Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 234: Chapter 231 Assassination

He left Chu Yi’s Wanqing Courtyard, strolled out of the Prince Mansion, and made a visit to his new residence.

On Phoenix Avenue, he encountered Huang Shiron patrolling the streets once again. Even after becoming a Grandmaster, she remained diligent.

Wen Qianqian, dressed in white like snow, and Xu Mengyu ran over, smiling warmly in greeting.

Huang Shiron also came over, clasped her hands in greeting, and congratulated him on his retreat, assuming he must have made further progress.

Chu Zhiyuan candidly replied.

Huang Shiron didn’t feel much about it, as she was already immune to his advancements.

"Did they catch Zhou Tianqi?" Chu Zhiyuan casually asked.

He was curious why Zhou Tianqi would commit such a heinous act as killing his master.

Was it a grudge, or had he gone mad?

"...Not yet." Huang Shiron said helplessly.

"My lord, Brother Zhou is still on the run. He’s truly incredible, still evading capture!" Wen Qianqian exclaimed.

"Junior Sister Wen!" Huang Shiron glared at her.

Xu Mengyu also gave a disapproving look.

Wen Qianqian stuck out her tongue playfully and laughed, "I originally thought he’d be caught within two days. The sect’s Law Enforcement Hall is no average group!"

"...Truly extraordinary." Xu Mengyu agreed.

This Brother Zhou seemed to have taken some Spirit Pill, as if he had endless strength, constantly escaping without tiring.

It’s said that the experts from the Law Enforcement Hall have been changed three times, yet they still can’t catch him.

Even the Elders in the hall were dispatched.

Still useless.

Brother Zhou’s Qinggong suddenly improved, with boundless energy.

They haven’t lost his trail, can lock onto his aura, but just can’t catch up.

"Could it be a secret technique?" Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "I have seen a secret technique that allows one to infuse their aura into birds and beasts to create confusion."

"...There’s such a secret technique?"

"Saw it with my own eyes, a true disciple from the Yuding Sect possessed it."

Wen Qianqian waved her small hand with a smile and said, "A secret technique from the Yuding Sect? Brother Zhou couldn’t have known it."

Xu Mengyu nodded in agreement.

However, Huang Shiron seemed thoughtful.

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes met hers, and they tacitly thought of the same possibility.

"Impossible." Huang Shiron gently shook her head, "Brother Zhou has high talent and advances swiftly. He’s already in the Two Layer Heaven of the Grandmaster Realm, with prospects of becoming an Elder within the sect."

Reaching Grandmaster Perfection means becoming an Elder within the sect.

If he could take that critical step to become a Great Grandmaster, he would become a Supreme Elder.

"Geniuses advance incredibly fast in the Innate Realm, but feel a significant gap when reaching the Grandmaster Realm."

"...Yes." Huang Shiron nodded in agreement.

She herself understood this deeply.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Has his behavior been unusual? Has he traveled south recently?"

"Southern Border?"

"Yes."

"..." Huang Shiron was silent.

Although the sect hadn’t caught Zhou Tianqi, investigations into him were already underway.

Being the first and youngest Grandmaster within the sect, her reputation and status far surpassed ordinary disciples, and she was seen as a future Elder.

Therefore, sect information was extremely accessible to her.

She was fully aware of the current investigation status regarding Zhou Tianqi within the sect.

"The territory of the Yuding Sect should be in the Southern Border."

"Yuding Sect..." Huang Shiron was still incredulous.

Being one of the Four Great Sects, the White Cloud Sword Palace had exquisite cultivation techniques.

They also had the avenue through the Military Suppression Department to get cultivation resources from the Court Heavenly Treasure Department.

This is the dream of countless martial artists.

Brother Zhou also had excellent aptitude, with a bright future, and potential to become an Elder within the sect.

Why would he associate with the Yuding Sect?

Why choose a treacherous, perilous path instead of a bright avenue?

What kind of mindset is this?!

Chu Zhiyuan said, "This is just a possibility, but it wouldn’t hurt to investigate thoroughly. There will always be traces."

The cultivation of the Yuding Sect is different from the norm, and their cultivation techniques can also alter one’s character.

This will manifest outwardly.

Those around him couldn’t possibly not notice.

If you hadn’t thought in this direction, you might not have paid attention, as people’s emotions are always fluctuating.

With this hypothesis in mind, it becomes easier to notice abnormalities.

"Alright!" Huang Shiron nodded slowly.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists together and took his leave.

He could feel that the density of Martial Arts experts on the street had indeed diminished.

The news that the Da Jing and Da Zhen negotiations had concluded had long been disseminated, visible throughout the streets.

With the Da Zhen Mission preparing to depart, these Martial Arts experts felt there was no longer any point in staying, and so they withdrew.

