Imperial Cultivation

“Alright.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded: “There’s no need to investigate further.”

“Yes.” Liang Guanjie breathed a sigh of relief.

Chu Zhiyuan said: “This time, you can only receive a mediocre evaluation. There are too many areas for improvement.”

“Yes.” Liang Guanjie said helplessly.

Each aspect was insufficient, and combined, it meant a lack of overall talent, making them somewhat useless.

The performance of the four of them this time really didn't live up to what the Heir Apparent had said: "You are my eyes and ears, my clairvoyance and clairaudience."

“After we return, I will find a couple of experts from the Surveillance Department to properly teach you.”

“Yes!” Liang Guanjie's eyes lit up.

When it came to obtaining information, the Surveillance Department was the true king, the most elite experts in the world. Compared to the Surveillance Department, their methods of gathering information were mere child's play. If they could learn a few tricks from the Surveillance Department's experts, it would bring about earth-shattering changes, allowing them to better serve as the Heir Apparent’s eyes and ears, and earn even more merit.

Chu Zhiyuan said: “Keep an eye on General Li’s side, see if there are any experts appearing or any assassins.”

“Yes.”

“Go.”

“Yes.”

After Liang Guanjie left, Chu Zhiyuan thought for a while, feeling that it was still a fog of confusion, so he simply stopped thinking about it. In any case, he would be leaving tomorrow.

He took out a dull, unadorned short sword from his sleeve, resembling a wooden sword.

The very real feeling of heaviness made him think it was made of iron.

After a careful examination, he discovered that it was indeed a wooden sword.

Although it was as heavy as iron, the material was indeed wood. This was the feedback his extrasensory perception gave him, an unbelievable feedback.

A Qi-Breaking Divine Weapon, which required third-rank merit to exchange for at the Heavenly Treasure Repository, was actually made of wood.

Of course, this wood was different from ordinary wood.

It had an extremely high density, a hard and heavy texture. Ordinary people would definitely think it was an iron or steel sword, just with a muffled sound and no luster. He tapped it against the Qingying Sword, and it remained undamaged.

Under the observation of his extrasensory perception, he carefully stroked and examined it.

He wanted to find the strange patterns or characters that were on the Qingying Sword.

But there was nothing on it, nothing unusual.

If this sword was thrown onto the street, everyone would think it was a short sword carved for a child.

It was hard to imagine that it was a Qi-Breaking Divine Weapon that required third-rank merit to exchange for.

When he circulated the aura of the Violet Sun True Scripture, the sword instantly lit up, a layer of violet radiance flowing around the sword, completely enveloping it, so that only the violet radiance could be seen, and not the original appearance of the sword.

He waved it a few times in the air and found that it was light and飘飘, as if it didn't exist, like he was waving the air.

He waved it vigorously several times, and suddenly the entire room was filled with violet radiance.

It was twice as fast as waving the Qingying Sword.

It actually had the wonder of acceleration.

He thought for a while and performed the Sword Washing Art.

The sword body suddenly changed, instantly becoming longer from a short sword, even longer than an ordinary long sword by a finger's length, becoming a long sword.

The purple light was bright, the brilliance restrained, like it was carved from purple jade.

He couldn't help but click his tongue. Did all Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons have this wonderful effect, or was it just this sword?

Chu Mingrui was sitting in the official office, with several scribes busily moving various dossiers and account books, placing them on his desk for him to review one by one, and then taking away the dossiers and account books he had finished reading.

Several military officers stood around, and occasionally one would hear Chu Mingrui's order and stride out.

Seeing him so busy, Chu Zhiyuan stood to the side, not daring to disturb him rashly.

“Fourth, if you have something to say, say it quickly.” Chu Mingrui said, burying his head in the dossiers without looking up: “This is my busiest time.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: “Tenth Uncle, otherwise, forget it, I'll wait until you're finished.”

Chu Mingrui raised his head and glared at him unhappily: “Follow me!”

“No need, Tenth Uncle, just say it here.” Chu Zhiyuan said: “I want to ask to see two Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons.”

“You want Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons?”

“Not want, but to see what they look like.”

“Stop talking nonsense, I can still afford a Qi-Breaking Divine Weapon!” He finished speaking and called out: “Chang Dexi!”

“Here.” A fair-faced, beardless middle-aged man floated forward.

Chu Zhiyuan knew that this was Chu Mingrui's personal eunuch, someone who was rarely seen, as if he didn't exist. Dressed like a scholar, it seemed he was acting as a scribe in the army.

“Bring the Evil-Slaying Sword for Fourth!”

“Yes.”

Chang Dexi quickly floated back, presenting a long sword with both hands, its scabbard dark green and full of ancient meaning.

“This Evil-Slaying Sword is what I exchanged for with third-rank merit at the Heavenly Treasure Repository back then. It's stronger than ordinary Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons, so you must cherish it.” Chu Zhiyuan took it and drew the sword.

The sword body was snow-bright, like a pool of autumn water. A cold light flickered.

Chu Zhiyuan looked it over: “Tenth Uncle, are all Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons so gorgeous?”

“Yes, almost every Qi-Breaking Divine Weapon is gorgeous. One look is enough to know it's extraordinary, otherwise how could it reflect the value of third-rank or even second-rank?”

“Aren't there any that are simpler?”

“As far as I know, there aren't any.” Chu Mingrui smiled: “When I exchanged for Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons back then, I didn't see any that were simple. People are all hypocritical. Those who say they want something simpler, when it comes to actually choosing, you'll find they still choose the gorgeous ones.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed. He agreed.

After all, it required third-rank or second-rank merit to exchange for, it was too expensive. Wouldn't they want to show off in front of people? It went against human nature.

He waved it a few times, and the sword body felt heavy.

Circulating the Violet Sun True Scripture, a faint purple color flowed through the sword body.

Using the Sword Washing Art, the sword body became even brighter, with faint purple light in the sword light, making it lighter. But compared to the short sword he had obtained, it was far inferior.

The short sword he had obtained was actually a rare divine weapon.

He thought for a moment, took out the short sword from his sleeve, and injected the Sword Washing Art's Gang energy. Immediately, it shone with brilliant purple light, extremely gorgeous. The two swords lightly tapped together.

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly felt something was wrong and quickly retracted the short sword. He had a sudden intuition the moment they were about to collide.

If this sword struck, the Evil-Slaying Sword would probably not be able to withstand it.

He hadn't expected that the Qi-Breaking Divine Weapon he had inadvertently swiped would be so powerful?

Was it that he was lucky, or was it that the Great Meng's Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons were more powerful than the Great Jing's Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons? Thinking of this, he coughed lightly and said: “Tenth Uncle, do we have any Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons obtained from the Great Meng?”

“Great Meng?” Chu Mingrui smiled: “You also like the Great Meng's Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons?”

“I just want to see them.”

“Chang Dexi!”

Chu Mingrui instructed Chang Dexi to find two Great Meng Qi-Breaking Divine Weapons. Chang Dexi agreed and floated away.

Chu Zhiyuan allowed Chu Mingrui to continue being busy while he sat to the side, carefully feeling the difference between the Evil-Slaying Sword and the short sword. The materials were different.

The Evil-Slaying Sword was a steel sword that had been forged countless times, as easily cutting through iron as mud, and had some strange materials added.

These materials combined with Qi to form a unique Qi, which could restrain Gang energy and break through Gang energy, like oil and water.

His short sword was made of wood, and when Qi circulated within it, it would also transform into a different Qi, but a Qi that was purer than Gang energy, like ice and water. Both could break Gang energy, but the effect on the body after breaking Gang energy was different.