Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 197: Chapter 195: Promoting

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"Ligu poison..."

Everyone was chewing over these two words.

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression was grave.

There was a book in the Tongtian Pavilion that recorded strange techniques, and he was very vigilant about such eerie methods, studying it closely.

Ligu, named Li, is actually a life-bound inseparable Gu.

The Gu is divided into Yin and Yang Guis, no matter how far apart, one Gu can always find the other, Yin Gu and Yang Gu are never separated.

When he read this, he pondered carefully, what makes them capable of sensing each other across space?

Can martial arts achieve this?

Is it magnetic fields, or mental power?

In the end, he found nothing.

But the memory of Ligu stayed deeply ingrained in him.

This is the Gu raised by the Li Clan of the Southern Border.

The Li Clan is located in the Duanyun Mountain Range of the Southern Border.

The Duanyun Mountain Range is a vast expanse of countless peaks, with an unknown area.

It’s rare for the Li Clan to leave the mountains.

And yet, this time Ligu has appeared.

Has a disciple from the Li Clan joined the Yuding Sect?

"What use is this little thing?" Li Hongzhao asked.

"Tracking," Chu Zhiyuan replied.

While using Insight, he noticed something was amiss with these two people; their gazes occasionally glanced over here, though very infrequently.

Even infrequent was more than normal people.

With careful Insight, he discovered the Ligu on their bodies.

"Commander Guo," Chu Zhiyuan called.

Guo Chi stepped forward.

"Turn around."

"...Yes."

Guo Chi turned around with his back to him.

Chu Zhiyuan extended his hand to behind Guo Chi’s ear and gently picked up a small black sesame seed.

"There it is."

Everyone craned their necks to look over.

The small black sesame in Chu Zhiyuan’s palm had already become stiff; he turned it upside down to see the tiny teeth, the sesame-sized body had more than ten small teeth.

Li Hongzhao shuddered and got goosebumps.

Huang Shiron and her two friends frowned, their faces looking unpleasant.

Guo Chi was confused, rubbing behind his own ear, asking puzzledly, "Your Highness, was this on me?"

"No one would notice this hidden in your hair," Chu Zhiyuan said.

Guo Chi frowned, puzzled, "I should have noticed, with so many teeth."

"It’s just like a mosquito," Chu Zhiyuan said, "Besides, your Protective Gang Qi doesn’t reach the back of your ear."

"This little thing... terrifying," Guo Chi shook his head.

He really didn’t know when this Ligu attached itself to him; fortunately, it merely stuck on him and didn’t cause further harm.

If it could poison, or directly burrow into the ear and act at a critical moment, affecting him, it would be a life-and-death danger.

Huang Shiron and her friends found it even more frightening.

"There’s another Gu, isn’t there?" Li Hongzhao asked.

Chu Zhiyuan’s gaze fell on one of the Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry.

The Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry was a middle-aged man.

Chu Zhiyuan’s gaze made him pause, and he hastily felt behind his ear.

He also pulled out a small black sesame.

Li Hongzhao’s fair face sank.

Huang Shiron drew the longsword from her slim waist, lightly pointing it at the peddler’s chest, but found nothing.

Then the tip of the sword sliced through, the clothes tore apart, revealing a bare body.

The women present showed no reaction, casually scanning every inch of his body, every part.

No symbols, no tokens.

Li Hongzhao looked at Chu Zhiyuan, "How did you determine they were from the Yuding Sect?"

"The aura," Chu Zhiyuan stepped closer and lightly kicked.

Around the navel, five long black needles slowly emerged.

The needles were the length of an index finger.

Thin as hair.

A dim black sheen, as if painted with varnish.

"Is this...?" Huang Shiron whispered, "The Five Hidden Needle Technique?"

"Correct," Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Huang Shiron’s beautiful face was shrouded in coldness.

Li Hongzhao said incomprehensibly, "What’s the matter with the Five Hidden Needle Technique?"

"It’s the secret technique of our Military Suppression Department," Huang Shiron said, "Used specifically against martial arts experts, once this needle is applied, the cultivation is completely lost, and they obediently enter prison."

Li Hongzhao suppressed her smile, a faint smile on her face, "The Yuding Sect got hold of this secret technique?"

Huang Shiron’s expression grew colder.

In the Military Suppression Department, those who understand this secret technique are at least at the Dean level; below the Dean level, they aren’t qualified to study it.

How did the Yuding Sect acquire it?

Either a Dean in the Military Suppression Department defected to the Yuding Sect, or a Dean fell into their hands and was forced to reveal it.

