Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 30: Chapter 28: Strange Painting

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As time passed, the external followers did not diminish in numbers; instead, more followers poured in as the news spread.

These followers, while bowing to the Earth Venerate, also saluted Feng Zhihao.

Chu Zhiyuan kept his eye on Feng Zhihao, recalling every move Feng Zhihao made earlier, his spell, his handprint.

At the same time, he observed the Earth Venerate Statue and a quiet room behind the Thick Earth Hall.

The quiet room was simply decorated, with only a couch and a table.

A landscape painting hung on the north wall.

Under Super Sense, it was clear that there was another painting underneath the landscape painting.

The person in the painting was the Earth Venerate, identical to the image of the Earth Venerate in the great hall.

The Earth Venerate in the painting stood at the peak of a steep mountain, stepping on a huge rock, exuding golden light all around.

The golden light formed a circular mirror behind him, in which there were vast mountain ranges, expansive land, strange patterns, and peculiar characters.

A total of nine characters were embedded on the edge of the golden light.

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

He suddenly realized he couldn’t remember this painting.

It had a similar characteristic to the phoenix pattern: clear to see but impossible to remember.

Looking at this painting again, at first glance, it seemed newly created, but a careful look at the material revealed a vague sense of antiquity; this was an ancient painting.

Super Sense focused intensely on this painting.

He immediately felt a strange force blocking his detection.

Unable to detect the material of this painting.

As time continued to pass, people came and went in the Thick Earth Hall. Some noticed him, but no one lingered or paid more attention.

Chu Zhiyuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of an already withered flower bed, his expression serene.

Zou Fang stood silently beside him.

Guo Chi occasionally glared at the main hall, wishing he could go in and drag Feng Zhihao out, slap him a few times, and teach him what respect is.

Chu Zhiyuan kept scrutinizing the mysterious painting, seeking more details, and then tried to replicate it by hand.

Unfortunately, it was still impossible.

This painting couldn’t be replicated; the moment he tried to draw it, his mind would go blank, utterly perplexed.

He found it increasingly fascinating and thus focused on the nine peculiar characters.

Comparing them with ancient and exotic texts read at the Tongtian Pavilion, he quickly found these nine characters in his memory:镇,诸,绝,山,川,河,江,无,量.

These nine characters could be written down.

An hour later, Feng Zhihao walked out of the main hall, glanced at Chu Zhiyuan and the others, and then turned to head to the backyard, without any intention of meeting with them.

”You...” Guo Chi, upon seeing this, was furious and couldn’t hold back his anger, wanting to lash out, but he was interrupted by a raised hand from Chu Zhiyuan.

Guo Chi restrained his anger, glaring fiercely at Feng Zhihao as he leisurely left, his figure disappearing through the moon gate on the east side.

He turned to look at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: ”Let’s wait.”

”Princely Heir, he... he...” Guo Chi found it unbelievable.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and said, ”We’ve waited this long, so let’s wait till the end.”

Guo Chi said resentfully, ”Princely Heir...”

Good-hearted people are bullied; good-natured horses are ridden, Princely Heir is just too easygoing.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled: ”No need to be like this. It is me who wants to see him, not him who wants to see me.”

”There will be a time when he wishes to see the Princely Heir!” Guo Chi sneered.

He glanced at Zou Fang.

Zou Fang’s slightly glowing face was expressionless.

Clearly, she was also angry.

Everyone felt that Feng Zhihao’s arrogance had a limit, treating a Princely Heir in such a way was too much.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled softly.

As a person of the Martial Arts world, a bit of temper is normal; it is not like he cursed him, just putting up an air and pose, no need to be furious.

Although inwardly annoyed, he maintained a calm demeanor.

His mind was still on the painting.

When Feng Zhihao came out again, he walked straight to Chu Zhiyuan, clasped his fists, and said indifferently, ”Thank you, Princely Heir, for waiting. My apologies.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: ”Young Sect Leader Feng, I have long admired your name. After personally witnessing your efforts to save people from danger, I wish to ask you a few questions in person.”

”I dare not call it guidance; just a trivial skill,” Feng Zhihao said coldly, ”Princely Heir, with such noble status, should not have come here.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”Why can’t I come here?”

”Such a crude place is truly unbecoming of your noble status.”

”No matter how noble, I’m not that fragile,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. ”If not for coming here, how could I have personally witnessed the heroic act of Young Sect Leader Feng saving others from peril.”

Feng Zhihao’s mouth twitched.

He found Chu Zhiyuan’s words filled with a strange sarcasm, making him very uncomfortable.

Saving people is indeed a noble act, but being mentioned repeatedly and exaggerated like this was truly unpleasant.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”May I ask which method the Young Sect Leader used to so effectively cure that elder’s heart condition?”

