Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1072: Chapter 1068: Arrival

”Where is Zhou Kangcheng?”

Chu Zhiyuan’s voice was like thunder, reverberating in the ears of every disciple in the Guiyan Sect, shaking their spirits and making it difficult for them to maintain their composure.

Those who were cultivating their Inner Strength almost went into a state of confusion.

Those practicing sword training scattered in their movements.

Those engaged in other activities turned pale, and their breathing became disordered.

Li Hongzhao clapped his hands and laughed, ”You have indeed progressed rapidly, beyond imagination.”

The Emperor’s Sword itself couldn’t see through him.

Looking at the astonishing Qinggong he had displayed earlier, it had already surpassed the realm of Qinggong.

Truly living up to the name of Chu Zhiyuan, his talent far surpassed my own, and his progress was beyond belief.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”I found him!”

His Super Sense had long included the Guiyan Sect in its range, capturing the demeanor and actions of every disciple in the Guiyan Sect.

Through their movements, he quickly locked onto a middle-aged man.

Dressed in a Purple Robe, with a face like Crown Jade, an air of righteousness, and a dignified appearance.

It was hard to imagine this was a man guilty of countless murders and rampant plundering.

As an Elder of the Guiyan Sect, he clearly possessed enough status, not lacking money.

Yet he still loved to rob wealthy merchants or plunder small sects, cruelly killing the innocent.

He knew the reason, it had been clearly written in the previous dossiers: the Guiyan Sect was a branch of the Wuxiang Sect.

The founding Grandmaster was a disciple of the Wuxiang Sect.

Although the Guiyan Sect was not strong, it brazenly acted because of the Wuxiang Sect’s backing.

Other sects in the Martial Arts world often conceded to them because of the Wuxiang Sect.

Zhou Kangcheng’s wicked deeds were not unknown, yet those aware of them could only discuss them quietly, not daring to boldly uphold justice and eliminate him.

Firstly, his cultivation was not weak, and hot-blooded young people were not his match.

Those who could surpass him had often outgrown their hot-blooded years, their righteous spirit mostly extinguished.

Secondly, there was the deterrent of the Wuxiang Sect.

The Wuxiang Sect acted domineeringly, even if a disciple committed a crime, others could not intervene.

More importantly, Zhou Kangcheng’s elder brother was a disciple of the Wuxiang Sect.

This was the main reason Zhou Kangcheng remained unharmed to this day.

”Chu Zhiyuan is here, Zhou Kangcheng, come face your death!”

Chu Zhiyuan’s voice once again echoed throughout the Guiyan Sect, causing their blood and energy to surge, nearly leaving them unable to stand.

”Chu Zhiyuan?”

”Which Chu Zhiyuan?”

”Which other Chu Zhiyuan?!”

”No way!”

The low whispers rose and fell within the Guiyan Sect, changing the countenances of all present.

The man’s name carries weight, as does a tree’s shadow; Chu Zhiyuan’s reputation now resounds throughout the Martial Arts world in Da Meng.

He had annihilated the Evil Sect, an act of immeasurable merit, and many families enshrined his tablet.

What intrigued them more was his subtle relationship with Li Hongzhao.

Compared to Chu Zhiyuan eradicating evil sects across the land, the latter topic garnered more attention and concern.

The moment they heard Chu Zhiyuan’s name, the masters who had been ready to respond immediately halted.

Their gazes fell once again on Zhou Kangcheng.

Zhou Kangcheng’s face turned pale, his eyes sparkled, and he slowly said, ”Looking for me?”

He was speaking with four other middle-aged men in a hall halfway up the mountain, and now with a composed face, he said, ”Why is Chu Zhiyuan looking for me?”

A middle-aged man with a sharp face and monkey-like features said, ”Brother Zhou, how did you offend this Chu Zhiyuan?”

”Never met.” Zhou Kangcheng shook his head, ”Utterly baffling.”

”If you’ve never met, then perhaps there’s a mistake? It seems our Guiyan Sect has never had any contact with Chu Zhiyuan, has it?”

”Perhaps there is a mistake.”

”This is aggressive; peacemakers won’t come. How about Brother Zhou, you hide for a bit first?”

”Yes, it’s best to avoid confrontation.”

A sincere-looking middle-aged man slowly said, ”Junior Brother Zhou, go to the Wuxiang Sect and deliver a letter.”

”...Understood.” Zhou Kangcheng solemnly nodded, cupping his fist, ”Thank you, Sect Leader Brother.”

The sincere-looking middle-aged man shook his head and sighed, ”This hurdle won’t be easy to pass.”

Zhou Kangcheng said solemnly, ”I don’t believe he dares confront the Wuxiang Sect!”

”Sect Leader Brother, Brother Zhou, Chu Zhiyuan even wiped out the Evil Sect, regarding the Wuxiang Sect...” The middle-aged man with sharp features shook his head, his expression grave.

His words rendered the hall momentarily silent.

They all understood that Chu Zhiyuan was not afraid of the Wuxiang Sect.

