Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 138: Chapter 136: Choice

Inspection Department

Chu Zhiyuan sat behind the study desk in a small room, with several boxes of dossiers on the desk.

He went through them one by one, which contained the information about Da Meng’s Princess Li Hongzhao, tracking her every move from the time she arrived in Yujing back to when she joined the Phoenix Sword Sect.

All the intelligence was within these eight boxes.

Chu Zhiyuan also requested information about the Phoenix Sword Sect of Da Meng.

The Phoenix Sword Sect was similar to the White Cloud Sword Palace, deeply entangled with the Da Meng Dynasty, inseparable from each other.

The disciples of the Phoenix Sword Sect were all females.

Yet their swordsmanship was fierce and aggressive.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered thoughtfully.

Martial arts and temperament influence and complement each other.

The more advanced the martial arts, the more it can influence a person’s temperament. Likewise, if one’s temperament does not match their martial arts, they cannot master it well.

Since the martial arts of the Phoenix Sword Sect are fierce and aggressive, most of its disciples share similar temperaments.

But judging by Li Hongzhao’s actions, she was a beautiful and charming woman, soft as water, more womanly than any woman could be.

It seems her actions are highly deceitful, and she’s very good at acting.

One must be more cautious of her.

He carefully reviewed the characteristics of the martial arts of the Phoenix Sword Sect, noticing descriptions of the Phoenix Sword Technique, which was like a Phoenix soaring through the sky, making people feel like they were in molten lava, experiencing difficulty breathing, distorted light before their eyes, unable to see the outside clearly.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered thoughtfully.

In this way, to counter the Phoenix Sword Technique, the martial arts from Yao Yue Palace are most suitable; how about using the Qionghua Nine Chapters?

The aura of the Qionghua Nine Chapters is gentle, while the aura of the Purple Sun Scripture is fiery. To counter the Phoenix Sword Technique, it seems the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique would be most appropriate.

Unfortunately, Xiao Ruoling’s cultivation is still too weak. It’s uncertain if helping Xiao Ruoling to break through would be beneficial now.

The differences in major realms result in qualitative differences in aura.

He continued reviewing the intelligence while thinking, searching for a method of restraint.

Finally, he came across a piece of information.

Disciples of the Phoenix Sword Sect encountered experts from Wentian Cliff of Da Zhen at the border, with three Phoenix Sword Sect disciples and one wentian Cliff expert perishing together.

The swordsmanship used by the Wentian Cliff expert was astonishingly unique, a secret technique that stimulated potential. The sword was as fast as lightning, and the Phoenix Sword Sect disciples could not react in time and were killed.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered thoughtfully.

This should be the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique, right?

The power of the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique was indeed astonishing, but it was also a method of gambling with one’s life. The way this Wentian Cliff disciple demonstrated it was very similar to the swordsmanship used by Cheng Tianfeng.

It seems that the Heavenly Breaking Sword Technique restrains the Phoenix Sword Technique.

...

Putting down the dossiers, Chu Zhiyuan rubbed his temples.

He reviewed them too quickly and remembered everything completely, resulting in an overwhelming sensation from absorbing so much information at once.

"Congratulations to the Princely Heir for reaching the Realm of Grandmaster."

Ma Tianhe, with a fawning smile, sealed the boxes of dossiers while smiling.

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at him.

Ma Tianhe said, "The news about the Princely Heir sparring with the Ninth Princess in five days has spread everywhere, and everyone is waiting."

"It spread so quickly..." Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

No need to ask; it must have been Li Hongzhao’s doing.

This is to damage my mental state to the maximum extent, first creating pressure, then casting a shadow over me.

Ma Tianhe hurriedly said, "I didn’t expect the Princely Heir to reach the Grandmaster Realm so quickly, truly a genius. I am impressed!"

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

Ma Tianhe said, "Has the Princely Heir decided to join our Inspection Department?"

"What does it take to achieve Fifth Grade Merit?"

"For Fifth Grade Merit, ... Information at the level of a Hall Master and above, which only a Hall Master can view. Those below do not have the right to view it."

"For example?"

"If the Ninth Princess and her party secretly leave Tianjing of Da Meng and head to our Yujing, that is Hall Master Level information."

"What if we only detect the Ninth Princess leaving Tianjing secretly?"

"That does not reach the Hall Master Level, only counts as Institute level information."

"What’s the next level?"

"If the Ninth Princess secretly leaves Tianjing, arrives in Yujing, intending to assassinate a certain senior minister, that would be Director Level intelligence, counting as Fourth Grade Merit."

"Third Grade Merit?"

"... She plans to assassinate the Emperor."

"Second Grade Merit?"