The old man had a typical heart attack, heart blockage, but recovered rapidly under that strange force, with effects as if by miracle.

This rapid effect on the body surpassed even the most miraculous Spirit Pills, arousing his extreme curiosity.

If such power existed, it would be like having a life-saving Spirit Pill constantly on hand, capable of rapid recovery from injuries, whether during a duel or when training goes wrong.

This would be like having several extra lives.

For this reason, a bit of disregard was worth it.

Feng Zhihao’s eyes immediately turned vigilant as he frowned and looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled again: ”Young Sect Leader need not force yourself. Every sect under heaven has its secret traditions. I’m not one to violate such taboos.”

Feng Zhihao said coolly, ”There is nothing I cannot say. Our Thick Earth Sect conducts itself openly and plainly, with nothing we cannot speak of. This is the Emperor Earth Scripture, which every sect member can cultivate.”

”Emperor Earth Scripture... indeed remarkable,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly. ”I saw the Young Sect Leader perform it with spell chanting and handprints, not as a Martial Arts heart method, right?”

”Our sect’s cultivation differs from the usual Martial Arts sects,” Feng Zhihao said indifferently, ”and is not based on competition, slaughter, and killing.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded: ”The Thick Earth Sect emphasizes nurturing virtue and cultivating the heart, which the Court also highly supports.”

Feng Zhihao smiled faintly, ”It is thanks enough that the Court does not suppress us. We do not dare to hope for support.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: ”The Court treats the Thick Earth Sect quite well.”

Feng Zhihao didn’t comment, just holding a hint of a cold smile at the corner of his mouth.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head inwardly.

This Feng Zhihao was arrogant and proud, putting no one in his eyes, was it because of the decline of Prince Qing’s Mansion, or because he had Prince Huai as his backing?

He cupped his fists and said, ”Young Sect Leader, why don’t we exchange a few moves?”

Feng Zhihao was momentarily stunned.

He originally thought that Chu Zhiyuan, being so noble, would not personally make a move, as it would be too disgraceful to lose.

Especially since Prince Qing’s Mansion had been sealed for thirty years, as the Princely Heir, he had to endure quietly, absolutely not being high-profile or ostentatious, which is why he became an official in the Ministry of Rites rather than going into the military to earn merit.

Unexpectedly, he dared to make a move against himself.

He himself was a martial prodigy, standing shoulder to shoulder with true disciples from the Four Great Sects; daring to make a move against him?

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”I’ve long heard of the Young Sect Leader’s reputation as a prodigy, a rare opportunity, so I personally wish to seek some guidance. This is also an opportunity for the Young Sect Leader.”

”What opportunity?”

”An opportunity to vent your pent-up anger.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled warmly at him.

He could clearly see that Feng Zhihao was not just cold towards him but bore resentment.

As for where the resentment came from?

There had been no other interactions between them, no personal grievances; it was likely due to his status, being lashed out at.

”...The Princely Heir truly dares to make a move with me?”

Feng Zhihao suppressed his swirling emotions and slowly asked.

”Is the Young Sect Leader scared?”

Chu Zhiyuan still smiled warmly, causing Feng Zhihao’s inner anger to grow even stronger.

The followers coming and going all around also heard their conversation and turned to look.

Feng Zhihao squinted his eyes, glaring coldly at Chu Zhiyuan, scrutinizing him.

Chu Zhiyuan kept smiling warmly at him.

”...Follow me!” Feng Zhihao turned and walked away.

Chu Zhiyuan followed, and Zou Fang and Guo Chi followed as well.

Passing through the moon gate on the east side, they came to a courtyard.

This courtyard was empty, with a small Martial Arts training ground in the center, surrounded by a withered flower bed on one side and a weapon rack on the other; evidently, it was for his personal martial practice.

Feng Zhihao stood in the center of the courtyard and said indifferently: ”With fewer people around, if the Princely Heir loses, he won’t lose too much face. This place is just right.”

Anything could happen, and what if the Princely Heir’s martial arts were superior to his own?

Defeating him was nothing, but losing would damage his reputation as the Young Sect Leader.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: ”It’s said that good deeds are rewarded, with your kind intentions, it spares myself from embarrassment.”

”Let me say this beforehand, I won’t hold back just because you’re the Princely Heir!”

”Then let’s see the truth through our skills!”

Chu Zhiyuan turned to the weapon rack and drew an Ironwood Sword.

Feng Zhihao, however, did not take a weapon but raised his palms to his chest.

Seeing this, Chu Zhiyuan threw the Ironwood Sword back onto the weapon rack and extended his palms: ”Please—!”

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