Imperial Cultivation

42: Chapter 40: The Seventh Layer

42 -40: The Seventh Layer

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The Washing Sword Technique and Blood Purification Technique are quite similar, both transforming the True Qi of the Great Purple Sun Technique through special mental method pathways to add unique attributes.

By further invoking Void Power, the fusion results in a qualitative transformation of the True Qi.

At this point, the True Qi differs entirely from the Great Purple Sun Technique’s True Qi, sometimes expanding and strengthening the meridians, or coalescing into sharp sword or blade rays.

The complexity of the mental method pathways in both the Washing Sword Technique and Blood Purification Technique is similar; the commonality lies in that little bit of Void Power that turns stone into gold.

On a bed in the back courtyard of a villa beside the Thick Earth Hall, Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, practicing the Washing Sword Technique.

A quarter of an hour later, he slowly opened his eyes, raised his right palm in front of his face, and in the center of his palm, a blurry halo appeared, resembling a bright moon reflected in water.

He leaped out of the window, landing beside a stone table in the courtyard, and gently pressed his right palm on the table.

In Zou Fang’s astonished gaze, a palm print, an inch deep, appeared on the stone table.

Zou Fang’s eyes focused.

“Zou Fang, give it a try.”

“Yes.”

Zou Fang floated to the edge of the stone table, pressed his fair palm, and left a smooth and clear-edged palm print, an inch deep.

“You didn’t try your hardest.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled at him.

“My palm power is soft and gentle, this is my specialty.”

Chu Zhiyuan mused, “It seems my palm power can only crush the Innate, there’s no chance against a Grandmaster.”

Zou Fang thought for a moment, “If you use the sword, young master, you might stand a chance against a Grandmaster.”

He had seen with his own eyes the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique becoming twice as fast now compared to before.

Obviously, it increased not only in speed but also in power.

The combination of the two enhances the power four or five times more.

It’s a world of difference, a rebirth.

In the Grandmaster Realm, True Qi transforms into Gang Qi, naturally overpowering True Qi.

Inner Qi is like fog, True Qi like water, Gang Qi like ice, and the spiritual energy of a Great Grandmaster like swords and blades.

A Grandmaster’s power is stronger and faster, but Chu Zhiyuan’s speed far exceeds that of experts in the Innate Realm, not necessarily much inferior to a Grandmaster.

If the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique can be as pure and almost like Gang Qi as his palm power, it might break through a Grandmaster’s Protective Gang Qi.

Of course, to truly battle a Grandmaster, he’s still a bit lacking, especially high-realm Grandmasters.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, “Still need to improve the realm.”

With an increased realm, the True Qi becomes deeper and purer, and the power the Washing Sword Technique can unleash becomes stronger.

There are still nine Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills, maybe it can progress further.

Thinking of this, he felt driven once again, drew his sword, and shadows of swords filled the courtyard.

It seemed as if he had become dozens of people moving and swinging swords in the yard, clear and shimmering sword shadows filled the entire courtyard.

…

When his meridians faintly ached, he practiced the Blood Purification Technique, milky white True Qi circulating in the meridians, rapidly strengthening them.

However, after a certain point, the strengthening slowed down and no amount of practice was effective.

This was the limit.

Like watering dry land, it couldn’t take in more water past a certain point.

Or like stretching rubber to its extreme, unable to extend further.

He pondered and began practicing the Dragon Transformation Technique.

As his cultivation deepened, the True Qi of the Dragon Transformation Technique had turned golden, much softer than the milky white True Qi, and the meridians began to absorb it.

With an added Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, the effect of the Dragon Transformation Technique multiplied.

But after some practice, the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique was nearly perfected, unable to further strengthen the meridians.

So he stopped.

It was time to practice the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill, first using the Washing Sword Technique, then the Binding Dragon Rope.

After six Binding Dragon Ropes, he felt the limit, adding more might be life-threatening.

So he added one more.

With the Emperor Earth Scripture, he felt more daring.

Once the seventh Binding Dragon Rope formed, an alert constantly warned him, his entire body stood on end as if standing next to a powder keg.

He gritted his teeth, ignoring the warnings from the Super Sense, and focused on advancing.

All seven Binding Dragon Ropes released simultaneously, pouring into the governor and conception vessels like rivers converging, crashing towards the sixth layer of the Jade Tower.

The sound of a “rumble” echoed in his ears, like Thunder Shock.

At the same time, the meridians sent out tearing pain.

The governor and conception vessels were already thicker than other meridians, yet still couldn’t withstand the impact of seven Binding Dragon Ropes.

The meridians, though seemingly invisible, were in fact tangible.

Under the Super Sense, the transparent meridians cracked with openings that increased as the seven Binding Dragon Ropes advanced.

