Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 139: Chapter 137: Defeated Again

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”Sir...” Gao Lingfeng hesitated as he looked at Chu Zhiyuan before leaving.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him, ”Since when did Master Gao start beating around the bush?”

”...Sir, now that you’ve stepped into the realm of a Grandmaster, you can choose a new position,” Gao Lingfeng slowly said, ”Do you plan to leave the Ministry of Rites?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”I have no plans for that for now.”

Gao Lingfeng let out a sigh of relief.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”Does Master Gao not hope for my departure? ...I must admit that as a Junior Minister, I’m quite incompetent, burdening you with my duties.”

Gao Lingfeng solemnly said, ”In my heart, you are the best Junior Minister!”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, smiling without a word.

Gao Lingfeng said, ”Without your protection, I wouldn’t be so at ease, only needing to process documents and proceed according to protocol.”

Rules are rules, reality is reality.

Rules must overlap reality.

According to the Court’s rules, the Military Suppression Department has no authority to adjudicate cases, only to capture and interrogate.

The Military Suppression Department presents cases to the Sect Martial Department, which then gives instructions, and the Military Suppression Department acts accordingly; this is divided governance by power.

In comparison to the era from a previous life, the Military Suppression Department would be like the police, the Inspection Department like the prosecutor, and the Ministry of Rites Martial Arts Department like the judiciary.

In practice, however, the Military Suppression Department directly answers to the Emperor, able to choose whether or not to follow Court orders, all at a whim.

Before Chu Zhiyuan became a Junior Minister, Gao Lingfeng already witnessed the Military Suppression Department’s domineering approach in the Sect Martial Department.

When a case arose, they’d hardly bother with the Sect Martial Department and handle it directly.

Even when they submitted a case, even with instructions from the Sect Martial Department, the Military Suppression Department would be half attentive; they’d listen if they wanted or ignore otherwise.

After Chu Zhiyuan became a Junior Minister, the Military Suppression Department began to follow rules, submitting major cases to the Ministry of Rites Martial Arts Department, following their instructions.

Not even a Duke nor Prince Zhuang could make the Military Suppression Department obey the rules, yet Chu Zhiyuan as the Princely Heir did.

To Gao Lingfeng, Chu Zhiyuan is the best Junior Minister.

What’s more, this Junior Minister doesn’t like holding on to power but prefers delegating it, fully trusting subordinates to do their work.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Isn’t it just because my name is useful?”

Gao Lingfeng smiled sheepishly, ”Thanks to the Princely Heir’s name, it’s indeed quite effective with the Military Suppression Department.”

That left him curious.

The Military Suppression Department doesn’t even show face to Prince Zhuang; why should they to a Princely Heir, especially one from Prince Qing?

Everyone can see Prince Qing Mansion’s isolated and neglected status, so a Princely Heir shouldn’t have such influence.

He doesn’t know of Chu Zhiyuan’s assistance in capturing Yuding Sect masters with the Military Suppression Department.

Some knew about it, but not of Chu Zhiyuan’s significant role, merely thought of it as timely coincidental help.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”As long as it works. In the future, I’ll need Master Gao to put in more effort, as I’ll likely seldom be around.”

Advancing as a Grandmaster isn’t easy; receiving help from Dragon Fat Fragrance once, without it, means relying on hard cultivation.

Hard cultivation takes time, and since time is limited, it’s better spent on cultivation rather than in the Ministry of Rites office.

”Rest assured,” Gao Lingfeng solemnly said, ”I’ll make sure not to disturb you unnecessarily.”

”Good,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded in satisfaction.

——

In the morning light, on the Martial Arts Training Ground of Mingwu Hall, Chu Zhiyuan stood facing Chu Qingfeng.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly drew the Qingying Sword, raising the blade gradually.

”Zip!” With a flash, Chu Zhiyuan and the Qingying Sword were already at Chu Qingfeng’s chest, nearly piercing his purple robe.

”Clang!” Chu Qingfeng flicked his finger, precisely hitting the sword tip.

The Qingying Sword’s tip wavered, and Chu Zhiyuan shifted behind Chu Qingfeng, thrusting another stab at his back.

”Clang...” Chu Qingfeng spun around, punching the Qingying Sword’s blade.

Chu Zhiyuan drifted back, moving like a lotus leaf on water, shedding the sword’s overwhelming force, and thrust again.

”Zip!” This time, he finally pierced Chu Qingfeng’s shoulder, yet the purple robe blocked it, preventing the tip from going further.

