Imperial Cultivation

Little Red Cloud Mountain in the sunset was entirely rose-colored, truly deserving of its name.

"Dang, dang, dang…"

The deep, resonant sound of a bell vibrated in the air.

Halfway up the mountain, Chu Zhichuan stood weakly on a rock, scanning his surroundings warily.

This weathered rock was smooth and flat, about the size of a bed. Standing on it, he could clearly see his surroundings and avoid being ambushed.

His handsome face was pale. His left hand covered his bloodied right shoulder, and his injured right hand weakly gripped his long sword. He was tense, ready to draw his sword at any moment.

"Your Highness, let's go."

A middle-aged man appeared silently beside him, placed his right hand on Chu Zhichuan's left shoulder, and rushed out like a gust of wind.

A moment later, the two of them swept through the forest and appeared before Chu Qingfeng.

Chu Qingfeng still stood on the boulder at the foot of the mountain, bathed in the evening glow.

Chu Zhichuan turned his head to look around. There were only the Fourth Prince and the First Prince; he didn't see Chu Zhiyuan or Chu Zhiting.

Two black shadows swooshed over and stopped beside him. A middle-aged man and Chu Mingxuan appeared.

Chu Mingxuan had a finger-length gash diagonally across his chest, blood flowing out. He had almost been disemboweled. He grinned and said, "Tenth, you came out early?"

"Eighteenth Uncle, I just came out."

"What was your harvest?"

"A Rainbow Chicken."

"Your luck is good!" Chu Mingxuan said enviously, "I wanted to run into it!"

"What was Eighteenth Uncle's harvest?"

"I killed a Red Cloud Snake." Chu Mingxuan said triumphantly.

This Red Cloud Snake was stupid enough to hide in a crack between two rocks, its color blending with the surroundings, making it hard to spot.

But his nose was extremely sensitive, and he smelled the fishy odor.

So he played along, pretending to be oblivious as he approached the two rocks, then suddenly struck and killed it in one blow.

If it hadn't been in the crack between the rocks, it would have been almost impossible to hit it, given the Red Cloud Snake's speed and agility.

It could only be said that when luck comes, no one can stop it.

"Ninth hasn't come out yet? He'll probably have a good harvest this time."

Chu Zhichuan nodded.

Just then, a black shadow swooshed over, and Chu Zhiting was brought over by a middle-aged man.

His clothes were torn in several places, revealing bronze-cast muscles. His shoulders, chest, abdomen, and thighs all had wounds. The shoulder wound was a through-and-through injury, still oozing blood.

Chu Zhiting saw Chu Zhichuan and laughed, "Tenth, didn't you come out early?"

"Sorry to disappoint Ninth Brother, I just came out," Chu Zhichuan said blandly.

Chu Mingxuan said, "Tenth killed a Rainbow Chicken, enough for military merit. What about you, Ninth?"

Chu Zhiting's smile grew wider, "A Green Wolf, plus a Bronze Pig."

"Bronze Pig?" Chu Zhichuan was skeptical.

Lone Green Wolves weren't that hard to kill, but Bronze Pigs were different.

The name 'Bronze Pig' wasn't because of the color of its fur, but because of its bronze tendons and iron bones, resistant to swords and spears. These people could only run for their lives when they saw one.

Chu Zhiting killed a Bronze Pig?

That was too outrageous.

Chu Zhichuan pondered, and slowly said, "Ninth Brother, you're using your brain now… You killed the piglet near the end, and used your guards to escape the big pig's pursuit, right?"

"Who doesn't use their brain?" Chu Zhiting protested, "I didn't take that advantage. I killed the piglet a long time ago!"

"In any case, I admire you." Chu Zhichuan cupped his fist dismissively.

"Ninth, you don't believe me?!" Chu Zhiting was even more dissatisfied.

He was ready to call for the experts from the Forbidden Palace. Anyway, killing the piglet was enough for Rank Nine merit, so it didn't matter if he retreated.

But he didn't expect the big pig to come after him.

"I didn't say I didn't believe you," Chu Zhichuan said perfunctorily.

"You're just jealous!" Chu Zhiting glanced at him smugly.

"Alright, you two both have harvests. Why hasn't Fourth come out yet?" Chu Mingxuan interrupted their conversation.

Chu Zhiting frowned as he looked at Little Red Cloud Mountain, then looked up at Chu Qingfeng.

Chu Qingfeng was staring at Little Red Cloud Mountain in the distance, as if he could see what was happening inside.

Chu Zhiting asked, "Granduncle, is Fourth Brother alright?"

Chu Qingfeng shook his head.

"It's very dangerous the first time you enter. Hopefully, Fourth Brother isn't seriously injured."

"You're definitely going to suffer a big loss the first time."

"He hasn't come out yet… As expected of Fourth." Chu Mingxuan said.

The first time entering Little Red Cloud Mountain, people often suffered heavy injuries as soon as they entered. Someone as strong as Chu Zhiting could last a little longer, but most people were done for in the blink of an eye.

All twelve people had come out, except for Chu Zhiyuan, causing everyone to whisper: Could something have happened? Could he have lost his life?

