Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 81: Chapter 79: Killing Intent

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Chu Zhiyuan sat back in his original seat, while Chu Zhiyao vigorously patted his shoulder, chuckling non-stop.

The others glanced over, smiling at him, their eyes full of admiration.

Only Prince Zhuang and his peers remained composed, merely smiling faintly, as if it were just a trivial matter.

Prince Zhuang said with a smile, "Your Highness, thank you for letting us win. As per our agreement, we shall proceed accordingly."

"Agreed." Prince Ying smiled and said, "The Fourth Prince can come back with us and freely choose which princess to marry."

Prince Zhuang nodded with a smile, "Your Highness is truly a trustworthy person."

Prince Ying laughed, "Whether our Da Zhen marries off a princess or takes one in, our two countries can consider themselves as one family, it’s a cause for celebration."

"A cause for celebration! Come, let us raise a glass to the future of Da Jing and Da Zhen!" Prince Zhuang stood up, raising his glass.

The jade cup grew more lustrous under the lamp light, the fine wine within gently swaying, emitting a rich fragrance that lingered.

"Raise a glass!"

"Raise a glass!"

...

Everyone stood up, raising their glasses in a toast.

For a moment, Fengtian Hall was filled with harmony and joy, as if the previous tension and hostility had never occurred.

Chu Zhiyuan gestured toward the door at Huang Cheng, indicating with his eyes.

Huang Cheng quietly approached, silently and unobtrusively.

Chu Zhiyuan’s lips moved silently.

Huang Cheng nodded repeatedly, glanced at Emperor Chu Qingquan to the north, then quietly withdrew.

He soon entered the hall with several young eunuchs, wiping away the bloodstains inside while retrieving the Heavenly Hidden Pendant shattered into three pieces.

Cheng Tianfeng sat at the table, head down, speechless, his expression darkened, unable to accept having been defeated by Chu Zhiyuan.

In his previous understanding, Chu Zhiyuan was just a good-for-nothing.

Though he had decent martial arts talent, he was cowardly and afraid of death, completely unworthy of attention.

Once cowardly and fearful, there would be no heart for courageous advancement, thus cultivation could also not progress rapidly, doomed to be a mediocre person.

Such a person was unworthy to possess Yujing’s most beautiful woman, who should be embraced in his own arms, beneath him.

If he took his woman, he would take her; expecting he wouldn’t dare to protest, would have to swallow his anger, obediently tolerate it, and dare not fight back, helpless against him.

Yet a single sparring match shattered his imagination.

The seemingly worthless Chu Zhiyuan was also profound, crushing him, bringing him a deep sense of powerlessness.

If I can’t win by strength, nor by skill, nor by speed, how can I win?

Only through overwhelming at the realm level.

But his progress was also beyond imagination, at least faster than my own.

How does one defeat such a person?

Can I surpass his realm, and enter the Grandmaster stage ahead, thereby crushing him at the Grandmaster Realm, avenging my humiliation?

And then there was Xiao Ruoling...

He raised his eyes to look at the opposite Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoling was talking with Chu Yi, her smile charming, her eyes lively, her pearly teeth lightly shown, an indescribable beauty and gracefulness.

His gaze once again revealed greed and possessiveness.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned slightly.

This guy really has a thief’s heart that never dies, refusing to change his ways, the lecherous reputation of the Da Zhen Cheng Family isn’t without reason.

Possibly not even exaggerated and maybe even beautified somewhat.

...

"Old Fourth, it’s really unimaginable..." Chu Zhiyao pulled him to talk, occasionally taking a sip of wine, toasting him.

Talking non-stop, eyes shining brightly.

It was as if he himself had won.

Chu Zhiyuan, on the other hand, remained calm and at ease, as if the victory was not his own, or it was merely a trifling matter.

Whenever he thought of the gaze of that small elder, he couldn’t let his guard down.

A Great Grandmaster can hide emotions well, yet Super Sense being so keen, he still sensed a faint killing intent.

The faint killing intent of a Great Grandmaster cannot be taken lightly.

One must never think of a Great Grandmaster with the thoughts of a common person, which is his conclusion after reading the martial arts notes of Great Grandmasters, as well as their deeds.

Great Grandmasters act more freely and uninhibitedly, with actions driven more by desires, more free and unrestrained than Cheng Tianfeng’s arrogance.

