Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 107: Chapter 105 Kill Again

At lunchtime, Li Suyue stayed behind again.

Chu Zhiyuan, Chu Minghou, Chu Yi, and Li Suyue sat at a table, while Bai Ningshuang didn’t return from the palace.

Bai Ningshuang staying in the palace to accompany Concubine Rou for lunch had become routine.

The four chatted casually while eating.

Chu Yi said, ”Big brother, I heard that the Marquis Jianchi personally came to propose for his son? I don’t want to get married!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Already refused.”

Yet, the news still reached her ears, as her two young handmaidens weren’t just decorations; they loved gossip and were well-informed.

Chu Yi snorted, ”Anyway, I don’t want to marry now.”

Chu Minghou laughed, ”Yi’er, you’re not in a hurry, so neither are we. We wish you could stay with us longer.”

After their family was sealed in the mansion, they clung together for warmth, feeling like they were abandoned by the world, and thus their bonds were particularly strong.

Chu Yi smiled.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Li Suyue, who was quietly eating, and said with a smile, ”Has Elder Lu emerged from seclusion?”

Li Suyue quickly nodded, wiping her mouth nervously, ”The master has emerged from seclusion.”

”Reached the Seventh Layer Heaven?”

”Yes.”

”Congratulations to Elder Lu,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Such fast advancement, surely guided personally by Grandmaster Song?”

”...Yes,” Li Suyue hesitated briefly, biting her red lip and nodding.

”The guidance of a Great Grandmaster...” Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”That’s a rare opportunity.”

But for princely heirs, it was common.

Li Suyue nodded vigorously.

This time, the master ascended another level, greatly encouraging the brothers and uncles within the sect.

More importantly, they introduced a new mental method.

They began practicing this new mental method.

Everyone felt the difference, recognizing the intricacy of the new mental method, and their advancement speed significantly increased.

A world of difference compared to before.

...

Chu Zhiyuan, through his associates Zou Fang and Guo Chi, five grandmasters, clearly understood that grandmasters’ advancements were extremely slow.

Lu Wan advancing so quickly and reaching the Seventh Layer Heaven was truly remarkable.

The name of its realm suggested its mystery.

The Postnatal Realm had twelve layers, each advancement was like stepping onto a higher floor.

The Innate Realm had twelve layers, advancing one level was like ascending a higher floor.

The Grandmaster Realm had nine heavens, each advancement was like ascending a higher heaven; such advancement was harder than ascending to heaven.

Every grandmaster was an extraordinary figure, dominating one region beyond Yujing.

Guo Chi and others were elite, but with so many grandmasters in Yujing, rarity diminished value, leading to unconscious disdain, overlooking their greatness.

Since he could remember, Zou Fang advanced three layers in the Grandmaster Realm, Guo Chi two; both were extremely talented.

A grandmaster to advance one level was exceedingly difficult.

Lu Wan advancing so swiftly into the Seventh Layer Heaven, joining the ranks of top experts, was truly rare.

This demonstrated that Song Feiqiong had been thoroughly studying the Flying Flower Sword Sect’s martial arts.

Under the grandmaster’s vision, she continuously explored and expanded the Flying Flower Sword Sect’s martial arts, making them rapidly more intricate.

The Flying Flower Sword Sect would certainly benefit, with intricate mental methods increasing the chances of entering the Great Grandmaster realm.

Even if no more Great Grandmasters emerged, there would be more grandmasters, making advancement easier.

This laid the most solid foundation for the Flying Flower Sword Sect.

With the foundation laid, and being able to enter the Military Suppression Department, the Flying Flower Sword Sect would soar soon, perhaps within just a few years.

The future structure of Da Jing’s martial arts would be five great sects instead of four.

——

Chu Zhiyuan left the Heavenly Treasure Department, strolling down the street slowly.

He was contemplating how to choose a fifth-grade treasure.

He didn’t know which accomplishments or rewards the Emperor had counted, whether everything was included, or if anything was missed.

If nothing was missed, it would be challenging to obtain another fifth-grade merit soon, making the best choice the Miao Wu Pill.

If something hadn’t been counted, there might still be a chance to earn a fifth-grade merit; in that case, there’s no rush to choose the Miao Wu Pill, especially since the Innate Realm still had Twelfth Layer, and Innate Perfection.

The remaining two layers of the Jade Tower were extremely difficult to break through, likely time-consuming; choosing the Miao Wu Pill would mean waiting impatiently.

The third level of the Dragon Transformation Technique was nearing perfection, and he wondered if ten flying dragon bones would suffice. If not, he would continue exchanging for flying dragon bones; if enough, then exchange for a dragon blood pearl.

The dragon blood pearl was a pearl condensed from dragon blood, the size of a baby’s fist, not as high in grade as a flying dragon pearl, but higher than dragon blood stone, suitable for marrow refining.

