Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 19: Chapter 17 Banquet_2

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To dispel this Binding Dragon Rope, one would need to reach at least the fourth level to have any hope, truly a mighty Miracle Technique.

At dusk, before leaving Mingwu Hall, he dispersed the Binding Dragon Rope.

Initially, all the Inner Qi in the Dantian could form one Qi Rope, and later, all the Inner Qi in the Dantian could form half a Qi Rope.

It was both the Qi Cleansing Technique that made the Inner Qi purer and the Binding Dragon Rope itself becoming purer.

He decided to train for another day to see the effect. If the Binding Dragon Rope and Qi Cleansing Technique could still improve significantly, then he would wait a bit longer.

In any case, he needed to break through the three barriers in one fell swoop.

——

Outside the Eighteenth Prince’s residence hung the sign ’Prince Mansion,’ not ’Prince Qing Mansion.’

In terms of specifications, it was inferior to the Prince Qing Mansion, and its location was quite remote, far less close to the Imperial Palace compared to the Prince Qing Mansion.

The construction of the prince’s residence followed chronological order, the earlier the construction, the closer to the Imperial Palace. Those built later were further away.

As soon as Chu Zhiyuan arrived outside the mansion, he was met by Chu Mingxuan, who, after hearing the report, opened the main gate to welcome him in. They turned past the screen wall and quickly arrived at the front hall.

Entering the front hall, he saw Chu Zhitian and Chu Zhichuan huddled under the lattice window, looking at a Secret Manual and arguing incessantly.

Their demeanor suggested they were frequent visitors, comfortable and at ease.

Both had changed into casual clothing, wide-sleeved robes, their expressions relaxed and leisurely.

Seeing him enter, they put down the Secret Manual and clasped their hands in greeting.

”Neither of you can convince the other, let Fourth Brother take a look.” Chu Mingxuan picked up the Secret Manual and handed it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan took it and began to browse.

The Secret Manual was a Sword Manual, without a cover, with only seven illustrations, depicting small figures holding swords and striking peculiar poses—the seven illustrations were seven Sword Postures.

Chu Zhiyuan simulated it in his mind, drawing his sword and beginning to practice.

The first round was slow, the second slightly quicker, and by the third round, he was even faster. By the seventh round, he was as graceful as a celestial being.

Like an immortal dancing gracefully atop the clouds.

”A good swordsmanship.” Chu Zhiyuan sheathed his sword posture, shook his head, and said, ”But it’s incomplete.”

”Fourth Brother, is it a Fast Sword or a Slow Sword?” Chu Zhitian asked.

This was also the focal point of his argument with Chu Zhichuan.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, ”This sword technique is neither a Fast Sword nor a Slow Sword. Three moves are slow, four moves are fast, and it should transition between fast and slow. The ingenuity lies in the variation between fast and slow... good swordsmanship!”

His Martial Arts proficiency was rapidly improving, and combined with clear self-awareness, he could see the changes within his body as he executed the Sword Moves, the flow of Inner Qi within his Meridians.

Thus, practicing just once gave him a clear understanding of the swordsmanship.

”Fourth Brother, you’re...,” Chu Zhichuan shook his head, ”kind of elusive, aren’t you.”

Chu Zhitian was also dissatisfied: ”Fourth Brother, there’s no need to split hairs. If it’s a Fast Sword, then it is a Fast Sword. It’s no problem.”

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: ”This swordsmanship uses simplicity to conquer intricacy, transforming complexity into simplicity. It should be the swordsmanship of a top-notch Sword Sect, right?”

”Indeed, it’s you, Fourth Brother!” Chu Mingxuan chuckled and waved, instructing two beautiful maids to bring out the dishes and wine, proudly saying, ”It’s the secret Sword Manual of the White Cloud Sword Palace.”

Chu Zhitian hurriedly said, ”The Sword Manual of the White Cloud Sword Palace? Uncle Eighteen!”

Chu Zhichuan sneered, quite disdainful.

Chu Mingxuan said, ”Rest assured, a friend of mine from the White Cloud Sword Palace gave it to me as a gift.”

Chu Zhitian breathed a sigh of relief: ”That’s good, that’s good.”

Chu Zhichuan gave him a sidelong glance, extremely displeased with his reaction: ”Brother Nine, as the Princely Heirs, do we need to be so afraid of the White Cloud Sword Palace?”

”Tenth Brother,” Chu Zhitian said, ”The White Cloud Sword Palace has made outstanding contributions to Da Jing, naturally deserving of respect.”

