Imperial Cultivation

The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the sky with fiery hues.

Taiwan Novel Network → 𝓉 𝓌 𝓀 𝒶 𝓃 . 𝒸 ℴ 𝓂

Outside the Great Zhen Hall, Chu Zhiyuan stood at the foot of the steps, surveying the layout.

The main doors stood wide open, with six white-clad guards stationed on either side of the imposing stone lions.

These six young guards, dressed in white, each stood languidly, but their right hands rested on the hilts of their swords, exuding a chilling aura,

like tigers dozing.

Through his heightened senses, he saw a nimble gatekeeper walk inside, pass through the front courtyard, and continue through two moon gates towards a small courtyard in the third section.

Inside the small courtyard, Cheng Tianfeng was practicing his swordsmanship.

The thin, old man, Mo Chunyu, watched from the sidelines.

The gatekeeper cautiously entered, announcing the name of the visitor.

Upon hearing the words 'Prince Qing's Heir', Cheng Tianfeng stopped abruptly, whirling around with his sword, the tip pointed at the gatekeeper: "Who?!"

The gatekeeper, an old man with white eyebrows and a youthful face, quickly clasped his fist and said, "Reporting to you, Heir, it is the Heir of Prince Qing of Great Jing, a Secretary of the Ministry of Rites."

"Chu Zhiyuan?!" Cheng Tianfeng glared at him coldly.

The gatekeeper, seeing Cheng Tianfeng, who was usually calm and composed, suddenly become somewhat terrifying, felt a chill in his heart and nodded hastily, "That's him."

"What's that bastard doing here!" Cheng Tianfeng gritted his teeth, "Is he here to show off his power?"

"Let him in, to the front hall," Mo Chunyu said.

Cheng Tianfeng looked at him.

Mo Chunyu said, "After all, he is a Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and also an Heir; we can't just turn him away, can we? That would be too impolite."

"Uncle-Master, why be reasonable with that scoundrel?" Cheng Tianfeng said through gritted teeth.

Chu Zhiyuan, that despicable villain, ruined Tianyin, stole the Heart-Questioning Blade, and still has the nerve to come here?

Mo Chunyu waved his hand.

The gatekeeper looked at Cheng Tianfeng, apologetically clasped his fist, and retreated.

"Uncle-Master, you go, I'm not going!"

"Don't you want to hear what he has to say?"

"No need!"

"Very well." Mo Chunyu, seeing him like this, frowned inwardly.

Is he afraid of seeing Chu Zhiyuan? Is he scared?

If he's truly afraid, then it's indeed a bit troublesome; he probably already has a heart demon, let alone becoming a Grandmaster, even becoming a Master will be difficult.

He frowned to himself as he walked forward.

Halfway there, he noticed Cheng Tianfeng following, walking alongside him, and couldn't help but smile.

Cheng Tianfeng snorted, "I'll listen to what kind of fart that guy is going to spout."

Mo Chunyu said, "Sparring is just sparring, there's no need to treat it as a life-and-death feud; after all, we are already allies."

"Heh." Cheng Tianfeng shook his head and sneered.

Him and Chu Zhiyuan become friends?

That's the most laughable joke in the world!

He and Chu Zhiyuan are mortal enemies; it's just because of their respective identities, and the Grandmasters blocking them, that they can't make a move.

If they both become Grandmasters, they will definitely make a move, they must kill each other.

"Even if we can't become friends, don't be at each other's throats on the surface; it will make us seem lacking in magnanimity."

"...Yes."

Cheng Tianfeng quickly composed himself.

He took a deep breath.

The two of them arrived at the front courtyard with calm expressions, and saw Chu Zhiyuan and Zou Fang slowly walking past the screen wall, and the two sides immediately faced each other.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fist and smiled, "Mr. Mo, Brother Cheng, how have you been lately?"

He saw that Cheng Tianfeng's aura was stable, and his expression was also composed, and he was quite impressed; it was not easy to adjust his mentality so quickly.

This Cheng Tianfeng was indeed exceptionally talented, and should not be underestimated.

Mo Chunyu smiled, but didn't say anything.

Cheng Tianfeng snorted, "Very well, Brother Chu, you seem to be doing well too?"

"Not bad," Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.

Cheng Tianfeng said, "Having defeated me, you must be riding high, with countless banquets; how do you still have time to come here?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I specifically made time to visit Brother Cheng; sparring with Brother Cheng was truly a great gain."

Upon hearing the word 'gain', Cheng Tianfeng immediately thought of his losses, Tianyin and the Heart-Questioning Blade.

Having stolen his Heart-Questioning Blade, of course the gain was great!

That was a top-tier treasure in the world, a divine weapon that could break through Protective Qi, a trump card he used to save his life.

That scoundrel actually stole it while fighting, he was simply inhuman!

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences; I won by luck, Heir, you shouldn't be too obsessed with it; next time we spar, the outcome will be hard to predict."

Cheng Tianfeng sneered.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Moreover, Brother Cheng, you haven't been able to go all out, you feel very stifled and unconvinced, right?"

"It's good that you know."

"How about we spar again?" Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.

"Hmm...?" Cheng Tianfeng frowned and stared at him, trying to see what he was up to.

If they sparred again, could he win?

He quickly pondered, comparing their strengths and weaknesses.

