Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 883: Chapter 879: Ruthlessness

The flowers and plants surrounding the small courtyard swayed as if in a strong wind, yet remained unscathed.

The Emotion Sword emphasizes concentration, gathered but not dispersed. The sword light is tightly controlled by the mind, and does not harm the innocent.

Chu Zhiyuan sensed the mystical state of the sword light, concealed in the void yet undying.

Throughout the world, only sword light condensed by emotions can possess such profoundness.

The subtle intricacies within are hard to imagine or experience without personal practice.

As he understood, he thrust his sword, using his palm as a blade, without diminishing the power of the Swordsmanship.

Li Baocheng also concentrated intently, attempting to convert the Sword Net during his battle with Chu Zhiyuan, transforming emotions into hatred, love into resentment.

The Sword Net briefly turned purple, flickered, and then dissipated.

When Li Baocheng’s Sword Net turned purple, Chu Zhiyuan’s own Sword Net followed suit, becoming purple light.

He did so effortlessly, but Li Baocheng needed to try repeatedly.

A quarter of an hour later, Li Baocheng’s face was pale, and he was mentally exhausted.

The Sword Net around him was extremely dim, and ultimately completely dissipated.

Yet his eyes burned with irrepressible excitement.

Chu Zhiyuan retreated, waving his palm to disperse the countless Sword Nets in the void.

The Sword Net surrounding him seemed omnipresent, enveloping him.

Like a Heaven and Earth Net.

Chu Zhiyuan saw the Sword Net, gaining deeper insights.

The emotional net indeed was a Heaven and Earth Net, everywhere, with no way to escape.

He felt himself closer to breaking through to the next transition, just a step away.

”Good!” Li Cunren clapped his hands in praise: ”What an Emotion Sword!”

Chu Zhiyuan, within the Heaven and Earth Net, appeared unbeatable in a real confrontation.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed: ”What an Emotion Sword.”

As he advanced further, the power of the Emotion Sword was further amplified.

”Thank you, Your Highness!” Li Baocheng solemnly clasped his fists.

Chu Liezhao thus gained insight into the Emotion Sword, but he himself also gained a higher level of understanding of the Emotion Sword.

Not only transforming emotions into hatred, love into resentment, but also understanding the emotional net.

The Emotion Sword transformed into an emotional net.

Chu Liezhao helped him progress two levels further, surpassing his decades of hard contemplation.

To sum it up, he was the one benefiting more.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: ”Mr. Li, if you have time, come to the Phoenix Imperial City to find me, and we can spar in Martial Arts again.”

”Good!” Li Baocheng nodded solemnly: ”I will.”

The gains from sparring with Chu Zhiyuan were immense, comparable to treasures that accelerate his understanding.

He then bid farewell and left.

After seeing him off and returning to the small courtyard, Chu Zhiyuan sighed: ”The Tianya Sword Sect, worthy of being one of the Four Great Sects.”

These are the foundations of the Four Great Sects, with Martial Arts of extraordinary sophistication.

Li Cunren shook his head: ”The Four Great Sects, none of them are simple, with many Martial Arts originating from Heavenly Persons.”

”Heavenly Person Martial Arts...” Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Li Cunren said: ”Tomorrow we will set off to see the situation at the Cave Mansion.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

——

At sunset, the lanterns began to light up.

Li Cunren left the Phoenix Hall, led by a eunuch in a purple robe, heading for the Imperial Palace.

Super Sense could not gain Insight into the Imperial Palace, unknown of the situation inside.

But he knew Li Cunren would not be in danger, so he wasn’t too worried.

He focused on comprehending the Emotion Sword.

He felt the potential of the Emotion Sword was not fully tapped, merely being a Heaven and Earth Net wasn’t enough.

Just being concealed and formless was not enough.

There must be a higher level to reach.

Yet he had not managed to touch this higher level of power.

He looked up at the sky.

With hands behind his back, he walked slowly out of the small courtyard.

Alone, he left the Four Directions Pavilion, strolling through the entire Yuanzhen Imperial City.

Super Sense opened, enveloping the entire Imperial City, experiencing the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness of every household.

Some were holding wedding ceremonies, about to enter bridal chambers, some were holding funerals, with family members wailing.

