Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 786: Chapter 782: The Mastermind

Chu Zhiyuan turned around and walked back.

Fu Zheng quickly followed, curiously looking at him.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Let’s go see what’s happening.”

”What’s happening?”

”...”

Chu Zhiyuan said no more.

He still didn’t want Fu Zheng to discover his Super Sense.

His foot stepped forward, instantly spanning about ten zhang, incredibly fast.

There was no fluctuation of breath on his body, like ordinary walking, without using Qinggong.

Fu Zheng quickly used Qinggong to follow.

Among the crowd, they traveled smoothly like swimming fish, quickly covering a hundred meters, then turning into an alley.

Fu Zheng became increasingly curious.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Two people escaped from here, one of whom used the Body Seizing Technique, a Heavenly Demon.”

”Heavenly Demon?!” Fu Zheng’s face slightly changed.

Though both have the word ’demon’, the Demon Sect and Heavenly Demons are completely different.

They also deeply hate the Heavenly Demons.

”See if we can capture him,” Chu Zhiyuan said. ”If not, kill him.”

”This assassination attempt on Young Master Xiao Ming was the work of a Heavenly Demon?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

”Why does the Heavenly Demon want to kill Young Master Xiao Ming?” Fu Zheng was puzzled.

The main enemies of Young Master Xiao Ming should be the Jade Dynasty and the Yuanzhen Dynasty.

Young Master Xiao Ming mainly operates in the Military, unrelated to the Heavenly or Demon Clans.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

He too was curious why the Heavenly Demon would attempt to assassinate Young Master Xiao Ming. Was it because he was going to the Outer Realm Battlefield, or because he was a Venerable?

Or for other reasons?

But since he saw the Heavenly Demon, he couldn’t let it go.

After all, this is the best cultivation resource; the soul is a great nourishment.

Though, to outsiders, he might appear to be a gentleman repaying malice with kindness.

It’s really hard to say if it’s good or bad.

Both of them stopped at the entrance of the alley, seeing two gray-robed middle-aged men rapidly emerging.

As they were about to collide with Chu Zhiyuan and Fu Zheng, they swung their swords to thrust forward.

Cold light suddenly appeared, the sword glint menacingly, aiming straight for the brows of Chu Zhiyuan and Fu Zheng.

Chu Zhiyuan shot out a palm strike.

A hand seal the same size as his palm formed, the lines distinct, clearly showing five small dragons clumped together at the palm center.

”Bang!”

His hand seal knocked away the longsword.

”Ding...”

Fu Zheng’s sword tip clashed with the sword tip of the gray-robed middle-aged man.

After three transformations by Chu Zhiyuan, the power of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm increased, plus he had already mastered the Fifth Form.

The power was increasingly amazing, directly knocking the longsword away with sheer force.

The longsword buzzed and vibrated as it flew sideways in the air, unable to dissipate the cohesive palm force.

He struck again at the bare-handed gray-robed middle-aged man.

The gray-robed middle-aged man grunted, trying to dodge, unwilling to confront him head-on.

But his vision blurred, thinking he had dodged, he was still hit in the chest by Chu Zhiyuan.

Like a sword stabbing straight into the heart.

His vision went black, wishing to operate his cultivation but unable, he instantly fell unconscious.

Chu Zhiyuan struck his palm onto the man’s brow again.

”Pop!”

The Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm’s force had strong penetration power, penetrating the skull and scattering the brain matter, making the sound of a watermelon bursting.

The gray-robed middle-aged man went limp, blood starting to flow from the seven orifices.

A seven-colored Soul Light began to emerge.

Chu Zhiyuan let it leave the body, concentrating on the sun in his mind.

The Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror lit up instantly, illuminating the seven-colored soul through his eyes.

As it flew into the air, it suddenly turned, drilling into his mind, directly entering the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror.

Chu Zhiyuan revealed a smile.

This is the power of the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror; it’s nearly impossible for Demon Clan souls to escape from it.

The Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror rapidly decomposed and purified the seven-colored soul.

After a few breaths, the pure soul light had already merged into his soul, refreshing his spirit, like drinking sweet dew.

Fu Zheng stabbed the right shoulder of the other gray-robed middle-aged man, causing his longsword to fall.

She swiftly moved forward, sealing the acupoints of the gray-robed middle-aged man.

These two were at the Perfection of Transformation Intent Realm, not yet Venerables.

Attempting to assassinate Fan Yaohui with such cultivation was indeed risky.

A sudden attack, then immediate escape, leaving Fan Yaohui no reaction time.

Heavenly Demons, after body seizing, possess some strange abilities, making escape easier.

”Your Highness, how should we handle this man?”

