Imperial Cultivation

Chu Zhit霆 slowly approached Chu Mingxuan, as if facing a formidable enemy, and drew his sword, saying, "Fourth Brother, please enlighten me."

Chu Zhiyuan, seeing his cautiousness, chuckled, "Ninth Brother, please!"

He activated the Earth Origin Art.

The Yongquan acupoints on his feet became like two whale mouths, absorbing the earth's essence.

The first level of the Earth Origin Art replenishes internal energy, and the transformation of earth energy into internal energy follows the shortest and fastest route.

The earth energy ascended directly from the Yongquan points to his dantian, filling the empty dantian almost in the blink of an eye.

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If it were a master of the Innate Realm, they would be replenishing true energy, requiring the use of the second level of the Earth Origin Art, where the transformation of earth energy into true energy follows a more complex route.

The Great Avalanche Sword Art condenses one's entire cultivation into a single sword strike, making it fast and ruthless, but after that strike, one is left empty and unable to wield the sword again.

He had failed to see that sword strike clearly earlier, and was inwardly fearful and wary. If he couldn't even see the sword, how could he talk about dodging and counterattacking?

"Alright, watch my sword," Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.

His right hand twitched.

"Bang!"

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Chu Zhit霆 bent over, using his sword as a support, and coughed violently while clutching his chest.

Everyone's eyes widened even further.

This time, they saw it clearly. It was indeed a sword thrust and then withdrawn, as fast as a twitch.

"Heh, weird!" Chu Mingxuan blurted out.

He turned his head to look at the others: "Did you see it clearly? Did you see Fourth Brother's sword?"

Everyone nodded in succession.

"Ninth Brother, are you alright?"

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Zhit霆 with concern, and said apologetically, "Was it too heavy?"

This sword strike had already been lightened considerably.

But to be fast, it had to be swift and fierce, and it wasn't so easy to control the momentum.

Under the gazes of the crowd, Chu Zhit霆's coughing gradually subsided, and he slowly straightened his back, looking at Chu Zhiyuan with a puzzled expression, his gaze eventually falling on his wooden sword: "Fourth Brother, this sword technique of yours..."

"I'll go!"

Chu Zhichuan stepped forward and said in a deep voice.

He was slender and upright, like a jade tree facing the wind, his handsome face was cold, and his narrow eyes were filled with solemnity.

Originally, he hadn't taken Chu Zhiyuan seriously.

He felt that Chu Qingfeng's high regard for him was due to affection for everything connected to him, and it was said that the Qing Prince's mansion was able to be unbanned because of Chu Qingfeng's intercession.

He had seen Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Zhit霆 talking together in the morning, but he hadn't joined them, firstly because he didn't want to be distracted from practicing, and secondly, he felt that Chu Zhiyuan's gentle nature would definitely prevent him from becoming a good martial artist. He wasn't ruthless enough, not focused enough, and was destined not to become a top expert.

He thought that his current cultivation was due to being trapped in the Prince's mansion and unable to go out, unable to play, feast, and frolic like himself and the others, and in such a repressed environment, he could only practice martial arts to pass the time.

If it were him, he would have already entered the Innate Realm in such an environment.

"Tenth Brother, be careful!"

"Tenth Brother, don't be defeated again!"

...

Everyone shouted in succession.

Among the twelve, the three of them had the strongest cultivation. They might not be able to defeat them in a fight, but they definitely couldn't defeat them with a single move.

This was a fierce dragon crossing the river.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Tenth Brother, please."

Chu Zhichuan said coldly: "What kind of sword is this?"

"Great Avalanche Sword Art."

"...So it's the Great Avalanche Sword Art." Chu Zhichuan nodded slowly after a moment's thought.

No wonder it's so fast.

He certainly remembered the sword art of the Great Snow Mountain Sect, one of the six ancient sects.

The Great Avalanche Sword Art possessed top-notch lethality but had fatal flaws. It was a desperate, all-or-nothing killing technique.

If one couldn't kill the enemy with one move, then one would be at the mercy of others, a single sword separating life and death.

After one sword strike, one would be left empty. Being able to execute two swords was already considered a feat. He probably couldn't execute a third sword in a short period of time. Was this a bluff, or even buying time to recover?

Thinking of this, he said in a deep voice: "Please—!"

He couldn't allow him a chance to breathe. The faster he attacked, the better!

"Please!"

Chu Zhiyuan's expression was calm, but he secretly grimaced.

His right hand and body were numb and painful.

The Great Avalanche Sword Art, condensing one's entire cultivation into a single strike, placed too much pressure on the meridians. At this moment, the meridians of his entire body and right arm were on the verge of collapse.

Establishing prestige came at a price.

If he couldn't suppress Chu Zhichuan, then all his previous efforts would be in vain.

Therefore, he had to endure this sword strike.

"Chih!" Chu Zhichuan thrust out his sword.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Chu Zhichuan's sword momentum weakened, and he clutched his chest, coughing violently.

This time, everyone stared intently at Chu Zhiyuan's right hand and the hilt of his sword, watching him casually thrust out a sword that arrived first and hit Chu Zhichuan's Tanzhong point precisely.

Chu Zhiyuan actually suppressed the trembling of his right hand, turned his head to look at the others.

Everyone avoided his gaze.

Chu Qingfeng had a noncommittal smile on his face.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Who's next?"

Chu Qingfeng said: "You've fought three consecutive battles, take a rest. The rest of you, don't just stand there, find someone to spar with."