”Excellent swordsmanship,” Chu Qingfeng said, shaking his purple robe.

Chu Zhiyuan flew back again, flipping mid-air to deflect the force.

Suddenly retracting the sword back, he inverted himself, feet up, head down, pressing the hilt, descending from the sky, and his left hand punched at Chu Qingfeng.

The fist seemed to have a faint golden glow.

Chu Qingfeng met it with his left palm.

”Bang!” Chu Qingfeng stepped back, while Chu Zhiyuan flipped in the air and landed steadily.

An overwhelming surge of heroic spirit coursed through his chest, and he could not help but let out a gentle cry.

The cry sounded like a dragon’s roar.

Chu Qingfeng looked at Chu Zhiyuan in amazement.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Uncle, can my swordsmanship and fist technique surpass Li Hongzhao?”

”Is your swordsmanship from Wentian Cliff?”

”I believe it’s called the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique?” Chu Zhiyuan clarified, ”I learned it secretly from Cheng Tianfeng.”

”...You rascal,” Chu Qingfeng said, unsure how to address Chu Zhiyuan.

Such extraordinary swordsmanship shouldn’t be learned secretly, and even so, without oral instruction and heartfelt care, the essence couldn’t be mastered.

Yet, Chu Zhiyuan managed to learn it.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I seem even better with the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist.”

Originally, I thought facing a Great Grandmaster, my swordsmanship was the strongest, especially with the Qingying Sword being so mystical, allowing me to stay calm and unaffected by a Great Grandmaster’s aura.

Whereas the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist shouldn’t pose a threat.

After all, it’s merely a fist technique and lacks the extremity of the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique.

Yet, unexpectedly, the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist proved to be overwhelmingly powerful.

It felt as if I was innately capable of this, learning and mastering it swiftly, with remarkable might.

A fist technique tailored for me.

I speculate it’s due to the Divine Dragon’s Thought.

The Divine Dragon’s Thought, Dharma Form of the Divine Dragon, and the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist align, making my execution much more powerful.

”This fist technique is indeed exceptional,” Chu Qingfeng pondered, ”If you are to face Li Hongzhao, who uses the Phoenix Sword Technique, indeed, using the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist is more appropriate.”

This Great Heavenly Dragon Fist is quite intriguing; the fist power is both fierce and gentle, a superb blend of hard and soft.

The fist power of the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist is a fusion of multiple forces, like several whirlpools merging, each whirlpool distinct.

Just exiting one force leads into others, preventing complete dissolution of these forces.

”Thank you, Uncle.”

”It’s you again,” Chu Qingfeng shook his head, ”Do your best; there’s no need to get overly invested, as this time differs from the last; victory or defeat doesn’t change our enmity with Da Meng.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The news of the Northern Territory’s defeat hasn’t spread yet, has it?”

”There’s a bit of rumor, but no storm has formed publicly.”

”If we can win, it might lift our spirits a bit.”

”It’s still up to the Northern Territory’s army.”

”Indeed.”

As they spoke, footsteps sounded outside, and Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhitian, and Chu Zhichuan strode in.

Seeing him there, the three rushed over immediately.

”Old fourth, weren’t you in seclusion?” Chu Mingxuan scrutinized him, sighing, ”Are you really going to duel Li Hongzhao?”

”Yes.”

”Can you win?”

”Eighteenth Uncle, since fourth brother dared to agree, naturally he has confidence,” Chu Zhichuan remarked.

Chu Zhitian nodded vigorously, ”Absolutely confident!”

They trusted Chu Zhiyuan unwaveringly, as Chu Zhiyuan was always cautious, never engaging in uncertain matters.

”Can’t guarantee victory,” Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Fortunately, this duel isn’t too burdensome, ...How is the Military Suppression Department?”

The two instantly got excited.

They passionately recounted their thrilling and exhilarating experiences at the Military Suppression Department.

Chu Mingxuan, however, wore a gloomy expression, unwilling to leave Yujing.

Having already chosen, changing his mind now was too late, so he could only delay as long as possible, wanting to see the outcome of Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao’s duel before leaving.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”What about the case of the True One Sect elder’s murder?”

”Alas...” Chu Zhitian and Chu Zhichuan sighed simultaneously.

It was an unsolvable issue.

As they continued talking, Chu Zhiyao arrived, his expression serious.

He approached, lowering his voice, ”Another defeat! ...Da Meng’s Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry can’t be stopped!”

He looked at Chu Zhitian, ”Ninth Brother, I’m afraid Tenth Uncle will have to leave the capital again.”

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