The bustling crowd surrounded him, with a continuous flow of traffic.

Six innate guards were on the outermost circle, blocking the crowd, and Guo Chi’s four grandmasters guarded him, forming a second layer of defense.

Zou Fang walked alongside him at the center.

After a lap, he returned to his new residence to practice Heart Inquiry Saber Skill and the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique.

During the practice of Heart Inquiry Saber Skill and Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique, he continuously tempered the Great Purple Sun Technique, and in the evening, upon returning to the Prince Mansion, he focused on impacting the Jade Tower.

Only in the Prince Mansion could he safely attack the Jade Tower.

——

Returning to the Prince Mansion in the evening, Feng Xi approached and whispered, ”Princely Heir, it’s already done.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”No loose ends?”

Feng Xi laughed, ”Just broke his arm, without leaving traces; Old Liang personally took action, invisible as a phantom.”

”Old Liang’s action is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in satisfaction.

No matter who did it, it wouldn’t be as clean and neat as the Prince Mansion guards doing it themselves, leaving no handles.

Even if it ultimately led back to the Prince Mansion, the Prince Mansion could shield it.

Feng Xi stated, ”Without sufficient cultivation, Guo Marquis might be puzzled and not know who acted.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Ginger gets spicier as it gets older, indeed.”

If ordinary gang members were chosen, Guo Huaisan might not respond, while Liang Guanjie, a tracking expert, was not within ordinary powers, easily leading to the Prince Qing Mansion.

Chu Zhiyuan felt pleasant, and after dinner, began focusing on attacking the Jade Tower, striving to reach the Twelfth Layer.

——

Arriving at the Ministry of Rites the next day, Gao Lingfeng handed over a dossier, ”My lord, a murder case occurred last night; the lord may find it interesting.”

Chu Zhiyuan took it, glanced over it, and frowned, ”Another from the Zhenyi Sect?... Their luck is quite poor.”

Last night one was murdered, the death ghastly, likely tortured beforehand.

The deceased was Fang Xiuha, Bai Jingmang’s disciple from the Zhenyi Sect.

”Both the master and disciple are dead,” Gao Lingfeng said, ”The Military Suppression Department has begun the investigation, ... estimate the Zhenyi Sect’s elder Bai Jingrong will still cause trouble.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned at the dossier, sighed, ”Bai Jingrong is already here...Go lead them in.”

”...Yes.” Gao Lingfeng was stunned and lifted the curtain to leave.

He soon brought in Bai Jingrong and Fang Haiyang.

Bai Jingrong entered, his face tense, and cupped his hands, ”My lord—!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”After killing the master and disciple, the Military Suppression Department views it as provocation and will fully investigate the murderer, even more vigorously than your Zhenyi Sect!”

Bai Jingrong appeared saddened and sighed, ”My elder brother had only one disciple, and he just died, ...such a clever lad, how could he have died?”

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Fang Haiyang.

Fang Haiyang was staring intently at Chu Zhiyuan, seemingly trying to perceive Chu Zhiyuan’s thoughts and slight expressions, to see through his mind.

Chu Zhiyuan met his gaze with a smile, ”Young hero Fang believes I killed him?”

”I dare not,” Fang Haiyang replied.

”You don’t dare, which means you have suspicions,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”It’s human nature, but Fang Xiuha was deep in thought, possibly harboring great secrets, using a Yao Yue Palace token to conceal it, likely leading to their master-disciple’s doom.”

This was what he perceived from Fang Xiuha; whatever other secrets he had, he wasn’t very interested.

In this world, there are too many secrets, mostly miracle techniques or treasures.

For these martial arts people, miraculous skills, rare treasures, and mysterious techniques that seemed impressive, often appeared quite ordinary in the Heavenly Treasure Department.

Just like the Thick Earth Sect’s Earth Dragon Pearl last time, making him deeply understand this point.

If it were spirit pills, they would have consumed them long ago.

”What secret?”

”You’re more familiar with him; you should know, he must have shown some anomalies, right?”

Fang Haiyang furrowed his brows in thought.

Chu Zhiyuan advised, ”In short, it’s best for you to stay close to your master these days, without leaving an inch, to avoid following Fang Xiuha’s fate.”

”What secret?” Bai Jingrong hurriedly asked, ”What secret would make the Jiuli Divine Sect go to such lengths?”

Chu Zhiyuan stated, ”Ask your disciple...if it was the Jiuli Divine Sect again, the Military Suppression Department will certainly investigate.”

”Alright, we believe in the lord’s words!” Bai Jingrong said.

The Military Suppression Department only drove those on the list out of Yujing, rather than capturing them, which won Bai Jingrong’s trust in Chu Zhiyuan.

Regarding Chu Zhiyuan’s words, Bai Jingrong didn’t immediately doubt them, choosing instead to believe, and then act if proven false.