Although no one had died since the last Golden Feathered Falcon incident, who knew if there would be another accident? Maybe there were still some Golden Feathered Falcons that hadn't been cleared out.

Amidst the murmurs, Chu Zhiyuan walked out of the forest.

"Is that Fourth Brother?"

"Fourth…"

Everyone immediately greeted him with surprise and surrounded him.

He was spotless from head to toe, a stark contrast to the disheveled state of everyone else, making him seem even more handsome and refined.

Chu Mingxuan sized him up and down, "Fourth, are you injured?"

Chu Zhiyuan was calm and relaxed, as if he were on a spring outing, "I'm fine."

Everyone looked at him with curious and puzzled eyes.

Some even suspected that he hadn't gone in at all.

Four middle-aged men in black robes floated over and landed in front of Chu Qingfeng, presenting the small booklets in their hands to Chu Qingfeng.

"Thirteenth Uncle, how was everyone's harvest?" Chu Mingxuan asked, "Was it good this time?"

He felt that his luck was excellent this time. Ninth and Tenth also had harvests, so surely others wouldn't have come away empty-handed.

That was how the winter hunt was. If luck was good, everyone's luck was good. If luck was bad, everyone's luck was bad.

Chu Qingfeng nodded, "Seven people had harvests."

"Then who had the most?" Chu Mingxuan asked.

"Chu Zhiyuan, twenty." Chu Qingfeng said.

As soon as these words fell, the surroundings instantly quieted down.

"Thirteenth Uncle, how… how many?" Chu Mingxuan asked hurriedly.

"He killed twenty in total," Chu Qingfeng looked at Chu Zhiyuan and smiled, "He should still have some strength left."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled sheepishly, "Granduncle, I've reached my limit."

The key was that all the demon beasts had run away.

Killing twenty within a hundred meters of the forest at the foot of the mountain was the limit. The rest had disappeared.

These demon beasts fled as soon as they sensed danger, unwilling to stay and wait for death.

The more he killed, the harder it became. Eventually, he even went uphill.

But these demon beasts seemed to have a unique communication channel. Even when he went uphill, he hardly encountered any demon beasts. They all avoided him, running far away.

He even suspected that he wouldn't be able to kill any demon beasts the next time he came.

He hadn't expected these demon beasts to be so difficult to deal with, possessing an extremely high intuition for danger and a strong ability to survive.

"Hiss…"

Gasps of air were heard everywhere, and astonished gazes seemed to pierce through Chu Zhiyuan.

"It's true, comparing people is infuriating." Chu Mingxuan shook his head and sighed, then turned to look at Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan, "Ninth and Tenth, how do you feel?"

Chu Zhiting bowed to Chu Zhiyuan in admiration.

Chu Zhichuan snorted, "How does Eighteenth Uncle feel!"

Chu Mingxuan chuckled, "I'm convinced! You little brat, you're still not convinced, are you?"

"…" Chu Zhichuan looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

He would never admit defeat. He would definitely strive to catch up, and he would eventually catch up.

Chu Qingfeng said, "Alright, let's go back to the city. Go back early. Your families are all worried."

"Yes, yes, let's go home quickly."

Everyone nodded quickly and used their lightness skills to hurry back.

Chu Qingfeng came to Chu Zhiyuan's side, "Don't get carried away. You can go to the Heavenly Treasure Office tomorrow to exchange for pills and the like. Remember, don't take any pills that increase your cultivation!"

"Yes, Grandfather."

Chu Qingfeng took a deep look at him, flickered, and disappeared without a trace.

—

The midday sun made the lake water exceptionally clear.

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on a Luohan bed in a waterside pavilion, holding a scarlet pill in his left palm, the Lesser Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Two Rank Nine merits could be exchanged for two Lesser Marrow Cleansing Pills, but he only used one Rank Nine merit to exchange for this one Lesser Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Outside the pavilion, Feng Xi guarded the front door, Guo Chi guarded the back door, and Zou Fang stood close to the window.

Chu Zhiyuan swallowed the Lesser Marrow Cleansing Pill in one gulp.

As soon as the pill entered his stomach, it transformed into a ball of raging flames, and the burning sensation quickly spread throughout every part of his body. In the blink of an eye, sweat poured out like a slurry.

"Chi, chi, chi, chi…"

The long sword at his waist was unsheathed, transforming into specks of cold light.

The cold light formed plum blossoms in the air. More than a dozen plum blossoms appeared almost simultaneously. When they disappeared, the long sword was already sheathed, and he had already gotten off the bed and assumed the Dragon Subduing Stance.

…

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes, his expression emotional.

No wonder people pursue elixirs so much. After experiencing the effects of these elixirs, who can calm down and cultivate little by little?

It's like someone who has experienced making quick money and getting rich. How can they go to work and earn meager wages?

One Lesser Marrow Cleansing Pill is equivalent to a month of hard cultivation.

The first layer of the Dragon Transformation Art has already been completed.

With the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Art completed, practicing the Qi Cleansing Art and the Dragon Binding Cord is very easy. They can be mastered in a day or two, and then he can break through and enter the Innate Realm.