Imperial Cultivation

37: Chapter 35: The Efficacy of the Medicine

37 -35: The Efficacy of the Medicine

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Cheng Tianfeng is the direct disciple of Da Zhen’s State Preceptor.

And the State Preceptor of Da Zhen is the Cliff Master of Wentian Cliff.

Wentian Cliff holds an exalted position in Da Zhen, though it has few disciples, its martial arts heart methods are profound, and every disciple is a formidable expert.

Chu Zhiyuan listened solemnly.

Without asking, it’s clear that the Cliff Master of Wentian Cliff must be a Great Grandmaster, probably surpassing Chu Qingfeng.

He indeed has to be cautious.

Chu Zhiyuan said, “Third Brother, does the Inspection Department have detailed information on Cheng Tianfeng?

I want to look at everything.”

“No problem, I will report this to Imperial Grandfather,” Chu Zhiyao nodded seriously, “Otherwise, we can go see Imperial Grandfather together…

Oh right, Fourth Brother, you haven’t met Imperial Grandfather yet, have you?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

Chu Zhiyao said, “With your remarkable talent, Imperial Grandfather would surely be fond of you, this is a chance for you to meet him.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, “Without Imperial Grandfather’s edict, it isn’t appropriate for me to meet him.”

His news must have reached the Emperor’s ears, and having mastered the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill, which the Emperor created himself, yet receiving no attention spoke volumes about his attitude.

But he possessed a fundamental difference from the people of this world, as he was reborn.

His notions from the previous life came first, taking root and forming the mainstay, making it impossible to unsettle some basic concepts formed over twenty years.

Additionally, the existence of Super Sense gave him confidence.

He didn’t feel dejected or resentful due to Chu Qingquan’s disregard, nor had the urgent desire to garner Chu Qingquan’s favor.

To outsiders, though, it was surely the opposite.

Which prince or princely heir wouldn’t want to gain Chu Qingquan’s favor and have his approval?

…

Halfway through the meal, Chu Zhiyao took his leave, as it was time for cultivation, and he couldn’t disrupt his routine.

Chu Mingxuan and the others didn’t stop him, and with expressions of admiration, happily let him go.

No matter what, cultivation comes first.

This is absolutely correct, nobody could dispute that.

After seeing Chu Zhiyao off, the four returned indoors and sat down again.

Chu Mingxuan, with an embarrassed look, raised his cup towards Chu Zhiyuan, “Fourth Brother, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.”

He now realized.

It seemed like he got Chu Zhiyuan into trouble.

Facing Da Zhen’s princely heir would be a great achievement, but the risks were equally significant, especially upon learning that Cheng Tianfeng is the disciple of Da Zhen’s State Preceptor and the Cliff Master of Wentian Cliff, leaving him increasingly uncertain.

If he had known in advance that Cheng Tianfeng had such a master, he’d surely have advised Chu Zhiyuan against accepting this task.

Everyone has their own affinities and distances.

Friendships can be as new as a white head yet as familiar as an old friend, and depth of friendship isn’t measured by time.

His relationship with Chu Zhiyao was also good, but due to Chu Zhiyao’s temperament, it wasn’t as close as his with Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, “Eighteenth Uncle, I and Third Brother ultimately have to have a match to decide who will face Da Zhen’s challenge, it cannot be avoided.”

Among the princely heirs, only three have reached the Innate level, theoretically, the earlier Into-the Innate stage, Chu Zhiyao, holds an edge.

But having mastered the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill, he displayed stronger talent, and had combat performances with crushing superiority.

For the sake of stability, naturally arranging a match between himself and Chu Zhiyao to determine who is stronger and selected to face the challenge was inevitable.Now it’s just happening a step earlier.

Therefore, he ultimately agreed.

Whether you choose to stick your neck out or pull back, it’s all the same; better to take initiative, you may gain more support and praise.

“Fourth Brother, you’ve got this!” Chu Zhitian said, “That Cheng Tianfeng is definitely not your match!”

Chu Zhichuan nodded.

Having mastered the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill, and the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique, along with the inheritance of the Taiqing Primordial Sect, it’s hard to imagine anyone winning against such a monster.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head with a smile, “Ninth Brother, Tenth Brother, don’t flatter me to death, no one knows what trump card Cheng Tianfeng might have, since he dared to challenge, he naturally has confidence.”

“…True.”

The two looked serious.

——

A bright moon hung in the night sky.

The pitch-black night was dotted with stars.

A few sparse dark clouds were cast into silver scales by the moonlight.

In a courtyard not far from the Thick Earth Hall, Chu Zhiyuan sat quietly on his bed, the window open, cold night wind blowing inside, he felt nothing.

Inside his body, True Qi from the Great Purple Sun Technique circulated, extremely strong, pure sun energy dispelling the cold and chill.

Admiring the slanted bright moon outside the window, his mental state became calmer and more harmonious.

His left palm held a golden elixir pill, precisely the exchanged Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill.

The small Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill is crimson, while this one is golden, bright and pure as if cast from gold, giving a sense of weight.

It felt heavy even resting in his palm.

The method to refine this Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill is wondrous, able to completely hold in the medicinal fragrance without sealing it in wax pills, evident of its potency.

Taking a deep breath, the faint medicinal fragrance permeated his five internal organs and six hollow organs, without Super Sense, even a single whiff of the fragrance would go undetected.