Chu Zhichuan pursed his lips.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Is this really the swordsmanship of the White Cloud Sword Palace?”

”It’s a Sword Manual collected by the White Cloud Sword Palace. Such a swordsmanship of the White Cloud Sword Palace couldn’t possibly be spread outside.”

”What a pity...” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

The East and West Halls do not have the Secret Martial Arts Manuals of the current Four Great Sects. He was extremely curious about the swordsmanship of the White Cloud Sword Palace.

As they spoke, a group of beautiful, colorful maids arrived gracefully, carrying a fragrant breeze. Their postures were supple and light.

Each maid carried a sandalwood tray, and the delicacies quickly filled the large round sandalwood table, complete with colors, aromas, and flavors, as well as a black jar.

”Come, let’s sit down!”

Chu Mingxuan invited the three to take their seats.

Each person had a large open-bowl in front of them. Chu Mingxuan opened the clay sealing of the black jar and poured out four large bowls.

In the candlelight, the fine wine looked like amber, slightly swaying, as heavy as oil.

A strange fragrance quickly filled the room.

Not only the wine’s rich and mellow flavor but also another peculiar aroma that made Chu Zhichuan’s saliva rapidly fill his mouth.

”First, let’s drink this bowl dry, to welcome Fourth Brother. Come to my mansion often, I guarantee there’ll be fine wine and good meat!”

”Then I’ll trouble Uncle Eighteen a lot in the future.”

”Come, drink it all!”

The four immediately drank it down in one go.

It was like a flame entering their stomachs, transforming into a strange aroma that filled their internal organs, and at once, their pores opened warmly, tipsy.

With clear self-awareness, he discovered this aroma was a strange aura, drilling into the bones, visibly thickening the bone membrane.

He knew that the thickening of the bone membrane would greatly increase strength and speed.

”Good wine!” he couldn’t help but praise, ”Uncle Eighteen, this is great stuff. It’s soaked with some kind of Demon Beast’s bone, right?”

”Haha, Fourth Brother knows his stuff. This jar of wine is no ordinary thing. It’s soaked with Six Yang Demon Tiger bones for five years!”

”Six Yang Demon Tiger?” Chu Zhitian said excitedly, ”Is it really Six Yang Demon Tiger?”

Chu Zhichuan’s handsome face showed surprise.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”Uncle Eighteen is really generous!”

He knew that the Six Yang Demon Tiger was a Demon Beast within the Feiyan Hunting Ground, incomparable to the Demon Beasts of Little Chi Xia Mountain, containing a denser bloodline of the Four Great Secret Lands’ Demon Beasts.

The tiger bone of the Six Yang Demon Tiger had to be obtained through military merit exchange.

”It’s nothing!” Chu Mingxuan casually waved his hand, then laughed, ”I also snuck it from Fifth Brother.”

He then filled the four big bowls again, and they started eating, chatting while eating.

”Uncle Eighteen, once you reach the Innate level, you’ll be conferred a title of nobility, right?” Chu Zhitian asked, ”That would be different.”

The difference between being conferred and not being conferred a title of nobility was huge, not just in the scale of the mansion, but also in the number and quality of the house guard, which would greatly improve.

More importantly, the salary would also greatly increase, even including allocations of Spirit Pills.

”Once you’ve reached the Innate level, you’ll be conferred,” Chu Mingxuan anticipated, sighing, ”We weren’t born in a good time. Like Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and Fifth Brother, didn’t have these rules in the past, they were directly conferred at eighteen. Not like now, you have to reach the Innate level to be conferred.”

Being conferred a few years late, how many good things were missed, it’s too distressing!

”Uncle Eighteen, what position do you want to take? Join the Military Suppression Department?”

”I don’t want to join the Military Suppression Department.” Chu Mingxuan waved his plump hand, sighed, ”The Military Suppression Department, Fourth Brother would fit in, but not me.”

Chu Zhitian asked, ”Aren’t me and Tenth Brother suitable?”

”You two could go in, but those without good qualifications shouldn’t join the Military Suppression Department. Those desperados don’t care if you’re Princely Heirs, they would be more eager to kill you if they knew you are!”

”I want to join the Military Suppression Department,” Chu Zhitian said.

Chu Zhichuan nodded slowly, ”The Military Suppression Department is the easiest place to earn merit.”

Chu Mingxuan turned to look at Chu Zhiyuan, ”Fourth Brother, how about you, are you also joining the Military Suppression Department?”

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