Imperial Cultivation

Under the night, the streets of Yujing were bustling with activity, carriages and horses flowing like a river. Clusters of lanterns hung high in the streets and alleys, illuminating the entire Yujing City.

Pedestrians wore swords at their waists, their spirits high.

The city guards, dressed in black robes, patrolled in groups of three through the crowds.

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The sounds of vendors selling their wares from shops and stalls echoed endlessly, while pedestrians strolled in groups, chatting and laughing, each enjoying themselves.

Guo Chi and the other eight formed a circle, protecting Chu Zhiyuan in the center.

Chu Zhiyuan strolled leisurely, urging the Dragon Transformation Art to circulate within him, striving to quickly master the first level and then begin the Qi Cleansing Art.

He didn't notice anyone following him, completely setting his mind at ease.

It seemed the Zhenwu Division had already dealt with the trackers.

Truly, they lived up to their reputation.

—

The Flowing Cloud Tower had three stories, with a triple-layered gate tower and three-tiered eaves, its imposing and magnificent presence seemingly piercing the clouds.

From afar, one could see it standing tall in the night sky, brightly lit, with the sounds of string and bamboo instruments and delicate laughter floating out, resembling a celestial palace.

Chu Zhiyuan, clad in a white sable coat, with jade pendants on his belt and white jade adorning the top of his hat, walked with a composed gait, exuding elegance and nobility.

As Guo Chi and the eight others escorted him to the Flowing Cloud Tower, four Zhenwu Division experts were already waiting there.

A middle-aged man in a gray robe stepped forward, cupping his fist and saying, "Are you the Fourth Young Master?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

"The Division Master has been waiting for your esteemed arrival, Young Master, please." The middle-aged man in the gray robe bowed and gestured, leading the way.

Zou Fang stepped forward.

To conceal his identity, he didn't bring his white jade whisk, wearing a blue robe instead, his face fair and without a beard, looking like a wealthy old man.

Chu Zhiyuan followed, with Feng Xi protecting him from behind.

Guo Chi didn't move, leading the eight royal guards to hide in the shadows.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly ascended the steps, having already taken in the entire scene of the Flowing Cloud Tower, clearly seeing everyone and sensing each individual.

His attention quickly focused on a room on the third floor.

The window of that room on the third floor faced the street outside, allowing a view of half of the entire Phoenix Avenue.

In a grand master's chair near the window, a middle-aged man with a face like jade sat upright, frowning as he scanned the documents in his hand.

He wore a sky-blue robe, with a snow-white long sword, spotless from head to toe.

His body sat upright like a sturdy pine, his eyebrows refined and his eyes bright. Between the opening and closing of his eyes, a sharp light flashed, as if tangible, his aura stern.

In Chu Zhiyuan's eyes, in the void three feet above his head, a white crane stood on one leg, its entire body pure white and flawless, with a red crown and a long beak like a sword.

This white crane occasionally flapped its wings, as if ready to take flight at any moment.

Chu Zhiyuan seemed thoughtful.

This grandmaster should be Jiang Qiuge.

Four middle-aged men in black robes guarded the entrance to the third floor staircase, their expressions solemn, their cold, electric eyes sweeping over Chu Zhiyuan and the other two.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed inwardly: Another four grandmasters, this Division Master Jiang certainly has a grand presence.

This was the power of authority, so captivating.

The third floor was filled with elegant private rooms, each with excellent soundproofing. Once the door was closed, outsiders couldn't see inside or hear the movements within.

The middle-aged man in the gray robe led him to a room.

A girl in green stood at the door, her face beautiful, her figure graceful like a willow branch in a gentle breeze, seemingly swaying even when standing still.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped into the room.

The handsome middle-aged man put down the documents, stood up, cupped his fist, and smiled: "I apologize for not greeting you properly, Young Master."

"Division Master Jiang, you are too kind," Chu Zhiyuan returned the greeting.

Both men were all smiles, but each noticed the other's calm gaze, as if quietly observing and scrutinizing each other.

"Young Master, please," Jiang Qiuge gestured.

The two sat down, Chu Zhiyuan taking a seat in the grand master's chair opposite the round table.

The sandalwood round table could accommodate a dozen people, the two were sitting far apart.

The girl in green brought tea cups, then stood aside to serve.

After the two sat down, they exchanged a few pleasantries.

