Imperial Cultivation

78: Chapter 76: Breaking Through

78 -76: Breaking Through

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“In terms of the spar, it’s better to have one less cook spoil the broth, so let the Fourth Prince take the stage.” Prince Zhuang, Chu Qingsong said solemnly: “What does the Princely Heir think?”

“Oh—?”

Cheng Tianfeng glanced at Chu Zhiyuan.

Wasn’t Chu Zhiyuan one of the few who first greeted him?

In retrospect, was it to assess his own strengths and weaknesses in advance?

Had he not already been secretly preparing for this?

Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain.

Having practiced the Turtle Concealing Secret Technique, his cultivation was fully concealed, and with the Heavenly Hidden Pendant bestowed by his master, it could obscure his aura from any scrutiny.

He couldn’t discern my true strength.

But I also couldn’t see through his.

Even if I couldn’t, it didn’t matter.

He’s likely in the early stages of the Innate Realm, having only recently reached it.

“Your Majesty, Prince, the previous agreement still stands, does it not?” Cheng Tianfeng smiled and said, “You’re not reneging, are you?”

“Princely Heir, the Emperor’s words once spoken cannot be retracted!” Prince Zhuang frowned and said: “An agreement is an agreement.

But the Princely Heir and the Da Zhen Emperor won’t go back on it, right?”

“Of course not.” Prince Ying chuckled and said: “Then let’s proceed according to the agreement: whoever wins marries, whoever loses is married off!”

“Alright!” Prince Zhuang said solemnly.

Among the murmuring crowd, Bai Ningshuang suddenly widened her phoenix eyes and tugged at Xiao Ruoling, anxiously saying: “Ruoling, what do they mean by these words?”

She suddenly realized something was amiss.

No wonder Huang Cheng insisted on waiting for Yuan’er, and wanted Yuan’er to attend the banquet together.

Turns out, they were waiting here!

They had already arranged for this spar—a duel between Yuan’er and the Princely Heir of Da Zhen, with stakes involving marriage agreements!

Xiao Ruoling gently furrowed her brows and softly said: “Princess, it seems the Princely Heir is to spar with the Da Zhen Princely Heir.”

It was the first time she had heard of this matter too.

More importantly, this spar had stakes, with implications on marriage.

Bai Ningshuang asked: “What does winning to wed, and losing to wed mean?”

Chu Yi had a sudden epiphany and quickly said: “Mother, isn’t it obvious?

The winner marries the other’s princess, and the loser is married off to a princess.”

Bai Ningshuang’s face slightly changed, tightly gripping the hands of Chu Yi and Xiao Ruoling.

The outcome would decide if the princess was married away, which instantly made her nervous.

The responsibility was too significant!

What if they lost…

Wouldn’t it make Da Jing a sinner?

Chu Minghou, sitting at the head, also furrowed his brows, looking up at the Emperor, Chu Qingquan.

Chu Qingquan only gave a faint smile as he watched the scene.

Cheng Tianfeng had already reached the center of the main hall.

He smiled and cupped his fists to make a circular salute to everyone, looking at Chu Zhiyuan: “Brother Chu, please enlighten me.”

Under the gaze of the surprised or puzzled crowd, Chu Zhiyuan slowly stepped in front of him, two yards away, looking at him calmly.

Cheng Tianfeng’s gaze passed through Chu Zhiyuan, landing on the latter part of the hall, revealing a look of fascination.

Chu Zhiyuan with Super Sense saw that he was looking at Xiao Ruoling, feeling the greed and intense desire surging within him.

Clearly, he truly intended to seize Xiao Ruoling.

In fact, he had already taken action, with the invitation meant to lure her out as the first step, the rest of the plan simply hadn’t been executed yet.

The hall was abuzz, with endless discussions.

“What’s going on, why is it the fourth going up?”

“Shouldn’t it be the third?”

“What’s there to say about this spar?”

They all sensed the unusual nature of this spar.

Especially the words spoken before the spar, clearly indicating it was deciding something, there was an agreement involved.

Some astute individuals had already guessed it vaguely.

But why was it Chu Zhiyuan, and not Chu Zhiyao?

Chu Zhiyuan had just entered the Innate Realm, how strong could he be?

Even if he was first in the winter hunt, surely he couldn’t surpass Chu Zhiyao, right?

And Chu Zhiyao had hurried back from the army, wasn’t it for this spar?

Prince Xuan had made such elaborate birthday celebrations a few days ago, wasn’t it all for Chu Zhiyao?

…

Chu Zhiyuan let out a soft laugh and warmly said: “Brother Cheng, what are you looking at?”

Inside, anger surged and murderous intent boiled, yet his face was as calm as a placid lake.

