Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1151: Chapter 1147: Taking Action

Chu Zhiyuan was suddenly enlightened.

Song Shoufang said in a deep voice, ”These evil demons can only run rampant for a while. Once the divine artifact is restored, it will be their downfall!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Prince, didn’t you ask the martial arts sects to send experts to eliminate them? Continuous passive defense is not a solution.”

”The martial arts sects?” Song Shoufang chuckled, ”They have indeed taken action a few times, but after suffering huge losses, they fell silent.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows.

Song Shoufang said, ”The evil demons are very tricky and extremely adept at slaughter. Unlike the military, martial arts sects truly value their experts.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

The military and the martial arts sects are indeed different, and experts within a sect hold tremendous importance.

When an expert in the military is lost, they are replaced, so they aren’t held in such high regard.

The military’s cultivation method is simple and fast, with a lower limit, but there are many people, and they have a lot of resources to aid cultivation, surpassing the sects.

That’s why experts in the military emerge in endless streams.

The cultivation method doesn’t reach the heights of the top sects, but the sheer numbers compensate.

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment, ”Prince, I can’t stand seeing these evil demons acting so rampant. I want to kill some of them.”

”You—?” Song Shoufang gave him a glance, ”You have a promising future ahead, there’s no need to take this huge risk.”

He knew some things about Chu Zhiyuan but not everything.

He knew Chu Zhiyuan was an extraordinary talent who had ascended and was proficient in the Demon Suppressing Saber, demonstrating exceptional effectiveness against demons, almost as if he was born to restrain them.

But Chu Zhiyuan’s cultivation hadn’t reached the pinnacle yet. Such a talent should take things slowly, wait until his cultivation reaches the Nine Transitions, and that would be the moment to shine.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”If I continue to stand by doing nothing while these evil demons run rampant, what’s the point of my cultivation?”

Song Shoufang said, ”These evil demons have some extremely sinister tricks that are impossible to defend against completely, and having strong martial arts doesn’t guarantee safety. Two Nine Transitions Venerables have already died at their hands, one from Songtao Cliff and one from Luoh River Sect.”

Chu Zhiyuan said slowly, ”I want to give it a try.”

”Sigh...” Song Shoufang sighed, ”From your sect leader’s standpoint, he doesn’t want you to take this risk. But from the court’s standpoint, we are grateful for your bravery despite difficulties.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Don’t worry, Prince. I have methods of self-preservation; if I can’t win, I’ll retreat.”

Song Shoufang said, ”The court now has bounties on evil demons, enormous bounties.”

As a martial arts expert, everyone has methods of self-preservation, but there’s no guarantee of absolute safety.

The two deceased Nine Transitions Venerables certainly had methods of self-preservation, but still fell to the evil demons.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”What kind of bounties? Better than the secret treasury within our sect?”

As one of the Four Great Sects of the world, Heavenly Sword Sect’s foundations ran deep, with treasures and Spirit Pills all at the pinnacle.

Song Shoufang said, ”This time, the court has presented something exceptional, better than what even your Heavenly Sword Sect has.”

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him curiously.

Song Shoufang said, ”Not to mention the Spirit Pills, there are also some Secret Skills.”

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised.

Song Shoufang said, ”Although these Secret Skills aren’t top-tier legacies, they possess their own mysteries. The Candle Demon Eye, for example, is a rare Miracle Technique in the world.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, ”Is the Candle Demon Eye such a secret technique dangerous to practice, or is there another reason?”

Such a secret technique as the Candle Demon Eye should be shared with the world instead of kept as a secret.

By practicing it, at least one could discern which among them were evil demons and which were demons.

Seeing early allows for timely avoidance, also counting as a method of self-preservation.

The court should make this secret technique public, ideally for everyone to practice.

Yet it wasn’t done so, suggesting it wasn’t the court being selfish and deliberately hiding it.

Song Shoufang said, ”Cultivating this technique not only requires unique qualities but also a particular Spirit Pill. Otherwise, not only will one not succeed in cultivating, but there’s also a risk of life-threatening danger.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows.

”The spiritual materials needed for this Spirit Pill are exceedingly rare, and the number of pills is limited, so the court and the military need them first.”

