Imperial Cultivation

45: Chapter 43 Stolen

45 -43 Stolen

Super Sense, the anomaly disappears; he carefully examines with his eyes.

This round moon is sculpted from white jade, set on a giant stone shaped like dark clouds.

At first glance, it appears as a moon set in the night sky, gently casting its clear light.

Even without Super Sense, one can feel the extraordinary nature of this moon sculpture.

Upon stepping through the main door of the True One Sect’s altar, a faint chill can be felt, along with the penetrating coolness of moonlight.

Standing in the center of the main hall, focusing on the moon, the more he looks, the more he finds it fascinating.

A round moon hangs bright in the sky, with layers of sparse dark clouds around it, making the moon appear like a jade disc, pure and flawless.

But with slight concentration on the moon, one can see shadows within it.

Vaguely, it seems like there’s someone or a structure on the moon.

One can’t help thinking, is there a Guanghan Palace on the moon, with a Guanghan Fairy within?

Is the fairy standing on the Moon Palace gazing down at the human world?

Chu Zhiyuan releases his Super Sense again.

The moon in this art is indistinguishable from the moon in the night sky, as if phantom and real.

What kind of trick is this?

Looking again at the believers kneeling and kowtowing under the moon sculpture, he wonders, could it be the Incense Fire Path?

The Incense Fire Path doesn’t seem that easy to define.

Under Super Sense, everything around him is reflected in his mind.

Within the True One Sect’s altar is a Grandmaster, the elderly man in an ink-green robe sitting in the corner of the main hall.

There are also two Innate Masters, both middle-aged, practicing martial arts in the backyard.

The rest are mediocre.

Originally, he thought the True One Sect matched the Thick Earth Sect in scale, influence, and strength.

But now, seeing it clearly, the True One Sect is far weaker than the Thick Earth Sect.

The Thick Earth Sect has a youthful talent like Feng Zhihao, with great prospects, at least not worrying for a hundred years to come.

But inside the True One Sect’s altar, there’s no sight of youthful talents, it appears old and stagnant.

He leaves the True One Sect’s altar, strolling hands behind his back through the bustling crowd on the street.

No sign of the True One Sect’s mental method, it’s hard to say which sect is stronger or weaker.

It’s possible the masters are hidden outside Yujing, not wanting to attract attention.

Most people in Martial Arts are straightforward, yet there’s no shortage of smart ones.

The teachings of the True One Sect subtly hint that its mental method follows the path of divine entry, a path nearly impossible to achieve Great Grandmaster.

But often the initial speed is fast, maybe catching up with the speed of the Little Purple Sun Formula.

Yet the scene inside the True One Sect’s altar doesn’t reflect this.

His eyes flicker, he smiles.

The True One Sect has hidden its talents!

Why hide talents?

Perhaps to avoid the spotlight, or perhaps for some grand scheme.

He smiles again.

These sects and schools, none are easy to deal with!

Currently, only the Flying Flower Sword Sect, newly arrived and with a shallow perspective, is easier to see through, the other sects and schools, with deep foundations, are different.

He arrives outside the courtyard where the Flying Flower Sword Sect resides.

Inside, they have already been notified, Lu Wan leads a group of Flying Flower Sword Sect disciples to greet him.

She’s wearing a lake-green gauze shirt, graceful and charming, slightly smiling with cupped fists: “Junior Minister, your arrival brings us honor!”

“Junior Minister…”

The disciples all salute.

Chu Zhiyuan notices their eyes are filled with curiosity and a bit of resentment.

Clearly, his previous words have spread to their ears.

They must be unconvinced, after all, he is also just twenty years old, similar to them, perhaps even younger than some.

In their view, his words were pretentious and condescending, which was quite unpleasant to hear.

Chu Zhiyuan smiles and returns the salute.

He notices Lu Wan’s expression is off, a faint trace of reluctance in her charming smile.

With his Super Sense, he picks up on the anger beneath her smile and casts a questioning glance.

Lu Wan smiles as if nothing happened: “Sir, let’s talk inside.”

Chu Zhiyuan nods and walks inside with her.

Zou Fang always follows him, Guo Chi and six house guards follow them in.

Entering through the gate, turning past the screen wall, before them are several flower beds, spread out like petals.

Within the beds, flowers of various colors bloom proudly against the cold wind: red, pink, yellow, purple, blue, all kinds, competing in beauty, their fragrance filling the air.

Chu Zhiyuan curiously examines these flowers, turning his head: “Elder Lu, how is this done?”

