Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 180: Chapter 178: The Incomplete Score

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Chu Zhiyuan sat in front of the couch, watching as Zou Fang opened the sandalwood box, revealing a pile of Dragon Fat Fragrance inside, his face beaming with a smile.

”Congratulations, Your Highness.” Zou Fang smiled as he took out two pieces of Dragon Fat Fragrance and presented them to Chu Zhiyuan with both hands.

Chu Zhiyuan took them and examined them, nodding with satisfaction.

This was all exchanged from the Heavenly Treasure Department.

No wonder White Cloud Sword Palace, one of the Four Great Sects, could casually offer fifty Fifth Grade Merits.

Thinking back to himself.

If it wasn’t for the opportunity to fleece the Emperor, he wouldn’t have reached his current realm, still struggling in the Innate Realm.

”With this batch of Dragon Fat Fragrance, I hope to reach the Fifth Layer Heaven.” Chu Zhiyuan looked at the Dragon Fat Fragrance in his hand, not so certain.

The effect of Dragon Fat Fragrance diminishes, and the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique has its limits.

If the meridians reach their limit, no amount of Dragon Fat Fragrance will be of any use.

The difficulty of advancing to Grandmaster far exceeds the Innate Realm.

He redirected the fifth layer Bone Refining of the ongoing Dragon Transformation Technique to the first layer Meridian Cultivation.

The aroma of the Dragon Fat Fragrance quickly integrated into the aura of the Dragon Transformation Technique.

Operating with the Blood Purification Technique from the Yu Xu Sword Sect, destroying the meridians first and then using the Dragon Transformation Technique to repair them, absorbing the aroma of the Dragon Fat Fragrance in the cycle, continuously strengthening the meridians.

He was constantly on edge, worried he would reach the limit at any moment.

——

In a private room of the Bright Moon Tower.

Inside the room was Chu Zhiyuan, sitting side by side with Huang Shiron.

A faint, gentle fragrance lingered in the room.

Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu sat opposite, serving tea and water, watching the two while eating once the dishes were served.

Chu Zhiyuan held an old booklet in his hand, without a cover, directly twelve pages, with worn corners that did not affect the content.

Each page depicted a sword training diagram.

Chu Zhiyuan flipped through the pages while simulating the moves in his mind.

After finishing the twelve pages, Chu Zhiyuan put down the yellowed booklet: ”Fragmentary scroll?”

”It’s a fragmentary piece, but the twelve sword techniques on it are already quite profound and have always been elusive.”

”Is this a single sword technique?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Huang Shiron was taken aback.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”A single move with twelve variations.”

If before comprehending the sword at the White Cloud Sword Stele, he might not have seen it, but now he could see through it at a glance.

The numerous sword techniques in his mind naturally elevated his swordsmanship realm and vision, allowing him to discern the subtlety and void of the move at a glance.

”...One move, so it can’t be seamlessly performed?” Huang Shiron hesitated: ”I always felt it was just a hair’s breadth away from flowing seamlessly!”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”It’s not that it can’t be seamless, but it depends on how it’s connected... Let’s give it a try.”

”Yes, let’s practice.” Wen Qianqian’s eyes lit up immediately, hurriedly pushing the table to the wall, clearing a space.

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment, then picked up a chopstick and smiled, ”I’ll make the move, and Master Huang, you counter it.”

”Alright.” Huang Shiron also picked up a chopstick.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly thrust towards her brow.

Huang Shiron evaded sideways, stabbing his chest with the chopstick.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped aside three feet to her left, aiming the chopstick at her left eye.

Huang Shiron dodged again while attacking his chest.

Chu Zhiyuan sidestepped and struck again like a crab, the chopstick aiming at her heart.

Huang Shiron dodged and counterattacked again.

Chu Zhiyuan sidestepped once more, the chopstick targeting her shoulder.

His speed increased with each strike, getting faster and faster until Huang Shiron couldn’t dodge anymore and was finally hit on the shoulder.

Her shoulder went numb, and the chopstick in her hand fell onto the table.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Does this count as seamless?”

Huang Shiron gently shook her head, then nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan’s sword move was strange, both continuous and not truly contiguous, yet its power was astonishing.

”Begin with one move, and the rest of the eleven moves adapt accordingly; these twelve forms are actually all variations of a single move.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Because they share the same origin, there’s an inherent connection, and capturing this connection allows them to be seamlessly executed.”