Eight strands of Binding Dragon Rope already floated within his Twelve Meridians.

When he first stepped into the Fifth Layer, he could only coalesce seven strands of Binding Dragon Rope, and the meridians were overburdened, but now he could gather eight strands.

This was the result of recent cultivation with the Dragon Transformation Technique.

The eight strands of Binding Dragon Rope quietly stayed within eight meridians, truly like eight flood dragons, ready at any moment to surge into the governor and conception vessels.

Eight strands of Binding Dragon Rope had reached the limit, and he prepared to strike the Jade Tower once again.

If it didn’t work, the meridians would likely be injured, then simultaneously use the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique and Near and Far Steps, causing more injuries, until the limit was reached and he could practice the Dragon Transformation Technique again.

If that didn’t work, the Emperor Earth Scripture was still an option.

“Boom…”

A sound of floodwaters breaching the dam echoed in his ears, caused by the eight strands of Binding Dragon Rope rushing into the governor vessel and then surging through the jade pillow.

His body trembled violently, as if sitting on a small boat amidst turbulent waves.

The blood from his face drained at a visible speed until his face was pale as paper.

Yet his eyes blazed with intensity.

Taking a deep breath, he drew his sword, leaped out the window, and in mid-air, vanished, then reappeared three zhang away by the foot of the wall.

The longsword at his waist turned into a blur, as if a dozen swords thrust simultaneously.

A moment later, he abruptly stopped.

Returned the sword to its scabbard, hastily retrieved the golden pill from his sleeve and swallowed it, then assumed the Dragon Subduing Stance, beginning to operate the Dragon Transformation Technique at full speed.

Each sinew seemed to tremble as if having an epilepsy seizure, yet his eyes grew ever brighter.

Even at that moment when his vision turned black, seemingly on the verge of fainting, Super Sense kept functioning.

He internally observed his body; meridians felt as though they would tear apart at any second, almost seeing the cracks.

The meridians were congealed from Qi, but under Super Sense, they became transparent conduits, real and undeniable.

These conduits were integrally bound with the vital forces of the body; once life ends, the conduits vanish, and Qi dissipates.

Through Super Sense, the golden pill melded with saliva turned into a mass of Qi, penetrating into the stomach, rapidly spreading out along the five viscera and six bowels as well as the meridians, enveloping the entire body.

Once Dragon Transformation Technique began operating, the Qi dispersing throughout the body quickly condensed, circulating along the mental method path of the Dragon Transformation Technique, rapidly nourishing the meridians, repairing them, while also expanding and strengthening them.

This was the marvel of the Dragon Transformation Technique.

It both repairs and expands, strengthens, not leading to added injuries nor worsening of ones.

At this time, the meridians were severely injured, too weak to resist, allowing the Dragon Transformation Technique to expand and strengthen them, resulting in a cultivation effect tenfold greater than usual.

The Qi from the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill was exhausted after a quarter of an hour by the Dragon Transformation Technique, then he inserted two small Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills into his mouth immediately.

Once the medicinal effects of the two small Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills were also depleted, he could only stop the Dragon Transformation Technique.

At this moment, the meridians were still in a damaged state.

He formed seals with his hands, lips whispering, while simultaneously observing the Earth Venerate Diagram.

The Earth Venerate Divine Statue in the Thick Earth Hall glowed briefly, a mass of yellow light drifted down onto his hands and feet, which was then propelled by the Dragon Transformation Technique to circulate within the meridians.

Wherever it went, meridians quickly restored.

After a cup of tea’s worth of time, the meridians were healed.

At this point, the meridians were renewed, stronger by twofold, and also broader by twofold, able to accommodate more True Qi circulation.

He estimated that he could comfortably accommodate nine strands of Binding Dragon Rope.

Determined, he decided to push forward, first executing the Heavenly Yuan Technique to replenish the exhausted mental strength, and then began coalescing Binding Dragon Rope.

Coalescing the Binding Dragon Rope was time-consuming.

First, use Qi Cleansing Technique to refine the True Qi, then condense it into Binding Dragon Rope, completing one before starting the next, until there were nine.

By this time, an entire night had passed, the dawn light gradually revealing itself.

He attempted to breach the Jade Tower.

The attempt failed.

The Jade Tower grows sturdier with each layer.

He breached the Fourth Layer Jade Tower using only eight strands of Binding Dragon Rope, yet this Fifth Layer Jade Tower could not be breached with nine strands.

Ten strands should breach it in one go, or nine strands with repeated attempts, could ultimately succeed in breaking through.The preceding four layers, except for the first which broke with a single strike, the remaining three layers required multiple assaults.

He shook his head regretfully.

Just short of a breath; if he had one more small Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill today, he might have condensed ten strands of Binding Dragon Rope directly.

Suppressing his regret, he raised his head to check the sky, already too late to go to Mingwu Hall.

After returning to the Prince Mansion and having breakfast, he went to clock in at the Ministry of Rites, then proceeded to the Tongtian Pavilion to query information on Wentian Cliff.

The Tongtian Pavilion contained numerous records on Wentian Cliff.

By noon, he was just about to return to the Prince Mansion for lunch when, stepping out of the government office, he saw Chu Zhiyao waiting not far away.