"She intends to defect to our Da Jing."

"First Grade Merit?"

"She plans to assassinate the Da Meng Emperor and then defect to our Da Jing."

"Lord Ma, you are quite bold, saying anything," Chu Zhiyuan laughed gleefully, "If the Ninth Princess hears about such arrangements, she would surely take action against you."

Ma Tianhe laughed flatteringly, "The Ninth Princess is merely Da Meng’s Ninth Princess, she is our enemy."

"It seems First Grade Merit is too difficult."

"Or directly assassinating the Ninth Princess could also count as First Grade Merit. Assassinating the Da Meng Emperor would be considered beyond First Grade."

"In that case..." Chu Zhiyuan sighed.

The Inspection Department finds it very difficult to establish Fifth Grade Merit.

"Does the Princely Heir not want to join our Inspection Department?"

"It’s too difficult to earn merit in the Inspection Department, and it depends on luck."

"... Yes." Ma Tianhe’s ingratiating face gradually turned solemn, sighing with helplessness, "Many people lurking within Da Meng and Da Zhen end up with mere painstaking effort after half a lifetime, rarely achieving outstanding merit, and many do not achieve any distinct merit."

The achievement of merits in the Inspection Department indeed requires luck.

Sometimes one inadvertently comes across extremely important information and thus achieves significant merit, but sometimes an entire lifetime passes without encountering major information, only silently gaining some painstaking effort.

Although the arduous efforts within the Inspection Department are not trivial, surpassing other departments, one cannot avoid feeling dissatisfied, eventually leaving the department with discontent when they retire.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Even if I cannot join the Inspection Department, we can still collaborate."

"Yes." Ma Tianhe nodded quickly.

Chu Zhiyuan stood up and left the Inspection Department, feeling quite regretful at heart.

The Inspection Department wasn’t feasible, and neither was the Military Suppression Department; it was still too dangerous.

——

While passing by the Ministry of Rites, he made a detour to show his face, lest others think he was about to leave the Ministry of Rites.

"Princely Heir!" Gao Lingfeng saw Chu Zhiyuan step into the room, quickly rising from behind the side of the study desk, cupped his fists in greeting.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled as he glanced around the room.

In the center of the north side, a study desk was still set, and the Taishi Chair was empty. Below the steps on the east side, another study desk was placed vertically, stacked with three large piles of dossiers.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Lord Gao is quite busy."

"Oh, my lord!" Gao Lingfeng said with a bitter smile, "Since you haven’t been coming, all these official duties have fallen on me. I can only do my best."

"Thank you for your hard work. To whom much is given, much is expected." Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "How have you been lately?"

"Still the same as always," said Gao Lingfeng with a sigh, personally accepting a cup of tea presented by a junior official, and handing it to Chu Zhiyuan with both hands.

Chu Zhiyuan sat behind the study desk, took the cup of tea, and asked, "Has there been anything significant?"

"The most significant matter is the True One Sect," Gao Lingfeng frowned and said, "Another elder from the True One Sect has died."

"Bai Jingrong?"

"Not Bai Jingrong, it was Sun Qifang, who mysteriously died at home. It seems to be heart disease, and the murderer has already escaped. The Military Suppression Department is sending experts to pursue them."

"Sun Qifang..." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

He knew the name, an elder of the True One Sect, but had never met the person.

It’s just strange that the Jiuli Divine Sect targets the Miao Ling Pearl; shouldn’t they be going after Bai Jingmang’s brother, Bai Jingrong?

Could it be that the Jiuli Divine Sect knows about the strained relationship between the two brothers as well?

"Bai Jingrong has already caused a scene twice, but without seeing my lord, he gave up," Gao Lingfeng said solemnly.

Recalling the scenes of Bai Jingrong causing trouble, his temples couldn’t help but throb painfully.

"The True One Sect is having an unlucky streak," said Chu Zhiyuan.

Gao Lingfeng replied, "There are too many experts swarming into the Capital City now. The Military Suppression Department needs a large number of experts to hold the fort, and even Great Grandmasters cannot leave lightly. I wonder if they can catch the murderer."

"It’s difficult," Chu Zhiyuan said.

If it was really done by the Jiuli Divine Sect, it would be almost impossible to catch them. As long as they escape to the mountain ranges where the Jiuli Divine Sect’s altar is located, the Military Suppression Department cannot pursue further.

He quickly set aside these thoughts and said, "Lord Gao, keep up the hard work. I’ll return in a few days."

"Are you preparing for the duel with the Ninth Princess?"

"You know about it too."

"My lord, it’s likely all of Yujing knows about it now."

"Yes, the Ninth Princess is not easy to deal with," Chu Zhiyuan said, "I must prepare well."