The flowers in Prince Qing Mansion are always blooming, and the trees lush, thanks to hot springs.

Super Sense reveals there are no hot springs here.

Curious why the flowers here do not wither or wilt.

“Sir, it’s because of the flower species, plus some special herbs.”

“Oh—?” Chu Zhiyuan examines with interest.

“Sir is interested in these flowers and plants?” Lu Wan is surprised.

She always thought Chu Zhiyuan was deep-minded, his eyes seemed to see through people’s hearts, unlike a twenty-year-old youth; rather, like a seasoned old man of fifty or sixty, deepened by worldly experiences.

Moreover, she knew Chu Zhiyuan was a martial arts prodigy, should be focused on cultivation, but didn’t expect him to be interested in flowers and plants.

Chu Zhiyuan smiles: “It’s not that I’m interested; my little sister loves to plant flowers and grasses.

Could I take one of these strange flowers?”

Lu Wan smiles: “Sir, which one would you like?”

“This one.” Chu Zhiyuan points to a large apricot-yellow flower.

This flower looks much like the yellow peony he saw in his past life, with layers of petals, pure yet not vulgar in color, a national beauty yet bright and distinguished.

“This is Morning Glow Flower.” Lu Wan says: “Good in color but lightly fragrant, it blooms for only ten days a year.”

Chu Zhiyuan says: “Only ten days blooming period…”

Lu Wan gently nods: “But after blooming, the more you look, the more captivating it becomes.”

“Is it easy to keep alive?”

“It’s somewhat difficult.” Lu Wan says: “Suyue excels at growing flowers; perhaps she can discuss it with the Commandery Princess.”

She waves her jade hand.

A shy, beautiful young girl steps forward, head down, embarrassed to look at Chu Zhiyuan: “Master…”

Chu Zhiyuan glances at the beautiful young girl, Li Suyue, and smiles with cupped fists: “That’s the best then, I’ll trouble you, my lady.”

Li Suyue blushes and hastily returns the gesture.

Chu Zhiyuan takes another deep look at that bright yellow, lush Morning Glow Flower, then follows Lu Wan to the front hall.

Zou Fang stands behind Chu Zhiyuan, while Guo Chi and the six house guards remain outside.

“Sir, the Earth Dragon Pearl is missing!”

As soon as Chu Zhiyuan sits down, he hears this from Lu Wan and is suddenly taken aback, looking at her.

Lu Wan tightly presses her red lips, anger covering her charming eyes: “It was stolen.”

Chu Zhiyuan blinks, seemingly unable to comprehend her words.

Lu Wan angrily continues: “After I went out with Brother Yang, it gave the thief an opportunity to slip in and steal it!”

Chu Zhiyuan asks questioningly: “Wasn’t there a Grandmaster left at the house?”

Lu Wan sighs: “Who would have thought, in this Yujing, someone would dare do such a thing!”

“These things happen often!” Chu Zhiyuan grumpily says: “You’re really…

not leaving a Grandmaster at home, what if someone rushed in to slaughter?”

The Military Suppression Department is powerful, and the City Patrol is strong, but they can’t make Yujing City completely safe.

No matter the world or the era, there are always antisocial villains.

This world has more bad people than in his past life.

Some have perfectly fine mental methods, but then go mad during training, becoming murderous lunatics.

Some mental methods inherently have issues, drawing out and magnifying inner dark forces, making one irritable and murderous.

Some mental methods are not only problematic but extremely evil, turning even normal practitioners into inhuman, killing demons.

In such times, how can one not be vigilant?

Without a Grandmaster, it’s not secure.

One should always have a Grandmaster at home.

Their house doesn’t leave a Grandmaster, he really doesn’t know what to say.

Should he call them foolish or naïve?

They have been in a small town for too long, haven’t changed their mentality yet; there, no one dared provoke the Flying Flower Sword Sect, but this is Yujing!

However he puts it can’t cover their ignorance and folly, their restlessness and incompetence.

He’s too lazy to say more, asking: “Was it a diversion tactic?”

“…Yes.” Lu Wan’s face covers with frost.

The more she thinks, the angrier she gets, suffocating from anger, her heart aching.

“Do you know who did it?”

“Thick!

Earth!

Sect!”

“You saw people from Thick Earth Sect yourself?”

“If seen, how could they succeed!”

“Then it’s too early to conclude.”

Sometimes reality is unimaginably bizarre; without witnessing, certainty is elusive.