Chu Mingxuan had completely recovered by this time: "Thirteenth Uncle, forget it, what's the point of comparing anymore? My sword belongs to Fourth Brother!"

He turned his head and swept his gaze over the crowd: "Who is still unconvinced and wants to compete with Fourth Brother?"

The crowd remained silent.

They hadn't seen the first strike clearly, but they had seen the second and third strikes clearly. After secretly substituting themselves, they all came to a clear conclusion: they couldn't block it.

A single trick used repeatedly works wonders. If they couldn't block this sword, it would be futile to say anything. Competing with him wouldn't yield any gains, only frustration, so there was no need to ask for trouble. It was better to admit defeat directly.

Chu Mingxuan said: "Fourth Brother, I'll give you the sword tomorrow."

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fist: "Thank you for your generosity, Eighteenth Uncle."

They shook their heads helplessly.

Chu Zhichuan's handsome face became even colder, and he secretly vowed to practice harder.

The Great Avalanche Sword Art was not invincible. There must be a way to break it.

"Fourth Brother, don't be complacent. You may not be first next time. There has never been a champion who has defended their title in our Mingwu Hall," he snorted, then cupped his fist: "Thirteenth Uncle, we're leaving."

Chu Qingfeng waved his hand.

Everyone cupped their fists towards Chu Qingfeng, and before leaving, they all glanced at Chu Zhiyuan, taking a deep look to remember him.

After everyone had left, Chu Qingfeng sized up Chu Zhiyuan's right hand: "Aren't you going back to rest?"

Chu Zhiyuan said: "I want to read some more books."

"You're just being stubborn."

Chu Qingfeng shook his head and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Only Chu Zhiyuan was left in the vast Mingwu Hall.

He lowered his head to look at his trembling right hand and shook his head secretly.

Having only the Earth Origin Art was not enough. His body couldn't withstand the continuous use of the Great Avalanche Sword Art. He had to practice the Dragon Transformation Art as soon as possible.

Internal energy began to flow, and after passing through more than twenty acupoints, it transformed into wisps of coolness that entered the twelve main meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians.

Wherever this wisp of cool air passed, the meridians were like parched and cracked earth meeting sweet rain, quickly receiving nourishment, and the effect was immediate.

He stood motionless on the training ground of the Mingwu Hall, and only opened his eyes after half an hour, a smile surging in his eyes.

The Dragon Transformation Art was indeed profound. In the past half hour, the meridians that were on the verge of collapse had not only recovered, but were also far stronger than before.

He estimated that he could roughly withstand five strikes of the Great Avalanche Sword Art.

From three strikes to five strikes, the intensity had almost doubled.

It was certainly due to the Dragon Transformation Art's profundity, but also because of breaking and then rebuilding.

He had inadvertently found a shortcut to cultivating the Dragon Transformation Art.

...

As evening approached, Chu Zhiyuan left the Mingwu Hall as the palace gates were about to be locked.

Walking slowly with his hands behind his back, he was filled with joy.

It was another rewarding and fulfilling day.

Not only had his martial arts skills improved by leaps and bounds.

His Dragon Transformation Art was also progressing extremely quickly.

He had found a shortcut to cultivating the Dragon Transformation Art: first, execute the Great Avalanche Sword Art several times, and then circulate the Dragon Transformation Art when his whole body was sore and in pain.

After practicing for an afternoon, he could already withstand ten strikes.

Once the first level of the Dragon Transformation Art was completed, he could practice the Qi Cleansing Art, followed by the Dragon Binding Cord, both of which could be completed quickly.

Originally, he thought that the Dragon Transformation Art would take a long time to practice, but now he had found a shortcut.

The first level of the Dragon Transformation Art trains the meridians, the second level trains the acupoints, the third level trains the bones, the fourth level trains the marrow, the fifth level trains the blood, the sixth level trains the membranes, the seventh level trains the tendons, the eighth level trains the flesh, and the ninth level trains the skin.

Unlike other body refining techniques that go from the outside to the inside, it goes from the inside to the outside.

It was said that once the ninth level was completed, one could transform into a true dragon, possessing infinite power and even extending one's lifespan.

According to the records of the Dragon Subduing Sect, in the ten thousand years of the Dragon Subduing Sect's inheritance, a total of three people had cultivated to perfection, possessing five hundred years of lifespan, which was a longer lifespan than a Grandmaster.

After exiting the South Palace Gate, he saw Zou Fang waiting outside.

Guo Chi then led eight Innate Realm experts to surround him.

Chu Zhiyuan walked leisurely: "How is it on Steward Feng's side?"

Zou Fang was like his shadow, truly a confidant, and also his eyes and ears, with well-informed sources.

Today, he hadn't let him stay outside the Mingwu Hall, but had sent him out to gather information.

Zou Fang said in a low voice: "I have already found the other party's lair and am monitoring it."

"Mm."

"However..." Zou Fang said softly.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Just speak!"

Zou Fang lowered his voice even further: "This servant has discovered that among those three people, one of them is from the Town Guard Division."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: "Heh, the Town Guard Division's hands are long enough."

The City Guard and the Town Guard Division were different yamen, yet they were inserting manpower into the City Guard. The Town Guard Division's hands were too long.

But who told the Town Guard Division to be the Emperor's claws? Even if the City Guard knew, they probably wouldn't dare to speak out.

Zou Fang remained silent.

"Let's pretend we don't know."

"Yes," Zou Fang agreed.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Inquire about the origins of the sword that Eighteenth Uncle recently obtained."

"Yes," Zou Fang agreed softly.