Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 223: Chapter 220: Current Secrets

He had a wry smile.

The ability to foresee danger was better than nothing for him.

No sense of surprise.

He thought about this, focused his senses, and turned his body in four different directions.

His sword-like brows suddenly twitched.

To the east, he actually sensed danger, while the other three directions showed no signs.

Yet to the east was neither Yujing nor the old lair of the Yuding Sect, instead, it was toward the East Sea, where there should be no danger.

It seems his perception of danger had been heightened.

He nodded in satisfaction.

This was useful.

Without further delay, he floated back to the cave.

By this time, the black gas in the cave had mostly dissipated, posing no threat.

He drew out his wooden sword, and immediately, purple flames roared, the purple Sword Gang enveloped the Sword, transforming into a longsword, casting a purple glow over Zhang Youling’s skull.

"Ssss..."

Amid the whispering sound, the skull first turned into several pieces, then those pieces split into dozens more, and the purple light continued, causing endless fragmentation.

Eventually, they turned into countless small pieces.

"Bang!"

The purple light pressed down sharply, transforming from slicing to crushing.

All the tiny fragments turned into powder.

Chu Zhiyuan flicked his sleeve.

The white ash was swept out of the cave, scattered by the howling evening wind, mingling with the soil on the hillside, indistinguishable from one another.

Chu Zhiyuan finally felt completely at ease.

He glanced at the green robe, frowned in thought for a moment, and ultimately decided to take it back to inquire about its origins.

Perhaps he could learn something about Zhang Youling’s background.

——

When he returned to Huang Shiron and the others, a bright moon was already high in the sky.

Lustrous as a jade disc.

Its clear brilliance chilled to the bone.

Beside Huang Shiron and the other two women were Guo Chi and his group of five.

Zou Fang floated over at the sight of him, offering a cup of tea and a plate of snacks.

Chu Zhiyuan tossed a bundle aside, took the tea and drank it in one gulp, then took two pieces of snacks and stuffed them in his mouth.

The journey was indeed exhausting.

"Princely Heir, you’ve worked hard." Huang Shiron approached, clasped her fist, and asked, "Did you vanquish him?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

"This is perfection." Huang Shiron smiled sweetly, "Congratulations, Princely Heir."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Leaving him alive was a constant, vague unease, but now I am finally at peace."

For the first time encountering such an enormous threat, where life was at risk.

"What’s this?" Wen Qianqian approached and pointed at the bundle on the ground.

He hadn’t had this when he left earlier.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Zhang Youling’s robe, it’s a bit peculiar, I thought to bring it back for a look, you can have a look as well."

"Let me see." Wen Qianqian stepped forward, unwrapped the bundle, and held up the green robe.

At once, it flowed like water, falling softly, gently quivering, its unbelievable silkiness and softness.

"What a fine robe." Wen Qianqian couldn’t help but praise.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Do you recognize this robe?"

Wen Qianqian looked at Xu Mengyu, then at Huang Shiron, and they both shook their heads.

It was clear they hadn’t seen it before.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "It’s impervious to blades and swords."

When Zhang Youling was using all his power to absorb his own cultivation and essence blood, a Breaking Gang Divine Sword could have been thrust in.

Yet, he didn’t use the Breaking Gang Divine Sword and used the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist instead.

This was due to his keen intuition and the Miao Ling Pearl.

The two working together made the most correct judgment.

If he had used the sword then and the robe had blocked it, the opportunity to severely wound Zhang Youling would have been missed.

This chance only came once, missing it would mean suffering severe injuries himself, or even risking his life, a close call indeed.

Thinking back, it still sent a chill down his spine.

"That formidable?" Wen Qianqian showed great interest.

She hung the sleeves of the green robe on a nearby pine tree trunk, drew her sword, and stabbed forcefully, but the sword tip couldn’t pierce through.

She turned her head to look at Huang Shiron.

A glint of cold light came from Huang Shiron’s waist, but even her sword tip couldn’t pierce through.

Xu Mengyu also thrust her sword, yet the sword tip still couldn’t penetrate the green robe.

