Trade across the borders and establishing trade markets are sufficient.”

”Not enough.” Li Hongzhao said.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It seems we can’t reach an agreement.”

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”It’s you who aren’t sincere, just trying to buy time.”

The spies have continuously sent information from Da Jing, especially about the Martial Arts Hall and Phoenix Camp.

Grandmaster experts have been appearing in groups, and the Evil Sect’s members are being eliminated in batches.

This news made her anxious.

Sadly, the ministers in the court and the arrogant generals in the military haven’t realized this.

On the contrary, Da Zhen has recognized this problem.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This is already sincere enough, what more do you want?”

”If you are sincere, then open your Martial Arts Hall to Da Meng Dynasty and allow us to have slots.”

”...”

”Afraid?”

”Are you at ease letting them enter the Martial Arts Hall?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

”If you dare to open it, I will be at ease.” Li Hongzhao snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Has Da Zhen also opened their newly acquired Secret Realm?”

”Yes.” Li Hongzhao said, ”Da Zhen’s sincerity is great, unlike yours.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”The new Secret Realm might not be a good place.”

He initially thought the new Secret Realm was a huge treasure, but now he realizes it also poses great risk.

Entering these new Secret Lands could potentially lead to losses of Great Grandmasters.

”No matter what, opening the Secret Realm shows full sincerity, whereas your coming here to just set up a border market is too perfunctory.”

”What about Da Meng?” Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”How are you showing sincerity?”

”Hee-hee-hee...” Li Hongzhao laughed sweetly.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her coldly.

Li Hongzhao’s laughter was full of fluttering charm, her stately court dress couldn’t completely hide her enchanting curves.

Chu Zhiyuan focused intently on her beautiful face, on her gleaming eyes full of ripples.

After Li Hongzhao laughed a few times, Chu Zhiyuan snorted, ”Speak, then.”

”Sincerity?” Li Hongzhao restrained her laughter, her beautiful face flushed, smiling, ”Inviting you was the utmost sincerity.”

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, ”Turns out you’re the most insincere.”

”Nonsense, Da Meng is sincere about stopping the war.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Do you believe that? Even if you’ve made an alliance with Da Zhen, if a conflict arises between us, Da Zhen won’t help you; they’ll stand by or even join us to deal with you first.”

”I don’t believe it!” Li Hongzhao snorted, ”Da Zhen cannot tolerate your Da Jing rising to the top.”

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes flickered.

Li Hongzhao’s words were not without truth; it seemed Da Zhen had already shown this tendency.

Da Zhen truly wanted to side with Da Meng to restrain Da Jing.

He looked solemn, frowning as he pondered.

This was indeed troublesome.

No one is a fool; neither Da Meng nor Da Zhen are. Both are observing Da Jing’s rise.

They won’t allow Da Jing to rise quietly and step over them.

Especially Da Zhen.

They can accept Da Meng being the strongest, but not Da Jing.

This would radically change the regime of the three dynasties and impact Da Zhen itself.

It seems the Da Jing Court underestimated Da Zhen’s determination.

Currently, the greatest opposition to Da Jing could likely become Da Zhen, not Da Meng.

Da Zhen won’t accept Da Jing as the most powerful, nor will Da Meng.

Li Hongzhao watched him with a thoughtful smile.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Is the Emperor’s Sword as magical as they say?”

”There’s nothing magical about it,” Li Hongzhao looked up at the sky, ”You can sense it, can’t you?”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Not only could he sense it, but he could also see it.

It wasn’t a tangible sword but an intangible one, invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.

”If I were ruthless, I’d just strike you down with one sword,” Li Hongzhao sighed, ”Then Da Jing would pose no threat.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”The strength of Da Jing is irreversible, not solely because of me.”

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”The Martial Arts Hall and Phoenix Camp are closely tied to you; without you, Da Jing would still be the original Da Jing.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”My tenth uncle is still around; he’s the key, after all.”

Li Hongzhao pouted her fiery red lips, ”Without you, Prince Ying’s array wouldn’t be possible!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”My tenth uncle has been promoting the cultivation of arrays, with decades of deep tilling, finally gathering momentum. I’m not the key.”

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”Anyway, without you, Da Jing is no longer a threat.”

She lifted her head to look at the Emperor’s Sword.

Showing an eagerness to act, as if she could hardly resist striking.

Chu Zhiyuan remained calm, saying, ”Should you use the Emperor’s Sword on me, the Emperor’s Sword of my Imperial Grandfather will also strike you. Can you withstand it?”

”Naturally, I can.” Li Hongzhao nodded, ”The Emperor’s Sword of Da Meng is stronger.”

”Even the strongest would take damage, then it wouldn’t withstand Da Zhen’s Emperor’s Sword,” Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”In the end, Da Zhen benefits.”

He then laughed, ”Besides, do you really think the Emperor’s Sword can kill me?”

”Shall we try it?” Li Hongzhao snorted.

She made a grasping motion with her right hand.

The Emperor’s Sword in the void began to descend slowly.

The Bright Moon in Chu Zhiyuan’s mind gradually brightened and started to rise slowly.

The Emperor’s Sword descended further, creating an immense pressure.

A full bright moon emerged from the void of Chu Zhiyuan’s mind, appearing above his head.

The world seemed to dim, to darken, as a bright moon rose.

The bright moon reached the back of Chu Zhiyuan’s head, a hazy clear light, resisting the immense pressure.

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression grew increasingly indifferent.

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”What’s this?”

”Sword God,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This strike can take your life.”

Li Hongzhao said, ”The Emperor’s Sword can protect me.”

”Then let’s see if it can,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

He understood that the Bright Moon Saber God was no match for the Emperor’s Sword.

Not even close.

But he couldn’t show weakness, or else Li Hongzhao would belittle him, if not kill him.

Li Hongzhao squinted her phoenix eyes, looking toward the bright moon behind Chu Zhiyuan’s head that grew more and more luminous.

Chu Zhiyuan silently operated the Yin Yang Return to Void Technique, concealing his presence.

The Yin Yang Return to Void Technique allowed him to slip into the void.

This was the best way to evade the Emperor’s Sword and prevent it from locking onto him.

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, ”If I die, I will take you with me.”

”Trying to scare me?” Li Hongzhao snorted, ”Shall we try?”

”Let’s try then,” Chu Zhiyuan placed his hand on the hilt of the Bright Moon Saber.

This equated to both of them exerting force.

The bright moon behind him grew even more radiant, its clear light expanding significantly.

He seemed to be engulfed in clear light, becoming phantom-like.

Li Hongzhao frowned slightly.

Chu Zhiyuan was now even further from being locked onto, the Emperor’s Sword couldn’t guarantee a direct hit.

She gently shook her head, ”Forget it.”

The Emperor’s Sword ascended slowly.

The immense atmosphere around them gradually faded away.

Chu Zhiyuan said lightly, ”Not going to try?”

”You win this time,” Li Hongzhao snorted.

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