The Ministry of Rites and the Military Suppression Department both breathed a sigh of relief, having finally weathered this period.

This decision was extremely risky, but in the end, all Martial Arts Sects could see the great power of the Military Suppression Department, and its deterrent power increased.

This was beneficial in reducing the occurrence of Martial Arts masters engaging in criminal activities, providing invisible benefits.

...

Sitting on the mat of his new residence, he contemplated the Thick Earth Sect’s main hall.

Nothing had changed.

The Thick Earth Sect remained as usual.

The golden light from the Earth Venerate Divine Statue had slightly increased, indicating a rise in the number of devotees.

Chu Zhiyuan had always been curious and cautious about this Earth Venerate Divine Statue.

Could it be the Incense Fire Path?

If it was, then it would be a Forbidden Technique.

But how the Incense Fire Path worked was unclear, as it was a Forbidden Technique, not documented even in the Tongtian Pavilion or Mingwu Hall.

—

On his way, he stopped by the Ministry of Rites.

Upon entering the main building, Zou Fang took the tea leaves offered by a clerk, glanced at them, and then respectfully presented them with both hands.

He took it and hadn’t yet taken the first sip when Gao Lingfeng hurriedly approached: "My lord, the Da Zhen Mission and the Da Meng Mission were simultaneously attacked!"

Chu Zhiyuan put down the teacup and frowned at him.

"Prince Cheng is in critical condition, but the Ninth Prince is unharmed."

"Could it be the Secret Shadow Sect and Yuding Sect?"

"It’s very likely them!"

"Goodness, ...they decided to vent their anger on them, disrupting major affairs of the Court as revenge."

Chu Zhiyuan picked up the teacup and took a light sip: "In critical condition means he won’t die, and the Ninth Prince is actually unharmed?"

"The Ninth Prince was alert, sensing danger approaching and avoided a fatal strike in advance."

"The Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique, indeed impressive." Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan’s composed manner, Gao Lingfeng asked, "My lord, should you pay a visit?"

Since they were attacked in Yujing City, as the Ministry of Rites, it would be appropriate to visit.

And with Prince Zhuang’s status being so high, Chu Zhiyuan, as the Left Vice Minister, was the best fit to go.

"Alright." Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

—

Four Directions Pavilion

Da Zhen Mission

Chu Zhiyuan arrived at a courtyard and saw Cheng Tianfeng practicing martial arts in the middle.

"Pfft!"

Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but laugh.

Cheng Tianfeng had a black ointment smeared on his face and arms, only revealing his eyes and a mouth with sparkling white teeth.

This stark contrast from his originally handsome appearance made it hard for him to hold back his laughter.

Cheng Tianfeng glared at him angrily.

Chu Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand with a laugh, "My apologies, Brother Cheng. Forgive me, I couldn’t contain my amusement."

Cheng Tianfeng withdrew his stance and said coldly, "Seeing me like this amuses you?"

"Actually, I came to congratulate Brother Cheng on escaping death. You must have future blessings after surviving such a calamity!"

"Nonsense blessings!" Cheng Tianfeng couldn’t help but curse, "You were too incompetent, letting the Evil Sect infiltrate to assassinate me!"

Chu Zhiyuan feigned an apologetic gesture and clasped his fists.

Cheng Tianfeng said, "The two suddenly exploded, Jade and Stone Burning, I was completely unprepared!"

"Completely unprepared?" Chu Zhiyuan asked, "There should have been guards around, right?... Were there no guards by your side? Where was Mr. Mo?"

"...Anyway, your guards were too lax!"

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "The Ministry of Rites received the news vaguely. What exactly happened, Brother Cheng? There are no outsiders here, tell us about it."

"There’s nothing to say!" Cheng Tianfeng snorted, "I don’t want to relive that shameful experience!"

Chu Zhiyuan stared at him.

Cheng Tianfeng turned his eyes, looking elsewhere.

The sky was clear as a wash, and two white clouds seemed fixed in it, motionless.

After a moment’s thought, Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Brother Cheng, were those two Evil Sect experts disguised as beauties that got close to you? Your old habit acting up again?"

"What old habit!" Cheng Tianfeng answered irritably, "No matter what I do, the Evil Sects will attempt assassination. Isn’t it the same for the Ninth Princess?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Wasn’t the Ninth Prince over at the Linglong Bookstore?"

"They were ambushed on the street, even harder to guard against."

"And yours occurred indoors; no wonder you were so heavily injured and couldn’t escape... Clearly, you have protective treasures."

He instantly guessed the situation at that time.

Two Evil Sect members transformed into two beauties entered his room, suddenly performing Jade and Stone Burning.

In such a scenario, for Cheng Tianfeng to survive, he must have had protective treasures.