After all, with Li Hongzhao, the Emperor, backing him, even the Wuxiang Sect dared not provoke him.

Moreover, his cultivation was astounding, and the Wuxiang Sect was no match for him either.

The sincere-looking middle-aged man sighed, ”There’s nothing else we can do now, set off immediately, take the rear mountain path!”

”Yes!”

”Sect Leader Brother...” A middle-aged man with a sharp chin and monkey-like features said, ”Brother Zhou is gone, Chu Zhiyuan he...”

A sincere-looking middle-aged man replied, ”Chu Zhiyuan is not from the Evil Sect, he has a bottom line. With Junior Brother Zhou not here, he wouldn’t destroy our Guiyan Sect.”

”Alas... I hope so,” the sharp-faced middle-aged man sighed.

”At least someone isn’t confused.” A cold laugh suddenly sounded in their ears.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao had already appeared in the hall.

They seemed to have been standing there all along, only speaking suddenly to make their presence known to everyone.

Li Hongzhao still had her face covered with white gauze, her red dress blazing, coldly sweeping her gaze over them.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Zhou Kangcheng, then at the sincere-looking middle-aged man: ”As the Sect Leader, it’s impossible not to know of Zhou Kangcheng’s viciousness, yet you’ve always indulged him. Such a crime also deserves punishment!”

The sincere-looking middle-aged man said solemnly, ”Mr. Chu, did you listen to some slanderous words?”

”Slander?” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, looking at Li Hongzhao: ”Slander, haha!”

Li Hongzhao said blandly, ”This guy has no problems.”

If there were a problem, the Imperial Guard would have reported it together; since they didn’t, it means there’s no problem.

These Imperial Guards are all experienced and would know the principle of snakes and rats being in one nest.

Discovering one problem often leads to investigating their relations and uncovering a chain of issues.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed: ”What a fool!”

He couldn’t be bothered to say more, flicking his fingers.

”Swoosh!”

A burst of finger force shot towards Zhou Kangcheng, suddenly splitting in mid-air to divide into two.

One part shot toward Zhou Kangcheng, the other towards the sincere-looking middle-aged man.

They had been prepared all along and hurriedly tried to dodge when they saw the finger force.

But their movements abruptly came to a halt as the finger force pierced through their bodies.

One burst pierced through Zhou Kangcheng’s heart.

The other pierced through the sincere-looking middle-aged man’s dantian, crippling his martial arts.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Such a fool, being the Sect Leader harms the entire Guiyan Sect.”

”You...” The sincere-looking middle-aged man clutched his abdomen, glaring at Chu Zhiyuan.

Meanwhile, Zhou Kangcheng’s widened eyes had already lost their light, and he was dead.

Dying silently, suddenly, and incredibly quickly, leaving everyone in the hall feeling somewhat dazed and unreal.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at Li Hongzhao: ”In the end, I still couldn’t bear to be ruthless.”

Li Hongzhao said, ”This step is enough, let’s go.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”For one’s own people, there is an inevitable tenderness.”

Li Hongzhao gave him a sidelong glance.

The two disappeared with a flicker.

In the hall, the sincere-looking middle-aged man clutched his abdomen and hurriedly pulled out a jade bottle from his bosom, pouring the entire contents into his mouth.

Moments later, his complexion eased a bit, and he slowly exhaled a breath.

”Sect Leader Brother, are you okay?” The sharp-faced middle-aged man quickly asked.

The other two middle-aged men were still in a daze.

They frowned, forcing themselves to accept everything in front of them.

But there was a strong sense of unreality.

Everything happened too quickly, changed too suddenly, too beyond imagination.

”My cultivation is ruined.” The sincere-looking middle-aged man shook his head and sighed, looking at Zhou Kangcheng, who died with his eyes open: ”Now I don’t know what Mr. Zhou will do.”

The sharp-faced middle-aged man shook his head: ”Mr. Zhou is probably powerless too?”

Even if Zhou Kangping were a master of the Wuxiang Sect, he wouldn’t dare to oppose Chu Zhiyuan.

...

The entire Da Meng was abuzz with rumors of Chu Zhiyuan, accompanied by a beauty, slaughtering martial arts masters.

Some applauded, some expressed indignation, some watched coldly, and others were curious about who the beauty by his side was.

Some speculated it was Li Hongzhao, the Da Meng Emperor.

Because Li Hongzhao hadn’t been attending court these days, reportedly traveling incognito.

The timing was just too coincidental.

On this particular morning, Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao stood atop a mountain peak, looking toward the sky ten miles away, where two Emperor’s Swords were floating.

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression was grave.

One Emperor’s Sword belonged to Da Jing.

The other belonged to Da Zhen.

He had been speculating about who might want to harm Li Hongzhao.

Was it Da Jian or Da Lie, or perhaps their combined forces?

He even considered Da Jing and Da Zhen.

Seeing that it was indeed Da Jing and Da Zhen joining forces made him feel somewhat heavy.