”Exactly!” Huang Shiron nodded vigorously.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The different variations of this move are for different situations; some aim for the chest, some for the ribs, some for the brow, with slight changes according to the target.”

Huang Shiron reviewed meticulously.

Even though she had examined it countless times.

But reviewing it now felt entirely different.

It seemed like someone preparing twelve positions to attack.

Thinking this way, everything became clear.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This sword technique’s power is astonishing, making it a great sword manual, though it’s a pity it’s missing a few moves.”

”The power of these twelve swords is already strong enough.” Huang Shiron smiled.

Just a fragmentary manual, why never let it go, studied it for years without results yet never let it go, because of its powerful might.

Taking just one sword has immense power already.

If the twelve swords could unite, it would undoubtedly be stronger, hence the efforts in research; unexpectedly, it was a dead end.

These twelve swords are merely twelve variations.

It’s like a layer of window paper, stubbornly unpierced.

Yet, Chu Zhiyuan saw through it at a glance.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”After the first sword, if the second can be executed, the power increases, followed by the third... the power builds up layer by layer, exquisite! Truly exquisite!”

The first sword, followed by the second, continuous execution, power accumulates layer by layer, by the twelfth sword, the power is at least three times that of the first sword.

If he were to execute it, the power would be even more astonishing.

Propelled by the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique method, each time gathering all the surrounding power, then using the Earth Origin Technique for recovery, just thinking about it felt exhilarating.

”This sword technique is like a snowball.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Pity it has no name.”

”Then how about calling it Snowball Sword Technique?” Wen Qianqian laughed.

Xu Mengyu pursed her lips and laughed.

”Oh, laugh at me!” Wen Qianqian immediately tried to tickle her.

Xu Mengyu dodged, and the two moved through the room like butterflies, chasing each other, their white robes fluttering, graceful and beautiful.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile, ”Snowball Sword Technique is too... cute.”

”What should it be called then?” Wen Qianqian stopped to ask.

Xu Mengyu smiled and said, ”How about Bi Chao Sword Technique.”

”That’s a good one!” Wen Qianqian clapped her hands and laughed, ”No surprise from Senior Sister Xu, such an elegant name!”

Huang Shiron said, ”Then let’s call it Bi Chao Sword Technique.”

”A nice name.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Huang Shiron put away the sword manual.

She was accustomed to Chu Zhiyuan’s insight, finding it unsurprising.

Wen Qianqian noticed Huang Shiron fell silent, and the atmosphere grew cold, so she started talking about some interesting stories.

The Military Suppression Department had many interesting stories now.

Because Yujing City was bustling, too many experts gathered quickly, many experts were called back from the Military Suppression Department.

With more people came more peculiar stories and people.

Some stories were incredible, unimaginable, like someone hanging themselves upside down to drink and pee, because they lost a bet.

Some shouted ”my lady” to everyone they meet on the street, due to a practice deviation causing hallucinations.

There was a grandmaster bowing to everyone on the street, saying he was breaking his delusions to enter great grandmasterhood.

In summary, there were all kinds of strange and unusual people.

The Military Suppression Department was extremely busy.

——

When Chu Zhiyuan and the others left the Bright Moon Tower, it was already midnight.

Even though Huang Shiron spoke little, with Wen Qianqian there, Xu Mengyu also chimed in, making the meal lively.

Chu Zhiyuan was continuously cheerful.

After bidding farewell outside the Bright Moon Tower, when Chu Zhiyuan returned to the Prince Qing Mansion, he found Feng Xi waiting outside, who quickly approached upon seeing him return.

”Your Highness, the Little Duke from the Duke An Mansion came over in the evening, saying he invites you to come over.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, first entering the Prince Mansion, changed clothes, and then went to the Duke An Mansion.

The porter at the Duke An Mansion directly opened the door.

After rounding the screen wall, when he reached the front hall, Xiao Ruoyu had already come out to greet, ”Brother-in-law, big sister is waiting in the back garden.”

Chu Zhiyuan then went to the back garden.

The back garden, with clusters of lanterns like bright moons in the night sky, illuminated the garden, dreamlike yet bright.

He fluttered onto the painted boat.

The boat was brightly lit.

Inside the boat, Xiao Ruoling was holding a scroll, reading.

Under the lamplight, she was crystal-clear and warm like a white jade beauty statue.

Her jade face was stunningly beautiful, her bright eyes deep and dreamy, deeply lost in thought.

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