Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 544: Chapter 541: Certifying Secrets

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Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The Emperor’s Sword being used like this by you, it probably feels aggrieved, doesn’t it?”

He did not doubt that Li Hongzhao would use the Emperor’s Sword.

Not to kill him with the Emperor’s Sword, but to defeat him with it.

To thereby break the suppression he had long exerted over her.

In front of the Emperor’s Sword, he could only defend, and counterattacks were difficult.

He could feel the vast and mighty power, even more grand and majestic than the Outer Heaven Power, unstoppable.

If it weren’t for now being in the Sealing God Realm, he would be kneeling and at a loss.

Thankfully, with the Sword God supporting him and the Yin Yang Return to Void Technique hiding himself.

Of course, it was also because he had reached the Grandmaster of the Second Layer Heaven.

The combination of the three allowed him to maintain independence under the Emperor’s Sword, with a chance to escape.

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”What is there to feel aggrieved about!... Chu Zhiyuan, truly my old rival!”

She never expected Chu Zhiyuan to become so strong, able to avoid the Emperor’s Sword.

The Emperor’s Sword was slowly rising.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”While you wield the Emperor’s Sword, I haven’t been idle. I’ve been diligently cultivating.”

Rising higher and higher, no longer posing a threat or pressure, suspended in the sky unmoving.

”Did you have another stroke of luck?”

”Something like that,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Shouldn’t the Emperor’s Sword be stronger than this? Haven’t you fully mastered it yet?”

Li Hongzhao lightly furrowed her eyebrows.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Did I hit the mark? Is it because it doesn’t fully submit to you, or is it that mastering the Emperor’s Sword is a process?”

He then said, ”Rest assured, such secrets won’t be leaked.”

”As long as you understand,” Li Hongzhao snorted, ”If it gets out, your Da Jing won’t fare well either.”

”I understand, I understand,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The power of the Emperor’s Sword needs to be mastered step by step?”

”Yes.”

”Is it because it doesn’t submit, or is this its inherent nature?”

”It’s inherently like this,” Li Hongzhao said, ”In fact, I’ve mastered it the fastest.”

”Because of the Phoenix Bloodline?” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”So you can master it quickly?”

”Exactly,” Li Hongzhao said, ”If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn’t even be able to hold the Emperor’s Sword now.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”How much have you mastered now?”

”Do you think I’d tell you?” Li Hongzhao sidelong glanced at him, ”This is the secret among secrets!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”I think you’ve mastered about ten percent?”

”...”

”So it’s thirty percent,” Chu Zhiyuan slowly said, ”That’s indeed quite fast.”

”Once I thoroughly master it, there’s no way you can escape,” Li Hongzhao snorted.

She didn’t expect to keep secrets from Chu Zhiyuan.

It was within her expectations that he could see through her limited mastery of thirty percent.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”How can you master more?... Forget it, this is also the secret among secrets.”

”Exactly!” Li Hongzhao snorted, ”Don’t ask too much!... Anyway, you’ll hold the Emperor’s Sword in the future, then you’ll know.”

Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but laugh, ”I wonder when that will be, can the Emperor’s Sword promote cultivation growth?”

Li Hongzhao pondered in silence.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Then it can’t, but it’s said that wielding the Emperor’s Sword, one can ascend to a higher heaven.”

Li Hongzhao frowned, ”Who said this?”

”The Heavenly Heart Sect... the one you gave me the address of,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I find it intriguing, though it may not be idle talk.”

It is said that successive emperors entered the Secret Land, but never returned after entering.

Some speculate they died within, others believe they reside secretly within.

The idea of ascension seems beyond imagination.

Yet he faintly felt it might not be impossible.

”Father did not ascend,” Li Hongzhao snorted, ”If it were true, it should be a passed-down secret, right? How could it spread? The Heavenly Heart Sect couldn’t know?... You, Chu Zhiyuan, as smart as you are, can’t you see?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Precisely because it sounds ridiculous and unreliable, I wanted to ask face to face.”

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”Anyway, Father did not ascend.”

”What about your grandfather?” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The previous Da Meng Emperor?”

Li Hongzhao remained silent.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It seems there truly is a way to ascend.”

”Just because it was once possible doesn’t mean it still is,” Li Hongzhao snorted, ”Just look at my father.”

Chu Zhiyuan pondered thoughtfully, ”Ascend with the Emperor’s Sword, but it becomes increasingly difficult, requiring cultivation to reach a sufficient realm... at least the Third Layer, right? It’s not easy to reach the Third Layer now. Didn’t your father have a demonic mishap because of it?”

Li Hongzhao gave him a sidelong glance.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Truly the Third Layer?”

”The Third Layer is not enough,” Li Hongzhao said, ”Alright, you will understand everything yourself when you hold the Emperor’s Sword, there’s no need to say more.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

He was already certain that with the Emperor’s Sword, one could indeed ascend.

It seems this Emperor’s Sword cannot go uncontested!

He looked up at the void, seeing a gigantic Emperor’s Sword floating quietly.

He gazed at the sword.

This sword was not quite the same as the Da Jing Dynasty’s Emperor’s Sword.

That Emperor’s Sword seemed to connect with the void, slightly trembling, communicating with the world.

While this one before him lay lazily, as if it wouldn’t budge.

Is this related to cultivation, or the state of the Emperor’s Sword?

Li Hongzhao said, ”I should go, meeting you privately already carries risks.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”You are the Emperor now, still afraid of others seeing?”

Li Hongzhao said, ”Those Imperial Censors are eager to impeach me, make a name for themselves.”

”You can’t punish them severely, must show a broader stance than men?”

”Yes.”

”No need to do that, it would only appear inferior. You are the Emperor; they should accommodate you, not the other way around.”

”...You’re right, I’m leaving now.” Li Hongzhao waved her hand and was about to leave.

Then she paused, ”By the way, how long will you stay here?”

”Depends on the progress of negotiations.”

”Then stay a bit longer,” Li Hongzhao said, ”Our Tianjing is quite fun.”

”However good Tianjing may be, it can’t compare to Yujing,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I still wish to return as soon as possible.”

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”I’m afraid things won’t go as you wish... Truly leaving now.”

With these words, she drifted away.

Chu Zhiyuan stood where he was, watching her leave in silence.

With his super sense, he could only see the towering Emperor’s Sword, but not Li Hongzhao beneath it.

She was obscured by the Emperor’s Sword, beyond the reach of Super Sensing Insight.

Finally, proving this secret, the Emperor’s Sword indeed aids in ascension.

Were all the past owners of the Emperor’s Sword sent to ascend?

What is the world of ascension like?

If it isn’t better than now, there’s truly no need to ascend.

The Third Layer is not enough, at least the Fourth Layer, or even higher.

This is troublesome.

He stood there, hands behind his back, pondering deeply.

The negotiations between Da Meng and Da Jing will not proceed smoothly; he feared he would be stuck here.

How to break the deadlock?

As he pondered, he walked back, returning to the station where the three women were waiting.

Seeing his heavy-hearted expression, they curiously bombarded him with questions.

Chu Zhiyuan answered each one and then returned to his room, sitting on his bed, recalling the previous scene.

Recalling how he operated his power under the pressure of the Emperor’s Sword.

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