Chu Zhiyuan had great strength and speed, but his swordsmanship was crude, relying on these two things; a brute.

He had been thinking hard these past two days and had found a way to restrain him.

When fighting him, he must not hold back, he must not have any reservations, he must use all his strength to deliver a fatal blow.

It was a pity that the Heart-Questioning Blade was stolen by him, but there was no need to mention it, thinking about it, he knew that he wouldn't admit it.

Besides the Heart-Questioning Blade, there was also the Heaven-Piercing Sword Art; with his cultivation, plus the Heaven-Piercing Sword Art, it would be enough to severely injure him.

It was fine as long as he didn't kill him, anyway, he came voluntarily.

With Uncle-Master Mo present, it was impossible to kill him.

"Brother Cheng, do you want to try? Go all out for a round."

Cheng Tianfeng still frowned and stared at him.

He wanted to figure out what Chu Zhiyuan was up to first.

Mo Chunyu seemed like a deaf and mute person, not saying a word, only watching their confrontation.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Brother Cheng, do you want to have a round? If not, then forget it."

"...What are the conditions?"

Cheng Tianfeng gritted his teeth and asked in a deep voice.

"After this fight, Brother Cheng, put away all the little tricks."

"What little tricks?"

"Brother Cheng, let's not beat around the bush, just the two of us here, why play dumb?"

"I really don't understand."

"Then forget it, just pretend I didn't say anything; goodbye."

Chu Zhiyuan turned to leave.

He and Zou Fang had just reached the screen wall and were about to leave when Cheng Tianfeng finally spoke, "Wait!"

Chu Zhiyuan turned back.

"Alright, alright," Cheng Tianfeng shook his head and sighed, "You may not know my character, I've never been one to hold grudges."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled.

Not a single word of that was believable.

"Whether what you said is true or false, I agree."

"Brother Cheng doesn't trust me?!" Cheng Tianfeng glared at him coldly, "Then why did you come here!"

Chu Zhiyuan turned to look at Mo Chunyu, clasped his fist and smiled, "Mr. Mo, if you vouch for him, then I'll believe him."

A hint of a smile appeared on Mo Chunyu's gaunt face, "Heir, I won't interfere in your affairs."

"Then goodbye!" Chu Zhiyuan turned to leave again.

"Wait!" Cheng Tianfeng impatiently snorted, "Here we go again!"

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him with a smile.

"Uncle-Master, you vouch for me!"

"Heir..."

"Uncle-Master!"

"Sigh... You two!" Mo Chunyu finally nodded slowly, "Very well, I'll vouch for you; the Heir will not have any other tricks."

"Not just me, but also my Prince Qing's Estate and Duke Anguo's Estate."

"Chu Zhiyuan, don't go too far!"

"Compared to what Brother Cheng has done, it's not too much at all!"

"Fine, fine, fine, I agree, I won't provoke Xiao Ruoling anymore!"

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Mo Chunyu.

Mo Chunyu nodded.

"Then please enlighten me!" Chu Zhiyuan drew his sword, the tip pointing at Cheng Tianfeng.

"Take this!"

Cheng Tianfeng's brocade robe billowed, he drew his sword with his left hand, smoothly and lightly, transforming into a bolt of lightning in an instant.

This strike surpassed any of his strikes at the palace banquet, it was the essence of his energy, the most powerful move.

Asking Heaven, Asking Heaven, life and death only ask Heaven's will; if Heaven wills him to die, then he dies, if Heaven wills him to live, then he lives.

It was about placing himself in this desperate situation, unleashing power far beyond his own.

"Good!"

Chu Zhiyuan shouted softly, his figure flashed and disappeared.

The next moment, he appeared in front, the tip of his sword colliding with Cheng Tianfeng's.

"Boom!" In the muffled sound, the sword light blazed, like a small sun falling.

In the light, Chu Zhiyuan gracefully retreated ten feet, shaking his Qingying Sword.

A few drops of blood were flicked off, and the sword blade returned to its clear, autumn-water-like purity.

Cheng Tianfeng, however, stood in place, motionless, as if frozen.

Mo Chunyu frowned, his figure flashed behind Cheng Tianfeng, his right palm pressed against his back, and his left hand quickly sealed several major acupoints on his left shoulder.

The bones of his left shoulder were exposed.

This was the power of sword qi; even a light graze from the sword tip caused his flesh to explode, leaving only bare bones.

He then took out a small jade bottle from his sleeve, bit open the stopper, poured out two scarlet pills, and pressed them directly onto the bare bones.

Cheng Tianfeng stood in place, dejected, his eyes looking at the sky, confused and uncomprehending.

Chu Zhiyuan sheathed his sword, clasped his fist and said, "Brother Cheng, I apologize."

He looked apologetically at Mo Chunyu, "Brother Cheng's speed was too fast, I tried my best to avoid it, there was really no way."

Mo Chunyu said with a solemn face, nodding, "Good swordsmanship."

He could see that Chu Zhiyuan's swordsmanship was even better than that night; in just these two days, he had improved so much, he was indeed a prodigy.

The Heir's defeat was not unjust at all.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Cheng Tianfeng, "Brother Cheng? Brother Cheng?!"

He felt that this was not enough to ensure safety, he needed to add insult to injury.