Jiang Qiuge was all smiles, making people feel like they were basking in a spring breeze, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

Chu Zhiyuan was also gentle and composed, not putting on the airs of a young master.

The atmosphere in the room was harmonious, the host and guest conversing happily, enjoying themselves.

After a moment, Chu Zhiyuan picked up the tea cup, took a light sip, put it down, and looked at Jiang Qiuge with a serious expression: "Has Division Master Jiang captured those sneaky individuals?"

Jiang Qiuge solemnly said: "Young Master, you have been a great help this time, I have already submitted a memorial to the Audit Department to request merit for you."

"Who are these people?"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Seeking assistance from the Zhenwu Division also had this reason.

The Zhenwu Division was extremely strict and fair regarding merit, in other aspects they might be perfunctory and muddle through, but they would never be ambiguous about merit.

The Zongzheng Division was different.

Jiang Qiuge solemnly said: "Has Young Master ever heard of the Jade Cauldron Sect?"

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

"These are heretics from the Jade Cauldron Sect. How did Young Master discover them?"

"My cultivation is not strong, but my senses are more acute than ordinary people, a kind of feeling in the dark."

"This is a rare talent, with this talent, Young Master's safety is assured."

"Compared to cultivation, it's not worth mentioning," Chu Zhiyuan smiled, and said in a deep voice: "Just what is this Jade Cauldron Sect?"

"The Jade Cauldron Sect is a top evil sect, with Grandmasters within. It was jointly exterminated by the Zhenwu Division, the Four Great Sects, and the Six Great Factions. I didn't expect it to resurface after thirty years!"

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

He wasn't even born thirty years ago.

However, since it was an evil sect, it was indeed troublesome.

Evil sects are different from demonic sects.

So-called demonic sects, similar to the Inviting Moon Palace and the Worry-Free Sect, act both righteously and evilly, their techniques leading to impulsive temperaments, and they often commit illegal acts, but they rarely involve human lives.

Evil sects are completely different.

He had heard Zou Fang mention it.

These evil sects are truly and thoroughly anti-human.

The things they do are cruel and bloody beyond the imagination of ordinary people, not even dying ten thousand times would be enough.

The evil of evil sects also stems from their techniques.

Practicing these techniques naturally leads to becoming cold, numb, and cruel, gradually losing humanity and regarding human lives as mere grass.

And this Jade Cauldron Sect was jointly exterminated but still not destroyed, and was able to resurface, obviously being extremely cunning and extremely powerful.

Being targeted by such an evil sect was indeed troublesome.

Even with three grandmasters protecting him, he couldn't feel safe.

Thinking of this, his face darkened.

Jiang Qiuge seemed to see through Chu Zhiyuan's worries, and smiled: "Young Master, rest assured, we've wiped them out in one fell swoop."

"Wiping out this one nest, there are other nests, right? I'm afraid it won't be so easy to eradicate them completely. … Why did they follow me?"

Jiang Qiuge's face sank, and he slowly said: "To kill Young Master."

"Revenge?" Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

Revenge for the extermination?

"The reason why the imperial court personally joined forces with the major sects to exterminate the Jade Cauldron Sect was not just because the Jade Cauldron Sect was an evil sect."

"There is another reason?"

"The Jade Cauldron Sect has a technique called the Dragon Devouring Ascension Art, which is a miraculous technique for breaking through barriers. It is said that swallowing the essence and blood of ten royal disciples can break through the barrier between the Acquired Realm and the Grandmaster Realm, and the essence and blood of one hundred royal disciples can break through the barrier between the Grandmaster Realm and the Great Grandmaster Realm."

"Hahaha!" Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

This was truly a great absurdity in the world.

He had now read a large number of martial arts notes from Grandmasters and Grandmasters, and had a deeper and broader understanding of martial arts.

He had a deep understanding of the Four Realms and the Three Barriers. Breaking through the barriers cannot be achieved with external force. The Acquired Realm Barrier and the Grandmaster Realm Barrier are invisible and tangible, and external force cannot touch them. The Great Grandmaster Realm Barrier is intangible and immaterial, and there is no way to break through it.

This Dragon Devouring Ascension Art can break through the Grandmaster Realm Barrier, he couldn't judge whether it was true or false, but saying it could break through the Great Grandmaster Realm Barrier was definitely a lie.

Such absurd words could only deceive the ignorant.