Some were drinking and laughing, some were worried, clouded with worry.

Some were studying hard, some were enjoying time among flowers.

Some families lived in harmony, some quarreled and insulted each other, even resorting to physical fights.

The various facets of human life in each household were vividly reflected in his mind and heart.

The essence of the Emotion Sword flowed in his mind, and his understanding of the Emotion Sword deepened continuously.

He moved slowly, from the Four Directions Pavilion onwards, passing by taverns and witnessing the debauchery within.

He walked through alleys, seeing the bitterness and desolation in the residents’ courtyards.

Wherever he went, no one sensed his presence as he passed by courtyards and shops, personally experiencing the myriad aspects of the world.

Occasionally passing through dark places, seeing wrongdoing, he conveniently handled it.

His understanding of the Emotion Sword in his mind deepened, from transforming emotions to love and hate, then to emotional nets, finally comprehending Heartless Sword.

Heaven and earth are heartless.

Thus they are omnipresent.

The depth of emotion turns it heartless.

Condense and purify emotional threads, transitioning from intense to plain, from existence to nothingness.

He stopped in front of an old tree at an ancient courtyard.

His eyes, once burning bright, now gradually turned calm as water, without a ripple.

Then he extended his palm, gently swishing as if slicing with a long knife.

A fine streak appeared in the void, like a ripple in a flowing stream, then disappeared.

He smiled.

Heartlessness is the ultimate form of emotions.

The Emotion Sword primarily transforms into the Heartless Sword.

Heartlessness leaves no trace, with no obstacle unbreachable, nothing unattainable.

He slashed several palms, with dozens of sword lights already hidden in the void.

When he finally slashed the last palm, the ancient tree beside him suddenly collapsed.

Like a weathered building, it turned to sand, collapsing into a heap of powder.

He nodded in satisfaction.

The whole process unfolded without sword lights, without form or trace, without sound or presence.

This was the true state of the Heartless Sword.

He smiled.

Closer to the Fourth Transition, previously only a step away, now just a thin layer of window paper.

He looked up at the sky, the Bright Moon hung high.

Surprised, he realized it was now two hours past, reaching midnight.

He flickered in place, disappearing from his spot, reappearing at the Phoenix Courtyard of the Four Directions Pavilion after several flashes.

In his small courtyard, Li Cunren was pacing with hands behind his back, his face somber.

”Brother.” Upon appearing, he clasped his fists and said: ”Was it smooth?”

Li Cunren said: ”We’ll set off as soon as it dawns tomorrow.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Li Cunren shook his head and sighed: ”This trip was in vain.”

”Did he argue, or was he indifferent?”

Li Cunren shook his head: ”He said we can handle Cheng Yunzheng as we see fit, and he won’t interfere.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned: ”Is he sacrificing Cheng Yunzheng, abandoning him?”

”I suspect the one entering the capital is just a substitute.” Li Cunren snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slightly.

Li Cunren snorted: ”Emperor Yuanzhen is sure we can’t do anything to Cheng Yunzheng. Do you think Cheng Yunzheng has already escaped by now?”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Fengtian Palace should not be so easily fooled... Did you send a reminder letter, brother?”

Li Cunren said: ”The letter has been sent, but I’m afraid it might be too late.”

Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

Looking at it now, Cheng Yunzheng going to the Phoenix Dynasty was a move to escape from a desperate situation, a clever tactic.

Using a substitute to either suffer a cultivation deviation or die, thereby freeing himself.

Thus earning a reputation for a heroic sacrifice while being able to quietly cultivate in the shadows, fully master a Spiritual Treasure, and reappear at the right time, utilizing the Treasure to make a stunning debut.

By then, his prestige might even overshadow that of the Eldest Prince.

Li Cunren said: ”We must hurry back while he’s still within reach, and find him!”

He let out a cold laugh: ”Didn’t Emperor Yuanzhen say we could handle him as we see fit? Then let’s disable him, completely disable him!”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded: ”Indeed, we need to return quickly... Otherwise, shall we leave now?”

”... Good idea, let’s pack up and set off directly!” Li Cunren hesitated just briefly before nodding forcefully: ”The sooner, the better.”