He ignored it entirely, focusing on driving the seven Binding Dragon Ropes to impact the remaining seven layers of the Jade Tower.

“Rumble…”

The Thunder Shock grew louder.

“Bang…”

In an ancient collision sound, the sixth layer of the Jade Tower burst forth with dazzling light that spread through his entire body, merging an invisible force within the seven Binding Dragon Ropes.

The seven Binding Dragon Ropes poured directly down into the Dantian.

The Dantian felt as if it were splitting, expanded just a bit.

The power of the seven Binding Dragon Ropes fused with the True Qi in the Dantian, becoming one, but the True Qi had already changed.

Even more pure, even more abundant.

Already stepping into the Seventh Layer Realm!

He grinned while enduring excruciating pain, forming handprints to practice the Emperor Earth Scripture.

The Earth Venerate Divine Statue quickly sent four beams of golden light, which he activated using the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique’s mental method, swiftly recovering the meridian injuries.

He had been studying and judging whether the Emperor Earth Scripture was a method of incense, and so far had not reached a conclusion since he hadn’t truly witnessed an incense method.

——

After the morning roll call the next day, he sat at the desk reviewing case files, planning to finish them quickly and head to the Tongtian Pavilion to investigate incense methods thoroughly.

Gao Lingfeng came hurriedly, saluted with clasped fists, and stood silently, not disturbing his review of the records.

Chu Zhiyuan put down the records, glanced at him, “Master Gao has been waiting for me, is there something?”

“Sir,” Gao Lingfeng awkwardly clasped his fists, then solemnly, “Elder Lu from the Flying Flower Sword Sect requests an audience.”

“Where is he?”

“Waiting in the government hall.”

“Invite him in.”

“Yes.”

…

Moments later, Lu Wan, in a loose green robe, her graceful silhouette concealed, long sword hanging at her waist, walked in calmly, her charming face set with a serious expression.

Chu Zhiyuan stood up behind the desk, clasping his fists, “Elder Lu, pardon my distant welcome.”

Lu Wan managed a slight smile, clasping her fists, “Greetings, Junior Minister.”

Chu Zhiyuan gestured with his hand.

A junior official quietly brought a chair.

After thanking, Lu Wan sat down calmly, “Sir, I have something to say.”

“Because of the events of the previous night?

Is your sect’s seriously injured disciple okay?” Chu Zhiyuan asked, looking heavily at Lu Wan.

“We’ve reattached the arm, it’s not a serious issue.” Lu Wan somberly replied slowly, “Does the lord know the cause of these events?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, “Not very clear.”

If there was nothing beneath the surface, the handling would result in punishing both sides equally, regardless of who was right or wrong, but they fought and caused serious injury.

In other places, in other situations, it wouldn’t be so simple and crude.

But they fought over jealousy, in a library.

“This matter was provoked deliberately by a disciple of the Thick Earth Sect, our disciple could not bear the humiliation and fought back, ending up seriously injured…

This is a conspiracy; the Thick Earth Sect planned this from the start!”

Chu Zhiyuan’s brows raised, gazing into her charming eyes.

Lu Wan shook her head, “I initially thought it was a simple case of jealousy too, was very angry.

Later, I inquired carefully and found it was a conspiracy, a calculation by the Thick Earth Sect against our Flying Flower Sword Sect!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, “Why would the Thick Earth Sect plot against the Flying Flower Sword Sect?”

Lu Wan hesitated.

Chu Zhiyuan said, “The reputation of the Thick Earth Sect is quite good, believers have always endured humiliation, and disciples in the sect have been disciplined and well-behaved.”

Of course, overall culture is such, but people are diverse, with good and bad, and the Thick Earth Sect cannot possibly be entirely composed of honest people.

Lu Wan’s curved eyebrows lightly furrowed.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly, “Elder Lu, would you like to discuss privately?”

He noticed that Lu Wan was being less than candid, definitely hiding something.

Lu Wan hesitated.

“Master Gao,” Chu Zhiyuan looked at Gao Lingfeng and gave a meaningful glance.

Gao Lingfeng nodded, leading two junior officials out.

The room was left with only Zou Fang in the shadows.

“For what reason?” Chu Zhiyuan said, “If Elder Lu doesn’t wish to speak, all I can do is punish both sides equally.”

These cases of jealousy have always been handled this way, with precedent to follow, and unless there are special circumstances, there’s no need to break the rule, no need to be unconventional.

The most crucial aspect of officialdom is to blend with the dust, go with the flow; being overly conspicuous only attracts pervasive snares and traps.

Even a princely heir can’t throw caution to the wind carelessly.

In official circles, people often manipulate others invisibly, unknowingly being manipulated.

“The Thick Earth Sect claims our sect once took a treasure from them.”

“What treasure?”

“…The Earth Dragon Pearl.” Lu Wan bit her red lips, finally uttering the words.