Thinking of this, he looked to the north, at Emperor Chu Qingquan, who was smiling happily.

In the eyes of outsiders, at this moment, Chu Qingquan seemed amiable, with no emperor’s prestige or airs.

But to Chu Zhiyuan, Chu Qingquan had the Emperor’s Sword towering above his head, always emanating a deadly threat.

It made him wish he could flee immediately.

Super Sense intentionally avoided the Emperor’s Sword and him, to prevent being overwhelmed himself.

Now this Emperor’s Sword protected him, with the Emperor’s Sword present, deterring Great Grandmasters from acting rashly.

——

In the subsequent banquet, though harmonious and lively, it also felt bland.

Cheng Tianfeng looked down in silence, Chu Zhiyuan calm and gentle, while only others were unable to restrain their excitement, gathering in twos and threes to drink.

Fengtian Hall buzzed, with Chu Mingxuan’s laughter occasionally overpowering others.

He was simply too excited, unable to resist pulling Chu Zhiyuan along to drink lots, getting half-drunk.

Other princes and princely heirs from Mingwu Hall also came over to toast Chu Zhiyuan, all getting intoxicated, filled with joy.

No feast lasts forever.

After the Emperor and Empress left, the others began to leave in twos and threes, yet some who were deeply engrossed in drink refused to leave, wanting to continue, and they were allowed to do so.

Chu Zhiyuan left Fengtian Hall, using his senses to find two Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses, riding them as two streaks of golden light, in the blink of an eye returning home, leading them directly to the back garden, letting them roam around freely.

...

In the small pavilion on the lake in the back garden, a family of four sat at the table enjoying tea.

The cold wind rustled gently, dispersing the scent of alcohol, the moonlight soothingly calm.

Bai Ningshuang was still unable to restrain her excitement, her eyes bright, her cheeks flushed.

Chu Yi was also the same.

Chu Minghou and Chu Zhiyuan, however, remained calm.

Chu Minghou was not overly joyful over Chu Zhiyuan’s victory; instead, he warned him not to get carried away and to continue working steadily.

Chu Minghou said, "Yuan’er, life has its ups and downs, now you are in the limelight, but eventually, it will pass; if you lose caution, you might suffer greatly, the higher you climb, the harder you fall."

Chu Zhiyuan replied, "Father, I understand."

"Back then, your second uncle, with outstanding talent, was more celebrated than you are now; everyone thought he would be the future emperor, but what is the situation now?"

"Second uncle also had outstanding talent?"

"Stronger than you." Chu Minghou nodded, speaking more due to the effect of alcohol, sighed, "Not only amazingly gifted but also exceptionally perceptive, could read at one year old, recite poetry by three, and at five, he grasped the essence of the minor Ziyang Art to begin cultivation... in short, he was the brightest genius of our Chu Family."

"What realm was second uncle?"

"At thirty, he achieved Grandmaster Perfection, the first in history." Chu Minghou sighed, "Unfortunately, he still ended up imprisoned."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

He entered Innate at twenty; it was nearly impossible to reach Grandmaster Perfection by thirty.

Post-Innate Perfection, searching for the path to Grandmaster takes much time, and progression in Grandmaster isn’t as quick; normally, one couldn’t achieve Grandmaster Perfection by thirty.

Chu Minghou said, "In summary, take care of yourself, there are always two sides to things, the more glorious, the more dangerous."

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded, deeply agreeing.

Bai Ningshuang laughed, "Your Highness, you really know how to spoil the fun; couldn’t you wait until today and tomorrow have passed, let us be happy for two days first!"

Chu Yi giggled, "Big Brother, you’re amazing, everyone is thrilled!"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "So you must train well, how is your little Guiyuan Step going, have you been slacking off?"

"It’s getting better and better," Chu Yi proudly said, "now I can be considered a little expert."

She felt her body becoming more nimble, much quicker than before.

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled softly.

Chu Yi immediately protested, feeling he was mocking her, and reported this to Bai Ningshuang.

Bai Ningshuang scolded Chu Zhiyuan a few times, telling him not to push his sister too hard, that practice should also be moderate, not overly exhausting.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head helplessly.

He returned to Tingtang Pavilion, sat on the couch, and took out two items from his sleeve.

One was two flying knives thin as cicada’s wings, and the other was three pieces of the Jade Pendant Fragments.

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