Either way, it’s a significant issue for the Military Suppression Department.

...

As the five black needles emerged, several intricate patterns appeared in the person’s Dantian area.

The patterns outlined a fist-sized jade cauldron shape.

"Is this the demonic person from the Yuding Sect?" Li Hongzhao examined the slowly clarifying jade cauldron pattern with curiosity.

After a person dies, their aura stops circulating, how could this still appear?

Chu Zhiyuan said, "The Yuding Sect’s sorcery is very strange, it can’t be judged by common sense... with Ligu, with the Five Hidden Needle Technique, what are they going to do next?"

Huang Shiron’s expression was heavy.

Ligu tracking the whereabouts, the Five Hidden Needle Technique hiding the aura, the two are actually a perfect combination for assassination.

Not every princely heir and prince has Chu Zhiyuan’s keen intuition.

If someone caused trouble in Yujing City, after attracting the attention of the princely heirs and princes’ guards, they could strike opportunistically with a significant chance of success.

Thinking of these consequences, she got worried.

Losing any prince or princely heir, no matter how stable Yujing City’s defense is, a year’s achievements would be deducted.

Wherever trouble occurs, the Hall Master there wouldn’t be able to stay any longer.

Even her own hall, her position as Hall Master couldn’t be kept, and she might even be directly expelled from the Military Suppression Department.

"Is the Yuding Sect this powerful?" Li Hongzhao clicked her tongue in admiration.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "They like to kill members of the Imperial Family, not just in Da Jing, but in Da Meng as well."

"We don’t have the Yuding Sect in Da Meng."

"Didn’t have before, does that mean none now?" Chu Zhiyuan said, "If they can master these secret techniques, how could they be content with just being confined to Da Jing’s territory?"

Li Hongzhao’s expression grew darker.

She thought of the Gu on that Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry.

This kind of Evil Sect targeting the Imperial Family is what they most hate.

"The Yuding Sect must be eradicated," Chu Zhiyuan said.

The Ligu was directly placed on Guo Chi; without asking, it was clear the target was him.

Was it because he was too prominent, or because of the previous incident?

If the Yuding Sect was not eradicated, he couldn’t sleep peacefully.

"...Yes," Huang Shiron nodded slowly.

"I will apply for assistance from the Grandmaster Mansion," Chu Zhiyuan looked at Li Hongzhao, "Does Your Highness want to participate?"

Li Hongzhao quickly waved her hand, "What about Taizhou?"

"Deal with the Yuding Sect first, then settle the troublemakers in Taizhou!"

"Won’t it alert them?"

If the Evil Sect gets scared and flees, how could they be exchanged for Da Meng’s captives?

"Alert them?" Chu Zhiyuan snorted, "That would underestimate these demonic people of the Evil Sect."

The demonic people of the Evil Sect are all bold and audacious, even if they weren’t originally, after practicing evil skills, they don’t know what fear is.

"Alright then," Li Hongzhao was rather reluctant.

She thought they should deal with Taizhou’s Evil Sect first, then handle the Yuding Sect.

Anyway, the Yuding Sect was drawn by him and wouldn’t flee easily.

——

The Zongzheng Bureau was located in the southwest corner of the Imperial Palace, a courtyard with an ancient style.

The guards outside were lax, and the clerks inside moved unhurriedly.

The atmosphere was entirely different from the Ministry of Rites.

Chu Zhiyuan came to the main courtyard and met with the Great Director Chu Qingyan.

As the most esteemed person in the Da Jing Royal Family, Chu Qingyan sat behind a desk with a thin face tensed, seriously reviewing records.

He glanced up at Chu Zhiyuan, and his stern face immediately broke into a smile, pointing to the Taishi Chair opposite, "Yuan’er, sit down and let’s talk."

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t stand on ceremony and cut straight to the point, speaking of the Yuding Sect matter.

Chu Qingyan’s face tensed once more, his eyes sharp, and he sneered, "Yuding Sect! ...This matter must be reported personally to the Emperor."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Only an order from the Emperor could mobilize the Great Grandmaster.

"Do you wish to participate?"

"Uncle Nine, I..."

"Haha..." Chu Qingyan laughed.

Chu Zhiyuan looked a bit embarrassed.

"Yuan’er, take my advice, you should participate in this sweep!"

"...Yes!"

Seeing his keen gaze, and thinking of the Great Director’s kindness to him, even acting as his matchmaker, driven by intuition, he nodded slowly.

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