”No wonder...”

”In the current bounty, it’s included, and choosing it comes with the Spirit Pill.”

”This ought to be hugely tempting.”

”Unfortunately...” Song Shoufang shook his head, ”There are thirty Spirit Pills in total, and only six have been claimed.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, ”Are the bounty’s requirements extremely high?”

Song Shoufang said, ”You only need to kill ten evil demons to receive this bounty.”

”Ten evil demons, that’s not a small request,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

These evil demons, though rampant, aren’t suicidal.

Those daring to assassinate near the Imperial City are often highly cultivated, no less than Third Transition Venerables.

Nine Transitions Venerables aren’t many, and even in such a vast world, the number of Venerables themselves isn’t ample.

Third Transition Venerables are masters who dominate their areas, and those bold enough to bring trouble and kill have commendable Qinggong. Killing ten such evil demons isn’t easy.

Song Shoufang shook his head, ”Originally, these requirements seemed not too high, but now it seems they’re somewhat excessive.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Then I’ll take a bounty myself... does the Prince have anything to say to the Sect Leader?”

Song Shoufang said, ”I’ll write a letter.”

He stood up, returned to his desk, and began writing a letter.

Chu Zhiyuan turned to look out the window, his back to him, indicating he wouldn’t pry into the letter’s contents.

Under Super Sensing Illumination, he found Song Shoufang only wrote a few words: ”Clear out Qinglian Sea, defend Qinglian Sea.”

Chu Zhiyuan said nothing more.

Clearing out Qinglian Sea is no easy task, as those Giant Demons are exceedingly powerful.

Chu Zhiyuan took the sealed letter, carefully placed it in his inner pocket, and then bid farewell to leave.

Song Shoufang waved his hand, signalling the affable middle-aged man from before to escort him to the door.

Once Chu Zhiyuan stepped out of the Prince Mansion, he felt several intense gazes on him.

He walked slowly, leaving the street of the Prince Mansion, and as he turned onto a bustling road, his figure suddenly accelerated.

Like a fish swimming into the sea, he quickly shook off those gazes within the blink of an eye.

Then he slipped into an alley and climbed into a house.

Reappearing, he’d changed clothes and restored his appearance, leisurely walking on the streets.

He didn’t trouble himself over those experts secretly watching him.

It was their entanglement with the Prince Zhuang Mansion, and he saw no need to get involved.

Helping the court eliminate these evil demons was as much about disdaining their rampancy as it was a chance to gain fame.

It was to bring glory to Heavenly Sword Sect as much as to himself.

His reputation shouldn’t just be contained within the Four Great Sects but should be known across the world.

The bigger his fame, the more trust and gratitude he’d receive, and the stronger his Divine Skills would grow.

Upon returning to the courtyard, he conveyed his intentions to Gu Junqi.

Gu Junqi readily agreed, laughing, ”Do you need a few experts to accompany you to annihilate these evil demons?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Uncle, no need. That might instead expose me and alert them.”

”Be absolutely careful,” Gu Junqi advised, ”When will you return to the sect?”

”...I’ll first return to the sect, then come back,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

”That’s for the best,” Gu Junqi nodded quickly.

In truth, he didn’t want Chu Zhiyuan to take action, as it was too dangerous.

These evil demons provoking assassinations were as cunning as foxes, impossible to guard against.

Courtyard experts had attempted action but hadn’t succeeded in eradicating them.

The evil demons had incredible Qinggong and were excessively vigilant, not fighting with courtyard experts; upon seeing experts make a move, they’d immediately dart off, unreachable and unkillable.

After several fruitless attempts, they ceased daring actions, merely guarding within the city.

Chu Zhiyuan left the courtyard directly.

After exiting the city, he didn’t head straight to the Heavenly Sword Sect but went to the valley.

Upon entering the valley, a Light Gate appeared before him, and Chu Liezhao stepped out, tossing out the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion.

A cup of tea later, two middle-aged men floated into the valley.

As soon as they entered, smiles lit up their faces.

The once empty valley was bustling in their eyes.

More than thirty evil demons were reveling in the valley, merry with drink.