Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1152: Chapter 1148: Bounty

They merrily stepped forward, joined in, took the wine glasses, and began to talk and laugh loudly.

In the empty valley, the two of them tilted their heads back to drink and laughed heartily.

”These experts from the Imperial City, those fools in the military, truly ridiculous!”

”Haha... indeed, indeed!”

”I’ve already killed twenty-three experts, all of them were no match!”

”I’ve got twenty under my belt, three less than you.”

”We’re far behind, that Old Fu guy has killed more than a hundred.”

”Obviously, not all of those hundred were experts, and there were many who didn’t know martial arts. That guy sure isn’t picky, he can swallow anything!... But there’s no reward for killing them; he just can’t keep his hands to himself!”

”Haha...hahaha... The Court’s experts are just trash, they’ll never catch up to us.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, watching the two laugh back and forth, spouting nonsense.

Then, the illusion continued; they seemed on the verge of getting drunk, continuing to drink heavily while laughing and talking.

...

An hour later, the two fell limp to the ground, their cheeks flushed as if drunk.

Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but marvel at the marvel of the Heavenly Illusion Pavilion; experiencing it firsthand, it was indeed real.

Even without drinking, it could make one feel drunk.

He floated forward, sealing their acupoints one by one.

Then glided towards the city gates.

Ding Huanchun and his men were still guarding the city gates, their eyes glowing with golden light as they used the Candle Demon Eye to inspect the travelers entering the city.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan appear, Ding Huanchun hurried up to him, curiously looking at the two middle-aged men.

And the four youths using the Candle Demon Eye widened their eyes as their gaze swept over.

”Lord Ding, they’re evil demons!” a youth shouted.

Ding Huanchun glanced at the two unconscious men, calmly nodded, indicating he understood.

He smiled at Chu Zhiyuan, ”Mr. Chu, these two are...?”

”I caught them in the valley,” Chu Zhiyuan replied. ”Fortunate to have captured them alive, let’s see if we have a chance to extract some information.”

”Thank you, sir!” Ding Huanchun’s eyes lit up. ”Unconscious evil demons, there’s really hope of getting something out of them!”

They could hardly capture a living evil demon, as they had secret techniques for timely self-destruction.

They also knew that once caught alive, living would be worse than death, and if they could, they would use the Jade and Stone Burning technique.

But using Jade and Stone Burning required preparation, if there was no time, they would directly use the secret technique to free themselves.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”We must prevent them from using the secret technique.”

”Understood,” Ding Huanchun replied solemnly. ”I will request the Royal Family’s tribute to see if anything can be extracted.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Then I’ll leave it to you, Brother Ding.”

Ding Huanchun said, ”Rest assured, sir, I will report it.”

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand with a smile, ”I’ll return to the sect for now, and come back in a couple of days to properly deal with these evil demons!”

”Thank you, sir!” Ding Huanchun said solemnly.

He regarded Chu Zhiyuan with deep respect.

Now all the sects and factions were avoiding the evil demons near the Imperial City like snakes and scorpions, all trying to find excuses to stay away.

Yet Chu Zhiyuan offered to help out, just for this spirit of chivalry, he was admirable.

Chu Zhiyuan handed the two middle-aged men over to him, then smiled, clasped his fists, nodded to the other City Guards, and drifted away.

Ding Huanchun caught the two middle-aged men, his expression immediately serious. Facing inquiries from the other City Guards, he brushed them off with a few words and directly carried them into the city.

...

Heavenly Sword Peak

Sect Leader’s Hall

Chu Zhiyuan carefully took out the letter and handed it to Lu Wanshan with both hands.

Lu Wanshan received the letter, speaking leisurely, ”I heard from Junior Brother Gu that you want to help in the Imperial City?”

Chu Zhiyuan’s face darkened, and he said slowly, ”Disciple cannot stand idly by!”

Lu Wanshan said, ”There are so many experts in the world, who all choose to ignore it. Why do you insist on helping?”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned and said, ”Are they deliberately not helping and just standing by?”