"Try again." Huang Shiron’s Sword shone.

A white tip of about an inch appeared at the sword tip, which was Sword Gang.

"Hiss." The sword tip was still blocked.

The green robe suddenly lit up with countless patterns seemingly twisting, coming to life.

"It can even resist Gang Qi." Huang Shiron showed admiration.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "Is it a treasure?"

"It can indeed be called a treasure." Huang Shiron remarked, reaching out to feel it.

She wasn’t too squeamish about it being a dead man’s belonging.

After all, nearly all Treasure Armors are dead men’s belongings, often left behind even after someone passes.

The green robe gradually dimmed, the patterns once more lying dormant, invisible unless closely examined in sunlight.

"Indeed formidable." Wen Qianqian praised.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I tried too, it doesn’t pierce."

"The sword at Senior Sister’s waist is a Divine Weapon." Wen Qianqian admired, "Such an impressive robe, truly a first for me."

"Heavenly Treasure Department has some too," Huang Shiron said, "but very few exchange for them, this one at least requires Second Grade Merit, too luxurious."

Treasure Armor, after all, is just auxiliary, what truly matters is cultivation.

It’s impervious to blades and swords but can only protect the upper body, what about the legs, head, or even the hands?

Its value lies in being able to save a life in crucial moments.

In situations where others do not know the robe’s true nature, sneak attacks cannot succeed, and being blocked in action can instantly change the situation.

It can potentially save a life.

This life-saving potential is worth Second Grade Merit, even First Grade Merit, to many.

——

"Have the thirteenth uncles returned yet?"

"No."

"What about the others?"

"The old lair of the Yuding Sect was destroyed by us, went very smoothly."

"And the thirteenth uncles still show no signs?"

"Hmm, they disappeared unaccountably, but Great Grandmasters always come and go without a trace, no one dared to ask, assuming they’ve already returned to the city."

"What about in the city?"

"With your token, we inquired at the Imperial Palace, they haven’t returned at all."

"...Let’s go over and have a look."

"I’ll lead the way." Wen Qianqian volunteered.

...

Chu Zhiyuan entered a spring-like mountain valley.

The fierce cold wind was kept outside, in the warm valley, woods flourished, and flora bloomed as if it were springtime.

But now, it was devastated.

Clearly, there had been large-scale fighting, with visible blood seeping into the earth, splashed on the trees, and scattered pieces of flesh.

The stench of blood still floated in the air.

Seeing this, scenes of brutal combat naturally unfolded in Chu Zhiyuan’s mind.

Huang Shiron said, "Didn’t encounter much resistance, seemed like all the experts were in the city, while here were just those below Grandmaster."

Chu Zhiyuan strolled along, suddenly changed direction, striding to a stone wall, slowly reaching out to touch it, his expression growing more serious.

"What’s wrong?" Huang Shiron asked.

Chu Zhiyuan touched the stone, feeling something unusual, and slowly said, "Something’s not right!"

"What’s wrong?" Huang Shiron’s curiosity was piqued.

Wen Qianqian asked, "What’s wrong?"

Speaking, she too reached out to touch the stone wall and patted it, producing a "bang bang" sound, revealing nothing unusual.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, pondering as he looked at Huang Shiron, "Have the Military Suppression Department seal this place, don’t let anyone else in."

Huang Shiron was stunned.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Seal it first, then we’ll discuss other matters, come back to the city with me."

"Alright." Huang Shiron readily agreed, "I’ll call people over."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at the four with Guo Chi, "Leader Guo, you stay here and don’t let anyone approach."

"Yes." The four with Guo Chi replied in deep voices.

Huang Shiron and he left the valley side by side, walking a great distance before she asked, "Could it be related to the Great Grandmaster?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I’m worried it may be a Secret Land."

Huang Shiron was startled, incredulous, "How could a Secret Land be here?"

Chu Zhiyuan raised his head, gazing at the mountain valley with a heavy expression, "I hope I’m wrong."

Under Super Sense, Insight was clear.

Within the stone wall, there was vaguely a vast stretch of peaks.