”Leave it to the Princess.”

”Not to Young Marquis Ming?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Why give it to him?”

”This...” Fu Zheng was startled.

She thought it should be given to Young Marquis Ming, after all, the assassin targeted him.

But Chu Zhiyuan chose to hand it to Princess Li Miaotan instead, which surprised her.

She immediately began to ponder the purpose behind this decision.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”You take him back first.”

Among the fleeing teams that scattered, only this one had a Heavenly Demon.

He wasn’t inclined to chase after the others.

”Understood.” Fu Zheng agreed swiftly, ”I’ll leave now.”

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

Fu Zheng glanced at the middle-aged man lying on the ground, already blood flowing from seven orifices and dead. She bent down to lift him and then picked up the other middle-aged man in gray robe whose acupoints were sealed, and floated away.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Fu Zheng’s actions had become more meticulous and comprehensive, without needing many instructions.

After Fu Zheng left, he turned and walked to the right, passing through an alleyway, and appeared on the main street.

The street showed no signs of fighting, only people’s voices of debate.

Young Marquis Ming had a significant reputation in the Imperial City, and many recognized him.

People talked about who would want to kill Young Marquis Ming, whether it was the Yujing Dynasty or the Yuanzhen Dynasty.

After much speculation, it’s likely the Yujing Dynasty.

Because they feared Young Marquis Ming would ruin the marriage, they wanted him gone.

Moreover, Young Marquis Ming had been invincible in the military, winning numerous victories, making him a thorn in the side for both Yujing Dynasty and Yuanzhen Dynasty.

Solving him now would achieve two goals at once.

Chu Zhiyuan heard this and could only shake his head, unable to refute.

There indeed might be such a possibility.

Of course, it could also be the Yuanzhen Dynasty, but it’s hard to imagine the Demon Clan being behind this.

He arrived at a tavern, went to the third floor, and gently knocked on the door of an elegant private room.

The knocking pattern was three long, two short, then two long.

”Come in.” A powerful voice sounded from inside.

Chu Zhiyuan pushed the door open, turned to close it, and clasped his fists towards the elderly sitting by the window, ”Uncle Nine.”

Chu Hongwei had turned into an elderly man with white eyebrows and hair, a youthful expression with white hair.

He wore a brocade robe, clearly a wealthy man, smiling warmly.

”Sit.”

”Yes.”

”... Truly a Venerable now?!” Chu Hongwei sized up Chu Zhiyuan, clicking his tongue in wonder.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded.

”Haha...” Chu Hongwei stroked his silver beard and laughed heartily, ”Good, good, it’s really delightful news.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Does it aid my current situation somewhat?”

”Certainly.” Chu Hongwei said, ”A Venerable surpasses ordinary humans, a different level... From now on, they’ll no longer underestimate you.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Let’s hope so.”

”Given this, many tactics are unnecessary.” Chu Hongwei said, ”You should straightforwardly be a Prince Consort.”

”The wedding...”

”The Eldest Prince himself is taking care of preparations with the Ministry of Rites, they’ll come over in a couple of days.”

”Who’s coming?”

”Among princes, only the Eldest Prince. Your Uncle Eighteen should come.”

”Don’t let Chu Qiao and Chu Zhen come.”

”Hmm—?”

”I’m afraid it won’t be peaceful then.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The Demon Clan and Demon Tribe might go mad.”

”Heard any news?”

”Better safe than sorry.” Chu Zhiyuan then recounted today’s events.

Chu Hongwei snorted, ”That rascal Young Marquis Ming survived, has a strong fate!”

He then said, ”Why save him? Watching him die would be much better!”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”The Phoenix Dynasty would suspect us, Yujing Dynasty, of wanting to eliminate him, believing it was my doing.”

”... True.” Chu Hongwei snorted, ”A scourge is hard to kill, what a pity.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”We can’t engage with the Phoenix Dynasty yet.”

”Eventually, there will be conflict, and he is a scourge that should be eliminated.”

”Find an opportunity.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Uncle Nine, who spread the rumor about Young Marquis Ming challenging me?”

Chu Hongwei snorted, ”I happen to know, it’s the Yuanzhen Dynasty people!”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, ”It’s them?”

”They favor scheming, if not coincidentally discovered, we’d have missed it.”

”Could it be a deliberate coincidence for you to see?”

”No way.” Chu Hongwei was confident, ”It’s truly the Yuanzhen Dynasty.”

”Yuanzhen Dynasty...” Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

This Phoenix Imperial City is indeed complex, with spies from Yujing Dynasty, Yuanzhen Dynasty, other nations, even the Demon Clan and Demon Tribe.