Lu Wanshan huffed, ”You’re a smart person, you should be able to think this through.”

”Disciple cannot understand why it is so,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. ”The Dynasty and us are originally one, aren’t we? What good is there in letting evil demons rampage? Could it be to weaken the Court’s power?”

Lu Wanshan said, ”The Court also thinks about weakening us.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Disciple believes Prince Zhuang’s words are truthful, six years ago, it’s very likely there was no Giant Demon in the Qinglian Sea.”

Super Sense allowed him to discern the truth in Prince Zhuang’s words, confirming they were not lies.

This meant the Court had no intention of oppressing or weakening the Heavenly Sword Sect, it was a misunderstanding.

”Truth or not, it no longer matters,” Lu Wanshan shook his head. ”Six years ago, there was no intention to weaken us, but now it might be different.”

He gently shook the letter, turning it into powder.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned in deep thought.

He did not doubt these words.

Once the Dynasty grew weak, it would also suppress the Four Great Sects and other martial sects.

If the Dynasty was strong, it would relax its suppression of the martial sects and grant more freedom.

Lu Wanshan said, ”Do you really want to help?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly, ”Disciple cannot tolerate the evil demons running rampant, ... and there’s something odd, too many strange things... In any case, I’ll go and observe the situation.”

Lu Wanshan said, ”Alright, if you want to go, then go. Remember to be careful not to get involved and always stay vigilant.”

Chu Zhiyuan took out the Jade Heaven Sword and smiled, ”With this, it’s enough to protect myself.”

Lu Wanshan said, ”Has it recovered now?”

”Yes,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Lu Wanshan sighed, ”With it, indeed, one can be at ease.”

In the hands of others, the Jade Heaven Sword needed a long time to recover.

But Chu Zhiyuan restored it in just a few days, his spiritual power was beyond imagination.

Having the Jade Heaven Sword, along with the Demon Suppressing Saber, and his exceptional vigilance, there was no need to worry about his safety.

Chu Zhiyuan returned to his small courtyard.

Soon, Li Hongzhao arrived to visit.

Li Hongzhao, dressed in brilliant red, stunningly beautiful, gracefully approached the stone table in the courtyard and sat down, asking about his experiences going down the mountain.

Chu Zhiyuan then recounted the events in detail.

Only, restricted by his promise to Prince Zhuang, he didn’t disclose the issue with the Divine Artifact.

”That Prince Zhuang carries the Phoenix Bloodline,” Chu Zhiyuan said. ”It should be identical to your bloodline.”

Li Hongzhao’s phoenix eyes flashed, ”Truly identical?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”There is a unique aura, only possessed by you, not others; it is the aura of the Phoenix Bloodline.”

”Can you sense this aura?” Li Hongzhao asked curiously, ”How do you feel it?”

The Phoenix Bloodline is a strong power contained within the body.

It’s neither True Yuan nor blood energy; it’s a strange, invisible power.

This power drives the body to continuously undergo rebirth, the spirit grows more vigorous, meridians become wider and smoother, and True Yuan circulates faster.

Thus, cultivation progresses rapidly, and with the help of the Divine Statue, it’s beyond imagination.

This bloodline power is potent, but she couldn’t feel its outward manifestation.

She didn’t expect Chu Zhiyuan could sense it.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”There is a faint phoenix shadow above your bodies.”

”Impossible,” Li Hongzhao turned her head to look but saw nothing.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Outsiders can’t see it, and neither can you?”

Li Hongzhao shook her head.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”In any case, you really have the potential to become part of the Imperial Family.”

Li Hongzhao’s phoenix eyes sparkled, she thought for a moment, then shook her head, ”I’ll decide after my cultivation advances.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Li Hongzhao and Chu Zhiyuan speculated on the changes in the Imperial City and the madness of the Evil Sect.

Chu Zhiyuan shared the information he received, that the Evil Sect was issuing bounties.

These bounties spurred the evil demons to provoke and assassinate recklessly.

Their target is to assassinate City Guards, ordinary citizens, and martial experts from various sects were just collateral, not the main targets of the bounties.