Cheng Tianfeng laughed and said: “Brother Chu, why don’t we raise the stakes a bit more?”

“I never gamble,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, “But I must thank the Princely Heir for the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse, I shall humbly accept.”

He could guess what Cheng Tianfeng intended to wager.

But he didn’t want Cheng Tianfeng to voice it.

Once said, it would harm Xiao Ruoling’s reputation.

“The Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse being tamed by you is your fortune, you needn’t thank me,” Cheng Tianfeng, hit in a sore spot, gritted his teeth and forced a nonchalant smile: “The Princely Heir doesn’t dare wager because you know you’ll lose, right?”

His mind was extremely furious.

Born a favored son of the heavens, peerless in talent, he deeply desired the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse, believing only such a creature would be a match for him.

Ride the fastest horse, sleep with the most beautiful woman—it wouldn’t make this life in vain.

Yet he couldn’t tame those wretched Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses, having used all sorts of means, both gentle and harsh, to no avail.

They regarded him as an ant, absolutely refusing to submit.

But when it came to Chu Zhiyuan, as soon as they saw him, they obediently submitted—it was simply inexplicable and utterly absurd!

This Chu Zhiyuan should die!

“One won’t know the outcome without a fight?” Chu Zhiyuan slowly drew out the Qingying Sword: “Then let’s fight, Princely Heir, why delay, are you gathering strength?

…

However, the Princely Heir’s actions are too unscrupulous, secretly interfering to affect and disturb me, resorting to all necessary means just to win!”

Just as Cheng Tianfeng wanted to speak again, Chu Zhiyuan thrust his sword forward.

Cheng Tianfeng floated backward, attempting to continue speaking, to attack with words.

But Chu Zhiyuan’s sword tip followed relentlessly, no matter how he dodged, it shadowed him closely, drawing ever nearer.

Forced to close his mouth and draw his sword to counter.

“Whoosh!” The Qingying Sword suddenly accelerated, breaking through the air, reaching Cheng Tianfeng’s chest in an instant.

Cheng Tianfeng suddenly split into three figures, like a shadow-splitting technique.

The Qingying Sword tip pierced the chest of all three images, all hitting the same spot, showcasing extreme speed.

But the next moment, Cheng Tianfeng appeared behind him, being the fourth figure.

The previous three figures were all illusions.

Everyone thought that among the three figures, one of them was real, and two were fake, hardly thinking they were all fake.

“Ah!” The crowd exclaimed in astonishment.

Cheng Tianfeng bore a cold smile, the sword stabbing toward Chu Zhiyuan’s back suddenly vanished, his eyes gleamed darkly, readying to strike a decisive blow.

This silent, lightning-fast strike, almost invisibly, was the pinnacle sword technique of Wentian Cliff, the Heavenly Concealing Sword Technique.

“Whoosh!” Suddenly he felt a shock in his chest, his body flew backward.

Looking down, he found a small hole had appeared in his chest where his clothes were torn, revealing his Jade Pendant which had already cracked.

He was shocked and enraged.

This Heavenly Hidden Pendant was a unique and unparalleled treasure, capable of concealing aura and masking cultivation, also essential for the Heavenly Concealing Sword Technique.

With it, the Heavenly Concealing Sword Technique could truly hide the sword, mask intent, and veil all traces and aura, killing invisibly, leaving no escape.

Once without it, the power of the Heavenly Concealing Sword Technique diminishes significantly, no longer worth practicing.

Such a treasure shattered here, Chu Zhiyuan should die!

He flushed in the air, boiling with murderous intent no longer suppressible.

“Ah!” At this moment, the crowd finally reacted.

Chu Zhiyuan stood where he was, his sword tip pointing at him from afar, smiling: “So Brother Cheng also carried a protective treasure, truly cautious!”

He had always wanted to break Cheng Tianfeng’s treasure, never expecting it to be so easy.

Thanks to absorbing the Dragon Bone, his speed and strength soared, making the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique three degrees faster.

At the same time, with Super Sense, truth and illusion were crystal clear.

Cheng Tianfeng’s peculiar step technique deceived others but not him.

Once the Heavenly Hidden Pendant shattered, the mist around Cheng Tianfeng dissipated, clearly revealed under Chu Zhiyuan’s Insight.

It was the Innate Ninth Layer after all.

Indeed, he had evaded the Inspection Department.

But the Inspection Department was quite accurate, deducing almost correctly, with minimal error.

Cheng Tianfeng’s left hand was slightly thicker than his right.

Hard to discern with the naked eye, but not hidden from Super Sense.

Thus he judged, Cheng Tianfeng’s real killing move was the Left Hand Sword.

Cheng Tianfeng had two flying knives in his sleeves.

The flying knives were as thin as cicada wings, nearly invisible, probably imperceptible when thrown.